US3655929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for detecting and signalling a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1970-10-23
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Granted: 1972-04-11
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Expires: 1990-10-23
Abstract
Abstract The device detects and signals a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object. The major elements forming the device include the following. A housing is secured to the object. This housing encloses a movable element. Contacts are, in part, associated with the interior surface of the housing and, in part, associated with the movable element for completing a circuit therethrough when closed. Resilient elements are employed for acting between the interior of the housing and the movable element. The resilient elements normally separate the contacts of the housing and the movable element so that no circuit is completed. The resilient devices are yieldable during the time when the object has its rate of movement changed to permit relative movement of the housing and the movable element so that the contacts move generally toward a closed position. A circuit is also provided for signalling that the device has detected a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of the object. This signal occurs when the contact associated with the housing and the contact associated with the movable element are closed.
Inventors
- 👤 Elton D Engel
- 👤 Richard H Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
A device for detecting and signalling a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object, which device comprises: a housing formed of nonconductive material secured to the object, said housing having an interior portion for movably confining a sphere, said interior portion of said housing also having a principal surface which faces inwardly generally in a direction opposite to that in which said object is principally moved, said principal surface of said housing having a pair of openings therein angularly spaced form one another and located midway between the top and the bottom of said interior of said housing; a metal sphere enclosed within said interior portion of said housing for movement therewithin in directions generally toward and away from said principal surface; a pair of first contact elements on said sphere, said elements being formed integrally with said sphere and being a pair of nibs which project outwardly from the surface of said sphere, said nibs being angularly spaced from one another and being located midway between the top and the bottom of said sphere, each of said nibs of said sphere being aligned with and encircled by an associated one of said openings of said principal surface of said housing; a pair of second contact elements mounted one each within an associated one of said pair of openings in said principal surface of said housing, said contact elements being spaced from said nibs of said sphere when said sphere is in a normal position; individual spring means for acting between each of said opposed sets of contact elements, said spring means normally spacing said sets of contact elements so that no circuit is completed therethrough, said spring means being yieldable to permit relative movement of said sphere and said housing when the object has its rate of movement in its principal direction changed so that at least one set of said contact elements is moved toward a closed position; and circuit means for completing a circuit through said set of contact elements when closed thereby to signal that the device has detected a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of the object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
367 words
A device for detecting and signalling a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of an object, which device comprises: a housing formed of nonconductive material secured to the object, said housing having an interior portion for movably confining a sphere, said interior portion of said housing also having a principal surface which faces inwardly generally in a direction opposite to that in which said object is principally moved, said principal surface of said housing having a pair of openings therein angularly spaced form one another and located midway between the top and the bottom of said interior of said housing; a metal sphere enclosed within said interior portion of said housing for movement therewithin in directions generally toward and away from said principal surface; a pair of first contact elements on said sphere, said elements being formed integrally with said sphere and being a pair of nibs which project outwardly from the surface of said sphere, said nibs being angularly spaced from one another and being located midway between the top and the bottom of said sphere, each of said nibs of said sphere being aligned with and encircled by an associated one of said openings of said principal surface of said housing; a pair of second contact elements mounted one each within an associated one of said pair of openings in said principal surface of said housing, said contact elements being spaced from said nibs of said sphere when said sphere is in a normal position; individual spring means for acting between each of said opposed sets of contact elements, said spring means normally spacing said sets of contact elements so that no circuit is completed therethrough, said spring means being yieldable to permit relative movement of said sphere and said housing when the object has its rate of movement in its principal direction changed so that at least one set of said contact elements is moved toward a closed position; and circuit means for completing a circuit through said set of contact elements when closed thereby to signal that the device has detected a change of more than a prescribed amount in the rate of movement of the object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein: said individual spring means are a pair of coil springs, one end of each of said springs being received in an associated one of said openings of said principal surface of said housing and the other end of each of said springs being received about an associated one of said nibs of said sphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein: the non-conductive housing is fOrmed as a two-piece structure having a body portion and a cover portion, said body portion defining both the lower half of said principal surface and the lower half of said openings of said housing while said cover portion defines the upper half of both said principal surface and the upper portion of said openings of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of Claim 3 wherein: said circuit means includes a lead wire passing between said body portion and said cover portion of said housing, said lead wire being connected to said metal sphere within the interior of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of Claim 4 wherein: the axis of said nibs of said sphere are separated angularly by 60* of arc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |