Device for detecting the weight loaded onto a vehicle seat with a sensor and spring body

• US 7,017,699 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Becker, Burckhard, Houston, Robert, Angerer, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US10/274,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 180/273, 280/735, 177/136, 177/144, 177/210.R, 177154-159
• US Class Current: 180/273
• 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 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

A device for detecting the weight loaded on a vehicle seat with a sensor (22) and a spring body (24) that connects the vehicle seat to an underbody (18) of a corresponding motor vehicle and is connected, in one fastening area (e.g., 28), with a bottom rail (20) of the vehicle seat on the one hand and, in another fastening area (e.g., 26), to the underbody (18) of the corresponding motor vehicle on the other hand. One of the mounting areas is provided with a bore (38) through which a seat fastening screw (30) is engaged. The sensor (22) is provided with a travel sensor which is disposed parallel to the seat fastening screw (30) between the two fastening areas (26, 28) or to these rigidly connected parts (retaining plate 60 for example) and which measures the distance of these fastening areas (26, 28) parallel to the seat fastening screw (30).

Claims

1. A device for detecting the weight loaded on a vehicle seat, comprising:

a sensor;

a spring body that connects the vehicle seat to an underbody of a corresponding motor vehicle and is connected, in a first fastening area, with a bottom rail of the vehicle seat and, in a second fastening area, to the underbody of the corresponding motor vehicle,

a seat fastening screw which freely protrudes through an opening in the bottom rail of the vehicle seat, the seat fastening screw being detachably but firmly connected to the underbody; and

a retaining plate connected to the seat fastening screw, wherein the retaining plate is located above the opening of the bottom rail and straddles the openings of the bottom rail,

wherein the seat fastening screw has a head and a shaft, the shaft protruding through the retaining plate via a hole, and the head being wider than the shaft and wider than the hole in the retaining plate to form an overload protection device, and

wherein the sensor is a travel sensor which is disposed parallel to the seat fastening screw between the first and second fastening areas or to parts rigidly connected to the first and second fastening areas and which measures the distance of the first and second fastening areas in a direction parallel to the seat fastening screw.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, comprising an inductive transducer provided with a magnet core and a coil, wherein the magnet core is guided within the coil and is movable relative thereto, wherein the magnet core is assigned to one said fastening area, and wherein the coil is assigned to the other said fastening area.

3. The detection device according to claim 2, wherein an elastic protective sheathing which encircles the magnet core is arranged between coil and the one fastening area, or a part firmly connected thereto.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the spring body is a bent leaf spring.

5. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the spring body is permanently connected to the bottom rail in one fastening area and wherein the seat fastening screw connects the spring body to the underbody.

6. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the travel sensor is arranged in an interior space bounded by the bottom rail and one seat rail in engagement with said bottom rail.

7. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the travel sensor is arranged in a space underneath the underbody.