Patent US3643048A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3643048A
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US
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Roller-band device
Assignee: KROY IND Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-06
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Granted: 1972-02-15
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Expires: 1990-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A roller-band device which utilizes a single roller with a flexible band encircling it and having its ends extending generally in opposite directions therefrom. The band has complimentary cutout and solid portions, preferably a pair of spaced leg portions at one end of the band and a tongue portion disposed between and having a width somewhat less than the space between the two leg portions at the other end whereby the band is wrapped around the roller and the tongue passes between the spaced legs without touching them. The roller and band are movable together along a predetermined path and may be used for performing various electrical switching functions. Opposite ends of the band decline from the plane on which the roller moves and form an acute angle therewith so that a high-contact force is obtained between contact surfaces on the roller and on the frame. A unique frame and housing means renders the device easily assembled and calibrated and then encloses the device. Also disclosed is a roller-band device with multiple rollers spaced along a common band.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman L Crow
- 👤 Andrew Lu Conic
- 👤 Patrick Martin Maloney
- 👤 Gary Raymond Bluem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/135; H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H35/148; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18568; Y10T74/18832
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A roller-band device of the single roller type comprising frame means, a roller, a flexible band having a width substantially greater than its thickness encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, the roller being movable back and forth on said frame means generally in a single plane, and means connecting the ends of said band to said frame means in a position thereon whereby the ends of said band decline from said plane on which the roller rolls and each forms an acute angle with said plane on the opposite side thereof from said roller, each of said acute angles being changed as said roller moves back and forth on said frame means and each of said acute angles being less than 20* when said roller is in a position such that the two acute angles are equal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A roller-band device of the single roller type comprising frame means, a roller, a flexible band having a width substantially greater than its thickness encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, the roller being movable back and forth on said frame means generally in a single plane, and means connecting the ends of said band to said frame means in a position thereon whereby the ends of said band decline from said plane on which the roller rolls and each forms an acute angle with said plane on the opposite side thereof from said roller, each of said acute angles being changed as said roller moves back and forth on said frame means and each of said acute angles being less than 20* when said roller is in a position such that the two acute angles are equal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device of claim 1 wherein said band has complementary solid and cutaway portions comprising a pair of spaced legs in one portion and a tongue in another portion, said tongue being aligned with the space between said legs and having a width less than the width of the space between said legs, whereby the band encircles the roller with the tongue extending between the legs and with said tongue extending in one direction from the roller and the legs in the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the frame means includes first and second end stops defining the limits of travel of said roller and band on said frame means, and the device further includes electrical contact means disposed for engagement by said roller in at least one of the end positions of said roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said roller has an electrically conductive surface engageable with said contacts, said frame means has mounted thereon electrical contact means disposed for engagement by said roller at each of its end positions, and said frame further includes an electrically insulative surface engageable by said roller intermediate the electrical contact surfaces at said end position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A roller-band device comprising frame means, a plurality of rollers each spaced along a flexible band and being movable back and forth on said frame means generally in a singular plane, a flexible band encircling each roller and having first and second portionS extending from said roller, and means connecting said portions of said band to said frame means between adjacent ones of said rollers in a position thereon, whereby said portions of said band decline from the plane on which the rollers roll and each forms an acute angle with said plane on the opposite side thereof from the roller from which it extends, whereby each of said rollers cooperates with said band independently of the others.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
118 words
A roller-band device comprising frame means, a plurality of rollers each spaced along a flexible band and being movable back and forth on said frame means generally in a singular plane, a flexible band encircling each roller and having first and second portionS extending from said roller, and means connecting said portions of said band to said frame means between adjacent ones of said rollers in a position thereon, whereby said portions of said band decline from the plane on which the rollers roll and each forms an acute angle with said plane on the opposite side thereof from the roller from which it extends, whereby each of said rollers cooperates with said band independently of the others.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said plurality of rollers are rollable substantially on a common plane and are responsive to different applied forces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 5 including at least two rollers, and the band being formed of a resilient material providing an internal bias urging each of said rollers in opposite directions whereby the device provides a bi-directional force responsive roller-band device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
A roller-band device comprising frame means, a roller being movable back and forth on said frame means generally in a singular plane, a flexible band encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, said frame means including first frame means providing a rolling surface for said roller and second frame means movably mounted with respect to said first frame means for generally back and forth movement in the direction of the movement of said roller to permit adjustment of the device, and means connecting the ends of said band to said second frame means in a position spaced below said rolling surface whereby the ends of said band decline from said rolling surface and each forms an acute angle with said rolling surface on the opposite side thereof from said roller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
A roller-band device comprising frame means, a roller being movable back and forth on said frame means generally in a singular plane, a flexible band encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, said frame means including first frame means providing a rolling surface for said roller and second frame means movably mounted with respect to said first frame means for generally back and forth movement in the direction of the movement of said roller to permit adjustment of the device, and means connecting the ends of said band to said second frame means in a position spaced below said rolling surface whereby the ends of said band decline from said rolling surface and each forms an acute angle with said rolling surface on the opposite side thereof from said roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 8 further including third frame means comprising a housing member adapted to receive said first and second frame means therein and cooperating with said first and second frame means to substantially enclose said roller-band device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
A roller-band device comprising frame means including a first frame member having a pair of spaced rail portions, a second frame member movably mounted with respect to said first frame member such that said second frame member is movable in a direction generally parallel to said rail portions whereby said roller and band may be moved with said second frame member and with respect to said first frame member, said second frame member including a portion disposed between and recessed from said rail portions, a roller, a flexible band encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, means connecting said ends of said band to said second frame member, and means for fixedly securing said second frame member with respect to said first frame member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
A roller-band device comprising frame means including a first frame member having a pair of spaced rail portions, a second frame member movably mounted with respect to said first frame member such that said second frame member is movable in a direction generally parallel to said rail portions whereby said roller and band may be moved with said second frame member and with respect to said first frame member, said second frame member including a portion disposed between and recessed from said rail portions, a roller, a flexible band encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, means connecting said ends of said band to said second frame member, and means for fixedly securing said second frame member with respect to said first frame member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
The roller-band device of claim 10 wherein said roller extends generally transversely to said rail portions and is of sufficient length so that it engages each of said rail portions and is rollable therealong, said band is disposed between said rail portions, and the opposite ends of said band are connected to said second frame means in a position recessed from the plane in which said roller rolls along said rail portions and on the opposite side thereof from said roller whereby the ends of said band each form an acute angle with said plane and whereby, when said band is held in tension, it applies a downward force on said roller urging it into engagement with said rail portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The roller-band device of claim 10 including fixed contact means mounted on said first frame member and engageable by said roller, said roller being electrically conductive, and means for connecting said roller and said fixed contact means into an electrical circuit whereby said circuit is completed through said roller and said contact means in certain positions of said roller wherein it is in engagement with said contact means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The roller-band device in claim 10 wherein said first frame member further includes stop means defining first and second end positions limiting the traveL of said roller, fixed contact means on said first frame member, generally on the surface of said rail portions, and disposed for engagement by said roller in at least one of its end positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roller-band device of claim 10 wherein said roller has a length less than the distance between said rail portions and rolls directly on said second frame member between said rail portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
The roller-band device of claim 10 further including a third frame member comprising a housing having one open side and adapted to receive said first and second frame members and said roller and band therein, said first frame member having a portion cooperable with said third frame member to close the open side thereof when the rest of said roller-band device is disposed therein and to thereby provide a substantially complete enclosure of said roller-band device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
109 words
The device of claim 10 further including electrical contact surface means on said frame means, and a contact portion on said roller for engagement with said contact surface, said frame means defining a longitudinal direction, said band and roller being movable together along the longitudinal direction upon their rolling together about the axis of the roller, the roller and band rolling together with a first radius determining their longitudinal velocity, the contact portion of the roller having a second radius, different from said first radius, whereby the velocity of said contact portion with respect to said contact surface is greater or less than will provide simple rolling contact therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said first radius is greater than said second radius, thus causing the velocity of said contact portion with respect to said contact surface to be less than will provide simple rolling contact, thereby causing a skidding action of said contact portion on said contact surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said first radius is less than said second radius, thus causing the velocity of said contact portion with respect to said contact surface to be greater than will provide simple rolling contact, thereby causing a wiping action of said contact portion on said contact surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
Combination of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of said band is constructed of a bimetallic, temperature-responsive material arranged to move said roller in response to temperature change.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
138 words
The combination of claim 10 further including an electrically conductive member mounted on said support means and extending generally longitudinally thereon and disposed in the path of one of said roller and said band whereby said one of said roller and band will move along and engage said conductive member as said roller and band move back and forth in said longitudinal direction, said one of said roller and band being electrically conductive, means for connecting said conductor member and said one of said roller and band into an electric circuit and in an arrangement whereby said conductive member and said one of said roller and band act as a slide wire potentiometer so that the resistance of said circuit varies with the position of said one of said roller and band with respect to said conductive member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
146 words
A roller-band device comprising: frame means including at least one guide member for guiding a roller back and forth along a predetermined path; a roller being movable back and forth on said guide member along said path; band means for biasing said roller against said guide member including at least one flexible band member encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, one of said frame and bias means having two of its respective members spaced laterally from each other and the other of said frame and bias means having at least one respective member extending between the laterally spaced members of said one means; and means connecting the ends of said flexible band member to said frame means in a position thereon whereby each forms an acute angle with said pRedetermined path on the opposite side thereof from said roller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
146 words
A roller-band device comprising: frame means including at least one guide member for guiding a roller back and forth along a predetermined path; a roller being movable back and forth on said guide member along said path; band means for biasing said roller against said guide member including at least one flexible band member encircling said roller and having first and second ends extending from said roller, one of said frame and bias means having two of its respective members spaced laterally from each other and the other of said frame and bias means having at least one respective member extending between the laterally spaced members of said one means; and means connecting the ends of said flexible band member to said frame means in a position thereon whereby each forms an acute angle with said pRedetermined path on the opposite side thereof from said roller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The roller-band device of claim 21 including two guide members spaced laterally from each other and a single flexible band member extending between said guide members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
The roller-band device of claim 21 wherein each of said bands have complimentary solid and cutaway portions comprising a pair of spaced legs in one portion and a tongue in another portion, said tongue being aligned with the space between said legs and having a width less than the width of the space between said legs, whereby each of said bands encircles the roller with the tongue extending between the legs and with said tongue extending in one direction from the roller and the legs in the other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The roller-band device of claim 21 wherein said guide member includes electrical contact means disposed for engagement by said roller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |