Vehicle seat comprising load sensor and side frame with upper-side protruding section and lower-side protruding section

• US 9,140,588 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• 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:
  US13/840,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20130199309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 177/144, 177/136, 180/273, 280/735, 296 63- 69, 297/217.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 that is configured to measure a load applied from an occupant, a seat cushion frame that includes a right side frame and a left side frame, and a pan frame. At least one of the right and left side frames includes an upper-side protruding section provided at an upper part of the at least one side frame and a lower-side protruding section provided at a lower part of the at least one side frame, the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section extending along a right-left axis. At least one load sensor attachment bracket of the vehicle seat is attached to the at least one side frame between the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a load sensor configured to measure a load applied from an occupant, the load sensor having a main body and a rod extending from the main body;

a seat cushion frame comprising a right side frame and a left side frame; and

a pan frame, wherein

at least one of the right and left side frames includes an upper-side protruding section provided at an upper part of the at least one side frame and a lower-side protruding section provided at a lower part of the at least one side frame, the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section extending along a right-left axis, and

at least one load sensor attachment bracket of the vehicle seat is attached to the at least one side frame between the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section so as to overlap the load sensor in a direction parallel to an up-down axis of the vehicle seat.

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

a rail extending along a front-rear axis, wherein

the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the upper-side protruding section and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis.

5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein

an attachment section that attaches the at least one load sensor attachment bracket to the at least one side frame is closer to the lower-side protruding section than to the upper-side protruding section.

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

a rail extending along a front-rear axis, wherein

the load sensor includes a connector that extends from the main body, and

the connector and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail.

7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the pan frame is attached to the right and left side frames by way of front and rear attachment parts, and

the at least one load sensor attachment bracket is provided between the front and rear attachment parts.

8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein

right and left load sensor attachment brackets of the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are respectively attached to the right and left side frames, and

the right and left load sensor attachment brackets are connected by a connecting member.

9. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the connecting member extends through the right and left load sensor attachment brackets and connects the right and left side frames.

24. A method of using a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

fixing the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1 to a vehicle.

30. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod of the load sensor extends parallel to the up-down axis of the vehicle seat.

10. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a load sensor configured to measure a load applied from an occupant, the load sensor having a main body and a rod extending from the main body;

a seat cushion frame comprising a right side frame and a left side frame;

a pan frame; and

a rail extending along a front-rear axis, wherein

at least one of the right and left side frames includes an upper-side protruding section provided at an upper part of the at least one side frame and a lower-side protruding section provided at a lower part of the at least one side frame, the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section extending along a right-left axis,

at least one load sensor attachment bracket is attached to the at least one side frame between the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section so as to overlap the load sensor in a direction parallel to an up-down axis of the vehicle seat,

the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail, and

the upper-side protruding section and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis.

11. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis.

12. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein

an attachment section that attaches the at least one load sensor attachment bracket to the at least one side frame is closer to the lower-side protruding section than to the upper-side protruding section.

13. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the load sensor includes a connector that extends from the main body, and

the connector and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail.

14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, the load sensor further having:

a front fastening member and a rear fastening member that are respectively provided at front and rear positions of the load sensor with respect to the rod, and

a connector that extends forward from the main body,

wherein

a tip of the connector is arranged more frontward than a center of the front fastening member.

15. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, the load sensor further having:

a front fastening member and a rear fastening member that are respectively provided at front and rear positions of the load sensor with respect to the rod, and

a connector that extends forward from the main body,

wherein

a tip of the connector is arranged more frontward than the front fastening member.

16. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the pan frame is attached to the right and left side frames by way of front and rear attachment parts, and

the at least one load sensor attachment bracket is provided between the front and rear attachment parts.

17. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein

right and left load sensor attachment brackets of the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are respectively attached to the right and left side frames, and

the right and left load sensor attachment brackets are connected by a connecting member.

18. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the connecting member extends through the right and left load sensor attachment brackets and connects the right and left side frames.

25. A method of using a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

fixing the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10 to a vehicle.

31. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rod of the load sensor extends parallel to the up-down axis of the vehicle seat.

19. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a load sensor configured to measure a load applied from an occupant, the load sensor having a main body and a rod extending from the main body;

a seat cushion frame comprising a right side frame and a left side frame;

a pan frame; and

a rail extending along a front-rear axis, wherein

at least one of the right and left side frames includes an upper-side protruding section provided at an upper part of the at least one side frame and a lower-side protruding section provided at a lower part of the at least one side frame, the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section extending along a right-left axis,

at least one load sensor attachment bracket is attached to the at least one side frame between the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section so as to overlap the load sensor in a direction parallel to an up-down axis of the vehicle seat,

the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail,

the upper-side protruding section and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis,

the load sensor includes a connector that extends from the main body, and

the connector and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are arranged on a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail.

20. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis, and

an attachment section that attaches the at least one load sensor attachment bracket to the at least one side frame is closer to the lower-side protruding section than to the upper-side protruding section.

21. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, the load sensor further having a front fastening member and a rear fastening member that are respectively provided at front and rear positions of the load sensor with respect to the rod,

wherein

the connector extends forward from the main body, and

a tip of the connector is arranged more frontward than the front fastening member.

22. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the pan frame is attached to the right and left side frames by way of front and rear attachment parts, and

the at least one load sensor attachment bracket is provided between the front and rear attachment parts.

23. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein

right and left load sensor attachment brackets of the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are respectively attached to the right and left side frames,

the right and left load sensor attachment brackets are connected by a connecting member, and

the connecting member extends through the right and left load sensor attachment brackets and connects the right and left side frames.

26. A method of using a vehicle seat, the method comprising:

fixing the vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19 to a vehicle.

32. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rod of the load sensor extends parallel to the up-down axis of the vehicle seat.

27. A method of manufacturing a vehicle seat that comprises a pan frame and a seat cushion frame comprising a right side frame and a left side frame, the method comprising:

attaching at least one load sensor attachment bracket to at least one of the right and left side frames so that the at least one load sensor attachment bracket is between (1) an upper-side protruding section located at an upper part of the at least one side frame and (2) a lower-side protruding section located at a lower part of the at least one side frame, the upper-side protruding section and the lower-side protruding section extending along a right-left axis; and

attaching, to the at least one load sensor attachment bracket, a load sensor that is configured to measure a load applied from an occupant of the vehicle seat, that has a main body, and that has a rod extending from the main body,

wherein the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlaps the load sensor in a direction parallel to an up-down axis of the vehicle seat.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27,

wherein the at least one load sensor attachment bracket is attached to the at least one side frame so that (a) the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to a rail of the vehicle seat extending along a front-rear axis;

and (b) the upper-side protruding section and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27,

wherein the at least one load sensor attachment bracket is attached to the at least one side frame so that (a) the upper-side protruding section, the lower-side protruding section, and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are intersected by a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to a rail of the vehicle seat extending along a front-rear axis;

and (b) the upper-side protruding section and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket overlap one another along the up-down axis, and

wherein the load sensor has a connector that extends from the main body so that the connector and the at least one load sensor attachment bracket are arranged on a same vertical plane that is orthogonal to the rail.

33. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the load sensor is attached so that the rod of the load sensor extends parallel to the up-down axis of the vehicle seat.