Apparatus for sensing a forward position of a vehicle seat

• US 6,113,139 A
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Dale, Rodney A., Heximer, Lawrence G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/131,490
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 297/216.18, 297/344.1
• 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 21/01554 Seat position sensors

Abstract

An apparatus (10) includes a seat bracket (24) mountable to a lower body portion (18) of a vehicle. The seat bracket (24) has first and second spaced apart end portions (26, 28) and a longitudinal axis (30) extending through the end portions (26, 28). An elongated seat rail member (48) has first and second end portions (52, 54) and is mountable to the vehicle seat (12). The seat rail member (48) moves longitudinally relative the seat rail member (48) substantially parallel to the seat bracket axis (30). A switch (70) is responsive to the seat rail member (48) being located within a predetermined forward position relative to the seat bracket (24). The switch (70) provides a signal indicating that the seat rail member (48) is at the predetermined forward position and forward of the predetermined forward position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing a forward position of a seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a seat bracket mountable to a lower portion of a vehicle, said seat bracket having first and second spaced apart end portions and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second end portions;

an elongated seat rail member mountable to a vehicle seat, said rail member having first and second ends, said seat rail member being movable relative said seat bracket substantially parallel to said seat bracket axis; and

a switch being actuated in response to said seat rail member being located at a predetermined forward position relative to said seat bracket, said switch remaining actuated upon positioning said seat rail member at a location from said predetermined forward position to a full-forward position, said switch, when actuated, providing a signal indicating whether said seat rail member is at or forward of said predetermined forward position,

wherein said switch is mounted adjacent said first end portion of said seat bracket,

wherein said switch further comprises a compressible plunger which compresses upon engaging said seat rail member, thereby indicating the presence of said seat rail member at or forward of said predetermined forward position, said plunger remaining compressed upon positioning said seat rail member forward of said predetermined forward position.

2. An apparatus for sensing a forward position of a seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a seat bracket mountable to a lower portion of a vehicle, said seat bracket having first and second spaced apart end portions and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second end portions;

an elongated seat rail member mountable to a vehicle seat, said rail member having first and second ends, said seat rail member being movable relative said seat bracket substantially parallel to said seat bracket axis; and

a switch being actuated in response to said seat rail member being located at a predetermined forward position relative to said seat bracket, said switch remaining actuated upon positioning said seat rail member at a location from said predetermined forward position to a full-forward position, said switch, when actuated, providing a signal indicating whether said seat rail member is at or forward of said predetermined forward position,

wherein said seat rail member slidably engages said seat bracket for longitudinal movement substantially parallel to said bracket axis,

wherein said seat rail member further comprises a longitudinal channel formed in said seat rail member and extending between said first and second ends of said seat rail member, and said seat bracket further comprises an elongated upper portion slidably received within said longitudinal channel of said seat rail member,

wherein said switch further comprises a compressible plunger positioned adjacent said first end of said seat bracket, said plunger compressing upon engaging said seat rail member, thereby indicating the presence of said seat rail member at or forward of said predetermined forward position, said plunger remaining compressed upon positioning said seat rail member forward of said predetermined forward position.

3. An apparatus for sensing a forward position of a seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a seat bracket mountable to a lower portion of a vehicle, said seat bracket having first and second spaced apart end portions and a longitudinal axis extending through said first and second end portions;

an elongated seat rail member mountable to a vehicle seat, said rail member having first and second ends, said seat rail member being movable relative said seat bracket substantially parallel to said seat bracket axis; and

a switch being actuated in response to said seat rail member being located at a predetermined forward position relative to said seat bracket, said switch remaining actuated upon positioning said seat rail member at a location from said predetermined forward position to a full-forward position, said switch, when actuated, providing a signal indicating whether said seat rail member is at or forward of said predetermined forward position; and

an actuatable occupant protection device for, when actuated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant, and a controller for controlling actuation of said occupant protection device in response to said switch signal,

wherein said controller delays actuation of said occupant protection device in response to said switch signal indicating said seat rail is at or forward of said predetermined position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a vehicle seat having a cushion portion, said seat rail member being mounted to said cushion portion of said vehicle seat.