Adjustable motor vehicle seat having mounting plates for occupant classification system (OCS)

• US 20060185447A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dura Global Technologies Incorporated (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Original Assignee: Dura Global Technologies Incorporated (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Andrigo, Gregory James Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,947 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: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat, seat mounting brackets for securing the seat to a vehicle structure, and a pair of laterally spaced apart track assemblies secured to the mounting brackets to selectively move the seat in a horizontal direction. A plurality of weight sensing devices are connected to the seat mounting brackets and a pair of mounting plates are supported by the weight sensing devices. A first pair of the weight sensing devices supports one of the pair of mounting plates and a second pair of the weight sensing devices supports the other of the pair of mounting plates. The weight sensing devices provide signals indicating occupancy of the seat. A seat belt is secured to at least one of the mounting plates so that loads of seat belt are transmitted through the mounting plates to the track assemblies and the mounting brackets.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising, in combination:

a seat;

seat mounting brackets for securing the seat to a vehicle structure;

a plurality of weight sensing devices connected to the seat mounting brackets;

a pair of mounting plates supported by the weight sensing devices;

at least one of the mounting plates having a seat belt attachment; and

a vertical lift assembly operably secured to the mounting plates and to the seat to selectively move the seat in a vertical direction relative to the mounting plates.

2. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the weight sensing devices are strain gauges.

3. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of weight sensing devices includes a first pair of the weight sensing devices supporting one of the pair of mounting plates and a second pair of the weight sensing devices supporting the other of the pair of mounting plates.

4. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mounting plates are generally planar and vertically oriented.

5. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart track assemblies located between the mounting brackets and the weight sensing devices to selectively move the seat in a horizontal direction relative to the mounting brackets.

6. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 5, wherein the mounting plates are laterally spaced apart and located laterally outward of the track assemblies.

7. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the weight sensing devices provide signals indicating occupancy of the seat.

8. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein a seat belt is secured to at least one of the mounting plates.

9. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein loads of seat belt are transmitted through the mounting plates to the mounting brackets.

10. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vertical lift assembly includes a pair of torque tubes extending between the mounting plates.

11. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the torque tubes extend into openings in the mounting plates and are rotatably supported by the mounting plates.

18. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the torque tubes extend into openings in the mounting plates and are rotatably supported by the mounting plates.

12. A vehicle seat assembly comprising, in combination:

a seat;

seat mounting brackets for securing the seat to a vehicle structure;

a pair of laterally spaced apart track assemblies secured to the mounting brackets to selectively move the seat in a horizontal direction relative to the mounting brackets;

a plurality of weight sensing devices connected to the seat mounting brackets;

a pair of mounting plates supported by the weight sensing devices;

wherein the plurality of weight sensing devices includes a first pair of the weight sensing devices supporting one of the pair of mounting plates and a second pair of the weight sensing devices supporting the other of the pair of mounting plates;

a seat belt is secured to at least one of the mounting plates;

wherein loads of seat belt are transmitted through the mounting plates to the track assemblies and the mounting brackets; and

a vertical lift assembly operably secured to the mounting plates and to the seat to selectively move the seat in a vertical direction relative to the mounting plates.

13. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the weight sensing devices are strain gauges.

14. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the mounting plates are generally planar and vertically oriented.

15. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the mounting plates are laterally spaced apart and located laterally outward of the track assemblies.

16. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the weight sensing devices provide signals indicating occupancy of the seat.

17. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein the vertical lift assembly includes a pair of torque tubes extending between the mounting plates.

19. A vehicle seat assembly comprising, in combination:

a seat;

seat mounting brackets for securing the seat to a vehicle structure;

a pair of laterally spaced apart track assemblies secured to the mounting brackets to selectively move the seat in a horizontal direction relative to the mounting brackets;

a plurality of weight sensing devices connected to the seat mounting brackets;

a pair of mounting plates supported by the weight sensing devices;

wherein the plurality of weight sensing devices includes a first pair of the weight sensing devices supporting one of the pair of mounting plates and a second pair of the weight sensing devices supporting the other of the pair of mounting plates;

wherein the weight sensing devices provide signals indicating occupancy of the seat;

a seat belt is secured to at least one of the mounting plates;

wherein loads of seat belt are transmitted through the mounting plates to the track assemblies and the mounting brackets;

a vertical lift assembly operably secured to the mounting plates and to the seat to selectively move the seat in a vertical direction relative to the mounting plates; and

wherein the vertical lift assembly includes a pair of torque tubes extending between the mounting plates and into openings in the mounting plates so that the torque tubes are rotatably supported by the mounting plates.

20. The vehicle seat assembly according to claim 19, wherein the weight sensing devices are strain gauges.