Seat weight measuring apparatus

• US 7,173,198 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAYES, SEAN PHILLIP
• Application Number:
  US10/880,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20050023045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 177/144, 180/273, 280/735
• US Class Current: 177/144
• 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 weight measuring apparatus capable of securely withstanding large force due to large load, such as force in the event of a vehicle collision, applied to a vehicle seat. Normally, a small force is applied to a rear pin bracket and the sleeves through which a pivot bolt is inserted do not substantially collide with the inner peripheries of holes. As a large force is applied to the rear pin bracket, a stopper bolt collides with a base frame and the rear pin bracket collides with the pivot bolt. The large force exerted on the rear pin bracket is shared and borne by portions of the frame thereby reducing the localized stresses in the frame.

Claims

1. A seat weight measuring apparatus comprising:

a base frame;

a sensor portion which is mounted on the base frame to detect load applied to a vehicle seat;

a force input member to which force due to the load applied to said vehicle seat is applied;

an arm which is pivotally connected to the force input member by a first shaft and is pivotally supported to said base frame by a second shaft to transmit the force transmitted from said force input member to said sensor portion; and

a force sharing mechanism which, in the normal state, does not allow the collision of said first shaft with said base frame and the collision of said force input member with said second shaft and, when force larger than that in the normal state is applied to said force input member, allows the collision of said first shaft with said base frame and the collision of said force input member with said second shaft, and wherein the force sharing mechanism includes only the first and second shafts.

2. The seat weight measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first shaft is a stopper bolt and the second shaft is a pivot pin.

3. The seat weight measuring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base frame and said force input member are each formed in a U-like configuration having left and right side walls, and that said first shaft moves relative to the side walls of said base frame more widely than the normal state so as to collides with the side walls of said base frame and the second shaft moves relative to the side walls of said force input member more widely than the normal state so as to collides with the side walls of said force input member when force larger than that in the normal state is applied to said force input member.

4. A seat weight measuring device comprising:

a base frame;

a sensor portion;

a force input member;

an arm configured to transmit force from said force input member to the sensor portion;

wherein the arm is connect to the force input member by a stopper bolt;

wherein the arm is connected to the base frame by a pivot bolt;

wherein the base frame includes an elongated hole for receiving the stopper bolt and a pivot hole for receiving the pivot bolt, the pivot hole located toward a rear end of the base frame and the elongated hole located inwards of the pivot hole; and

wherein the device is configured so that the stopper bolt, elongated hole, pivot hole and the pivot bolt share the force exerted on the force input member.

5. The seat weight measuring device of claim 4, wherein the arm is positioned inside the base frame.

6. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat weight measuring device comprising;

a base frame;

a force input member;

first and second shaft members configured to connect an arm to the force input member and the base frame; and

wherein when a normal force is exerted on the seat, the first shaft and the second shaft remain stationary;

wherein the base frame includes an elongated hole for receiving the first bolt and a pivot hole for receiving the second bolt, the pivot hole located toward a rear end of the base frame and the elongated hole located inwards of the pivot hole.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein when a large force is exerted on the seat, the first shaft collides with the base frame.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein when a large force is exerted on the seat, the second shaft collides with the force input member.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the base frame and the force input member are formed in a U-like configuration.

10. An occupant detection device comprising:

a base frame;

a sensor portion which is mounted on the base frame to detect load applied to a vehicle seat;

a force input member to which force due to the load applied to said vehicle seat is applied;

an arm which is pivotally connected to the force input member by a first shaft and is pivotally supported to said base frame by a second shaft to transmit the force transmitted from said force input member to said sensor portion; and

a force sharing mechanism which, in the normal state, does not allow the collision of said first shaft with said base frame and the collision of said force input member with said second shaft and, when force larger than that in the normal state is applied to said force input member, allows the collision of said first shaft with said base frame and the collision of said force input member with said second shaft, and wherein the force sharing mechanism includes only the first and second shafts.

11. The occupant detection device of claim 10, wherein the base frame and said force input member are each formed in a U-like configuration having left and right side walls, and that said first shaft moves relative to the side walls of said base frame more widely than the normal state so as to collides with the side walls of said base frame and the second shaft moves relative to the side walls of said force input member more widely than the normal state so as to collides with the side walls of said force input member when force larger than that in the normal state is applied to said force input member.

14. The occupant detection device of claim 10, wherein the first shaft is a stopper bolt and the second shaft is a pivot pin.

12. An occupant detection device comprising:

a base frame;

a sensor portion;

a force input member;

an arm configured to transmit force from said force input member to the sensor portion;

wherein the arm is connect to the force input member by a stopper bolt;

wherein the arm is connected to the base frame by a pivot bolt;

wherein the base frame includes an elongated hole for receiving the stopper bolt and a pivot hole for receiving the pivot bolt, the pivot hole located toward a rear end of the base frame and the elongated hole located inwards of the pivot hole; and

wherein the device is configured so that the stopper bolt, elongated hole, pivot hole and the pivot bolt share the force exerted on the force input member.

13. The occupant detection device of claim 12, wherein the arm is positioned inside the base frame.

15. An occupant protection device comprising:

a base frame,

a sensor portion,

a force input member,

an arm configured to transmit force from said force input member to the sensor portion, and

a force sharing mechanism,

wherein the arm is connected to the force input member by a stopper bolt, the base frame including an elongated hole to receive the stopper bolt,

wherein the force sharing mechanism includes a pivot bolt and a pivot hole, the pivot bolt and pivot hole pivotally connect the arm to the base frame, and

wherein the pivot hole is located at a rear end of the base frame such that the elongated hole is located inwards of the pivot hole.