Impact sensor
First Claim
1. An impact sensor, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an inner chamber;
(b) a first electrical contact has a contact portion projecting into said chamber;
(c) a second electrical contact in said housing is spaced from said first contact and has an aperture surrounding said contact portion;
(d) insulating means disposed between said contacts for maintaining electrical isolation of said contacts;
(e) a plastically deformed conductive arcuate spring means is in electrical connection with said second contact and is associated with said aperture and has a first position arched away from said contact portion and a second position arched toward and engaged with said contact portion for thereby establishing electrical connection between said contacts; and
,(f) a mass movably received within said chamber is engagable with said spring means for shifting said spring means from said first to said second position when said mass is subjected to a preselected force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An impact sensor has a housing with an inner chamber. A first electrical contact extends from the housing and has a contact portion disposed in the chamber. A second electrical contact extends from the housing and is spaced from the first contact and has an aperture in the housing surrounding the contact portion. An insulating material is disposed between the contacts for maintaining electrical isolation of the contacts. A plastically deformed conductive arcuate spring is in electrical connection with the second contact along generally the periphery of the aperture and has a first position arched away from the contact portion and a second position arched toward and engaged with the contact portion for thereby establishing electrical connection between the contacts. A mass is movably positioned in the chamber and is engageable with the spring for shifting the spring from the first to the second position upon detection of a collision.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An impact sensor, comprising:
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(a) a housing having an inner chamber; (b) a first electrical contact has a contact portion projecting into said chamber; (c) a second electrical contact in said housing is spaced from said first contact and has an aperture surrounding said contact portion; (d) insulating means disposed between said contacts for maintaining electrical isolation of said contacts; (e) a plastically deformed conductive arcuate spring means is in electrical connection with said second contact and is associated with said aperture and has a first position arched away from said contact portion and a second position arched toward and engaged with said contact portion for thereby establishing electrical connection between said contacts; and
,(f) a mass movably received within said chamber is engagable with said spring means for shifting said spring means from said first to said second position when said mass is subjected to a preselected force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An impact sensor mountable to a mobile vehicle for detecting a collision, comprising:
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(a) a housing comprised of an insulating material and said housing having a chamber therein; (b) first and second spaced contacts, each of said contacts including means permitting connection to a power source and each of said contacts having a portion thereof within said chamber; (c) said second contact portion having an aperture therethrough aligned with and spaced from said first contact portion; (d) a plastically deformed conductive arched spring means is in electrical connection with said second contact portion generally along the periphery of said aperture and has a first concave position and a second convex position wherein a portion of said spring means engages and establishes electrical connection with said first contact portion for thereby permitting current to flow between said contacts when said connecting means are connected to a power source; and
,(e) a mass movably received in said chamber is engagable with said spring means for shifting said spring means from said first to said second position upon application of a predetermined force to said mass. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification