Electricity: circuit makers and breakers inventions 01/07

20070017787 - Compound switch: There is provided a compound switch suitable for preventing malfunction as a multidirectional switch caused by an unreasonable turning force applied to a slider, improving the switch operability, and simplifying a switch mounting panel surface. When a transverse push-in force is applied to the operating portion 14, the slider 8... Agent: Norris, Mclaughlin & Marcus, P.A.

20070017788 - Switching apparatus: A movable contact holder includes a rod-shaped portion which is formed in such a manner as to extend in a direction which is at substantially right angles to a traveling direction of a movable unit and is substantially parallel to a sliding plane of a movable contact, and the movable... Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

20070017789 - Spring-loaded locking dial for hair appliances: A rotatably mounted control dial has two axial positions: a depressed, locked position, and an extended, unlocked position. A user can selectively lock and unlock the dial by pressing on it to activate or de-activate a spring-loaded latch.... Agent: Steven A. Garner, Esq. Conair Corporation

20070017790 - Instrument panel assembly: An instrument panel assembly for a passenger compartment is provided, including an instrument panel surface, a light emitter that emits a light beam so that the light beam extends along a beam path, and a light receiver that senses the light beam and detects a desired instrument setting change.... Agent: Visteon

20070017791 - Button fixing mechanism: A button fixing mechanism for fixing a button (50) to a base (20) of an electronic device includes a top panel (30) of the base, a shelf (40) attached to the top panel, and a pair of resilient members (60). The button includes a pair of shafts (53) extending outwardly... Agent: Morris Manning Martin LLP

20070017792 - Control pad structure with integral speaker: A control pad structure (10) with a built-in speaker (40) includes a circuit board (20) disposing a plurality of touch switches (22) thereon; a control pad (30) is provided with a plurality of bulge points (36); and an accommodating space (35) is formed between the circuit board and the control... Agent: PCe Industry, Inc. Att. Cheng-ju Chiang Jeffrey T. Knapp

20070012550 - Modular operating switch assembly: A modular operating switch assembly comprises a housing defining a plurality of switch operating cells. Each of the operating cells has guide walls, a switch actuating member in sliding contact with the guide walls, and a switch contact carrier configured to be selectively equipped with contact pairs such that each... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070012551 - Hydrogen pressure tank: A tank for storing a compressed gas, such as hydrogen, that includes a connection assembly to increase seal integrity. The tank includes an inner gas tight liner and an outer support layer that provides the structural integrity. The connection assembly includes a boss positioned within an opening of the support... Agent: Cary W. Brooks General Motors Corporation

20070012552 - Jerk-initiated switch: A jerk-initiated switch includes a housing having an inner housing wall which defines an accommodation chamber therein. First and second terminals are disposed to define a switching action enabling path of a straight length that crosses the accommodation chamber. A ball member and a momentum reducing member are disposed in... Agent: Paul D. Greeley, Esq. Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, L.L.P.

20070012553 - Keypad assembly for a portable terminal: A keypad assembly for a portable terminal is disclosed. The keypad assembly for the portable terminal includes a light guide plate which has reflection patterns locally formed on a lower surface of the light guide plate for reflecting a part of light transmitted in the light guide plate toward an... Agent: Cha & Reiter, LLC

20070012554 - Circuit interrupter that produces snap-action connection and disconnection between electrical contacts: An apparatus and method to minimize teasing and contact welding at contact points includes a switch having a first contact movable toward a second contact from a switch-deactuated position to a switch-actuated position and movable away from the second contact from the switch-actuated position back to the switch-deactuated position. A... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20070012555 - Membrane switch: A membrane switch is formed by laminating a pair of flexible printed circuit (FPC) boards with two types of resist between them. An oil-resistant thermally adhesive resist is used in the peripheral area between the laminated FPC boards, and a resist that is not thermally adhesive is used in the... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20070007113 - Electromechanical device for controlling an image forming apparatus: An electromechanical device including a key top member (i.e., a push button cover device) used in a push button mechanism. The key top member has a main body, a frame surrounding the main body, and a hinge portion supporting the key top main body. The hinge portion is formed integrally... Agent: C. Irvin Mcclelland Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070007112 - Multidirectional input device: A multidirectional input device is provided. A multidirectional input device includes a keytop capable of moving up and down through pressing. A membrane switch that has a plurality of switch elements and is arranged on the side that faces the reverse side of said key top. A plurality of domed... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20070007114 - Reset lock for electronic devices: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide a protective cover over one or more switches on an electronic device. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a housing having a first perforation and a switch coupled to the housing. A switch... Agent: Macpherson Kwok Chen & Heid LLP

20070007115 - Motion sensor: A motion sensor for tire pressure monitors and other applications includes an insulative collar, a conductive coil spring mounted on the cap, a conductive connector that extend through the cap and connects to the spring, and a conductive can around and spaced from the spring. The cap closes and seals... Agent: Ancel W. Lewis, Jr.

20070007116 - Pressure switch: In a pressure switch with a housing in which a plunger element is located that is movable against a spring force of a first elastic element—contacts being located directly or indirectly on the plunger element, and the first elastic element being located on the side of the plunger element facing... Agent: Striker, Striker & Stenby

20070007117 - Switch: The switch disclosed comprises bosses, protruding outward from side surfaces of the case, located below the supports extending downward to catch the side surfaces of the case. Even if the switches collide with each other or with tools or the like occasionally, the bosses prevent the supports of cover from... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack L.L.P.

20070007118 - Keypad assembly: A keypad assembly including a light guide plate, a keypad, and reflective layers is disclosed. The light guide plate includes reflective patterns that are locally formed on the bottom surface of the light guide plate to reflect a part of light going into the light guide plate to the top... Agent: Cha & Reiter, LLC

20070007119 - Miniaturized electric switch: The invention proposes a switch (10) comprising a bottom contact-holder (12) supporting two fixed electric contacts (30, 30B), an actuation member (54) and an intermediate conductive contact strip (14) that can be deformed elastically in order to modify the electric connection between the two fixed contacts (3030B) and that comprises... Agent: Peter Van Winkle Itt Cannon, M/s 89

20070000761 - Automotive combination switch: An automotive combination switch includes a housing having an opening through which a steering shaft passes, and a stork switch having a switch box, that is inserted and mounted in the housing and a manipulating rod protruding from the switching box. Snaps protruding from the outsides of walls of the... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20070000762 - Architecture and method of fabrication for a liquid metal microswitch (limms): A switch comprises a first wafer having a thin-film structure defined thereon, a second wafer having a plurality of features defined therein, and a seal between the first wafer and the second wafer forming a two-wafer structure having a liquid metal microswitch defined therebetween.... Agent: Agilent Technologies Inc.

20070000763 - Movable contact assembly, method of manufacturing the same, and switch using the same: A movable contact assembly includes a base sheet made of insulating film, a contact provided under a bottom surface of the base sheet, and a conductive layer comprising silver paste on the base sheet. The silver paste contains 12 wt % to 15 wt % of resin binder and 35... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack L.L.P.

20070000764 - Arrangement including rigid housing and display: Described is a device including a housing and a display arrangement. The housing is integrally formed (i.e., a single-piece housing) and has a predefined substantially transparent area. The housing has also at least one opening. The display arrangement is situated inside of the housing and is inserted into the housing... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20070000765 - Lockable switch mechanism: A locking switch assembly includes a cam, a plunger, and a locking mechanism. The cam is rotatably attached to a frame assembly and an end of the plunger is constructed to follow a contour of the cam. The plunger is movable between a plunger first position and a plunger second... Agent: Rockwell Automation, Inc./bf

20070000767 - Electrical switch of the normally closed type: The invention proposes a switch (10) comprising a casing (12) which carries a pair of fixed contact elements (48), a contact bar (96) which is movable between a rear closure position and a front opening position, and a member (60) for actuation of the movable contact bar (96) which is... Agent: Leon D. Rosen Freilich, Hornbaker & Rosen

20070000766 - Keypad, manufacturing method thereof and electronic device using the same: A keypad (20) includes a plurality of keytops (22) and an elastic base (24). The keytops are integrally formed at one side of the elastic base. A manufacturing method of the keypad (20) is provided. An electronic device (30) employing the keypad is also provided. The keypad has good adhesion... Agent: PCe Industry, Inc. Att. Cheng-ju Chiang Jeffrey T. Knapp