Power Door sensing strip

• US 5,087,799 A
• Filed: 12/27/1990
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Techstrip Inc.
• Original Assignee: Techstrip Inc.
• Inventors: Pariot, Robert, Traugott, J. Mortimer
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/634,412
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.43, 200/61.44, 200/86 R, 200/85 R
• US Class Current: 200/61.43
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/44 responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type

Abstract

A power door sensing strip incorporates a pair of electrical conductors positioned in a sealed plastic tube and supported in a molded foam block so that external forces result in contact between the conductors. Reliable operation is afforded by the absence of internal supports between the conductors. Further, short circuits caused by moisture and contaminants entering the foam through breaks in an outer jacket are eliminated. Trimmable tails and electrical connections on the ends of the strip enable the strip to be used with doors of varying widths and for non-handed installation.

Claims

1. An elongated sensing strip for attachment to a power door edge for sensing an object obstructing closure of the door comprising a sealed elongated and flexible plastic tube, two foil conductors attached to opposite inner sides of the tube, a block of soft and resilient foam encapsulating and surrounding the tube and formed with a generally rectangular cross-section, relatively incompressible blocks at each end of the foam block, two electric terminals in at least one of the blocks, conductor means located in said one of said blocks connecting the electric terminals to the foil conductors, a cover including attachment means for the door edge along a side of the foam block, and a tough flexible plastic jacket extending around the sensing strip, whereby moisture and contaminants entering the foam block through breaks in the jacket will not cause short circuiting of the sealed foil conductors.

2. A sensing strip as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or the other or both of said blocks includes a trimmable tail extending from the block to facilitate installation of the strip on doors of varying widths.

3. A sensing strip as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductor means comprises a tongue extending from said one of said blocks pickup conductors on opposite sides of the tongue connected to the electric terminals, the tongue extending into the tube with the pickup conductors in contact with the foil conductors in the sealed tube.

4. A sensing strip as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the blocks includes electric terminals and conductor means.