Flexible electrically conductive contact for a switch which is actuated upon force being applied thereto

• US 5,089,672 A
• Filed: 09/19/1990
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Miller Edge Incorporated Concord Industrial Park
• Original Assignee: Miller Edge, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Norman K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US07/584,834
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.43, 200/61.44, 200/86 R, 200/86 A
• 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 flexible, electrically conductive contact for a switch which is actuated upon force being applied thereto includes a first plurality of generally flexible fibers. One portion of the first plurality of fibers is constructed of an electrically nonconductive material. Another portion of the first plurality of fibers is constructed of an electrically conductive material. The flexible, electrically conductive contact further includes a second plurality of generally flexible fibers. One portion of the second plurality of fibers is constructed of an electrically nonconductive material. Another portion of the second plurality of fibers is constructed of an electrically conductive material. The second plurality of fibers is interwoven with the first plurality of fibers in the form of a sheet with the electrically conductive first plurality of fibers in engagement with the electrically conductive second plurality of fibers to form a flexible, electrically conductive sheet.

Claims

1. A flexible, electrically conductive contact for a switch which is actuated upon force being applied thereto, said flexible, electrically conductive contact comprising:

a first plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically non-conductive material, another portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material; and

a second plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said second plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically non-conductive material, another portion of said second plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material, said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said first plurality of fibers in the form of a sheet with said electrically conductive portion of the first plurality of fibers in engagement with said electrically conductive portion of the second plurality of fibers, said one portion of said first plurality of fibers being interwoven with said another portion of said second plurality of fibers and said one portion of said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said another portion of said first plurality of fibers whereby a flexible, electrically conductive sheet is formed.

2. The conductive contact as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically nonconductive material of said first and second plurality of fibers is a polymer.

3. The conductive contact as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive material of said first and second plurality of fibers is metallic.

4. The conductive contact as recited in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally perpendicularly with respect to said second plurality of fibers.

5. The conductive contact as recited in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of fibers and said second plurality of fibers are braided.

6. The conductive contact as recited in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other and said second plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other.

7. The conductive contact as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said fibers of said first and second plurality of fibers is constructed of intertwined filaments.

8. A flexible, electrically conductive contact for a switch which is actuated upon force being applied thereto, said flexible, electrically conductive contact comprising:

a first plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material and another portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material, said other portion of said first plurality of fibers having a first end and a second end;

a second plurality of generally flexible fibers being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said first plurality of fibers in the form of a sheet;

a first electrically conductive contact member positioned proximate to said sheet and in electrical communication with said first end of said other portion of said first plurality of fibers; and

a second electrically conductive contact member positioned proximate to said sheet and in electrical communication with said second end of said other portion of said first plurality of fibers, whereby a flexible, electrically conductive sheet is formed.

9. The conductive contact as recited in claim 8, wherein said electrically nonconductive material of said first and second plurality of fibers is a polymer.

10. The conductive contact as recited in claim 8, wherein said electrically conductive material of said first plurality of fibers is metallic.

11. The conductive contact as recited in claim 8, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally perpendicularly with respect to said second plurality of fibers.

12. The conductive contact as recited in claim 8, wherein said first plurality of fibers and said second plurality of fibers are braided.

13. The conductive contact as recited in claim 8, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other and said second plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other.

14. The conductive contact as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said fibers of said first and second plurality of fibers is constructed of intertwined filaments.

15. A sensing edge for causing a closing door to open by actuating a device upon force being applied to said sensing edge, said sensing edge comprising:

an elongate sheath compressible upon application of external pressure and fabricated of flexible material, said sheath having a wall with an interior and exterior surface, said exterior surface for being attached to a door edge;

a first sheet of resiliently compressible material having a first face and a second face, said first face of said first sheet of resiliently compressible material being in engagement with said interior surface of said elongate outer sheath;

a first flexible, electrically conductive contact having a first face and a second face, said first face of said first flexible, electrically conductive contact being in engagement with said second face of said first sheet of resiliently compressible material;

a layer of nonconductive material having a first face and a second face, said first face of said layer of nonconductive material being in engagement with said second face of said first flexible, electrically conductive contact, said layer of nonconductive material including at least one opening extending therethrough between said first and second faces thereof;

a second flexible, electrically conductive contact having a first face and a second face, said first face of said second flexible, electrically conductive contact being in engagement with said second face of said layer of nonconductive material, said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts each comprising;

a first plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, another portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material;

a second plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said second plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, another portion of said second plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material, said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said first plurality of fibers in the form of a sheet with said electrically conductive portion of the first plurality of fibers in engagement with said electrically conductive portion of the second plurality of fibers; and

a second sheet of resiliently compressible material having a first face and a second face, said first face of said second sheet of resiliently compressible material being in engagement with said second face of said second flexible, electrically conductive contact, said second face of said second sheet of resiliently compressible material being in engagement with said interior surface of said sheath, said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts being spaced apart by said layer of nonconductive material and present opposed portions to each other through said opening whereby upon the application of force to said sheath, a portion of at least one of said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts deflects into the opening in said layer of nonconductive material and makes electrical contact between said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts to thereby actuate the device.

16. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein said electrically nonconductive material of said first and second plurality of fibers is a polymer.

17. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein said electrically conductive material of said first plurality of fibers is metallic.

18. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally perpendicularly with respect to said second plurality of fibers.

19. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein said first plurality of fibers and said second plurality of fibers are braided.

20. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other and said second plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other.

21. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein each of said fibers of said first and second plurality of fibers is constructed of intertwined filaments.

29. The sensing edge as recited in claim 15, wherein said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts further comprise said one portion of said first plurality of fibers being interwoven with said another portion of said second plurality of fibers and said one portion of said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said another portion of said first plurality of fibers.

22. A sensing edge for causing a closing door to open by actuating a device upon force being applied to said sensing edge, said sensing edge comprising:

a first sheet of resiliently compressible material having a first face and a second face;

a first flexible, electrically conductive contact having a first face and a second face, said first face of said first flexible, electrically conductive contact being in engagement with said second face of said first sheet of resiliently compressible material;

a layer of nonconductive material having a first face and a second face, said first face of said layer of nonconductive material being in engagement with said second face of said first flexible, electrically conductive contact, said layer of nonconductive material including at least one opening extending therethrough between said first and second faces thereof;

a second flexible, electrically conductive contact having a first face and a second face, said first face of said second flexible, electrically conductive contact being in engagement with said second face of said layer of nonconductive material, said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts each comprising;

a first plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, another portion of said first plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material;

a second plurality of generally flexible fibers, one portion of said second plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, another portion of said second plurality of fibers being constructed of an electrically conductive material, said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said first plurality of fibers in the form of a sheet with said electrically conductive portion of the first plurality of fibers in engagement with said electrically conductive portion of the second plurality of fibers; and

a second sheet of resiliently compressible material having a first face and a second face, said first face of said second sheet of resiliently compressible material being in engagement with said second face of said second flexible, electrically conductive contact, said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts being spaced apart by said layer of nonconductive material and present opposed portions to each other through said opening whereby upon the application of force to at least one of said sheets of resiliently compressible material, a portion of at least one of said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts deflects into the opening in said layer of nonconductive material and makes electrical contact between said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts to thereby actuate the device.

23. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein said electrically nonconductive material of said first and second plurality of fibers is a polymer.

24. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein said electrically conductive material of said first and second plurality of fibers is metallic.

25. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally perpendicularly with respect to said second plurality of fibers.

26. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein said first plurality of fibers and said second plurality of fibers are braided.

27. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein said first plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other and said second plurality of fibers extend generally parallel with respect to each other.

28. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein each of said fibers of said first and second plurality of fibers is constructed of intertwined filaments.

30. The sensing edge as recited in claim 22, wherein said first and second flexible, electrically conductive contacts further comprise wherein said one portion of said first plurality of fibers being interwoven with said another portion of said second plurality of fibers and said one portion of said second plurality of fibers being interwoven with said another portion of said first plurality of fibers.