US5142109A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Puncture-resistant mat for pressure-actuated switches
Assignee: Tapeswitch Corp of America
•
Filing: 1990-09-13
•
Granted: 1992-08-25
•
Expires: 2010-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A protective mat for use with pressure-actuated switching devices having a moisture-resistant, isolated switching chamber protected by a puncture-resistant, protective layer which disperses forces applied to the mat.
Inventors
- 👤 John O'Meara, Jr.
- 👤 Edward W. Duhon
- 👤 Thomas Polistina
- 👤 Robert E. Russell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/02; H01H3/14; H01H3/141; H01H2003/147; H01H3/22; H01H3/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A protective mat comprising: a fluid-tight first chamber; having at least a top wall and a bottom wall; a fluid-tight second chamber having a top layer and a bottom layer, said second chamber disposed proximate said first chamber and having a common wall therewith; a flexible, protective layer disposed within said first chamber; a pressure-actuated device disposed outside said first and second chambers which generates a signal in response to a force applied to said second chamber; and a conduit connecting said second chamber with said pressure-actuated device, and wherein said protective layer is puncture-resistant such that said protective layer is not punctured upon impact by a dart weighing about 21/4 pounds, with a point having a diameter of about 0.10 inches dropped from a still position approximately 3 feet above said protective layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A protective mat comprising: a fluid-tight first chamber; having at least a top wall and a bottom wall; a fluid-tight second chamber having a top layer and a bottom layer, said second chamber disposed proximate said first chamber and having a common wall therewith; a flexible, protective layer disposed within said first chamber; a pressure-actuated device disposed outside said first and second chambers which generates a signal in response to a force applied to said second chamber; and a conduit connecting said second chamber with said pressure-actuated device, and wherein said protective layer is puncture-resistant such that said protective layer is not punctured upon impact by a dart weighing about 21/4 pounds, with a point having a diameter of about 0.10 inches dropped from a still position approximately 3 feet above said protective layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said top wall comprises a rubber elastomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said bottom wall and said top layer are defined by a single bladder layer comprising a rubber elastomer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said bottom layer comprises a rubber elastomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said protective layer comprises a bottom surface and a top surface, and said protective layer is deformation-resistant such that said bottom surface does not receive a dent exceeding about 0.05 inches upon impact of a dart weighing bout 21/4 pounds, with a point having a diameter of about 0.10 inches which is dropped from a still position approximately 8 feet above said top surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said protective layer comprises a plurality of layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A protective mat according to claim 5 wherein said bottom surface does not receive a dent exceeding about 0.025 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said protective layer comprises a plurality of layers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein said pressure-actuated device comprises a pneumatically-operated switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A protective mat according to claim 1 wherein a carbon impregnated elastomer is disposed within said second chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
A protective mat comprising: a fluid-tight switching chamber having at least a top wall and a bottom wall; a pressure-actuated switching device disposed at least partially within said switching chamber; a protective layer disposed proximate said switching chamber, and covering and protecting at least a portion of said pressure-actuated switching device from impact, wherein said protective layer is puncture-resistant such that said protective layer is not punctured upon impact by a dart weighing about 21/4 pounds, with a point having a diameter of about 0.10 inches dropped from a still position approximately 3 feet above said protective layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
A protective mat comprising: a fluid-tight switching chamber having at least a top wall and a bottom wall; a pressure-actuated switching device disposed at least partially within said switching chamber; a protective layer disposed proximate said switching chamber, and covering and protecting at least a portion of said pressure-actuated switching device from impact, wherein said protective layer is puncture-resistant such that said protective layer is not punctured upon impact by a dart weighing about 21/4 pounds, with a point having a diameter of about 0.10 inches dropped from a still position approximately 3 feet above said protective layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 further comprising a wear-resistant top layer comprising a rubber elastomer disposed above said protective layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said top wall comprises a rubber elastomer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said bottom wall comprises a rubber elastomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said protective layer comprises a bottom surface and a top surface, and said protective layer is deformation-resistant such that said bottom surface does not receive a dent exceeding about 0.05 inches upon impact of a dart weighing about 21/4 pounds, with a point having a diameter of about 0.10 inches which is dropped from a still position approximately 8 feet above said top surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said protective layer comprises a plurality of layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A protective mat according to claim 15 wherein said bottom surface does not receive a dent exceeding about 0.025 inches.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said pressure-actuated switching device comprises at least one electrical switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said pressure-actuated switching device comprises a carbon-impregnated elastomer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A protective mat according to claim 11 wherein said protective layer comprises a plurality of layers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA787520A
Cited
US1950490A
Cited
US2938977A
Cited
US3243540A
Cited
US3283096A
Cited
US3487451A
Cited
US3553404A
Cited
US3722086A
Cited
US3715541A
Cited
US3812313A
Cited
US3978297A
Cited
US4237358A
Cited
US4300029A
Cited
US4293752A
Cited
US4401896A
Cited
US4471177A
Cited
US4497989A
Cited
US4551595A
Cited
US4647738A
Cited
US4958148A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |