Measuring and testing – Specimen stress or strain – or testing by stress or strain... – Specimen clamp – holder – or support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-13
2004-05-11
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Specimen stress or strain, or testing by stress or strain...
Specimen clamp, holder, or support
C073S862471, C073S001220, C177S144000, C177S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06732593
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 2001-278528 filed on Sep. 13, 2001, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an attachment structure of a load sensor for a vehicle seat More particularly, the present invention pertains to an attachment structure of a load sensor which detects a load on a seating portion of a seat when a passenger sits on the vehicle seat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, there is a tendency toward enforcing a safety of a passenger. In order to improve the safety of the passenger who sits on a seat, a restraint function of a seat belt and an operating function of an air bag in accordance with a weight of the passenger have been developed. When these devices are adopted, an accurate detection of a weight of the passenger is needed. As for one such means, a known device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-12998. The known device applies a means for attaching a weight sensor (ie., an attachment structure of a load sensor) to a seat mounted in a vehicle (ie., a vehicle seat).
Normally, as for a weight sensor to detect the weight of the passenger who sits on the seating portion of a seat cushion, a sensor with a strain gauge disposed in a plate-shaped strain unit is used for detecting a vertical strain of the strain unit. Therefore, in order to detect the weight of the passenger on the seat accurately, a precise input of the weight from the seating portion to a strain portion of the strain unit is needed. Thus, an attachment structure of a load sensor for the vehicle seat is particularly important.
However, in the known device, such importance of the attachment structure of a load sensor to a vehicle has not been recognized, and is designed merely not to exceed a height of the seating portion in a normal sitting condition when the weight sensor is attached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an attachment structure of a load sensor for a vehicle seat which can precisely detect the weight of the passenger on a seat.
According to the first aspect of the invention, the attachment structure installs a load sensor between a seating portion of a vehicle seat and a vehicle body through an attachment structure unit. The load sensor has a plate-shaped strain unit and a strain gauge for detecting a vertical strain of the strain unit. The attachment structure unit is comprised of a first attachment bracket for holding one end of the strain unit, and a second attachment bracket for holding the other end of the strain unit. At least a pair of attachment structure units are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, right and left portions of a back side, or right and left portions of the front and back sides of the vehicle seat relative to the seating portion, and the first attachment bracket are arranged at both the right and left portions of the front side, the back side, or the front and the back sides of the vehicle seat and connected to each other through a connecting rod.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the attachment structure installs the load sensor between a seating portion of a vehicle seat and a vehicle body through an attachment structure unit. The load sensor has a plate-shaped strain unit and a strain gauge for detecting a vertical strain of the strain unit. The attachment structure unit is comprised of a first attachment bracket for holding one end of the strain unit, and a second attachment bracket for holding the other end of the strain unit. At least a pair of attachment structure units are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, right and left portions of a back side, or right and left portions of the front and back sides of the vehicle seat relative to the seating portion, and the second attachment bracket are arranged at both the right and left portions of the front side, the back side, or the front and the back sides of the vehicle seat and each pair of the second bracket and connected to each other through a connecting rod.
According to the third aspect of the invention, while a pair of the first attachment brackets are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, a back side, or the front and the back sides of the vehicle seat relative to the seating portion and connected to each other by the connecting rod, the second attachment brackets are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, a back side, or the front and the back sides of the vehicle seat and connected to each other through another connecting rod.
In the attachment structure of the load sensor of the present invention, the attachment structures are arranged at the right and left portions of the front and back of of the vehicle seat relative to the seating portion, and connected to each other through the connecting rod. Therefore, attachment errors relative to each load sensor on the right and left and an unnecessary stress affecting the load sensor caused by the pitch discrepancy between the rails can be prevented. Moreover, an unnecessary stress caused by the distortion and deflection of the seat cushion when the passenger sits on the seat cushion can be prevented as well.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6039344 (2000-03-01), Mehney et al.
patent: 6092838 (2000-07-01), Walker
patent: 6323443 (2001-11-01), Aoki et al.
patent: 6561300 (2003-05-01), Sakamoto et al.
patent: 2001-12998 (2001-01-01), None
patent: 2001-150997 (2001-06-01), None
Fujimoto Osamu
Hasegawa Yasunori
Morishita Kentaro
Sakai Morio
Sakamoto Kazunori
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Ellington Alandra
Lefkowitz Edward
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