Seat belt tension sensor
First Claim
1. A seat belt tension sensing assembly fixedly secured to a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing;
a slide slidably received within said housing, said slide being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within said housing, said slide having a first opening for a portion of said seat belt to pass therethrough;
a sensor, a first end of which is fixedly secured in said slide, said sensor generating a signal indicative of tension on said slide as said seat belt tension increases corresponding to movement of said slide toward said second position; and
a compliant member providing an urging force on a second end of said sensor, said urging force thereby urging said sensor and said slide into said first position;
wherein said slide and said housing interface at said second position preventing further deflection of said compliant member and further loading on said sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seat belt tension sensing assembly fixedly secured to a vehicle. The seat belt tension sensing assembly has a housing and a slide slidably received within the housing, the slide being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within the housing, the second position corresponding to a tension in the seat belt consummate with a child safety seat being secured by the seat belt, the slide having a first opening for a portion of the seat belt to pass therethrough. A sensor is operably attached to the slide and is fixedly secured to the housing. The sensor generates a signal indicative of tension on the slide as the seat belt tension increases corresponding to movement of the slide toward the second position. A compliant member providing an urging force on the slide is operably connected to the slide to urge the slide into the first position. The slide and housing interface at the second position preventing further deflection of the compliant member and further loading on the sensor.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seat belt tension sensing assembly fixedly secured to a vehicle, comprising:
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a housing;
a slide slidably received within said housing, said slide being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within said housing, said slide having a first opening for a portion of said seat belt to pass therethrough;
a sensor, a first end of which is fixedly secured in said slide, said sensor generating a signal indicative of tension on said slide as said seat belt tension increases corresponding to movement of said slide toward said second position; and
a compliant member providing an urging force on a second end of said sensor, said urging force thereby urging said sensor and said slide into said first position;
wherein said slide and said housing interface at said second position preventing further deflection of said compliant member and further loading on said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for limiting damage to a seat belt tension sensor when an overload force is applied, the method comprising:
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receiving a slide within a housing, said slide being capable of movement between a first position and a second position within said housing, said slide having a first opening for a portion of said seat belt to pass therethrough;
attaching a first end of a sensor to said slide, a second end of said sensor being fixedly secured to compliant member;
generating a signal indicative of tension on said slide as said seat belt tension increases corresponding to movement of said slide toward said second position; and
providing said compliant member between said housing and said sensor, said compliant member configured to urge said slide into said first position;
wherein said slide and said housing interface at said second position preventing further deflection of said compliant member and further loading on said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification