EP1715128B1 - Contact profile - Google Patents

Abstract

The switch profile (1) has a hollow profile body with a surrounding electrically insulating sleeve (2) enclosing two contact strips (5,6) positioned in opposition. The vertical dimension of the sleeve is greater than the horizontal. A hollow chamber is formed between the two contact strips and the sleeve cross section has a waisted section (14,15) between the opposing edges of the two contact strips. The lower section of the sleeve is widened (24) to form a mounting foot.

Description

The invention relates to a switching profile in the form of an elastic hollow chamber profile, which has an outer, in cross section through the hollow chamber profile circumferentially closed electrically insulating jacket layer and first and second voltage applied to the inner surface of the jacket layer and connected to the jacket layer electrically conductive contact layers, which in the unloaded state of Hollow sections are spaced apart and can be brought in a compression of the hollow chamber profile by acting in a main actuation direction release force in contact.

Flexible switching profiles or switching strips are used when an electrical pulse that causes a switching operation to be triggered by a pressure on the profile over a greater longitudinal extent at any point. Most such switching profiles are designed in the form of hollow chamber profiles, as for example from the CH 677 546 A5 or even from the WO 94/08119 is known. Such a hollow chamber profile comprises an electrically insulating outer jacket layer and within the same at least two, usually opposing electrically conductive contact layers in which metallic electrical conductors can be embedded, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the hollow chamber profile. The outer contour of the hollow chamber profile usually has a shape that corresponds essentially to a flat oval, ie the short axis of the oval is parallel to the main operating direction of the switching profile. A triggering can also be achieved by a triggering force that is at an angle to the main operating direction, for example, up to an angle of 45 °.

A disadvantage of such conventional switching profiles is that they can only be used for a straight or slightly curved course. Tighter arcs around bending axes, which are parallel to the transverse direction, are not possible, since otherwise the contact layers come to rest on each other as a result of the different radii of curvature, in particular if metallic conductors are embedded in the contact layers. Tighter arcs around bending axes or even corners lying parallel to the main operating direction are likewise not possible, since the switching profile forms waves in these cases and thus the contact layers already come to rest against each other without any acting triggering force. Corners must therefore be formed by separate mold corners, which lead to additional costs, difficult to be sealed in the transition areas for switching profile and can be performed switching active only in a complex manner.

The object of the invention is to provide a switching profile of the type mentioned with an improved bending behavior. According to the invention, this is achieved by a switching profile with the features of patent claim 1.

The inventive construction, in particular a greater flexibility around an axis parallel to the main direction of actuation axis can be achieved without this leads to a contact of the contact layers when no triggering force acts, yet sufficient compressibility of the switching profile is present in order to act on a triggering force Contacting the contact layers to achieve.

Advantageously, a switching profile according to the invention can even be designed to move around corners, for example window corners of a window to be secured.

By the predetermined bending points of the jacket layer is also to be achieved that it comes at a biasing force acting obliquely to the main operating direction (up to a predetermined maximum angle) to such a small mutual displacement of the first and second contact layer in the transverse direction that they still meet each other safely.

In an advantageous embodiment, only one predetermined bending point is present in each of the two sections of the jacket layer extending in the region between the first and second contact layers, the two predetermined bending points lying opposite one another and being arranged in the middle between the first and second contact layers.

Due to the width constriction of the hollow chamber profile between its height central region and its foot portion, a sufficiently large deformation can be achieved. Furthermore, the torque acting on the foot section can thereby be kept low in the case of a release force acting obliquely to the main actuation direction. If the foot portion is formed as a support foot and is glued to the ground, so here the obliquely acting deformation forces are directed as evenly as possible in the contact surfaces. If the foot portion is formed as anchoring foot and is inserted in a groove, the risk of unscrewing due to obliquely acting deformation forces is significantly reduced.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the inner contour of the jacket layer seen in cross section is formed substantially oval, wherein the long axis of this oval is parallel to the main operating direction. Conveniently, the contact layers are each formed sickle-shaped. A formation of compression bumps in bending or bending around a bending or bending axis parallel to the main operating direction can be counteracted in this way.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt durch ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch ein etwas modifiziertes zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung und

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

Fig. 1

a cross section through a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

a cross-section through a slightly modified second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

a cross section through a third embodiment of the invention and

Fig. 4

a cross section through a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1 is a cross section through a first embodiment of a switching profile according to the invention shown. The shift profile is formed by an elastic and flexible hollow chamber profile 1. The hollow chamber profile 1 has an outer jacket layer 2, whose outer surface 3 forms the outer surface of the switching profile. Seen in cross section, the jacket layer 2 is circumferentially closed or annular. In the interior of the jacket layer 2 opposite first and second contact layers 5, 6 are arranged, which abut against the inner surface 4 of the jacket layer 2 and are connected to the jacket layer 2. In the unloaded state of the hollow chamber profile 1, the contact layers 5, 6 are spaced apart and are brought in a compression of the hollow chamber profile 1 by a force acting in a main operating direction 7 release force at the location of the acting release force in contact.

Preferably, in each of the contact layers 5, 6 at least one metallic conductor 8, 9 is embedded, which extends continuously over the length of the switching profile and can be formed for example by a stranded conductor.

The switching profile is advantageously formed in one piece. The electrically insulating jacket layer 2 and the electrically conductive contact layers 5, 6 are preferably coextruded, if appropriate together with the conductors 8, 9 embedded in the contact layers 5, 6.

For example, the jacket layer 2 may be formed of a non-conductive silicone elastomer and the contact layers 5, 6 may be formed of an electrically conductive silicone elastomer. Instead of such silicone elastomers (= silicone rubber) is also the use of other elastomers or thermoplastics or blends of both, for example rubber elastomers, for the jacket layer 2 and / or the contact layers 5, 6 conceivable and possible.

The measured in the main operating direction 7 maximum inner diameter i _{1 of} the jacket layer 2 is greater than the measured in the transverse direction 10 maximum inner diameter i ₂ of the jacket layer 2, wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to the main operating direction 7 and the longitudinal extension of the Hohikammerprofils 1.

The contact layers 5, 6 extend starting from the locations of the inner surface 4 of the jacket layer 2, on which the jacket layer 2 has its largest inner diameter i ₁ , on both sides over portions of the inner surface 4 of the jacket layer 2, wherein they form mutually facing extensions 11. The distance a between the ends of the extensions 11 of the opposite contact layers 5, 6 is in this case smaller than the height h, or h _{2, of} the respective contact layer 5, 6 measured in the main operating direction 7.

Conveniently, the two contact layers 5, 6 seen in cross-section each formed sickle-shaped, d. H. they have in the area in which they have the greatest distance from each other, their largest wall thickness, which decreases continuously to the extensions 11 out.

In the embodiment shown, the contact layers 5, 6 are mirror images of each other, with respect to a longitudinal plane 12 which extends parallel to the transverse direction 10 and through the center of the area surrounded by the inner contour of the jacket layer 2 in cross-section.

The region of the hollow-chamber profile 1 lying between the first contact layer 5 and the second contact layer 6 relative to the main actuating direction 7 is referred to as the height-medium region 13 in the context of this document. In this height middle region 13, the two opposite sections 14, 15 of the jacket layer 2 each have a wall thickness taper, which forms a predetermined bending point 16, 17. The wall thickness taper can be formed for example by a groove-like recess 18, 19 on the inner surface 4 of the jacket layer 2. The predetermined bending points 16, 17 of the two opposite sections 14, 15 of the casing layer 2 are in the same height of the hollow chamber profile 1, which is measured starting from a foot 20 of the hollow chamber profile 1 parallel to the main operating direction 7. The predetermined bending points 16, 17 are in this case at the location of the largest width b ₁ , which has the hollow chamber profile 1 in the height-center region 13. Furthermore, the predetermined bending points 16, 17 lie in the aforementioned longitudinal plane 12.

The inner contour of the jacket layer 2 is preferably substantially (as seen in cross-section) substantially oval (that is, except for the recesses 18, 19 forming the predetermined bending points 16, 17), the long axis of this oval being parallel to the main actuating direction 7. According to the embodiment Fig. 1 is also the free interior 26 of the hollow chamber profile 1 (= the hollow chamber of the hollow chamber profile 1) oval, wherein the long axis of this oval is parallel to the main operating direction 7.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is a foot portion 21 of the hollow chamber profile 1 in the form of a support foot formed. About this foot portion 21, the hollow chamber profile 1 is supported on the object to be secured 22 and connected thereto. For example, the foot portion 21 may be adhered to the surface of the article 22, e.g. B. via a double-sided adhesive tape 23rd

In the area between the height center region 13 and the foot section 21, the hollow chamber profile 1 has a width constriction 24. In this, measured in the transverse direction 10 width b _{3 is} smaller than the widths b ₁ and b _{2 of} the hollow chamber profile 1 above and below this Breiteneinschnürung 24, that is smaller than maximum, the width b _{1 of} the hollow chamber profile 1 in its height mid-range 13 and smaller than that maximum width b _{1 of} the foot section 21. Preferably, the width b ₃ at the width constriction 24 is at least 15% smaller than the maximum width b ₁ in the height center area 13 and the maximum width b _{2 of} the foot section 21.

This in Fig. 1 illustrated hollow chamber profile is formed with respect to a parallel to the main operating direction 7 lying longitudinal center plane 25 of the hollow chamber profile 1 mirror-symmetrical. The embedded in the respective contact layer 5, 6 conductor 8, 9 lies in this longitudinal center plane 25th

In a compression of the hollow chamber profile 1 by a force acting in the main operating direction 7 release force, it comes to an approximation of the contact layers 5, 6, until they touch and there is an electrical contacting of the contact layers 5, 6, which causes a switching operation.

With a release force acting in the main actuating direction 7, the deformation forces are transferred essentially symmetrically via the foot section 21 to the object 22 to which the shift profile is fastened.

A contact between the contact layers 5, 6 should also be achieved in a deviating from the main operating direction 7 direction of a release force, which is pivoted relative to the main operating direction 7 in the direction of the transverse direction 10, at least in an angular range of +/- 30 ° to the main operating direction. 7 , preferably at least in an angular range of +/- 45 ° about the main operating direction. 7

By the predetermined bending points 16, 17 in the two sections 14, 15 of the jacket layer 2, it comes to the compression of the hollow chamber profile to the main deformation in this area. As a result, a mutual displacement of the contact layers 5, 6 is counteracted at a biasing force acting obliquely to the main operating direction 7, so that the contact layers 5, 6 meet each other safely. For the same reason, the extensions 11 of the contact layers 5, 6 also extend to near the respective predetermined bending point 16, 17.

By the width constriction 24, a required for the described cross-sectional shape large deformation can be achieved. Furthermore, the torque acting on the foot section 21 is thereby kept low in the case of a release force acting obliquely to the main actuation direction 7. In a bonding of the foot portion 21 with the counter 22 is thereby counteracted tearing of this bond.

The described design of the hollow chamber profile 1 is further its pulling around tight bending radii whose bending axis is parallel to the main operating direction 7, or even allows corners around, without it comes to a contacting of the contact layers 5, 6. In the bending area or corner area, the operability of the switching profile (= the switching activity) can be maintained.

It can thereby be an anti-trap for a motor-driven object 22, for example, an automatically operated window, realized.

The main operating direction 7 is parallel to the direction of movement of the object 22 to be secured.

Furthermore, an inventive shift profile can also be used as a limit switch for a motor-driven part, for example an automatically operated window.

A switching profile according to the invention can also take over a sealing function between the moving object and a fixed part, for example between an automatically operated window sash and the window frame.

The shift profile can be arranged either on the moving part or on the fixed part.

In the Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment corresponds to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 Apart from the lower height H of the hollow chamber profile 1 in comparison to its maximum width b ₁ in its height mid-range 13. Here, the inner contour of the jacket layer 2 seen in cross-section is still substantially oval (with the long axis in parallel alignment with the main operating direction 7) , The interior of the hollow chamber profile 1 is formed in this case but approximately circular (apart from the recesses 18, 19 for forming the predetermined bending points 16, 17).

The embodiment according to Fig. 3 corresponds to the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment with the difference that the foot portion 21 is formed here as anchoring foot. This anchoring foot is used for insertion into an undercut groove 27 of the object to be secured 22. The undercuts of this groove 27 overlapping cover webs 28, 29 are in this case in the region of the width constriction 24 of the hollow chamber profile 1 at this. To this width constriction 24 close outwardly projecting shoulders of the foot portion 21 at.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 An anchoring foot is likewise provided as foot section 21, which here serves for clamping the hollow chamber profile 1 into a groove 30 of the object 22, which has no undercuts (in FIG Fig. 4 the foot portion 21 is shown in the uncompressed state). The foot section 21 adjoins a lying in the longitudinal center plane 25 neck portion 31 of the hollow chamber profile 1, wherein the width constriction 24 at the transition between the neck portion 31 and the foot portion 21 is located. At this width constriction 24 close to the foot portion 21 barb-like outwardly projecting extensions 32, 33 of the foot portion 21 at.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 is as a further embodiment, on the opposite side of the neck or foot portion 31, 21 projecting lip extension 34 dashed indicated. This lip extension 34 thus also lies in the longitudinal center plane 25 of the hollow chamber profile 1 lying parallel to the main actuation direction 7.

In all of the described embodiments, the deformation forces are transmitted symmetrically to the objects 22, at which the hollow chamber profile 1 is fixed, without causing torques, as with a tripping force acting on the main operating direction 7 Case is.

As a result of the material enrichment in the foot section 21 and / or in the lip extension 34 (if present), the bending behavior in the case of bends or bends is improved by an axis lying parallel to the main actuating direction 7.

Due to the cross-sectional thickening of the hollow chamber profile 1 in the area above and below the height central region 12, a folding of the cross section of the hollow chamber profile 1 is counteracted at bends or angled about an axis parallel to the main operating direction 7, so that its interior 26 (= hollow chamber) in the bending or bending area preserved. These cross-sectional thickenings are achieved by thickening of the contact layers 5, 6 and / or thickening of the jacket layer 2. Preferably, the wall thickness of the hollow chamber profile 1 increases in each case to the longitudinal central plane 25, these increases in wall thicknesses are advantageously continuous.

In a shift profile according to the invention are further turns, at least for bending radii, which do not fall below a lower limit to parallel to the transverse direction 10 lying axes possible.

Legend to the reference numbers:

1

Hollow chamber profile

2

shell layer

3

outer surface

4

palm

5

Contact Location

6

Contact Location

7

Main operating direction

8th

ladder

9

ladder

10

transversely

11

extension

12

longitudinal plane

13

Height center area

14

section

15

section

16

Predetermined bending point

17

Predetermined bending point

18

deepening

19

deepening

20

foot

21

foot section

22

object

23

duct tape

24

Breiteneinschnürung

25

Longitudinal center plane

26

inner space

27

groove

28

deck bridge

29

deck bridge

30

groove

31

neck section

32

extension

33

extension

34

Lip extension

Claims (15)

1. Contact profile in the form of a resilient hollow-chamber profile (1) which has an outer insulating jacket layer (2) circumferentially closed in cross-section when viewed through the hollow-chamber profile and first and second electrically conducting contact layers (5, 6) which are adjacent to the inner surface (4) of the jacket layer (2) and connected to the jacket layer (2) and which are a distance apart when the hollow-chamber profile (1) is in the load-free state and can be brought into contact on compression of the hollow-chamber profile (1) by a triggering force acting in a main actuating direction (7), characterized in that the maximum internal diameter (i₁) of the jacket layer (2), measured in the main actuating direction (7), is greater than the maximum internal diameter (i₂) of the jacket layer (2), measured in the cross-section (10) at right angles thereto, in that, in a mid-height region (13) of the hollow-chamber profile (1), which region extends between the first and the second contact layer (5, 6), the two opposite sections (14, 15) of the jacket layer (2) each have at least one wall thickness reduction forming required bending point (16, 17), and in that a width contraction (24) of the hollow-chamber profile (1), at which the width (b₃) of the hollow-chamber profile (1), measured in transverse direction (10), is less than the maximum width (b₁) of the hollow-chamber profile (1) in its mid-height region (13) and less than the maximum width ((b₂) of the base section (21) of the hollow-chamber profile (1), is present between the mid-height region (13) of the hollow-chamber profile (1) and a base section (21) serving for fastening the hollow-chamber profile (21).
2. Contact profile according to Claim 1, characterized in that the required bending points (16, 17) of the two opposite sections (14, 15) of the jacket layer (2) are arranged at the same height of the hollow-chamber profile (1), measured in the main actuating direction (7).
3. Contact profile according to Claim 2, characterized in that the required bending points (16, 17) of the two sections (14, 15) of the jacket layer (2) are arranged at the point where the maximum width (b₁) of the hollow-chamber profile is present in its mid-height region (13).
4. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner contour of the jacket layer (2), viewed in cross-section, is substantially oval, the long axis of this oval being parallel to the main actuating direction (7).
5. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hollow-chamber profile (1) is formed so as to have mirror symmetry with respect to a longitudinal central plane (25) parallel to the main actuating direction (7).
6. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wall thickness of the hollow-chamber profile (1) is thicker in regions above and below the mid-height region (13), the wall thickness increasing in each case towards the longitudinal central plane (25) parallel to the main actuating direction (7).
7. Contact profile according to Claim 6, characterized in that the contact layers (5, 6) are formed so as to be sickle-shaped when viewed in cross-section.
8. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the contact layers (5, 6) have mirror symmetry with respect to a longitudinal plane (12) which is parallel to the transverse direction (10) and lies in the middle of the surface surrounded by the inner contour of the jacket layer (2) in cross-section.
9. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one metallic conductor (8, 9) running in the longitudinal direction of the hollow-chamber profile (1) is embedded in each contact layer (5, 6).
10. Contact profile according to Claim 9, characterized in that the conductors (8, 9) of the contact layers (5, 6) lie in the longitudinal central plane (25) which is parallel to the main actuating direction (7).
11. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the jacket layer (2) consists of an electrically insulating silicone elastomer.
12. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that contact layers (5, 6) consist of an electrically conducting silicone elastomer.
13. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the hollow-chamber profile (1) is formed integrally, preferably coextruded.
14. Contact profile according to any of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, starting from the points of the inner surface (4) of the jacket layer (2) at which the jacket layer (2) has its greatest internal diameter (i₁), the contact layers (5, 6) extend on both sides over sections of the inner surface (4) of the jacket layer (2), said contact layers forming extensions (11) facing one another.
15. Contact profile according to Claim 14, characterized in that the distance (a) between the ends of the extensions (11) of the opposite contact layers (5, 6) is less than the height (h₁, h₂), measured in the main actuating direction (7), of the respective contact layer (5, 6).

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