Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7372356 | Concealed adjustable temperature switch A concealed adjustable temperature switch includes a fixed plate, an adjusting block threadedly engaged with a screw hole of the fixed plate, a bimetal plate, and a metal plate. Mounted on the adjusting block are upper and lower positioning rings and a fixing ring b... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7112362 | Thermally movable plastic devices and toys In accordance with the invention, thin bodies of plastic, such as sheets or strands, with substantially different thermal coefficients of expansion are laminated together to make plastic bodies which move in response to heat. The movable plastic bodies can be secure... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7102481 | Low current electric motor protector A low current motor protector (10, 10′) has an oblong metal housing (12) defining a switch chamber and formed with an open end. The housing has opposing flange portions extending transversely from the open end. Spaced apart lid portions (18... | 09/05/2006 |
| 6995647 | Low current electric motor protector A low current motor protector (10, 10′) has an oblong metal housing (12) defining a switch chamber and formed with an open end. The housing has opposing flange portions extending transversely from the open end. Spaced apart lid portions (18... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6798219 | Electronic device for monitoring the temperature of a medium to be monitored and method for implementing the same Electronic device for monitoring the temperature of a medium ensures that the temperature has not reached pre-established index limit values. The device includes contacts for closing an electric charge flow circuit when the temperature reaches an index limit value, ... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6771159 | Contact spring for miniature thermostat A switch comprising a molded housing having a cavity, and a set of electrical terminals formed within said cavity, with a displaceable elongated contact arm selectively forming a circuit between said set of terminals, wherein said displaceable elongated contact arm ... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6756876 | Circuit interrupter and method A current interrupter (10, 10′) includes bimetallic member (18) as a switching member having a formed portion (18a) providing snap action movement between oppositely dished configurations. An integrally formed extended length portion ( | 06/29/2004 |
| 6734782 | Switching device with an actuator element consisting of a shape memory alloy A switching device includes a strip-shaped actuator element including a shape memory alloy, which is connected to a movable contact part of a switching contact. It is intended that an at least largely extended shape has been impressed into the actuator element at an... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6639503 | Methods and apparatus for mounting a bimetal coil in a thermostat An apparatus is described for mounting a bimetal coil in a thermostat having an anticipator operable via an anticipator circuit. The apparatus includes an insulating member configured to insulate the coil from the anticipator circuit. The apparatus also i... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6633222 | Battery breaker There is provided a battery breaker comprising a case, a fixed contact which is mounted to the inner bottom surface of one end of the case and is connected to a terminal extending from the case outwards, an elastic movable piece which is mounted such that... | 10/14/2003 |
| 6580351 | Laser adjusted set-point of bimetallic thermal disc A method for post-fabrication modification of the snap actuation properties of a thermally responsive bimetallic actuator by exposing a pre-formed bimetallic actuator to laser energy, thereby permanently altering the thermal response properties of the bim... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6552645 | Bimetallic actuator for electronic components and other devices A calibrated bimetallic actuator has contoured areas having either raised or recessed generally annular shaped forms about the locations thereon where the actuator is affixed in assembled position on associated electronic components or other devices or wh... | 04/22/2003 |
| 6483418 | Creep acting miniature thermostatic electrical switch and thermostatic member used therewith A creep acting thermostatic switch (30) has an oblong, electrically conductive cup-shaped housing (32) formed with a side wall (32b) extending upwardly from a bottom wall (32a). A generally J-shaped creep acting thermostatic member (38) has a short leg (3... | 11/19/2002 |
| 5870013 | Thermally controlled electrical switching device having a snap-action switch The invention relates to a thermally controlled electrical switching device including a temperature control (1) having a snap-action switch (2) including a fixed contact (4) and a movable contact (3) connected to a metal snap-action switching spring (9), ... | 02/09/1999 |
| 5844466 | Bimetallic thermal triggering apparatus for a protection device Thermal triggering apparatus, for a protection device featuring an electrically conductive bimetallic strip and a plate of thickness (e) which supports the bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip has a first end free that is capable of deforming and a seco... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5808539 | Temperature responsive snap acting control assembly, device using such assembly and method for making A snap acting thermostatic disc assembly having a thermostatic disc element (20) responsive both to current and to ambient temperature is provided with an electrical contact (22) on a face surface on the disc element at one end thereof and a weld slug (24... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5594330 | Movement actuator/sensor systems A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, fo... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5548267 | Thermostat construction with improved bi-metallic disk mounting arrangement A thermostatic switch construction including a housing having a switch arm mounted for movement inside. A bi-metallic disk is mounted in the housing and movable in response to temperature change with snap action between two positions of stability. A switc... | 08/20/1996 |
| 5481184 | Movement actuator/sensor systems A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, fo... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5298876 | Bi-metallic switch element A bi-metallic switch element 10 has a contact wire 26 attached thereto by means of a plurality of crimps. A first crimp 28 applied at a first pressure fixes the contact wire to the element and a second crimp 30, formed at a lesser, more controlled pressur... | 03/29/1994 |
| 5206622 | Protector device with improved bimetal contact assembly and method of making The present invention provides an improved thermostatic contact assembly for use in a protector and method of making wherein weld projections are formed on the thin snap-acting bimetal disc for attaching the movable contact member to provide better alignm... | 04/27/1993 |
| 4914415 | Driving element with a thin part, deformable in the direction of its thickness Driving element (1) comprising a thin part (2) provided with a zone, ductile in the direction of its thickness in such a way as to occupy at least two positions, in at least one of which said zone is arc-shaped, at least one tab (3,4) fixed at one end to ... | 04/03/1990 |
| 4812799 | Miniature circuit breaker with improved longevity A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts throug... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4799038 | Snap-action heat responsive device This invention provides a snap-action heat responsive device employing a bimetallic strip which is typically used with a thermostat, a temperature-protecting apparatus or the like. Two elongated portions of the bimetallic strip oppose each other so that t... | 01/17/1989 |
| 4796355 | Snap action devices and methods and apparatus for making same An inherently mechanically bistable self-supporting blade element for actuating snap-action switches, circuit breakers and devices, and methods and apparatus for producing such elements. The elements are formed from initially flat, unstressed spring mater... | 01/10/1989 |
| 4682141 | Dynamically optimized thermostat (dot) with tunable bimetal element A tuning element for a temperature responsive switch includes a bimetal assembly in the form of an elongated, relatively flat bimetal strip with bending action and including integral tuning webs for adjusting the thermodynamic properties of the element. M... | 07/21/1987 |
| 4636615 | Electrical resistance heating element having a bimetallic protective switch An electrical radiator, particularly for fan-forced heaters, is provided which includes a resistance heating element disposed on an insulating element connected to the housing of the fan-forced heater. The coil winding of the resistance heating element is... | 01/13/1987 |
| 4554526 | Fluorescent lamp with iron-nickel bimetal filament switch An improved thermally responsive switch is provided. The switch has a thermally movable arm which moves a substantial degree at a selected response temperature but which moves only a small degree at higher temperatures and also at lower temperatures.... | 11/19/1985 |
| 4424506 | Snap-acting mechanisms A snap-acting mechanism such as a switch is constructed with a generally planar blade assembled between mutually spaced portions of a pair of members forming a base. The base includes means extending from one of the portions to the other which operate to ... | 01/03/1984 |
| 4236136 | Tripping device for an overload circuit breaker An overload circuit breaker has a housing and a tripping device supported in the housing and having a helically wound, current-carrying bimetal strip composed of two face-to-face arranged metal components situated, respectively, at the inside and at the o... | 11/25/1980 |
| 4160226 | Snap-acting thermally responsive actuators A snap-acting thermally responsive actuator comprises a bimetal sheet having a U-shaped aperture defining a tongue, the sheet having been deformed to a domed configuration in a die pressing operation so that the actuator reverses its curvature with a snap... | 07/03/1979 |
| 4159155 | Bimetal circuit breaker A bimetal circuit breaker comprises a frame and a plate-like bimetal component which includes a base part, two U-shaped legs each having a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a U-shaped connecting portion. Each first leg portion is attached to the... | 06/26/1979 |
| 4152998 | Method for forming snap-acting thermally responsive actuators A method of forming a snap-acting thermally responsive bimetallic actuator comprising forming, from sheet bimetal, a member having an aperture with an arcuate outer perimeter and an inner perimeter defining a tongue free at one end, said free end being cl... | 05/08/1979 |
| 4142418 | Temperature sensitive member A temperature sensitive member, such as used in a thermostat, is formed of an elongated metal strip coated with a layer of polymer material. Holes are formed through the metal strip over its length and the layer of polymer material extends into the holes.... | 03/06/1979 |
| 4105986 | Distribution transformer secondary circuit interrupter having an improved bimetal A circuit breaker particularly adapted for use in an oil filled distribution transformer includes an improved bimetal trip actuator which exhibits greater deflection for a given degree of power dissipation. The trip actuator includes a planar bimetal elem... | 08/08/1978 |
| 4090163 | Elongated snap-acting bimetal element An elongated bimetal member has a transverse curvature opposing temperature warp and a longitudinal curvature aiding temperature warp. The transverse curvature maintains the member straight in a longitudinal direction until the sum of the longitudinal tem... | 05/16/1978 |
| 4041432 | Motor protector for high temperature applications and thermostat material for use therein A motor protector for use in motors having a high operating temperature employs a snap-acting composite thermostat element to actuate the protector wherein the multilayer thermostatic material embodied in the element has an electrical resistivity value fr... | 08/09/1977 |
| 3988708 | Controlled droop thermostat Limited droop thermostats in which a bimetal tongue extends from an end of the main ambient temperature-sensing bimetal. The tongue responds to heat emitted by the thermostat switch and acts to compensate for the incidental exposure of the main bimetal to... | 10/26/1976 |
| 3976966 | Electric sequencer and electric heating system An electrical sequencing relay has an elongated bimetal member with a transverse curvature opposing temperature warp and maintaining the member straight in a longitudinal direction until longitudinal temperature warp forces exceeds the retaining forces of... | 08/24/1976 |
