Robert K Howie DeceasedDecatur, IL

6136248, Oct 24, 2000

Nov 23, 1998

9/198032

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

B29C 4514
B29C 7078

264250

A method of making a composite plastic knob including the steps of forming a plastic core having a front wall of a generally uniform thickness with an integral discernible window portion formed in a fin projecting outwardly of the front wall and with the window having a thickness less than the generally uniform thickness of the front wall; positioning an anvil in the core in supporting engagement with the window portion of the fin and injection molding an outer covering of an opaque plastic of a contrasting color over the front wall of the core except for the window portion of the fin thereof. The knob includes a plastic core having a front wall of generally uniform thickness and an integral portion of a window formed in a fin projecting outwardly of the front wall. The window is thinner than the front wall of the core. An anvil is positioned in the core in engagement with the window portion of the front wall and an outer covering of an opaque plastic overlies the front wall of the core except for the window to allow the window to function as an indicator.

5459919, Oct 24, 1995

Jun 22, 1994

8/263813

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

G05G 110

29437

A knob and skirt assembly having a dial which can be calibrated relative to a control shaft and easily assembled in the proper position of alignment. The assembly includes a knob having a handle portion and hub portion. The knob portion has a control shaft receiving socket at the outer end thereof. The handle portion has an axially facing annular rim. At least one arcuate segment of teeth is formed on the annular rim. A disk shaped skirt has a central opening which fits over and receives the hub of the knob. A shallow well is formed in the skirt surrounding the central opening. Teeth formed in at least one arcuate segment are positioned in the well to mesh with the teeth on the annular rim. Ribs on the knob are heated and bent over against the skirt to fasten the knob to the skirt and to frictionally resist rotation of the hub and the skirt relative to each other until a predetermined rotational force is applied. An indexing notch is formed in the central opening of the skirt at the peripheral edge thereof.

4295246, Oct 20, 1981

Apr 18, 1980

6/141575

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

F16D 106

16121

A molded plastic knob of the type which frictionally engages and slips over the end of a shaft of generally circular cross section and having at least one longitudinally extending flat surface. A hub is formed as part of the knob. A shaft receiving socket is formed in the hub. The socket has a flat wall adapted to engage a flat surface on the shaft. A resilient finger is formed as part of the hub and extends into the socket upwardly from the flat wall. The resilient finger is positioned to engage an arcuate side of the shaft when the shaft is inserted into the socket so as to slightly deform the resilient finger and thereby apply a force to the shaft. The wall of the socket located opposite the flat wall is semi-hexagonal and the resilient finger extends towards but terminates short of the semi-hexagonal wall.

4441230, Apr 10, 1984

Feb 5, 1982

6/346178

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

F16D 106

16121

A molded knob of the type which frictionally engages and slips over the end of a shaft of generally circular cross section and having at least one longitudinally extending flat surface. A hub is formed as part of the knob. A shaft receiving walled socket is formed in the hub. The socket has a flat wall adapted to engage the shaft. Side walls extending from the flat wall are positioned to contact the curved wall of the shaft. Abutments are located at the ends of the side walls distal from the flat wall and are positioned to engage the shaft. A resilient finger is located in the socket opposite the flat wall between the abutments and positioned to engage and apply pressure to the curved outer surface of the shaft. The abutments are dimensioned to engage the shaft to limit deflection of the resilient finger beyond that necessary to apply a force to the shaft.

4510666, Apr 16, 1985

Aug 31, 1984

6/646046

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

B21D 3900
B23P 1100

29511

A cylindrical knob for installation on a shaft and a method for fastening a decorative disc shaped end cap to a tubular knob body to make the cylindrical knob. The cylindrical knob includes a plastic tubular body having an outer sleeve and an inner core. The inner core is spaced from the outer sleeve at the cap receiving end of the body to form an annular slot. The inner core has a cap supporting surface located adjacent the inner slot and a shaft receiving socket located at the opposite end of the tubular body. An undercut surface is formed in the inner core adjacent to the cap supporting surface and accessible from the annular slot. Passages extend from the socket end of the tubular body to the annular slot. Recesses are formed in the inner core beneath the undercut surface and are spaced generally uniformly around the inner core and open into the annular slot. A disc shaped end cap having a depending skirt is positioned on the cap supporting surface with the skirt located in the annular slot.

4608882, Sep 2, 1986

Aug 9, 1984

6/639230

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

G05G 102

74548

A cylindrical knob for installation on a shaft and a method for fastening a decorative disc shaped end cap to a tubular knob body to make the cylindrical knob. The cylindrical knob includes a plastic tubular body having an outer sleeve and an inner core. The inner core is spaced from the outer sleeve at the cap receiving end of the body to form an annular slot. The inner core has a cap supporting surface located adjacent the inner slot and a shaft receiving socket located at the opposite end of the tubular body. An undercut surface is formed in the inner core adjacent to the cap supporting surface and accessible from the annular slot. Passages extend from the socket end of the tubular body to the annular slot. Recesses are formed in the inner core beneath the undercut surface and are spaced generally uniformly around the inner core and open into the annular slot. A disc shaped end cap having a depending skirt is positioned on the cap supporting surface with the skirt located in the annular slot.

5469758, Nov 28, 1995

Nov 3, 1993

8/146946

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

The Grigoleit Company - Decatur IL

G05G 110

74553

A composite knob having an elongated, cylindrical, inner core molded of a relatively stiff plastic and a partial outer covering of a soft resilient plastic molded to the inner core. Anchoring cavities are provided in ribs of the inner core to receive plugs of the soft plastic of the outer covering to anchor the outer covering to the inner core. In a modified embodiment, the ribs are tapered axially rearwardly and the outer covering is formed with rib-like extensions to engage said tapered ribs.

5432308, Jul 11, 1995

Aug 10, 1994

8/288460

Robert K. Howie - Decatur IL

H01H 928

200 4314

A lockout strip for an electrical switch of the type having a housing, an opening in the front face of the housing, an operating lever with lugs at its outer end extending out of the opening in the housing and stop surfaces at opposite ends of the opening in the housing. The stop surfaces define the "on" and "off" conditions of the switch. The lockout strip is formed of a thin, rectilinear piece of relatively stiff material, preferably plastic. An irregular shaped cutout is formed in the strip. The cutout has a central, rectangular portion of sufficient width to fit over the lever and its laterally extending lugs so as to allow the strip to be positioned against the front face of the switch housing. The cutout also has a narrow portion located longitudinally adjacent the central portion with sufficient width to receive the operating lever but not sufficiently wide to clear its lugs. This narrower cutout is inside lateral shoulders which fit under and engage the lugs of the lever.