Device for detecting the fitting of a child's seat

• US 6,831,537 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hirt, Adam, Haas, Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rojas, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/333,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 335/205-207, 335/151-153, 280/734, 280/735, 180/273
• US Class Current: 335/207
• 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 2/268 detecting or alerting means responsive to the installation of the child seats in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/286 forward facing B60N2/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/14 Inductive; Magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/16 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems

Abstract

A device for detecting the installation of a child seat, in particular on a vehicle seat, includes one fixed part and one movable mechanism. The fixed part has a switch element with two switching states and a device for forming an actuating field for the switch element. The movable mechanism is movable, as a result of the installation of the child seat, from a first position to a second position, thereby making a variation in the actuating field attainable, so that the switch element changes the switching state.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the installation of a child seat (200) on a vehicle seat (100), comprising:

a fixed part (1, 11, 12); and

a movable mechanism (2, 3),

wherein the fixed part (1, 11, 12) has a switch element (8) with two switching states and means (5) for forming an actuating field (B) for the switch element (8), and

wherein the movable mechanism (2, 3) is movable from a first position (P1) to a second position (P2) as a result of the installation of a child seat (200), and by that means a variation in the actuating field (B) is attainable, so that the switch element (8) changes its switching state; and

wherein for varying the actuating field (B), a shielding means (3) in the form of a sheet of soft iron is provided, wherein the sheet of soft iron is located in a region (9) between the switch element (8) and the forming means (5) in the first position (P1) and in the second position (P2) is located at least partly outside the region (9).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the field (B) is a magnetic field and the switch element (8) is a magnetic switch element.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the switch element (8) has a Reed switch or a Hall sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein means (4) for restoring the movable mechanism (2, 3) to the first position (P1) are provided.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the movable mechanism (2, 3) is supported on the fixed part (1, 11, 12) rotatably about a pivot point (7), and the shielding means (3) is secured to the movable mechanism (2, 3).

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the shielding means (3), on at least one side (31), is shaped such that in the first position (P1), the shielding means at least partly embraces one pole (6) of the magnet (5).

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one edge (32) of the shielding means (3) is chamfered toward the pivot point (7).

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the fixed part (1, 11, 12), on the underside, has a dirt removal slot (13), the inside of which is at least partly engaged by the shielding means (3).

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the restoring means (4) have a torsion spring, wherein said torsion spring is disposed coaxially with the movable mechanism (2, 3).

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the movable mechanism (2, 3) has one rotatable part (2) and one displaceable part (3), and the rotatable part (2) is supported rotatably about a pivot point (7) on the fixed part (1, 11, 12), and the displaceable part has the shielding means (3), and the displaceable part (3) is displaceable from the first position (P1) to the second position (P2) by means of a cam (21) that is located on the rotatable part (2).

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the restoring means (4) have a hoop spring, wherein said hoop spring acts on the displaceable part (3), and/or a torsion spring, wherein said torsion spring is disposed coaxially with the rotatable part (2) and acts on it.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the fixed part (1, 11, 12) has two housing halves with a number of fixation pins (16) and associated openings (17) for radial fixation of the two housing halves (11, 12) relative to one another.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the two housing halves (11, 12) have positive-displacement dogs for axial tolerance compensation of the housing halves (11, 12) to one another.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic switch element (8) is designed for switching a signal for an air bag controller.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the movable mechanism (2, 3) is movable via a lever (10) by means of a locking device (210) of the child seat (200).

16. A vehicle seat (100) having at least one device of claim 1.