Load detection structure for vehicle seat

• US 6,640,653 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishida, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US10/156,829
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 738/62, 738/623.81, 738/626.27, 738/626.32, 177/144
• US Class Current: 73/862.627
• 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 load detection structure in a vehicle seat with a support leg member, which includes a rigid yet resilient block member having a pivotal end portion, a thin intermediate portion, and a securing portion in which pin (s) is/are provided, and a strain gauge attached to the thin intermediate portion of block member. The support leg member has at least one first hole formed in the bottom wall thereof and two second holes formed in the respective two vertical walls thereof. The block member is arranged between the seat and support leg member, such that the securing portion thereof of is fixed via one end of the pin (s) to the seat, with another end of the pin (s) extending through the at least one first hole, while the pivotal end portion of block member is rotatably connected with the support leg member by fitting two flanged collars in the two second holes, respectively, and then inserting a pivot pin through those two flanged collars and second holes.

Claims

1. A load detection structure provided under a bottom side of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat and in at least one support leg member having a pair of mutually opposed vertical walls, said load detection structure including a load detection means for detecting a load applied from an occupant on the vehicle seat, wherein said load detection means comprises:

a block member having an elongated body extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, said block member having a rigid yet elastically deformable property and including, defined therein, a securing portion, a pivotal end portion, and a thin intermediate portion between said securing portion and said pivotal end portion,

a strain gauge element fixedly attached to said thin intermediate portion of said block member;

at least one opening defined in said at least one support leg member;

two holes formed respectively in said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls of said at least one support leg member;

at least one pin element provided in said securing portion of the block member;

said at least one pin element including a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, wherein said small-diameter portion is secured in said securing portion of the block member, and said large-diameter portion extends downwardly through said at least one opening, with a small clearance given peripherally thereof to space the large-diameter portion from the at least one opening, said large-diameter portion having a flat head large in diameter than said at least one opening, said flat head being disposed outwardly of the at least one opening;

a pair of flanged collars; and

said block member being interposed between said bottom side of said seat cushion and said at least one support leg member in such a manner that said securing portion of the block member is securely connected with said bottom side of the seat cushion, while said pivotal end portion of the block member is rotatably journalled by a pivot pin between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls of said at least one support leg member by fitting said pair of flanged collars in the respective said two holes and then inserting said pivot pin through said pair of flanged collars and said two holes;

wherein, when a downward load is applied to the vehicle seat in a vertical direction, said securing portion of the block member is displaced in a generally rectilinear downward direction, while at the same time, said pivotal end portion of the block member is rotated about said pivot pin, whereupon a difference is caused in movement and direction between said securing portion and said pivotal end portion, thereby causing deflection of said thin intermediate portion, and, in response thereto, said strain gauge element detects an amount of said deflection and emits a corresponding value indicative of an amount of said load.

2. The load detection as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one pin element comprises at least two pins, each being so formed to have said small-diameter and large-diameter portions, wherein said at least one support leg member further includes a bottom wall defined between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls, and wherein said at least one opening comprises a pair of spaced-apart holes formed in said bottom wall of the at least one support leg member.

3. The load detection structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one pin element comprises one pin so formed to have said small-diameter and large-diameter portions, wherein said at least one support leg member further includes a bottom wall defined between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls, and wherein said at least one opening comprises one hole formed in said bottom wall of the support leg member.

4. A load detection structure provided under a bottom side of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat and in at least one support leg member, wherein said at least one support leg member has a pair of mutually opposed vertical walls, a bottom wall defined between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls, and at least one downwardly-extending securing leg portion integrally formed in at least one end thereof, said support leg member being adapted to be firmly secured to a floor, wherein said load detection structure includes a load detection means for detecting a load applied from an occupant on the vehicle seat, and wherein said load detection means comprises:

at least one block member having an elongated body extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, said at least one block member having a rigid yet elastically deformable property and including, defined therein, a securing portion, a pivotal end portion, and a thin intermediate portion between said securing portion and said pivotal end portion;

a strain gauge element fixedly attached to said thin intermediate portion of said at least one block member;

at least two first holes formed in said bottom wall of said at least one support leg member in vicinity of said at least one downwardly-extending securing leg portion;

at least two second holes formed respectively in said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls of said support leg member;

at least two pins provided in said securing portion of the at least one block member, said at least two pins each including a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, wherein said large-diameter portion extends downwardly through one of said at least two first holes, with a small clearance given peripherally thereof to space the large-diameter portion from said each of the at least two first holes, said large-diameter portion having a flat head large in diameter than said each of the at least two first holes;

at least one pair of flanged collars; and

said block member being interposed between said bottom side of the seat cushion and said at least one support leg member in such a manner that said securing portion of the at least one block member is securely connected, by said small-diameter portions of said at least two pins, with said bottom side of the seat cushion, with said large-diameter portions of said at least two pins extending through said at least first holes, respectively, while said pivotal end portion of the at least one block member is rotatably journalled by a pivot pin between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls of said at least one support leg member by fitting said at least one pair of flanged collars in the respective said at least two second holes and then inserting said pivot pin through said at least one pair of flanged collars and said at least two second holes;

wherein, when a downward load is applied to the seat in a vertical direction, said securing portion of the at least one block member is displaced in a generally rectilinear downward direction, while at the same time, said pivotal end portion of the at least one block member is rotated about said pivot pin, whereupon a difference is caused in movement and direction between said securing portion and said pivotal end portion, thereby causing deflection of said thin intermediate portion, and, in response thereto, said strain gauge element detects an amount of said deflection and emits a corresponding value indicative of an amount of said load.

5. A load detection structure provided under a bottom side of a seat cushion of a vehicle seat and in at least one support leg member, wherein the at least one support leg member has:

a pair of mutually opposed vertical walls;

a bottom wall defined between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls;

at least one end; and

at least one downwardly-extending securing leg portion fixed to said bottom wall in vicinity of said at least one end, said support leg member being adapted to be firmly secured to a floor at the at least one downwardly-extending securing leg portion thereof, wherein said load detection structure includes a load detection means for detecting a load applied from an occupant on the vehicle seat, and wherein said load detection means comprises;

at least one block member having an elongated body extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, said at least one block member having a rigid yet elastically deformable property and including, defined therein, a securing portion, a pivotal end portion and a thin intermediate portion between said securing portion and said pivotal end portion,

a strain gauge element fixedly attached to said thin intermediate portion of said at least one block member;

one first hole formed in said bottom wall of said support leg member at a point distant from said at least one downwardly-extending securing leg portion;

at least two second holes formed respectively in said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls of said support leg member;

at least two pins provided in said securing portion of the at least one block member, wherein one of said at least two pins comprises a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, wherein said large-diameter portion extends through of said one first hole, with a small clearance given peripherally thereof to space the large-diameter portion from said one first hole, said large-diameter portion having a flat head large in diameter than said one first hole;

at least one pair of flanged collars; and

said block member being interposed between said bottom side of the seat cushion and said support leg member in such a manner that said securing portion of the at least one block member is securely connected, by said small-diameter portions of said at least two pins, with said bottom side of the seat cushion, with said large-diameter portions of said at least two pins extending through the respective said at least second wholes, while said pivotal end portion of the at least one block member is rotatably journalled by a pivot pin between said pair of mutually opposed vertical walls of said at least one support leg member by fitting said at least one pair of flanged collars in the respective said at least two second holes and then inserting said pivot pin through said at least one pair of flanged collars and said at least two second holes;

wherein, when a downward load is applied to the seat in a vertical direction, said securing portion of the at least one block member is displaced in a generally rectilinear downward direction, while at the same time, said pivotal end portion of the at least one block member is rotated about said pivot pin, whereupon a difference is caused in movement and direction between said securing portion and said pivotal end portion, thereby causing deflection of said thin intermediate portion, and, in response thereto, said strain gauge element detects an amount of said deflection and emits a corresponding value indicative of an amount of said load.