With External Circuit Connection Means Patents (Class 337/113)
  • Patent number: 10396556
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, in part, to electrical components and methods of use associated with such components. In particular, the invention relates to an electrical device and methods of converting the use of 120 VAC electrical power into 240 VAC electrical power in order to power 240 VAC-requiring equipment and appliances. The electrical system includes at least two 120 VAC electrical cords and plugs, at least one 240 VAC outlet, a plurality of electrical switches and coils managed by a plurality of electrical relays within a central housing unit. The housing unit includes hot side, neutral side and ground wiring that transfer 120 VAC electrical power through the plurality of switches so that the power is safely routed to a 240 VAC outlet for use in powering 240 VAC-requiring equipment and appliances. As a safety feature, the invention further includes a plug circuit breaker that will break the electrical circuit within either a 120 VAC or 240 VAC plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Q Factory 33 LLC
    Inventor: Paul Cruz
  • Patent number: 10062531
    Abstract: A plastic lampholder with a thermostat includes a housing, a plastic bracket, a plastic threaded ring, a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a thermostat and a top cover and is installed to a downlight. The lampholder has two slots for plugging two electrodes of a power line by a bare line section, so that a power source is introduced to the lampholder. Both of the plastic bracket and housing of the lampholder are made of a plastic material and integrally formed, and the plastic threaded ring of the lampholder is integrally formed in the housing. Power is conducted through a thermostat to prevent the lampholder from burning by high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Rich Brand Industries Limited
    Inventor: Te-Shui Peng
  • Patent number: 9356440
    Abstract: A leakage current detection and interruption (LCDI) device, for use as a safety device for a cable connecting, a power source with a load. The LCDI having a safety circuit that senses the presence of an arcing condition between one of the conducting lines and a metal sheath, and in response thereto, opens at least one of the conducting lines between the power supply and the load. The structure of the LCDI circuit card assembly incorporates a load input cavity having fire retardant materials surrounding the load input terminals, and further includes a contact actuator which encases the switch or contact arm at the source input section of the LCDI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TOWER Manufacturing CORP.
    Inventor: Victor V Aromin
  • Patent number: 8830025
    Abstract: A circuit breaker can minimize a change in a structure of a case when a material forming a stud is changed. A stud includes a base portion provided in the case and a protruding portion protruding from the case. A cross-sectional area of the protruding portion is more than that of the base portion; thereby a thermal conductivity of the protruding portion increases and the thermal conductivity from the protruding portion to an external conductor connected to the stud increases. In addition, since a surface area of the protruding portion increases, an amount of heat dissipated from the protruding portion increases. In the invention, since dimensions of the base portion inserted into a stud insertion hole of the case are not changed, it is not necessary to change the dimensions of the insertion hole of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electronic Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nakano, Kentaro Toyama, Makoto Osawa
  • Patent number: 8284011
    Abstract: A cap (27) for a temperature-dependent switch (10) having a first connection area (22) and at least one second connection area (23) on the outer surface of its housing (11, 12) for the purpose of electrically connecting leads (25, 26) is designed as a cup-like surrounding housing that can be pushed onto the switch (10), preferably with an accurate fit, such that the connection areas (22, 23) for electrical connection are accessible from the outside after said surrounding housing has been pushed on, whereby a first opening (28) for the first connection area (22) and a second opening (29) for the second connection area (23) are provided in said cap (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Marcel P. Hofsaess
  • Patent number: 8093984
    Abstract: An installation switching device includes a housing, a main contact point having an arc quenching chamber, an input terminal, an output terminal, an impact-style armature system configured to move the main contact point to an open position, a latching mechanism having a latching point and configured to open an isolating contact point disposed in a secondary current path parallel to a main current path, a main thermostatic bimetallic strip configured to act on the latching point to as to cause the main contact point to remain in the open position, a current limiting resistor disposed in the secondary current path, a selective thermostatic bimetallic strip disposed in the secondary current path and configured to act on the latching mechanism, a handle configured to act on the latching mechanism so as to open and close the main contact point, and a phase connecting rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Manfred Hofmann, Wolfgang Pump, Ralf Wieland, Albert Stieger, Joachim Majewski, Roland Ritz, Klaus-Peter Eppe, Erwin Muders, Joachim Becker, Rainer Ludovici, Heinz-Erich Popa, Wolfgang Suess
  • Patent number: 7501926
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle has an outlet and senses the operating temperature and automatically turns off when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold. The receptacle has a reset button that must be manually operated to enable operation of the outlet to resume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: B Safe Electrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Watchorn, Barry Littlewood, Robert Z. Kopelman
  • Patent number: 7489227
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle has multiple thermal sensors, each of which can trigger automatic shut off when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold. After automatically turning off, the receptacle remains permanently non-conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: BSafe Electrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Fabian, Michael Nordmeyer, Douglas Watchorn
  • Patent number: 7385473
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle senses its operating temperature and automatically turns off when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold. The receptacle has a button that visually indicates when the receptacle has reached its temperature threshold. After automatically turning off, the receptacle remains permanently non-conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: BSafe Electrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Fabian, Douglas Watchorn
  • Patent number: 7301434
    Abstract: A motor protector (10) is shown having an elongated generally cup-shaped metallic housing (12) formed by a top wall (12a) and a side wall (12b) extending down from the perimeter of the top walls, the free end of which is welded to a header (14). The side and top wall have a rounded junction (12c) and a calibration rill (12e) is formed in the top wall from one end of the housing and through the rounded junction. An elongated thermostatic disc (16) is mounted in the housing and has a movable electrical contact (20) mounted at one end to be movable into and out of engagement with a stationary electrical contact (34) that is in turn mounted on a heater (26). A ceramic insulator plate (32) is interposed between the heater and the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Pisuk, Brian Leary, Savithri Subramanyam, Keith E. Crowe, Sameer Masurkar
  • Patent number: 7292129
    Abstract: A switch device includes a body with a switch member pivotably engaged with a top opening of the body and a first terminal and a second terminal respectively extend through a bottom of the body. A bi-metallic plate has a first end fixed to the first terminal and includes a first contact point which is located above a second contact point on the second terminal. A link has an upper end pivotably connected with a protrusion on an underside of the switch member and a lower end of the link clamps the second end of the bimetallic plate. The protrusion includes an engaging hole and an extension slot is in communication with the engaging hole. The upper end of the link has a biasing plate which contacts a contact portion in the body so as to provide a potential force to keep the link upright. When overloaded, the bi-metallic plate is deformed upward and the upper end of the link is moved into the extension slot to ensure that the bi-metallic plate is deformed completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6856232
    Abstract: A mounting fixture for fast installation of switch connectors is provided. The mounting fixture is encased in a molded housing with a plurality of dividers separating an interior of the housing into a plurality of compartments. An elongated pin is adjacent to one end wall of the housing for receiving the metal pin of the connector and an elongated anchor slot is adjacent to another end wall for anchoring a metal inlay in each compartment. Each metal inlay is formed with two orthogonal planes, an anchor plate and a resilient plate. The resilient plate has a notch on the far edge, such that when the copper wires of the electric cable are inserted into the mounting fixture through the wire hole, the notch will be able to clamp on the inserted wires by the counter force from the resilient plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Chen
  • Patent number: 6636141
    Abstract: A controllable electronic switch for, e.g., controlling power distribution comprises a bimetal member anchored at one end and in controllable contact with an electrical conductor at the other end. An incoming power wire is connected to the bimetal member near the contact point with the electrical conductor. A heating element, such as a coil, is coupled to the bimetal member, and is controlled by a switch control signal. When the switch control signal is not asserted, the heating element is inactive, and power is delivered through the incoming power wire across the end of the bimetal member to the electrical conductor, from which it can be further distributed to the load. When the switch control signal is asserted, the heating element heats up causing the bimetal to bend until the contact with the electrical conductor is broken. The electrical path from the incoming power wire to the electrical conductor (and hence, to the load) is then broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Yingco Electronic Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ying
  • Patent number: 6529112
    Abstract: A ring tongue lug retainer in a circuit breaker with the circuit breaker having a line bus conductor and a load bus conductor, wherein electrical conductors are connected to the line and load bus conductors. The ring tongue lug retainer comprises a lug body having a throughbore defining at least two interior walls and a threaded screw hole aligned perpendicular to and in communication with the throughbore. A thread portion may be provided in each interior wall of the lug body engages the binding screw configured to threadingly engage the screw hole and the lug body. The binding screw has a ring tongue protrusion configured to engage a ring tongue terminal of the electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Leone
  • Patent number: 6512441
    Abstract: A push-button switch with overload protection is disclosed. The switch comprises a housing, a conducting unit, and an actuating unit. The conducting unit comprises several terminals, a normal-open first conducting leaf and a thermally deflecting bimetal sheet. The bimetal sheet is of a U shape having a working end and an opening end. The working end can deflect to an overload position from a normal position in the event of overload. The actuating unit comprises a stem, a positioning means, a rocking lever, an enabling lever, and a lever reseating member. By means of the above structure, a trip action could be assured no matter what happens on the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6496095
    Abstract: A push button switch includes a box with a button movably inserted in the box and an oscillation member is pivotally connected to a terminal plate. A bimetal plate is connected to the other terminal plate. A curved spring is connected to the oscillation member and a tongue of the button contacts the curved spring so that the bimetal plate contacts the oscillation member when pushing the button. A movable member has a U-shaped member which has an end engaged with an enclosed recessed area in the button. The inner periphery of the recessed area positions the end of the U-shaped member at open and close position. The movable member is pushed by the deformation of the bimetal plate and the U-shaped member is moved from the position in the recessed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Publication number: 20020171531
    Abstract: An electrical functional device for use in the field of aviation, for example, a safety switch, is described. The functional device has a housing out of which a cylindrical fixing neck projects. The fixing neck contains, on an outer circumference thereof, a fine-pitch threading for screwing on a nut, and carries, at a distance from the end thereof that is attached to the housing, a radially protruding bearing flange. The bearing flange serves to hold the device in a fixed position, in which the fixing neck projects through a fastening hole of a wall element and is held therein against the bearing flange by a nut. The fixing neck is a one-piece part made out of plastic. It contains, between the end of the threading thereof and the bearing flange, an unthreaded shaft area, which is coaxial in relation to the fixing neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Meckler, Horst Ellenberger, Ewald Schneider, Lothar Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 6445273
    Abstract: An overload-protection push-button switch with automatic resetting mechanism is disclosed. The switch is characterized in that a pressing stem actuates a conducting leaf via an enabled rocking lever, and that a wrecking bar is provided to dislocate the position of a positioning unit so that the pressing stem will automatically return back to its reset position in case the rocking lever is disabled due to overload. By means of the above structure, a push-button switch which is capable of exactly functioning and has a simple structure to easily assemble is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6377158
    Abstract: A push button current cut-off safety switch comprising a housing having an opening; a push button mounted within the housing and being fitted to said opening; a push rod being mounted below said push button and including a triangular passage and an insulating element; a spring being inserted into and compressed by the push rod; an interlinking rod having one end pivotally connected to the housing and the other end being connected to the triangular passage of the push rod; a first conductive plate; a second conductive plate being connected to the first conductive plate by a resilient plate such that the downward movement of the push rod electrically connects to the first and the second conductive plates and the upward movement of the push button disconnects the first and the second conductive plates; an alloy metal made of a shape memory alloy which is thermally deformable, said alloy metal being linked to the second conductive plate and connected to the interlinking rod; a third conductive plate being connect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6377159
    Abstract: A circuit breaker switch essentially comprising a push button switch, an alloy metal having one end connected to a contact of a circuit of the switch and the other end being mounted to the circuit of the switch. If the current to the switch does not exceed a predetermined current value, the switch functions as a normal switch. That is, the original position of the switch is in the “OFF” position and a depression to the push button changes its position to the “ON” state. A further depression of the push button restores the push button to the “OFF” state. When the current passed to the switch exceeds the predetermined current valve, the alloy metal is thermally deformed and curved upward, which forms a gap to allow an insulating plate to be inserted to cut off the current supply and open the circuit. The switch restores to its function by resetting the push button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6353380
    Abstract: A power switch device includes a switch body with a switch contact device pivotally connected to a switch cover body. An alloy piece is connected to one of two contact terminals and a second contact joint to which the other contact terminal disengagably contacts when the circuit is closed. The switch contact device has a movable member retractably received therein and the alloy piece contacts one end of the movable member. The end of the movable member is normally supported on a plate in the switch body so that when the current is overloaded, the alloy piece is thermally deformed to push the end of the movable member away from the plate and the switch contact device is therefore pivoted to release a conductive plate pressed by the switch contact device so as to shut the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6335674
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with a push button includes an electrical breaker having a casing having an opening defined therein with a hole defined in each side near the opening. A first prong and a second prong each attached to and extending through the casing. An alloy plate is attached to the first prong and has a free end aligning with the second prong. A seesaw switch is pivotally mounted in the opening of the casing with a shaft extending from the center of each side. Each of the shafts is received in the corresponding hole in the casing. A push block is pivotally attached to the bottom portion of the seesaw switch and has a recess defined therein to receive the free end of the alloy plate. An activation block extends from a top portion of the seesaw switch. A push button is attached to the electrical breaker and has an activation rod movable back and forth therein. The activation rod presses on the activation block of the seesaw switch and has an axis at a right angle with the axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: Chao-Tai Huang
  • Patent number: 6326879
    Abstract: A thermal switch arrangement for electromagnetic coils of electric motors, including at least one coil, which has a winding (52, 54) and a coil former (30, 48) in the form of a winding core (32), which is enclosed by two end flanges (36, 38; 56, 58, 60, 62), and flat plugs (26, 28; 74, 76, 78), which are connected with the two ends of the winding and/or the connections of a thermal switch (80), assigned to the winding, and are inserted and locked in pockets (40, 42; 64, 66) in or at at least one end flange (36, 38; 56, 58, 60, 62) from the peripheral edge of the latter and locked. Two tags (82, 84) of the thermal switch (80) enter the pockets (40, 42; 64, 66) of the flat plug (74, 78) from the inner surface of the one end flange (36, 60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hanning Elektro-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Hangmann, Matthias Paul, Norbert Krogmeier, Walter Wistinghausen
  • Patent number: 6307460
    Abstract: A power switch device includes a switch box with a button pivotally connected thereto which is pivotally connected to an actuating member. An engaging member is movably connected to the actuating member and removably engaged with a block. A head connected to the actuating member movably compresses a conduct plate so that when the conduct plate contacts a terminal plate, the circuit is closed. A bimetal plate connected to the terminal plate has a pushing end contacting the engaging member so that when the current is overloaded, the pushing end is thermally deformed to push the engaging member away from the block and the engaging member drops due to gravity. The head is then lifted to release the conduct plate from the terminal plate to open the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6307459
    Abstract: A switch structure comprises a control element, which comprises an alloy piece and a swing contact device. The alloy piece includes an actuating piece with a convex part, which has a upper side normally pushing the lower surface of the end part in the swing contact device so that the actuating piece ejects outwards and escapes from the end part when the alloy piece is overheated because of the current flowing through therein overloaded. Therefore, the end part falls down due to no support force and the head part of the swing contact device deforms upwards and does not press on the elastic contact piece. The elastic contact piece is released from the pressing of the swing contact device to eject upwards. Two joints connected in an electric loop are tripped. The object of rapid response, cutting power source, and safety is therefore achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6275133
    Abstract: A switch structure comprises a control element, which comprises an alloy piece and a swinging device. The swinging device has an actuating element used to actuate the swinging device when the actuating element is pushed. When the alloy piece is overheated due to overloading of current, it will deform toward the actuating element so as to eject the actuating element, which causes the swing device to swing outwards and is released from the supporting of the stopper in the switch body. Then, the swing device moves towards the original closing position, and the elastic contacting piece is released from the pressing of the swing device to eject upwards. Two joints connected in an electric loop are tripped. The object of rapid response, cutting power source, and safety is therefore achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Tsung-Mou Yu
    Inventor: Chun-Hsu Chen
  • Patent number: 6252489
    Abstract: A switch structure which includes an alloy piece, a contact control device, and a push device is disclosed. The contact control device includes an elastic part and connects to an end part so that the end part may reciprocally move with respect to the contact control device in a horizontal direction. The end part normally contacts with the upper side of the stopper placed in the switch body and is used to push the push device towards the end part when the alloy piece is overheated and strain is generated due to the current flowing through the alloy piece. The end part then elastically contracts and escapes from the stopper to fall down so that another end of the contact control device projects upwards and does not press the elastic contact plate. Therefore, the elastic contact plate may escape from the two contact points to cut off the power source rapidly by the elastic force to achieve the purpose of safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Tsung-Mou Yu
    Inventor: Chun-Hsu Chen
  • Patent number: 6249209
    Abstract: A switch structure comprises a switch case, a switch, a contact reed, a control element, a swinging device, and an alloy piece. The swinging device is assembled with the control element. The switch is coupled with the contact reed. When the alloy piece is overheated due to current overloading, it is deformed towards the control element so as to push the swinging device that is then swung away and released from the support of the switch case. As a result, the control element moves towards to an original off position. An elastic contacting piece is released from the pressing of the control element so as to be ejected upwards and break the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6154116
    Abstract: The thermal circuit breaker and switch has fixed and movable contacts, and non-conductive contact and trip actuators. The movable contact is provided on the free end of a lever arm that normally biases the movable contact toward its open position. The contact actuator transfers movement from a rocker or operator to the movable contact arm when no overload condition exists. The trip actuator is L shaped and rotates in a socket when engaged by a thermally sensitive bi-metallic element so as to allow one end of the contact actuator to float freely, allowing the movable contact arm's bias to open the circuit. The bi-metallic element is so positioned as to engage and rotate the trip actuator only when the bi-metallic element is deformed due to an overheat condition that occurs with an overcurrent. A compression spring acts between the upstanding legs of the trip actuator and the underside of the rocker thus biasing the rocker to the `off` position and biasing the trip actuator to the `reset` position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Richard W. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 6094126
    Abstract: The thermal circuit breaker and switch has fixed and movable contacts, and non-conductive contact and trip actuators. The movable contact is provided on the free end of a lever arm that normally biases the movable contact toward its open position. The contact actuator transfers movement from a rocker or operator to the movable contact arm when no overload condition exists. The trip actuator is L shaped and rotates in a socket when engaged by a thermally sensitive bi-metallic element so as to allow one end of the contact actuator to float freely, allowing the movable contact arm's bias to open the circuit. The bi-metallic element is so positioned as to engage and rotate the trip actuator only when the bi-metallic element is deformed due to an overheat condition that occurs with an overcurrent. A compression spring acts between the upstanding legs of the trip actuator and the underside of the rocker thus biasing the rocker to the `off` position and biasing the trip actuator to the `reset` position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Richard W. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 6072381
    Abstract: A small-sized simple switch for circuit protection of the present invention is simple in structure and easy to operate, and can be readily switched for safety protection of circuits. An alloy plate of the present invention is highly resilient. When in overload, the alloy plate expands and becomes deformed due to the different thermal expansion coefficient and is deformed upward to become disengaged from a wire connecting pad with which it is originally in contact, causing the switch to be switched from the "ON" condition to the "OFF" condition. The alloy plate pushes a lever pivoted to the moving end of the alloy plate to move up such that the lever pushes one end of a pivoted reset button to move up. A user only has to depress the reset button and the switch will be again in the "ON" condition such that repeated ON/OFF conditions of the protection circuit can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 5828285
    Abstract: A pre-assembled holder (11) for a bimetallic switching device (12) in a temperature-dependent switch (10) comprises a supporting part (13) made of an electrically insulating material and two electrically conductive contact parts (14, 15) which are fastened to the supporting part (13) before the switching device (12) is inserted. The holding ends (24, 25) of the two electrically conductive contact parts (14, 15) protrude beyond the supporting part (13) and are designed to bear and clamp the switching device (12) between them outside the supporting part (13). An insulating cap (31) can be placed over the holding ends (24, 25) after the switching device (12) has been inserted (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Marcel Hofsass
  • Patent number: 5828284
    Abstract: A circuit overload protective device includes a body having a button pivotally disposed thereto and a bimetallic strip disposed thereto which has a first contact point disengagably contacting a second contact point on the body. A first member and a second member are respectively connected to an underside of the button, wherein the first member has a leg extending therefrom so as to be shifted into a curved recess defined in a first inner side of the body when the bimetallic strip is deformed, and the second member has a distal end thereof connected to the first contact point. A third member is disposed to a second inner side of the body and a spring is biasedly connected between the first member and the third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 5808539
    Abstract: A snap acting thermostatic disc assembly having a thermostatic disc element (20) responsive both to current and to ambient temperature is provided with an electrical contact (22) on a face surface on the disc element at one end thereof and a weld slug (24) at an opposite end of the disc element and has a fulcrum member (28, 28', 28") on the opposite face surface of the disc element in alignment with the weld slug. The fulcrum member is arranged to move the bending location of the disc element member away from the heat affected zone of the thermostatic metal caused by welding. In a second embodiment the snap acting disc element is used as an ambient temperature responsive control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Sheldon S. White
  • Patent number: 5262749
    Abstract: An electrical safety device is provided with a heat responsive relay adapted to be interposed between a load and a power source. The relay is adapted to open circuit in response to a predetermined temperature. A heater element responsive to the opening of the relay is shunted across the relay. When the relay opens, power is shunted to the heater for maintaining the relay at least at the predetermined temperature thereby holding the relay open while the load remains connected to said power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Opti-Lume Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Z. Kopelman
  • Patent number: 5048974
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature measuring device including an alarm contact, in particular for motor vehicles, the device comprising a housing (10) which receives a bimetallic strip (20) and a thermoresistive element (150). According to the invention, a support (100) of electrically insulating material is provided to carry a contact stud (160), a contact blade (170), the thermoresistive element (150) interposed between the contact stud (160) and the contact blade (170), and a spring element (180), all in the form of a unitary module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Jaeger
    Inventor: Christian Dupuy
  • Patent number: 4951025
    Abstract: An electrical outlet receptacle is shown having a thermally responsive switch disposed within the receptacle thermally coupled to components of the receptacle and adapted to interrupt power thereto upon the occurrence of overload or overtemperature conditions in the environs of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Francis Finnegan, Anthony Azzara
  • Patent number: 4864269
    Abstract: In a portable electrical adapter removably securable to an electrical wall receptacle for controlling electrical power, including; a housing adapted to house spaced first and second electrical conductors, said first electrical conductor presented at one end of said housing and including connecting structure for electrically conecting said first conductor to said electrical power of said wall receptacle, said second conductor presented at another end of said housing for supplying electrical power from said first conductor, and selectable condition sensing means presented by said housing electrically connected to said first and second conductor for sensing a selected condition in the vicinity of said condition sensing means and electrically connecting said first and second conductor so as to supply electrical power to said second conductor from the said wall receptacle when said variable condition sensing means senses said select condition, and to electrically disconnect said first conductor from said second co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventor: Stanley R. Priebe
  • Patent number: 4829281
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved means of connecting the end of a bimetal blade, from which the bimetal flexes, to a planar member of a thermostatic switch. The bimetal blade, in response to temperature changes of the ambient, flexes to alternately establish circuit closed and open conditions of the switch. In a preferred embodiment, the planar member is a contact strip that overlies the basewall of a non-conducting case. The attachment provided by the present invention increases the cyclical life expectancy of the bimetal blade by locating a preloaded weld button against the one attached end of the bimetal blade in a press fit wherein a pressure, exerted by the weld button, prevents movement of the bimetal blade. A weld penetrates the planar member, the bimetal blade and the weld button to prevent relaxation of the pressure. In the connection of the present invention, the blade is held in place essentially by the pressure exerted by the weld button rather than by the weld itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Portage Electric Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Omar Givler
  • Patent number: 4780698
    Abstract: A resettable, current-responsive, circuit interrupter device has two wide but thin terminals embedded up to a substantial part of their thickness in a side wall of an insulating housing so that sides of the embedded terminal portions are exposed from the housing material along the side wall inside the housing. Terminal ends extend from the bottom of the housing to be connected in a circuit and extend through the top of the housing to be accessible for test purposes. An electrical contact is mounted on the exposed side surface of one embedded terminal portion and a thermostatic strip element is secured to the exposed side surface of the other embedded terminal portion to extend closely along the one housing side to normally engage the contact in a very compact, closed circuit position of the device. A lid overlies the thermostatic strip element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald Tomkinson, John R. D'Entremont
  • Patent number: 4751623
    Abstract: An illumination device according to the present invention generally includes a housing, electrical plug prongs, a connector portion associated with the housing for receiving and electrically contacting a light bulb, and a heat sensitive electrical circuit for conducting electrical current from an electrical outlet or other electrical power source to a light bulb received within through the connector portion of the illumination device. Preferably, the heat sensitive electrical circuit includes a bimetallic strip or other heat sensitive mechanism that automatically interrupts the flow of electrical current through the connector portion of the night light when the temperature sensed by the bimetallic strip exceeds a predetermined temperature level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Novo Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Gaines, William T. Piett
  • Patent number: 4685037
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a thermal protective device on the outer surface of a housing of a recessed lighting fixture includes a plaster frame having a horizontal portion and a depending portion formed integrally with the horizontal portion. The plaster frame is adapted for mounting in a ceiling opening. A housing has a lamp connected to a source of electrical power and is adapted for mounting within the depending portion of the frame. A thermal protective device is connected in series with the lamp for interrupting the current from the source of electrical power when the temperature on the outer surface of the housing exceeds a predetermined temperature. A retaining device is provided for holding the thermal protective device against the outer surface of the housing to sense the temperature thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Akiyama, Ronald C. Zaker, Curtis C. Shoup
  • Patent number: 4646195
    Abstract: A motor protector of the type having a snap acting thermostatic element is shown particularly adapted for use with compressor motors in which a conventional three pin header is mounted on the compressor casing to allow electrical energization of the motor. An improved heat transfer path is formed between the windings of the motor and the thermostatic element of the protector by suspending the protector from one of the motor pins in optimum heat conductive relation therewith and thermally separated from the compressor casing and any component mounted on the other two pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard J. Lisauskas
  • Patent number: 4633061
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater includes a main body adapted to be mounted on at least one of a seat cushion part or seat back part of a vehicle seat and provided with a pair of electric warming heaters. A thermally insulated temperature control unit located remotely from the heater main body is provided for stopping energization of the heating elements when the temperature of the seat heater main body exceeds a predetermined level. The control unit includes a pair of auxiliary electric heaters each respectively coupled to a different one of the warming heaters for simultaneous energization therewith and a pair of thermostatic switches coupled in series, with each thermostatic switch being in heat exchange relationship with a different one of the auxiliary heaters for stopping the flow of electricity to the auxiliary heater and warming heater coupled thereto. The thermostat switches and auxiliary heaters are disposed within casing or housing and connected to the respective warming heaters by lead wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomio Arikawa
  • Patent number: 4630021
    Abstract: A time delay relay (TDR) is formed by capturing a thermostatic switch between identical shells of an outer housing and suspending the switch in a switch cavity to minimize heat loss to the outer housing. The shells are bonded together to form a unitary housing member. Heater terminal members are captured in identical grooves formed in the housing shells with the terminals projecting from either the top or bottom of the TDR. An alternate embodiment includes a manual reset mechanism also captured between the housing shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald W. Brown
  • Patent number: 4570145
    Abstract: Temperature responsive control apparatus includes a body portion, a socket portion, a circuit portion, a connecting portion, a temperature responsive portion and a fastening portion. The body portion includes a housing member including a front face section, a plurality of sidewall sections and a rear section. The socket portion includes a plurality of openings in the front face section with the openings being arranged into groups of at least two adjacent openings with each group providing a combination of openings mateable with an electrical plug member. The circuit portion includes a contact section within the body portion adjacent each socket opening. The connecting portion includes positive and neutral contact terminals disposed on an outer surface of a sidewall or rear section of the body portion with each contact section of one group of socket openings being connected electrically to a different contact terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Inventor: John C. Carey
  • Patent number: 4538134
    Abstract: Temperature responsive control apparatus including a housing portion, a socket portion, a circuit portion, a temperature responsive portion, a connecting portion and a fastening portion; the housing portion including an enclosure member including a major face section, sidewall sections and a cover section forming a chamber; the socket portion including a plurality of openings in the enclosure member, the openings being arranged into groups of at least two adjacent openings with each group providing a combination of openings mateable with an electrical plug member; the circuit portion including at least two spaced buss bar members, each of the buss bar members including a contact section adjacent each end thereof extending in one direction therefrom toward the socket openings and terminating adjacent thereto, one of the contact sections that extends from one of the buss bar members being disposed adjacent a socket opening of each socket opening group and one of the contact sections that extends from another bu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: John C. Carey
  • Patent number: 4532488
    Abstract: An overload protection switch for an electric motor comprises a bimetallic switch-actuating element carrying a moving contact of the switch, a first terminal part having an extension which defines a mounting for the bimetal, and a second terminal part having an extension which mounts a fixed contact of the switch, the first and second terminal parts being received in a moulded plastics switch body portion. In contrast to prior art switches of this type where the terminal parts were manufactured of material having a low electrical resistance, the invention manufactures these parts of high resistance material selected such that under very high overload current levels the resistance heating in the terminal parts does not significantly determine the switching characteristics of the switch on account of the overwhelmingly predominant bimetallic heating, but towards the other end of the overload current scale the self-heating of the terminal parts significantly affects the switch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Otter Controls Limited
    Inventor: Arthur M. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 4514715
    Abstract: A safety receptacle having bimetallic means which will cut off the power line when an electrical appliance connected thereto is overloaded or short-circuited. Further, the safety receptacle may be slightly modified to form a circuit breaker or a safety plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Inventor: Kun S. Chen
  • Patent number: 4486732
    Abstract: An ambient compensated motor protector comprising a case having at least one initially open end and an assembly of superimposed members positioned in an insulation sleeve compressed in and sealing the open end of the case, the members including a bimetal strip extending into the case as a cantilever, a heater strip connected only to the free end of the bimetal strip, and a pair of insulation strips, one on each surface of the heater strip, at the sealed end of the case, to insulate the heater strip and bimetal strip from each other at that area of the motor protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Inventors: Robert M. Wells, Alton R. Wells