Underframe of a motor vehicle seat with weight sensors

• US 7,435,918 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• 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, Weber, Michael, Margiciok, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US11/485,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20070012487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/144, 180/273, 280/735
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/002 Means for correcting for obliquity of mounting for pendulum-weight apparatus G01G1/16

Abstract

The underframe of a motor vehicle seat is equipped with weight sensors for sensing a weight load on the motor vehicle seat. The weight sensors are interposed between a first structure part, such as a seat profile of a longitudinal guide, and a second structure part, such as a console or a seat shell, and sense the weight exerted through the second structure part on the first structure part. The weight sensors are fastened to the first structure part and comprise sensor bolts projecting upward. Holes for the sensor bolts are provided in the second structure part. The sensor bolts extend through the holes and one nut, which forms a surrounding grip around the holes, is associated with each of the sensor bolts. The holes of the second structure part each comprise one hole region that surrounds the holes and is configured as a cap.

Claims

1. A weight-sensing underframe of a motor vehicle seat comprising:

weight sensors for sensing a weight load on the motor vehicle seat, the weight sensors being interposed between a first structure part and a second structure part, and sensing the weight exerted through the second structure part on the first structure part,

the weight sensors being fastened to the first structure part and including sensor bolts projecting upward, holes for the sensor bolts are provided in the second structure part, the sensor bolts extending through the holes, and at least one nut, which forms a surrounding grip around the holes, each nut being associated with one of the sensor bolts, and

the holes of the second structure part each define at least one hole region that surrounds the holes and is configured as a cap having a convex or concave configuration.

2. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

(i) an upper cap-shaped perforated disk above each hole region forming a surrounding grip around the respective sensor bolt and (ii) a lower cap-shaped perforated disk underneath each hole region forming a surrounding grip around the respective sensor bolt.

3. The underframe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spherical radii of the curvatures of the cap in the hole region and of at least one of the upper and lower cap-shaped perforated disks are intermating.

4. The underframe as set forth in claim 2, wherein a cap surface of the upper cap-shaped perforated disk and an upper cap surface of the cap are in touching contact, and a cap surface of the lower cap-shaped perforated disk and a lower cap surface of the cap are in touching contact.

5. The underframe as set forth on claim 2, wherein a cap surface of the upper cap-shaped perforated disk and an upper cap surface of the cap are spaced adjacent to each other without a gap therebetween, and a cap surface of the lower cap shaped perforated disk and a lower cap surface of the cap are spaced adjacent to each other without a gap therebetween.

6. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the holes are oversized with respect to the outer diameter of the sensor bolts, with the oversize being greater than 10% of the outer diameter.

7. The underframe as set forth in claim 6, wherein the holes are oversized with respect to the outer diameter of the sensor bolts, with the oversize being greater than 20% of the outer diameter.

8. The underframe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the upper cap-shaped perforated disk and the nut are formed as a combined part, which includes the nut and the upper cap-shaped perforated disk connected therewith.

9. The underframe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the upper cap-shaped perforated disk has a concave cap surface on either annular surface.

10. The underframe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the sensor bolts have a collar and the respective lower cap-shaped perforated disk fits against the collar.

11. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein each sensor bolt comprises a collar that fonts a cap-shaped perforated disk and defines a convex cap surface that is in contact with a lower concave cap surface of the at least one hole region.

12. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein each cap defines a lower cap surface that is convex and an upper cap surface that is concave.

13. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein each cap is embossed.

14. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein each cap is perforated.

15. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radius of each cap ranges from 10 to 25 mm.

16. The underframe as set forth in claim 15, wherein the radius of each cap ranges from 17 to 20 mm.

17. The underframe as set forth in claim 4, wherein at least two of:

(i) the cap surface of the upper cap-shaped perforated disk, (ii) the upper cap surface of the cap, (iii) the cap surface of the lower cap-shaped perforated disk and (iv) the lower cap surface of the cap, have a common center.

18. The underframe as set forth in claim 17, wherein all of the cap surfaces have a common center.

19. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first structural part is a seat profile of a longitudinal guide.

20. The underframe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second structural part is at least one of (i) a console and (ii) a seat shell.