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:
May. 23, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 17, 2003
Theodore B. Mulle, New Milford, CT (US);
Theodore B. Mulle, New Milford, CT (US);
Conair Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An optical safety interlock is provided for operating a control circuit or control switch that enables operator activation of an electrical appliance such as a food processor. The optical interlock has an emitter for emitting a signal, a detector for detecting the emitted signal, a reflector for relaying the emitted signal to the detector, and an actuator for selectively positioning the reflector in two or more positions. The emitter, detector, and reflector cooperate to close the control switch when the safety interlock is satisfied. The actuator cooperates with the reflector to selectively satisfy the safety interlock.