Seat console for a vehicle seat

• US 7,128,181 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Mehrkens, Michael, Meier, Steffen, Walter, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US10/727,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 177/144, 180/273, 280/735
• US Class Current: 180/273
• 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

In a seat console, weight sensors for measuring the weight of occupants are arranged, which are provided between a top frame and a bottom frame of the console. So that a floating bearing of the top frame in the bottom frame is ensured, the top frame and the bottom frame are held to be supported by the weight sensors. In order to avoid damage or a faulty measurement, the top frame dips into the bottom frame in an open manner.

Claims

1. Seat console, for a vehicle seat held on the vehicle floor, which is connected with a seat rail in which the vehicle seat is slidably disposed,

the seat console comprising a stationary bottom frame with a floatingly disposed top frame with weight sensors connected therebetween, the weight sensor being stationarily connected by way of connection elements, with the top frame, and being fastened to the bottom frame by way of a bolt integrated in the respective sensors, wherein the top frame and the bottom frame each have a U-profile-shaped cross-section and side walls, the top frame reaching by the side walls thereof in a floating manner over the side walls of the bottom frame, the side walls of the top frame dipping into the bottom frame and the weight sensors each being surrounded by the side walls of the top frame and the bottom frame, the weight sensors being arranged such that the frames each have a sensor and other of the weight sensors are arranged in a transition area of the legs to a transverse web of the frames, and spacer blocks are arranged between the sensors and the top frame to form a parallel arrangement of the top and bottom frames.

2. Seat console according to claim 1, wherein the sensors arranged in the legs are configured to be screwed to the top frame by two threaded bolts and respectively in the threaded plate constructed as a connection element on the top side of the top frame.

3. Seat console according to claim 1, wherein the sensors arranged in the transition area and respectively can be fastened by means of threaded bolts in nuts stationarily held in the top frame or the threaded plate.

4. Seat console according to claim 1, wherein the legs of the top frame and the bottom frame are closed off at their free ends by way of a cap.

5. Seat console according to claim 1, wherein the bottom frame and the top frame are comprised of a U-shape, and free ends of legs of the U-shape frames are each connected by way of a transverse web.

6. A passenger vehicle seat console assembly for supporting a vehicle seat rail which in use slidably supports a vehicle seat, said console assembly comprising:

a bottom frame;

a top frame; and

a plurality of weight sensors disposed between the top and bottom frames,

wherein the respective weight sensors are connected in a stationary manner with the top frame and are fastened to the bottom frame by respective bolts integrated in the respective weight sensors, the top frame and the bottom frame each have a U-profile-shaped cross-section and side walls, the top frame reaching by the side walls thereof in a floating manner over the side walls of the bottom frame, the side walls of the top frame dipping into the bottom frame and the weight sensors each being surrounded by the side walls of the top frame and bottom frame, the weight sensor being arranged such that the frames each have a sensor and other of the weight sensors are arranged in a transition area of the legs to a transverse web of the frames, and spacer blocks are arranged between the sensors and the top frame to form a parallel arrangement of the top frame with respect to the bottom frame.