SWITCH WITH IMPROVED ACTUATOR MEANS

• US 3,670,119 A
• Filed: 03/02/1971
• Issued: 06/13/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prentice R. Corn, Wallace A. Gebhardt
• Inventors: Gebhardt, Wallace A., Corn, Prentice R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/120,139
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.58B,86R,86A,153V,52,61.41,61.42,61.43 307/10 340/52,278
• US Class Current: 200/52.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches

Abstract

A switching mechanism that is adapted to be incorporated into a seat to sense the presence of an occupant and actuate a switch in response thereto. The switching mechanism includes a switch supported in a housing and having a movable element with an actuating system cooperating with the switch. The actuating system includes an elongated member having one end connected to the support and a free end spaced from the support. The elongated member extends generally parallel to the upper surface of the seat and is deflected from normal in response to an occupant in the seat. An elongated actuating arm cooperates with the element and the free end of the first elongated member to move the element between the first and second positions in response to deflection of the elongated member thereby actuating the switch. The switching mechanism further includes automatic adjustment means to compensate for manufacturing and age variations of the seat.

Claims

1. In a switching mechanism including a switch having an element movable between first and second positions to open and close said switch and a housing supporting said switch, switch actuating means for moving said element and comprising an elongated arm having a first portion cooperating with said element and a second portion extending away from said housing;

an elongated tension member connected to said housing;

means maintaining at least a portion of said tension member spaced from said elongated arm;

means connecting said tension member to the second portion of said elongated arm for normally maintaining said arm in a substantially planar initial condition and deflecting said arm in response to forces applied in a direction generally perpendicular thereto to cause said elongated arm to move longitudinally relative to said housing, so that said first portion of said elongated arm causes said element to move to said second position and actuate said switch.

2. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 1, in combination with a seat having cushioning material between upper and lower surfaces thereof and compressible in response to a load being supported on said upper surface, said switch actuating means extending generally parallel to said upper surface and below said upper surface so that a load on said upper surface will deflect the second portion of said elongated arm and actuate said switch.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, in which said element includes biasing means biasing said element towards said second position and a lost motion connection between said element and said elongated arm, said lost motion connection accommodating independent movement of said elongated arm when said element is in said second position.

4. The combination as defined in claim 2, further including an actuator on the first portion of said elongated arm adjacent said element, said actuator cooperating with said element to define said lost motion;

yieldable means defining a friction connection between said actuator and the first portion of said elongated arm; and

means defining a fixed connection between the free end of the second portion of said elongated arm and said tension member, said yieldable means accommodating relative movement between said actuator and said arm when said arm is deflected beyond a predetermined maximum.

5. The combination as defined in claim 2, further including yieldable means defining a friction connection between the free end of the second portion of said elongated arm and said tension member, said yieldable means accommodating relative movement between said arm and said tension member when said arm is deflected beyond a predetermined maximum and in which said first portion of said elongated arm is provided at an opposite end of said arm in butting engagement with said element when said tension member is returned to the normal position to move said element from said second to said first position.

6. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said tension member is defined by an elongate strap and an elongate spacer member located between said strap and said elongated arm.

7. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said spacer member maintains said strap in spaced parallel relationship with respect to said elongated arm throughout their respective lengths.

8. A switching mechAnism as defined in claim 7 wherein said strap and said actuating arm are thin, flat members.

9. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which the first portion of the elongated arm that cooperates with the movable element of the switch is an end portion of said arm.

10. In a switching mechanism including a switch having an element movable between first and second positions to open and close said switch and a housing supporting said switch, switch actuating means for moving said element and comprising an elongated arm having one end cooperating with said element and extending away from said housing;

and an elongated tension member connected to said housing and cooperating with said elongated arm, said tension member normally maintaining said arm in a substantially planar normal condition and deflecting said arm in response to forces applied in a direction generally perpendicular thereto to cause said element to move to said second position and actuate said switch, said elongated arm having first means operatively connecting one end thereof to said free end of said tensioning member and second means operatively connecting the opposite end of said arm to said movable element, one of said first and second means including yieldable means for accommodating relative movement between connected parts in response to deflection of said elongated member beyond a predetermined maximum.

11. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 10, in which said first means includes a friction clutch frictionally interconnecting the free end of said tension member and said arm, said friction clutch defining said yieldable means.

12. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 10, in which said second means includes an actuator cooperating with said element and said yieldable means includes a friction clutch frictionally connecting said actuator to said elongated arm.

13. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 10, in which said second means includes a lost motion connection accommodating relative movement between said arm and element when said element is in a second position and said arm is deflected beyond that required to move said element to said second position.

14. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 13, further including adjustable means for varying the extent of relative movement between said arm and element.

15. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 10, further including adjustable means cooperating with said element for varying the amount of travel of said element between said positions to vary the sensitivity of said switch.

16. In a load supporting device having a compressible cushioning material between upper and lower surfaces thereof, a sensing mechanism cooperating with said device and including a switch having an element movable between positions to open and close said switch, a support for said switch;

and actuating means for moving said element between said positions, said actuating means comprising;

an elongated resilient arm connected to said support, said resilient arm extending from said support in a direction generally parallel to and below said upper surface of said device;

an elongated actuating arm extending generally parallel to said resilient arm;

means maintaining said arms spaced from one another;

a first operative connection between one end of said actuating arm and said element for moving said element in response to longitudinal movement of said one end of said actuating arm; and

a second operative connection between said arm at a location spaced from said first operative connection;

said arms being deflectable between opposite ends in response to a load on said device to cause said actuating arm to move longitudinally relative to said support so that the operative connection between said one end of said actuating arm and said element is effective to actuate said switch.

17. A load supporting device as defined in claim 16, in which said element includes biasing means normally biasing said element to close said sWitch;

and adjustable means cooperating with said actuating means for varying the spacing between said open and closed positions to vary the sensitivity of said switch, the further improvement of yieldable means in one of said first and second operative connections in response to deflection of said arms to accommodate relative movement of parts interconnected by said one of said connections when said switch is closed and said arms are deflected.

18. A load supporting device as defined in claim 17, in which said yieldable means includes friction clutch means in said second operative connection between said arms;

and in which said one end of said actuating arm engages said element and moves said element between said positions to open said switch when said resilient arm is moved from its deflected to its normal position, the further improvement of a resilient casing enclosing said resilient arm and said actuating arm.

19. A load supporting device as defined in claim 17, in which said first operative connection includes an actuator between said actuating arm and said element with said yieldable means comprising friction clutch means between said actuating arm and said actuator, said actuator having a first portion engaging said element to move said element from a switch closing to a switch opening position when said resilient arm is moved from its deflected to its normal position, said actuator having a second portion engaging said element when said resilient arm is moved beyond a predetermined maximum deflected condition to cause relative movement between said actuator and said actuating arm and increase the effective length of said actuating arm, said portions being arranged to define a lost motion connection between said actuator and said element after said element is moved to a closed position.

20. A load supporting device as defined in claim 19, further including an adjustment screw on said support and having a free end disposed in the path of movement of said actuator, said adjustment screw limiting the extent of movement of said element to define the sensitivity of said switch.

21. A load supporting device as defined in claim 16, further including spacer means between said arms for maintaining said arms generally parallel during deflection.

22. An actuating system for a switch mechanism that includes a fixed support and a movable element mounted on said fixed support and positionable in first and second positions to open and close said switch mechanism, comprising:

an elongated actuating arm;

a supporting connection between said arm and said fixed support accommodating longitudinal movement of said arm;

an operative connection between the movable element and the actuating arm for opening and closing said switch in response to longitudinal movement of said arm;

a further arm extending substantially parallel to said actuating arm;

a first connection between said further arm and said fixed support;

a second connection between said further arm and said actuating arm, said connections and arms cooperating to produce longitudinal movement of said actuating arm relative to said fixed support when a switch closing force is applied to said arms and means in one of said connections to permit relative movement of parts interconnected by said one of said connections when a force is applied to said arms after said switch is closed.

23. An actuating system as defined in claim 22, in which said operative connection includes an actuator cooperating with said element and in which said means in one of said connections is a friction connection between said actuator and said actuating arm;

and in which said first and second connections are fixed connections.

24. An actuating system as defined in claim 22, in which said first connection is a fixed connection and said means in one of said connections is a friction connection defining said second connection between said arms at a location spaced from said support.

25. A switch comprising:

a support, a first contacT mounted at a fixed location on said support;

a second contact carried by said support and movable toward and away from said first contact; and

actuating means for controlling movement of said second contact and including a first arm secured to said support and having a portion extending outwardly therefrom, said first arm being flexible whereby said first arm deflects from a normal position to a deflected position when a force is applied thereto, said actuating means further including a second arm having a contact moving portion positioned adjacent said second contact, said second arm having a further portion extending outwardly from said support and connected to said first arm, means maintaining said second arm in spaced relationship with respect to said first arm and supporting said second arm for movement longitudinally relative to said first arm, said second arm being flexible whereby said first and second arms form a deflectable unit when a force is applied to said first arm, the connection between said first and second arms giving said second arm a component of motion longitudinally of said first arm and relative to said support upon deflection of said unit so that the contact moving portion of said second arm is moved relative to said second contact for movement of said second contact in one direction relative to said first contact; and

resilient means urging said unit from said deflected position to said normal position whereby the contact moving portion of said second arm is moved relative to said second contact for movement of said second contact in a direction opposite to said first direction.

26. A switch as defined in claim 25 wherein said first arm is an inherently resilient member which defines said resilient means.

27. A switch as defined in claim 25 wherein said means maintaining said first arm in spaced relationship with respect to said first arm includes a spacer located between said arms and retaining said arms in spaced parallel relationship with respect to one another throughout their respective lengths.

28. A switch as defined in claim 25 wherein said arms are thin, flat straps.

29. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 10, further including adjustable means on said housing and located in the path of movement of said second means to vary the sensitivity of said switch.

30. A switching mechanism as defined in claim 12, further including adjustable means carried by said housing and located in the path of movement of said actuator, said adjustable means adjusting the extent of travel of said actuator after said element is moved from its closed position.

31. A switch as defined in claim 25, in which said first contact is immovably mounted on said support.