Contact-breaker device, circuit and apparatus comprising the same, and method for assembling contact-breaker device

• US 7,566,839 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hukuba Dental Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Hukuba Dental Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Kiyoshi, Ikegami, Akira, Shibata, legal representative, Tozawa, Keisabro, Saeki, legal representative, Tobe, Toshio, Saeki, Kimihiro, Hukuba, Hiroshi, Kohno, Yukito, Ikegami, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/139,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.45R-61.53R,600 362/103,228,251,84,802 36/137 15/23,167,105 307/112-122,125,132R,132V,139
• US Class Current: 200/61.45R
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/144 operated by vibration

Abstract

A contact-breaker device that can be miniaturized, realize low power consumption and low cost, and generate an irregular pulse current by causing irregular electrical conduction and insulation of a circuit. The contact-breaker device comprises: fixed terminals 12A and 12B secured at positions spaced apart from each other; and a movable member 11 capable of moving relative to the fixed terminals 12A and 12B and coming into or avoiding contact with the fixed terminals 12A and 12B based on its movement, thereby causing electrical conduction or insulation between the fixed terminals 12A and 12B; wherein the movable member 11 irregularly moves in accordance with externally applied vibration, thereby causing irregular electrical conduction or insulation between the fixed terminals 12A and 12B.

Claims

1. A pulse-current generator comprising:

a contact-breaker device comprising;

a pair of fixed terminals secured on a supporting member at positions spaced apart from each other, and

a movable member capable of moving relative to the pair of fixed terminals and coming into or avoiding contact with the pair of fixed terminals based on its movement, thereby causing electrical conduction or insulation between the fixed terminals,

wherein the movable member moves irregularly in accordance with externally applied vibration, thereby causing irregular electrical conduction or insulation between the fixed terminals;

a power source connected to the contact-breaker device to supply an electric current to the contact-breaker device;

a contact electrode for controlling the supply of the electric current to the contact-breaker device; and

an indicator that operates based on an electric current supplied from the power source, wherein

the contact electrode includes a pair of terminals spaced apart from each other; and

when the pair of terminals comes into contact with a conductive object, the electric current is supplied to the contact-breaker device; and

when at least either one of the pair of terminals moves away from the object, the supply of the electric current to the contact-breaker device is stopped,

the contact-breaker device and the indicator are connected in parallel to the power source, and

the indicator operates when a current path including the contact-breaker device is broken, and the indicator stops operating when the current path including the contact-breaker device is formed.

2. The pulse-current generator according to claim 1, wherein in the current path including the indicator, there is a control device for controlling the amount of electric current based on an electric potential difference between the contact-breaker device and the contact electrode.

3. The pulse-current generator according to claim 1, further comprising a driving member for vibrating either one of the terminals of the contact electrode.

4. The pulse-current generator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bristle-implanted part with brush bristles implanted therein;

a handle for a user to hold, that contains the power source;

a conductive plate connected to one electrode of the power source and placed in a such a manner that at least part of the conductive plate is exposed on a surface of the handle; and

a conductive member connected to the other electrode of the power source and capable of electrically connecting the brush bristles with the other electrode of the power source;

wherein one terminal of the contact electrode is composed of the conductive plate; and

wherein the other terminal of the contact electrode is composed of the brush bristles.

5. The pulse-current generator according to claim 4, wherein the brush bristles and the conductive member are located at positions spaced apart from each other, and a liquid pathway is interposed between the brush bristles and the conductive member, thereby bringing the brush bristles and the conductive member into conduction via the liquid pathway.

6. The pulse-current generator according to claim 5, wherein a conductive connecting member connected to the liquid pathway is placed on at least part of the surface of the bristle-implanted part where the brush bristles are implanted.

7. The pulse-current generator according to claim 1, comprising a main body including a handle for a user to hold and a contact part that comes into contact with the user'"'"'s body, wherein the main body contains the power source;

and

wherein one terminal of the contact electrode is composed of at least part of a surface of the handle, and

the other terminal of the contact electrode is composed of at least part of a surface of the contact part.