US3921118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable resistor assembly
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1973-10-01
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A variable resistor assembly which may be used as a preheat resistor for a room thermostat. The resistor comprises a substrate member having an elongate, arcuate strip of resistance material coated thereon, the substrate member being engaged by a support member. An elongate leaf spring wiper element is pivotally mounted on the support member and has a contact element engaging the resistance strip and traversing the same in an arcuate path, the wiper element resiliently maintaining the substrate member on the support member. Equally spaced, transversely extending slots are alternately formed in the opposite side edges of the strip which are progressively deeper from one end of the strip to the other and some of which cross the contact element path thereby varying the resistance along the path in a logarithmic function.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold J Ratzlaff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a substrate member having opposite surfaces and side edges intersecting therewith, a resistance material on one of the opposite surfaces, the resistance material defining a generally serpentine path having a plurality of adjacent legs consecutively interconnected in accordance with a predetermined mathematical relation, means for supporting the other of the opposite surfaces, means on the supporting means for engagement with at least some of the side edges thereby to generally prevent displacement movement of the substrate member generally in the plane of the one opposite surface supported on the supporting means, and means movably mounted on the supporting means for contacting the resistance material in abutting engagement therewith, the abutting engagement of the contacting means with the resistance material urging the other opposite surface toward the supporting means for maintaining the substrate member against displacement therefrom and the contacting means being selectively movable into engagement between adjacent ones of the legs for varying the resistance along the generally serpentine path in accordance with the predetermined mathematical relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a substrate member having opposite surfaces and side edges intersecting therewith, a resistance material on one of the opposite surfaces, the resistance material defining a generally serpentine path having a plurality of adjacent legs consecutively interconnected in accordance with a predetermined mathematical relation, means for supporting the other of the opposite surfaces, means on the supporting means for engagement with at least some of the side edges thereby to generally prevent displacement movement of the substrate member generally in the plane of the one opposite surface supported on the supporting means, and means movably mounted on the supporting means for contacting the resistance material in abutting engagement therewith, the abutting engagement of the contacting means with the resistance material urging the other opposite surface toward the supporting means for maintaining the substrate member against displacement therefrom and the contacting means being selectively movable into engagement between adjacent ones of the legs for varying the resistance along the generally serpentine path in accordance with the predetermined mathematical relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 1, comprising means for pivotally mounting the contacting means on the supporting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the contacting means includes at least a resilient portion for establishing a force urging the contacting means into its engagement with the resistance means and the other opposite surface into engagement with the supporting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 1, comprising means on the supporting means extending beyond one of the side edges and on which the contacting means is movably mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the resistance material comprises a strip having opposite sides between opposite ends thereof, the contacting means traversing the strip generally intermediate the sides and between the ends thereof, and a plurality of means in the strip respectively extending into the opposite sides and between the adjacent ones of the legs for varying the resistance of the strip along the serpentine path thereof in the mathematical relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the resistance varying means is constituted by a slot and at least some of the slots extending across the path of the engagement of the contacting means with the strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a generally planar substrate member, a resistance material defining a resistance path On the substrate member, and means for supporting the substrate member including means for maintaining the substrate member against displacement generally in its plane on the supporting means, and means movable on the supporting means and generally along the resistance path in contacting engagement with the resistance material for varying its resistance and for maintaining the substrate member against displacement generally from its plane on the supporting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a generally planar substrate member, a resistance material defining a resistance path On the substrate member, and means for supporting the substrate member including means for maintaining the substrate member against displacement generally in its plane on the supporting means, and means movable on the supporting means and generally along the resistance path in contacting engagement with the resistance material for varying its resistance and for maintaining the substrate member against displacement generally from its plane on the supporting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein the maintaining means comprises means extending generally across the plane of the substrate member for abutment with a portion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein the portion of the substrate member is constituted by at least one marginal edge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein the varying and maintaining means includes means for pivotally mounting it to the supporting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein the varying and maintaining means comprises a resiliently loaded arm having a portion urged into the contacting engagement with the resistance material and another portion mounted to the supporting means for movement thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 11, further comprising means for pivotally mounting the other portion of the arm to the supporting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a substrate member having at least one marginal edge, a resistance material defining a resistance path on the substrate member, means for supporting the substrate member, means adjustably movable in contacting engagement with the resistance material generally along its path for varying its resistance and for urging the substrate member toward the supporting means, and the supporting means including means engaged with the at least one marginal edge for generally retaining the substrate member against displacement on the supporting means upon the adjusting movement of the varying and urging means along the path of the resistance material in the contacting engagement therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a substrate member having at least one marginal edge, a resistance material defining a resistance path on the substrate member, means for supporting the substrate member, means adjustably movable in contacting engagement with the resistance material generally along its path for varying its resistance and for urging the substrate member toward the supporting means, and the supporting means including means engaged with the at least one marginal edge for generally retaining the substrate member against displacement on the supporting means upon the adjusting movement of the varying and urging means along the path of the resistance material in the contacting engagement therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein the varying and urging means includes means for movably mounting it to the supporting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein the varying and urging means comprises a generally resilient arm having a portion urged into the contacting engagement with the resistance material and another portion movably mounted to the supporting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 15, further comprising means for pivotally mounting the other portion of the arm to the supporting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein the retaining means comprises at least one tab on the supporting means embracing the at least one marginal edge to prevent the displacement of the substrate member on the supporting means generally in the direction of the adjusting movement of the varying and urging means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a substrate member having at least a pair of generally opposite marginal edges, a resistance material on the substrate member defining resistance path in accordance with a predetermined function, a support for seating the substrate member, means movable on the support and in contacting engagement with the resistance material generally along its path for varying its resistance and for urging the substrate toward seating engagement with the support, and the support including at least a pair of means for respective abutment with the at least pair of marginal edges to generally prevent movement of the substrate member on the support in response to the movement of the varying and urging means in its contacting engagement with the resistance material along the path thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
128 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a substrate member having at least a pair of generally opposite marginal edges, a resistance material on the substrate member defining resistance path in accordance with a predetermined function, a support for seating the substrate member, means movable on the support and in contacting engagement with the resistance material generally along its path for varying its resistance and for urging the substrate toward seating engagement with the support, and the support including at least a pair of means for respective abutment with the at least pair of marginal edges to generally prevent movement of the substrate member on the support in response to the movement of the varying and urging means in its contacting engagement with the resistance material along the path thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the substrate member iNcludes a pair of generally opposite surfaces intersecting with the at least marginal edge pair, respectively, one of the opposite surfaces being disposed in seating engagement on the support and the resistance material being disposed on the other of the opposite surfaces, and the contacting engagement of the varying and urging means with the resistance material generally maintaining the one opposite surface against displacement from its seating engagement on the support.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the at least pair of abutment means comprises at least a pair of tabs integral with the support and extending therefrom so as to embrace the at least marginal edge pair.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the support further includes other means for embracing the substrate member to retain it against movement on the support so as to displace the at least marginal edge pair from between the at least abutment pair.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein the varying and urging means comprises an arm having opposite ends, means associated with the arm adjacent one of the opposite ends for movably mounting it to the support, and the other of the opposite ends including means for effecting the contacting engagement with the resistance material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A variable resistor assembly as set forth in claim 23, wherein the varying and urging means is generally constituted by a resiliently loaded arm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
175 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a generally planar substrate member including first and second pairs of opposite side edges, and first and second opposite surfaces respectively intersecting with the first and second side edges pairs, at least a strip of resistance material disposed on the first surface generally between the first side edge pair and generally constituting a resistance path in accordance with a predetermined mathematical function, and a support for the substrate member including a seat for engagement with the second surface, first and second pairs of means respectively embracing the first and second side edge pairs to generally restrain the substrate member against displacement generally in its plane on the seat, and an arm movably mounted to the support adjacent one of the side edges of the second side edge pair and having at least a resiliently loaded portion adjustably movable along the resistance material strip in contacting engagement therewith for varying its resistance and for generally restraining the substrate member against displacement of its second surface from the seat on the support.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
175 words
A variable resistor assembly comprising a generally planar substrate member including first and second pairs of opposite side edges, and first and second opposite surfaces respectively intersecting with the first and second side edges pairs, at least a strip of resistance material disposed on the first surface generally between the first side edge pair and generally constituting a resistance path in accordance with a predetermined mathematical function, and a support for the substrate member including a seat for engagement with the second surface, first and second pairs of means respectively embracing the first and second side edge pairs to generally restrain the substrate member against displacement generally in its plane on the seat, and an arm movably mounted to the support adjacent one of the side edges of the second side edge pair and having at least a resiliently loaded portion adjustably movable along the resistance material strip in contacting engagement therewith for varying its resistance and for generally restraining the substrate member against displacement of its second surface from the seat on the support.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |