# US 4,396,814 A · Threshold adjustable safety edge construction for a motor operated door

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- Number: US 4,396,814 A
- Document ID: US4396814A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/198,628
- Filed: 1980-10-20
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1980-10-20
- Inventors: Bearge Miller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396814A

## CPC

- E05F 15/44: responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
- E05Y 2600/40: Mounting location; Visibility of the elements
- E05Y 2900/132: Doors
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

A safety edge switching device for a door wherein a resiliently compressible structure is enclosed by a flexible, impervious sheet covering, and the interior compartment is airtight, forming a pressurized cell, where the pressurization of the cell is user adjustable. A variation of the disclosed invention includes a twin-cell design which provides for additional control uses in safety edge switching functions. Also, a manufacturing method for construction of the invention is disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A safety edge for a power-operated door, comprising a first elongated generally straight formation of resiliently yieldable material adapted to extend along a door edge, said formation having at least one airtight cell formed by a flexible cover conformably encasing said formation, and adapted for securement to a door; electrical switch actuating means within said airtight cell, said actuating means being operated upon said door closure wherein said straight formation includes:
said switch actuating means comprising two conductive metallic strips disposed internally of said airtight cell, parallel to each other said strip, and oriented to extend along the generally straight formation;
foam strips disposed adjacent to and between said conductive strips, said foam strip between said metallic strips is composed of intermittent grids allowing contact of said metallic strips upon door closure; and
said flexible cover encasing said formation compresses inward upon door closure, displacing at least one of said metallic strips to cause switch actuation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The invention in claim 1 wherein further said airtight cell is pressurized by introduction of a pressurizing fluid, by external means, through a valve disposed on and through the said flexible cover and into said airtight cell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The invention of claim 2 wherein a further second flexible cover conformably encases said first elongated generally straight formation, said second cover being similarly airtight and including a means to pressurize the internal area between said second flexible cover and said first flexible cover by introduction of a pressurizing fluid, by external means, through a valve disposed on and through said second cover, further including pneumatic switch actuation means actuated at a given predetermined pressure level existing within the area between said second cover and said first cover.