Mounting structure for seat occupant sensor

• US 6,609,752 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Inoue, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US10/035,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.6, 297/180.12, 297/217.3, 340/667, 200/85.A, 542/4
• US Class Current: 297/217.3
• 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 2/0034 in, under or on the seat cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01122 Prevention of malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01136 Cut lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating

Abstract

In a mounting structure, a seat occupant sensor is disposed on the central region of the bearing surface of the foam of a seat, and signal lines that connect the sensor to an ECU cross a groove formed on foam. Deeper portions are formed on the bottom of the groove so as to correspond to the portions of the groove where the signal lines cross the groove. Further the portions of a wire buried in the foam corresponding to the deeper portions are routed so that the wire bypasses the deeper portion. According to this arrangement, the signal lines can move freely in the deeper portion of the groove, and therefore the signal lines are immune to breaking even if the foam deforms. Thus the reliability and the durability of the seat occupant sensor are ensured.

Claims

1. A mounting structure for a seat occupant sensor comprising:

a seat including foam and trim that covers said foam;

said seat occupant sensor being located between said foam and said trim for detecting a load on said seat;

a signal line connected to said seat occupant sensor;

a first wire attached to said trim; and

a second wire buried in said foam,

wherein a groove is formed on said foam, and said signal line is routed to cross said groove,

wherein said first wire passes through said groove and said second wire runs along and under said groove,

wherein said signal line is routed along both inner side walls of said groove to turn back under said first wire in a portion of said groove where said signal line crosses said groove,

wherein a plurality of deeper portions are formed on a bottom of said groove for housing said signal line, and

wherein said second wire lies outside said deeper portions.

2. A mounting structure as in claim 1,

wherein a portion of said second wire corresponding to said deeper portion is routed so that said second wire bypasses said deeper portion.

3. A mounting structure as in claim 1,

wherein a portion of said second wire corresponding to said deeper portion is cut off.

4. A mounting structure comprising:

a seat including foam and trim that covers said foam;

a device located between said foam and said trim;

a signal line connected to said device;

a first wire attached to said trim; and

a second wire buried in said foam,

wherein a groove is formed on said foam, and said signal line is routed to cross said groove,

wherein said first wire passes through said groove and said second wire runs along and under said groove,

wherein said signal line is routed along both inner side walls of said groove to turn back under said first wire in a portion of said groove where said signal line crosses said groove,

wherein a plurality of deeper portions are formed on a bottom of said groove for housing said signal line, and

wherein said second wire ties outside said deeper portions.

5. A mounting structure as in claim 4,

wherein a portion of said second wire corresponding to said deeper portion is routed so that said second wire bypasses said deeper portion.

6. A mounting structure as in claim 4,

wherein a portion of said second wire corresponding to said deeper portion is cut off.

7. A mounting structure for a seat occupant sensor comprising:

a seat including foam and trim that covers the foam, wherein the foam defines a groove and the seat occupant sensor is located between the foam and the trim for detecting load on the seat;

a first wire that is attached to the trim and that passes through the groove;

a second wire that is buried in the foam and that runs along and under the groove;

a signal line that is connected to the seat occupant sensor and that crosses the groove, wherein the signal line is routed long the inner side walls of the groove and under the first wire in a portion of the groove where he signal line crosses the groove; and

a deeper portion formed a bottom of the groove corresponding to the portion of the groove where the signal line crosses the groove.

8. A mounting structure as in claim 7, wherein the second wire is routed to bypass the deeper portion.

9. A mounting structure as in claim 7, wherein the second wire is cut off at the deeper portion.