Seat load sensing apparatus

• US 20060181119A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Smith, Nick L., Wolfe, George B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,178,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• 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: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• 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

An apparatus (10) is used in a vehicle having a seat (2) for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan (4) for supporting the vehicle seat (2). The apparatus (10) includes a vehicle seat frame (20), a bracket (30), a spring element (240, 340 or 340, 350), a lever (90), and a sensor (992). The spring element (240, 340 or 340, 350) compresses to allow the vehicle seat frame (20) to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat (2). The lever (90) has a first end portion (100) and a second end portion (110) opposite the first end portion (100). The first end portion (100) is movable with the vehicle seat frame (20). The second end portion (110) is movable with the vehicle seat frame (20). The lever (90) has a middle portion (120) interposed between the first end portion (100) and the second end portion (110). The lever (90) bends as the vehicle seat frame (20) moves vertically relative to the bracket (30). The sensor (992) detects movement of the middle portion (120) of the lever (90) and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of the middle portion (120) of the lever (90).

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;

a bracket for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan;

a spring element compressing to allow said vehicle seat frame to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat;

a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said second end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said lever bending as said seat frame moves vertically relative to said bracket; and

a sensor for detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including an upper track fixedly connected to said vehicle seat frame, said upper track engaging a lower track and being movable on said lower track for adjusting the vehicle seat for occupants of varying sizes.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a threaded sleeve for securing said bracket and said spring element together.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein further including a carrier member for supporting said lever, said carrier member having a first cylindrical engagement surface engaging a lower surface of said lever and a second cylindrical engagement surface engaging said lower surface of said lever.

5. The apparatus as define in claim 1 further including a threaded sleeve for securing said bracket and said spring element together, said threaded sleeve having a spherical surface for engaging said first end portion of said lever.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a first end portion, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a horizontal middle portion for supporting said spring element.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a fastener for prestressing said spring element into a compressed condition.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a carrier member secured to said bracket.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said lever is prestressed to a bent condition when no load is placed on the vehicle seat frame by a vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring element is compressible as said seat frame moves downward and expandable as said seat frame moves upward.

11. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:

a bracket for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan;

a spring element compressing to allow the vehicle seat to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat;

a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with the vehicle seat, said second end portion being movable with the vehicle seat, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said lever bending as the vehicle seat moves vertically relative to said bracket; and

a sensor for detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said spring element is compressible as the vehicle seat moves upward and expandable as said seat frame moves downward.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said bracket includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a horizontal portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said horizontal portion supporting said spring element.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said first and second end portions of said bracket support said lever.

16. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;

a spring element compressing to allow said vehicle seat frame to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat;

a lever having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said first end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said second end portion being movable with said vehicle seat frame, said lever having a middle portion interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion, said lever bending as said vehicle seat frame moves vertically relative to the vehicle floor pan; and

a sensor for detecting movement of said middle portion of said lever and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of said middle portion of said lever.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including a carrier member having a first cylindrical engagement surface engaging a lower surface of said lever.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including a bracket for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat to vehicle floor pan.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said spring element is compressible as said vehicle seat frame moves downward and expandable as said vehicle seat frame moves upward.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said spring element is compressible as said vehicle seat frame moves upward and expandable as said vehicle seat frame moves downward.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further including a carrier member for supporting said lever at two separate points interposed between said first end portion and said second end portion.