Passenger's Weight Measurement Device for Vehicle Seat and Attachment Structure for Load Sensor

• US 20090139775A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishima, Shinya, Takayasu, Wataru
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/136
• 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 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• 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 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 177/09 Scale bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/946 Spring-seated

Abstract

A lower rail is fixed to a vehicle floor, and an upper rail is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to the lower rail. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail. A rectangular frame is attached onto the load sensor, a rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring is wound around the rod. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. The coil spring is sandwiched between a flange of the spring holder and the web and is compressed by tightening the nut.

Claims

1. A passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

an upper rail provided on a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor so as to be movable in a rear and front direction;

a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail; and

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat,

wherein a rod is extended from the load sensor, the rod sequentially penetrates the frame and a spring holder and is inserted into a coil spring, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the spring holder, and the coil spring is sandwiched between the spring holder and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut to the spring holder.

2. The passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device for the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the spring holder includes a cup portion in which a through hole through which the rod penetrates is formed in a bottom, and a flange formed on an outer circumference of the cup portion, and

the cup portion is inserted through the coil spring, the nut is inserted into the cup portion to tighten the bottom of the cup portion, and the coil spring is sandwiched between the flange and the flame.

3. The passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device for the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a collar through which the rod is inserted penetrates the frame, the spring holder is sandwiched between the collar and the nut, and the coil spring and the collar are sandwiched between the nut and the load sensor.

5. The passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device for the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2,

wherein a collar through which the rod is inserted penetrates the frame, the spring holder is sandwiched between the collar and the nut, and the coil spring and the collar are sandwiched between the nut and the load sensor.

4. An attachment structure for a load sensor, for attaching the load sensor to a frame provided below a vehicle seat,

wherein a rod is extended from the load sensor, the rod sequentially penetrates the frame and a spring holder and is inserted into a coil spring, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the spring holder, and the coil spring is sandwiched between the spring holder and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut to the spring holder.