LOAD DETECTING VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY

• US 20060086182A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Modreski, Michael P., Glinka, Paul, Rybak, Stephen R., Pawlitz, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/117.10
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/044 of leaf springs

Abstract

A load detecting vehicle seat assembly includes a discrete strain gage mounting plate having a specified flatness to produce desired strain gage performance. The strain gage mounting plate is disposed between a strain gage and a vehicle seat component, such as a cushion frame, so that vehicle seat loading is transferred to the strain gage through the mounting plate. The strain gage may be mounted with a central portion secured to a lower vehicle seat component and outward portions secured to an upper vehicle seat component such that only the outward portions of the strain gage contact the strain gage mounting plate, which has a controlled flatness tolerance to produce desired strain gage performance.

Claims

1. A load sensing vehicle seat assembly comprising:

an upper seating component;

a lower seating component;

a strain gage having a predetermined flatness specification for a mounting surface, the strain gage being disposed between the upper seating component and the lower seating component; and

a strain gage mounting element having a predetermined desired flatness disposed between the strain gage and one of the upper seating component and the lower seating component such that a load placed on the seat assembly is transferred through the upper seating component through the mounting element and the strain gage to the lower seating component.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper seating element comprises a cushion frame and the lower seating component comprises a seat adjuster.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strain gage includes a load sensing arm having three substantially equally spaced regions including a central region and two outward regions each having a mounting aperture and wherein the central region is secured to the lower seating component and the outward regions are secured to the upper seating component through the strain gage mounting element.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

fasteners for securing the two outward regions to the upper seating component; and

a removable assembly plate having apertures adapted to position the fasteners and prevent the fasteners from rotating during assembly.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second strain gage mounting element disposed between the strain gage and the lower seating component.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strain gage mounting element has a mounting surface flatness tolerance of about 0.1 millimeters.

7. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a first vehicle seating component;

a load sensor having a first region secured to the first seating component for providing an indication of a load placed on the first seating component, the load sensor having a mounting surface with a predetermined flatness specification; and

a mounting element having a predetermined flatness satisfying the predetermined flatness specification of the load sensor, the mounting element disposed between the first seating component and the load sensor.

8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

a second vehicle seating component secured to a second region of the load sensor and supporting the load sensor.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the first vehicle seating component comprises a cushion frame and the second vehicle seating component comprises a seat adjuster.

10. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 further comprising a riser adapted for mounting to a vehicle floor, the riser cooperating with the seat adjuster to allow sliding of the cushion frame relative to the riser.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the first vehicle seating component comprises a cushion frame.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 7 wherein the load sensor comprises a strain gage.

13. A method for providing a load sensing vehicle seat assembly, the method comprising:

positioning a load sensor having a mounting surface flatness specification between upper and lower seating components; and

positioning a mounting element having a flatness that satisfies the flatness specification of the load sensor between the first seating component and the load sensor.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the load sensor comprises a strain gage.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the upper seating component comprises a cushion frame.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the lower seating component comprises a seat adjuster.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

securing a first region of the load sensor to the upper seating component through the mounting element; and

securing a second region of the load sensor to the lower seating element.