Electronic switch utilized in, for example, a drowsiness warning device
First Claim
1. An electronic switch, comprising:
- a rigid base;
a circuit board supported by the base and including an aperture therethrough defined, at least in part, by spaced apart conductive terminals of an electrically conductive circuit;
a resiliently flexible casing attached to the base and overlying the circuit board; and
a plunger attached to the casing and extending therefrom through the circuit board aperture, the plunger including a conductive portion adjacent to the casing and a non-conductive portion, wherein the casing normally positions the plunger such that the non-conductive portion extends through the circuit board aperture, but depression of the casing places the conductive portion within the aperture and into contact with the spaced apart conductive terminals to close the electrically conductive circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic switch includes a rigid base, a circuit board supported by the base which includes an aperture therethrough defined, at least in part, by spaced apart conductive terminals of an electrically conductive circuit, a resiliently flexible casing attached to the base and overlying the circuit board, and a plunger attached to the casing and extending therefrom through the circuit board aperture. The plunger includes a conductive portion which is adjacent to the casing, and a non-conductive portion. The casing is resiliently biased so as to normally position the plunger such that the non-conductive portion thereof extends through the circuit board aperture. Depression of the casing, however, places the conductive portion within the aperture and into contact with the spaced apart conductive terminals to close the electrically conductive circuit. The electronic switch may be utilized in connection with, for example, a drowsiness warning device which includes a band securable about a wearer'"'"'s neck. The electronic switch is positioned by the band below a wearer'"'"'s chin for producing an alarm as the chin contacts and depresses the flexible casing so as to cause the electrically conductive circuit to close.
23 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electronic switch, comprising:
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a rigid base; a circuit board supported by the base and including an aperture therethrough defined, at least in part, by spaced apart conductive terminals of an electrically conductive circuit; a resiliently flexible casing attached to the base and overlying the circuit board; and a plunger attached to the casing and extending therefrom through the circuit board aperture, the plunger including a conductive portion adjacent to the casing and a non-conductive portion, wherein the casing normally positions the plunger such that the non-conductive portion extends through the circuit board aperture, but depression of the casing places the conductive portion within the aperture and into contact with the spaced apart conductive terminals to close the electrically conductive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic switch, comprising:
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a base; a circuit board supported by the base and including an aperture therethrough defined, at least in part, by spaced apart conductive terminals of an electrically conductive circuit, the circuit board further including a battery and an audible alarm actuated when the electrically conductive circuit is closed; a resiliently flexible casing attached to the base and overlying the circuit board, wherein the base and the casing cooperatively enclose the circuit board; and a plunger attached to the casing and extending therefrom through the circuit board aperture, the plunger including a conductive portion adjacent to the casing and a non-conductive portion, wherein the casing normally positions the plunger such that the non-conductive portion extends through the circuit board aperture, but depression of the casing places the conductive portion within the aperture and into contact with the spaced apart conductive terminals to close the electrically conductive circuit, the plunger further including a shaft having, at one end, an enlarged head which is captured by a retaining flange of the casing to attach the plunger to the casing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electronic switch utilized in a drowsiness warning device securable about a wearer'"'"'s neck, comprising:
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a rigid base; a circuit board supported by the base and including an aperture therethrough defined, at least in part, by spaced apart conductive terminals of an electrically conductive circuit, the circuit board further including a battery, an audible alarm actuated when the electrically conductive circuit is closed, and a light emitting diode also actuated when the electrically conductive circuit is closed; a resiliently flexible casing attached to the base and overlying the circuit board, wherein the base and the casing cooperatively enclose the circuit board; and a plunger attached to the casing and extending therefrom through the circuit board aperture, the plunger including a conductive portion adjacent to the casing and a non-conductive portion, wherein the casing normally positions the plunger such that the non-conductive portion extends through the circuit board aperture, but depression of the casing places the conductive portion within the aperture and into contact with the spaced apart conductive terminals to close the electrically conductive circuit, the plunger further including a shaft having, at one end, an enlarged head which is captured by a retaining flange of the casing to attach the plunger to the casing; wherein the shaft is formed of an electrically non-conductive material, a conductive sleeve surrounding a portion of the shaft forms the conductive portion of the plunger, a portion of the shaft extending away from the sleeve opposite the enlarged head forms the non-conductive portion of the plunger, the shaft includes a longitudinally extending channel, and wherein the electronic switch is positioned by the band below a wearer'"'"'s chin for producing an alarm as the chin contacts and depresses the flexible casing so as to cause the electrically conductive circuit to close. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification