Pinch detection switch and pinch detection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11788338-B2
Application number	US-201816969706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pinch detection switch (1) that includes one tubular pressure-sensitive detection member (5) having a plurality of electrode wires spaced apart from one another, and a cover member (4) covering the pressure-sensitive detection member. When the cover member (4) is viewed in cross section, the cover member (4) includes a base portion (4-1), a hollow portion (6), and a deformation portion (4-2) provided on the base portion (4-1) so as to cover the hollow portion (6). The pressure-sensitive detection member (5) is arranged in the deformation portion (4-2), and a receiving portion (9) configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member (5) is arranged on the base portion (4-1). The receiving portion (9) has at least two receiving surfaces (9-1, 9-3) formed at positions facing the pressure-sensitive detection member (5), the two receiving surfaces being configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pinch detection switch comprising one tubular pressure-sensitive detection member having a first hollow portion and a plurality of electrode wires spaced apart from one another by the first hollow portion, the plurality of electrode wires being formed in a spiral shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive detection member, and a cover member covering the pressure-sensitive detection member,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the cover member comprises a base portion, a second hollow portion, and a deformation portion provided on the base portion so as to cover the second hollow portion of the cover member,
the pressure-sensitive detection member is arranged in the deformation portion,
a receiving portion configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member is arranged on the base portion,
the receiving portion has at least two substantially planar receiving surfaces formed at positions facing the pressure-sensitive detection member, the at least two receiving surfaces being configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member, and
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion has a protruding shape protruding in a stepwise manner from the base portion toward the deformation portion, and
in the protruding shape, an upper surface and an inclined surface facing the pressure-sensitive detection member act as the two receiving surfaces.

2. The pinch detection switch according to claim 1 ,
wherein an angle between the upper surface and the inclined surface is within a range of 90 degrees or more and less than 180 degrees.

3. The pinch detection switch according to claim 2 ,
wherein the deformation portion comprises a cover part covering the pressure-sensitive detection member and facing the upper surface and the inclined surface.

4. The pinch detection switch according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the pressure-sensitive detection member is arranged at a position away from a center line passing through the base portion and the deformation portion, and
when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion is asymmetric with respect to the center line.

5. The pinch detection switch according to claim 1 ,
wherein the receiving portion has three receiving surfaces formed at positions facing the pressure-sensitive detection member, the three receiving surfaces being configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member.

6. The pinch detection switch according to claim 5 ,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion comprises a concave surface facing the pressure-sensitive detection member, and the concave surface is the receiving surface.

7. The pinch detection switch according to claim 6 ,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the pressure-sensitive detection member and the concave surface are arranged at positions on a center line passing through the base portion and the deformation portion.

8. The pinch detection switch according to claim 6 ,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the pressure-sensitive detection member and the concave surface are unevenly provided in the cover member.

9. A pinch detection switch comprising one tubular pressure-sensitive detection member having a first hollow portion and a plurality of electrode wires spaced apart from one another by the first hollow portion, the plurality of electrode wires being formed in a spiral shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive detection member, and a cover member covering the pressure-sensitive detection member,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the cover member comprises a base portion, a second hollow portion, and a deformation portion provided on the base portion so as to cover the second hollow portion of the cover member,
the pressure-sensitive detection member is arranged in the deformation portion,
a receiving portion configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member is arranged on the base portion,
the receiving portion has substantially planar receiving surfaces formed at a position facing the pressure-sensitive detection member, the receiving surface being configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member in at least two directions, and

wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion has a protruding shape protruding in a stepwise manner from the base portion toward the deformation portion, and
in the protruding shape, an upper surface and an inclined surface facing the pressure-sensitive detection member act as the two receiving surfaces.

10. A pinch detection switch comprising one tubular pressure-sensitive detection member having a first hollow portion and a plurality of electrode wires spaced apart from one another by the first hollow portion, the plurality of electrode wires being formed in a spiral shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive detection member, a cover member having a deformation portion covering the pressure-sensitive detection member, and a receiving portion forming a second hollow portion between the receiving portion and the deformation portion,
wherein the pressure-sensitive detection member is a separate member from the cover member,
the receiving portion has at least two substantially planar receiving surfaces formed such that the pressure-sensitive detection member is pressed against the at least two substantially planar receiving surfaces when an object is pinched and the deformation portion and the first and second hollow portions are deformed, and
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion has a protruding shape protruding in a stepwise manner from the base portion toward the deformation portion, and
in the protruding shape, an upper surface and an inclined surface facing the pressure-sensitive detection member act as the two receiving surfaces.

11. The pinch detection switch according to claim 10 ,
wherein the deformation portion has a cover part interposed between the pressure-sensitive detection member and the receiving portion facing the pressure-sensitive detection member.

12. The pinch detection switch according to claim 10 ,
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion is asymmetric with respect to a center line of the cover member.

13. A pinch detection switch comprising one tubular pressure-sensitive detection member having a first hollow portion and a plurality of electrode wires spaced apart from one another by the first hollow portion, the plurality of electrode wires being formed in a spiral shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the pressure-sensitive detection member, a cover member having a deformation portion covering the pressure-sensitive detection member, and a receiving portion forming a second hollow portion between the receiving portion and the deformation portion,
wherein the pressure-sensitive detection member is a separate member from the cover member,
the receiving portion has substantially planar receiving surfaces configured to receive the pressure-sensitive detection member in at least two directions when the pressure-sensitive detection member is pressed against the receiving surface when an object is pinched and the deformation portion and the first and second hollow portions are deformed, and
wherein, when the cover member is viewed in cross section, the receiving portion has a protruding shape pr

Assignees

• Hitachi Metals Ltd
• Proterial Ltd

Inventors

• Akimoto Katsuya
• Suzuki Shuichi
• Nakatani Katsutoshi

Classifications

• E05F15/46 Primary

  responsive to changes in electrical capacitance · CPC title

• E05F15/443

  specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs · CPC title

• B60J10/273 Primary

  for enclosing or housing devices for purposes other than sealing, e.g. cables · CPC title

• B60J10/24

  having tubular parts · CPC title

• E05F15/44

  responsive to changes in electrical conductivity · CPC title