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US3794794A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Impact responsive switch with frangible element holding contact plunger in unactivated position

Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1972-11-10
•
Granted: 1974-02-26
•
Expires: 1992-11-10
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Abstract

Abstract The impact switch is responsive to the movement of a vehicle member subjected to an impact force as the result of a vehicle collision with a fixed object or another vehicle. The switch comprises a plunger device movable longitudinally within the cylindrical housing containing axially spaced electrically conductive contact rings. The plunger device carries an electrically conductive contact means engagable with the contact rings in sequence as the plunger device is driven into the housing. A shear pin normally holds the plunger device against displacement such as could be caused by vibration or longitudinally exerted inertial forces. Upon a predetermined impact force being applied to the plunger device, the shear pin is adapted to shear and permit displacement of the plunger means. Engagement of the plunger contact means with the contact rings closes an electrical circuit through the switch. The closed electrical circuit may be used to trigger an airbag system or other vehicle passenger restraint device.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Provancher

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 12:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0136; H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/02; H01H35/00; H01H35/14; H01H35/146

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 129 words
An impact responsive switch comprising a cylindrical housing, electrically conductive contact means longitudinally axially spaced within the housing, the axially spaced contact means comprising a pair of rings having radially inwardly projecting contact fingers, plunger means slidably journalled at one end of the housing for longitudinal displacement movement therein, the plunger means comprising an anvil the inner end of which projects into the housing, a nonconductive connector member carried on the anvil inner end, and electrically conductive contact member coupled to the connector member, the electrically conductive contact member being of sufficient length to bridge the axially spaced contact means upon impact induced axial displacement of the plunger means into the cylindrical housing, and shear pin means holding the plunger means against displacement movement below a predetermined impact force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 129 words
An impact responsive switch comprising a cylindrical housing, electrically conductive contact means longitudinally axially spaced within the housing, the axially spaced contact means comprising a pair of rings having radially inwardly projecting contact fingers, plunger means slidably journalled at one end of the housing for longitudinal displacement movement therein, the plunger means comprising an anvil the inner end of which projects into the housing, a nonconductive connector member carried on the anvil inner end, and electrically conductive contact member coupled to the connector member, the electrically conductive contact member being of sufficient length to bridge the axially spaced contact means upon impact induced axial displacement of the plunger means into the cylindrical housing, and shear pin means holding the plunger means against displacement movement below a predetermined impact force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
An impact responsive switch according to claim 1, in which: the shear pin means couples the plunger means anvil to the cylindrical housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
An impact responsive switch according to claim 2, in which: the axially spaced electrically conductive contact means are axially spaced from each other by a plurality of axially positioned nonconductive spacer rings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
An impact responsive switch according to claim 3, in which: the axially spaced electrically conductive means are spaced from the inner wall of the cylindrical housing by a nonconductive ring concentric with the spacer rings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
An impact responsive switch according to claim 1, in which: the axially spaced contact means rings are axially positioned within the cylindrical housing by a plurality of nonconductive spacer rings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
An impact responsive switch according to claim 5, in which: the contact means rings are positioned in nonconductive relationship to the inner wall of the cylindrical housing by a nonconductive ring concentric with the spacer rings.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2105286A Cited
US2997883A Cited
US3217121A Cited
US3286064A Cited
US3341671A Cited
US3485973A Cited
US3649786A Cited
US3702637A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-02-25 1977-08-27 1978-02-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-02-25 1981-08-27 1982-02-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-02-25 1985-08-27 1986-02-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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