Seat load measuring apparatus

• US 20070209451A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobata, Toshihiko, Kajiyama, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,399,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.627
• 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 2/0032 mounted on springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• 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: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission
• 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 seat load measuring apparatus which can be effectively adopted to various kinds of motor vehicles without requiring various load sensors having cables of different lengths according to the kinds of motor vehicles, thereby providing improved installation, maintenance and manufacturing benefits. A seat load measuring apparatus may include a connector of a load sensor is a male connector having terminals projecting downwardly. The entry of the male connector faces the open bottom of a protector. On the other hand, a cable to be connected to an ECU is provided with a cable-side connector. The cable-side connector is composed of a female connector which is detachable relative to the male connector. Therefore, the load sensor and the cable are detachable from each other, thereby achieving the adaptability of the load sensor and the connector casing a relative to various kinds of motor vehicles.

Claims

1. A seat load measuring apparatus comprising:

a load sensor for detecting a load which is applied to a vehicle seat by an occupant sitting on said vehicle seat;

a base frame, upon which said load sensor is disposed, which is fixed to a vehicle floor or a lower member of said vehicle seat, wherein the base frame receives the load applied on said vehicle seat;

a plurality of front-side and rear-side rail brackets which are disposed near the front and rear ends of said base frame, respectively; and

a plurality of protective mechanisms that are disposed around said plurality of front and rear rail brackets, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the load applied between said base frame and said plurality of rail brackets exceeds a predetermined value, said plurality of protective mechanisms directly transmit the excessive load between said base frame and said plurality of rail brackets.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protective mechanisms comprise at least a front-side stopper bolt and a rear-side stopper bolt.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rear-side stopper bolt is provided at one end with a hexagon head, at the other end with a threaded portion, and at the middle with a smooth cylindrical surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the front-side stopper bolt is tightly fitted relative to the rear-side rail bracket and is loosely fitted in an elongate hole of the base frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rear-side stopper bolt is tightly fitted relative to the base frame and is loosely fitted in an elongated holes of the rear-side rail bracket.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member disposed on said plurality of protective mechanisms at the rear-side rail bracket for providing reinforcement against the load in a direction of lifting said base frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a seat rail is connected to said front-side and rear-side rail brackets which slides in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arms which are disposed on a front portion and a rear portion of said base frame, respectively to extend in the longitudinal direction, wherein each of said plurality of arms is provided at its one end with a press portion for transmitting force to said plurality of strain gauges and at its other end with a connecting portion relative to each of said plurality of rail brackets.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein when the load applied between said base frame and said plurality of rail brackets exceeds a predetermined value, said plurality of protective mechanisms directly transmit the excessive load between said base frame and said plurality of rail brackets not through said plurality of arms.