Seat belt tension sensor having shock isolation
First Claim
1. A seat belt tension sensor for use with a seat belt assembly, the seat belt tension sensor secured to a vehicle by a fastener, the sensor comprising:
- a housing adapted to be secured by the fastener;
an anchor plate mounted partially in the housing, the anchor plate having a hole for the fastener and an opening;
a strain gage secured to the housing and extending into the opening;
a spring located between the anchor plate and the strain gage; and
an actuator located between the spring and the strain gage to actuate the strain gage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seat belt tension sensor is attached to a seat belt assembly in a vehicle. The seat belt tensor sensor is secured to the vehicle by a bolt. The sensor includes a housing that is secured by the bolt. An anchor plate is mounted to the housing. The anchor plate has a hole for the bolt and an opening. A strain gage is secured to the housing and extends into the opening. The strain gage has an aperture. A spring is located between the anchor plate and the strain gage. An actuator support is located between the spring and the strain gage to actuate the strain gage. The actuator has a projection extending through the aperture that contacts the anchor plate. The projection prevents a shift in the output of the strain gage when the sensor is subjected to mechanical shock.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A seat belt tension sensor for use with a seat belt assembly, the seat belt tension sensor secured to a vehicle by a fastener, the sensor comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured by the fastener; an anchor plate mounted partially in the housing, the anchor plate having a hole for the fastener and an opening; a strain gage secured to the housing and extending into the opening; a spring located between the anchor plate and the strain gage; and an actuator located between the spring and the strain gage to actuate the strain gage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A seat belt tension sensor for use with a seat belt assembly, the seat belt tension sensor secured to a vehicle by a fastener, the sensor comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured by the fastener; an anchor plate mounted to the housing, the anchor plate having a hole for the fastener and an opening; a projection extending into the opening; a rib extending into the opening; a strain gage secured to the housing and mounted between the projection and the rib; and a spring located between the projection and the strain gage, the spring applying a first force to a first side of the strain gage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A seat belt tension sensor for use with a seat belt assembly, the seat belt tension sensor secured to a vehicle by a bolt, the sensor comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured by the bolt, the housing having a flange extending therefrom; an anchor plate mounted in the housing, the anchor plate having a hole for the bolt and an opening, the flange extending into the hole; a strain gage mounted to the housing for sensing tension in the seat belt assembly and generating an electrical signal proportional to the amount of tension; a spring mounted between the strain gage and the anchor plate, the spring transferring a first magnitude of tension from the seat belt assembly to the strain gage; and the anchor plate and the flange cooperating to prevent tension greater than the first magnitude from being applied to the strain gage, tension greater than the first magnitude being diverted through the flange to the bolt. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification