Vehicle seat assembly with operator presence switch

• US 20060107766A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Brodersen, Cole T., Tuman, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,211,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.391
• 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 2/646 shape of the cushion

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat support pan, a seat cushion, a spring biased lever and an operator present switch. Both the lever and the switch are located between the cushion and the pan, effectively integrated within the seat. The lever is movable between upper and lower positions, with its associated spring biasing the lever toward its upper position. The switch is designed and located so that all of its components are housed within the support pan and none of these components extends below or outside of the pan. When the seat is occupied, the occupant'"'"'s weight depresses the cushion and, in turn, the lever moves against the force of the spring toward its lower position and the switch is actuated. Because the switch is located completely within the seat cushion, the seat assembly'"'"'s vertical dimension or envelope is minimized and the design of the seat support and/or suspension located below the seat pan is simplified.

Claims

1. ) A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a seat cushion support pan;

a seat cushion;

a lever located between the pan and cushion, said lever being movable between upper and lower positions;

a spring operable to bias the lever toward the upper position; and

an operator present switch also located between the pan and cushion, said switch having no components extending below the pan and being actuated by movement of the lever toward the lower position;

whereby upon occupation of the seat by an operator, the lever moves against the bias of the spring toward the lower position and the switch is actuated.

2. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the lever comprises a paddle having a broad cushion engaging surface with length and width dimensions in the range of about one-third to one-half the respective length and width dimensions of the cushion.

3. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the cushion engaging surface is generally u-shaped and has a base pivotally connected to the pan.

4. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 2 wherein said lever has one end pivotally connected to the base and the cushion engaging surface includes a recess in which the switch is positioned.

5. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 wherein said recess includes a switch aperture and the switch is mounted within said aperture.

6. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 wherein said recess has an opening to accommodate wiring for the switch.

7. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein two springs are disposed between the pan and lever, each of the springs positioned below one leg of the u-shaped cushion engaging surface.

8. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the lever comprises a broad surfaced paddle having one end pivotally connected to the pan and including a recess at its other end in which the switch is located.

9. ) The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8 further wherein the recess includes an aperture for mounting the switch and an opening for passage of the switch wiring.