US3751615A - Pressure-operated tape switch - Google Patents

Pressure-operated tape switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3751615A
US3751615A US00233556A US3751615DA US3751615A US 3751615 A US3751615 A US 3751615A US 00233556 A US00233556 A US 00233556A US 3751615D A US3751615D A US 3751615DA US 3751615 A US3751615 A US 3751615A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
blades
switch
tape switch
blade
studs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00233556A
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English (en)
Inventor
Loisy M De
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TORRIX FR Ets
Torrix SA Ets
Original Assignee
Torrix SA Ets
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Torrix SA Ets filed Critical Torrix SA Ets
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3751615A publication Critical patent/US3751615A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/14—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
    • H01H3/141—Cushion or mat switches
    • H01H3/142—Cushion or mat switches of the elongated strip type

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A pressure-operated tape or ribbon switch suitable for use for detecting the presence of an occupant ofa seat in a motor vehicle when this switch is secured to the underside of the seat.
  • the switch comprises a pair of elongate contact blades with pairs of spaced aligned holes at regular intervals along the longitudinal axis of the switch. Insulating studs are molded to the blades at the holes for riveting the latter together and normally maintaining the blades in spaced apart relationship. Contact is possible by direct or indirect pressure forces exerted on the switch.
  • the present invention relates to pressure-operated ribbon or tape switches.
  • Switches of this type are known which are adapted to open or close electric circuits in response to a pressure exerted thereon, the closing of the switch being adapted to control an audio or light signal, or driving means such as an electric control circuit.
  • An object of the present invention is to overcome such a disadvantage and to this end provide a pressureoperated switch of a simple and economical construction which is particularly sure in operation.
  • the pressure-operated tape switch comprises a pair of conductive flexible strips or blades adapted to be connected to electric leads and insulating support means for normally maintaining the blades spaced from each and enabling the blades to be brought into engagement therely closing the switch in response to a force exerted thereon.
  • the insulating support means are formed as studs and disposed at intervals generally along the longitudinal axis of the elongate blades in openings previously formed in the blades.
  • Such a pressure-operated switch may be responsive to various different operational conditions by merely changing the thickness, the inter-blade spacing, the distance between successive insulating studs.
  • FIG. I shows apressure-operated tape switch in perspective with an outer casing partially cut away
  • FIG. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view taken along the line vll-II in FIG. 1 and FIGS; 3 and 4 are views of the switch similar to FIG. 2 illustrating closed positions of the switch.
  • the pressure-operated tape switch comprises first and second elongate conductive metal strips or blades 11 and 12 having pairs of aligned holes regularly spaced along the longitudinal axis thereof.
  • the blades or strips and 11 are connected in a circuit 15 with a pair of leads.
  • the assembly is enclosed in a casing 16 of insulating material.
  • FIG. 2 the device is shown in'its normal or rest position in which the blades or strips are out of engagement and substantially parallel to each other along the entire length of the switch.
  • FIG. 3 shows the tape switch in closed position wherein a force 17 is exerted on the switch as indicated 0 13 causing the left-hand portion of the lower blade ll to buckle and move into contact with the undersurface of the corresponding portion of the upper contact 10.
  • This is not only possible engagement between contacts 10 and 11 when a force is exerted on the upper of the switch.
  • the direct force is sufficient to bring the right-hand portion and the left-hand portion of the lower contact 11 into engagement with the corresponnding portions of the upper contact 10.
  • the contact strips 10 and 11 are effectively in electrical series any number of engagements between the contact strips is possible.
  • Such a switch has a high degree of sensitivity in that a very slight force anywhere along the length of the switch is sufficient to bring about the closing of the switch.
  • the switch In the case where the switch is secured, for example by stitching the casing 16 to the underside of a seat covering on an automobile seat, the switch will be closed even when there is no force exerted directly on. the switch. For example, if the occupant of'a seat which is provided with the present switch seats on one end or portion of the seat remote from the switch the deformation of the seat covering will cause the switch to close.
  • the advantage of such a switch is obvious as its simple construction offers great sensitivity at a very low production cost.
  • tape switch actuation is possible in any one of the following ways, in either of two directions normal to the longitudinal axis of the tape switch, along the contact blades or in line with the insulator studs, on a point remote from the switch when the latter is secured, for example, tothe underside of a seat covering in an automobile.
  • such a switch has numerous possible uses but is most particularly suited for use as part of a warning system when connected with idiot lights mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle to indicate that the occupant is present and the vehicle can not be started until the corresponding seat belt is fastened. In such a case once the seat belts are fastened the idiot light is turned off and the starting circuit is operative.
  • the present switch is not limited to the particlar configuration shown in the present drawings and described hereinabove. Further, the switch blades may be curved relative to each other and the cut-outs may be of any desired shape such as polygonals.
  • a tape switch operable in response to both a direct force applied thereto and overall bending of said tape switch, said tape switch comprising a pair of elongated contact blades having free side edges and being connected together in spaced parallel relation by separately formed studs in insulated relationship, each blade having at each stud an opening therethrough; and each stud having an inner portion of a cross section greater than said openings maintaining adjacent portions of said blades in said spaced relation, and outer portions of a cross section greater than said openings clamping said blades against said central portion, said studs rigidifying those portions of said blades at and adjacent said studs and preventing relative movement therebetween to provide means whereby said tape strip is bent at least one blade section disposed between a pair of adjacent studs will be stressed and will move to an overcenter position contacting the other blade.
  • a tape switch operable in response to both a direct force applied thereto and overall bending of said tape switch, said tape switch comprising a pair of elongated contact blades having free side edges and being connected together in spaced parallel relation by separately formed studs in insulated relationship, each blade having at each stud an opening therethrough; and each stud having an inner portion of a cross section greater than said openings maintaining adjacent portions of said blades in spaced relation, and outer portions of a cross section greater than said openings clamping said blades against said central portion, and a flexible insulating casing telescoped over said blades, said blades being free to both move as a unit under a bending pressure and to individually deflect under a direct pressure into contacting relation.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US00233556A 1971-07-07 1972-03-10 Pressure-operated tape switch Expired - Lifetime US3751615A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7124778A FR2145032A5 (enExample) 1971-07-07 1971-07-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3751615A true US3751615A (en) 1973-08-07

Family

ID=9079942

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00233556A Expired - Lifetime US3751615A (en) 1971-07-07 1972-03-10 Pressure-operated tape switch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3751615A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2160452C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2145032A5 (enExample)
IT (1) IT951151B (enExample)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5322086A (en) * 1992-11-12 1994-06-21 Sullivan Robert A Hands-free, leg-operated, faucet-control device
US5629675A (en) * 1992-12-16 1997-05-13 The Secretary Of State For Defence In Her Britannic Majesty's Government Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland Vehicle intruder detection system
WO1999066982A1 (en) 1998-06-23 1999-12-29 Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research Multichannel implantable cochlear stimulator
US6799791B2 (en) 2002-12-19 2004-10-05 Aerotail, Llc. Deployable vehicle fairing structure
US6915611B2 (en) 2002-12-19 2005-07-12 Aerotail, Llc Deployable structure
US20050279067A1 (en) * 2004-06-18 2005-12-22 Berkeley James E Electrical method of sensing operator presence on a walk-behind mower
USD751044S1 (en) * 2014-05-22 2016-03-08 Hzo, Inc. Control switch for an electronic device
USD1078663S1 (en) * 2023-01-13 2025-06-10 Banner Engineering Corp. Touch sensor electric switch

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB190902903A (en) * 1909-02-06 1909-10-21 Richard Henry Albery Improvements in Shop Door, Burglar, or the like Alarm Devices.
US2163960A (en) * 1936-12-07 1939-06-27 John M Paver Road strip
US3522398A (en) * 1967-11-13 1970-07-28 Goodrich Co B F Electropneumatic panel switch
US3694600A (en) * 1971-04-05 1972-09-26 Tapeswitch Corp Of America Cushion switch means

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB190902903A (en) * 1909-02-06 1909-10-21 Richard Henry Albery Improvements in Shop Door, Burglar, or the like Alarm Devices.
US2163960A (en) * 1936-12-07 1939-06-27 John M Paver Road strip
US3522398A (en) * 1967-11-13 1970-07-28 Goodrich Co B F Electropneumatic panel switch
US3694600A (en) * 1971-04-05 1972-09-26 Tapeswitch Corp Of America Cushion switch means

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5322086A (en) * 1992-11-12 1994-06-21 Sullivan Robert A Hands-free, leg-operated, faucet-control device
US5629675A (en) * 1992-12-16 1997-05-13 The Secretary Of State For Defence In Her Britannic Majesty's Government Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland Vehicle intruder detection system
WO1999066982A1 (en) 1998-06-23 1999-12-29 Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research Multichannel implantable cochlear stimulator
US6799791B2 (en) 2002-12-19 2004-10-05 Aerotail, Llc. Deployable vehicle fairing structure
US6915611B2 (en) 2002-12-19 2005-07-12 Aerotail, Llc Deployable structure
US20050279067A1 (en) * 2004-06-18 2005-12-22 Berkeley James E Electrical method of sensing operator presence on a walk-behind mower
US7228679B2 (en) * 2004-06-18 2007-06-12 Textron Inc. Electrical method of sensing operator presence on a walk-behind mower
US20070214761A1 (en) * 2004-06-18 2007-09-20 Textron Inc. Electrical Method of Sensing Operator Presence on a Walk Behind Mower
US7414412B2 (en) 2004-06-18 2008-08-19 Textron Inc. Mower presence control assembly including a ribbon switch
USD751044S1 (en) * 2014-05-22 2016-03-08 Hzo, Inc. Control switch for an electronic device
USD1078663S1 (en) * 2023-01-13 2025-06-10 Banner Engineering Corp. Touch sensor electric switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT951151B (it) 1973-06-30
DE2160452A1 (de) 1973-01-18
DE2160452C3 (de) 1978-06-01
FR2145032A5 (enExample) 1973-02-16
DE2160452B2 (de) 1977-09-29

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