SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR UNIT FOR SEAT WITH SPRING SUSPENSION OR SEAT PAN
First Claim
1. A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, comprising:
- a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,a plurality of bearing elements for fixation of said support plate on seat cushion suspension springs, said bearing elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, wherein said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from said upper surface;
a foam pad disposed between said bearing elements on said support plate;
a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and
a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14) defining an upper surface (18) of the pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, which upper surface the top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed from, a foam pad (22) disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate, a recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the foam pad, and a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26) arranged in the recess. The recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of the pressure-responsive membrane switch. The foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into the recess and activates the pressure-responsive membrane switch.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, comprising:
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a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of bearing elements for fixation of said support plate on seat cushion suspension springs, said bearing elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, wherein said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from said upper surface; a foam pad disposed between said bearing elements on said support plate; a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess, wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by cushion-supporting springs and a pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, comprising:
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a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of bearing elements for fixation of said support plate on seat cushion suspension springs, said bearing elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, wherein said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from said upper surface; a foam pad disposed between said bearing elements on said support plate; a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess, wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and wherein said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting springs and is applied by said cushion-supporting springs against said seat cushion.
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7. A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, comprising:
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a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from; a foam pad disposed between said spacer elements, carried by said support plate; a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess, wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by a cushion-supporting pan and a pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit comprising
a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from a foam pad disposed between said spacer elements, carried by said support plate; -
a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad; and a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess, wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and wherein said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting pan and is applied by said cushion-supporting pan against said seat cushion.
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Specification