VEHICLE SEAT BELT NON-USE WARNING SIGNAL SWITCH MOUNTING

• US 3,703,618 A
• Filed: 03/24/1971
• Issued: 11/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fred I. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Fred I. Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Fred I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jr., David
• Application Number:
  US05/127,580
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 200/85R,85A 307/15B 340/52E 180/825B
• US Class Current: 200/85.00A
• 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 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4866 Displaying or indicating arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness

Abstract

A vehicle seat has a switch therein adjustably mounted to respond to application of a selectable minimum seat occupant weight above the switch to close the switch and actuate a seat belt warning circuit, the mounting having compliance and resilience to avoid creation of a lump in the seat as the seat is depressed. One switch mount includes a simple beam type support, while the other is a cantilever beam.

Claims

1. Seat load responsive switching apparatus comprising:

seat frame means;

spring means in said frame means and supporting seat padding on said frame means;

switch means;

switch mount means on said frame means and supporting said switch means below said padding;

said switch means being operable upon predetermined movement of a portion of said spring means downward;

said switch mount means being resiliently mounted to said frame means for compliance with movement of said spring means portion downward after said switch means are operated, to minimize the possibility of a bulge in said padding by said switch means, said mount means including first and second brackets secured to said seat frame means on opposite sides of a space below a location designated for a seat occupant, and a flexible resilient strip is mounted to said brackets and spans said space, said switch means being secured to said strip;

said mount means further including first and second hanger screws mounted to said first bracket and projecting downward therefrom through one end portion of said strip, and first and second coil springs encircling respectively said first and second screws and resiliently supporting said one end portion; and

retainer means on said screws and supporting said springs from the bottom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retainer means are adjustable to predetermine the seat occupant force required to operate said switch means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the other end portion of said strip projects horizontally through a loop in said second bracket and is horizontally slidable therein to accommodate vertical deflection of said strip.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising:

a first actuator member secured to said spring means above said switch means;

a second actuator member on said switch means and engageable by said first actuator member as said padding is moved downward toward said switch means by the weight of a seat occupant.