Patent US4045629A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4045629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical proximity switch arrangements
Assignee: Bassani Ticino SpA
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Filing: 1975-04-08
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1995-04-08
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for modular mounting of a plurality of proximity switches comprises a plate of insulating material having a plurality of first conductive plates mounted on its front face. A respective housing containing a switch circuit is replaceably mounted to the rear face of the plate of insulating material in correspondence with each first conductive plate. Each housing contains a second conductive plate which, in conjunction with the associated first conductive plate, forms a parallel-plate capacitor. The dielectric of the capacitor is formed by the plate of insulating material, a flat wall of the housing which the second conductive plate lines, and an air gap between the plate and the flat wall. Touching of the second plate by a user varies the capacity of the capacitor thus generating a signal operating the circuit within the housing. Since the two plates of the capacitor are mutually isolated, the user cannot experience an electric shock. The housing may be mounted in the rear face of the plate of insulating material either direct or by way of an intermediate supporting frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Alberto Anzani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:58
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962; H03K17/945; H03K17/955; H03K2217/00; H03K2217/94; H03K2217/96; H03K2217/9607; H03K2217/960755
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A proximity switch arrangement, comprising a support constituted of electrically-insulating material and having a front and a rear surface; a modular unit having a wall constituted of electrically-insulating material and facing said support; proximity switching means, including actuating means having an electrically-conductive touch plate fixedly mounted at said front surface of said support so as to remain substantially stationary relative to the latter when contacted by a user to thereby generate a signal indicative of such contact, detecting means having an electrically-conductive plate mounted at the inwardly-facing side of said wall which faces away from said support and operative for detecting said signal, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating transmission of said signal; mounting means for juxtaposing said plates in substantial spaced parallelism by mounting said unit on said supprt, to thereby form a capacitor with the electrically-insulating materials serving as the dielectric, said electrically-insulating materials being operative for maintaining said plates apart and for maintaining said touch plate away from said transmission initiating means to thereby obtain maximum user safety.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A proximity switch arrangement, comprising a support constituted of electrically-insulating material and having a front and a rear surface; a modular unit having a wall constituted of electrically-insulating material and facing said support; proximity switching means, including actuating means having an electrically-conductive touch plate fixedly mounted at said front surface of said support so as to remain substantially stationary relative to the latter when contacted by a user to thereby generate a signal indicative of such contact, detecting means having an electrically-conductive plate mounted at the inwardly-facing side of said wall which faces away from said support and operative for detecting said signal, and means responsive to said detecting means for initiating transmission of said signal; mounting means for juxtaposing said plates in substantial spaced parallelism by mounting said unit on said supprt, to thereby form a capacitor with the electrically-insulating materials serving as the dielectric, said electrically-insulating materials being operative for maintaining said plates apart and for maintaining said touch plate away from said transmission initiating means to thereby obtain maximum user safety.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said support comprises a cover member and a frame member, said cover member having a reduced thickness portion formed with a recess in which said touch plate is received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said plates are juxtaposed relative to each other at a distance greater than the combined thickness of said reduced thickness portion of said cover member and of said wall of said unit so as to form an air gap intermediate said wall and said cover member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2; and further comprising means for mounting said frame member to said cover member in frictional engagement with each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2; and further comprising means for mounting said unit to said frame member with snap action.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for mounting said unit to said frame member comprises a pair of lugs spaced on opposite sides of said modular unit, and a pair of recesses formed on said frame member and which receive said lugs with snap action.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame member has an opening adapted to receive said wall of said unit; and further comprising an additional modular unit receivable in said opening together with said first-mentioned unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |