Vehicle occupant weight sensor apparatus

• US 6,039,344 A
• Filed: 01/09/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Malecke, Floyd J., Mehney, Mark A., McCarthy, Michael C., Fullerton, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/005,054
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 280/734, 280/735, 297/216.1, 297/216.18, 73/781, 73/786, 324/109, 324/781
• US Class Current: 280/735
• 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: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• 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

An apparatus (10) has a vehicle seat frame (30), a weight sensor apparatus (22, 22, 22, 22), and a vehicle occupant protection device (102) responsive to the weight sensor apparatus (22, 22, 22, 22). The seat frame (30) has a bottom portion (32) and a back portion (34) which together bear a vehicle occupant weight load. A deflectable seat cushion (38) covers the bottom portion (32) of the frame (30). The weight sensor apparatus (22, 22, 22, 22) measures the entire magnitude of the vehicle occupant weight load acting on the frame (30) independently of deflection of the cushion (38).

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame;

a plurality of deflectable mounting structures which together bear the entire weight of said frame;

a plurality of vehicle occupant weight sensor assemblies, each of said weight sensor assemblies comprising a strain gauge mounted on a corresponding one of said deflectable mounting structures; and

a vehicle occupant protection device responsive to said weight sensor assemblies.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said deflectable mounting structures support said frame on a track structure which guides movement of said frame.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising a deflectable seat cushion on said frame.

4. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion and a back portion which together bear a vehicle occupant weight load;

a support structure which bears the entire weight of said frame and the entire magnitude of said occupant weight load, said support structure including a weight sensor apparatus which measures said entire magnitude of said occupant weight load; and

a vehicle occupant protection device responsive to said weight sensor apparatus,

said support structure including a pair of tracks which guide movement of said frame, said weight sensor apparatus comprising a plurality of weight sensor assemblies which measure portions of said occupant weight load acting on said tracks,

said weight sensor assemblies being operatively interposed between said frame and said tracks,

each of said weight sensor assemblies comprising a strain gauge mounted on a corresponding deflectable portion of said support structure.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising a deflectable seat cushion covering said bottom portion of said frame.