Parallelogram load sensing apparatus for a seat belt webbing
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- seat belt webbing for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
a first parallelogram linkage including a first beam and a second beam parallel to said first beam, said first and second beams each bending in response to at least part of a load applied by said seat belt webbing;
a first sensor lever interposed between said first and second beams, said first sensor lever having a connection with said first and second beams, said connection causing said first sensor lever to deflect upon bending of said first and second beams; and
a first sensor for sensing the deflection of said first sensor lever and providing a first output signal indicative of the amount bending of said first and second beams.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (210) includes seat belt webbing (12), a parallelogram linkage (220), a sensor lever (370), and a sensor (379). The seat belt webbing (12) helps to protect the occupant (14) of the vehicle (18). The parallelogram linkage (220) includes a first beam (352) and a second beam (362) parallel to the first beam (352). The first and second beams (352, 362) each bend in response to at least part of a load applied by the seat belt webbing (12). The sensor lever (370) is interposed between the first and second beams (352). The sensor lever (370) has a connection with the first and second beams (352). The connection causes the sensor lever (370) to deflect upon bending of the first and second beams (352). The sensor (379) senses the deflection of the sensor lever (370) and provides an output signal indicative of the amount bending of the first and second beams (352, 362).
9 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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seat belt webbing for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
a first parallelogram linkage including a first beam and a second beam parallel to said first beam, said first and second beams each bending in response to at least part of a load applied by said seat belt webbing;
a first sensor lever interposed between said first and second beams, said first sensor lever having a connection with said first and second beams, said connection causing said first sensor lever to deflect upon bending of said first and second beams; and
a first sensor for sensing the deflection of said first sensor lever and providing a first output signal indicative of the amount bending of said first and second beams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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seat belt webbing for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle; and
a dual parallelogram linkage, said dual parallelogram linkage comprising;
a first beam and a second beam parallel to said first beam, said first and second beams each having adjacent interconnected first ends which receive a first component of a load from said seat belt webbing, said first and second beams each having adjacent interconnected second ends which receive a second component of the load from said seat belt webbing, said first and second beams each further having adjacent interconnected middle portions, said middle portions transmitting the first and second components of the load to the vehicle, said first and second beams each bending in response to the load from said seat belt webbing;
a sensor lever interposed between said first and second beams, said sensor lever having a first connection with said first and second beams, said sensor lever further having a second connection with said first and second beams, said first connection causing a first part of said sensor lever to deflect upon bending of said first and second beams, said second connection causing a second part of said sensor lever to deflect upon bending of said first and second beams;
a first sensor for sensing the deflection of said first part of said sensor lever and providing a first output signal indicative of the amount bending of said first and second beams by the first component of the load; and
a second sensor for sensing the deflection of said second part of said sensor lever and providing a second output signal indicative of the amount bending of said first and second beams by the second component of the load.
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Specification