Load detection structure for vehicle seat
First Claim
1. In combination with a seat having a support leg means for supporting the seat, said support leg means being adapted to be fixed on a floor and also being of a generally “
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shape in cross-section having a bottom wall and a pair of lateral walls vertically extending from the bottom wall, a load detection structure comprising;
a load detection unit for detecting a load to be applied to said seat, said load detection unit comprising;
a strain plate element of a generally oblong shape having a rigid yet elastic property which tends to recover itself into the generally oblong shape even after it is deflected, said strain plate element having a free end portion, a securing portion, a base end portion, and a deflectable area between said securing and base end portions;
a reinforcement plate means so provided on said strain plate element as to lay on said securing portion;
a sleeve means provided in said securing portion of said strain plate element a strain gauge means attached firmly on said deflectable area of said strain plate element; and
a buffer cover means attached on and over said free end portion of said strain plate element;
said load detection unit being provided in said support leg means in a vertically movable manner, such that said base end portion of said strain plate element is pivotally connected between said pair of lateral walls of said support leg member to allow vertical movement of said free end portion of the strain plate element within said support leg means;
a nut means fixed to said seat;
an opening means defined in said bottom wall of said support leg means;
a bolt means including a threaded portion to be threaded engaged in said nut means;
said load detection unit being connected at the securing portion thereof to said seat by inserting said bolt means through said opening means and said sleeve means and threadedly engaging the bolt means in said nut means;
a vertical movement limiting means for limiting vertical movement of said load detection unit, said vertical movement limiting means including a limited space defined therein and being fixedly provided in said support leg member in such a manner as to surround said buffer cover means associated with said load detection unit, thereby limiting said vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion within the limited space; and
a stopper means for preventing further vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion of the strain plate element in a direction exceeding said limited space of the vertical movement limiting means, said stopper means including a limited gap defined therein for limiting said further vertical movement, with such an arrangement that, when an excessive great load is applied to said seat, the vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion due to said excessive great load is limited by said vertical movement limiting means, after which, the excessive vertical movement of said cover means and free end portion is prevented by said stopper means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load detection structure for seat having support leg member, which comprises: a load detection unit whose one end portion is pivotally provided in the support leg member; a limiter element for limiting vertical movement of another end portion of the load detection unit; and a stopper element for limiting further excessive vertical movement of such another end portion. The load detection unit is connected via bolts and nuts with the seat and includes: a strain plate member; a reinforcement plate member attached on a securing portion of the strain plate member through which the bolts and nuts pass; and a buffer cover member which is attached to a free end of the strain plate member, defining the afore-said another end portion of the load detection unit. A strain gauge is provided at a deflectable area of the strain plate member. The stopper element is provided at the bolt.
13 Citations
12 Claims
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1. In combination with a seat having a support leg means for supporting the seat, said support leg means being adapted to be fixed on a floor and also being of a generally “
- U”
shape in cross-section having a bottom wall and a pair of lateral walls vertically extending from the bottom wall,a load detection structure comprising;
a load detection unit for detecting a load to be applied to said seat, said load detection unit comprising;
a strain plate element of a generally oblong shape having a rigid yet elastic property which tends to recover itself into the generally oblong shape even after it is deflected, said strain plate element having a free end portion, a securing portion, a base end portion, and a deflectable area between said securing and base end portions;
a reinforcement plate means so provided on said strain plate element as to lay on said securing portion;
a sleeve means provided in said securing portion of said strain plate element a strain gauge means attached firmly on said deflectable area of said strain plate element; and
a buffer cover means attached on and over said free end portion of said strain plate element;
said load detection unit being provided in said support leg means in a vertically movable manner, such that said base end portion of said strain plate element is pivotally connected between said pair of lateral walls of said support leg member to allow vertical movement of said free end portion of the strain plate element within said support leg means;
a nut means fixed to said seat;
an opening means defined in said bottom wall of said support leg means;
a bolt means including a threaded portion to be threaded engaged in said nut means;
said load detection unit being connected at the securing portion thereof to said seat by inserting said bolt means through said opening means and said sleeve means and threadedly engaging the bolt means in said nut means;
a vertical movement limiting means for limiting vertical movement of said load detection unit, said vertical movement limiting means including a limited space defined therein and being fixedly provided in said support leg member in such a manner as to surround said buffer cover means associated with said load detection unit, thereby limiting said vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion within the limited space; and
a stopper means for preventing further vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion of the strain plate element in a direction exceeding said limited space of the vertical movement limiting means, said stopper means including a limited gap defined therein for limiting said further vertical movement, with such an arrangement that, when an excessive great load is applied to said seat, the vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion due to said excessive great load is limited by said vertical movement limiting means, after which, the excessive vertical movement of said cover means and free end portion is prevented by said stopper means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In combination with a seat having a support leg means for supporting the seat, said support leg means being adapted to be fixed on a floor and also being of a generally “
- U”
shape in cross-section having a bottom wall and a pair of lateral walls extending vertically from said bottom wall,a load detection structure comprising;
a load detection unit for detecting a load to be applied to said seat, said load detection unit comprising;
a strain plate element of a generally oblong shape having a rigid yet elastic property which tends to recover itself into the generally oblong shape even after it is deflected, said strain plate element having a free end portion, a securing portion, a base end portion, and a deflectable area between said securing and base end portions;
a reinforcement plate means so provided on said strain plate element as to lay on said securing portion;
a sleeve means provided in said securing portion of said strain plate element, said sleeve means including a rivet portion formed at one end portion thereof, and a non-circular head portion formed at another end portion thereof, wherein wherein said rivet portion is firmly riveted to said securing portion of said strain plate element, thereby defining a riveted end portion of the sleeve means thereon;
a strain gauge means attached firmly on said deflectable area of said strain plate element; and
a buffer cover means attached on and over said free end portion of said strain plate element;
said load detection unit being provided in said support leg means in a vertically movable manner, such that the base end portion of said strain plate element is pivotally connected between said pair of lateral walls of said support leg means to allow vertical movement of said free end portion of the strain plate element within said support leg means;
a nut means including a rivet portion formed at one end thereof, said rivet portion being fixedly riveted to said seat, and a non-circular bore portion formed in another end thereof;
an opening means defined in said bottom wall of said support leg means;
a bolt means including a threaded portion and a head portion;
said load detection unit being connected at the securing portion thereof to said seat by inserting said bolt means through said opening means and said sleeve means and threadedly engaging the bolt means in said nut means, such that said non-circular bore portion of said nut means is engaged and fitted in said non-circular head portion of said sleeve means is engaged and fitted in said non-circular bore portion of said nut means, with said head portion of said bolt means projecting outwardly from said bottom wall of said support leg means;
a vertical movement limiting means for limiting vertical movement of said load detection unit, said vertical movement limiting means including a limited space defined therein and being fixedly provided in said support leg element in such a manner as to surround said buffer cover means associated with said load detection unit, thereby limiting said vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion within the limited space; and
a stopper means for preventing further vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion of the strain plate element in a direction exceeding said limited space of the vertical movement limiting means, said stopper means comprising said riveted portion of said sleeve means and said head portion of said bolt means, such that a limited gap is defined between said riveted portion and said head portion to thereby limit said further vertical movement, with such an arrangement that, when an excessive great load is applied to said seat, the vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion unit due to said excessive great load is limited by said vertical movement limiting means, after which, the excessive vertical movement of said cover means and free end portion is prevented by said stopper means.
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12. In combination with a seat having:
- a support leg means for supporting the seat, said support leg means being adapted to be fixed on a floor; and
a seat slide device disposed between said seat and said support leg means, said seat slide device being adapted to allow the seat to be slidably movable on the support leg means, in which the support leg means is of a generally “
U”
shape in cross-section having a bottom wall and a pair of lateral walls extending vertically from said bottom wall,a load detection structure comprising;
a load detection unit for detecting a load to be inputted from said seat, said load detection unit comprising;
a strain plate element of a generally oblong shape having a rigid yet elastic property which tends to recover itself into the generally oblong shape even after it is deflected, said strain plate element having a free end portion, a securing portion, a base end portion, and a deflectable area between said securing and base end portions;
a reinforcement plate means so provided on said strain plate element as to lay on said securing portion;
a sleeve means provided in said securing portion of said strain plate element;
a strain gauge means attached firmly on said deflectable area of said strain plate element; and
a buffer cover means attached on and over said free end portion of said strain plate element;
said load detection unit being provided in said support leg means in a vertically movable manner, such that the base end portion of said strain plate element is pivotally connected between said pair of lateral walls of said support leg member to allow vertical movement of said free end portion of the strain plate element within said support leg means;
a nut means fixed to said seat slide device;
an opening means defined in said bottom wall of said support leg means;
a bolt means including a threaded portion to be threaded engaged in said nut means;
said load detection unit being connected at the securing portion thereof to said seat by inserting said bolt means through said opening means and said sleeve means and threadedly engaging the bolt means in said nut means;
a vertical movement limiting means for limiting vertical movement of said load detection unit, said vertical movement limiting means including a limited space defined therein and being fixedly provided in said support leg member in such a manner as to surround said buffer cover means associated with said load detection unit, thereby limiting said vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion within the limited space; and
a stopper means for preventing a further vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion of the strain plate element in a direction exceeding said limited space of the vertical movement limiting means, said stopper means including a limited gap defined therein for limiting said further vertical movement, with such an arrangement that, when an excessive great load is applied to said seat, the vertical movement of both said buffer cover means and free end portion unit due to said excessive great load is limited by said vertical movement limiting means, after which, the excessive vertical movement of said cover means and free end portion is prevented by said stopper means.
- a support leg means for supporting the seat, said support leg means being adapted to be fixed on a floor; and
Specification