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...that Kleenex tissue was originally designed to be a gas mask filter? It was developed at the beginning of World War I to replace cotton, which was then in short supply as a surgical dressing.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7371982 | MEMS safety and arming devices having launch and rotation interlocks and method of manufacturing the same A device, a Micro-Electrical-Mechanical-Switch (MEMS) safety and arming (S&A) device and a method of manufacturing the MEMS S&A. In one embodiment, the device includes a body and a MEMS shuttle movably coupled to the body. In this embodiment, the shuttle is configur... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7351925 | Method and apparatus for detecting free fall A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in grav... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7332685 | Vibration switch A vibration switch includes a conductive housing defining a chamber, a first electrode having a first end projecting outwardly of the housing and a second end projecting into the chamber, a moving element disposed movably in the chamber and spaced apart from the sec... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7307228 | Method and apparatus for detecting free fall A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in grav... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7266988 | Resettable latching MEMS shock sensor apparatus and method The Resettable Latching MEMS Shock Sensor provides the capability of recording external shock extremes without consuming electrical power. The device incorporates a shock sensitive suspended proof mass, spring-loaded contacts, latches, and actuators for device reset... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7235749 | Collision impact detector for use in automotive vehicle A collision impact detector detects deceleration of a vehicle caused by its collision with another vehicle or an obstacle. A rotor is rotatably supported on a shaft and biased by a coil spring in a direction opposite to a rotational direction in which the rotor is r... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7218193 | MEMS-based inertial switch In one embodiment, an inertial switch of the invention includes a MEMS device manufactured using a layered wafer. The MEMS device has a movable electrode supported on a substrate layer of the wafer and a stationary electrode attached to that substrate layer. The mov... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7204621 | Vehicle provided with inclination sensor To prevent an inclination sensor of a vehicle from becoming soiled by flying matter such as muddy water splashes scattered by the rotating wheels of the vehicle itself, which may result in false detection of the inclination of the vehicle to a road surface, a vehicl... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7180019 | Capacitive accelerometer or acceleration switch An accelerometer or accelerator switch and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The device is fabricated from two substrates: a top substrate having a moveable mass, and a bottom substrate having at least one conductive plate. The top substrate is preferably a S... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7170402 | Automatic braking light An inertia-activated braking light (1) for attachment to pedal cycles and the like. A display of LEDs (15) is automatically illuminated on deceleration. This is achieved by an inertia mass closing a circuit on deceleration to provide electrical power t... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7151235 | 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 t... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7148436 | Microelectromechanical acceleration-sensing apparatus An acceleration-sensing apparatus is disclosed which includes a moveable shuttle (i.e. a suspended mass) and a latch for capturing and holding the shuttle when an acceleration event is sensed above a predetermined threshold level. The acceleration-sensing apparatus ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7095332 | Alarm device An alarm device including a sensor having sufficiently high detection sensitivity. The sensor 51 in the alarm device 41 is disposed such that a plane M perpendicular to the detection direction P of the sensor 51 is aligned at a specified angle θ with ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7081592 | Micromechanical switch A micromechanical switch having a mass, a first spring element, and a contact element is provided. The mass contacts the contact element if a specified degree of displacement of the first spring element is exceeded. ... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7057354 | Frequency controlled lighting system A method and apparatus for illuminating lighting elements in one or more predetermined patterns. A preferred frequency controlled lighting system implementing this method includes a motion switch, a controller, a sound generator, and lighting elements. The motion sw... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7044618 | Motion sensitive light and battery assembly switched on and off by the oscillation of a helical spring A light emitting diode having a helical spring around one of its leads. The spring extends so that it has a free end which is cantilevered. As the free end of the spring moves it completes an electrical circuit intermittently lighting the light emitting diode. ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7038150 | Micro environmental sensing device A microelectromechanical (MEM) acceleration switch is disclosed which includes a proof mass flexibly connected to a substrate, with the proof mass being moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate in response to a sensed acceleration. An ele... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7009124 | Acceleration switch An acceleration switch and method therefor includes providing a conductive substrate and an insulating cap. A recessed area is formed in the insulating cap. An insulating layer is disposed on the conductive substrate. A conductive layer is disposed on the insulating... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6949713 | Lighting system having vibration switch and with plurality of displaying sequences A lighting system having a vibration switch for a footwear is disclosed. The system comprise a vibrating switch turning “on” or “off” responsive to motions of the footwear. The vibrating switch further comprises an isolating housing, a spring on the isolatin... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6906472 | Articles with flashing lights Illuminating devices may be added to clothing and accessories worn by persons. Articles to which the illuminating devices may be added include footwear, hair-control articles, belts, suspenders, backpacks, purses, book-bags, vests and the like. The illuminating devi... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6809276 | Inertially activated switch A switch according to this invention is particularly intended for use with articles of footwear as part of a light module which also includes one or more batteries, an integrated circuit and wire connections to LEDs or other sources of light mounted to the outsole o... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6797899 | Acceleration switch An acceleration switch that operates even when acceleration is applied to the acceleration switch from a direction other than a predetermined detection direction. The acceleration switch includes a movable portion, which has a movable electrode, and a fixed electrod... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6768066 | Method and apparatus for detecting free fall A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in grav... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6765160 | Omnidirectional microscale impact switch The invention is a normally-open, momentary, non-latching, inertial thresholding switch 30, fabricated on a substrate 1 in a planar configuration, using no cylindrical tilt mass, with low mass 16 and small switch gap 36, 37, 38, 39 to all... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6642461 | Deceleration impact detector for use in automotive vehicle A deceleration impact detector for detecting a vehicle collision or the like is composed of a rotor having an eccentric gravity center, a spring biasing the rotor to its initial position, a cam connected to rotor, and a pair of contacts consisting of a mo... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6555772 | Vibration switch A vibration switch includes an electric contact body which is movably disposed in an accommodation chamber of a housing in an upright direction. A biasing member holds and restrains the contact body from moving towards a lower inner wall surface of the ho... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6545235 | Vibration switch with movable coil spring contact A vibration switch includes a housing with an accommodation chamber for receiving securely a deflectable electric contact body. Two electric contact terminals respectively have connecting ends adapted to be connected to a support, and contact ends dispose... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6528747 | Acceleration detector with spring biased rotor An acceleration detector comprising a rotor rotatably supported within a housing and rotating against the urging force of a torsion spring based on acceleration, a pair of contact terminals contacting each other to be in an electrically connected state by... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6459055 | Acceleration responsive switch An acceleration responsive switch includes a material that changes from a high viscosity to a low viscosity when subjected to acceleration forces. The material's change in viscosity causes the switch to change from one state to another.... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6437703 | Level/position sensor and related electronic circuitry for interactive toy A sensor for use in an interactive electronic device. The sensor comprises a base member having at least one recess formed therein which is partially defined by a peripheral wall thereof. Disposed within the peripheral wall of the base member is at least ... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6172313 | Acceleration detecting device An acceleration detecting device includes a hollow housing having a side wall, a bottom wall and an opening and a cover closing the opening of the hollow housing. A weight is pivotally mounted in the hollow housing to be rotated about a locus in response ... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6130609 | Self-compensational automatic emergency signal means for vehicles A self-compensational automatic emergency signal device includes: an inner casing having a movable weight movable in the inner casing, an outer casing disposed on an outside of the inner casing, with the inner casing pivotally secured in the outer casing ... | 10/10/2000 |
| 6093898 | Acceleration detecting device An acceleration detecting device includes a housing, a weight pivotally mounted inside the housing for rotating along a locus in response to an applied acceleration, a spring provided between the housing and the weight to apply a biasing force to the weig... | 07/25/2000 |
| 6093897 | Collision detection device having eccentric mass and inertial mass A collision detection device has a weight, which includes an eccentric mass and a metallic plate. The weight is pivoted by a shaft at a position eccentric from the mass barycenter to have a predetermined swing velocity and frequency response. A rotor is f... | 07/25/2000 |
| 5955712 | Inertial switch An inertial switch includes an open-ended outer casing formed of electrically conductive material. An insulated end cap is engageable with the open end of the outer casing to enclose the outer casing. An electrically conductive pin extends through the end... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5920046 | Inclination detector for vehicle capable of detecting inclination direction An inclination detector has a mass rotating in the first and second directions, a pair of rotors, first and second moving contacts and first and second stationary contacts. When the inclination detector inclines to the left, torque is applied to a weight ... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5920045 | Acceleration detecting device A weight (4) rotates with a shaft (5) as a rotational center during acceleration detection. A rotor (1) fixed on the weight (4) rotates integrally therewith. A first cam portion 1a of noncircular configuration on the rotor (1) contacts a plate spring (2) ... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5914470 | Acceleration detecting device When an acceleration more than a predetermined level is applied to a weight, a rotational moment is applied to a center of gravity of the weight, and therefore, the weight rotates around a shaft as a rotational center in a direction to be opposite to an e... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5831521 | Automatic emergency signal means for vehicles An antomatic emergency signal device for vehicles including: a casing mounted in a vehicle, a movable weight movable in a groove longitudinally formed in the casing, a sensor actuated by the movable weight due to inertia of the movable weight upon a sudde... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5804783 | Air damped crash sensor and construction method thereof An air damped crash sensor including a thin planar hinged inertial sensing mass which rotates within a sealed housing with a small clearance between the edges of the mass and the walls of the housing so as to create a restriction to the flow of a gas from... | 09/08/1998 |
