...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7884298 | Switch for a switchgear assembly for power supply and distribution A switch for a switching unit for energy supply and distribution includes a first connection and a second connection, each with a cylindrical bolt. The bolts are axially adjacent one another and spaced apart. An annular sleeve with an inner diameter larger than the ... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7858892 | Ball holding, latching and locking applications using radial and axial springs by incorporating electrical conductivity and electrical switchings A latching and electrical switch mechanism includes an insulated housing having a cavity therein with an opening thereto along with an electrically conductive ball disposed therein. The ball includes a stem with a smaller diameter than the ball and extends therefrom... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7838787 | Ball holding, latching and locking applications using radial and axial springs by incorporating electrical conductivity and electrical switchings A latching and electrical switch mechanism includes an insulated housing having a cavity therein with an opening thereto along with an electrically conductive ball disposed therein. The ball includes a stem with a smaller diameter than the ball and extends therefrom... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7538289 | Multiple position swivel lamp with integral switch contacts A multiple positioning assembly with integral switch contact includes a cylindrical housing along with a ball assembly including a ball portion received by the cylindrical assembly. The ball portion includes an electrically conductive surface and a neck extending th... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7342188 | Rotary light switch for motor vehicles A rotary light switch for motor vehicles is presented that ensures a feel that is not susceptible to mechanical influences. The rotary light switch has an actuator that can be rotated around an axis and that can be moved in the axial direction, and that is non-rotat... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7302758 | Manufacturing and mounting method of electrical contacts for control members of small dimensions, in particular for the horological field There is disclosed a method for manufacturing and mounting electric contacts for control members of small dimensions, particularly for control members used in the horological field. This method includes the following steps: a) stamping and pre-shaping a plate of ele... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7211758 | Circuit interrupter that produces snap-action connection and disconnection between electrical contacts An apparatus and method to minimize teasing and contact welding at contact points includes a switch having a first contact movable toward a second contact from a switch-deactuated position to a switch-actuated position and movable away from the second contact from t... | 05/01/2007 |
| 6998557 | Power driven food machine and related multi-action switch assembly A power driven machine such as a food product slicer, band saw apparatus or food mixer, includes a multi-action switch assembly with first and second switch units and a switch actuator for selectively actuating the first and second switch units in a manner to trigge... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6812424 | Elastic sheet structure having an improved electrical continuity function, and printed circuit board structure In an elastic sheet member of the present invention, a silicon rubber sheet is supported by a fixed member. A wire group functioning as contacts is disposed at either one of the silicon rubber sheet or the fixed member. In other words, electrical continuity paths, w... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6466118 | Overlay electrical conductor for a magnetically coupled pushbutton switch A magnetically coupled pushbutton switch has a coupler magnet layer that normally holds an electrically conductive magnetic armature spaced from a substrate layer. An overlay having an overlay electrical conductor formed thereon covers the pushbutton swit... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6005299 | Electronic apparatus provided with a bidirectional rotary switch An electronic apparatus provided with a bidirectional rotary switch having a control element for selecting individual function elements of function groups by rotation of the control element, and for activating the individual function elements by pushing t... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5629679 | Personal security device A portable personal security device of compact size capable of being carried in a pocket or purse or the like, has a pistol-like configuration with a handgrip portion and a barrel portion. The device includes a noxious chemical which may be discharged to ... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5564560 | Dual function button A dual function button for keyboards and keypads. The button includes a first contact switch which is activated by a first manual pressure. The first contact switch is preferably formed by a resilient cover having a conductive pellet on its interior face,... | 10/15/1996 |
| 5122627 | Asymmetrical electrical switch actuator An actutator for a multiple-position electrical switch includes an actuator member having a cam surface formed on its undersurface along each edge. Two pairs of cam followers formed at the end of respective resilient beams slide along the cam surface. The... | 06/16/1992 |
| 5120922 | Momentary pushbutton slide switch A momentary pushbutton multiposition slide switch is provided which can be readily manufactured in miniature size from substantially fewer components than switches of conventional construction while providing the same electrical functionality. The switch ... | 06/09/1992 |
| 5012056 | Control device for use in an electrical switch A control device for an electrical switch is suggested, which is composed, among other things, of an actuation element (1) as well as at least one latching pin (3) that is under the effect of a compression spring (2) and a system having at least one latch... | 04/30/1991 |
| 4314124 | Pushbutton contact A pushbutton contactor has means for transforming the contacting function into a locking function or vice versa in which detent means are provided on the actuating member which cooperate with cam surfaces in the guide cylinder of the pushbutton contactor.... | 02/02/1982 |
| 4282414 | Convertible switch operator A convertible switch operator for use as a pull momentary and as a push-pull momentary operation characterized by a tubular selector longitudinally movable in a housing and spring biased by a first spring for operation as a pull operator; and spring biase... | 08/04/1981 |
| 4112273 | Push-pull electric switch A push-pull electric switch having a pair of spherically shaped contact plates which normally bias an actuator towards a neutral position. The contact plates are formed with contact tabs that are engageable with stationary contact members when the actuato... | 09/05/1978 |
| 4032731 | Push-pull switch for use in an electronic watch A push-pull switch employs a coil spring contained in an internal chamber in a housing and surrounding a reduced central portion on a stem passing through the chamber. The spring is interposed between a pair of washers slidably receiving the central porti... | 06/28/1977 |
| 3983355 | Switching apparatus A switching apparatus in which at least one pair of contact electrodes is printed on an insulator base fixed to a switch casing, and a contact element of conductive elastomeric material is disposed at a suitable position opposite to these contact electrod... | 09/28/1976 |