Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat and attachment structure of load sensor

• US 7,836,997 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Kenji, Endo, Shigeru, Ishima, Shinya, Takayasu, Wataru
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US11/992,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 738/56, 177/144, 177/DIG.9, 177/136, 180/273, 280/735
• 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 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/015 including means for detecting the presence or position of passengers, passenger seats or child seats , and the related safety parameters therefor, e.g. speed or timing of airbag inflation in relation to occupant position or seat belt use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 177/09 Scale bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/946 Spring-seated

Abstract

A lower rail is fixed to a vehicle floor, and an upper rail 4 is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to the lower rail. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail 4. A rectangular frame is attached onto the load sensor, a rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring 44 is wound around the rod. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. The coil spring 44 is sandwiched between a flange of the spring holder and the web and is compressed by tightening the nut.

Claims

1. A passenger weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower rail attachable to a vehicle floor;

an upper rail provided on the lower rail and disposed so as to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the lower rail;

a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail;

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat;

a rod extended from the load sensor, the rod sequentially penetrates the frame and a receiving member and is inserted into an elastic member, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the receiving member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the receiving member and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut to the receiving member; and

a downward extending portion which extends downwardly along the elastic member and is provided in an upper side receiving portion for receiving an upper end of the elastic member.

2. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an upward extending portion which extends upwardly along the elastic member provided in a lower side receiving portion for receiving a lower end of the elastic member.

3. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downward extending portion regulates a radial position of the elastic member.

4. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

5. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper side receiving member comprises a cup portion in which a through hole through which the rod penetrates is formed in a bottom and in which an upper part is open.

6. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the nut is disposed below an upper surface of the upper side receiving portion.

7. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a projecting wall which projects upwardly formed near a load sensor attachment portion in the frame.

8. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an upper end of the projecting wall is arranged above the upper end of the elastic member.

9. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper end of the projecting wall is arranged above an upper surface of the nut.

10. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising load sensor attachment portions provided on the upper rail, and wherein a portion of the frame in which the load sensor is arranged is wider than a connecting portion of the frame, the connecting portion connecting between the load sensor attachment portions.

11. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 10, wherein an elongated hole is formed in the connecting portion.

25. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the upper side receiving member comprises a flange formed on an outer circumference of the cup portion, and

the cup portion is inserted through the elastic member, at least a part of the nut is inserted into the cup portion to tighten the bottom of the cup portion, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the flange and the frame.

12. A passenger weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower rail attachable to a vehicle floor;

an upper rail provided on the lower rail and disposed so as to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the lower rail;

a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail;

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat;

a rod extended from the load sensor, the rod sequentially penetrates the frame and a receiving member and is inserted into an elastic member, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the receiving member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the receiving member and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut to the receiving member; and

an inner downward extending portion which extends downwardly along an inner side of the elastic member and is provided in an upper side receiving portion for receiving an upper end of the elastic member.

13. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an inner upward extending portion which extends upwardly along an inner side of the elastic member provided in a lower side receiving portion for receiving a lower end of the elastic member.

14. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

15. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the upper side receiving member comprises a cup portion in which a through hole through which the rod penetrates is formed in a bottom and in which an upper part is open.

16. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein an upper surface of the nut is disposed below an upper surface of the upper side receiving portion.

17. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a projecting wall which projects upwardly formed near a load sensor attachment portion in the frame.

18. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 17, wherein an upper end of the projecting wall is arranged above the upper end of the elastic member.

19. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the upper end of the projecting wall is arranged above an upper surface of the nut.

20. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising load sensor attachment portions provided on the upper rail, and wherein a portion of the frame in which the load sensor is arranged is wider than a connecting portion of the frame, the connecting portion connecting between the load sensor attachment portions.

21. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 20, wherein an elongated hole is formed in the connecting portion.

26. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the upper side receiving member comprises a flange formed on an outer circumference of the cup portion, and

the cup portion is inserted through the elastic member, at least a part of the nut is inserted into the cup portion to tighten the bottom of the cup portion, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the flange and the frame.

29. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the downward extending portion regulates a radial position of the elastic member.

22. A passenger weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower rail attachable to a vehicle floor;

an upper rail provided on the lower rail and disposed so as to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the lower rail;

a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail;

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat;

a rod extended from the load sensor, the rod sequentially penetrates the frame and a receiving member and is inserted into an elastic member, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the receiving member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the receiving member and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut to the receiving member;

a collar member sandwiched between the load sensor and the frame and which comprises a projecting portion which projects upwardly; and

a downward extending portion which extends downwardly along the elastic member and is provided in an upper side receiving portion for receiving an upper end of the elastic member, wherein

the projecting portion faces the downward extending portion of the upper side receiving portion.

23. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the projecting portion contacts with the downward extending portion of the upper receiving portion.

27. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 22, further comprising, in an inner side of the elastic member, a portion regulating member for regulating a radial position of a lower end of the elastic member, and wherein the downward extending portion of the upper side receiving portion regulates a radial position of the upper end of the elastic member.

28. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the position regulating member is separated from the collar member.

24. A passenger weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a lower rail attachable to a vehicle floor;

an upper rail provided on the lower rail and disposed so as to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the lower rail;

a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail;

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat;

a rod extended from the load sensor, the rod sequentially penetrates the frame and a receiving member and is inserted into an elastic member, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the receiving member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the receiving member and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut to the receiving member, wherein

the elastic member, the nut and an upper receiving portion for receiving an upper end of the elastic member are arranged in a same plane perpendicular to a shaft direction of the rod of the load sensor.

30. A passenger weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

at least one lower rail attachable to a vehicle floor;

at least one upper rail provided on the at least one lower rail and disposed so as to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the at least one lower rail;

a load sensor fixed onto the at least one upper rail;

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat;

a rod extended from the load sensor, the rod penetrates the frame and a receiving member and is inserted into an elastic member, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the receiving member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the receiving member and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut; and

an extending portion that extends in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the rod and provided in one side receiving portion for receiving one side of the elastic member.

31. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extending portion regulates a radial position of the elastic member.

32. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 30, wherein an upper surface of the nut is disposed below an upper surface of the one-side receiving portion.

33. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a projecting wall that projects upwardly and is formed near a load sensor attachment portion in the frame.

34. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the projecting wall faces to at least a part of the nut.

35. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

the frame comprises a side frame and a plurality of load sensor attachment portions, the load sensor attachment portions each being wider than a connecting portion of the frame, the connecting portion connecting between the plurality of load sensor attachment portions, and

the passenger weight measurement device further comprises a connecting member connecting between the frame and a second frame that is on an opposite side of the passenger weight measurement device compared to the frame.

36. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a projecting wall that projects upwardly and is formed near a load sensor attachment portion in the frame, wherein the projecting wall faces to at least a part of the nut.

37. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 30, further comprising a connecting member that connects between a right rail member and a left rail member, each of the right rail member and the left rail member comprising one of the at least one upper rails and one of the at least one lower rails,

wherein, in each of the left rail member and the right rail member, a plurality of elongated holes are formed in a longitudinal direction of the corresponding rail member.

38. A passenger weight measurement device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

at least one lower rail attachable to a vehicle floor;

at least one upper rail provided on the at least one lower rail and disposed so as to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the at least one lower rail;

a load sensor fixed onto the at least one upper rail;

a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat;

a rod extended from the load sensor, the rod penetrates the frame and a receiving member and is inserted into an elastic member, a nut is screwed to the rod from above the receiving member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the receiving member and the frame and is compressed by tightening the nut; and

an inner extending portion that extends in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the rod and is provided in one side receiving portion for receiving one side of the elastic member.