Appeal No. 97-1544
Application 08/358,976
Fig. 21a) for sensing that the vehicle has been in a crash and
has, at least in part, been crushed. The combination in
Matsui comprises: a) a tape switch containing first and second
electrically conductive members (95, 95N), with said switch
having a length dimension at least an order of magnitude
larger than both its width and its thickness (see, e.g., col.
12, lines 19-23, and col. 18, lines 51-54), the first and
second electrically conductive members (95, 95N) being
substantially parallel to said length dimension, and wherein
said switch actuates on bending (i.e., bending of the first
conductive member into contact with the second conductive
member); b) cover means (97, 99) for reducing the sensitivity
of
said tape switch; c) means for mounting said switch in a crush
zone of said vehicle (col. 19, lines 6-9 and Fig. 21a); and d)
mechanical means (133, 133a of Figs. 21a, 22a) for contacting
and applying a bending force to said switch upon portions of
the vehicle being crushed in the crush zone to cause said
first conductive member to be displaced relative to said
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