Patent US2185176A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4045631A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4045631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch-sensitive door control switch
Assignee: MIDBRAKE Corp
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Filing: 1976-04-02
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-04-02
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a touch-sensitive apparatus adapted for mounting on the edges of mass transit vehicle doors. The apparatus provides an elongate flexible housing of which a proximal end portion is rigidly supported by a door edge, and a distal end portion may warp in response to manual pressure to operate a switch and switch actuating assembly enclosed within a longitudinal passageway of the distal portion which controls an electrical circuit for door-opening mechanism. The assembly includes a switch supported in one end of the passageway and a taut cable or other flexible member supported lengthwise of the passageway centrally through spaced support blocks.
Inventors
- 👤 Daryl L. Dann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/02; H01H3/14; H01H3/141; H01H3/142; E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/40; E05F15/42; E05F15/48; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/60; E05Y2201/622; E05Y2201/644; E05Y2201/654; E05Y2600/00; E05Y2600/40; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/50; E05Y2900/53; E05Y2900/531
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
A touch-sensitive control device for mounting on a vehicle door comprising: a resilient tubiform door-edge housing having longitudinally extending distal and proximal end surfaces at the ends of its transverse cross section and distal and proximal portions extending therealong of which the distal portion is flexible and warpable with respect to the proximal portion when the proximal portion is rigidly supported, said housing having a flexible wall defining its distal side which encloses a longitudinal passageway; an electrical switch and switch-operating assembly received in said passageway comprising: a plurality of spacer blocks spaced at operating position generally uniformly along said passageway; a cable extending substantially the full length of the passageway centrally through said blocks; a normally resiliently closed switch comprising a body supported in one end of the passageway, and an element movable within the body between positions for opening and closing an electrical circuit therethrough; anchor means fixed in the other end of said passageway gripping said cable; resilient and element-engaging means connected with a portion of said cable adjacent to the switch acting on the housing in the outward direction of said one passageway end to place the cable in a condition of continuous tension and to engage said element, and to hold said switch in one of said positions; and adjustable means in said assembly for adjusting said switch body and cable toward and away from each other while maintaining said cable under tension at undeflected condition of said distal housing portion, said body and cable being adjustable to a relative position to maintain said switch in said one position enabling said switch to assume the other of said positions upon a predetermined deflection of said distal portion of the housing and a corresponding shift in position of said cable portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
A touch-sensitive control device for mounting on a vehicle door comprising: a resilient tubiform door-edge housing having longitudinally extending distal and proximal end surfaces at the ends of its transverse cross section and distal and proximal portions extending therealong of which the distal portion is flexible and warpable with respect to the proximal portion when the proximal portion is rigidly supported, said housing having a flexible wall defining its distal side which encloses a longitudinal passageway; an electrical switch and switch-operating assembly received in said passageway comprising: a plurality of spacer blocks spaced at operating position generally uniformly along said passageway; a cable extending substantially the full length of the passageway centrally through said blocks; a normally resiliently closed switch comprising a body supported in one end of the passageway, and an element movable within the body between positions for opening and closing an electrical circuit therethrough; anchor means fixed in the other end of said passageway gripping said cable; resilient and element-engaging means connected with a portion of said cable adjacent to the switch acting on the housing in the outward direction of said one passageway end to place the cable in a condition of continuous tension and to engage said element, and to hold said switch in one of said positions; and adjustable means in said assembly for adjusting said switch body and cable toward and away from each other while maintaining said cable under tension at undeflected condition of said distal housing portion, said body and cable being adjustable to a relative position to maintain said switch in said one position enabling said switch to assume the other of said positions upon a predetermined deflection of said distal portion of the housing and a corresponding shift in position of said cable portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
The control device for claim 1 comprising: an interiorly threaded sleeve fixed within said one end of said passageway having spring seat means at the end of the sleeve more inward of said passageway; said element being a plunger protruding from said body toward said spring seat means; said resilient and element-engaging means comprising a follower attached to said cable within said sleeve normally in engagement with said plunger, said follower providing a spring seat facing said spring seat means; and a spring in a state of compression between said spring seat means and said spring seat; said adjustable means comprising at least a portion of said body having an external thread in threaded relation with said sleeve, said body being rotatable within said sleeve toward and away from said follower.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The touch-sensitive control device of claim 1 comprising: a first interiorly threaded sleeve fixed with said passageway to which said switch body is affixed; an interiorly-threaded centrally-apertured plug in thread-meshing relation with the inner end portion of said sleeve; a follower for engaging said element located within said sleeve between said element and said resilient means in engagement with body, said cable extending through said plug into attachment to said follower; said anchor means comprising a second interiorly threaded sleeve fixed within said passageway and spaced therealong from said first sleeve, and an exteriorly threaded plug to which said cable is affixed in rotatable thread-meshing relation with said second sleeve to provide said adjustable means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The touch-sensitive control device of claim 1 wherein: said adjustable means resides at least partially in said anchor means and said anchor means comprises an interiorly threaded sleeve fixed within said other end of said passageway, and an exteriorly threaded plug to which said cable is affixed received within the thread in rotatable thread-meshing relation therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The touch-sensitive control device of claim 1 wherein; the perimetric surfaces of said spacer blocks are of conforming but of slightly smaller contour than the transverse cross section of said passageway; and said cable and said spacers are portions of a preassembled assembly comprising cable clamps spaced along said cable to position the spacer block relative to the cable length enabling one end of said assembly to be inserted into said passageway and the entire assembly progressively pulled thereinto into operable position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The touch-sensitive control device of claim 1 comprising: a pair of sleeves conforming to the inner surface of said passageway of which one is a portion of said anchor means and the other is means for supporting said switch, said sleeves having external circumferential grooves located intermediately of respective lengths; and clamp means slidable over said housing in registry with the grooves to secure the sleeves within the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The touch-sensitive control device of claim 1 wherein: said housing has wall-weakening passageways between said distal and proximal portions enhancing deflection or warping of engaged distal areas toward said proximal portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sensitive-control device of claim 1 wherein: the width of a transverse cross section of the housing extends between said proximal and said distal end surfaces, and the thickness of said cross section extends transversely of said width; and the housing comprises said proximal portion in a form adapted to be gripped by a rigid supporting means, said distal portion houses said assembly, and an intermediate portion between said other two portions is substantially wider than said distal portion and substantially open by a longitudinal passageway therethrough to render the walls of the intermediate section sufficiently flexible and deformable to enable warping of said housing with said distal portion moving about an approximate fulcrum located in or adjacent said intermediate housing portion.
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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 |