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OCCUPANT SENSOR SEAT SWITCH

  • US 3,859,485 A
  • Filed: 02/26/1973
  • Issued: 01/07/1975
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1973
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A flexible pressure sensitive switch for sensing the presence of an occupant in a vehicle seat, said switch comprising:

  • first and second flexible, sheet-like, relatively strong laminates each comprising a film of insulation material having a thin conductive coating on one side;

    a flat electrically nonconductive body of resilient compressible foamed material interposed between said first and second laminates, the upper surface of said body being adhesively bonded to the conductive coating of said first laminate and the lower surface of said body being adhesively bonded to the conductive coating of said second laminate, said body having a set of at least two longitudinally spaced openings each extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, each of said openings being open to the respective portions of said conductive coatings overlying said openings;

    a resilient compressible contact pad occupying each of said openings in said body, each said contact pad being made of an elastomer with conductive particles dispersed therethrough such that said contact pad is electrically conductive when compressed above a predetermined value and electrically nonconductive when uncompressed, each said contact pad having end portions facing the respective conductive coatings on said laminates for conductive connection therewith so that pressure applied to a localized portion of said first laminate overlying said contact pad will result in compression of said contact pad between the respective conductive coatings of said laminates to provide a bridging conductive path therebetween, said body normally maintaining said laminates in a spaced relation such that each said contact pad is maintained in a substantially uncompressed condition in the absence of pressure applied directly against said localized portion of said first laminate overlying said contact pad; and

    means for making external elelctrical connection to said conductive coatings whereby the application of pressure against any of said localized portions of said first laminate overlying said contact pads completes a ciricuit to said external connection means.

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