Passenger'S weight measurement device for vehicle seat

• US 8,844,890 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Endo, Shigeru, Sato, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US12/971,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 248/424, 248/429, 248/430, 180/273, 297/216.2
• US Class Current: 248/429
• 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 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• 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 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

To provide a passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device for a vehicle seat which can be assembled to prevent the occurrence of the initial deformation and the initial load. The passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device comprises a pair of left and right fixed lower rails, a pair of movable upper rails disposed to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on each of the fixed lower rails, load sensors fixed on an upper surface of the left movable upper rail, load sensors mounted on the movable upper rail to be movable in a left-and-right direction with respect to the right movable upper rail, and a rectangular frame mounted on the load sensors. Mounting holes are formed on the rectangular frame, and rods are inserted into the mounting holes from bottom up. The rods are engaged with nuts.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising a passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device, comprising:

right and left rail members, each of the right and left rail members comprising a fixed rail that is fixable to a vehicle and a movable rail that is disposed to be movable in a lengthwise direction of the fixed rail;

a first load sensor that is mounted to at least one of the right and left rail members;

a second load sensor that is mounted to at least one of the right and left rail members,

a first attachment portion for attaching the first load sensor; and

a second attachment portion for attaching the second load sensor,

wherein the first load sensor is disposed more forwardly than the second load sensor,

wherein a first projecting wall projecting in a vertical direction is formed on a front side of the first attachment portion so as to form the first projecting wall and the first attachment portion as one member, and

wherein a second projecting wall projecting in the vertical direction is formed on a rear side of the second attachment portion so as to form the second projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first projecting wall and the second projecting wall comprises a surface that is parallel to a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner projecting wall, projecting in the vertical direction, is formed on an inside portion of at least one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion so as to form the inner projecting wall and the one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion as one member.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein a load sensor rod portion, extending in the vertical direction, is provided on at least one of the first load sensor and the second load sensor, and the inner projecting wall crosses a shaft line of the load sensor rod portion and is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner projecting wall, projecting in the vertical direction, is formed on an inside portion of the second attachment portion so as to form the inner projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member.

6. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein a load sensor rod portion extending in the vertical direction is provided on the second load sensor, and the inner projecting wall crosses a shaft line of the load sensor rod portion and is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

right and left frame members for supporting an upper portion of the first load sensor and an upper portion of the second load sensor;

a first connecting member for connecting between a front portion of the right frame member and a front portion of the left frame member; and

a second connecting member for connecting between a rear portion of the right frame member and a rear portion of the left frame member,

wherein the first attachment portion supports a lower portion of the first load sensor, and the second attachment portion supports a lower portion of the second load sensor, and

wherein the plane is disposed more forwardly than the second connecting member.

8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein a third projecting wall projecting upwardly is formed on a position opposite to the first projecting wall across the first load sensor so as to form the third projecting wall and the first attachment portion as one member,

wherein a fourth projecting wall projecting upwardly is formed on a position opposite to the second projecting wall across the second load sensor so as to form the fourth projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member,

wherein inner projecting walls are provided on an inside portion of each of the first load sensor attachment portion and the second load sensor attachment portion, respectively,

wherein the inner projecting wall on the first load sensor attachment portion is provided between the first projecting wall and the third projecting wall, and

the inner projecting wall on the second load sensor attachment portion is provided between the second projecting wall and the fourth projecting wall.

9. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

right and left frame members for supporting an upper portion of the first load sensor and an upper portion of the second load sensor;

a first connecting member for connecting between a front portion of the right frame member and a front portion of the left frame member; and

a second connecting member for connecting between a rear portion of the right frame member and a rear portion of the left frame member,

wherein the first attachment portion supports a lower portion of the first load sensor, and the second attachment portion supports a lower portion of the second load sensor, and

wherein the inner projecting wall is disposed more frontwardly than the second connecting member.

10. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second projecting wall projects upwardly, and an upper end portion of the second projecting wall is provided below the second connecting member.

11. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion is connected with the second attachment portion by an extending member extending in a longitudinal direction.

12. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the extending member is attached to an upper portion of the movable rail.

13. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion is connected with the second attachment portion by an extending member extending in a longitudinal direction, and the extending member is attached to an upper surface of the movable rail by a plurality of fastening members.

14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein an attachment position of at least one of the first load sensor and the second load sensor is adjustable.

15. A vehicle seat comprising a passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device, comprising:

right and left rail members, each of the right and left rail members comprising a fixed rail that is fixable to a vehicle and a movable rail that is disposed to be movable in a lengthwise direction of the fixed rail;

a first load sensor and a second load sensor that are mounted to at least one of the right and left rail members;

a first attachment portion for attaching the first load sensor; and

a second attachment portion for attaching the second load sensor,

wherein the first attachment portion is provided on an upper front portion of the movable rail,

wherein the second attachment portion is provided on an upper rear portion of the movable rail,

wherein a first projecting wall projecting in a vertical direction is formed on a front side of the first attachment portion so as to form the first projecting wall and the first attachment portion as one member, and

a second projecting wall projecting in the vertical direction is formed on a rear side of the second attachment portion so as to form the second projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member.

16. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the first projecting wall and the second projecting wall extends in a lateral direction.

17. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein an inner projecting wall, projecting in the vertical direction, is formed on an inside portion of at least one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion so as to form the inner projecting wall and the one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion as one member.

18. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 17, wherein a load sensor rod portion, extending in the vertical direction, is provided on at least one of the first load sensor and the second load sensor, and the inner projecting wall crosses a shaft line of the load sensor rod portion and is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

19. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein an inner projecting wall, projecting in the vertical direction, is formed on an inside portion of the second attachment portion so as to form the inner projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member.

20. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein a load sensor rod portion extending in the vertical direction is provided on the second load sensor, and the inner projecting wall crosses a shaft line of the load sensor rod portion and is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

21. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

right and left frame members for supporting an upper portion of the first load sensor and an upper portion of the second load sensor;

a first connecting member for connecting between a front portion of the right frame member and a front portion of the left frame member; and

a second connecting member for connecting between a rear portion of the right frame member and a rear portion of the left frame member,

wherein the first attachment portion supports a lower portion of the first load sensor, and the second attachment portion supports a lower portion of the second load sensor, and

wherein the plane is disposed more forwardly than the second connecting member.

22. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

right and left frame members for supporting an upper portion of the first load sensor and an upper portion of the second load sensor;

a first connecting member for connecting between a front portion of the right frame member and a front portion of the left frame member; and

a second connecting member for connecting between a rear portion of the right frame member and a rear portion of the left frame member,

wherein the first attachment portion supports a lower portion of the first load sensor, and the second attachment portion supports a lower portion of the second load sensor, and

wherein the inner projecting wall is disposed more frontwardly than the second connecting member.

23. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second projecting wall projects upwardly, and an upper end portion of the second projecting wall is provided below the second connecting member.

24. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first attachment portion is connected with the second attachment portion by an extending member extending in a longitudinal direction.

25. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first attachment portion is connected with the second attachment portion by an extending member extending in a longitudinal direction, and the extending member is attached to an upper surface of the movable rail by a plurality of fastening members.

26. A vehicle seat comprising a passenger'"'"'s weight measurement device, comprising:

right and left rail members, each of the right and left rail members comprising a fixed rail that is fixable to a vehicle and a movable rail that is disposed to be movable in a lengthwise direction of the fixed rail;

a first load sensor that is mounted to at least one of the right and left rail members;

a second load sensor that is mounted to at least one of the right and left rail members;

a first attachment portion for attaching the first load sensor; and

a second attachment portion for attaching the second load sensor,

wherein the first load sensor is disposed more forwardly than the second load sensor,

wherein a first projecting wall projecting upwardly is formed on a front side of the first attachment portion so as to form the first projecting wall and the first attachment portion as one member,

wherein a second projecting wall projecting upwardly is formed on a rear side of the second attachment portion so as to form the second projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member, and

a third projecting wall projecting upwardly is formed on a position opposite to at least one of the first projecting wall and the second projecting wall across at least one of the first load sensor and the second load sensor so as to form the third projecting wall and at least one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion.

27. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of the first projecting wall and the third projecting wall projects in a lateral direction.

28. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26, wherein an inner projecting wall, projecting in the vertical direction, is formed on an inside portion of at least one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion so as to form the inner projecting wall and the one of the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion as one member.

29. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 28, wherein a load sensor rod portion, extending in the vertical direction, is provided on at least one of the first load sensor and the second load sensor, and the inner projecting wall crosses a shaft line of the load sensor rod portion and is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

30. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26, wherein an inner projecting wall, projecting in the vertical direction, is formed on an inside portion of the second attachment portion so as to form the inner projecting wall and the second attachment portion as one member.

31. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 30, wherein a load sensor rod portion extending in the vertical direction is provided on the second load sensor, and the inner projecting wall crosses a shaft line of the load sensor rod portion and is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the right and left rail members.

32. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 31, further comprising:

right and left frame members for supporting an upper portion of the first load sensor and an upper portion of the second load sensor;

a first connecting member for connecting between a front portion of the right frame member and a front portion of the left frame member; and

a second connecting member for connecting between a rear portion of the right frame member and a rear portion of the left frame member,

wherein the first attachment portion supports a lower portion of the first load sensor, and the second attachment portion supports a lower portion of the second load sensor, and

wherein the plane is disposed more forwardly than the second connecting member.

33. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

right and left frame members for supporting an upper portion of the first load sensor and an upper portion of the second load sensor;

a first connecting member for connecting between a front portion of the right frame member and a front portion of the left frame member; and

a second connecting member for connecting between a rear portion of the right frame member and a rear portion of the left frame member,

wherein the first attachment portion supports a lower portion of the first load sensor, and the second attachment portion supports a lower portion of the second load sensor, and

wherein the inner projecting wall is disposed more frontwardly than the second connecting member.

34. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 33, wherein the second projecting wall projects upwardly, and an upper end portion of the second projecting wall is provided below the second connecting member.

35. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first attachment portion is connected with the second attachment portion by an extending member extending in a longitudinal direction.

36. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first attachment portion is connected with the second attachment portion by an extending member extending in a longitudinal direction, and the extending member is attached to an upper surface of the movable rail by a plurality of fastening members.