Vehicle occupant sensing system having a retention member for a biasing member

• US 7,402,769 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Sallam, Faisal K., Young, Oliver J., Medallo, Novy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US11/085,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 200/85.R, 200/85.A, 177/144, 177/136, 177/199, 340665-668, 180/273
• US Class Current: 200/85.00R
• 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 2/0027 for detecting the position of the occupant or of occupant's body part
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/14 Inductive; Magnetic field
• 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

A vehicle occupant sensing system for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly that includes at least one base and at least one upper slide member supported for movement toward and away from the base. The upper slide member is movable in response to the condition of the vehicle seat assembly. The vehicle occupant sensing system further includes at least one biasing member for biasing the upper slide member away from the base. At least one of the base and the upper slide member includes at least one retention member that is adapted for retaining the biasing member. The vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat to detect a condition of the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant sensing system for detecting a condition of a vehicle seat assembly comprising:

at least one base;

at least one upper slide member supported for movement toward and away from said base and moveable generally along a longitudinal axis A in response to the condition of the vehicle seat assembly; and

at least one biasing member adapted for biasing said upper slide member away from said base, said upper slide member including a retainer, said emitter disposed within said retainer and a plurality of retention members evenly spaced about the axis of the upper slide member and extending radially away from the outer surface of said retainer, said plurality of retention members interacting with said biasing member so as to retain said biasing member.

2. A vehicle occupant sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of retention members are ribs mounted to said upper slide member.

3. A vehicle occupant sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing member is retained by said plurality of retention members via friction.

4. A vehicle occupant sensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said biasing member is positioned over said plurality of retention members to be retained thereby.

5. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat cushion with a lower surface;

a vehicle occupant sensing system disposed adjacent said lower surface of said seat cushion, said vehicle occupant sensing system including at least one base, at least one upper slide member supported for movement toward and away from said base and moveable generally along a longitudinal axis A in response to the condition of the vehicle seat assembly, and at least one biasing member adapted for biasing said upper slide member away from said base, said upper slide member including a retainer, said emitter disposed within said retainer and a plurality of retention members evenly spaced about the axis of the upper slide member and extending radially away from the outer surface of said retainer, said plurality of retention members interacting with said biasing member so as to retain said biasing member.

6. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plurality of retention members are ribs mounted to said upper slide member.

7. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said biasing member is retained by said plurality of retention members via friction.

8. A vehicle seat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said biasing member is positioned over said plurality of retention members to be retained thereby.