Slide Switch (handle Projects Perpendicular To Motion) Patents (Class 200/547)
  • Patent number: 12053897
    Abstract: A shaver head has an upper housing having at least one blade secured thereto, a front mating engagement mechanism, and a rear engagement catch mechanism. The shaver head also has a lower housing having a front mating engagement mechanism, and a locking switch secured adjacent the rear edge of the lower housing, the locking switch having a button coupled to a catch which releasably engages the rear engagement catch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Inventor: Brett Marut
  • Patent number: 11519571
    Abstract: A track light with phase-switching device includes a track assembly, a light source base, and a power module. The track assembly includes an installation base, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the installation base. One end of the first side wall has a first fixation portion, and one end of the second side wall has a second fixation portion. The light source base is assembled with the track assembly. The light source base includes a heat dissipation base and a light source plate. The light source plate is located on the heat dissipation base. The power module includes wirings and a phase-switching device. The power module is electrically connected to the light source plate through the wirings. The phase-switching device is provided for switching a phase of the wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Xiamen PVTECH Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuxing Lu, Sishan Liao
  • Patent number: 9911556
    Abstract: A control knob having an image output part is provided. The control knob having an image output part of the present invention includes: a head part through which an image is output; a body part into which a portion of the head part is inserted; a guide part which is provided inside the body part and coupled to the head part so as to guide the horizontal movement of the head part; and a returning part which is connected to the head part with the guide part and guides the head part horizontally moved along the guide part to the central portion of the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KORTEK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyoung Chan Lee, Hong Jin Jeon
  • Patent number: 9024215
    Abstract: A switch device includes a busbar, a switch knob, a movable contact sliding part in the busbar, a movable contact configured to slide while elastically contacting the movable contact sliding part, root parts in the movable contact sliding part, and a fixed contact. The root parts are engaged with the movable contact. An engaging position of the movable contact is shifted from the one of the root parts to another one so as to switch connecting relation. A groove part and a rib are formed in the busbar between the one of the root parts and another one of the root parts. The rib is configured to abut against the movable contact to deform the movable contact in an opposite direction to a direction where the movable contact is engaged with the root parts, in a state where the movable contact is positioned at the groove part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Patent number: 8964352
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a housing having housing sidewalls. A plate may be connected between a pair of the sidewalls. An audio jack may be mounted to the plate. A microphone may be mounted within the device between the audio jack and a given one of the sidewalls. A vibrator may be mounted between one of the sidewalls and the audio jack using a bracket. The vibrator may have a weight that is tapered along its length. A button may be formed in an opening in one of the housing sidewalls. The button may have a button member with a protrusion that extends through a button opening in the sidewall. A support structure may be interposed between a switch and the button member. The switch may have a portion that extends through an opening in the support structure and that is actuated by the button member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Trent Weber, Michael B. Wittenberg, Michelle A. Yu
  • Patent number: 8952283
    Abstract: The slide switch includes a body, a slider, a terminal, and an armature. The slider is slidably held in the body and is pushed by insertion of the object to slidingly move. The terminal is provided with a fixed contact point disposed on a surface, facing the slider, of the body along a sliding movement direction. The armature is attached to the slider and is provided with a moving contact point that slides on a fixed contact point disposition surface of the body in association with sliding movement of the slider. The slider is provided with an engagement part to receive an action of a moving part that moves in the sliding movement direction in association with extraction and insertion of the object, and the engagement part is in shape of generating a free running distance in which the slider does not act even when the moving part acts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamanaka, Kenjiro Desaki, Hirofumi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8859921
    Abstract: A switch device including arm springs as movable contacts slide in accordance with a switching operation of a switch knob. The arm springs come into resilient contact and slide on movable contact slide parts. Root parts and mountain parts are formed in the movable contact slide parts and a fixed contact is formed with end edges of bus bars. The bus bars are mounted and fixed to an upper surface of a support part. A cut out part is provided on the upper surface of the support part. The arm springs are formed in the shapes of bars having mountain forms in section fitted to the root parts, and the arm springs are extended in the vertical direction to plate surfaces of the bus bars and arranged to be inclined so that outer side surfaces abut on upper side edges of the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Patent number: 8803018
    Abstract: A switch device including arm springs as movable contacts slide in accordance with a switching operation of a switch knob. The arm springs come into resilient contact and slide on movable contact slide parts. Root parts and mountain parts are formed in the movable contact slide parts and a fixed contact is formed with end edges of bus bars. The bus bars are mounted and fixed to an upper surface of a support part. A cut out part is provided on the upper surface of the support part. The arm springs are formed in the shapes of bars having mountain forms in section fitted to the root parts, and the arm springs are extended in the vertical direction to plate surfaces of the bus bars and arranged to be inclined so that outer side surfaces abut on upper side edges of the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Publication number: 20140216912
    Abstract: A multi direction switch (100) includes a first cover (31) having a first static detecting mechanism (3132), a second cover (32) having a second static detecting mechanism (3232), a first moving body (51) having a first movable detecting mechanism (513), a second moving body (52) having a second movable detecting mechanism (523), and an actuating mechanism. The second movable detecting mechanism is movable relative to the second static detecting mechanism in response to a movement of the second moving body along a first direction. The first movable detecting mechanism is movable relative to the first static detecting mechanism in response to a movement of said first moving body along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YUSHO NAKASE, WEI-PING LIU, LIANG SUN
  • Patent number: 8785798
    Abstract: A sliding key module includes a main body, two opposite hooks projecting from the main body and a sliding key. Each hook includes a latch and a guiding portion connecting the latch and the main body. The latches, the guiding portions and the main body cooperatively define a sliding channel. The sliding key includes a first sliding track slidably mounted in the sliding channel. The first sliding track is pressed to mount in the sliding channel through the gap between the latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Yan-Ling Gao
  • Patent number: 8759706
    Abstract: A switch device including arm springs as movable contacts slide in accordance with a switching operation of a switch knob. The arm springs come into resilient contact and slide on movable contact slide parts. Root parts and mountain parts are formed in the movable contact slide parts and a fixed contact is formed with end edges of bus bars. The bus bars are mounted and fixed to an upper surface of a support part. A cut out part is provided on the upper surface of the support part. The arm springs are formed in the shapes of bars having mountain forms in section fitted to the root parts, and the arm springs are extended in the vertical direction to plate surfaces of the bus bars and arranged to be inclined so that outer side surfaces abut on upper side edges of the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Patent number: 8754343
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing the space required by a switch assembly input component of an electronic device. The input component may include a track and a button capable of linear movement within the track. The input component may also include a disk having a slot and a plurality of labels. A pin may be coupled to the button and may extend into the slot for translating the linear movement of the button into rotational movement of the disk. The rotational movement of the disk may alter the portion the labels that are exposed to a user under an open portion of the track. The input component may also include a switch coupled to a portion of the pin extending through the slot of the disk. A switch arm may move along a switch path of the switch in response to the linear movement of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel Bruce Weiss
  • Patent number: 8624139
    Abstract: A key button mechanism includes a retaining board, a sliding board, a key button and a stopping member. The sliding board is slidably mounted to the retaining board. The sliding board is capable of sliding between a first configuration and a second configuration. The key button is fixed to the sliding board so the key button can be slid relative to the retaining board. The stopping member is located between the retaining board and the sliding board. The stopping member, which can be overcome with fingernail pressure, holds the sliding board in either the first configuration or the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Guo-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8611105
    Abstract: A slide button, used for activating a mode of an electronic device by operating a toggle switch on a circuit board of the electronic device, includes an operating member, an activating member, and a positioning member. The operating member defines a first surface used for applying a force therein and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The activating member includes two tail fins and a positioning member respectively extending from the second surface. The tail fin defines an opening. The toggle switch is received in the opening. The connecting board is received in the opening and used for enhancing the strength of the two tail fins. The positioning member is connected to the two tail fins and spaced apart from the operating member. The positioning member and the operating member together secure the slide button to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Min-Li Li, Na Wang, Bao-Gang Zhao
  • Patent number: 8592704
    Abstract: An exemplary electronic device includes a casing, a first switch, a second switch and a switch control unit. The second switch is connected in parallel with the first switch. The casing includes a side plate and a top plate detachably connected with a top end of the side plate. The first switch is turned on when the top plate mounted to the side plate and turned off when the top plate detached from the side plate. The switch control unit includes a sliding member mounted at the second switch. The sliding member includes a pressing plate and is moveable relative to the side plate between a first position in which the pressing plate aligned with and pressing the second switch to turn on the second switch and a second position in which the pressing plate is staggered with the second switch to turn off the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Xiong Zhang, Zhi-Xin Li, Bang-Wei Wang, You-Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 8558684
    Abstract: A belt lock for a seat belt equipped with a locking mechanism that is arranged in a belt lock housing. The locking mechanism has a component that changes its location from a first end position into a second end position and detects a locking status. In the actuation of the locking mechanism, the component that changes its location interacts with the detector of the locking status. The locking status is detected by an electromechanical switch that is arranged in the vicinity of the component that changes its location and can be actuated upon its movement from the first into the second end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Polycontact AG
    Inventors: Joshua Lanter, Clau Lombriser
  • Patent number: 8547217
    Abstract: A belt lock for a seat belt that has a locking mechanism that is arranged in a belt lock housing. The locking mechanism includes a component that changes location from a first end position into a second end position when the locking mechanism is actuated, and in doing so interacts with a status detector. The status detector is designed as an electrical switching system. The component that changes location is a mandrel that can be moved axially when the locking mechanism is actuated and that is provided with an electrically conductive contact region and forms a component of the electrical switching system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Polycontact AG
    Inventors: Joshua Lanter, Clau Lombriser
  • Patent number: 8536478
    Abstract: An exemplary electronic device includes a casing with a slot defined in an outer face of the casing, a through holed defined in the slot, and a switch module. The switch module includes a switch received in the casing, and a slidable button embedded in the slot. The slidable button includes an operating portion received in the slot and abutting an outer face of the casing, a holding portion extending outwardly from the operating portion and through the through hole, and two elastic arms respectively extending outwardly from two lateral sides of the holding portion. Each elastic arm includes a connecting section extending outwardly from the holding portion and a locking section protruding outwardly from the connecting section towards the operating portion. The locking sections of the elastic arms abut an inner face of the casing, whereby the slidable button is fixed to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Li, Ting-Ting Zhao, Xiao-Hui Zhou, Min-Li Li
  • Patent number: 8530769
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an information processing apparatus including a small slide switch unit enabling direct slide movement to a desired position, and capable of easily and surely switching a plurality of modes with the switch unit. [Solving Means] The information processing apparatus includes a switch unit (7) and a control section. The switch unit (7) includes a movable portion (200), a cover (500), a guide portion (100), and a switch module (300). The cover (500) and the guide portion (100) support the movable portion (200) so as to be directly movable between two positions of all the combinations of three or more positions. The switch module (300) detects that the movable portion (200) has moved to each of the positions. The control section controls based on a detecting result by the switch module (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Tadano
  • Publication number: 20130175152
    Abstract: The slide switch includes a body, a slider, a terminal, and an armature. The slider is slidably held in the body and is pushed by insertion of the object to slidingly move. The terminal is provided with a fixed contact point disposed on a surface, facing the slider, of the body along a sliding movement direction. The armature is attached to the slider and is provided with a moving contact point that slides on a fixed contact point disposition surface of the body in association with sliding movement of the slider. The slider is provided with an engagement part to receive an action of a moving part that moves in the sliding movement direction in association with extraction and insertion of the object, and the engagement part is in shape of generating a free running distance in which the slider does not act even when the moving part acts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Hosiden Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130126326
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric switch having a hollow body defining a cavity, an actuator, and a slide mounted in said cavity. Under the action of the actuator, the slide is suitable for passing from a first position, in which at least one conductive portion of the slide is electrically connected via permanent breakable electrical junctions to at least two primary electrically-conductive studs that lead laterally into said cavity to a second position in which at least one of said primary electrically-conductive studs is no longer electrically connected to said conductive portion of the slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: HERAKLES
    Inventor: Evrard Borg
  • Publication number: 20130098747
    Abstract: There is provided a switch device. Arm springs as movable contacts slide in accordance with a switching operation of a switch knob. The arm springs come into resilient contact and slide on movable contact slide parts. Root parts and mountain parts are formed in the movable contact slide parts and a fixed contact is formed with end edges of bus bars. The bus bars are mounted and fixed to an upper surface of a support part. A cut out part is provided on the upper surface of the support part. The arm springs are formed in the shapes of bars having mountain forms in section fitted to the root parts, and the arm springs are extended in the vertical direction to plate surfaces of the bus bars and arranged to be inclined so that outer side surfaces abut on upper side edges of the fixed contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Chiba
  • Patent number: 8403073
    Abstract: A changeover operation device, for changing over the positions of at least two components to establish three or more speed modes in a speed changer mechanism accommodated within a housing having an opening, includes operation handles arranged in a corresponding relationship with the components. Each of the operation handles is movable between two specified positions along a specified operation direction to change over the positions of the components. The operation handles are continuously arranged within the opening of the housing, one of the operation handles being partially overlapped with the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsubakimoto, Naotake Tanaka, Fumiaki Sekino, Kenichiro Inagaki, Masao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130056341
    Abstract: A terminal for an electrical switchgear, the terminal comprises a housing arrangement (3) comprising an electrically insulating material and having an inner surface defining a cavity; and a first terminal electrical contact (61) contained in the housing arrangement for making an electrical connection with an electrical component (41) insertable into the cavity The first terminal electrical contact is located in a first recess (40) formed in the inner surface and is flush with the inner surface of the housing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: EATON INDUSTRIES (NETHERLANDS) B.V.
    Inventors: Marten Binnendijk, Arend Lammers
  • Patent number: 8338733
    Abstract: A key assembly comprises a base plate, two elastic elements and a key body. The elastic elements are both mounted to the base plate, and the elastic elements are spaced from and opposite to each other. The key body is slidably mounted to the base plate between the two elastic elements, the key body includes a first key section and a second key section connected with the first key section. The first key section has a first arcuate contacting portion formed thereon, the second key section has a second arcuate contacting portion formed thereon. One of the elastic elements is mounted to the first key section, another one of the elastic elements is mounted to the second key section. When the first key section slides toward and compresses said one of the elastic elements, the second key section slide away from and stretches said another one of the elastic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Mu-Wen Yang, Chih-Chiang Chang
  • Patent number: 8327512
    Abstract: A slide switch installed in a buckle apparatus includes a body 20, a slider 30 held slidably in the body 20, the slider 30 sliding when pressed by a movable part of the buckle apparatus, fixed contacts 41 to 43 placed in a direction in which the slider slides, on a surface of the body 20 that faces the slider 30, a movable piece 44 sliding on the surface of the body 20 on which the fixed contacts 41 to 43 are placed. The slider 30 has a size that obscures the fixed contacts 41 to 43 in the entire range in which the slider 30 slides. The fixed contacts 41 to 43 are unlikely to be affected by foreign matter etc. and adherence of foreign matter that degrades performance can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamanaka, Hirofumi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8319135
    Abstract: An electronic device and a slide switch are disclosed. The slide switch includes a main body, a slider, a rotary plate rotatably connected to the main body, and a rotary arm. The main body includes a fixing space, a channel, and a first contact member protruding from a bottom of the fixing space. The slider is movable between a first position and a second position within the channel. The rotary plate includes a lateral surface and a second contact member protruding from the lateral surface. Two ends of the rotary arm are respectively connected to the slider and the lateral surface. When the slider is located in the first position, the first contact member spaces from the second contact member; when the slider is moved to the second position, the rotary arm rotates the rotary plate causing the first contact member to contact the second contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Yuan Chen, Kok-Kan Chan, Hua-Lin Lv, Jing Liu, Yu Zou, Chu-Lien Liu, Ting-Jian Zou, Zuo-Dong Li
  • Patent number: 8253053
    Abstract: A push button switch includes a base, a locking member received in the base, a push button switch penetrating the base to engage with the locking member, and a lock body. The base defines a receiving chamber and includes first magnetic members. The push button switch defines a hole. The lock body includes second magnetic members, and penetrates the hole and the receiving chamber to engage with the base by the first magnetic members attracting the second magnetic member. The push button is limited to slide by the lock body and is slideable along the base when the lock body is driven to rotate relative to the push button by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Yang, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8247713
    Abstract: A power seat switch includes a structure main body; switches provided in the structure main body; sliders slidably provided in the structure main body and changing over contacts of the switches; and moderation units each including a moderation adjuster fitted into the structure main body and an elastic portion provided on the slider. Each slider includes a shaft and a pair of legs provided on one end of the shaft. The elastic portion is provided to elastically protrude from the one end of the shaft in an axial direction of the shaft. The moderation adjuster includes a moderation groove arranged to be sandwiched between the legs, in contact with the elastic portion, and applying a moderation according to sliding of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ui, Toshihide Azuma, Tomonori Sugiura
  • Patent number: 8222554
    Abstract: A key input apparatus of a portable terminal, which is pushed or slid in various directions so as to make contact with contact pieces is provided. The key input apparatus includes a switch part having a plurality of contact pieces disposed in a circumference of the switch part, the switch part being mounted in a main body of the portable terminal; and a key part being pushed or slid so as to make contact with the contact pieces, the key part corresponding to the switch part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee-Cheul Moon
  • Patent number: 8158901
    Abstract: The sliding key mechanism includes a main body fixed inside a slot on a housing, a sliding actuator connected to a side of the main body for containing a sliding head of a sliding switch, a key portion connected to the other side of the main body for driving the sliding actuator simultaneously when the key portion slides so that the sliding actuator slides the sliding head of the sliding switch, and two elastic components connected to both ends of the main body respectively, and the two elastic components being bent when the main body is fixed inside the slot on the housing so that the two elastic components contact against the housing elastically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Lung Fan
  • Patent number: 8143545
    Abstract: A sliding button mechanism includes a housing, a button, a connecting member, two resilient elements, and a printed circuit board. The housing defines a sliding slot. The button is slidably received in the sliding slot. The connecting member is secured on the button. Two resilient elements are disposed between the housing and the button provides a resilient force to the button. The printed circuit board is secured in the housing and includes at least two contact areas. The connecting member continuously and simultaneously connects to the two contact areas to achieve a continuous adjustment function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Zhou-Quan Zuo
  • Publication number: 20110290630
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing with an opening. A button may be formed within the electronic device. The button may have a button member that is actuated by a user. The button member may translate within an opening in the electronic device housing when actuated by a user. The button may have a shaft that is coupled to the button member by a coupling mechanism. When the button member is laterally translated within the opening, the coupling mechanism may rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis. The button may be provided with detents using a detent biasing mechanism. The detent biasing mechanism may be based on a spring having grooves that interact with a protrusion on the shaft or a spring-loaded pin that engages recesses in the shaft. A switch mechanism for the button may be formed using traces on the shaft, spring-type switch contacts, and other structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Michael B. Wittenberg
  • Patent number: 8044316
    Abstract: A slide operation apparatus capable of ensuring the operability of a knob and improving the visibility of scales on a panel surface of an electronic instrument, without the need of increasing a widthwise space required for mounting the slide operation apparatus on the panel surface. Scales indicating positions in slide movement direction are marked on the panel surface of the electronic instrument on which slide operation apparatuses are mounted. Each slide operation apparatus has a knob adapted to be operated to make a reciprocating slide movement on the panel surface. The knob has its mounting portion whose width is smaller than that of a plate portion and whose left and right end surfaces are receded inwardly from those of the plate portion. The knob has a bottom-side narrow-width portion in which a facing surface is narrower in width in slide movement direction than a finger-operated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi Ito
  • Patent number: 7985935
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed to a switch for electronic devices. The systems and methods provide for a switch disposed on a bottom surface of a circuit board enclosed in a housing of an electronic device. The circuit board may include an aperture. An actuating pin of the switch may extend through the aperture towards the top surface of the circuit board. An external actuator may be coupled to the actuating pin in the aperture on the circuit board. The external actuator may extend out through an opening in the housing for providing a user with access to the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Emery Sanford
  • Patent number: 7956305
    Abstract: A housing with a sliding switch with at least three positions and a sliding element that partially projects through an opening in the housing as provided. In order to protect the sliding element against accidental activation, on both sides of the opening, parallel to the direction of movement of the sliding switch, there are flanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf-Peter Fietz, Rienhard Salmen
  • Patent number: 7898440
    Abstract: A keyboard for a handheld device includes several input keys; a front panel for mounting on an outer surface of the handheld and formed with a mounting hole for receiving a respective one of the input keys; a sliding and pressing mechanism disposed below the front panel to permit sliding movement of the input key in vertical or horizontal direction of the mounting hole; and a spring unit for providing a restoration force that permits the respective input key to retrieve its initial position upon removal of an applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corp.
    Inventor: Sung-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 7800008
    Abstract: A side key assembly is mounted on a housing (60) which comprises a sidewall (610). A socket (62) is formed in the sidewall (610) of the housing. The side key assembly includes a button (70), two switches (80) and the socket. The button includes an operating portion (710), two touching blocks (740) and at least one elastic arm (750). The operating portion is slidingly received in the socket. One end of the at least one elastic arm connects with the operating portion while the other end is firmly fixed on the housing. Each switch includes a contact portion. Each contact portion is positioned adjacent to a corresponding touching block. Each switch is turned on when the corresponding touching block is moved to touch the contact portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Zheng Shi, Chih-Chiang Chang, Yao-Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 7723629
    Abstract: An actuator assembly and packaging feature for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes a positionable member accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. The actuator assembly further includes a spring member retained within the interior of the toothbrush body which urges a cam member against the underside of the positionable member. The positionable member defines an aperture extending through its midsection within which is disposed a depressible member. The depressible member has an outer end which is also accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. Upon pressing the depressible member, the cam member and spring are urged against an electrical circuit provided within the body of the toothbrush which is used to selectively operate a motor and drive mechanism to move one or more sets of bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Chan
  • Patent number: 7679017
    Abstract: A switch structure includes a switch body, a holding member, a torsion member, and a swinging lever. The switch body includes a base included a front surface and a rear surface, a pushing portion, two fixing portion, each fixing portion defining a guiding slot. The holding member defines two cavities. The switch body is rotatably installed onto the holding member by inserting the fixing portion into the cavity. The torsion member includes two elastic arms and a connecting pole, one of the elastic arm is hooked to the holding member. The swinging lever includes a first end movably connected to the switch body, a second end movably connected to the other elastic arm, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end, the swinging lever rotatably installed to the holding member via the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Chi Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090323260
    Abstract: In a personal media player, a slide and click combination switch enables several operational functions to be integrated into a single interface. The operational functions include user control lock and power state management. The combination switch includes a button that is arranged to laterally slide between two discrete switch positions (locked and unlocked) as well as move axially between unactuated and actuated positions against a spring force that is normally biased towards the unactuated position. When the button in the combination switch is slid to the locked position, the button cannot be actuated, the user controls on the player are disabled, and the power status of the player (i.e., either on or off) is maintained in its current state. When the button is slid to the unlocked position, the user controls on the player are enabled, and the button may be actuated to implement different device power management scenarios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Ho Son, Chris Robert Towers, Carl Joseph Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 7638722
    Abstract: A switch element is enclosed in the enclosure. The switch element includes a movable piece designed to move along a straight line between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. An operating piece is located along the outer surface of the enclosure. A connecting piece is located along the inner surface of the enclosure. The connecting piece is connected to the movable piece of the switch element. A sliding piece extends around the edge of the enclosure to connect one end of the operating piece to one end of the connecting piece. The sliding piece is designed to slide on the edge of the enclosure. The movable piece of the switch element moves between the switch-on position and the switch-off position in response to the movement of the operating piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Iijima
  • Patent number: 7615717
    Abstract: A switch (100) comprises a dielectric housing (1), a number of stationary contacts (2) disposed in the housing (1), a moveable contact (3) and a slide element (4) movably mounted in the housing (1), a spring (5) disposed in the housing (1), and a cover (6) attached to the housing (1). The housing (1) defines a bottom wall (11) and four side walls extending from the bottom wall (11), the bottom wall (11) of the housing (1) having a locating post (16) cooperating with a side wall of the housing (1) to confine the spring (5). The slide element (4) defines a slide groove (420) which receives the locating post (16) so as to guide the spring (5) in the housing (1) steadily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusho Nakase, Yong-Hui Hu, Tai-Ping Xiong
  • Patent number: 7544911
    Abstract: A remotely operable switch actuator for model train having a housing adapted to receive an electrical switch having a toggle, a slider translationally received by the housing and linked to the toggle, and a fulcrum for receiving mid portion of a connecting rod. The fulcrum may be translationally received by the housing, which when moved, alters the throw of the connecting rod. In certain embodiments of the invention, the slider has means for receiving a first end portion of the connecting rod where the second end of the connecting rod may engage a throw bar. In other embodiments, the actuator further includes a lever pivotally received by the housing, and linked at one end to the slider and the other end linkable to the connecting rod at one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Inventor: John Socha-Leialoha
  • Patent number: 7534974
    Abstract: A slide switch (100) comprises a housing (1), a plurality of stationary contacts (2) embedded in the housing, a slide member (4) moveably contained in the housing, a moveable contact (3) fixed to the slide member, and a cover (5) attached to the housing. The housing comprises a bottom surface (10) and a plurality of side surfaces (11) therearound, and said bottom surface and side surfaces cooperatively define a cavity. The moveable contact is fixed to said slide member to be connected to and disconnected from said stationary contacts. Each end of the housing defines a pair of protrusions (131) at upper portions of two lateral sides thereof, and therefore a channel is formed between said two protrusions. A pair of recesses (133) is defined below the protrusions respectively, and the recesses are recessed into the side surface of the end/channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Liang Sun
  • Patent number: 7518077
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a cover with a housing therein, a base coupled to the cover so as to form a receiving space, a circuit board received in the receiving space, and a slide button mounted to the cover. A bottom of the housing defines a first cutout and a second cutout therein. The circuit board includes a switch mounted thereon. The slide button includes an operating portion, an activating portion, and a positioning portion. The operating portion is slideably received in the housing for being operated to slide the operating portion in the housing. The activating portion extends from the operating portion through the first cutout. The positioning portion connects to the activating portion, and is spaced apart from the operating portion. The positioning portion is insertable through the second cutout and is blockable by the bottom from disengaging from the second cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shi-Kun Guo
  • Patent number: 7499261
    Abstract: A load control device is adapted to be installed in an electrical wallbox having a barrier. The load control device comprises a split enclosure having first and second enclosure portions spaced apart so as to define a gap, such that the gap is adapted to receive the barrier of the electrical wallbox when the load control device is installed in the wallbox. First and second connectors are provided in first and second openings of the first and second enclosure portions, respectively. The load control device is operable to receive a first control signal at the first connector and to generate a second control signal, which is provided at the second connector, in response to the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Hash
  • Patent number: 7462790
    Abstract: A slide switch includes a slider, a case into which the slider is inserted, performing switching by a sliding operation of the slider, cushioning (an upper part, a left part, and a right part) provided at contacting places in the side of the slider where the slider and the case come into contact by the sliding operation of the slider for relieving the contact, and a cushioning holding member for integrally supporting the cushioning, wherein the case has case inner faces on which the slider slides, and which face each other along a horizontal direction, one of the inner faces of the case has a positioning part for positioning the slider at three positions, and the other of the inner faces of the case has a positioning part for positioning the slider at two positions. The cushioning can reduce generation of vibration noise of the slide switch due to vibration of a vehicle under running and operation noise due to a switching operation to improve an operation feeling of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Miyama Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Miki
  • Patent number: 7375951
    Abstract: A load control device is operable to receive a first control signal having a first magnitude and to generate a second control signal having a second magnitude. The load control device is adapted to be installed in an electrical wallbox having a barrier. The load control device comprises a split enclosure having first and second enclosure portions and a gap between the two portions. A first connector is provided in an opening of the first portion for receipt of the first control signal and a second connector is provided in an opening of the second portion for providing the second control signal. The gap of the split enclosure receives the barrier when the load control device is installed in the electrical wallbox, such that the first control signal is electrically isolated from the second control signal. Accordingly, the load control device meets the requirements of the National Electrical Code when installed in the electrical wallbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Hash
  • Publication number: 20080060929
    Abstract: A switch element is enclosed in the enclosure. The switch element includes a movable piece designed to move along a straight line between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. An operating piece is located along the outer surface of the enclosure. A connecting piece is located along the inner surface of the enclosure. The connecting piece is connected to the movable piece of the switch element. A sliding piece extends around the edge of the enclosure to connect one end of the operating piece to one end of the connecting piece. The sliding piece is designed to slide on the edge of the enclosure. The movable piece of the switch element moves between the switch-on position and the switch-off position in response to the movement of the operating piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takashi Iijima