Vehicle seat having passenger detector

• US 6,561,300 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kogita, Hidekazu, Fujimoto, Osamu, Sakai, Morio, Sakamoto, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/722,885
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 280/805, 280/735, 280/734, 180/290, 180/273, 340/667
• US Class Current: 180/273
• 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 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/071 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 Strain gauges
• 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

A detector for detecting the load applied to a passenger seat of an automobile equipped with an air bag. The load detector includes a sensor bracket having a deformation portion that deforms in accordance with the amount of the load. A strain sensor is arranged on the deformation portion to detect the degree of deformation of the deformation portion. A force limiter bracket is located adjacent to the sensor bracket to limit deformation of the deformation portion within a predetermined range. An anchor bracket is formed integrally with the force limiter bracket and is connected to a seat belt.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion; and

a load detector for detecting the load applied to the seat cushion, wherein the load detector includes;

a sensor bracket having a deformation portion, which is deformed in accordance with the degree of the load;

a strain sensor arranged on the deformation portion to detect the degree of deformation of the deformation portion;

a force limiter bracket adjacent to the sensor bracket to limit deformation of the deformation portion within a predetermined range; and

an anchor bracket directly connected with the force limiter bracket, wherein the anchor bracket is attached to a seat belt.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat is arranged on an upper support that moves with respect to a lower support, which is fixed to the floor of a passenger compartment, the seat further comprising:

a seat frame for supporting the seat cushion; and

a first fastener for securing the sensor bracket to the upper support;

a second fastener for securing the sensor bracket to the seat frame;

a movement restriction surface formed on the force limiter bracket, wherein the movement restriction surface is spaced from one of the fasteners and permits the force limiter bracket to move within a predetermined range with respect to the one fastener, and the other fastener fixes the force limiter bracket to a corresponding one of the supports.

3. The seat according to claim 2, wherein the force limiter bracket is fixed to the sensor bracket and the seat frame by the first fastener.

4. The seat according to claim 2, wherein the force limiter bracket further includes a projection in which an anchor hole is formed, and the anchor bracket is connected to the projection by an anchor bolt, which is fitted in the anchor hole.

5. A vehicle seat arranged on an upper support that moves along a lower support, which is fixed to the floor of a passenger compartment, wherein the seat comprises:

a seat cushion;

a seat frame for supporting the seat cushion; and

a load detector arranged between the upper support and the seat frame to detect the load applied to the seat cushion, wherein the load detector includes;

a sensor bracket having a deformation portion, which is deformed in accordance with the degree of the load, and first and second connecting holes;

a strain sensor arranged on the deformation portion to detect deformation of the deformation portion;

a force limiter bracket adjacent to the sensor bracket, the force limiter bracket having a fastening hole and a restricting hole, wherein the force limiter bracket limits deformation of the deformation portion within a predetermined range;

a first bolt fitted in the first connecting hole and the restricting hole to fix the sensor bracket to the seat frame;

a second bolt fitted in the second connecting hole and the fastening hole to fix the force limiter bracket to the upper support; and

an anchor bracket directly connected with the force limiter bracket, the anchor bracket being attached to a seat belt.

6. The seat according to claim 5, wherein the first bolt is movably fitted in the restricting hole.

7. The seat according to claim 5, wherein the wall of the restricting hole and the outer surface of the first bolt defines a space for permitting movement of the first bolt within a predetermined area.

8. The seat according to claim 5, further comprising a spacer fitted to the first bolt to form a gap between the sensor bracket and the seat frame.

9. The seat according to claim 5, wherein the force limiter bracket further includes a projection in which an anchor hole is formed, and the anchor bracket is fastened to the projection by an anchor bolt, which is fitted in the anchor hole.

10. A vehicle seat arranged on an upper support that moves along a lower support, which is fixed to the floor of a passenger compartment, wherein the seat comprises:

a seat cushion;

a seat frame for supporting the seat cushion; and

a load detector arranged between the upper support and the seat frame to detect the load applied to the seat cushion, wherein the load detector includes;

a sensor bracket having a deformation portion, which is deformed in accordance with the degree of the load, and first and second connecting holes;

a strain sensor arranged on the deformation portion to detect deformation of the deformation portion;

a force limiter bracket adjacent to the sensor bracket, the force limiter bracket having a fastening hole and a restricting hole, wherein the force limiter bracket limits deformation of the deformation portion within a predetermined range;

a first bolt fitted in the first connecting hole and the restricting hole to fix the sensor bracket to the seat frame;

a second bolt fitted in the second connecting hole and the restricting hole to fix the force limiter bracket to the upper support; and

an anchor bracket directly connected with the force limiter bracket, the anchor bracket being attached to a seat belt.

11. The seat according to claim 10, wherein the second bolt is movably fitted in the restricting hole.

12. The seat according to claim 10, wherein the wall of the restricting hole and the outer surface of the second bolt defines a space for permitting movement of the second bolt within a predetermined area.

13. The seat according to claim 10, further comprising a spacer fitted to the second bolt to form a gap between the sensor bracket and the force limiter bracket.

14. The seat according to claim 10, wherein the force limiter bracket further includes a projection in which an anchor hole is formed, and the anchor bracket is fastened to the projection by an anchor bolt, which is fitted in the anchor hole.

15. A load detector arranged between a vehicle seat and the floor of a passenger compartment to detect the load applied to the seat, the load detector comprising:

a sensor bracket having a deformation portion, which is deformed in accordance with the degree of the load, and first and second connecting holes;

a strain sensor arranged on the deformation portion to detect deformation of the deformation portion;

a force limiter bracket adjacent to the sensor bracket, the force limiter bracket having a fastening hole aligned with the first connecting hole and a restricting hole aligned with the second connecting hole, wherein the force limiter bracket limits deformation of the deformation portion within a predetermined range; and

an anchor bracket directly connected with the force limiter bracket, the anchor bracket being attached to a seat belt.

16. The load detector according to claim 15, wherein the restricting hole is larger than the second connecting hole.

17. The load detector according to claim 16, wherein the restricting hole is elongated.

18. The load detector according to claim 16, wherein the fastening hole and the first connection hole have substantially the same size.