Force activated switch
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorGerald P. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for a switch that is activated by a predetermined mechanical load includes a first layer of plastic material, a second layer of plastic material, a layer of elastomeric material having first and second surfaces, the first surface bonded to the first layer of plastic material by a layer of adhesive material and the second surface of the elastomeric material bonded to the second layer of plastic material by a layer of adhesive; and a conductor disposed in contact with one or more of the layers of material wherein a conductive path of the conductor is broken when at least one of the adhesive bonds is displaced by the predetermined mechanical load.
Claims28
A switch that is activated by a predetermined mechanical force, comprising:
- a first layer of plastic material;
- a second layer of plastic material;
- a layer of elastomeric material having first and second surfaces, said first surface of said elastomeric material bonded to said first layer of plastic material by a layer of adhesive material, and said second surface of said elastomeric material bonded to said second layer of plastic material by a layer of adhesive material;
- and
- a conductor disposed in contact with one or more of said layers, wherein a conductive path of said conductor is broken when at least one of said adhesive bonds is displaced by said predetermined mechanical force.
A switch that is activated by a predetermined force, comprising a multilayered composite of:
- a first layer of polycarbonate material;
- a second layer of polycarbonate material;
- a layer of butyl rubber having first and second surfaces, said fist surface bonded to said first layer of polycarbonate material by a layer of polyurethane adhesive having a predetermined rupture strength, and said second surface of said butyl rubber bonded to said second layer of polycarbonate material by a layer of polyurethane adhesive having a predetermined rupture strength;
- and
- a conductor disposed in contact with one or more layers of said multilayer composite wherein a conductive path of said conductor is broken when at least one of said layers is displaced by the predetermined force.
A method of manufacturing a force activated switch, comprising;
- adhering a first layer of polycarbonate material to a first surface of a layer of butyl rubber using a polyurethane adhesive;
- adhering a second layer of polycarbonate material to a second surface of said layer of butyl rubber using a polyurethane adhesive;
- and
- disposing a conductor in contact with one or more of said layers wherein a conductive path of said conductor is broken when at least one of said adhesive bonds is displaced by a predetermined mechanical load.
A force activated switch, comprising:
- a first layer of plastic material;
- a second layer of plastic material;
- a layer of elastomeric material having first and second surfaces, said first surface bonded to said first layer of plastic material by a layer of adhesive and said second surface bonded to said second layer of plastic material by a layer of adhesive;
- and
- a conductor disposed in contact with one or more of said layers to form a conductive path and wherein said conductive path is broken when at least one of said adhesive bonds is displaced by a predetermined mechanical load;
- and
- wherein said predetermined mechanical load required to displace at least one of said adhesive bonds is calibrated by one or more of the following:
- preparation of one or more of said surfaces of said layers;
- selection of adhesive;
- and
- curing of said adhesive.
A switch that is activated by a predetermined mechanical load, comprising:
- a first layer of polycarbonate material;
- a second layer of polycarbonate material;
- a layer of elastomeric material having first and second surfaces, said first surface bonded to said first layer of polycarbonate material by a layer of adhesive material and said second surface of said elastomeric material bonded to said second layer of polycarbonate material by a layer of adhesive;
- and
- a conductor disposed in contact with one or more of said layers to form a conductive path and wherein said conductive path is broken when at least one of said adhesive bonds is displaced by said predetermined mechanical load.
An electrical switch manufactured by a process comprising:
- adhering a first layer of polycarbonate material to a first surface of a layer of butyl rubber by a polyurethane adhesive;
- adhering a second layer of polycarbonate material to a second surface of said layer of butyl rubber by a polyurethane adhesive;
- and
- disposing a conductor in contact with one or more of said layers wherein a conductive path of the conductor is broken when at least one of the adhesive bonds is displaced by a predetermined mechanical load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.