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. 15, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2010
Eric K. Larson, Cumberland, RI (US);
Juan J. Barrena, Johnston, RI (US);
James J. Macdonald, Jr., Dedham, MA (US);
Mark A. Romo, Paw Paw, MI (US);
Andy W. Tucker, Pawtucket, RI (US);
Eric K. Larson, Cumberland, RI (US);
Juan J. Barrena, Johnston, RI (US);
James J. MacDonald, Jr., Dedham, MA (US);
Mark A. Romo, Paw Paw, MI (US);
Andy W. Tucker, Pawtucket, RI (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A shaft of a rotary switch, for example, useful as a control for an appliance, such as a washing machine, incorporates an LED at the end of the shaft and projecting light laterally from the shaft to provide an indication of the rotary position of the corresponding knob with respect to printed indicia on a console. The LED may be powered by slip rings incorporated into the rotary switch and communicating directly with line power as controlled by the limiting resistor and the shaft may include a controlled breakage feature providing LED conductors that are recessed within the shaft in the event of shaft breakage to reduce the chance of operator contact with line voltage.