Acceleration switch
First Claim
1. A switch device comprisinga first contact means comprising essentially an elastic resilient electrically conductive element biased in a sole direction,a second contact means,guide means for directing said first contact means along a defined path, said defined path comprising at least three distinct portions,wherein successive portions of said path are deviated in direction with respect to one another and each portion of said path forms an acute angle with respect to a line parallel to said sole direction,wherein said first contact means will traverse said defined path through at least two portions thereof in a direction generally opposite said sole direction upon application of an acceleration force in said sole direction and will traverse the remainder of said portions in a direction generally along said sole direction upon release of said acceleration force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acceleration actuated switch is disclosed which is capable of distinguishing between random and brief acceleration forces on the one hand and sustained acceleration forces on the other hand. The device comprises a stationary electrical contact and a movable contact held in position by biasing means. Sustained acceleration forces in a particular direction will drive the movable contact along a fixed path to a position whereat the biasing means may bring the movable contact into proximity with the stationary contact thereby closing the switch. If the acceleration force is not in the proper direction or is not applied to the switch for a sufficient length of time, the biasing means will return the movable contact to its original position thereby maintaining the switch in an open condition.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A switch device comprising
a first contact means comprising essentially an elastic resilient electrically conductive element biased in a sole direction, a second contact means, guide means for directing said first contact means along a defined path, said defined path comprising at least three distinct portions, wherein successive portions of said path are deviated in direction with respect to one another and each portion of said path forms an acute angle with respect to a line parallel to said sole direction, wherein said first contact means will traverse said defined path through at least two portions thereof in a direction generally opposite said sole direction upon application of an acceleration force in said sole direction and will traverse the remainder of said portions in a direction generally along said sole direction upon release of said acceleration force.
Specification