×

Structure for load detection element in vehicle seat

  • US 6,695,379 B1
  • Filed: 04/14/2003
  • Issued: 02/24/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. In combination with a floor of vehicle and a vehicle seat, a structure for securing a load detection means under a bottom side of said vehicle seat and in a support leg means for supporting said vehicle seat upon said floor of vehicle, said support leg means including;

  • a bottom wall;

    one end facing to a side forwardly of said vehicle seat; and

    another end facing to a side backwardly of said vehicle seat,wherein said load detection means is adapted to detect a load applied from an occupant on said vehicle seat and comprises;

    a resiliently deflectable strain means having an elongated body extending along a fore-and-aft direction of said vehicle seat;

    an upper side facing to said bottom side of said vehicle seat;

    a lower side facing to said bottom wall of said support leg means;

    a securing end portion;

    a pivotal end portion; and

    a deflectable portion defined between said securing and pivotal end portions; and

    a strain gauge means fixedly attached to said deflectable portion, wherein said resiliently deflectable strain means is rotatably journalled at the pivotal end portion thereof by a pivot pin within said support leg means, such that said securing end portion of said resiliently deflectable strain means is disposed adjacent to either of said one and another ends of said support leg means, whereas said pivotal end portion of said resiliently deformable means is oriented to a center of said support leg means, wherein a hole is formed in the bottom wall of said support leg means at a point adjacent to either of said one and another ends of said support leg means, wherein a first securing pin is provided in said securing end portion of said resiliently deflectable strain means at a point near to said either of said one and another ends of said support leg means, said first securing pin having an end fixedly connected with said bottom side of said vehicle seat, wherein a second securing pin of a fusible property having a head portion and an end is provided in said securing end portion of said resiliently deflectable strain means at a point distant from said either of said one and another ends of said support leg means, such that said end of the second securing pin is fused in said bottom side of said vehicle seat, while said head portion of the second securing pin is disposed on the lower side of said resiliently deformable means, with one predetermined space given between said head portion of the second securing pin and said bottom wall of said support leg means, and wherein, when a normal downward load is applied to the vehicle seat, a downward deflection of said deflectable portion of said resiliently deflectable strain means is caused, in response to which, said strain gauge means detects an amount of the downward deflection and emits a corresponding value indicative of an amount of said load, and wherein, when an excessive great downward load is applied to the vehicle seat, causing the resiliently deflectable strain means to deflect downwardly to a level in excess of said one predetermined space, said head portion of said second securing pin is brought to contact with said bottom wall of said support leg means, thereby protecting said deflectable portion against a deflection in excess of a tolerable range in which the strain gauge means works for detection of the amount of deflection.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×