Emhart Industries, Inc.

Emerson Electric Company

Nidec Motor Corporation

Other

Ellis Paul Lipp

Benjamin F Chestnut

Gregory A Peterson

Peter F Stultz

Donald L Ray

Mark L Petre

Charles H Mark

Laurence S Slocum

James W Richmond

David E Zink

John W Smith

Jay Utken

Robert C Hammond

An appliance timer operable in a selection mode and an operation mode includes a shaft assembly, a switch assembly, a cam device, a bi-directional motor, and a display device. The shaft assembly is operable to select an operation cycle and to drive the display device in the selection mode. The motor rotates in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction in the operation mode. When the motor rotates in the first rotational direction, the motor drives the cam device to operate the switch assembly to actuate or deactivate a plurality of electrical circuits associated with a plurality of appliance functions. When the motor rotates in the second rotational direction, the motor drives the display device to indicate an operational status of the appliance. The rotation of the motor is controlled by a microprocessor.

Appliance timer

A device enables a camstack in an appliance timer to be rotated without applying electrical power to the switches of the appliance. The device includes a knob having an elongated actuator extending from a lower surface of the knob to an outboard end, the elongated actuator having a shoulder between the outboard end of the elongated actuator and the knob, a camstack shaft for rotating a camstack used to selectively engage cam followers for controlling operation of an appliance cycle, the camstack shaft including a passageway for telescopically receiving the elongated actuator extending from the knob, a switch actuator having a hub and a radial flange, the hub having a passageway for receiving the outboard end of the elongated actuator up to the shoulder so the actuator is axially moved by depression of the knob, a switch having one contact mounted on one end of a resilient member configured to urge the one contact toward another contact to close the switch, and a slider having a first end and a second end, the first end of the slider contacting the radial flange of the switch actuator and the second end of the slider being coupled to the resilient member of the switch so that depression of the knob moves the radial flange of the switch actuator with respect to the first end of the slider to urge the resilient member and the one contact away from the other contact to open the switch.

Camstack timer with momentary start switch

An improved timer for controlling an appliance includes a camstack having a plurality of cam surfaces defined therein. A switch block cooperates with the plurality of cam surfaces to provide first switching operations for the appliance. A sensor detects rotation of the camstack, and generates position signals in response thereto. A processor is configured to receive the position signals and generate control signals in response thereto, wherein an auxiliary switching operation is performed in response to generation of the control signals.

A control shaft and knob assembly includes a control knob having a slot defined therein. The assembly also includes a control shaft which (i) has a bore extending therethrough, (ii) includes a spring arm which is positionable within the slot of the control knob, and (iii) has an opening defined therein. The assembly further includes a locking pin having a first retention member secured thereto. The locking pin is positionable in the bore of the control shaft. When the locking pin is positioned in the bore of the control shaft (i) the locking pin is positioned to inhibit inward deflection of the spring arm, and (ii) the first retention member is received into the opening of the control shaft. A method of securing a control knob to a control shaft of an appliance timer is also disclosed.

Control shaft and knob assembly of an appliance timer

A housing has a window with a plurality of panes. There is a light guide member in the form of first and second plates meeting at right angles. The first plate has white indicia painted on it and the light guide member is positioned so that the indicia are viewable in the window, one indicia in each pane. A red arm slides along the first plate on the side opposite the window. The arm is made of light guide material and is attached to a slidable tape and a lever passes through a hole in the tape so that the indicating arm moves in coordination with the lever to provide a red background to the one of the indicia in the window that indicates the position of the lever. A blue plate on the side of the arm opposite the window provides a blue background to the other indicia in the window. The light guide member and the arm are formed so that a single bulb located centrally to and along the edge of the second plate substantially uniformly illuminates the portions of the indicia means, the indicating arm, and the blue plate which are visible in the window.

Illuminated lever position indicator

A housing has a flat side and an open end opposite the flat side, which open end is closed by a circuit board, sandwiching a slidable contact carrier between it and the flat side. Normal power terminals are carried by the flat side and low power traces by the circuit board. Contacts carried on both sides of the carrier open and close circuits on the flat side and the circuit board as the carrier is slid in the housing. The carrier slides on a stabilizing bar with a highly finished surface, thereby smoothing out force irregularities that could be caused by the small size and differing characteristics of the two sides of the switch.

Multi-circuit slide switch assembly with distinct plunger operated switch

A contact is attached to a carrier and the carrier-contact assembly encapsulated in a chamber in a light guide, the chamber having an open end closed by a circuit board having traces on it. A lever fitting into a lever housing in the carrier passes through a slot in the light guide permitting the carrier to be manually slid within the chamber parallel to the circuit board, thereby moving the contact over the traces. The carrier contacts the light guide wholly along narrow ribs which are greased with a viscous grease. An opaque cover, having a slot through which the lever extends, encloses the light guide. An opaque tape located between the cover and the light guide and having an opening through which the lever extends, slides with the lever to prevent light from escaping through the slot in the cover as the lever is moved. A rim on the lever housing prevents light from escaping around the opening in the tape.

Slide switch with light guide

A housing has flat terminals, such as traces on a circuit board, along a flat side. A contact carrier having first and second contacts mounted on it is slidable in the housing so that the contacts may slide along the traces in a first direction. First spring blades bias the first contacts against the traces while a second spring blade biases a pivotable member holding the second contacts away from the traces. A plunger mounted on and slidable with the carrier includes a ramp which forces the pivotable member towards the traces when the plunger is depressed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to cause the second contacts to contact the traces. The carrier comprises two body portions which are held together with a tongue in groove, snap-in latch system.

Combination plunger and slider switch

A control assembly has various types of control elements such as switches and potentiometers carried in a housing. The housing includes an applique which has openings through which manual operating levers extend to operate the control elements. The applique includes labelling to indicate the functions being controlled. Lights are carried in the housing with the light emanating therefrom being directed to the openings for sharp illumination at the openings, in the levers, and the labelling.

Control assembly having panel illumination means

A lever is carried in a holder that permits the lever to be pivoted in a complete circle to permit up/down and left/right movement or any position in between. The lever engages a carriage which carries electrical contacts. Movement of the carriage by the lever causes the electrical contacts to move to be able to engage selective electrical paths.

Lever control system

An electrical contact blade and an electrical terminal are locked together within two intersecting slots provided in a terminal block, and at least one of either the electrical terminal or the electrical contact blade is prevented from axial movement in a predetermined direction by a stop provided in its respective slot.

Terminal block assembly

A porcelain enamel steel substrate is used to carry a resistive path.

Variable resistance control

A first rotor is fixedly carried by a shaft and a second rotor is loosely carried by the shaft. A coupling means couples the second rotor to the shaft through flanges extending from the rotor and pinching the shaft. The two rotors are then adjusted with respect to one another by rotating the shaft while holding the second rotor in place.

Adjustable variable resistance control system

A rotatable shaft for a combination switch and variable resistor is prevented from rotating by a shaft locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes cooperating grooves and a tab engaging the grooves. The shaft is axially moved to be put in a rotatable position.

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Charlottesville, IN, United States of America

Ellis Paul Lipp