Seat load sensing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle 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, said vehicle seat frame being movable vertically upon application of a vertical load to said vehicle seat frame;
a sensor for transferring the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from the said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor detecting a part of the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the part of the load transferred; and
a member for damping force transferred by the vehicle seat and said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, said member being interposed between the vehicle floor pan and said sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) is used in a vehicle having a vehicle 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 sensor (99), and a member (60). The vehicle seat frame (20) supports a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (2). The vehicle seat frame (20) is movable vertically upon application of a vertical load to the vehicle seat frame (20). The sensor (99) transfers the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (2) from the vehicle seat frame (20) to the vehicle floor pan (4). The sensor (99) detects a part of the load of the vehicle occupant and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of the part of the load transferred. The member (60) damps force transferred by the vehicle seat (2) and the vehicle seat frame (20) to the vehicle floor pan (4). The member (60) is interposed between the vehicle floor pan (4) and the sensor (99).
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat, said vehicle seat frame being movable vertically upon application of a vertical load to said vehicle seat frame;
a sensor for transferring the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from the said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor detecting a part of the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the part of the load transferred; and
a member for damping force transferred by the vehicle seat and said vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, said member being interposed between the vehicle floor pan and said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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11. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a bracket for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat being movable vertically relative to said bracket upon application of a vertical load to the vehicle seat;
a sensor for transferring the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan, said sensor detecting a part of the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the part of the load transferred; and
a member for damping force transferred by the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan, said member being interposed between the vehicle floor pan and said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including a travel stop bracket for limiting vertical movement of the vehicle seat.
Specification