Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat

• US 8,905,179 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Endo, Shigeru, Sato, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W
• Application Number:
  US13/010,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20110108330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/144, 180/273, 280/735, 296/68.1, 296/65.13, 297/217.2
• US Class Current: 180/273
• 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 2/0732 Attachment of seat frame to the slide, e.g. eyelets
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• 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 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• 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: G01L 5/00 Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame,

a concave portion having an opening facing downward is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame, and

the opening of the concave portion faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concave portion is an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 2, wherein a flange portion extending in a right-and-left direction is formed in a lower portion of the upwardly-raised portion as a single member with the upwardly-raised portion.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a part of the load sensor and the concave portion are disposed on a same horizontal plane.

5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor and the concave portion is disposed on a plane which is perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction and which includes a shaft line of the rod portion.

6. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than the load sensor.

7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than a main body of the load sensor.

8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein a connector is attached to the main body of the load sensor, and the concave portion is provided in at least one position in front of and behind the connector in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame.

9. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concave portion is a deformed portion which is formed by deforming the one of the right and left side frames in a direction away from the load sensor.

10. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor,

a connector is provided on the load sensor, and

the load sensor and the concave portion are arranged so that a rotation trajectory of an end portion of the connector, which is made by rotating the connector around a shaft line of the rod portion, passes under the concave portion.

38. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the deformed portion, a first surface of the one of the right and left side frames is deformed toward an outside of the vehicle seat more than a second surface of the one of the right and left side frames, the first surface facing toward the load sensor and a connecting member for connecting between the right and left side frames being connected to the second surface that is arranged more rearwardly than the load sensor.

40. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a front side load sensor and a rear side load sensor that are disposed at a front part and a back part of the at least one of the right and left side frames, respectively;

a front side concave portion that is located adjacent to the front side load sensor; and

a rear side concave portion that is located adjacent to the rear side load sensor.

42. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, where the concave portion is formed along a lower edge of the at least one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind the connector attached to the main body of the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame.

47. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side frame and the load sensor face each other in a right-and-left direction.

51. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concave portion is formed on the same plane in an up-and-down direction as the side frame.

11. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

a portion of the load sensor is attached to an inner side of at least one of the right and left side frames via a bracket member,

a concave portion having an opening facing downward is formed in the one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame, and

the opening of the concave portion faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

12. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concave portion is an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly.

13. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 12, wherein a flange portion extending in a right-and-left direction is formed in a lower portion of the upwardly-raised portion as a single member with the upwardly-raised portion.

14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least a part of the load sensor and the concave portion are disposed on a same horizontal plane.

15. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor and the concave portion is disposed on a plane which is perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction and which includes a shaft line of the rod portion.

16. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than the load sensor.

17. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than a main body of the load sensor.

18. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 17, wherein a connector is attached to the main body of the load sensor, and the concave portion is provided in at least one position in front of and behind the connector in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame.

19. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concave portion is a deformed portion which is formed by deforming the one of the right and left side frames in a direction away from the load sensor.

20. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor,

a connector is provided on the load sensor, and

wherein the load sensor and the concave portion are arranged so that a rotation trajectory of an end portion of the connector, which is made by rotating the connector around a shaft line of the rod portion, passes under the concave portion.

21. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concave portion is provided at a position at which at least a part of the load sensor is seen from outside of the one of the right and left side frames via the concave portion.

22. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

fixed rail members which are fixable to a vehicle below the side frames;

movable rail members which are movable in the front-and-rear direction on the fixed rail members; and

a load sensor attachment portion for attaching the load sensor,

wherein the load sensor attachment portion is provided at a lower position than the concave portion.

39. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein in the deformed portion, a first surface of the one of the right and left side frames is deformed toward an outside of the vehicle seat more than a second surface of the one of the right and left side frames, the first surface facing toward the load sensor and a connecting member for connecting between the right and left side frames being connected to the second surface that is arranged more rearwardly than the load sensor.

41. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a front side load sensor and a rear side load sensor that are disposed at a front part and a back part of the at least one of the right and side frames, respectively;

a front side concave portion that is located in at least one position in front of and behind the front side load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame; and

a rear side concave portion that is located in at least one position in front of and behind the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame.

48. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the side frame and the load sensor face each other in a right-and-left direction.

52. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concave portion is formed on the same plane in an up-and-down direction as the side frame.

23. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

the load sensor is attached to a front portion of at least one of the right and left side frames,

an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly is formed in the one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame,

an opening of the upwardly-raised portion faces downward and faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction, and

the one of the right and left side frames comprises a narrow portion in which a front portion of the side frame is narrowed in a vertical direction, the front portion being a portion of the side frame more forward than the load sensor.

24. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least a part of the load sensor and the upwardly-raised portion are disposed on a same horizontal plane.

25. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor and the upwardly-raised portion is disposed on a plane which is perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction and which includes a shaft line of the rod portion.

26. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the upwardly-raised portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than the load sensor.

27. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the upwardly-raised portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than a main body of the load sensor.

28. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein a connector is attached to the main body of the load sensor, and the upwardly-raised portion is providedin at least one position in front of and behind the connector in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame.

29. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor,

a connector is provided on the load sensor, and

the load sensor and the upwardly-raised portion are arranged so that a rotation trajectory of an end portion of the connector, which is made by rotating the connector around a shaft line of the rod portion, passes under the upwardly-raised portion.

30. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein a bracket member is attached to an inner surface of the one of the right and left side frames,

a portion of the load sensor is attached to the bracket member, and

the flange portion extends to an inside of the vehicle seat.

31. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a flange portion extending in a right-and-left direction that is formed on a lower portion of the upwardly-raised portion.

32. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the one of the right and left side frames comprises a narrow portion in which a width in an up-and-down direction of a front end portion of the one of the right and left side frames decreases toward a front side of the one of the right and left side frames.

33. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 31, wherein the flange portion extending in the right-and-left direction is formed on an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the narrow portion as a single member with the one of the right and left side frames.

34. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein a bracket member is attached to an inner surface of the one of the right and left side frames,

a portion of the load sensor is attached to the bracket member,

the flange portion extends to an inside of the vehicle seat, and

the narrow portion is provided at a position at which at least a part of the load sensor is seen from outside of the one of the right and left side frames through a space formed under the upwardly-raised portion.

35. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 31, wherein the load sensor is disposed more rearwardly than a front end portion of the narrow portion.

49. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the side frame and the load sensor face each other in a right-and-left direction.

53. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the upwardly-raised portion is formed on the same plane in an up-and-down direction as the side frame.

36. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

a bracket member is attached to an inner surface of one of the right and left side frames,

a portion of the load sensor is attached to the bracket member,

a connector is provided on the load sensor,

an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly, is formed,

the upwardly-raised portion is provided in at least one position in front of and behind the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame, and

an opening of the upwardly-raised portion faces downward and faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

37. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 36, further comprising:

fixed rail members which are fixable to a vehicle below the side frames;

movable rail members which are movable in the front-and-rear direction on the fixed rail members; and

a load sensor attachment portion for attaching the load sensor,

wherein the connector is provided at a lower position than the upwardly-raised portion and at a higher position than the load sensor attachment portion.

50. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 36, wherein the side frame and the load sensor face each other in a right-and-left direction.

54. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 36, wherein the upwardly-raised portion is formed on the same plane in an up-and-down direction as the side frame.

43. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame,

a concave portion having an opening facing downward is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind a rod of the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame, and

the opening faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

55. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein the concave portion is an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly.

56. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 55, wherein a flange portion extending in a right-and-left direction is formed in alower portion of the upwardly-raised portion as a single member with the upwardly-raised portion.

57. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein at least a part of the load sensor and the concave portion are disposed on a same horizontal plane.

58. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor and the concave portion is disposed on a plane which is perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction and which includes a shaft line of the rod portion.

59. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than the load sensor.

60. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than a main body of the load sensor.

61. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 60, wherein a connector is attached to the main body of the load sensor, and the concave portion is provided in at least one position in front of and behind the connector in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame.

62. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein the concave portion is a deformed portion which is formed by deforming the one of the right and left side frames in a direction away from the load sensor.

63. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 43, wherein a rod portion is provided on the load sensor,

a connector is provided on the load sensor, and

the load sensor and the concave portion are arranged so that a rotation trajectory of an end portion of the connector, which is made by rotating the connector around a shaft line of the rod portion, passes under the concave portion.

44. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

a portion of the load sensor is attached to an inner side of at least one of the right and left side frames via a bracket member,

a concave portion having an opening facing downward is formed in the one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind a rod of the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame, and

the opening faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

45. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

the load sensor is attached to a front portion of at least one of the right and left side frames,

an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly is formed in the one of the right and left side frames in at least one position in front of and behind a rod of the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame,

an opening of the upwardly-raised portion faces downward and faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction, and

the one of the right and left side frames comprises a narrow portion in which a front portion of the side frame is narrowed in a vertical direction, the front portion being a portion of the side frame more forward than the load sensor.

46. A vehicle seat comprising:

a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant; and

a seat cushion frame,

wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction,

a bracket member is attached to an inner surface of the one of the right and left side frames,

a portion of the load sensor is attached to the bracket member,

a connector is provided on the load sensor,

an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the one of the right and left side frames is raised upwardly, is formed,

the upwardly-raised portion is provided in at least one position in front of and behind a rod of the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame, and

an opening of the upwardly-raised portion faces downward and faces a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

64. A method of assembling a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

attaching, to a seat cushion frame comprising right and left side frames that extend in a front-and-rear direction, a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant so that a concave portion of at least one of the right and left side frames is located in at least one position in front of and behind a rod of the load sensor in the front-and-rear direction of the side frame,

wherein the concave portion has an opening that faces downward so as to face a rail of the vehicle seat configured to move in the front-and-rear direction.

65. The method as claimed in claim 64, wherein the concave portion is an upwardly-raised portion in which a lower portion of the at least one side frame is raised upwardly.

66. The method as claimed in claim 64, wherein the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame so that at least a part of the load sensor and the concave portion are disposed on a same horizontal plane.

67. The method as claimed in claim 64, wherein the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame so that the concave portion is disposed on a plane that is perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction and that includes a shaft line of the rod of the load sensor.

68. The method as claimed in claim 64, wherein the concave portion is longer in the front-and-rear direction than a main body of the load sensor.

69. The method as claimed in claim 64, wherein the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame so that a rotation trajectory of an end portion of a connector of the load sensor, which is made by rotating the connector around a shaft line of the rod of the load sensor, passes under the concave portion.