Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8138436 | Keypad with cantilever keys An apparatus including: a substrate; a keypad including a plurality of distinct rigid elongate keys wherein each elongate key includes: a first end portion supported by the substrate and a second end portion separated by a dimension of the elongate key from the firs... | 03/20/2012 |
| 7939775 | Button unit for electronic control apparatus of vehicle A button unit for an electronic control apparatus of a vehicle is disclosed. The button unit comprises a button and a detector. The button comprises a controlling portion which is pivotably coupled to a front panel of the electronic control apparatus, and an extensi... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7723628 | Remotely configurable control lever A remotely configurable control lever is disclosed for operating an electrical switch on the control panel of an agricultural vehicle. A cam plate 22 rotatable with the control lever has a cam track 23 defining at least one notch, which is selectively ... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7411141 | Combination switch A combination switch includes a combination switch body 1 fixed to a steering column of a vehicle, an operating lever 2 swingably mounted on the combination switch body 1, and a wiper switch for operating a wiper of the vehicle in accordance wit... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7371984 | Button assembly of dishwasher A button assembly of a dishwasher is provided. The button assembly includes a button portion and a front panel. The button portion has a button head for a user to press and a button body extending down from the button head. A button connecting portion connects a plu... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7335845 | Air-gap switch A switching device is provided having an air-gap switch for an electrical load. The switching device can include a switch keycap configured for controlling the switching of the electrical load. A faceplate can be configured to surround the switch keycap. In addition... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7331201 | Control panel of washing machine A control panel of a washing machine is provided. The buttons of the washing machine on a display panel are disposed independent from corresponding switches on a display substrate. The control panel includes a frame provided on a cabinet to form an exterior, a displ... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7326868 | Button apparatus for disk drive A button apparatus for an electronic component (10) having a button (16) includes a computer bezel (20) and a pressing member (30) pivotally attached to the computer bezel for pressing the button of the electronic component. The computer ... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7316167 | Method and apparatus for protection of contour sensing devices A sheet film protective covering for different types of contour sensing devices is described. In a preferred embodiment, this covering is a mylar sheet film that is coated with a layer of a conductive material. The bottom surface of the mylar film is also preferably... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7290842 | Computer back panel which can be quickly assembled or disassembled A computer back panel which can be quickly assembled or disassembled is installed at a rear side of a computer casing by extending inverted hooks of the back panel into hook holes of the casing, and pushing up the back panel, which enables a locking slot at a top en... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7259341 | Tamper switch actuator arrangement A tamper switch actuator is used in combination with a circuit board held between two outer structural members. The tamper switch actuator includes a suspended displacement member moveable to a conducting position after a given amount of compression of a compressing... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7247806 | Computing device bezel and facia button therefor Disclosed are a computing device bezel and a facia button that is used with the bezel. In one embodiment, the facia button includes a base member, a finger interface that is supported by and that extends from the base member, an axis about which the facia button can... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7217896 | Staked printed circuit board terminals for switch cases A staked terminal rivet system and method configured to mount a switch device onto a printed circuit board is disclosed as an alternative to traditional molded-in or staked-on secondary terminal systems. An electrically conductive rivet functioning as a terminal red... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7215766 | Headset with auxiliary input jack(s) for cell phone and/or other devices Headsets are used in variety of applications to facilitate one- or two-way audio communications between users and/or devices. The present inventor recognized that conventional headsets lack means for successfully integrating more than one audio source, despite their... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7183510 | Switching device A switching device capable of preventing entrance of water from outside of a case through a space below an operation knob into the case is disclosed. The switching device includes: a switch; a case within which the switch is accommodated; a hollow cylinder which is ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182055 | Remote car starter shielding apparatus An improved remote car starter shielding apparatus consisting of a hard, durable, quadrangular convexly shaped shielding component with a plurality of holes in it near the top edge thereof through which a key-ring component, also affixable to a remote car starter un... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7182297 | Method and apparatus for supporting aircraft components, including actuators Methods and apparatuses for supporting aircraft components, including actuators are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an actuator housing having an actuator receptacle that securely yet releasably receives an actuato... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7173201 | Remote controller A remote controller 1 is capable of achieving switching operation even when the user presses substantially any place of a switch. A toilet seat open/close switch 12 has a tiltable member 20 which is tiltably supported at its front lower portion ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7170388 | Thermostat A thermostat has a switch, a temperature sensor, a lever, a spring, and a control plate. The sensor generates a force to operate switch in response to the ambient temperature. The lever having an arm turns with the force from the sensor to open/close contacts of the... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7148438 | Toggle action lever A lever mounted on a support for pivotal movement between two end positions is acted upon by a toggle spring connected at its opposite ends to the lever and the support to bias the lever away from a centre position of unstable equilibrium towards its two end positio... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7148434 | Gearshift mechanism for electromotive toy car Disclosed is a gearshift mechanism for electromotive toy car is provided in a space defined by a left cover and a right cover, including a gearshift lever, a slide plate, an opening shield plate, an opening shield securing plate, a switch plate, pushbuttons, a switc... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7102091 | Lever switch It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever switch capable of reliably preventing intrusion of water or the like into a casing and maintaining smooth operation of a switch mechanism for a long period of time. A lever switch provided with a switch mec... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7038154 | Device for remotely actuating a mechanism The present invention provides an actuating device suitable for remotely actuating a tool which can be the fluid delivery mechanism of a cleaning implement. The actuating device has a flexible tape attached at one end to a spring-loaded spool mechanism connected to ... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7012205 | Bezel assembly A bezel assembly includes a bezel (10), a button (20) slidably attached to the bezel from outside, a relaying member (30) resiliently accordingly attached to the bezel from inner side. The bezel is attached on a front plate (80) of an ele... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6992256 | External disconnect mechanism integrated with an electrical system enclosure A disconnect mechanism for an electrical system that is integrated with the enclosure of the system, yet includes an external handle for closing and opening the electrical circuit. The invention utilizes the system's circuit breaker to switch the current on or off, ... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6984793 | Multidirectional switch actuator and a personal digital assistant using the same An actuator suitable for multi-directional actuation of a push button switch is disclosed. This actuator has an actuation button attached to a plunger to define a predetermined angle therebetween. The actuation button has a surface for multi-directional activation. ... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6982393 | Lever fitting-type power supply circuit breaker Power terminals constituting a power switch are provided in both of connector housings, respectively. Fitting sensing terminals forming a fitting sensing switch are provided in a lever attached to the one connector housing and the other connector housing. When the l... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6958457 | Switch lever systems for physically challenged individuals A system for assisting physically challenged users in operating at least one device comprising a frame, at least one user operable switch lever mounted to the frame and having a generally large activation region, and at least one switch operatively connected between... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6945509 | Universal valve switch A universal valve switch for signaling the operative state of a valve assembly is disclosed that is attached to the body of the valve assembly using a bracketing arrangement. The valve switch comprises a housing defining a chamber and an aperture formed through the ... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6914206 | Operation button fixing structure of electric device In order to facilitate fixing an operating button to the front panel of an electric device, the operation button includes a rectangular frame having at least one engagement piece integrally connected to and extending downwards from its bottom side. The operation but... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6884948 | Multi-directional switch A multi-directional switch contains a bearing 4, an operating shaft 3 supported rockably by the bearing 4, and a cam 15c for giving a required feeling of operation to a rocking operation of the operating shaft 3. In the cam ... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6797898 | Switching device A switching device having a housing, an indexing bolt, a spring, and guiding ribs. The bolt is mounted in a longitudinal direction in a guide channel of the housing to move axially through the guide channel. The bolt has a tip at a front end. The spring is connected... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6727448 | Composite switch unit for vehicle use provided with swingable drive members at both ends in lengthwise direction of box-shaped housing A plurality of switchable contacts are provided on a relaying printed circuit board for centralized relaying of signals between a vehicle per se and a switch unit; a plurality of contact change-over members for connecting and disconnecting the switchable contacts ar... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6706988 | Switch actuating mechanism and electrically controlled device using same An automated device (10) has a curved outer cover (12) through which a switch arm (48) extends. The switch arm is pivotally supported inside the cover and is connected therein by means of a lost motion mechanism (51) to a switch actuator ... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6653583 | Limit switch A limit switch sealing a non-contact type microswitch has a stainless steel actuator lever subjected to nitriding processing which is cantilever supported on a housing upper portion by a plate spring made of polyimide. A non-contact type microswitch store... | 11/25/2003 |
| 6621017 | Push-button switch and multiple switch using the same A push-button switch includes an insulating board, an actuator, an urging body and a push button. The insulating board has plural switch-contacts. The actuator is made of resilient material and includes a base section placed on the board, a primary and se... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6600115 | Switching device A rod (40) is pivotally provided in a lever (28). The rod (40) is divided into a small-diameter lower rod (37) and a large-diameter upper rod (38). When a knob (45) is pivotally moved, the lower rod (37) and the upper rod (38) are moved in an integrated f... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6570111 | Electronic equipment and transmission device of button device used therein An electronic equipment having a lever mechanism equipped with a button which when pushed operates an electric switch mounted to a printed wiring circuit board. The lever mechanism includes a first member having an end thereof which is bendably connected ... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6552644 | Safety press-button switch A safety press-button switch includes a linkage formed of a lever and a switching rod pivoted together, and a press-button cap having a push rod and a hook arm respectively aimed at the switching rod and a positioning rod of the lever and adapted to force... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6538539 | Remotely switchable circuit breaker A remotely switchable circuit breaker mounted in the casing of an electrical device comprises a circuit breaker unit, provided with a switching paddle, and a remote switching mechanism connected to the switching paddle. The remote switching mechanism comp... | 03/25/2003 |
