Did You Know...
...that after Parker Brothers executives turned down the game of Monopoly because it had "52 fundamental errors" (including taking too long to play), a copy of the game wound up in the home of the company president who stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish playing it? He was so impressed by the game that the next day he wrote to inventor Charles Darrow and offered to buy it!
PatentStorm News
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 |
| 7994447 | Push button switch device Upward urging force by operation force of a tact switch and restoring force of a rubber body are applied to an operation body via a pressing body. Then, pressing operation of a push button section causes the operation body to press down the rear ends of left and rig... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7989724 | Switch, particularly window lifter switch In a switch, particularly a window lifter switch, with a housing, a switching rocker which is mounted in the housing and is associated with electrical contacts, and with a button which is likewise mounted in the housing, the button is acted upon elastically so that ... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7220926 | Switching apparatus A movable contact holder includes a rod-shaped portion which is formed in such a manner as to extend in a direction which is at substantially right angles to a traveling direction of a movable unit and is substantially parallel to a sliding plane of a movable contac... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7094982 | Switch device A switch device includes a base member, a rotary mechanism and a vertical actuation mechanism. The rotary mechanism is received in the base member to move a present circular displacement while a hollow handle turning. The vertical actuation mechanism is received in ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7063555 | Quick release connector for light bulb The connecting apparatus for facilitating installing, maintaining and replacing light bulbs comprises a non-conductive base grip including two electrodes manufactured from conductive material embedded in the base grip. The two electrically conductive electrodes are ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7030331 | Push switch device In a push switch device, a first latchet tooth is formed to an actuation body composed of an elastomer, a second latchet tooth is formed to a cam follower composed of a synthetic resin material, and the first latchet tooth is meshed with the second latchet tooth by ... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7012200 | Integrated volume control and switch assembly An integral volume control and switch assembly comprising a resilient conductive member serving for switching between a first and second switch state and a resilient tactile member serving for providing a user with a tactile feedback upon change of switch state. The... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6965087 | Electric switch An electric switch, in particular for a high load, such as a power switch. The switch has a contact system comprising a movable switching contact and at least one stationary contact. A movable actuation member, when moved, interacts with the switching contact for th... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6953904 | Pedal actuated switch assembly A pedal actuated switch assembly The switch assembly comprises a housing, a linear actuator resiliently supported in the housing and coupled with the a pedal for linear movement relative to the housing, a rotational actuator rotatably supported in the housing and co... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6945581 | Integral lighting for consoles An overhead console bin for motor vehicles that allows the interior of the storage bin to be illuminated without illuminating the entire interior of the motor vehicle. This console bin comprises a storage bin, a plunger switch, and at least one lighting source. When... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6878894 | Pushbutton switch A pushbutton switch having a housing (10), a push button (12) mounted in said housing for axial movement between a normal position and a depressed position, the push button being spring-loaded into the normal position and carrying an elastically mounte... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6809281 | Pushbutton switch A pushbutton switch includes an upper case (1) having a cylinder portion (1b) and a button (3) which is capable of a sliding motion along the cylinder portion (1b). A rotor (5) having a flange (1a) at th... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6791038 | Electrical switch An electrical switch includes a casing, first and second fixed contacts, and a moving contact lever having first and second parts for contact with the first and second fixed contacts, respectively. A spring resiliently biasses the lever into contact with both of the... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6706987 | Rotary push switch A rotary push switch has upper and lower housings locked together by protuberances along one housing in locking grooves along the other. A return spring and an actuator are in a carrier within the upper housing together with a push button and a movable terminal. A p... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6680447 | Mounting unit for insertion into a mounting opening A mounting unit (1) formed e.g. as a switch block has a downwardly open housing (2) and a base member closing the latter and serving as an actuating element (4) for locking members (9). The actuating element (4) adapted to be urged telescopically into the... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6621028 | Quiet pushbutton switch ratchet mechanism A pushbutton has a body including a barrel and a plunger longitudinally movable in the barrel. A plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on the plunger engage a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on a rotatable ratchet coaxial with the plunge... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6525284 | Switching device, in particular for an ignition-starter switch in a motor vehicle The switching device has an actuation surface and a force transmission element disposed in a holding device. The holding device has a mechanical guide that defines a motion of the force transmission element. If pressure is exerted on the actuation surface... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6495783 | Push actuated electrical switch A miniature electrical switch is closed when a pusher (44) is pushed forwardly (F) to snap down a snap dome tripping member(36) and push a contact blade (50) against a contact part (28). Forward sliding of the actuator is converted into downward movement ... | 12/17/2002 |
| 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 |
| 6396015 | Three-step press switch A three-step switch includes a casing defining a first receiving chamber and a second receiving chamber, an actuating device mounted in the first receiving chamber, three metal contact plates and a metal conducting plate mounted in the second receiving ch... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6268577 | Push-pull switch operator A push-pull switch operator includes a housing. A rotary drive is rotationally mounted in the housing and has a circumferential cam track. An actuator is operatively coupled to the rotary drive for converting linear movement of the actuator to rotary move... | 07/31/2001 |
| 6191376 | Pushbutton switch A pushbutton, momentary ON switch has a body including a barrel with longitudinally extending internal splines and ways between the splines. A plunger has radially extending lugs in the ways and is longitudinally movable in the barrel. A plurality of long... | 02/20/2001 |
| 5983748 | Operating device A switch device 1 has an outer frame 2, and a rotor 13 . A spring 14 is provided between the bottom 7 of the outer frame 2 and the rotor 13 in such a manner that its two ends are secured to the outer frame 2 and the rotor 13. The rotor 13 is operated with... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5981885 | Operation-staggered dual switch An operation-staggered dual switch is provided having a casing, first and second switching mechanisms installed in the casing, the switching mechanisms being operatively connected such that operation of the first switching mechanism may follow operation o... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5860514 | Actuator mechanism for an alternate action switch An actuator mechanism for alternate action switching devices having at least two states includes a housing structure and an actuator member slidably engaged therewith. In order to move the switching device between states, the actuator member has a contour... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5641060 | Actuator mechanism for a controlled device, and switching means operated by the mechanism An actuator converts an input movement to a control movement with a bistable action. The actuator is operable to provide a first control movement in response to a first input movement and a second control movement immediately upon the second input movemen... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5626223 | Cam-assisted switch The present invention includes a cam-assisted switch. A keycap or button is provided with three or more cam contact points. A cam member is provided with an associated number of outwardly extending fingers corresponding to each cam contact point on the ke... | 05/06/1997 |
| 5586645 | Expanding helical ratchet switch A quiet smooth acting push button switch, which permits partial actuation without a change of state, including a body, a cover and a contact cup having one or more tabs, the cup rotatibly mounted on the cover. A plunger, actuator and a ratchet with radial... | 12/24/1996 |
| 5558211 | Push-button actuated safety switch A protective switch having an actuation side. The protective switch includes a base having walls, a pivot shaft connected to the walls of the base, and a switching rocker pivotal on the pivot shaft to be pivotally seated on the base. The switching rocker ... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5521347 | Switch device A switch device includes an automatic return type operating piece depressed to move and automatically returned to an original position, a swinging member swingably mounted on a shaft, the swinging member being swung in opposite directions alternately when... | 05/28/1996 |
| 5508485 | Pushbutton switch A pushbutton switch is provided comprising a pushbutton having its lower portion inserted in a pushbutton housing section and being formed in its lower end with a pin accommodating hole; a pin having its upper end portion resiliently held in the pin accom... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5350893 | Lever switch In a lever switch, a contact actuating part provided in a lever is movable in a first direction by shifting of the lever and the top portion of a movable contact is depressable in a second direction substantially at right angles to the first direction whi... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5226529 | Stable on switch A pushbutton switch which permits partial actuation without a change of state, including a body, a cover and a contact cup having a plurality of tabs, the cup rotatably mounted on the cover. A plunger and ratchet mechanism mounted in the body incrementall... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5136132 | Alternate action mechanism An alternate action mechanism in which a rocker makes rolling contact with a surface on a frame, and a plunger is positioned to exert a force toward the surface at a location on the rocker separated from the rolling contact, the force at least initially b... | 08/04/1992 |
| 5132499 | Pre-loaded switching apparatus and method of operation A miniature ratchet type push button activated electrical switch having a mainspring and an auxiliary spring wherein spring rates, spring lengths and spring orientations are selected such that a substantial depression of the push button is required before... | 07/21/1992 |
| 5132498 | Structure of foot switch A foot switch comprising a base covered with an upper cover to hold a pressure-contact switch, a rotary type actuating member, a compression spring and a press member. The press member is supported by the compression spring to protrude beyond the center h... | 07/21/1992 |
| 5063276 | Pushbutton switch with rotational contact wiping action A plunger axially depressible within a tubular housing against a return spring has a conductive pin contact contained within a helically shaped slot through the plunger to project radially from opposite sides of the plunger. A spring biases the pin toward... | 11/05/1991 |
| 5055643 | Tripping emergency push-button An emergency push-button comprises a housing and a support rigidly connected to a movable actuation knob and axially movable therewith. The support acts on a releasing mechanism, operated by rotation of the knob about an axis parallel to the movement dire... | 10/08/1991 |
| 5047600 | Knob switch device The knob switch device comprises a body, an operation knob mounted on the body, which is rotatable and movable along an axial direction of the knob, first and second switches operated by the rotation and the movement of the knob, respectively, an inclined... | 09/10/1991 |
| 4916269 | Push-button rocker electric switch An electric switch having a housing including a base plate, the switch comprising a push-button which is preferably movable in a linear direction with respect to the housing, a switching tappet movable by the push-button and swivellable relative to the sw... | 04/10/1990 |
