Motor vehicle seat having occupant detector

• US 20060162983A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FS Fehrer Automotive GmbH (AUNDE Group SE)
• Original Assignee: FS Fehrer Automotive GmbH (AUNDE Group SE)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/273
• 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: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating

Abstract

A seat for a motor vehicle is provided with an occupant detector (02) for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat (01). A foamed cushion element (05), into which the occupant detector (02) is foamed, is provided as part of the seat.

Claims

1. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat comprising:

an occupant detector for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat; and

a foamed cushion element, the occupant detector being foamed into the cushion element.

2. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detector is foamed into the cushion element on a side facing away from the occupant.

3. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detector is foamed into the cushion element essentially opposite the posterior of the occupant on a side facing away from the occupant.

4. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detector has at least two electrically conductive contact elements, which may be contacted.

5. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein at least one set of adjacent contact elements are spaced apart by an elastically deformable spacing element.

6. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said spacing element has an electrically insulating effect.

7. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said spacing element is formed by an electrically insulating foam element.

8. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said foam element is comprises a foam layer provided with recesses.

9. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said contact elements comprise an electrically conductive metal.

10. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said contact elements are implemented in the form of oblong metal plates.

11. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said contact elements are positioned essentially parallel to one another.

12. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein at least one hump-shaped protrusion is provided on at least one of said contact elements, wherein contact between said two contact elements occurs at said hump-shaped protrusion.

13. The seat for a motor vehicle according to one of claim 1, wherein said occupant detector is welded into a plastic film.

14. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said occupant detector is connected indirectly or directly to a signaling device, particularly for the acoustic and/or visual signaling of unbelted persons located on the seat.

15. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said occupant detector is connected indirectly or directly to an controller of an airbag.

16. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat comprising:

a seat part with a foamed cushion element; and

an occupant detector for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat, the occupant detector being incorporated into the cushion element by being foamed therein during formation of said foamed cushion element.

17. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the occupant detector comprises two electrically conductive contact elements.

18. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising an elastically deformable spacing element wherein said contact elements are adjacent contact elements spaced apart by said elastically deformable spacing element.

19. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat being formed by the steps comprising:

providing an occupant detector for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat;

placing the occupant detector in a seat region; and

forming a cushion element foaming in the occupant detector with foam material as the occupant detector is positioned in the seat region such that the occupant detector is incorporated into a cushion element by being foamed therein during formation of said foamed cushion element.

20. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the occupant detector comprises two electrically conductive contact elements and an elastically deformable spacing element with said contact elements spaced apart by said elastically deformable spacing element.