Importance

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Abstract

A redundant sensing edge for a door to protect persons, equipment and the door from impact damage by actuating a device upon force being applied to the sensing edge. The sensing edge includes a flexible air impervious elongate outer sheath which is compressible upon application of external pressure. An air impervious sealed first chamber is positioned within the elongate sheath. A pressure sensitive switch is in fluid communication with the chamber for sensing pressure change within the chamber, such that upon application of external pressure to the sheath, the pressure switch is actuated. A second chamber is positioned within the sheath proximate the first chamber. A second switch is positioned within the second chamber and includes a first sheet of resiliently compressible material, a first sheet of electrically conductive material, a layer of non-conductive material, a second sheet of electrically conductive material and a second sheet of resiliently compressible material layered in the recited order. Upon application of external pressure to the sheath, a portion of at least one of the first and second sheets of electrically conductive material deflects into an opening in the layer of non-conductive material therebetween and makes electrical contact between the first and second sheets of electrically conductive material to thereby actuate the device.

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First Claim