The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 20, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
James D Edwards, Brentwood, TN (US);
Paul R Staples, Cub Run, KY (US);
David R Whited, Brentwood, TN (US);
Assignee:
France/Scott Fetzer Company, Fairview, TN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
200 / ; 200 / ; 200 / ; 200 / ;
Abstract
The drive train of an appliance timer includes a slip clutch formed of a triangular spring meshing with the outer flat surfaces of a hexagonal drive shaft. The slip clutch is incorporated into a drive pinion in the appliance timer drive train. Excessive torque causes the walls of the triangular spring to resiliently bend outward under rotational pressure from the drive shaft, permitting the drive shaft to rotate without rotating the drive pinion. When used in an icemaker, the slip provided by the clutch alleviates the need for an expensive, stallable motor.