Composite seat and switch

Claim 2

A composite seat and switch comprising: A pair of mutually facing horizontal contracting sheets at least one of which carries a plurality of electrical Contacts distributed over an area thereof normally occupied by a seated person, a resilient, compressible, insulating separator between said sheets and normally keeping said sheets apart, said separator having apertures aligned with said electrical contacts through which said contacts may close in response to a person sitting on said sheets, a horizontal insulating pad contacting one side of one of said sheets and extending beyond said sheets to occupy a greater area than said sheets, means insulating the other of said sheets, seat springs supporting said pad, sheets, separator and insulating means, and a seat cover covering said pad, sheets, separator, insulating means and said springs, thereby integrating the last mentioned elements into a functional composite seat and switch.

Claim 3

The composite seat and switch of claim 1 in which said insulating means comprises a second pad.

Claim 4

The composite seat and switch of claim 1 in which at least one of said contacting sheets is made of flexible material.

Claim 5

The composite seat and switch of claim 1 in which said pad has a recess therein receiving said contacting sheets and said separator.

Claim 6

The composite seat and switch of claim 1 in which said pad and said separator and said insulating means constitute the sole padding of said seat.

Claim 7

The composite seat and switch of claim 5 in which said seat cover constitutes the sole enveloping structure of said switch.

Claim 8

In an automotive vehicle, a composite seat and switch comprising, seat springs supported above a floor of the vehicle, a generally horizontal insulating seat pad affixed on and covering said springs, first and second contacting sheets at least one of which carries a plurality of electrical contacts distributed over an area of said seat to be occupied by a person, one of said contacting sheets having one side thereof in face to face contact with said pad, and the other of said contacting sheets being parallel to said one sheet, a resilient, compressible, insulating separator between said sheets, said separator having apertures aligned with said electrical contacts through which said contacts may close, insulating means covering said other contacting sheet, seat cover means covering said pad and said springs, said pad and said separator together with said insulating means constituting the sole padding of said seat, and said seat cover means constituting the only enveloping structure for said switch.

Claim 9

In an automotive vehicle, a composite seat and switch comprising, seat springs supported above a floor of the vehicle, a generally horizontal insulating seat pad affixed on and covering said springs, first and second contacting sheets at least one of which carries a plurality of electrical contacts distributed over an area of said seat to be occupied by a person, one of said contacting sheets having one side thereof in face to face contact with said pad, and the other of said contacting sheets being parallel to said one sheet, a resilient, compressible, insulating separator between said sheets, said separator having apertures aligned with said electrical contacts through which said contacts may close, insulating means covering said other contacting sheet, seat cover means covering said pad and said springs, said pad and said separator together with said insulating means constituting the sole padding of said seat, and said seat cover means constituting the only enveloping structure for said switch.

Claim 10

In an automotive vehicle, a composite seat and switch comprising, seat springs supported above a floor of the vehicle, a generally horizontal insulating pad affixed on and covering said springs, first and second contacting sheets at least one of which carries a plurality of electrical contacts distributed over an area of said seat to be occupied by a person, one of said sheets lying horizontally against said pad and the other sheet being parallel thereto, a resilient, compressible, insulating separator between said sheets, said separator having apertures aligned with said electrical contacts through which said contacts may close, but said separator normally separating said contacts, insulating means covering said other contacting sheets, and seat cover means covering said pad and said springs.

Claim 11

In an automotive vehicle, a composite seat and switch comprising, seat springs supported above a floor of the vehicle, a generally horizontal insulating pad affixed on and covering said springs, first and second contacting sheets at least one of which carries a plurality of electrical contacts distributed over an area of said seat to be occupied by a person, one of said sheets lying horizontally against said pad and the other sheet being parallel thereto, a resilient, compressible, insulating separator between said sheets, said separator having apertures aligned with said electrical contacts through which said contacts may close, but said separator normally separating said contacts, insulating means covering said other contacting sheets, and seat cover means covering said pad and said springs.

Claim 12

The seat and switch as claimed in claim 8 including means retaining the edges of said sheets to keep said contacts aligned.

Claim 13

The seat and switch as claimed in claim 9 including means binding the edges of each of said sheets.