Universal sensing edge

A universally mountable sensing edge attachable to a leading edge of a structure that is movable through a range of motion between open and closed positions, for causing the structure to at least stop moving during a closing motion by actuating a device upon a force being sensed by the sensing edge, the sensing edge comprising:

• an elongated sheath extending a length in a first direction, having opposing top and bottom walls and opposing front and rear sidewalls connecting the top and bottom walls, the walls together defining a cavity, said elongated sheath being compressible upon application of an external force thereto;
• a sensor located within the cavity for sensing a force applied to the sheath;
• a center securing member extending upwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the top wall of the sheath and being disposed approximately centrally between the front and rear sidewalls, the center securing member having a generally T-shaped base portion extending from the top wall of the sheath and a removable mounting strip extending upwardly from the T-shaped base portion and wherein an intersection point between the mounting strip and the T-shaped base portion defines a disconnect point configured for selective removal of the mounting strip from the T-shaped base portion such that the center securing member is attachable to a structure having one of (i) a mounting slot extending into the structure from a leading edge and (ii) an approximately centrally located channel extending downwardly and outwardly from the leading edge of the structure;
• and
• at least two T-shaped edge securing members extending upwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the top wall of the sheath at least a distance generally equal to the distance that the upward extension of the T-shaped base portion of the center securing member extends from the top wall of the sheath, the T-shaped edge securing members being disposed proximate to the front and rear sidewalls, respectively, such that each of the at least two T-shaped edge securing members is attachable to a respective channel extending downwardly from a leading edge of the structure.

A method of mounting a universally mountable sensing edge to a leading edge of a structure that is movable through a range of motion between open and closed positions, for causing the structure to at least stop moving during a closing motion by actuating a device upon a force being sensed by the sensing edge, the method comprising:

• obtaining a universally mountable sensing edge comprising:
• an elongated sheath extending a length in a first direction, having opposing top and bottom walls and opposing front and rear sidewalls connecting the top and bottom walls, the walls together defining a cavity, said elongated sheath being compressible upon application of an external force thereto;
• a sensor located within the cavity for sensing a force applied to the sheath;
• a center securing member extending upwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the top wall of the sheath and being disposed approximately centrally between the front and rear sidewalls, the center securing member having a generally T-shaped base portion extending from the top wall of the sheath and a removable mounting strip extending upwardly from the T-shaped base portion, and
• at least one T-shaped edge securing member extending upwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the top wall of the sheath at least a distance generally equal to the distance that the upward extension of the T-shaped base portion of the center securing member extends from the top wall of the sheath, the T-shaped edge securing member being disposed proximate to at least one of the front and rear sidewalls;
• determining whether the structure has (i) a mounting slot extending into the structure from a leading edge, (ii) an approximately centrally located channel extending downwardly and outwardly from the leading edge of the structure, or (iii) at least one channel extending downwardly and outwardly from the leading edge of the structure, proximate at least one of a front or rear side of the leading edge, wherein;
• if the structure has (i), then:
• advancing the mounting strip of the center securing member of the sensing edge into at least a portion of the mounting slot;
• if the structure has (ii), then:
• removing the mounting strip from the center securing member of the sensing edge, and
• sliding the T-shaped base portion of the center securing member of the sensing edge into at least a portion of the approximately central channel of the structure;
• and
• if the structure has (iii), then:
• removing the mounting strip from the center securing member of the sensing edge, and
• sliding the at least one T-shaped edge securing member of the sensing edge into at least a portion of the at least one channel extending from the structure adjacent at least one of the front or rear sides of the leading edge of the structure.