Dana Corporation

Other

Warner Electric Technology, Inc.

Michael F Leone

Dennis J Nelson

David C Gustin

Russell K Warner

Todd Christopher Pink

Candace Oshinsky

Mark Attalla

Matthew Maleiko

Ross Osias

Charlotte Eulette

Gerard DeFries

A retractable dog leash system is designed to attach to the collar of a pet and be permanently worn in this manner is small and lightweight, and comprises an ergonomic handle that fits neatly against the case when the leash is in a retracted condition. Advantageously, the leash system comprises a leash retraction biasing mechanism that is free on one end permitting an unwinding of the biasing mechanism and not merely a tightening of it.

Wearable retracting animal leash

An apparatus for sampling perfume includes a card dispenser which includes a built-in atomizer. The dispenser is operated by a simple control which applies a scent onto a card and ejects the card from the dispenser. The dispenser is preferably designed to be resistant to theft. In this regard, the size and appearance of the dispenser may be sufficient to dissuade a shoplifter. Alternatively, the dispenser can be locked to a display counter. According to one of the methods of the invention, the cards dispensed from the dispenser bear advertising indicia indicating the name of the perfume. According to another method of the invention cards are provided with indicia indicating a discount coupon for the perfume purchase.

Method and apparatus for sampling and advertising perfume

A spring-set, electromagnetically released brake that requires a relatively small amount of current to release is provided. The brake includes a magnet shell disposed about a first axis. The shell includes a radially outwardly extending pole. The brake also includes an armature disposed radially outwardly of the pole and pivotable at a first axial end and a first engagement element, such as a brake shoe, coupled to the armature proximate a second axial end of the armature. The brake further includes a spring disposed about the pole. The spring biases the armature radially outwardly to urge the first engagement element towards a second engagement element such as a friction surface in a brake drum. Finally, the brake includes a coil disposed about the pole and means for selectively energizing the coil to urge the armature radially inwardly and the first engagement element away from the second engagement element. A bobbin for use in the brake is also provided. The bobbin includes a substantially cylindrical body portion disposed about a second axis and first and second discs extending radially outwardly from first and second ends, respectively, of the body portion. The bobbin further includes a flange extending radially inwardly relative to the second axis and a projection extending axially relative to the second axis. The flange and projection are configured to engage the magnet shell and prevent radial and axial movement of the bobbin and coil.

Spring-set electromagnetically released brake

A wrap spring operating mechanism for use in a random start/stop clutch, brake, or combined clutch/brake assembly limits the rate of acceleration or deceleration of the second member relative to the first member when the assembly is engaged. The assembly includes a first member, a second member, and a helical spring wrapped about adjacent portions of the first and second members. An annular control collar is disposed circumferentially about portions of the first and second members. The wrap spring has a first end that is connected to the first member and a second end that is connected to the control collar. An annular armature is connected to the control collar for rotational movement therewith and for relative axial movement. An annular rotor is disposed circumferentially about and connected to the second member. An annular friction ring is disposed within a recess formed in the rotor. The friction ring is formed from a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction, preferably about 0.2 or less under both wet and dry conditions. An electromagnetic coil assembly is provided for selective moving the armature into frictional engagement with the friction ring carried on the rotor to engage the assembly. By forming the friction ring from a non-magnetically permeable material having a relatively low coefficient of friction, the time duration of the frictional engagement of the armature with the friction plate is enlarged. As a result, the rate of acceleration or deceleration of the second member relative to the first member is limited to prevent undesirable impact loads from being generated, particularly when the assembly is operated at high speeds or when relatively large load are placed thereupon.

Wrap spring clutch/brake assembly having soft start and soft stop

A mounting system for attaching a clutch assembly to a base structure includes a support member, a clutch assembly mounted on the support member, the clutch assembly having a clutch with an axis generally normal to the support member, a bearing assembly mounted on the support member, and a fastener attached to the base structure and extending through the bearing assembly to prevent rotation of the support member with respect to the axis of the clutch, where the bearing assembly enables relative movement of the support member away from the plane of the base structure.

Flexible mounting for a clutch

A solenoid for controlling the engagement and disengagement of a wrap spring clutch includes an electromagnetic coil having a core member disposed adjacent one axial end thereof. An armature is provided within the electromagnetic coil for selective axial movement in response to the energization and deenergization of the electromagnetic coil. The armature is connected to an actuator for the wrap spring clutch such that movement of the armature controls the engagement and disengagement thereof. The core member and the armature are both formed from relatively soft, magnetically permeable materials. A flux breaker is disposed within the electromagnetic coil between one axial end of the armature and the core member. The flux breaker is formed from a relatively hard, non-magnetically permeable material, such as stainless steel. The flux breaker prevents the armature from contacting the core member when attracted thereto by energization of the electromagnetic coil. The flux breaker is provided for minimizing the adverse effects of residual magnetism on the operation of a solenoid. By forming the flux breaker from a material which is harder than the materials used to form the core member and the armature, the useful life of the flux breaker is extended beyond that of prior art flux breakers.

Magnetic flux breaker for a solenoid in a wrap spring clutch

The tangs of the clutch and brake springs of a wrap spring clutch/brake unit are connected to separate sleeves which form the control collar of the unit. The sleeves are normally coupled for rotation in unison by an internally splined ring which may be slid to a released position permitting relative rotation of the sleeves for purposes of adjusting the torsional differential of the springs.

Growing community of inventors

Sewell, NJ, United States of America

Michael F Leone