Seat assembly

• US 7,185,727 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Tetsumei
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US10/911,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 177/144, 180/273, 280/735, 280/801.1
• 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: B60N 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01556 Child-seat detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/105 for children adaptation of children's seats for seat belts B60N2/265, B60N2/2803
• 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 vehicle seat for receiving an occupant is placed on a slider so as to move along a guide rail. A pair of belt anchor brackets for anchoring each end of a lap belt at each side of the seat is provided under the guide rail, and a weight sensor for sensing weight variation of the seat is provided under the belt anchor bracket. The tension of a seat belt (lap belt) does not affect the weight sensing functionality of the weight sensor and the state of the seat can accurately be determined.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly provided with a weight sensor, the seat assembly comprising:

a seat for receiving an occupant;

a guide rail for guiding a front/rear movement of the seat;

a slider fixed to the seat, and placed on and slidably engaging with the guide rail; and

a pair of belt anchor brackets for anchoring each end of a lap belt at each side of the seat, each belt anchor bracket provided under the guide rail and each belt anchor bracket fastened with at least one fastening pierced through the weight sensor, the belt anchor bracket, and the guide rail, wherein the weight sensor measures the weight of the seat assembly to determine status of the seat.

3. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein each belt anchor bracket is held and fixed by and between the weight sensor and the guide rail.

4. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 3,

wherein the belt anchor bracket comprises a projection projecting along at and laterally abutting one side of the guide rail.

5. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 4, wherein the projection is provided along a side of the guide rail facing a portion at which a belt anchor is attached.

6. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 4, wherein the projection comprises a plate that projects vertically from a horizontal face of the belt anchor bracket with a side edge thereof perpendicularly abutted with the side of the guide rail.

7. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 3,

wherein the belt anchor bracket and the weight sensor each comprise a vertical plate portion at a rear end portion thereof, said vertical plate portions being placed to overlap each other, and fastened together with at least one fastening pierced therethrough.

8. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 3,

wherein the belt anchor bracket comprises means for reinforcing the fastening between the belt anchor bracket and the guide rail against a pulling force of a lap belt.

9. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 3,

wherein the belt anchor bracket comprises means for preventing rotation of the belt anchor bracket due to a pulling force of a lap belt.

10. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, further comprising

a bracket that is formed of a plate shaped substantially like a letter omega in cross section as viewed from a side of the vehicle, is fastened underneath the belt anchor bracket, wherein said bracket is adapted to receive a bracket pin of the weight sensor.

11. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail, the belt anchor bracket, a rear load-receiving member, and the bracket are layered in this order from top to bottom and fastened together.

12. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the belt anchor bracket has side walls that extend down so as to cover lateral walls of the weight sensor.

2. A seat assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a seat for receiving an occupant;

a guide rail for guiding a front/rear movement of the seat;

a slider fixed to the seat, and placed on and slidably engaging with the guide rail;

a pair of belt anchor brackets for anchoring each end of a lap belt at each side of the seat, each belt anchor bracket provided under the guide rail and each belt anchor bracket fastened with at least one fastening pierced through a weight sensor, the belt anchor bracket, and the guide rail;

the weight sensor provided under the belt anchor brackets, for sensing weight variation of the seat; and

a leg for fixing the weight sensor to the vehicle.

13. A vehicle seat assembly provided with a weight sensor, the seat assembly comprising:

a seat for receiving an occupant;

a guide rail for guiding a front/rear movement of the seat;

a slider fixed to the seat, and placed on and slidably engaging with the guide rail; and

a pair of belt anchor brackets for anchoring each end of a lap belt at each side of the seat, each belt anchor bracket provided under the guide rail and each belt anchor bracket fastened with at least one fastening pierced through the weight sensor, the belt anchor bracket, and the guide rail, wherein the weight sensor measures the weight of the seat assembly to determine status of the seat, and wherein the belt anchor bracket further comprises a projection that projects vertically from a horizontal face of the belt anchor bracket with a side edge thereof perpendicularly abutted with a side of the guide rail to prevent the belt anchor bracket from turning around due to a torque from tension in the lap belt.

14. A vehicle seat assembly provided with a weight sensor, the seat assembly comprising:

a seat for receiving an occupant;

a guide rail for guiding a front/rear movement of the seat;

a slider fixed to the seat, and placed on and slidably engaging with the guide rail; and

a pair of belt anchor brackets for anchoring each end of a lap belt at each side of the seat, each belt anchor bracket provided under the guide rail, wherein the weight sensor measures the weight of the seat assembly to determine status of the seat, and wherein the belt anchor bracket further comprises a projection projecting along and laterally abutting one side of the guide rail.