Tension sensing assembly

• US 6,957,829 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Camp, David C., Sickon, Richard, Rogers, Lloyd W. Jr., Lindsay, Theodore J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/434,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 280/801.1, 280/735, 738/623.93, 738/623.92, 738/623.91, 738/626.9, 340/457.1
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1806 for buckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0155 sensing belt tension

Abstract

A tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a rigid frame of a seat restraint buckle of the seat rstraint system. The tension seensing assembly also includes a movable member mounted on the rigid frame and adapted to be connected to vehicle structure. The movable member is movable relative to the rigid frame. The tension sensing assembly furtheer includes a magnet mounted to the rigid frame and a Hall effect sensor mounted to the movable member and cooperable with the magnet to change an output of the Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system.

Claims

1. A tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle comprising:

a rigid frame of a seat restraint buckle of the seat restraint system;

a sensor retainer mounted on said rigid frame and adapted to be connected to a vehicle structure, said sensor retainer being movable relative to said rigid frame;

a magnet mounted to said rigid frame;

a Hall effect sensor mounted to said sensor retainer and cooperable with said magnet to change an output of said Hall effect sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system;

an ejector operatively supported by said rigid frame and cooperating with a latch plate of the seat restraint system; and

a magnet isolator attached to said ejector to isolate said magnet from said sensor.

2. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a connecting member operatively connected to said sensor retainer and adapted to be connected to the vehicle structure to move said sensor retainer to change an output of said sensor.

3. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said connecting member comprises a cable having one end adapted to be connected to the vehicle structure and a cable retainer cooperating with said cable and said sensor retainer.

4. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the connecting member comprises a cable having one end adapted to be connected to the vehicle structure, a cable connecting member connected to another end of said cable, and a cable retainer cooperating with said cable connecting member and said sensor retainer.

5. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the connecting member comprises a webbing retainer having one end adapted to be connected to belt webbing and another end cooperating with said sensor retainer.

6. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnet isolator has an aperture extending therethrough to allow magnetic flux to pass therethrough.

7. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a spring cooperating with said ejector to urge said ejector and said magnet isolator away from said sensor.

8. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of springs cooperating with said sensor retainer to urge said sensor retainer away from a rear end of said rigid frame.

9. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a magnet retainer connected to said rigid frame, said magnet being mounted to said magnet retainer.

10. A tension sensing assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle comprising:

a rigid frame of a seat restraint buckle of the seat restraint system;

a sensor retainer mounted on said rigid frame and movable relative to said rigid frame;

at least one spring disposed between said sensor retainer and said rigid frame to urge said sensor retainer away from one end of said rigid frame;

a magnet mounted to said rigid frame;

a Hall effect sensor mounted to said sensor retainer and cooperable with said magnet; and

a connecting member operatively connected to said sensor retainer and adapted to be connected to a vehicle structure to move said sensor retainer to change an output of said sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system;

an ejector operatively supported by said rigid frame and cooperating with a latch plate of the seat restraint system; and

a magnet isolator attached to said ejector to isolate said magnet from said sensor.

11. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the connecting member comprises a cable having one end adapted to be connected to the vehicle structure and a cable retainer cooperating with said cable and said sensor retainer.

12. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein connecting member comprises a cable having one end adapted to be connected to the vehicle structure, a cable connecting member connected to another end of said cable, and a cable retainer cooperating with said cable connecting member and said sensor retainer.

13. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the connecting member comprises a webbing retainer having one end adapted to be connected to belt webbing and another end cooperating with said sensor retainer.

14. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said magnet isolator has an aperture extending therethrough to allow magnetic flux to pass therethrough.

15. A tension sensing assembly as set forth in claim 10 including a spring cooperating with said ejector to urge said ejector and said magnet isolator away from said sensor.

16. A seat restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a latch plate;

a seat restraint buckle cooperating with said latch plate and having a rigid frame;

a sensor retainer mounted on said rigid frame and movable relative to said rigid frame;

at least one spring disposed between said sensor retainer and said rigid frame to urge said sensor retainer away from one end of said rigid frame;

a magnet mounted to said rigid frame;

a Hall effect sensor mounted to said sensor retainer and cooperable with said magnet;

an ejector operatively supported by said rigid frame and cooperating with said latch plate;

a magnet isolator attached to said ejector to prevent and allow flux from said magnet to communicate with said sensor; and

a connecting member operatively connected to said sensor retainer and adapted to be connected to vehicle structure to move said sensor retainer to change an output of said sensor to indicate a tension level in the seat restraint system.