Rudolph Baldeo

US Patent:

60546581, Apr 25, 2000

Filed:

Jun 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/088689

Inventors:

Edward W. Duhon - Setauket NY
Joseph O. Kundler - Glenwood Landing NY
Rudolph R. Baldeo - North Babylon NY

Assignee:

Tapeswitch Corporation - Farmingdale NY

International Classification:

H01H 302

US Classification:

200 86R

Abstract:

An electrical switch mat which includes an electrical contact, a support frame, and a plate member. The electrical contact is operable under pressure between a closed condition and an open condition and is maintained in either the opened or closed condition in the absence of pressure. The support frame defines a two-dimensional area and is formed with a protective housing to prevent excessive compression from being transmitted to the components of the electrical contact during activation. The plate member is sized to fit within the two-dimensional area of the support frame and is supported at its perimeter by the support frame. The plate member transmits activating compression to the electrical contact. The electrical contact can be a ribbon switch that may either run substantially continuously or be placed intermittently along the perimeter of the plate member. The ribbon switch includes a pair of vertically spaced electrical conductors enclosed in an insulative jacket such that the conductors are urged into electrical engagement upon compressing the plate member to activate the ribbon switch.