Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7307229 | Switch provided with self-cleaning contacts The invention relates to a switch provided with self-cleaning contacts used, in particular for actuating a horn for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The inventive switch comprises at least two opposite contacts one of which is movable and touches the opposite co... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7107600 | System and method for cleaning electrical delivery systems System and method for cleaning an electrical delivery system. An embodiment of the self-cleaning electrical delivery system comprises a track having an abrasive surface and a brush operatively associated with the track, the brush moving over the abrasive surface of ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 6495778 | Breakable electric contact device Breakable electric contact device of the type comprising two conducting strips (3, 4) between which an electric contact can be made using a conducting piece (5) in the form of a moving blade, at least one of the faces of which is intended to come into con... | 12/17/2002 |
| 6091038 | Electrical switch with sliding terminal contacts An electrical switch (20) comprises a plastic base (40), a plurality of base terminals (102-112) mounted in the base, a manually pivotable actuator (200) supported for pivotal movement relative to the base, and at least one actuator terminal (260) mounted... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6031194 | Slide switch with self cleaning structure including grooves in rectangular substrate A slide switch that can remove foreign particles, such as metallic dust, from its ground terminals. When the movable contact slides toward a stroke end, the power source contact first passes through an end section of the power source terminal before disen... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5512723 | Self-cleaning type switch A switch compartment 20R is formed in a switch body 20 of electrically insulating material and opens at the top surface of the body. First and second fixed contact members 23C, 24C are secured to the opposed inner walls of the compartment. The open top of... | 04/30/1996 |
| 5049709 | Index rotary switch with rotor contact member having L-shaped arms An index rotary switch includes a housing, stationary contact members, a rotor contact member, and a pushbutton-operated actuator device. The stationary contact members are disposed within the housing for defining an infinite number of alternately achieve... | 09/17/1991 |
| 5047603 | Electrical contact structures specifically suited for low power circuits An electrical contact mechanism for low power circuits includes a pair of movable contacts which can be pressed against fixed contacts. The movable contacts are mounted on a conductive bridge which is movable by a slider. The motion of the movable contact... | 09/10/1991 |
| 5013876 | Switch contacts with improved fault-closing capability A contact arrangement is provided for a medium- or high-voltage switch including two contact surfaces that are generally parallel and relatively movable via a predetermined path between open and closed positions. During closing, the two contact surfaces d... | 05/07/1991 |
| 4733028 | Switch A low voltage switch having relatively long plunger travel that maximizes internal self-wiping of the contacts thereby to prolong switch life. The support for the internal contacts functions as a guide for the plunger as well as providing the necessary el... | 03/22/1988 |
| 4677265 | Gas-blast circuit breaker The gas-blast circuit breaker preferably provided for switching medium voltage has a housing (1) filled with insulating gas. In this housing (1), two contact members (7, 8) are arranged which can be moved relative to each other along an axis (6), and a fi... | 06/30/1987 |
| 4518834 | Matrix slide switch A matrix switch assembly has two boards on which facing surfaces carry conducting strips oriented in different directions. Slots through one of the boards are provided through which a switching element may slide to make contact between a strip associated ... | 05/21/1985 |
| 4506119 | Snap action slide switch with wiping action A slide switch having at least one row of terminals arranged along a substrate has a slider movable along the terminals. The slider carries a movable contact element biased resiliently towards the terminals so as to connect separate pairs of these termina... | 03/19/1985 |
| 4472614 | Electric switch with improved sliding contact holder An insulating contact holder (26) is reciprocally movable in sliding engagement between flexible stationary contacts (22, 24) to interrupt the circuit therebetween in one position of the holder and to carry a contact (32) into bridging engagement with sai... | 09/18/1984 |
| 4403335 | Arrangement for the self-wiping of contacts in multidigit interrogating counters An arrangement for the self-wiping of contacts in multidigit interrogatory counters where the data are read through code wheels to contact wheels and to mechanical sliding contacts which sense the contact wheels. The improvement includes the arranging of ... | 09/06/1983 |
| 4225901 | Lampchanger for a light A lampchanger for a light, such as a navigational light, having a rotatable turret for holding a plurality of lamps, fixed power contacts for engaging and lighting the lamp positioned in the operating position, and means for rotating the turret thereby pl... | 09/30/1980 |
| 4072834 | Electric slide switch having sliding contact with cleaning action Miniature electrical switches having a sliding cleaning action, and utilizing a U-shaped bridging element with a detent projection for engagement in between and in contact with adjacent terminals and simultaneously providing electrical connection and dete... | 02/07/1978 |
| 4012612 | Seat belt buckle switch assembly having self cleaning contacts An electric switch is disposed in a cavity of a buckle. The electric switch includes a stationary first contact member, a movable second contact member, a biasing means for the second contact member, and an actuating member. The biasing means biases the s... | 03/15/1977 |
