Seat weight measuring apparatus

• US 6,323,443 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Maruyama, Shigenori, Aoki, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/326,662
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/144, 177/154, 177/155, 177/156, 177/157, 177/184, 177/186, 177/187, 177/188, 177/189, 180/273, 280/735
• US Class Current: 177/144
• 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: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• 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 seat weight measuring apparatus capable of improving the safety against an abnormal force acting on the seat. A seat weight measuring apparatus (5) includes seat connecting mechanisms (17) arranged between seat fixing portions (19) of a vehicle and a seat (3), and load sensors (13) which detect the seat weight loaded on the mechanisms. It further includes displacement restriction mechanisms (25) that restrict the displacement of the seat (3) relative to the seat fixing portions (19). When the load sensors receive a force exceeding a predetermined level, the excess load is borne by the displacement restriction mechanisms instead of the load sensors.

Claims

1. A seat weight measuring apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle seat including the weight of a passenger sitting thereon, comprising:

seat connecting mechanisms including deflection members, arranged between seat fixing elements attached to the vehicle and the seat;

load sensors for detecting the weight loaded on the seat connecting mechanisms; and

displacement restriction mechanisms for restricting a displacement of the seat relative to the seat fixing elements, within a predetermined range; and

,

wherein the load sensors are located below a seat rail which is attached to an underside of the seat.

2. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the deflection of the seat connecting mechanisms due to load variations within a measuring range of the load sensors is within a range of between approximately 0.5 to approximately 8 mm.

3. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displacement restriction mechanisms are configured to tolerate a displacement of ±

0.25 to 8 mm and withstand a load of at least 300 kgf.

4. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the load sensors are provided with detecting members; and

wherein the deflection members are members having spring characteristics, and are connected in series with the load sensors.

5. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the load sensors are provided with detecting members;

and

wherein the deflection members serve as detecting members of the load sensors.

6. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms are positioned in locations offset from loading axes of the seat connecting mechanisms.

7. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms restrict movements of the seat in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions.

8. The seat weight measuring apparatus of claim 1,

wherein each load sensor is provided with a strain detecting member having a plurality of strain gauges;

wherein the strain gauges are positioned on the strain detecting member at regions having constrictions at the sides.

9. A seat weight measuring apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle seat including the weight of a passenger sitting thereon comprising:

seat fixing elements positioned on a vehicle;

a plurality of seat rails attached to an underside of the seat;

seat connecting mechanisms arranged at four corners of the seat between the seat fixing elements and the seat rails;

load sensors for detecting the weight loaded on the seat connecting mechanisms; and

displacement restriction mechanisms for restricting a displacement of the seat rails relative to the seat connecting mechanisms in a predetermined range,

wherein the load sensors are located below the seat rails.

13. The seat weight measuring apparatus of claim 9,

wherein each load sensor is provided with a strain detecting member having a plurality of strain gauges;

wherein the strain gauges are positioned on the strain detecting member at regions having constrictions are formed at the sides, wherein

the strain gauges of each load sensor being arranged symmetrically relative to a central axis of the load sensor'"'"'s strain detecting member and wherein each load sensor is constructed so that a twisting strain around the central axis of its strain detecting member is not output by the strain detecting member.

14. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein anchoring portions of a seat belt are connected to the seat rails;

and

wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms are positioned in the vicinities of the anchoring portions.

15. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 9,

wherein anchoring portions of a seat belt are connected to the seat rails;

and

wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms are positioned in a plurality of locations including the vicinities of the anchoring portions, and

wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms positioned in the vicinities of the anchoring portions are rigid members capable of withstanding a load of approximately 2300 kgf.

10. A seat weight measuring apparatus for measuring the weight of a vehicle seat including the weight of a passenger sitting thereon, comprising:

seat fixing elements positioned on a vehicle;

a plurality of seat rails attached to an underside of the seat;

seat connecting mechanisms including deflection members arranged at four corners of the seat between the seat fixing elements and the seat rails;

load sensors for detecting the weight loaded on the seat connecting mechanisms; and

displacement restriction mechanisms for restricting a displacement of the seat rails relative to the seat connecting mechanisms, in a predetermined range, and

wherein the load sensors are located below the seat rails.

11. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 10,

wherein anchoring portions of a seat belt are connected to the seat rails; and

wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms are positioned in the vicinities of the anchoring portions.

12. A seat weight measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 10,

wherein anchoring portions of a seat belt are connected to the seat rails;

and

wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms are positioned in the vicinities of the anchoring portions, and

wherein the displacement restriction mechanisms positioned in the vicinities of the anchoring portions are rigid members capable of withstanding a load of approximately 2300 kgf.