1US006343788B 1 10 Patent No: US 6,343,788 BL (45) Date of Patent: Feb. 5, 2002, 2) United States Patent Rosenberg et al. oH 6) o en @ 3) on 6D 68) 66) ‘MULTISTABLE MECHANICAL SWITCHING DEVICE Inventors: Bruce Lamar Rosenberg, 23 N. Chelsea Ave., Atlantic City, NJ (US) (08401; Daniel Bruce Rosenberg, 71 ‘Walnut St. Arlington, MA (US) 02476 Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis patent is extended or adjusted under 35, USC. 154(b) by 0 days. Appl. No.: 09/371,756 Filed: Aug. 10, 1999 Related US. Application Data Continuation of application No. 8/901,567, fled on Jl. 28, 1999, now Pat No. 5.924.692, Int. CL? us. a. AGF 9/00 273/153 8; 273/153 R Field of Seareh 273/153 R, 153 S, 2TMIS7 R: 40/905; 401/131, 49: 206/214: 473/594; 2207135; 229787.01, 87.03, 87.13, References Cited USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS 132.562 A * 10N1872 Cleveland 20.214 1257432 A * 21918 Weel 237 R 1,708,660 A * 4/1929 De Brace 274137 R 2913789 A + 11/1959 Loredo 401/131 3026847 A + 31962 Anderton, Te mses 4005 3,201,804 A * 81965 Resch DvisT R 4'588°387 A 511986. Swenson 446/130 4796891 A * 1/1989 Milner “has s S238,114 A * 8/1993 Ironura 2208701, 5924692 A * 711999 Rosenberg 274133 5 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner—Steven Wong on ABSTRACT ‘This invention is a muitstable mechanical switching device, It is a bundle of rods surrounded by elastic, which when ‘manipulated can be made to change from one stable close packed state to another, causing a sudden rearrangement of the rods within the bundle, and producing a snapping noise or click which can be beard and felt with the Angers, interesting visual effects due to the rearrangement of the rods, and various switching and signaling effects. Possible applications of this invention are electrical switches, ele tonic Togic, locks, medical devices, amusement devices, puzzles, science education, toys, exceutive pacifiers, hand exercisers, and physics and materials science demonstra 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets 5 10 4 > Saif 1 10US 6,343,788 BI Sheet 1 of 4 Feb. 5, 2002 US. Patent FIG. 1USS. Patent Feb. 5, 2002 Sheet 2 of 4 US 6,343,788 B1 o 7 6 8 6 7 10 10 ~y 3 1 ‘ 3 JIN “A Es ‘5b saga | Sy 5a] 1 1 2 ie 2 10 10 FIG. 9 FIG. 10 FIG. 11