Method and apparatus for measuring a vehicle seat H-point
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the coordinates of a vehicle seat hip pivot axis comprising:
- support means (66) for supporting a vehicle seat (10), said support means (66) having a plurality of parallel z-coordinate grid lines extending longitudinally between first (72) and second (74) ends of said support means (66) and a plurality of parallel x-coordinate grid lines extending perpendicular to said z-coordinate grid lines between forward (76) and rearward (78) ends of said support means (66);
alignment means (80) fixedly connected to said supported means (66) adjacent to said forward end (76) of said support means (66) for aligning the vehicle seat (10) at a predetermined position along said x-coordinate grid lines on said support means (66);
securing means (88) for fixedly securing the vehicle seat (10) at a predetermined position along said z-coordinate grid lines on said support means (66);
measuring means (92) for measuring the coordinates of the vehicle seat hip pivot axis, said measuring means (92) including housing means (94) for housing a telescoping member (96) telescopically slidable along a generally vertical y-axis perpendicular to each of said x-coordinate and z-coordinate grid lines, and a measuring pointer (108) slidably coupled to said telescoping member (96) and moveable along a z-axis parallel with said z-coordinate grid lines to align with the vehicle seat hip pivot axis;
and guide means (120) extending longitudinally along a predetermined x-coordinate grid line and having first (122) and second (124) ends fixedly connected to said support means (66) and extending between spaced apart predetermined z-coordinate grid lines defining an x-axis adjacent to and spaced from at least one side of said predetermined seat position defined by said securing means (88) for guiding said measuring means (92) adjacent to the side of said predetermined seat position along said x-axis to align with and measure the coordinates of the vehicle seat hip pivot axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring the coordinates of a vehicle seat hip pivot axis, or H-point, including a vehicle seat assembly (10) supported on a support structure (30). The support structure (30) having x and z coordinate grid lines and an alignment pick-up bar (82) for aligning the seat (10) along predetermined x and z coordinate grid lines. A seat occupant simulating manikin (32) is positioned on the seat (10) for defining the vehicle seat hip pivot axis. Measuring device (92) for aligning and measuring the hip pivot axis, or H-point, includes a guide (120) fixedly supported at predetermined x,z coordinates on the support structure (30) for guiding a housing member (94) along an x-axis. A telescoping member (96) slidably extends from the housing member (94) along a y-axis and a measuring pointer (108) extends from the telescoping member (96) along a z-axis to align with and measure the hip pivot axis, or H-point, on the manikin.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the coordinates of a vehicle seat hip pivot axis comprising:
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support means (66) for supporting a vehicle seat (10), said support means (66) having a plurality of parallel z-coordinate grid lines extending longitudinally between first (72) and second (74) ends of said support means (66) and a plurality of parallel x-coordinate grid lines extending perpendicular to said z-coordinate grid lines between forward (76) and rearward (78) ends of said support means (66); alignment means (80) fixedly connected to said supported means (66) adjacent to said forward end (76) of said support means (66) for aligning the vehicle seat (10) at a predetermined position along said x-coordinate grid lines on said support means (66); securing means (88) for fixedly securing the vehicle seat (10) at a predetermined position along said z-coordinate grid lines on said support means (66); measuring means (92) for measuring the coordinates of the vehicle seat hip pivot axis, said measuring means (92) including housing means (94) for housing a telescoping member (96) telescopically slidable along a generally vertical y-axis perpendicular to each of said x-coordinate and z-coordinate grid lines, and a measuring pointer (108) slidably coupled to said telescoping member (96) and moveable along a z-axis parallel with said z-coordinate grid lines to align with the vehicle seat hip pivot axis; and guide means (120) extending longitudinally along a predetermined x-coordinate grid line and having first (122) and second (124) ends fixedly connected to said support means (66) and extending between spaced apart predetermined z-coordinate grid lines defining an x-axis adjacent to and spaced from at least one side of said predetermined seat position defined by said securing means (88) for guiding said measuring means (92) adjacent to the side of said predetermined seat position along said x-axis to align with and measure the coordinates of the vehicle seat hip pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of measuring the coordinates of a vehicle seat hip pivot axis including the steps of:
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supporting a vehicle seat (10) on a support structure (68) having a plurality of x-coordinate and z-coordinate grid lines; aligning the vehicle seat (10) on the support structure (68) at a predetermined position along the x-coordinate grid lines; securing the vehicle seat (10) at a predetermined position along the z-coordinate grid lines on the support structure (68); manipulating a seat occupant simulator (32) on the vehicle seat (10) to establish a vehicle seat hip pivot axis; positioning and securing a guide member (120) at a predetermined x-coordinate and z-coordinate position adjacent to and spaced from at least one side of the predetermined z-coordinate seat position on the support structure (68); establishing an x-axis parallel with the x-coordinate grid lines, a z-axis parallel with the z-coordinate grid lines and a y-axis perpendicular to each of the x and z-coordinate grid lines; adjusting a measuring apparatus (92) along each x, z and y-axis to align with and measure the vehicle seat hip pivot axis; said adjusting of the measuring apparatus (92) including; sliding a housing member (98) adjacent and parallel to the side of the predetermined z-coordinate seat position on the support structure (68) and against the guide member (120) to align the measuring apparatus (92) with the vehicle seat hip pivot axis along the x-axis; extending a telescoping member (96) from the housing member (98) along the y-axis; extending a measuring pointer (18) from the telescoping member (96) along the z-axis from a position spaced outwardly from the side of the predetermined z-coordinate seat position to a position immediate adjacent the vehicle seat (10) to align the pointer (108) with the vehicle seat hip pivot axis; and reading the x-coordinate and y-coordinate of the vehicle hip pivot axis from the x and y-coordinate grid lines. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for measuring the coordinates of a vehicle seat hip pivot axis comprising:
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support means (66) for supporting a vehicle seat (10), said support means (66) having a plurality of parallel z-coordinate grid lines extending longitudinally between first (72) and second (74) ends of said support means (66) and a plurality of parallel x-coordinate grid lines extending perpendicular to said z-coordinate grid lines between forward (76) and rearward (78) ends of said support means (66); alignment means (80) fixedly connected to said support means (66) adjacent to and spaced between said forward end (76) of said support means (66) and the vehicle seat (10) for aligning the vehicle seat (10) at a predetermined position along said x-coordinate grid lines on said support means (66); securing means (88) for fixedly securing the vehicle seat (10) in at least one predetermined position along said z-coordinate grid lines on said support means (66); measuring means (92) for measuring the coordinates of the vehicle seat hip pivot axis, said measuring means (92) including housing means (94) for housing a telescoping member (96) telescopically slidable along a generally vertical y-axis, perpendicular to each of said x-coordinate and z-coordinate grid lines, and a measuring pointer (108) slidably coupled to said telescoping member (96) and moveable along a z-axis parallel with said z-coordinate grid lines to align with the vehicle seat hip pivot axis; and guide means (120) extending longitudinally along a predetermined x-coordinate grid line and having first (122) and second (124) ends fixedly connected to said support means (66) and extending between spaced apart predetermined z-coordinate grid lines defining an x-axis, said guide means (120) positioned adjacent to and spaced from opposite sides of said predetermined seat position defined by said securing means (88) of the vehicle seat (10) for guiding said measuring means (92) adjacent to one of said opposing sides of said predetermined seat position along said x-axis to align with and measure the coordinates of the vehicle seat hip pivot axis on either of said opposing sides.
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Specification