Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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 |
| 7235753 | Extend a switch A light switch and wall plate combination for use within a building or residence. The light switch is a standard light switch, but is connected to a slide bar that is placed in between a wall surface and an extended wall plate. The wall plate has two holes, one of w... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7213649 | Geothermal pipe weight A method and apparatus for adding rigidity and weight to the piping used in geothermal wells for ground-source heat pumps enhances insertion of the piping into the wells. The weight used must be approved by appropriate organizations such as the DNR, NSF, and/or EPA,... | 05/08/2007 |
| 6054663 | Modular switch A user-activated modular switch assembly includes an actuator assembly slidable between a first position and a second position on a housing. A static knob or a rocking knob is selectively mounted to the actuator assembly to provide either conventional sli... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6028280 | Actuator for generating switching signals The invention relates to an actuator for operating a signal transmitter comprising a shaft rotatably mounted in a housing, a motor rotating the shaft to operate the signal transmitter as a function of position, a portion of the shaft having a first recess... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5986226 | Dual function switch A micro switch for detecting forces in two orthogonal directions, rather than one, useable, for example, to detect out of size parts in one plane in a multiple spindle screw machine, and disengaged parts in an orthogonal plane. This is accomplished throug... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5871086 | Miniature momentary contact sliding switch A sliding plate engages moveable structure such as the actuating lever of an existing wall switch and separates or connects contacts to provide a momentary contact function in a potentially very thin but robust and economical switch suitable for inclusion... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5449872 | Compact rotary switching assembly A rotary switch which includes a rotary actuator, a linear switch having a linear actuator and a rotary to linear translator interconnecting the rotary actuator to the linear actuator. Rotation of the rotary actuator causes the translator to move linearly... | 09/12/1995 |
| 5422453 | Handle actuator for a circuit interrupter handle A handle actuator is provided for a circuit interrupter that has a handle or toggle pivotally movable between operative positions. The handle actuator has a pair of pins that fit tightly on the handle, a pair of retainers coupling the pins in a rigidly sp... | 06/06/1995 |
| 5374797 | Switch cover with extension A three-part light switch cover for enabling remote operation of a wall mounted toggle-type electrical switch comprising an elongated wall plate member adapted to enclose safely a sliding member that includes an upper end portion having an aperture adapte... | 12/20/1994 |
| 5326949 | Adjustable device, particularly an electric switching, controlling or regulating device An adjusting shaft for an electric regulating or control device, which operates equipment functions by means of a control cam, is profiled to engage the control cam and can be installed subsequent to the complete assembly of the control device and fixed r... | 07/05/1994 |
| 5306885 | Cable attaching device The invention provides a clamping device which removably secures a body to a cable, the clamping device comprising a toothed, tapered cable gripping insert which fits into a stepped, tapered recess slot in the body. The cable gripping insert is retained i... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5193667 | Double button switch of a VCR Disclosed is a double button device on a VCR comprising a front panel where a double button being set, a cover door being hinged at an inner front panel and opened selectively whenever necessary, an outer button set outward on a cover door, a tact switch ... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5161679 | Electrical trigger switch with safety features An electrical trigger switch for controlling current through a pair of main leads. The switch includes a guard, which physically protects the trigger button from being depressed accidentally, and also an electrical safety feature. Particularly in harsh en... | 11/10/1992 |
| 5111009 | Operating mechanism for throwing toggle switches A mechanism is provided for throwing several toggle switches together, especially toggle contact breakers, which are enclosed in an explosion proof container. A link between the toggles distributes manual toggling force over all of them from a single manu... | 05/05/1992 |
| 5075523 | Signal activating device for a nurse call system A signal activating device for activating a nurse call system as commonly used in hospitals and nursing homes to summon the attending personnel for assistance, wherein an elongate bar having circuitry electrically interconnected to the call system is supp... | 12/24/1991 |
| 4973807 | Actuation device for a switch particularly for a hand machine tool An actuation device for a switch of a hand machine tool, particularly for a Totmann switch which provides for fatigue-free operation. The actuation device includes a front wall provided with a locking projection engageable in a recess formed in the wall o... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4870232 | Extension control for a switch A wall switch extension control comprises an elongated rod member having a hole through which the switch lever extends and brackets which resiliently, releaseably, slideably, and frictionally engage the elongated rod member. The elongated rod member can b... | 09/26/1989 |
| 4760227 | Sliding switch cover A sliding switch cover assembly which comprises a switch plate on which a toggle actuator is mounted by two sets of vertically aligned pins extending from the switch plate, vertical slots in the actuator in alignment with the two sets of vertically aligne... | 07/26/1988 |
| 4539452 | Safety stop switch assembly A safety stop switch assembly (10) for controlling a device such as an outboard motor includes a toggle switch having a switch arm (12). A clip (16) is held in place around the switch arm (12) by a spring arm (21). The clip (16) can be attached to the ope... | 09/03/1985 |
| 4510355 | Rotary shaft - push button switch anchor assembly A switch assembly comprises a push-button switch and a switch operating mechanism including an actuator and a plunger for transmitting the movement of the actuator to the push button to operate the push-button switch. While one end of the plunger is opera... | 04/09/1985 |
| 4324964 | Device for extending plunger drives A device for extending the actuators of electric switchgear has an extension element which is inserted between a collar and the pushbutton of the equipment. At the end facing away from the collar, the extension element ends in C-shaped, elastically resili... | 04/13/1982 |
| 4105884 | Electrical toggle switch lever extender A substitute toggle switch cover plate has an elongated opening within which is reciprocatively captured an actuating member having a recessed carrier portion at the inside adapted to loosely enclose the control lever of an electrical toggle switch, and a... | 08/08/1978 |
| 3993884 | Detachably mounted keyboard pushbutton actuators and housing assembly Universal keyboard with individually removable switch modules each adapted particularly for use with a printed circuit switch, although also adapted to close or actuate other types of switch contacts, which has maximum reliability at minimum cost, satisfi... | 11/23/1976 |
| 3940578 | Keyboard structure having panel mounted key actuators with electrical component operating element An electronic keyboard has a chassis with keys each utilising a parallel motion linkage to permit movement of an operating member towards an electric circuit element. The main structure of the keys and linkage may be formed as a unitary plastics moulding.... | 02/24/1976 |
