Larry L Sharp

US Patent:

6455823, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Oct 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/680704

Inventors:

Edward Bulgajewski - Genoa IL
Larry L. Sharp - Douglas MI

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

H05B 316

US Classification:

219548, 219543

Abstract:

An electrical heater having a plurality electrodes disposed adjacently on a substrate in spaced apart relation and interconnected by a thermistor material, for example a positive temperature coefficient material. The electrodes each have at least one end portion and preferably two opposite end portions coupled to corresponding electrical terminal located at a common termination zone on the substrate. A spacing between adjacent electrodes may vary and adjacent electrodes may include interdigitated portions to vary the heat produced on select portions of the substrate.

US Patent:

6495809, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Mar 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/086921

Inventors:

Edward Bulgajewski - Genoa IL
Larry L. Sharp - Douglas MI

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

H05B 310

US Classification:

219548, 219543

Abstract:

An electrical heater having a plurality electrodes disposed adjacently on a substrate in spaced apart relation and interconnected by a thermistor material, for example a positive temperature coefficient material. The electrodes each have at least one end portion and preferably two opposite end portions coupled to corresponding electrical terminal located at a common termination zone on the substrate. A spacing between adjacent electrodes may vary and adjacent electrodes may include interdigitated portions to vary the heat produced on select portions of the substrate.

US Patent:

20060011596, Jan 19, 2006

Filed:

Oct 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/975026

Inventors:

Larry Sharp - Douglas MI, US
Michael Schwaller - Elkhart WI, US
Ralph Hausler - Plymouth WI, US

International Classification:

B60L 1/02

US Classification:

219203000

Abstract:

A layered screen printed conductive pattern is applied to a flexible surface for defrosting, such as in windows. A narrowed buss pattern coupled to a hexagonal grid of conductive silver is applied to vinyl to heat and defrost.

US Patent:

40165221, Apr 5, 1977

Filed:

Dec 22, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/642971

Inventors:

Larry Lee Sharp - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01H 3776

US Classification:

337403

Abstract:

A thermal switch for automatically opening a circuit when the ambient temperature is increased to a predetermined level. A pair of conductor wires are arranged in side by side fashion with extremities extending in the same direction. A spring portion is included in at least one of the conductor wires to provide stored energy when the spring is biased into electrical contact with each other. A localized contact region is included in the conductor wire in the region below the spring portion but spaced upwardly from the associated extremities to create a lever arm. The extremities, contact region, lever arm and spring being encapsulated with a heat fusible material which biases the conductor wires into contact with each other and which is coated with a rigid insulating material to retain the conductor wires electrically insulated from each other except at the contact region. The heat fusible material holding the conductors into electrical contact until the temperature level reaches the level at which the fusible material flows thereby allowing the contacts to be separated due to the energy stored by the spring.

US Patent:

47045051, Nov 3, 1987

Filed:

Aug 6, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/893888

Inventors:

Larry L. Sharp - Rolling Meadows IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01H 902

US Classification:

200 6108

Abstract:

An electrical apparatus configured for predetermined encoding. The apparatus is comprised of a substrate, a plurality of pairs of electrical terminals affixed to the substrate, a plurality of conductive circuit traces connecting respective pairs of terminals, and a like plurality of removable plugs in the substrate intermediate respective pairs of terminals. The conductive circuit traces respectively traverse respective plugs intermediate respective pairs of terminals so that removal of a plug interrupts the electrical continuity of the conductive circuit trace traversing that plug, thereby creating an electrical open circuit between the respective terminal pair. In such manner, logical "zeroes" (opens) can be created in the respective terminal pairs or, by electing not to remove a given plug a logical "one" (closed electrical circuit) can be programmed between a given electrical terminal pair. While the apparatus is intended, in its preferred embodiment, to be a one-time programmable apparatus, field repairs of the apparatus can be effected by replacing a plug with a segment of a conductive circuit trace carried thereon with the segment of the conductive circuit trace aligned with the remaining portions of the conductive circuit trace and effecting electrical connection between the removed segment and the remaining portions of the conductive circuit trace to re-effect electrical continuity between the respective terminal pair.

US Patent:

42271690, Oct 7, 1980

Filed:

May 10, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/037988

Inventors:

John K. McVey - Bensenville IL
Larry L. Sharp - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01H 8502
H01H 8520

US Classification:

337182

Abstract:

The device described herein is useful in applications which formerly required both a thermal cut-off device and an electrical fuse. This device will open an electrical circuit in response to either an increase in ambient temperature or an increase in electrical current. A bracket is provided to support a radial lead thermal cut-off device. The bracket is of a general C-shaped configuration and has an extending lead bar that is crimped into electrical engagement with an input lead, and one radial lead of the thermal cut-off device is crimped into electrical engagement with the second input lead. A helical conductive coil has one end welded or otherwise secured to the C-shaped bracket, and the second lead of the thermal cut-off device is crimped to the other end of the helical coil which is positioned over the thermal cut-off device so as to surround it. Thus, an ambient temperature rise may cause the thermal cut-off device to open the electrical circuit; or alternately the heat generated by the I. sup. 2 R loss in the coil due to excessive electrical current flow may cause the device to also open.

US Patent:

41351762, Jan 16, 1979

Filed:

Oct 21, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/844414

Inventors:

John K. McVey - Chicago IL
Bruce A. Luxon - Bensenville IL
Larry L. Sharp - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H01H 3776

US Classification:

337404

Abstract:

A thermal switch device for automatically opening a circuit when the ambient temperature is increased to a predetermined level. A pair of conductor wires arranged in side by side fashion are spring loaded into contact with one another by inserting the contact regions into a cup-shaped pellet of heat-fusible material. The cup is structurally secured within a nonconductive tubular casing with a layer of insulative cement. The lead regions of the wires are also securely anchored within the casing with an insulative cement.

US Patent:

51209128, Jun 9, 1992

Filed:

Jul 20, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/555197

Inventors:

Larry L. Sharp - Rolling Meadows IL

Assignee:

Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

H01H 1502

US Classification:

200 16R

Abstract:

A membrane switch is formed of an upper layer of electrically insulating material, a lower layer of electrically insulating material, and an intermediate layer of electrically insulating material interposed between the upper layer of electrically insulating material and the lower layer of electrically insulating material. A first electrically conductive layer is printed upon the lower surface of the upper layer of electrically insulating material. A second electrically conductive layer is printed upon the upper surface of the lower layer of electrically insulating material. A resistive component is printed upon an end portion of the second electrically conductive layer. The intermediate layer of electrically insulating material is provided with an opening so as to enable the first electrically conducting layer to initially engage with the resistive component when the upper layer of electrically insulating material is moved downwardly by means of an actuating member so as to produce an electrical connection between first and second switch terminals of the first and second electrically conductive layers which exhibits low current flow corresponding to a first slidable position of the actuating member, while when the actuating member is slidably moved further in the same direction, direct connection between the first and second electrically conductive layers, without the resistive component being interposed therebetween in a series manner, is established so as to exhibit higher current flow between the first and second electrically conductive layers and within the electrical circuit.