Did You Know...
...that to encourage use of his new invention, the shopping cart, market owner Sylvan Goldman hired fake shoppers to push the carts around his store in Oklahoma City? Seems his customers were reluctant to give up their hand-carried baskets.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8018316 | Electroless plating production of nickel and cobalt structures A method comprising forming a structural element 115 on a surface 620 of a layer 510 via an electroless plating of nickel or cobalt 130 onto the surface, the layer being rigidly fixed to an underlying substrate 110. The method also... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7973637 | MEMS device with bi-directional element The present invention provides a bi-directional microelectromechanical element, a microelectromechanical switch including the bi-directional element, and a method to reduce mechanical creep in the bi-directional element. In one embodiment, the bi-directional microel... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7760065 | MEMS device with bi-directional element The present invention provides a bi-directional microelectromechanical element, a microelectromechanical switch including the bi-directional element, and a method to reduce mechanical creep in the bi-directional element. In one embodiment, the bi-directional microel... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7372355 | Remote controlled wall switch actuator A device to actuate a switch. The switch has a switch toggle movable between a first position and a second position. The device includes a switch yoke movable between the first position and the second position adapted to engage the switch toggle and move therewith. ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7339454 | Tensile-stressed microelectromechanical apparatus and microelectromechanical relay formed therefrom A microelectromechanical (MEM) apparatus is disclosed which includes a shuttle suspended above a substrate by two or more sets of tensile-stressed beams which are operatively connected to the shuttle and which can comprise tungsten or a silicon nitride/polysilicon c... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7220051 | Shape memory alloy temperature sensor and switch A switch, such as an electromechanical or optical switch, whose state is responsive to temperature history, for example temperature excursions above or below a critical temperature. An element of the sensor made from shape memory alloy changes shape when exposed, ev... | 05/22/2007 |
| 6985650 | Thermal actuator and an optical waveguide switch including the same A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments. Each beam segment has a beam segment width, the beam thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment ... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6985651 | Thermal actuator with offset beam segment neutral axes and an optical waveguide switch including the same A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments with beam segment lengths. Each beam segment has a beam segment neutral axis, thus forming a corresponding pl... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6983088 | Thermal actuator and an optical waveguide switch including the same A thermal actuator comprises a plurality of substantially straight and parallel beams arranged to form a beam array. The midpoint of each beam is attached or coupled to an orthogonal coupling beam. Each array beam has a beam heating parameter with a corresponding be... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6972659 | Reusable shape memory alloy activated latch A mechanical release mechanism is provided. The mechanical release mechanism includes two structural members in slideable relation one to another. A latch holds one structural member in a latched position relative to the other structural member. A shape memory alloy... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6943653 | Bistable electric switch and relay with a bi-stable electrical switch The invention relates to a bi-stable electric switch comprising a spring (101) that is configured as a bi-stable snap-action spring and carries contact elements (114, 116) on the carrier strip (104) of the spring and comprising at least one driv... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6928812 | SMA actuator safety mechanism A method and apparatus for preventing the unintended activation of SMA devices by ambient temperatures that exceed the phase transition temperature of the SMA material itself. In one embodiment a passive actuator is coupled to an active actuator, each having identic... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6917276 | Bistable switch with shape memory metal A bistable shape memory alloy (SMA) micro-switch includes a single continuous SMA element such as a nitinol wire that provides bi-directional motion for switching functions. Bifunctional contact arms provide a mechanical force to maintain an open state of the micro-... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6762669 | Shape memory actuator with bi-stable operation A shape memory actuator includes a shape memory actuator element for biasing an actuated member from an initial rest position to an operative position against the action of return spring means. Holding means are associated with the actuator element for holding the a... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6583711 | Temperature sensitive circuit breaker A temperature sensitive circuit breaker includes two contacts electrically mounted on a circuit board and an insulating pivot seat attached to the circuit board between the two contacts. A lever has a first end pivotally connected to the pivot seat and co... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6531947 | Direct acting vertical thermal actuator with controlled bending A micrometer sized, single-stage, vertical thermal actuator with controlled bending capable of repeatable and rapid movement of a micrometer-sized optical device off the surface of a substrate. The vertical thermal actuator is constructed on a surface of ... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6504467 | Switch integral in a semiconductor element In a semiconductor element, in particular for switching an electrical connection, a substance which expands to a great extent when heated is arranged on the element in such a way that if the element is overheated, the electrical leads of the element are d... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6304165 | Switching device for an electric heating device According to the invention a switching device (11) for an electric heating device is provided with a rod-shaped temperature sensor (15) formed by a ceramic rod (17) and an extension tube (16). The temperature sensor (16) operates a snap-action switch (22)... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6278619 | Circuit breaker for low voltage alternating electric installation The invention concerns a disconnecting appliance, such as a switch, a fuse-disconnecting switch or breaker-reversing switch, having a novel arrangement of fixed and moving contacts promoting contact surface self-cleaning and increasing contact force for t... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6255934 | Bistable actuation device An actuation device capable of changing its operating condition between a stable rest position and a stable work position has a monostable actuation unit with a body and at least a shaft movable as a function of the energization available to the actuation... | 07/03/2001 |
| 6239686 | Temperature responsive switch with shape memory actuator A temperature actuated switch having a resilient switch blade that is movable between open and closed positions and extends perpendicular to an elongated actuator of shape memory alloy. The actuator has an elongated deformed shape at normal temperatures a... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6133816 | Switch and relay using shape memory alloy A novel shape memory alloy electrical switch is disclosed, including both momentary and especially a latching relay. The switch/relay disclosed is particularly useful in low power control of appliances, including i.a. refrigerators. Used with a microproce... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6049267 | Adaptive control module using shape memory alloy A novel shape memory alloy electrical switch is disclosed, including both momentary and especially a latching relay. The switch/relay disclosed is particularly useful in low power control of appliances, including i.a. refrigerators. Used with a microproce... | 04/11/2000 |
| 6016096 | Control module using shape memory alloy A novel shape memory alloy electrical switch is disclosed, including both momentary and especially a latching relay. The switch/relay disclosed is particularly useful in low power control of appliances, including i.a. refrigerators. Used with a microproce... | 01/18/2000 |
| 5920251 | Reusable fuse using current limiting polymer Low voltage current limiting fuses wherein the conventional fusible element is replaced. The fuses of the invention are resettable manually or automatically such that the fuse need not be physically replaced following a fault current or overload current o... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5897055 | Actuator with an electrically heatable thermostatic operating element An actuator with an electrically heatable operating element, the housing of the operating element being held stationary in a mount of a base body, and a transfer element, which comprises two plastic molded parts, is provided between the piston and the ele... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5754090 | Thermostat having a temperature sensing element which includes a member having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion A thermostat includes a valve for controlling gas flow, an actuator for controlling operation of the valve, and a temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing element comprises two members, one of which is made of a material having a positive coef... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5684448 | Shape memory actuated switching device A T-shaped member is pivotally mounted to a support plate, and has first and second shape memory wires attached at first ends thereof to opposing portions of the T-shape. Second opposing free ends of the shape memory wires are secured to the support plate... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5510598 | Electro-thermally actuated switch A thermally-actuated switch includes a pair of switch contacts openable or closeable in response to a change in the length of a shape memory metal (SMM) rod. The SMM rod is caused to change its length by having its temperature increased by heat produced w... | 04/23/1996 |
| 5216403 | Relay A relay including a control circuit which via a movement creating or actuating arm and a transmission mechanism activates a contact means in order to switch on or switch off a main circuit. The actuating arm includes two elongated parallel parts which are... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5113170 | Temperature switch A temperature switch for limiting the temperature of a glass ceramic plate against the radiation emanating from light and dark radiators has a sensor, which comprises a metallic sensor tube and an inner ceramic rod. Over the sensor is drawn a steatite tub... | 05/12/1992 |
| 5023587 | Arm for electric switches and the like controlled by electricity An arm preferably for electric switches, the arm being controlled by electricity, and having a first fixed end the other end of which is movable perpendicular to the length direction of the arm. The arm comprises two parallel portions (47) separated by an... | 06/11/1991 |
| 4672351 | Cassette type circuit breaker A base body with a big cavity in its center, a frame body encased in the cavity and retained therein by the ends of the shorter legs of the U-shaped contact plates is disclosed. During an overload condition, overheating causes a spring engaging the clippe... | 06/09/1987 |
| 4225841 | Temperature-dependent switch A temperature-dependent switch is provided with a substance, which expands when heated in a housing, and a transmission part. The transmission part is displaceable by a diaphragm, a sealing part, accepting a beaded edge on the diaphragm with an annular gr... | 09/30/1980 |
| 4008454 | Differential expansion rod and tube thermostat A differential expansion rod and tube thermostat wherein the material of the inner rod has a much lower coefficient of thermal expansion than does the material of the outer tube. The thermostat is adapted to be mounted through an opening in the wall of an... | 02/15/1977 |
| 3989926 | Device for preventing overheating of electrophotographic fixing device A thermal fixing device for a xerographic reproducing apparatus includes a thin planar resistance heating element having a low thermal mass and a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The heating element is supported in such manner that one end thereof i... | 11/02/1976 |
