TREAD TYPE SWITCH FOR USE IN PASSENGER SEATS OR THE LIKE

• US 3,812,313 A
• Filed: 02/20/1973
• Issued: 05/21/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prentice R. Corn, Wallace A. Gebhardt, Walter A. Wolf
• Inventors: Wolf, Walter A., Corn, Prentice R., Gebhardt, Wallace A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/334,019
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.54,61.57,61.58,85A,86R,86A,166BH
• US Class Current: 200/86.00R
• 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: E05Y 2600/40 Mounting location; Visibility of the elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type

Abstract

This invention relates to an electrical switch that includes a pair of resilient metal contact strips mounted in parallel spaced relationship in a hollow resilient casing. One of the contact strips has a plurality of diagonally positioned slits therein that are located between opposite lateral edges while the other strip has a plurality of longitudinally spaced protrusions extending towards the adjacent strip. The casing is mounted within an outer cover and the casing has an elongated bead or projection aligned with the protrusions while a thin sheet metal strap is positioned between the projection and the casing to concentrate the pressure applied to the adjacent surface of the casing to a localized area aligned with the protrusions.

Claims

1. A switch comprising first and second elongated flexible contact strips, and spacing means normally maintaining said contact strips spaced from each other, characterized by one of said contact strips having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protrusions extending towards the other of said contact strips and the other of said strips having a plurality of narrow spaced substantially parallel slits, said slits being located between lateral edges thereof to readily accommodate bending between opposite edges and opposite ends.

2. A switch as defined in claim 1, in which each of said slits has a length greater than the width of said other strip.

3. A switch as defined in claim 2, in which each of said slits extend at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said other strip.

4. A switch as defined in claim 1, in which said spacing means includes a casing defining an elongated passage with means in said passage normally maintaining opposite lateral edges of said strips spaced from each other and actuating means forming parT of said casing and aligned with said protrusions.

5. A switch as defined in claim 4, in which said protrusions are centered between opposite lateral edges of said one strip and said actuating means includes an elongated narrow bead integral with said casing and extending from the surface thereof.

6. A switch as defined in claim 5, in which said casing has elongated areas of reduced cross section extending generally parallel to said bead on opposite sides of said bead.

7. A switch as defined in claim 5, further including an outer cover surrounding said casing and an elongate thin sheet member between said outer cover and said bead, said sheet member having elongate and transverse dimensions substantially corresponding to the dimensions of said strips.

8. A switch as defined in claim 7, further including a pair of insulated wires respectively connected to said strips with said outer cover sealed around said strips and said casing.

9. A switch comprising a resilient casing defining an elongated passage with a pair of elongated contact strips in said passage, means for holding adjacent lateral edges of said strips in spaced relation, one of said strips having a plurality of narrow slits extending diagonally with respect to the axis of said passage to permit said one strip to be bent between opposite lateral edges while the strips and casing are in a bowed condition between opposite ends.

10. A switch as defined in claim 9, in which the other of said strips has a plurality of spaced protrusions located substantially between opposite lateral edges and extending toward said one strip.

11. A switch as defined in claim 10, in which said casing has an elongated narrow integral bead extending from the surface thereof with the bead aligned with said protrusions and said casing has relief grooves adjacent opposite sides of said bead to increase the resiliency of said casing.

12. A switch as defined in claim 10, further including an outer cover surrounding said casing with an elongated actuating strap between said cover and said casing and located adjacent said one strip and means for concentrating an actuating pressure applied to said cover adjacent said strap to a location aligned with said protrusions.

13. A switch as defined in claim 12, in which said means for concentrating an actuating pressure includes an elongated member aligned with said protrusions and engaging said strap intermediate opposite edges.

14. A switch as defined in claim 13, in which said casing has an integral bead extending above its surface adjacent said strap to define said member.

15. A switch as defined in claim 14, in which said casing has areas of reduced cross-section on opposite sides of said bead.

16. A switch as defined in claim 15, in which said strap is a thin spring steel member that has a length and width substantially corresponding to the length and width of said strips.

17. A switch as defined in claim 9, in which said slits have a length many times greater than the width and the length of said slits is greater than the width of said one strip.

18. A switch as defined in claim 17, in which said slits extend parallel to each other.