Composite reed switch-bracket

• US 5,723,835 A
• Filed: 05/29/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trackit Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Glendell N. Gilmore
• Inventors: Gilmore, Glendell N.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US08/655,180
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.62, 200/61.71-61.75, 200/61.76-61.83, 200/61.93, 335/151, 335/205-207
• US Class Current: 200/61.71
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0033 Mountings; Housings; Connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0046 Limit switches, also fail-safe operation or anti-tamper considerations

Abstract

A composite reed switch-bracket which is suitable for mounting on conventional roll-up or overhead doors to avoid damage caused by shocks or alignment displacement of the reed switch during usage. The electric magnetically actuated switch is mounted with a non-magnetic bracket and the switch is enclosed in a close fitting rubber or cover to maintain the switch that is not securely fixed and that is suspended in a gas filled air pocket to prevent or minimize breakage of the glass reed or other enclosure of the switch during usage. This composite reed bracket switch is intended for use with any and all manufacturer'"'"'s alarm products.

Claims

1. A bracket-reed switch mounting apparatus adapted to be mounted on an elevated portion of a track for a vertically movable door for positioning the switch to provide an electrical signal when the door moves from a selected position, comprising:

a rigid non-magnetic bracket body having a first portion adapted to be attached to an elevated portion of a door track for a vertically movable door;

said body having a second portion which is adapted to be positioned substantially parallel to the plane of the door and in close proximity to a portion of the door when the door is in a selected position;

said second portion having a resilient material secured therein which has an internal gas pocket has a gaseous medium in which the reed switch is positioned in a floating suspension relative to said body to thereby minimize shock damage to said reed switch by external forces; and

a magnet positioned with the door to activate the switch when the door is moved from said selected position.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the gas in said internal gas pocket is air.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said second portion is a tubular sleeve and said resilient material substantially fills the interior portion of the tubular sleeve except for the portion of the tubular sleeve constituting the gas pocket.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, including:

a sealant at each end of said sleeve.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein:

the sealant is a silicone which generates an ammonia methanol gas upon curing which fills said gas pocket.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the resilient material is poly-foam.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said reed switch has wires extending therefrom and which are connected to external support wires which are stiff enough to provide the sole structural support for the reed switch and to normally hold the switch out of contact with the resilient material but permitting some movement thereof when subjected to external shock forces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the reed switch has interval substantially parallel wires which are spaced from each other in an open switch position and in contact with each other in a closed switch position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first portion of said bracket body is formed in a generally rectangular shape with substantially flat substantially parallel surfaces for a portion of the length of the bracket for attachment to the track for the vertically movable door.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, including:

means with said first portion of the bracket for attaching the bracket to a guide track at an elevated position above ground level.