Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat

• US 20100044117A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Takayasu, Wataru, Ishima, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 8,779,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/136
• 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 2/06 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: 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

An upper rail is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail, and a rectangular frame 30 is attached onto the load sensor. A rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame, a plain washer and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring is wound around the rod. A bush is fitted to an edge of a hole of the plain washer, and a step difference is formed between an upper surface of the plain washer and the bush. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. In such a way, the coil spring is sandwiched between the spring holder and the web and is compressed, and an end portion of the coil spring engages with the step difference.

Claims

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

right and left frame members by which the vehicle seat can be supported and which extend in a front-and-rear direction,

front attachment portions and rear attachment portions located in each of front portions of the right and left frame members and in each of rear portions of the right and left frame members, respectively, each of the front and rear attachment portions being attachable to a load sensor, and

the front portions and the rear portions of the right and left frame members, in which the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are formed respectively, are wider in a right-and-left direction than middle portions of the right and left frame members,

the middle portion of each of the right and left frame members being defined between the front portion and the rear portion of each of the right and left frame members, respectively, and

the right-and-left direction being perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction.

2. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are formed in each of extending portions respectively, which extend from the right and left frame members respectively in the right direction or the left direction.

3. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed and the extending portion in which the rear attachment portion of the one frame member is formed, extend in a same direction.

4. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, extends in one direction of the right direction and the left direction, and the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of the other frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, extends in an opposite direction to the one direction.

5. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of at least one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, is wider in the front-and-rear direction than the extending portion in which the rear attachment portion of the one frame member is formed.

6. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of at least one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, comprises an edge part which extends in an extending direction and a base part, and wherein the edge part is narrower in the front-and-rear direction than the base part.

7. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of at least one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, is larger than an upper surface of the extending portion in which the rear attachment portion of the one frame member is formed.

8. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extending portions in which the front attachment portions of the right and left frame members are formed respectively, are wider in the front-and-rear direction than the extending portions in which the rear attachment portions of the right and left frame members are formed respectively.

9. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein upper surfaces of the extending portions in which the front attachment portions of the right and left frame members are formed respectively, are larger than upper surfaces of the extending portions in which the rear attachment portions of the right and left frame members are formed respectively.

10. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a projecting part which projects upwardly is formed on the extending portion.

11. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the projecting part is formed so as to enclose the load sensor.

12. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the projecting part is formed in a substantial U-shape as viewed from above so as to enclose the load sensor.

13. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the projecting part formed in the substantial U-shape is continuous.

26. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising right and left attachment base members including a fixed rail fixed to a vehicle side and a movable rail disposed to be movable in the front-and-rear direction on the fixed rail, and

the passenger weight measurement device further comprises a lock mechanism for locking each movable rail of the attachment base members to each fixed rail of the attachment base members, and each of both end portions of an operating lever member for releasing a locking condition of the movable rails and each of the front attachment portions are arranged in the front-and-rear direction along each of the attachment base members.

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

right and left frame members by which the vehicle seat can be supported and which extend in a front-and-rear direction,

front attachment portions and rear attachment portions located in each of front portions of the right and left frame members and in each of rear portions of the right and left frame members, respectively, each of the front and rear attachment portions being attachable to a load sensor, and

each of the right and left frame members has a concave portion located between the front attachment portion and the rear attachment portion.

15. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the concave portion is provided on an outer surface of each of the right and left frame members.

16. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the concave portion is provided in a position opposite to each of right and left attachment base members which are attached to a vehicle side and which extend in the front-and-rear direction.

17. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the right and left attachment base members comprises a fixed rail fixed to the vehicle side and a movable rail disposed to be movable in the front-and-rear direction on the fixed rail.

18. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a first connecting member for connecting the right and left frame members is provided on a rear side of the concave portion.

19. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first connecting member is directly connected with the rear attachment portions of the right and left frame members.

20. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a second connecting member for connecting the right and left frame members is provided on a front side of the concave portion.

21. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second connecting member is directly connected with the front attachment portions of the right and left frame members.

22. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a bent portion is formed in each of both end portions of the second connecting member.

23. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a third connecting member for connecting the right and left attachment base members is provided at a position opposite to each concave portion.

24. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 14, wherein an elongated hole which is elongated in the front-and-rear direction is formed in at least one of the right and left frame members in which the concave portion is formed and the elongated hole is provided in a position opposite to the concave portion.

25. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a lock mechanism for locking each movable rail of the attachment base members to each fixed rail of the attachment base members, and each of both end portions of an operating lever member for releasing a locking condition of the movable rails and each of the front attachment portions are arranged in the front-and-rear direction along each of the attachment base members.

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

right and left rail members, each of the rail members comprising a fixed rail fixed to a vehicle side and a movable rail disposed to be movable in a front-and-rear direction on the fixed rail; and

right and left frame members which are provided on the right and left rail members, respectively, and which extend in the front-and-rear direction along the right and left rail members,

front attachment portions and rear attachment portions located in each of front portions of the right and left frame members and in each of rear portions of the right and left frame members, respectively, each of the front and rear attachment portions being attachable to a load sensor,

the front portions and the rear portions of the right and left frame members, in which the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are formed respectively, are wider in a right-and-left direction than middle portions of the right and left frame members, the middle portion of each of the right and left frame members being defined between the front portion and the rear portion of each of the right and left frame members, respectively, and

the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are formed in each of extending portions respectively, which extend from the right and left frame members respectively in a right direction or a left direction, the right-and-left direction being perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction,

the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed and the extending portion in which the rear attachment portion of the one frame member is formed, extend in a same direction,

each of the right and left frame members is connected respectively to each of right and left side frames on a side of the right and left frame member from which each of the extending portions extends, and each of the right and left side frames is connected on each surface of the right and left frame members, the surface being opposite to a side on which the load sensors are provided.

28. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a pan frame for connecting front side frame portions of the right and left side frames,

a spring is attached to the pan frame, and

the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are provided on an outer side of the spring.

29. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 28, further comprising a first connecting member for connecting the rear attachment portions of the right and left frame members, and

wherein a backseat frame is connected to the right and left side frames backward of the first connecting member and above the first connecting member.

30. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of at least one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, is wider in the front-and-rear direction than the extending portion in which the rear attachment portion of the one frame member is formed.

31. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 27, wherein a projecting part which projects upwardly is formed on the extending portion.

32. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the projecting part is formed so as to enclose the load sensor.

33. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, extends in one direction of the right direction and the left direction, and the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of the other frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, extends in an opposite direction to the one direction.

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

right and left frame members by which the vehicle seat can be supported and which extend in a front-and-rear direction,

front attachment portions and rear attachment portions located in each of front portions of the right and left frame members and in each of rear portions of the right and left frame members, respectively, and

the front portions and the rear portions of the right and left frame members, in which the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are formed respectively, are wider in a right-and-left direction than middle portions of the right and left frame members,

the middle portion of each of the right and left frame members being defined between the front portion and the rear portion of each of the right and left frame members, respectively, and

the right-and-left direction being perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction.

35. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the front attachment portions and the rear attachment portions are formed in each of extending portions respectively, which extend from the right and left frame members respectively in the right direction or the left direction.

36. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the extending portion in which the front attachment portion of at least one frame member of the right and left frame members is formed, is wider in the front-and-rear direction than the extending portion in which the rear attachment portion of the one frame member is formed.

37. The passenger weight measurement device as claimed in claim 35, wherein a projecting part which projects upwardly is formed on the extending portion.