Detection device and seat comprising one such device

• US 7,851,716 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crouzet Automatismes (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Crouzet Automatismes (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Collot, Stephane, Niguet, Ludovic
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa; Felix O
• Application Number:
  US12/087,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 200/43.19, 200/43.02, 200/43.18, 200/43.21, 200323-325, 200/321, 200318-3182, 200/293, 2972171-2173, 340/667, 340/666
• US Class Current: 200/43.18
• 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 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/20 Caging devices for moving parts when not in use

Abstract

A detection device comprises a case formed by at least a first and second part able to move with respect to one another between a first and second operating position. Said device comprises an electric contact comprising at least two electric states, closed or open, each electric state being associated with one of the operating positions of the first and second parts, and securing means designed to fix said case onto an external support. Said securing means comprise locking means designed to perform holding of the two parts of the case in one of the two operating positions, fixing of the case onto the support by the securing means rendering the locking means inoperative.

Claims

1. A detection device comprising:

a case formed by at least a first and second part able to move in translation with respect to one another between a first and second operating position,

holding means exerting a holding force opposing movement of the first and second parts from the first operating position to the second operating position,

an electric contact comprising at least two electric states, closed or open, each electric state being associated with one of the operating positions of the first and second parts,

securing means designed to secure said case on an external support,

wherein the securing means comprise locking means keeping the two parts of the case in the second operating position when the case is not fixed, the locking means being inoperative when the case is fixed on the support.

2. The detection device according to claim 1 wherein the electric contact is in a closed electric state when the two parts are in the second operating position, the electric contact being in an open electric state when the first and second part are in the first operating position.

3. The detection device according to claim 1 wherein the securing means comprise at least one flexible arm having a first end integral to the first part and a second end comprising the locking means designed to be coupled with the second part in the second operating position.

4. The detection device according to claim 1 wherein the second part is sliding with respect to the first part of the case.

5. The detection device according to claim 1 wherein the securing means comprise flexible arms arranged in uniform manner on a peripheral surface of the first part of the case.

6. A seat comprising at least a deformable seating surface on which a passenger is to sit, a rigid frame designed to be fixed to a vehicle, wherein a detection device according to claim 1 is secured by the securing means under the seating surface.

7. The seat according to claim 6 wherein the seating surface comprises a deformable foam directly commanding movement of the second part of the case to the first operating position.

8. The seat according to claim 7 wherein the deformable foam is in contact with the second part.

9. The seat according to claim 8 comprising a backrest in which a detection device comprising:

a case formed by at least a first and second part able to move in translation with respect to one another between a first and second operating position,

holding means exerting a holding force opposing movement of the first and second parts from the first operating position to the second operating position,

an electric contact comprising at least two electric states, closed or open, each electric state being associated with one of the operating positions of the first and second parts, and

securing means designed to secure said case on an external support,

wherein the securing means comprise locking means keeping the two parts of the case in the second operating position when the case is not fixed, the locking means being inoperative when the case is fixed on the support, is positioned and detects deformation of a first part of the backrest with respect to a second part of the backrest.