Seat load sensing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a bracket transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan;
a spring compressing and allowing said vehicle seat frame to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat;
a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said second end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said econd end portion, said lever bending as said seat frame moves vertically relative to said bracket; and
a sensor detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) is used in a vehicle having a seat (2) for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan (4) for supporting the vehicle seat (2). The apparatus (10) includes a vehicle seat frame (20), a bracket (30), a spring element (240, 340 or 340, 350), a lever (90), and a sensor (992). The spring element (240, 340 or 340, 350) compresses to allow the vehicle seat frame (20) to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat (2). The lever (90) has a first end portion (100) and a second end portion (110) opposite the first end portion (100). The first end portion (100) is movable with the vehicle seat frame (20). The second end portion (110) is movable with the vehicle seat frame (20). The lever (90) has a middle portion (120) interposed between the first end portion (100) and the second end portion (110). The lever (90) bends as the vehicle seat frame (20) moves vertically relative to the bracket (30). The sensor (992) detects movement of the middle portion (120) of the lever (90) and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of the middle portion (120) of the lever (90).
59 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat; a bracket transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan; a spring compressing and allowing said vehicle seat frame to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat; a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said second end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said econd end portion, said lever bending as said seat frame moves vertically relative to said bracket; and a sensor detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a bracket transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan; a spring compressing and allowing the vehicle seat to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat; a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with the vehicle seat, said second end portion being movable with the vehicle seat, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said lever bending as the vehicle seat moves vertically relative to said bracket; and a sensor detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat; a spring compressing and allowing said vehicle seat frame to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat; a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said second end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said lever bending as said vehicle seat frame moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan; and a sensor detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification