Other

Plantronics, Inc.

Kevin A Sawyer

Gerald W Skulley

Fred Italo Polito

Robert J Bernardi

Robert V Davies

Michael D Perry

Brett A Herscher

Raymond A Brindos

A hookswitch actuator including an activating mechanism which maintains the hookswitch circuit of a telephone in an 'on hook' state when the activating mechanism is in a first position, or in an 'off hook' state when the activating mechanism is in the second position. The movement of the activating mechanism between the two positions is accomplished through the use of a shape memory alloy mechanism. The shape memory alloy mechanism is coupled to the activating mechanism in such a way that heating or cooling of the shape memory alloy mechanism moves the activating mechanism between its two positions. Control of the heating and cooling of the shape memory alloy mechanism is effectuated by controlling the amount of electric current passing through it.

Nitinol hookswitch actuator

A recumbent bicycle is powered by the driving of a crank spindle that rotates on an axis generally coincident with that of the front wheel. The crank spindle is disposed within a spindle housing supported from the front of the bicycle frame, and the spindle housing supports the front wheel through a steerably turnable intermediate hub. Steering of the handlebars causes the front wheel to turn to steer the bicycle, while the crank spindle remains in a fixed orientation to the frame so that the bicycle can be continuously driven with pedals connected to the crank spindle, which in turn is connected to the rear wheel through a sprocket and drive chain assembly.

Recumbent bicycle

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Kevin A Sawyer