DEVICE FOR DETECTING A SEAT OCCUPANCY STATUS

• US 20090079218A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Frimberger, Manfred, Offerein, Henderikus-L., Winkler, Gerd, Schicker, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US12/239,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/65.140
• 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 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• 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 device for detecting the seat occupancy status in a motor vehicle is configured in a seat that is supported to allow movement in a direction on front and rear supports on a seat rail attached to the floor of the motor vehicle. The seat, at the lower end of its backrest, has seat belt anchorage points above the rear supports for mechanical anchorage of a seat belt. Weight sensors assigned to the rear supports are arranged in the force path below the seat belt anchorage points and above the seat rail.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a seat occupancy status in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a seat rail attached to a floor of the motor vehicle, front and rear supports, and a seat movably supported to allow movement in a given direction on said front and rear supports;

said seat having a backrest and seat belt anchorage points for mechanical anchorage of a seat belt disposed at a lower end of said backrest above said rear supports; and

a plurality of weight sensors assigned exclusively to said rear supports and disposed in a weight path below said seat belt anchorage points and above said seat rail.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said rear supports are guided to allow movement on said seat rail and said weight sensors are integrated in said rear supports directly above said seat rail.

3. The device according to claim 1, which comprises an additional top bar disposed to slide on said seat rail, and wherein said supports are attached to said additional top bar.

4. The device according to claim 1, which comprises one or more torsion or stress reducing devices disposed between said front supports and/or said rear supports.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said torsion or stress reducing devices are joints or spring elements configured to absorb torsion or stress.