Relaxation switch

Claim 2

An electrical switch, comprising: electrically conducting switch means having a resilient normally bowed portion, said normally bowed portion being adapted to be flattened by the application of pressure thereto, a base member, an electrically conducting means located in a given position relative to said base member, connection means for securing said switch means to said base member with an engaging portion of said switch means being free to move relative to said electrically conducting means when said normally bowed portion is flattened and when said normally bowed portion is allowed to assume its normally bowed position, said electrically conducting means being located such that said engaging portion of said switch means is out of engagement with said electrically conducting means when said normally bowed portion is flattened but engages said electrically conducting means when said normally bowed portion is allowed to assume its normally bowed position, and removable holding means adapted to be located in a predetermined position for normally flattening said normally bowed portion of said switch means to cause said engaging portion to be located out of engagement with said electrically conducting means.

Claim 3

The electrical switch of claim 1 wherein: said holding means when removed from said predetermined position allows said portion of said switch means to assume its normally bowed position, and an electrically actuated alarm system and a source of electrical power are electrically connected to said switch means and to said electrically conducting means such that said alarm system is actuated when said holding means is removed from predetermined position.

Claim 4

An electrical switch adapted to be coupled to an antenna of a motor vehicle and to be closed in the event that the antenna is removed from the motor vehicle, said antenna comprising a metallic base means with a projecting threaded male member to be affixedly attached to a motor vehicle; an electrically insulating skirt with a top portion having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving said male member and to fit around said base means; and antenna structure having a threaded aperture at its end adapted to be threaded to said male member extending through said skirt, said electrical switch comprising: an electrically insulating base member having an aperture formed therethrough to receive said male member of said antenna and to be located between said base means and the top portion of said skirt of said antenna, an electrically conducting switch means comprising an arcuate member having a normally bowed resilient portion, said switch means being connected to said base member such that when said normally bowed portion is flattened, an engaging portion of said switch means is moved radially outward to a location out of engagement with said male member of said antenna and when said normally bowed portion is allowed to assume its normally bowed position, said engaging portion of said switch means is moved radially inward to a location in engagement with said male member, said top portion of said skirt being adapted to flatten said normally bowed portion of said switch means when said skirt is fitted in place around said male member of said base means and when said antenna structure is threaded in place to said male member to said base means, said top portion of said skirt allowing said normally bowed portion of said switch means to assume its normally bowed position when said antenna structure is unthreaded from said male member of said base means.

Claim 5

An electrical switch adapted to be coupled to an antenna of a motor vehicle and to be closed in the event that the antenna is removed from the motor vehicle, said antenna comprising a metallic base means with a projecting threaded male member to be affixedly attached to a motor vehicle; an electrically insulating skirt with a top portion having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving said male member and to fit around said base means; and antenna structure having a threaded aperture at its end adapted to be threaded to said male member extending through said skirt, said electrical switch comprising: an electrically insulating base member having an aperture formed therethrough to receive said male member of said antenna and to be located between said base means and the top portion of said skirt of said antenna, an electrically conducting switch means comprising an arcuate member having a normally bowed resilient portion, said switch means being connected to said base member such that when said normally bowed portion is flattened, an engaging portion of said switch means is moved radially outward to a location out of engagement with said male member of said antenna and when said normally bowed portion is allowed to assume its normally bowed position, said engaging portion of said switch means is moved radially inward to a location in engagement with said male member, said top portion of said skirt being adapted to flatten said normally bowed portion of said switch means when said skirt is fitted in place around said male member of said base means and when said antenna structure is threaded in place to said male member to said base means, said top portion of said skirt allowing said normally bowed portion of said switch means to assume its normally bowed position when said antenna structure is unthreaded from said male member of said base means.

Claim 6

The electrical switch of claim 3 comprising: an electrically actuated alarm means and a source of electrical power electrically connected to said switch means and to said base means such that said alarm system is actuated when said antenna structure is unthreaded from said male member of said base means.