Swimming pool touch pad

In a swimming race electronic control system the combination including:

• transducer means comprising;
• a source of supply voltage, and circuit means for indicating race completion,
• a swimming pool touch pad comprising;
• a nonconductive baseplate adapted to be mounted on a swimming pool wall,
• a normally nonconductive generally planar pressure sensitive elastomeric pad positioned on said baseplate and adapted to become selectively conductive upon application of pressure to the front surface thereof to provide an electrical current path therethrough in the area of such application and transversely through the pad between the front and rear surfaces,
• conductive means coupled to the respective surfaces of said elastomeric pad and to said transducer means for providing an electrical connection therebetween, and
• a nonconductive waterproof flexible cover member secured to said baseplate and enclosing said pad, the conductive means being passed through said cover member, said cover member being capable of immediately transmitting externally applied pressure to said elastomeric pad to render same conductive whereby an electrical current path is provided from said source of supply voltage through said conductive means and elastomeric pad to said circuit means for controlling same.

A swimming pool touch pad including in combination;

• a nonconductive plastic baseplate having a first planar section with a front surface and a rear surface adapted to seat against the swimming pool wall, and a second section extending from an edge of said first section substantially perpendicular to said first section for mounting said touch pad on said swimming pool wall,
• a normally nonconductive generally planar pressure sensitive elastomeric pad having front and rear surfaces positioned on said baseplate first section and extending onto said baseplate second section, said elastomeric pad being adapted to become selectively conductive upon application of pressure to the front surface thereof to provide an electrical current path therethrough in the area of said application and transversely through the elastomeric pad between the front and rear surfaces,
• first and second electrodes secured to said front and rear surfaces respectively and extending over the entire area thereof, and preferably bonded to the baseplate and the undersurface of the protective cover,
• first and second insulated, waterproof conductors secured to said first and second electrodes respectively and extending to the exterior of said touch pad to provide connection to an external electric circuit, and
• a nonconductive waterproof flexible plastic cover member secured to said baseplate first and second sections and enclosing, said elastomeric pad with the first and second conductors passing through the cover member with said cover member sealed at the pass through point, said cover member being capable of immediately transmitting externally applied pressure to said elastomeric pad to render same conductive for closing the external electrical circuit to which said first and second conductors may be connected.