Did You Know...
...that a workman who left the soap mixing machine on too long was responsible for making Ivory Soap? He was so embarrassed by his mistake that he threw the mess in a stream. Imagine his dismay when the evidence of his error floated to the surface! Result: Ivory soap, the soap that floats.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7326867 | Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor An omni-directional tilt and vibration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, and an electrically insulative element. The electrically insulative element is connected to the first electrically conductive el... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7326866 | Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor A sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, and an electrically insulative element connected to the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element. The sensor also contain... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7294797 | Electronic controller for a vehicle leveling system and vehicle leveling system comprising same An electronic controller for a vehicle leveling system comprises an extend-enable switch, a retract-enable switch, an all-activate switch, and at least one group-activate switch. It is configured to generate an all-extend electronic signal upon coordinated actuation... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7133023 | Context input device The invention provides for context detecting apparatus which includes a housing shaped to allow the apparatus to be positioned in a plurality of orientations each corresponding to at least one particular context, means adapted to detect the orientation and communica... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7124016 | Vehicle-mounted control system and method for an internal combustion engine A vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine controller is provided that can properly stop an internal combustion engine in accordance with an operational state no matter whether a vehicle body is inclined. The vehicle-mounted internal combustion engine controller c... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7115824 | Tilt switch and system A tilt switch has an electrical terminal on its top end and an electrical terminal on its bottom end. It comprises a conductive can with an opening on the top end side serving as the electrical terminal on the bottom end and a conductive cap covering the opening of ... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7067748 | Omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor An omnidirectional tilt and vibration sensor contains a first electrically conductive element, a second electrically conductive element, an electrically insulative element, and multiple electrically conductive weights. The first electrically conductive element has a... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7012354 | Method and structure for a pusher-mode piezoelectrically actuated liquid metal switch A method and structure for an electrical switch. According to the structure of the present invention, a liquid-filled chamber is housed within a solid material. A plurality of switch contacts within the liquid-filled chamber are coupled to the solid material, while ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7000927 | Leveling sensor/switch W/hydraulic control valve for vehicle leveling systems This invention consists of a Level Sensing Device and Hydraulic Control Valve, which, when, as a team, is applied to a system with a Hydraulic Pump W/Oil Reservoir, three or four Hydraulic Jacks, three or four Normally-Open Solenoid-Operated In-Line Hydraulic Valves... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6935777 | Electronic thermometer with a directionally adjustable LCD display An electronic thermometer with a directionally adjustable LCD display is disclosed. The thermometer includes a control circuit and a display wherein the display is provided with identifiable signals capable of identifying characters and/or symbols in multiple direct... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6925223 | Pressure actuated optical latching relay A pressure actuated optical relay containing a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of two optical paths. A liquid metal slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror housing by the action of pressure exerted by an actuatio... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6903493 | Inserting-finger liquid metal relay An electrical relay comprising having two wettable electrical contacts supporting a conducting liquid. A non-wettable switch finger is moved between first and second positions between the electrical contacts by action of an actuator. In the first position the switch... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6903490 | Longitudinal mode optical latching relay A piezoelectric optical relay array having one or more array elements. Each array element contains a transparent mirror housing, located at the intersection of two optical paths. A liquid metal slug is moved within a channel passing through the transparent mirror ho... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6706980 | Gallium based electrical switch devices using ex-situ and in-situ separation of oxides A gallium based switch or sensor devices, and a process for producing such devices, in which gallium or a gallium alloy, the surface oxide is separated either in-situ or ex-situ and placed in a switching capsule. Reagents which separate the oxide without dissolving ... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6621019 | Gallium wetted core member as an electrical tilt switch element An electrical switch comprising of a non-conducting hollow housing and a number of spaced electrodes, each of which extends through the housing, and a contact member within the cavity which comprises of a core member having a layer of liquid gallium or ga... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6570110 | Gallium based electrical switch having tantalum electrical contacts An electrical switch comprised of a housing defining a cavity, at least two spaced electrodes extending through the housing into the cavity, and wherein at least one of said at least two electrodes is composed of gallium wetted tantalum or tantalum alloy,... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6548771 | Multipole attitude detector switch with liquid contact An attitude detection device has a case having inner surfaces, electrodes each disposed on a respective inner surface of the case and being insulated from one another in at least one preselected orientation of the case, and a conductive fluid disposed in ... | 04/15/2003 |
| 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 |
| 6340966 | Clamping device for third-axis input device of mouse An improved clamping device for third-axis input device of mouse, comprises a hollow roller stage and a roller with a plurality positioning holes and pivotally arranged on the roller stage. The roller exposes out of the cover of the mouse. The roller stag... | 01/22/2002 |
| 5767775 | Unanchored sensor and level sensor A device and method for sensing fluid characteristics, including level, temperature, pH and chemistry, comprises a switch affixed to or embedded in a container of a size, shape and density such that said container floats stably in said liquid until a pred... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5625344 | Low fluid level warning device A device for warning when a low fluid level is reached is provided in which a levelness detecting switch is encapsulated in a conically shaped inert material (such as TEFLON™), sized appropriately to the predetermined fluid limit, and coupled to an alar... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5533520 | Activity sensor, particularly for heart pacemakers The sensor is intended preferably for use in conjunction with a heart pacemaker whose stimulation rate is variable in dependence on the physical activity of the wearer. The sensor includes a mass of mercury which, in use, can assume a shape determined by ... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5299107 | Illuminated fish luring means An electrically powered illuminating fish luring means for use in conjunction with a fishing line, is disclosed. The fish luring means comprises a water resistant protective housing having a generally hollow interior. There is a battery or batteries, a li... | 03/29/1994 |
| 5198628 | Shock insensitive tilt switch with floating spherical restrictor to inhibit flow of conductive liquid A tilt switch comprises a housing forming a cylindrical inner chamber and having two electric terminals extending through an end wall of the chamber. A mercury mass of less volume than the chamber is disposed within the chamber and is arranged to electric... | 03/30/1993 |
| 5143208 | Level sensor An apparatus for sensing the horizontal level of a table or other surface and returning that table or other surface back to level. The apparatus includes a housing within which first and second mercury switches are positioned relative to each other in a m... | 09/01/1992 |
| 5034582 | Momentary rotating mercury switch A device for the detection of rotation having a hollow, pillbox shaped cylinder, a solid baffle positioned within the cylinder for directing the flow of mercury, at least two metal contacts within the cylinder, a non-mercury center rod contact, and mercur... | 07/23/1991 |
| 4795868 | Tilt switch A switch responsive to movements such as those occurring in a boat with respect to a horizontal plane is provided with electrical contacts arranged in a circular pattern in proximity to a fluid electrical conductor in a shallow annular chamber. The electr... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4683355 | Position insensitive shock sensor A shock sensor has a mercury-wetted insert for supporting a mercury mass normally space from a terminal. The mercury and terminal are contained within a sealed housing. When the sensor is subjected to a shock, the mercury is redistributed and protrudes fr... | 07/28/1987 |
| 4678093 | Musical baby bottle A musical baby bottle comprising a nipple, a liquid container connected to the nipple, a base section fastened to an opening at the bottom of the liquid container, a microchip having musical information fastened to the interior of the base section, a spea... | 07/07/1987 |
| 4649240 | Electric tilt switch with a liquid contact closer An electrical tilt switch comprises a closed housing having an annular geometry and made of insulating material. In the closed housing thee is positioned a first annular electrode and at least a second annular electrode spaced from the first annular elect... | 03/10/1987 |
| 4638870 | Motor driven hand-held device containing a displacement mass A motor driven hand-held device for rotating a tool, includes a housing with an axis of rotation containing an electrically conductive liquid mass located within a sealed non-electrically conductive container. A magnetic field is established in the housin... | 01/27/1987 |
| 4628161 | Distorted-pool mercury switch A tilt switch using a conductive liquid such as mercury to bridge a gap inside the sealed switch. In operation, the pool of mercury is held in a local depression and does not flow but rather distorts in shape enough to reach a ring-shaped second terminal ... | 12/09/1986 |
| 4536727 | Multiple pole mercury switch particularly adapted for thermostat applications There is disclosed a mercury switch for use in thermostat applications. The switch has a hollow housing fabricated from glass and is positioned in the horizontal plane when in an operating orientation. The switch has a first common electrode within said h... | 08/20/1985 |
| 4497118 | Motion and orientation sensor A motion and orientation sensor and measuring device has an electric circuit contact actuated by a body of conductive fluid on disturbance of the conductive fluid by gravity, vibration or otherwise. A ball and socket joint adjustably mounts a disk-shaped ... | 02/05/1985 |
| 4493956 | Impact switch A resettable impact switch is disclosed having a non-conductive body with a cavity therein. A pair of terminals extend from opposite sides of the body and have their reverse ends extending into the cavity. A pool of mercury is disposed in the cavity to el... | 01/15/1985 |
| 4493066 | Seismosensitive device A seismosensitive device comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure having a recess at the bottom, a first annular surface provided around the recess and having a radial gradient substantially of horizontal level and a second annular surface provided aroun... | 01/08/1985 |
| 4450325 | Electro-mechanical hand controller An inclination sensitive hand controller comprises a generally cylindrical handle having liquid contact switches mounted at different angles of orientation within the handle. The switches are actuated dependent upon the tilting of the handle from a presel... | 05/22/1984 |
| 4445011 | Freestanding multidirectional electrical control device A freestanding multidirectional control device for use in controlling video display images in electronic game machines comprises a handle member connected by a multiconductor cable to electric circuitry in the game machine. The handle member contains two ... | 04/24/1984 |
| 4434337 | Mercury electrode switch In a mercury switch composed of a closed tubular glass envelope and at least one pair of electrodes extending through one end of the envelope and presenting terminals located within the region enclosed by the envelope and adjacent the one end thereof, the... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4425488 | Pistol grip controller A pistol grip controller having a miniature multi-position tilt switch contained within the grip handle is disclosed. The tilt switch includes separate circuit contacts disposed about the inside of a switch housing and also includes a common contact that ... | 01/10/1984 |
