Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A safety device suitable for use in power operated apparatus for producing a safety control signal on contact between an obstacle and at least one part of the apparatus to control the further operation of said apparatus, said safety device comprising a resilient member attachable to a part of an apparatus, at least two electrodes associated with the resilient member and connectable to an electrical supply, means electrically interconnecting said electrodes and capable of passing a current indicative of unobstructed operation of said apparatus and means responsive to deformation of said resilient member following contact therewith to change the electrical conditions prevailing between said electrodes to vary said current and means capable of detecting the variation in current to produce said safety control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A safety device suitable for use in power operated apparatus for producing a safety control signal on contact between an obstacle and at least one part of the apparatus to control the further operation of said apparatus, said safety device comprising a resilient member attachable to a part of an apparatus, at least two electrodes associated with the resilient member and connectable to an electrical supply, means electrically interconnecting said electrodes and capable of passing a current indicative of unobstructed operation of said apparatus and means responsive to deformation of said resilient member following contact therewith to change the electrical conditions prevailing between said electrodes to vary said current and means capable of detecting the variation in current to produce said safety control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said means electrically interconnecting said electrodes comprises said resilient member, said resilient member being adapted to have a first finite resistance in its undeformed condition and a different finite resistance in its deformed condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said means electrically interconnecting said electrodes comprises a resistor and wherein said electrodes are disposed spaced apart from each other and capable of contacting each other on deformation of said resilient member to bypass said resistor and thus form said means for changing the electrical condition prevailing between the electrodes for varying said current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Safety device according to claim 2 in which said part of the apparatus comprises an elongate edge thereof and in which said resilient member is itself elongate and adapted for attachment to said edge, and in which said at least two electrodes are disposed spaced apart on the surface of said resilient member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Safety device according to claim 4 and in which said resilient member is of rectangular section and said two electrodes are spaced apart along a single side surface of said resilient member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Safety device according to claim 4 and in which said two electrodes are connected to opposite end faces of said elongate resilient member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Safety device according to claim 4 and in which said resilient member is of rectangular section and said two electrodes are respectively connected to adjacent side faces of said resilient member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Safety device according to claim 4 and in which said resilient member is located within a cavity in a rubber moulding said rubber moulding having at least one further elongate cavity positioned in front of said resilient member for providing additional resilience of the edge of the apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Safety device according to claim 4 and in which said resilient member comprises a cellular polymer material impregnated with a conductive lacquer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Safety device according to claim 8 and in which said rubber moulding is provided with an elongate profiled part behind said resilient member for engaging a cooperating feature on the edge of said part to attach the moulding to that part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
Safety device according to claim 3 and in which said part of the apparatus comprises an elongate edge thereof and in which said resilient member is an elongate member extending along said edge, said resilient member having means defining a slot therein, said at least two electrodes being disposed on the resilient member to either side of said slot and said resistor being connected between the electrodes their one ends and said electrical supply being connectable to the electrodes at their other ends remote from said resistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Safety device according to claim 11 and in which said slot runs through the center of said resilient member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
Safety device according to claim 11 and in which a pair of slots are provided at either side of the resilient member and a pair of electrodes is associated with each said slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Safety device according to claim 11 and wherein said resilient member is located within a cavity formed in an elongate rubber moulding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Safety device according to claim 14 and in which said rubber moulding includes means defining a further cavity in front of said resilient member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
Safety device according to claim 15 and in which said rubber moulding includes further means defining a further cavity behind said resilient member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
Safety device according to claim 15 and in which said rubber moulding is provided with an elongate profiled part behind said resilient member cooperable with a mating profiled part along the edge of said apparatus to secure the moulding to that part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
Safety device according to claim 11 and in which the surface of said resilient member beneath said at least two electrodes comprises strips of an open celled relatively flexible foamed plastic impregnated with an electrically conductive lacquer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said apparatus comprises a vertical door and in which said resilient member is attached to the edge of the door.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said apparatus comprises a garage door and said resilient member is attached to the bottom edge of said garage door.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said apparatus comrises a press.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said apparatus includes a handle, said two electrodes being on opposite side of a resilient member in the form of a sheet of resilient material, said sheet of resilient material being wrapped around said handle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
Safety device according to claim 1 and in which said resilient material comprises an open celled cellular polymer material to which the conductive lacquer is applied by rolling whereby to provide the cell walls of said cellular polymer material with a substantially complete and uniform coating of said lacquer.