Load detecting vehicle seat assembly
First Claim
1. A load sensing vehicle seat assembly comprising:
- an upper seating component;
a lower seating component;
a strain gage having a predetermined flatness specification for a mounting surface and having a load sensing arm having three substantially equally spaced regions including a central region and two outward regions each having a mounting aperture and wherein the central region is secured to either the upper or lower seating component and the outward regions are secured to either the lower or upper seating component, respectively, the strain gage being disposed between the upper seating component and the lower seating component; and
a strain gage mounting element extending across the mounting apertures of the load sensing arm and having a predetermined desired flatness tolerance across the mounting apertures of the loan sensing arm and disposed between the strain gage and one of the upper seating component and the lower seating component such that a load placed on the seat assembly is transferred through the upper seating component through the mounting element and the strain gage to the lower seating component.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load detecting vehicle seat assembly includes a discrete strain gage mounting plate having a specified flatness to produce desired strain gage performance. The strain gage mounting plate is disposed between a strain gage and a vehicle seat component, such as a cushion frame, so that vehicle seat loading is transferred to the strain gage through the mounting plate. The strain gage may be mounted with a central portion secured to a lower vehicle seat component and outward portions secured to an upper vehicle seat component such that only the outward portions of the strain gage contact the strain gage mounting plate, which has a controlled flatness tolerance to produce desired strain gage performance.
23 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A load sensing vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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an upper seating component; a lower seating component; a strain gage having a predetermined flatness specification for a mounting surface and having a load sensing arm having three substantially equally spaced regions including a central region and two outward regions each having a mounting aperture and wherein the central region is secured to either the upper or lower seating component and the outward regions are secured to either the lower or upper seating component, respectively, the strain gage being disposed between the upper seating component and the lower seating component; and a strain gage mounting element extending across the mounting apertures of the load sensing arm and having a predetermined desired flatness tolerance across the mounting apertures of the loan sensing arm and disposed between the strain gage and one of the upper seating component and the lower seating component such that a load placed on the seat assembly is transferred through the upper seating component through the mounting element and the strain gage to the lower seating component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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a first vehicle seating component; a load sensor having a sensing arm with a central mounting region secured to the first seating component for providing an indication of a load placed on the first seating component, the load sensor having a mounting surface with a predetermined flatness specification; a second vehicle seating component secured to opposite sides of the central mounting region of the sensing arm; and a mounting element extending across mounting regions of the sensing arm and having a predetermined flatness satisfying the predetermined flatness specification of the load sensor, the mounting element disposed between the first seating component and the load sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing a load sensing vehicle seat assembly, the method comprising:
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positioning a load sensor having a mounting surface flatness specification between upper and lower seating components; positioning a mounting element having a flatness that satisfies the flatness specification of the load sensor between the first seating component and the load sensor; securing a central region of the load sensor to one of the upper and lower seating components through the mounting element; and securing opposite sides of the central region of the load sensor to one of the lower and upper seating elements, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification