Load sensing assembly for a vehicle seat
First Claim
1. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said assembly comprising:
- a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the load of the vehicle occupant; and
a housing for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan and enclosing said sensor to protect said sensor, said housing having a portion with a first surface and a second surface vertically offset from said first surface, said second surface limiting movement of said sensor when the load of the vehicle occupant is sensed by said sensor.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly (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 assembly (10) includes a vehicle seat frame (20) for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (2), a sensor (79) for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant, and a housing (100) for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan (4). The sensor (79) provides an output signal indicative of the amount of the load of the vehicle occupant. The housing (100) encloses the sensor (79) to protect the sensor (79).
36 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the load of the vehicle occupant; and
a housing for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan and enclosing said sensor to protect said sensor, said housing having a portion with a first surface and a second surface vertically offset from said first surface, said second surface limiting movement of said sensor when the load of the vehicle occupant is sensed by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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5. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the load of the vehicle occupant;
a housing for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan and enclosing said sensor to protect said sensor; and
a shield member connected with said seat frame and said sensor portion, said shield member engaging said housing to limit movement of said sensor portion, said shield member having a vertical skirt portion for protecting said sensor from foreign objects.
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7. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a first sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the part of the load of the vehicle occupant;
a second sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the part of the load of the vehicle occupant;
a housing for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan and enclosing said first and second sensors to protect said first and second sensors, said housing having a first horizontal portion, a second horizontal portion vertically offset from said first horizontal portion, and a third horizontal portion vertically offset from said first horizontal portion, said second horizontal portion limiting movement of said first sensor when the load of the vehicle occupant is sensed by said first sensor, said third horizontal portion limiting movement of said second sensor when the load of the vehicle occupant is sensed by said second sensor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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8. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the load of the vehicle occupant; and
a housing for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan and enclosing said sensor to protect said sensor, said housing having a projecting member for engaging said sensor and preventing rotation of said sensor relative to said housing in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.
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17. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat, said assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of the load of the vehicle occupant, said sensor including a sensor portion that moves in response to a change in the load of the vehicle occupant; and
a housing for transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan, said housing including an over-travel limit portion for protecting said sensor from excessive movement of said sensor portion, said housing having a horizontal portion, a first side portion, a second side portion opposite said first side portion, a third side portion generally perpendicular to said first side portion, and a fourth side portion opposite said third side portion, said side portions projecting vertically downward from said horizontal portion toward the vehicle floor pan and forming an enclosed chamber for said sensor when said housing is mounted to the vehicle floor pan. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An assembly for use in a vehicle having a seat for a vehicle occupant, a floor pan, and a cross bar located between the vehicle seat and the floor pan, said assembly comprising:
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a vehicle seat frame for supporting a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat;
a sensor for sensing the load of the vehicle occupant and providing an output signal indicative of the amount of load of the vehicle occupant; and
a housing supporting said sensor, said housing being for fixed attachment to the cross bar and transmitting the load of the vehicle occupant to the vehicle floor pan through the cross bar. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification