The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1998
George B Wolfe, Plymouth, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A switch apparatus (12) includes a substrate (20) of a resilient material having a first surface (40), with a channel (44 or 46) formed through the substrate to define a flex portion (48) of the substrate. At least part of the flex portion (48) of the substrate (20) is movable relative to the substrate between a first position and a second position. A layer of an elastic material (62) is disposed over at least a substantial portion of the first surface (40) of the substrate (20). The layer of elastic material urges the flex portion (48) to the first position of the flex portion. A switch element (53) is operatively associated with the flex portion (48) of the substrate (20) and has an electrical condition which varies as a function of the position of the flex portion.