US3655928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for detecting and signaling a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1970-10-23
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1990-10-23
Abstract
Abstract The device detects and signals a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object. The major elements forming the device include the following. A housing is secured to the object. This housing has a first contact area formed on the surface area in the interior thereof. A sphere is movably contained by a resiliently deformable confinement within the interior of the housing. The confinement is interposed between the sphere and the surface area forming the interior of the housing. The confinement is deformable toward the interior surface when the sphere moves within the confinement in response to a change in the rate of movement of the object. A second contact area is formed on the surface of the confinement in juxtaposition to the first contact area on the interior of the housing. When the sphere deforms the confinement sufficiently, in response to a change in the rate of movement of the object of more than a predetermined amount, the first and the second contact areas are brought together to complete a circuit therethrough. Upon closing of the contacts, appropriate circuits indicate that the change of more than a prescribed amount has taken place in the rate of movement of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Elton D Engel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A device for detecting and signaling a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object, which device comprises: a housing secured to the object, said housing having a generally cylindrical interior portion within which a sphere may be confined, said interior portion of said housing having a principal surface which faces the interior of said housing in a direction generally opposite the direction in which said object is principally moved; a first contact area formed on at least a portion of said principal surface of said housing; a metal sphere; a resiliently deformable bag of mesh material positioned within said interior portion of said housing holding said metal sphere normally in a position spaced from said principal surface of said housing, said bag being deformed by said sphere towards said principal surface of said housing when the rate of movement of the object in its principal direction is changed; a second contact area formed on said bag in juxtaposition to said first contact area formed on the interior of said housing whereby when said sphere deforms said bag more than a predetermined amount in response to a rate of change of movement of the object more than a predetermined amount, said first and said second contact areas are brought together to complete a circuit therethrough; and circuit means for completing a circuit through the closed contact areas thereby to signal that said device has detected a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of the object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
258 words
A device for detecting and signaling a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object, which device comprises: a housing secured to the object, said housing having a generally cylindrical interior portion within which a sphere may be confined, said interior portion of said housing having a principal surface which faces the interior of said housing in a direction generally opposite the direction in which said object is principally moved; a first contact area formed on at least a portion of said principal surface of said housing; a metal sphere; a resiliently deformable bag of mesh material positioned within said interior portion of said housing holding said metal sphere normally in a position spaced from said principal surface of said housing, said bag being deformed by said sphere towards said principal surface of said housing when the rate of movement of the object in its principal direction is changed; a second contact area formed on said bag in juxtaposition to said first contact area formed on the interior of said housing whereby when said sphere deforms said bag more than a predetermined amount in response to a rate of change of movement of the object more than a predetermined amount, said first and said second contact areas are brought together to complete a circuit therethrough; and circuit means for completing a circuit through the closed contact areas thereby to signal that said device has detected a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of the object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said second contact area is on both sides of the surface of the mesh material of said bag which faces said principal surface of said housing, wherein said second contact area is positioned on said bag at a location adjacent the diameter of said sphere, and wherein said first contact area is located on said principal surface of said housing in juxtaposition to said second contact area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 2 wherein: said principal surface of said housing extends about the cross section of said housing for at least 180* of arc, and wherein both said first and said second contact areas extend for at least 180* of arc on their supporting surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 3 wherein: said housing is formed as a two-piece structure having a body portion of circular interior cross section and a cover portion, and wherein said bag holding said sphere is entrapped at its open end between said cover portion and said body portion and is secured at its closed end to the bottom of said interior portion of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 4 wherein: a flexible retainer member is provided between said body portion and said cover portion of said housing to retain said sphere within said bag, said flexible retainer member also making electrical contact with said sphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 5 wherein: said circuit means include a lead wire passing between said body portion and said cover portion of said housing, said wire being connected to said retaIner member and thus to said metal sphere within the confinement bag.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |