Seat weight measurement system
First Claim
1. A weight measure system, comprising:
- a vehicle seat having a first portion and a second portion;
a sensor positioned at the first portion of the seat; and
a transfer link extending substantially from the first portion of the seat to the second portion, wherein the transfer link is a beam configured to transfer weight from the second portion of the seat to the first portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A weight measurement system is disclosed for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat. In a preferred embodiment, a sensor is positioned at the rear portion of the vehicle seat and a load transfer link is used to transfer the weight from the front portion of the vehicle seat to the rear portion, to be measured by the sensor. The transfer link is a selectively compliant beam having a first rigid section and a second rigid section connected to each other via a flexible area. The first and second rigid sections preferably include wing portions for increasing the rigidity of the sections. The flexible area is more compliant than the rigid sections. The load transfer link is configured to transition a load placed on the front portion of the link to the rear portion. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the load transfer link is made of a high strength, low alloy steel.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A weight measure system, comprising:
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a vehicle seat having a first portion and a second portion;
a sensor positioned at the first portion of the seat; and
a transfer link extending substantially from the first portion of the seat to the second portion, wherein the transfer link is a beam configured to transfer weight from the second portion of the seat to the first portion.
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2. A weight measurement system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, the seat having a first portion and a second portion, the weight measurement system comprising:
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a pair of sensors positioned at the first portion of the seat;
a pair of transfer links extending substantially from the first portion of the seat to the second portion; and
wherein the transfer links are selectively compliant beams configured to transfer weight from the second portion of the seat to the first portion.
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3. A weight measurement system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, the seat having a first portion and a second portion, the weight measurement system comprising:
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a sensor positioned at the first portion of the seat;
a transfer link extending substantially from the first portion of the seat to the second portion; and
wherein the transfer link is a selectively complaint beam configured to transfer weight from the second portion of the seat to the first portion. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A weight measurement system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat, the seat having a first portion and a second portion, the weight measuring system comprising:
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a sensor positioned at the first portion of the seat;
a transfer link extending substantially from the first portion of the seat to the second portion, the transfer link having a first rigid section, a second rigid section and a flexible area between the first and second sections, a spine, a first wing portion extending from the spine at the first rigid section, and a second wing portion extending from the spine at the second rigid section;
a rail assembly having a fixed rail member and a mounting bar slidably engaged with the fixed rail member, wherein the mounting bar is connected to the transfer link via a first bushing and a first fastener; and
wherein the transfer link is connected to the vehicle seat via a second bushing and a second fastener.
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13. A method of measuring the weight of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing sensors in the first portion of the vehicle seat;
transferring the occupant'"'"'s weight from the first portion of the seat to the second portion; and
measuring the occupant'"'"'s weight at the first portion of the seat. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. The method of measuring the weight of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing sensors in the first portion of the vehicle seat, and a transfer link extending from the first portion of the vehicle seat to the second portion of the vehicle seat;
transferring the occupant'"'"'s weight from the second portion of the seat to the first portion; and
measuring the occupant'"'"'s weight at the first portion of the seat.
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18. A transfer link comprising:
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a compliant beam having a first rigid section, a second rigid section and flexible area between the first and second sections; and
a first end and a second end, wherein the transfer link is configured to transfer a load placed on the first end to the second end. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A transfer link comprising:
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a compliant high strength low alloy steel beam having a first rigid section, a second rigid section and flexible area between the first and second sections;
a first end and a second end, wherein the transfer link is configured to transfer a load placed on the first end to the second end;
a spine;
a first wing portion extending from the spine at the first rigid section; and
a second wing portion extending from the spine at the second rigid section.
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22. A weight measurement system for measuring the weight of an occupant in a vehicle seat having a first portion and a second portion, the seat and the occupant each having a respective center of gravity, the system comprising:
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a sensor positioned at a sensor location; and
a transfer link extending substantially from a second location to the sensor location, wherein the transfer link is a compliant beam configured to transfer weight to the sensor from the second location. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification