Seat-load measuring apparatus

• US 7,000,489 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobata, Toshihiko, Mochizuki, Tetsumei
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/780,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20040237668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 738/62, 736/37, 733/81, 738/56, 738/623.91, 280/806, 177/136, 177/144, 324/662, 180/273
• US Class Current: 73/862.391
• 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: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• 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 seat-load measuring apparatus includes: a base having an open top and configured to be fixed to a seat bracket configured to support a load imposed on a vehicle seat; an arm supported by the base and configured to receive the load imposed on the vehicle seat; a load sensor supported by the arm to detect the load imposed on the vehicle seat; a rail bracket configured to support a seat rail that movably guides the vehicle seat in a vehicle front-rear direction, and to connect the base to the seat rail; and a load support member connected to the rail bracket and configured to support a load imposed on the seat rail, the load being heavier than a predetermined load, where the base is connected under the seat rail with the rail bracket located between.

Claims

1. A seat-load measuring apparatus comprising:

a base having an open top and configured to be fixed to a seat bracket configured to support a load imposed on a vehicle seat;

an arm supported by the base and configured to receive the load imposed on the vehicle seat;

a load sensor supported by the arm to detect the load imposed on the vehicle seat;

a U-shaped rail bracket having a pair of side walls and a base configured to support a seat rail that movably guides the vehicle seat in a vehicle front-rear direction, and to connect the base to the seat rail, wherein each side wall includes a hole;

a load support member connected to the rail bracket and configured to support a load imposed on the seat rail, the load being heavier than a predetermined load, wherein the load support member is a belt-shaped flat member with a U-shaped center portion fixed to the rail bracket by a stopper pin that extends through both the center portion and the holes in the sidewalls,

wherein the base is connected under the seat rail with the rail bracket located therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load support member comprises a U-shaped, belt-shaped plate having an arc portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the arm and the rail bracket are connected by the stopper pin, and wherein, when the load heavier than the predetermined load is imposed on the seat rail, the arc portion of the load support member is brought into contact with the stopper pin to support the load.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the load heavier than the predetermined load is an upward load, and wherein, when the load heavier than the predetermined load is imposed on the seat rail, the arc portion of the load support member moves upward relative to the stopper pin into contact with the stopper pin to support the load.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat bracket is fixed to a vehicle body.

6. An apparatus for measuring a load on a vehicle seat comprising:

a base having an open top and positioned under a seat rail that guides the seat in a vehicle front-rear direction;

an arm supported by the base and configured to receive the load imposed on the seat;

a load sensor configured to detect the load on the seat, wherein the sensor is supported by the arm;

a U-shaped rail bracket located between the base and the seat rail, the bracket having a pair of side walls and a base configured to support the seat rail, wherein each sidewall includes a hole;

a load support member connected to the bracket and configured to support a load imposed on the seat rail that exceeds a predetermined load, wherein the load support member is a belt-shaped flat member with a U-shaped center portion fixed to the rail bracket by a stopper pin that extends through both the center portion and the holes in the sidewalls.