William F. Semple, a dentist, was awarded the first US Patent on chewing gum in 1869. His recipe contained powdered chalk.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7719404 | Temperature detector/indicator The invention relates to an electrical and/or optical temperature detector/indicator based on conductive polymers, said detector/indicator being suitably used in such packages for products, the temperature changes of which need to be monitored. ... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7278965 | Operating mechanism for medical device An operating mechanism for a medical device comprises a photo-interrupter that can designate specified functional operations, an air-tight unit that can accommodate this photo-interrupter air-tightly, a moving member which is disposed inside the air-tight unit, and ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7232968 | Illuminated in-line controller This portable device relates to an in-line illuminated switch. The switch has a soft glowing light which is visible in a darkened room. Elderly people remove their eyeglasses when resting, and the soft glowing light locates the switch when light is required at bedsi... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7227090 | Switching apparatus A switching apparatus includes a case, an operation shaft whose one end outwardly projects from inside of the case and which is provided at its central portion with a flange, a support member which supports the flange such that the operation shaft can rock and rotat... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7214894 | Switching apparatus A switching apparatus includes a case, an operation shaft whose one end outwardly projects from inside of the case and which is provided at its central portion with a flange, a support member which supports the flange such that the operation shaft can rock and rotat... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7206428 | Acoustic receiver having improved mechanical suspension The present invention is a receiver that includes electronics for converting an input audio signal to an output acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing for containing at least a portion of the electronics. The housing includes a port for broadcasting the output ... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7206952 | Digital wake-up signal from switch transition of two analog signals A digital wake-up signal is generated from an analog switch on a printed circuit board in which a ground trace and multiple conductive switch traces are bridged by a moveable contactor responsive to movement of an actuator. A resistor network is coupled to the switc... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7181035 | Acoustical receiver housing for hearing aids An acoustic receiver comprises means for converting an input audio signal into an acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing having a plurality of sides that surround the converting means. One of the sides include an output port for broadcasting the acoustic signal... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7164441 | Video image producing method and apparatus Projectors display a movie of a tourist resort, which is a background image, on screens, and video cameras take video by overlapping a subject walking on a treadmill with the background image. Therefore, the subject can be naturally combined in the background image,... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7088839 | Acoustic receiver having improved mechanical suspension The present invention is a receiver that includes electronics for converting an input audio signal to an output acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing for containing at least a portion of the electronics. The housing includes a port for broadcasting the output ... | 08/08/2006 |
| 6995650 | Electrical part prevented from improper mounting on circuit board, and mounting structure for the electrical part A mounting structure is provided to mount, on the same circuit board, two types of electrical parts in each of which an operating member is rotatably supported by a housing including sliders and a conductive pattern, such as a contact pattern, and which are similar ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6960154 | Replaceable control mainboard for treadmill A treadmill is installed with a control panel thereon, which includes a control mainboard, an input system, and a display system. The control mainboard is detachably interconnected with the input system and the display system for transmitting a control signal to man... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6888405 | Programmable gain amplifier with glitch minimization A programable gain amplifier (PGA) has an amplifier and a variable resistor that is connected to the output of the amplifier. The variable resistor includes a resistor that is connected to a reference voltage and multiple parallel taps that tap off the resistor. A t... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6853290 | Switch/volume control assembly The present invention relates to switch or volume control assemblies, in particular to switch or volume control assemblies to be mounted in e.g. hearing aids, said assembly comprising a movable member, such as a wheel-like member positioned between at least two deta... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6720538 | Thermostat variation compensating knob A heating appliance having an electrical circuit that controls the temperature output of the heating appliance is provided with a bimetallic element that opens upon reaching a temperature level. A potentiometer in the circuit is used to select the temperature level ... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6696915 | Knob combined a rheostat and a pushbutton A knob having a button for a rheostat includes a base, at least one arcuate contacts, a hub, a pushbutton cap with a conductive arc corresponding to the arcuate contacts and a biasing member mounted in the pushbutton cap. The biasing member can be mounted... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6646525 | Microelectro-mechanical system actuator device and reconfigurable circuits utilizing same A microelectro-mechanical device which includes a fixed electrode formed on a substrate, the fixed electrode including a transparent, high resistance layer, and a moveable electrode formed with an anisotropic stress in a predetermined direction and dispos... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6380502 | Detented slide switch mechanism A switch mechanism for an electrical slide switch that has a detenting or clicking action is disclosed. The switch mechanism provides such detenting action in a mechanism that has a switch lever that moves through an arcuate path of movement and provides ... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6369692 | Directionally sensitive switch An electrical switch has spaced, facing coupler and carrier layers with a set of electrodes formed on the facing surfaces thereof. There is an aperture in the coupler layer. A conductive armature is disposed in the space between the coupler and carrier, a... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6369691 | Switch type variable resistor The present invention relates to a switch type variable resistor, including a rotation shaft, a bushing, a housing, a variable resistor portion, and a switch portion. The switch portion includes a switch portion seat, a control plate, an insulating plate,... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6184776 | Accelerator module for electric vehicle An accelerator module for an electric vehicle has a pivotal actuator upon which is mounted a wiping element for wiping engagement with variable and constant resistance elements formed upon a printed circuit board mounted within a housing. A normally-open ... | 02/06/2001 |
| 6127908 | Microelectro-mechanical system actuator device and reconfigurable circuits utilizing same A microelectro-mechanical device which includes a fixed electrode formed on a substrate, the fixed electrode including a transparent, high resistance layer, and a moveable electrode formed with an anisotropic stress in a predetermined direction and dispos... | 10/03/2000 |
| 6114944 | Remote control for audio and video electronic appliances A remote control device has a compartment enclosed by a housing and receiving a printed board that carries a potentiometer for controlling the volume of sound of an electronic sound device and a switch for deactivating a selected playing selection. The re... | 09/05/2000 |
| 5959525 | Variable resistance slide control device with a switch A variable resistance control device and switch has a base, made of insulating material, a rheostat, mounted to the base, and a switch, mounted to the base. The rheostat includes a variable resistor trace, positioned on the base, a collector trace, positi... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5939973 | Rotary variable resistor with switch A rotary variable resistor with switch having a switch mechanism, in particular, a rotary variable resistor with switch corresponding to an ultrathin rotary variable resistor. Such a rotary variable resistor having a switch mechanism has dimensions, espec... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5453728 | Rheostatic device in a switching arrangement for electric tools An electric tool rheostatic device in a switching arrangement is provided for regulating the speed of an electric motor in an electric tool. A circuit board for receiving electronic components is disposed in a switch housing. A potentiometer disposed with... | 09/26/1995 |
| 5343187 | Electric control device for an outdoor lamp An electric control device for an outdoor lamp includes a control box having a side wall that is formed with a through hole, and a rotary-type variable resistance switch having a main switch housing that is disposed inside the control box and an externall... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5331126 | Pressure switch apparatus for monitoring pressure level in an enclosed chamber and methods of calibrating same and for making a movable contact arm for use therewith A low pressure monitor for hybrid air bag systems for vehicles includes a pressure responsive disc 34.6 exposed on one side to a reference pressure chamber 34.11 and on the other side to the pressure in an air bag bottle 40 and positioned adjacent a movab... | 07/19/1994 |
| 5317301 | Joy stick A novel joy stick in which arcuate shaped resistors are biased against conductive coil carried by a ball. The arcuate shaped resistors have electrical contacts that extend from them. Tactile feel is obtained by providing detent means that give the ball a ... | 05/31/1994 |
| 5264821 | Rotary, push-pull headlight switch with ceramic coated metal substrate rheostat and cam actuated dome light bypass switch A rotary, push-pull switch (20) for use in an automobile has a rotating ceramic coated metal substrate rheostat (48) and a supplemental switch (52) which opens and closes a dome light bypass circuit. The supplemental switch (52) is mounted internally to t... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5150095 | Multi-position rotary switch with position sensor A rotary switch for controlling electrical circuitry in ranges, ovens, etc., to be manually adjusted for control of function cycles. Included with the manually operated function selector are means for determining the position of the function selector prov... | 09/22/1992 |
| 5144278 | Variable impedance device and circuit for sensing adjustment thereof A circuit and apparatus for sensing the adjustment of a variable impedance device includes an elongated switching element having an alternating series of conductive and non-conductive areas. The conductive areas are electrically connected. As the device i... | 09/01/1992 |
| 5075604 | Variable resistance switch A variable resistance switch includes first and second flexible contact arms engageable by a pair of cam followers operable sequentially by an actuator movable in a first and an opposite direction. The actuator also carries a wiper movable therewith over ... | 12/24/1991 |
| 4994634 | Sheet switch A sheet switch comprises a pair of flexible insulative films, one of which is provided with a plurality of electrodes, resistances connected to the electrodes, respectively, and line patterns for externally connecting the electrodes via the resistances. T... | 02/19/1991 |
| 4983946 | Variable resistor with switching mechanism A variable resistor having a switching function includes a base plate, a first electrode formed on the base plate, a second electrode formed on the base plate, a third electrode formed on the base plate, and a fourth electrode formed on the base plate sim... | 01/08/1991 |
| 4947054 | Sliding dimmer switch A system for controlling power to an electrical load includes a linear slide dimmer and a switch, whose pushbutton actuator moves up and down with the dimmer slider. When the pushbutton is depressed, to actuate the switch, it rides in and out in the slide... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4939383 | Wallbox-mountable dimmer and switch A dimmer and switch device is adapted for mounting on a wall. The elements of the device that are visible when it is mounted on a wall are easily replaced. In another embodiment, a linear slide dimmer and push-button switch device are arranged in juxtapos... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4903003 | Variable resistor with a switch A variable resistor with a switch which minimizes appearances of an arc and prevents incomplete contact between contacts of the switch originating from such an arc. The variable resistor with a switch includes a torsion coil spring having one end connecte... | 02/20/1990 |
| 4878154 | Control body for Christmas tree A control body includes a circuit board, a housing having three engaging sets and a base having electric wire guiding grooves each of which includes three spaced radially arcuate platelets, a cover plate having three pairs of barbed legs respectively enga... | 10/31/1989 |
| 4827241 | Combined, in-line spacer and switch, particularly for a vehicle's headlight A composite headlight switch with buzzer circuit for use in a vehicle with, for example, a dome light, the dome light switch being located in line with the remaining switch elements in a front area of the overall switch structure, which front area was pre... | 05/02/1989 |