Patent US2106782A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3838236A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3838236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Actuating means for warning devices
Assignee: Federal Mogul LLC
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Filing: 1973-05-23
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-05-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention disclosed herein relates to an actuating means for a warning device such as a horn for an automobile. The actuating means includes an actuator that is supported at opposite sides on a base and overlying an elongated recess which supports a switch consisting of first and second elongated strips that are electrically insulated from each other by a resilient nonconductive member. The actuator has a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections extending towards the switch and slits dividing the actuator into a plurality of flaps so that application of a force to any point on the flaps will cause deflection of the actuator to produce engagement between the elongated strips.
Inventors
- 👤 P Corn
- 👤 W Wolf
- 👤 W Gebhardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/50; H01H13/52; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/10; H01B7/104; H01B7/108; H01H3/00; H01H3/02; H01H3/14; H01H3/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
Actuating means for use with a warning deVice comprising a support; an elongated switch carried by said support, said switch including first and second resilient metal strips with a resilient non-conductive member having an elongated passage receiving said strips and normally maintaining said strips in spaced relation; and an elongated resilient actuator, said actuator having opposite sides engaging said support with an intermediate portion aligned with said switch, said intermediate portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections extending toward said switch, said actuator having at least two substantially T-shaped slits, said T-shaped slits having horizontal portions located adjacent the respective opposite sides of said actuator and vertical portions extending parallel to each other, said slits dividing said actuator into a plurality of flaps, said vertical portions terminating at a location spaced from the horizontal portion of the other T-shaped slit to define an integral bridging element between adjacent pairs of flaps, said flaps being integrally joined along one edge to the remainder of said actuator so that application of a force to any point on said flaps will deflect said flaps relative to the sides of said actuator, and will cause said projections to produce engagement between said metal strips.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
Actuating means for use with a warning deVice comprising a support; an elongated switch carried by said support, said switch including first and second resilient metal strips with a resilient non-conductive member having an elongated passage receiving said strips and normally maintaining said strips in spaced relation; and an elongated resilient actuator, said actuator having opposite sides engaging said support with an intermediate portion aligned with said switch, said intermediate portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections extending toward said switch, said actuator having at least two substantially T-shaped slits, said T-shaped slits having horizontal portions located adjacent the respective opposite sides of said actuator and vertical portions extending parallel to each other, said slits dividing said actuator into a plurality of flaps, said vertical portions terminating at a location spaced from the horizontal portion of the other T-shaped slit to define an integral bridging element between adjacent pairs of flaps, said flaps being integrally joined along one edge to the remainder of said actuator so that application of a force to any point on said flaps will deflect said flaps relative to the sides of said actuator, and will cause said projections to produce engagement between said metal strips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Actuating means as defined in claim 1, in which there are two flaps that are respectively integrally joined to said actuator adjacent opposite ends thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
Actuating means as defined in claim 2, in which said support has a ledge adjacent the periphery with said sides supported on said ledge and in which said actuator has recesses in said sides adjacent opposite ends so that the opposite ends are free to move toward said switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Actuating means as defined in claim 3, in which outer edges of said sides engage a wall of said ledge to prevent transverse movement between actuator and support, and in which said actuator and support have cooperating means for preventing longitudinal movement between said actuator and support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Actuating means as defined in claim 1, further including a cover connected to said base and having a resilient portion overlying said actuator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Actuating means as defined in claim 5, in which said base is attached to a steering mechanism for a vehicle and said warning device is a horn.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electrical switching mechanism comprising a rigid base having an elongated recess; an elongated switch including first and second conductive strips supported in spaced relation in a casing located in said recess and spaced from opposite sides; an actuator extending across said recess above said switch, said actuator being substantially flat and having opposite sides supported on adjacent sides of said base and opposite ends extending across said recess; and a resilient cover engaging said actuator and connected to said base to hold the opposite sides of said actuator in a substantially fixed position on said base, said actuator having projections aligned with and engaging said casing, said actuator having slits defining a pair of polygonal flaps, each having a plurality of edges, said slits being arranged so that one edge of the respective pairs of flaps is integral with an adjacent end of said actuator and the remaining edges are substantially free to move relative to said actuator to allow said flaps to be flexed between said sides to have said projections produce engagement between said strips when pressure is applied to any portion of said cover overlying said actuator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
An electrical switching mechanism comprising a rigid base having an elongated recess; an elongated switch including first and second conductive strips supported in spaced relation in a casing located in said recess and spaced from opposite sides; an actuator extending across said recess above said switch, said actuator being substantially flat and having opposite sides supported on adjacent sides of said base and opposite ends extending across said recess; and a resilient cover engaging said actuator and connected to said base to hold the opposite sides of said actuator in a substantially fixed position on said base, said actuator having projections aligned with and engaging said casing, said actuator having slits defining a pair of polygonal flaps, each having a plurality of edges, said slits being arranged so that one edge of the respective pairs of flaps is integral with an adjacent end of said actuator and the remaining edges are substantially free to move relative to said actuator to allow said flaps to be flexed between said sides to have said projections produce engagement between said strips when pressure is applied to any portion of said cover overlying said actuator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
An electrical switching mechanism comprising a base having an elongated recess; an elongated switch including first and second conductive strips supported in spaced relation in a casing located in said recess and spaced from opposite sides; an actuator extending across said recess above said switch, said actuator being substantially flat and having opposite sides supported on said base; and a resilient cover engaging said actuator and connected to said base to hold the opposite sides of said actuator in a substantially fixed position on said base, said actuator having projections aligned with and engaging said casing, said actuator having slits dividing said actuator into two substantially rectangular flaps with a bridging element between adjacent inner edges of said flaps, said bridging element being spaced from the adjacent edges of said flaps and being integrally joined with the respective edges at opposite corners to allow said actuator to be flexed between said sides to have said projections produce engagement between said strips when pressure is applied to any portion of said cover overlying said actuator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
An electrical switching mechanism comprising a base having an elongated recess; an elongated switch including first and second conductive strips supported in spaced relation in a casing located in said recess and spaced from opposite sides; an actuator extending across said recess above said switch, said actuator being substantially flat and having opposite sides supported on said base; and a resilient cover engaging said actuator and connected to said base to hold the opposite sides of said actuator in a substantially fixed position on said base, said actuator having projections aligned with and engaging said casing, said actuator having slits dividing said actuator into two substantially rectangular flaps with a bridging element between adjacent inner edges of said flaps, said bridging element being spaced from the adjacent edges of said flaps and being integrally joined with the respective edges at opposite corners to allow said actuator to be flexed between said sides to have said projections produce engagement between said strips when pressure is applied to any portion of said cover overlying said actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrical switching mechanism as defined in claim 8, in which said actuator is substantially rectangular and has recesses at each corner with the recesses cooperating with said slits to define integral bridging connections between said sides and adjacent corners.
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) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |