Bracket assembly for mounting a reed switch and associated magnet

Abstract

A bracket assembly for mounting a reed switch and associated magnet on an overhead opening door includes first and second interlocking pieces, both of which are stamped from sheet metal that is, preferably, non-ferromagnetic. Each of the pieces incorporates an opening sized to slidably receive a locking door bolt fabricated from a ferromagnetic material such as mild or hardened steel. For a currently preferred embodiment of the invention, both pieces of the bracket assembly are stamped from sheet aluminum. Both the reed switch and its associated magnet mount may mount on either piece, so long as they are on opposite sides of the opening. The assembly incorporates an opening that is sized to receive a slidable, locking bolt fabricated from a ferromagnetic material such as mild or hardened steel. When the bolt is withdrawn from the opening, the reed switch is activated, thereby generating a signal which can be input to a security system. For a preferred embodiment of the invention, both the reed switch and the magnet are adhesively bonded to the bracket assembly on opposite sides of the opening. The first and second pieces reversably snap together to form a box in which the reed switch and the magnet are enclosed. In order to install the bracket assembly on the rail of an overhead door track, screws or rivets are placed through both the first and second pieces and secured to the door track rail.

1. A security switch assembly comprising:
 an enclosure made of non-ferromagnetic material mountable to a sliding door track rail having a bolt-receiving aperture therein, said enclosure having at least one opening therein, alignable with said aperture, through which a ferromagnetic locking bolt, which has engaged said aperture, may be reversably  reversibly inserted;  
 a reed switch and a magnet, both of which are mounted within said enclosure, said switch and said magnet being positioned sufficiently near one another on opposite sides of said opening so that the locking bolt, when inserted through said opening, prevents the magnetic field generated by the magnet from acting on the reed switch; and  
   means for mounting the switch assembly on a rail of a sliding door track such that said at least one opening in said enclosure is aligned with a bolt - receiving aperture in said rail, said means comprising a mounting flange portion and a bolt receiving portion that facilitates mounting of said enclosure to at least a side of said door track rail.    
 
     
     
       2. The security switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein both the reed switch and the magnet are each enclosed within a package, both packages being bonded to an inner surface of said chamber. 
     
     
       3. The security switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure comprises first and second pieces which nest and reversably  reversibly snap together. 
     
     
       4. The security switch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein portions of each of said first and second pieces overlap to form a bilaminate flange that is attachable to the door track rail. 
     
     
       5. The security switch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second pieces are stamped from sheet aluminum. 
     
     
       6. The security switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure has a gap through which connection wires for the reed switch may be routed. 
     
     
       7. A bracket assembly containing a reed switch and an associated magnet, said assembly being mountable on a door track rail, said assembly comprising:
 a walled enclosure formed from stamped sheet metal having a mounting flange portion couple to a bolt receiving portion with about a 90-degree bend, said mounting flange portion having at least one mounting hole by means of which the assembly may be secured to the rail with at least one fastener, said bolt receiving portion having an opening through which a slidable locking bolt may be reversably  reversibly inserted to prevent the magnetic field generated by the magnet from acting on the reed switch; and  
 a cover also formed from stamped sheet metal and having a mounting flange portion couple to a bolt receiving portion via about a 90-degree bend, said cover nesting with said enclosure to form a chamber in which the reed switch and the magnet are affixed to an interior surface, the mounting flange portion of said cover also having at least one mounting hole coaxial with said at least one mounting hole in said enclosure, the bolt receiving portion of said cover also having and opening aligned with the opening of said enclosure, said pair of openings providing a path through which a slidable locking bolt may be reversably  reversibly inserted to prevent the magnetic field generated by the magnet from acting on the reed switch.  
 
     
     
       8. The bracket assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said walled enclosure and said cover snap together, thereby reversably  reversibly interlocking. 
     
     
       9. The bracket assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said chamber has a gap through which wires for the reed switch may be routed. 
     
     
       10. The bracket assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said sheet metal is non-ferromagnetic. 
     
     
       11. The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said non-ferromagnetic metal contains aluminum. 
     
     
       12. The bracket assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said reed switch and said magnet are affixed to the chamber on opposite sides of said path. 
     
     
       13. A switch assembly comprising:
 an enclosure formed by a pair of snap-together pieces, said enclosure having at least one opening through which a slidable locking bolt for a sliding door may be reversably  reversibly inserted;  
 a reed switch mounted within said enclosure adjacent the opening;  
 a magnet generating a magnetic field, which acts on said reed switch, said magnet being mounted within said enclosure adjacent the opening, but with the opening between it and the reed switch; and  
 means for mounting the switch assembly on a rail of a sliding door track such that said at least one opening in said enclosure is aligned with a bolt-receiving aperture in said rail.  
 
     
     
       14. The switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said snap-together pieces are stamped from a non-ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
       15. The switch assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said non-ferromagnetic material contains aluminum. 
     
     
       16. The switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said reed switch and said magnet are adhesively bonded to an inner surface of said enclosure. 
     
     
       17. The switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said snap-together pieces include:
 a walled enclosure having a pair of slots and a pair of apertures; and  
 a cover having a pair of tabs which mate with the slots in said walled enclosure and a pair of protrusions which mate with said apertures.  
 
     
     
       18. The switch assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said means for mounting include a rail mounting flange on each of said walled enclosure and on said cover, both flanges having at least one mounting hole which are coaxial when the cover is nested within the enclosure. 
     
     
       19. The switch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said cover nests within said walled enclosure when the two pieces are snapped together. 
     
     
       20. The security switch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure is fashioned in an “L” shape permitting installation to at least a side of a rail of said sliding door track, thereby protecting said switch assembly.