Seat-load measuring apparatus

• US 7,096,745 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kobata, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/791,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 738/62, 733/81, 738/620.41, 738/624.74, 738/623.91, 737/95, 702/173, 280/735, 280/806, 177/144, 180/273
• US Class Current: 73/862.041
• 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 that includes a seat rail between a seat-load measuring apparatus and a vehicle floor. The apparatus includes a base frame and a base bracket that provide a load support mechanism to support a load heavier than a predetermined load imposed on the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A seat-load measuring apparatus comprising:

a seat rail fixed to a vehicle body to guide a vehicle seat movably in a front-rear direction of a vehicle,

a base frame fixed to one of the vehicle seat and the seat rail to support a load imposed on the vehicle seat;

a base bracket fixed to the seat rail;

an arm supported by the base frame 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; and

wherein at least one of the base frame and the base bracket include a load support mechanism to support a load heavier than a predetermined load imposed on the vehicle seat.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base bracket is connected to the base frame by a rivet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base bracket overlies the base frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base bracket is positioned between the base frame and the seat rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base bracket is positioned to overlie a rear end of the base frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein both the base bracket and the base frame have a u-shape in transverse cross-section.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bolt extending transversely through the base frame and the base bracket.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the base bracket includes holes for receiving the bolt.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the base frame includes slots for receiving the bolt.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein portions of the base frame adjacent to the slot and portions of the base bracket adjacent to the holes are configured to support a heavy load applied to the seat during a vehicle collision.