| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080212307 | COMPUTER KEYBOARD BACKLIGHTING - Embodiments of a peripheral backlighting system for keyboards include one or more light-emitting panels exterior to the keyswitches of the keyboard. The panels are preferably electroluminescent material or light-emitting chemical cells and surround at least two sides, and preferably all sides, of the actuation portion of a keyswitch or the space in which the actuation portion slides up and down during use. Alternatively, the panel(s) may extend substantially continuously between and underneath a plurality of keyswitches, such as between a contact membrane and the bottom of the keyswitches, or underneath the contact membrane, or underneath a hooked plate that serves as a securement system for the keyswitches. The panels extend closely adjacent to the actuation portion or actuation path, or under the keyswitch, to be as far under the key cap as possible without extending into the keyswitch. Preferably, the keyswitch is translucent or partially translucent, and the housing plate or other plates over the light-radiant panels, if any, is at least partially translucent or transparent or has holes through which light may shine. This way, the light from the light-emitting panels radiates upward through, and preferably around the outer surface of, the translucent keycaps, rather than up through an aperture or lightpipe in the center of the keycaps. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20090091478 | COMPUTER KEYBOARD BACKLIGHTING - Embodiments of a peripheral backlighting system for keyboards include one or more light-emitting panels exterior to the keyswitches of the keyboard. The panels are preferably electroluminescent material or light-emitting chemical cells and surround at least two sides, and preferably all sides, of the actuation portion of a keyswitch or the space in which the actuation portion slides up and down during use. Alternatively, the panel(s) may extend substantially continuously between and underneath a plurality of keyswitches and/or deep within the keyboard, for example, between a contact membrane and the lowermost extremity of the keyswitches, or underneath the contact membrane, or underneath a hooked plate that serves as a securement system for the keyswitches. Preferably, the keyswitch is translucent or partially translucent, and the housing plate or other plates over the light-radiant panels, if any, is at least partially translucent or transparent or has holes through which light may shine. This way, the light from the light-emitting panels radiates upward through, and preferably around the outer surface of, the translucent keycaps, rather than up through an aperture or lightpipe in the center of the keycaps. | 04-09-2009 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090026210 | Portable storage case - Portable storage cases comprising a base and a lid which is automatically movable by a damped, spring-biased lid mechanism. Upon actuation of a release, the lid automatically moves from a closed position to an open position. A display support is pivotally movable with respect to the base and is moved during at least part of the time that the lid is moving from the closed to the open position. The display support is adapted to releasably support at least one item and, if desired, supports a plurality of items. In preferred embodiments, movement of the display support only commences after the lid has moved for some predetermined time, distance or angle. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090241737 | Cork extractor - A cork extractor significantly reduces the countervailing forces that must be applied to a bottle during extraction of a cork by providing a handle having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the vertical, longitudinal axis of a cork as it is removed from a bottle. A handle rotates about an axis and comprises gripping portions on opposite sides of the rotational axis. The corkscrew is prevented from spiraling out of the cork during the application of upwardly directed forces independently of the screw carrier. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100037776 | Devices for removing particles from a gas comprising an electrostatic precipitator - Air or gas cleaners enhance the uniformity of the current density between an emitter and one or more receptor electrodes by positioning one or more insulators or effective resistors between the emitter and the receptor electrode. Insulators and/or effective resistors are used to shield select portions, e.g. the edges of plate-type receptor electrodes, from ionization current flowing between an emitter and unshielded portions. This allows more compact structures without ionization current concentrations at the shielded regions, and results in lower ozone generation for a given particle collection efficiency. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100236411 | Collector modules for devices for removing particles from a gas - Devices for removing particles for a gas utilizing electrostatic precipitation comprising collector modules with fewer electrical connections, which facilitate cleaning, and/or eliminate the need for high voltage connections between a removable collector module and a collector module support. Driver electrode modules provide electrical connection between an insulated driver electrode and a source of electrical potential or between insulated driver electrodes and at least one other conductor through a hole in or on some edge on the driver electrodes. A biasing force is provided and a conductive element serves as a conductor between the driver electrode(s) and the other conductors. A plurality of insulated driver electrodes, e.g. plates, are formed with a single, conductive plate or from a plurality of electrically joined conductive plates which are coated with insulation and then bent. An electrically-shielded, high voltage generating circuit is integrated with a readily removable collector module to eliminate the need for high voltage connections between the removable collector module and the collector module support, while enhancing the device's durability and allowing cleaning with cleaning fluid and/or dishwasher detergent. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20110248138 | Device positioning supports - A device positioning support for selectively positioning a device in one of a plurality of positions comprising a base, a pair of links which are each connected to the base and to a device, a manually operable self-locking release comprising a biasing member which normally biases a first constraint connected to one of the links into engagement with a second constraint connected to the other link in order to prevent relative movement of the links. The release is manually operable to relieve the biasing force and thereby permit relative movement between the first link relative to the second link in order to reposition the device. | 10-13-2011 |