"Inventing is a combination of brains and materials. The more brains you use, the less material you need."
Charles Kettering
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 |
| 7956301 | Tamper protection device for an electrical switching device, including a protection cap and a retainer for a security seal A tamper protection device for an electrical switching device including a housing and a panel for at least one control element. The tamper protection device a protection cap configured to prevent unwanted operation or tampering of the control element when in positio... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7531760 | Operating handle locking apparatus and electrical switching apparatus including the same A locking apparatus is for a circuit breaker including an enclosure having an opening with two sides and two ends, and two apertures on each of the sides proximate the ends. An operating mechanism includes a pivotal operating handle disposed through the opening. The... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7371980 | Apparatus and methods for securing switch devices Apparatus and methods for lockout of toggle switches, such as those toggle switches that include a captivating switch head (e.g., an enlarged and/or offset switch head) disposed on a cylindrical-shaped switch arm of the toggle switch. In one example, the apparatus a... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7355133 | System, device, and method for securing a circuit breaker actuator Certain exemplary embodiments provide a securement adapted to interface with a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker can comprise an actuator operable within an actuator operation zone defined by movement of the actuator between a first pole and a second pole. The secu... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7256726 | Method of disabling the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device The invention relates to a method of disabling the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises repeated iterations of the following steps: the automatic disabling of at least some keys on the command-emittin... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7204105 | Tamper-proof latch cover A latch in a door is protected from an unauthorized entry by forming a first bracket that fits around the latch, and a second bracket that is rotatably connected to the first latch. The second bracket covers the latch when rotated to be in a first position, and expo... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7137178 | Protective device for vehicle seat belt latch release A protective device for a latch release actuator of a vehicle seat belt. The protective device comprises a shield having an aperture. The shield is attachable to a latch body such that the shield substantially surrounds the latch release actuator and the aperture is... | 11/21/2006 |
| 6940027 | Operating handle locking assembly for an electrical switching apparatus A locking assembly is for a circuit breaker including an enclosure and an operating handle operable between a first, ON position and a second, OFF position with respect to the enclosure. The operating handle includes a first aperture extending therethrough. The lock... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6940028 | Switch deactivation device A switch deactivation device includes a coil portion having a number of coils. The coils are configured to couple to a portion of a vehicle door switch, such as a plunger shaft or a mounting flange. The coils may be coupled to the portion of the switch by adjusting ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6914205 | Operating switch for a motor vehicle with a movable protective device An operating switch for a motor vehicle with a housing having an operating opening for accessing an operating element, and a protective device movable relative to the operating opening for temporarily covering the operating element on the operating side. The protect... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6844512 | Circuit breaker lock-out assembly A circuit breaker lock-out assembly which is engageable with a circuit breaker includes a body having a top and a bottom joined by walls. The walls define a passageway extending from the body top to the body bottom. A button having one end extending into the body pa... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6737594 | Locking attachment for an electrical switching apparatus A locking attachment is for a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing enclosing separable contacts and an operating mechanism, an elongated operating member with a handle that operates to open and close the separable contacts, and an opening in the h... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6703572 | Anti-twist insert for circuit breaker handler accessory A switch-lock assembly for securing a circuit breaker in one of a plurality of circuit breaker positions, comprising a switch-lock attachment and an anti-twist insert. The switch-lock attachment includes a spring member adapted to engage a retaining area ... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6696651 | Lock out device for miniature circuit breaker and manual motor controller A lockout for circuit breakers provides a channel holding the circuit breaker toggle bar with a set screw that may be accessed only when an eye of the lockout is free of a padlock shackle. The eye is oriented vertically so that the padlock may be rotated ... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6580041 | Circuit breaker safety clip and associated method A circuit breaker safety clip and associated method are provided to identify and secure circuit breakers in an open position. The safety clip securely engages a circuit breaker in an electrical panel such that the circuit breaker must remain in an open po... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6486419 | Multifunctional image forming apparatus having a covered main power switch An image forming apparatus having at least two of a plurality of functions including copying, facsimile and printer functions includes a main power switch that is provided on an outer surface of the apparatus and a cover to cover the main power switch. Th... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6469264 | Switch lever lock out assembly A switch lever lock out assembly which is engagable with a switch having a lever positionable in at least two positions. The assembly includes a lock rail fixable relative to the switch. At least one transverse opening is formed in the lock rail. One end ... | 10/22/2002 |
| 6190025 | Multi-mode illumination device with security block An illumination device includes a housing and a multi-position switch for selecting various modes of operation. A security block is mounted to the housing adjacent the switch. The security block may be attached to the housing in at least two different ori... | 02/20/2001 |
| 6028273 | Anti-vibration retaining clip for an electrical switch with connector interlock An electrical switch with connector interlock apparatus having a reusable clip-on anti-vibration retaining clip assembly used to retain the spring biased operating member in the "on" position for high vibration application. In heavy high vibration environ... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5907140 | Circuit breaker having a snap-in attachable collar A molded insulating collar for an insulating housing of a circuit breaker has a plurality of depending tabs which are received in grooves in the housing and provided with cooperating snap-fit structures within the housing to enable the collar to be sub-as... | 05/25/1999 |
| 5823321 | Locking device for unipolar breaker A locking device for unipolar breaker is remote-controlled: the device surrounds a breaker blade and adds to a pivoting-base of the blade a T-shaped piece which prevents the closing of the blade. The T-shaped piece comprises a wide web and two wedge point... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5794759 | Protective cover for switches A protective cover for use on a device having a switch. The protective cover prevents inadvertent or accidental operation of the switch, while allowing deliberate or intentional operation of the switch with the protective cover in place. The protective co... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5775456 | Emergency driver system Disclosed is an emergency driver system for a motor vehicle. The emergency driver system allows a passenger in the motor vehicle to safely maneuver the motor vehicle should the driver become incapacitated by exposing a brake actuator and an accelerator ac... | 07/07/1998 |
| 5747775 | High speed oven A heating apparatus of the present invention relates to a high speed oven having a turntable mechanism for heating food products by utilizing a combination of jet impingement of heated air (a jet impingement) and microwaves or either of them, the apparatu... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5723832 | Switch guard for electric switch assembly An electric switch assembly having a switch arm movable from "on" to "off" position and a cover plate through which the switch arm extends. The cover plate has an integral guard providing a stop substantially abutting the switch arm when in one of its "on... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5624022 | Adjustable limit for the slide knob of slide dimmers A device which will limit the travel of the slide knob of a slide dimmer to a selectable value, limiting the maximum illumination level of the light bulbs that are being controlled by said dimmer.... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5577599 | Switch lockouts Switch lockouts are disclosed which may be fixed to a single toggle switch, a ganged toggle switch, or a similarly acting switch, valve operator, or similar structure to prevent the switch from being operated. The lockout comprises a projection and abutme... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5521344 | Circuit breaker lock-out block A circuit breaker handle locking block is arranged on a top of circuit breaker with the circuit breaker operating handle extending through a clearance slot in the locking block. The sides of the circuit breaker handle slot are ramped to conform to the ang... | 05/28/1996 |
| 5486660 | Reset only rocker guard for split case circuit breaker A split case magnetic circuit breaker has a bracket secured to the front of the breaker housing similar to that used to provide a rocker for operating the breaker manually and for resetting the breaker when tripped. The bracket is formed with a small acce... | 01/23/1996 |
| 5435855 | Dishwasher guard A dishwasher guard for protecting the control panel of a dishwasher against accidental operation, in particular by a child. The guard comprises a door and a pair of lateral brackets adapted to be installed on the sides of the dishwasher. The brackets hing... | 07/25/1995 |
| 5434378 | Multi-position switch with switch actuator movement inhibitor assembly A switch inhibitor assembly provided with a multi-position switch is operable for inhibiting movement of an actuator of the switch to a predetermined one of the multiple positions, such as an ON position of a succession of OFF, AUTO and ON positions, of t... | 07/18/1995 |
| 5432308 | Lockout strip for an electrical switch A lockout strip for an electrical switch of the type having a housing, an opening in the front face of the housing, an operating lever with lugs at its outer end extending out of the opening in the housing and stop surfaces at opposite ends of the opening... | 07/11/1995 |
| 5412167 | Locking device for an electrical switch A locking device is insertable into a cover opening adjacent to a handle of an electrical switch to occupy the space in the cover opening for resisting movement of the handle. The locking device has two pivotally connected members. The pivotal movement of... | 05/02/1995 |
| 5348405 | Computer keyboard key depression inhibitor device A key depression inhibitor device for a computer keyboard is disclosed which is intended to prevent accidental or inadvertent manual depression of a certain key or combination of keys on a computer keyboard. The device has top, side and end walls which fo... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5331122 | Safety lock off device A safety lock device for a toggle switch has a cylindrical head with slotted opening in its perimeter, a threaded outer surface, flared skirt and an open base. Vice arms are attached within the device with its arms protruding through its slotted perimeter... | 07/19/1994 |
| 5324897 | Switch locking device A locking device for an electrical toggle switch has a fixed, one piece locking body. An opening extends through the body for receiving a mounting screw for a switch face plate to mount the body on the face plate. The mounting screw receiving opening is p... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5322980 | Circuit breaker lock out- multi-pole A single, molded one-piece member, having a bottom recess for receiving the levers of a plurality of switches, on which a tie bar is mounted. The member is flexed to spread the walls of the recess, and when it is released, a locking lug moves under the ti... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5310969 | Switch lockouts Switch lockouts are disclosed which may be fixed to a single toggle switch, a ganged toggle switch, or a similarly acting switch, valve operator, or similar structure to prevent the switch from being operated. The lockout comprises a projection and abutme... | 05/10/1994 |
| 5290979 | Handle block for electrical switching device A molded generally planar U-shaped plastic member has a pair of lateral projections on one leg and a single lateral projection at a distal end of the other leg, which projections are received in recesses in mutually facing surfaces of a raised escutcheon ... | 03/01/1994 |
| 5270503 | Electric circuit lock-out safety device A lock-out device for electrical circuits which includes an elongated, open sided C-shaped housing having parallel side walls each joined at an edge to a back panel. Each side wall defines a plurality of spaced, open slots. The slots in the side walls are... | 12/14/1993 |