Motor vehicle seat having occupant detector

• US 7,708,101 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FS Fehrer Automotive GmbH (AUNDE Group SE)
• Original Assignee: FS Fehrer Automotive GmbH (AUNDE Group SE)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US11/330,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20060162983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 180/273, 280/735, 297/217.1, 297/217.2, 297/217.3, 200/85.A, 701/45
• 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 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating

Abstract

A seat for a motor vehicle is provided with an occupant detector (02) for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat (01). A foamed cushion element (05), into which the occupant detector (02) is foamed, is provided as part of the seat.

Claims

1. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat comprising:

an occupant detector for recognizing an occupancy status of the seat; and

a foamed cushion element comprising a foam layer, said foam layer includes a plurality of elastically deformable spacing elements, each elastically deformable spacing elements defining a plurality of recesses, the occupant detector being foamed into the cushion element, said occupant detector having at least two electrically conductive contact elements, one of said electrically conductive contact elements being located at a spaced location from another of said electrically conductive contact elements via one or more of said elastically deformable spacing elements, each of said elastically deformable spacing elements engaging each of said electrically conductive contact elements, each of said elastically deformable spacing elements being an electrically insulated foam element.

2. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detector is foamed into the foamed cushion element on a side facing away from the occupant.

3. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detector is foamed into the foamed cushion element essentially opposite the posterior of the occupant on a side facing away from the occupant.

4. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said elastically deformable spacing element electrically insulates said one of said electrically conductive contact elements from said another of said electrically conductive contact elements.

5. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive contact elements comprise an electrically conductive metal.

6. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive contact elements are implemented in the form of oblong metal plates.

7. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive contact elements are positioned essentially parallel to one another.

8. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one hump-shaped protrusion is provided on at least one of said electrically conductive contact elements, wherein contact between said two contact elements occurs at said hump-shaped protrusion, said hump-shaped protrusion extending into one of said recesses of said foam layer.

9. The seat for a motor vehicle according to one of claim 1, wherein said occupant detector is welded into a plastic film.

10. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said occupant detector is connected indirectly or directly to a signaling device, particularly for the acoustic and/or visual signaling of unbelted persons located on the seat.

11. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said occupant detector is connected indirectly or directly to an controller of an airbag.

12. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat comprising:

a seat part with a foamed cushion element;

a plurality of elastically deformable spacing elements, each elastically deformable spacing element and another elastically deformable element defining a recess; and

an occupant detector for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat, the occupant detector being incorporated into the cushion element by being foamed therein during formation of said foamed cushion element, said occupant detector including a first electrically conductive contact element and a second electrically conductive contact element, said second electrically conductive contact element having one or more projecting portions extending into one or more of said recesses, each of said elastically deformable spacing elements engaging said first electrically conductive contact element and said second electrically conductive contact element, said occupant detector being mounted for movement such that said first electrically conductive contact element is movable from a first position to a second position, said first electrically conductive contact element being located at a spaced location from said second electrically conductive contact element via at least one of said elastically deformable spacing elements when said first electrically conductive contact element is in said first position, at least one of said projecting portions engaging said first electrically conductive contact element in at least one of said recesses when said first electrically conductive contact element is in said second position.

13. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said elastically deformable spacing elements is in a non-compressed state when said first electrically conductive contact element is in said first position.

14. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said elastically deformable spacing elements is in a compressed state when said first electrically conductive element is in said second position.

15. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein each of said elastically deformable spacing elements is an electrically insulating foam element.

16. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said first electrically conductive contact element is located opposite said second electrically conductive contact element.

17. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said first electrically conductive contact element is substantially equal to a length of said second electrically conductive contact element.

18. A seat for a motor vehicle, the seat being formed by the steps comprising:

providing an occupant detector for recognizing the occupancy status of the seat, said occupant detector comprising a first elastically deformable spacing element, a second elastically deformable spacing element, a first electrically conductive contact element and a second electrically conductive contact element, said first elastically deformable spacing element and said second elastically deformable spacing element defining a first space, said second electrically conductive contact element having a first projecting portion, said first projecting portion extending into said first recess, said first electrically conductive element being mounted for movement such that said first electrically conductive element moves from a non-contact position to a contact position, said second first projecting portion being in contact with said first electrically conductive element in said first recess when said first electrically conductive element is in said second position, said first electrically conductive element being located at a spaced location from said second electrically conductive element via one or more of said first elastically deformable spacing element and said second elastically deformable spacing element;

placing the occupant detector in a seat region; and

forming a cushion element foaming in the occupant detector with foam material as the occupant detector is positioned in the seat region such that the occupant detector is incorporated into a cushion element by being foamed therein during formation of said foamed cushion element.

19. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said first elastically deformable spacing element and said second elastically deformable spacing element are electrically insulating foam elements.

20. The seat for a motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said occupant detector includes a third elastically deformable spacing element, said second elastically deformable spacing element and said third elastically deformable spacing element defining a second recess, said second electrically conductive contact element having a second projecting portion, said second projecting portion extending into said second recess, said second projecting portion engaging said first electrically conductive contact element in said second recess when said first electrically conductive contact element is in said second position, one or more of said first elastically deformable spacing element, said second elastically deformable spacing element and said third elastically deformable spacing element is in a compressed state when said first electrically conductive contact element is in said second position, said first elastically deformable spacing element, said second elastically deformable spacing element and said third elastically deformable spacing element engaging said first electrically conductive contact element and said second electrically conductive contact element.