Seat cushion switch with delay circuit

• US 5,120,980 A
• Filed: 05/08/1990
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fontaine Brake Company
• Original Assignee: Fontaine Brake Company
• Inventors: Fontaine, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osborn, David
• Application Number:
  US07/520,460
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 200/85 R, 200/85 A, 200/86 R, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/39, 307/116, 307/119, 307/139, 307/140, 307/141, 307/141.4, 307/142, 361/170, 361/195-202, 340/436, 340/438, 340/457.1, 340/573, 340/665-667, 340/686, 340/541, 340/529, 180/273, 297/452
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 7/00 Devices for introducing a predetermined time delay between the initiation of the switching operation and the opening or closing of the contacts time or time-programme switches H01H43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021

Abstract

A general purpose time delay weight activated switch is disclosed. A foam seat cushion contains wire mesh electrical switch closing contacts. Sitting or rising from the cushion opens and closes the switch. A solid state adjustable timer is also imbedded in the cushion, or adjacent to the cushion. Its purpose is to delay the opening of the switch several seconds. An ideal application for the device is to automaticlly lock an emergency brake in a delivery van. The driver leaving the parked vehicle automatically locks the parking brake or vehicle brakes when leaving the vehicle when the present invention is combined with a parking brake or vehicle brake locking means. The invention'"'"'s delay circuit allows the driver to bounce up and down on a bumpy road without setting off the switch. Other uses for this special purpose seat cushion include railroad, farm equipment, industrial and power boat safety systems.

Claims

1. A weight activated seat cushion electric switch comprising:

a resilient compressible apertured separator having a slot;

an electrically conductive mat on either side of said separator cooperating with said separator wherein pushing on said mats creates electric contact between said mats;

a protective sheet covering both said conductive mats;

an electronic delay circuit fitted into said slot;

said electronic delay circuit further comprising an electric connection to at least one conductive mat;

said elecronic delay circuit functioning to provide a delayed open circuit signal after said conductive mats are pushed apart by said resilient compressible apertured separator.

2. The switch of claim 1 further comprising an outer protective covering functioning to enclose said separator, said conductive mats, said protective sheets and said delay circuit.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive mats have electric contact washers opposing said apertures.

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein said electronic delay circuit further comprises a capacitor, a variable resistor, a relay and a comparator having a plurality of input legs connected whereby a drop in voltage across a first input leg of said comparator caused by the opening of said cushion electric switch causes said capacitor to discharge simultaneously into said first input leg of said comparator and said variable resistor to ground, wherein said comparator upon sensing an input imbalance flips said relay to an open position at a variable time lag after said seat cushion electric switch opens, wherein said variable time lag is dependent on the value of said variable resistor.

5. A weight activated seat cushion electric switch comprising:

a resilient compressible apertured separator having a slot in one corner;

an electrically conductive mat on either side of said separator cooperating with said separator wherein pushing on said mats creates electric contact between said mats;

a protective sheet covering both said conductive mats;

an electronic delay circuit fitted into said slot;

said electronic delay circuit further comprising an electric connection to one conductive mat;

said electronic delay circuit functioning to provide a delayed open circuit signal after said conductive mats are pushed apart by said resilient compressible apertured separator.