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Seat load sensing apparatusSeat load sensing apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060192416, Seat load sensing apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for sensing a load, and more particularly, to an apparatus for sensing the load imparted to a vehicle seat by a vehicle occupant. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A conventional vehicle occupant load sensing apparatus includes a load sensor placed between a corner of a vehicle seat frame and a support mount for the seat. The sensor is directly within the vertical load path of the occupant's weight and responds to the vertical loads imparted to the seat by the occupant of the seat. In addition, the sensor may respond to torque loads between the seat and the support mount. Since the seat frame and the support mount must withstand large torque loads (i.e., tilting of the seat frame during crash conditions), typically the sensor also must be constructed to withstand large torque loads. [0003] This construction exposes the sensor to large dynamic loads over short periods of time, such as during a collision to the vehicle. Thus, the sensor may not produce a reliable vertical load output signal subsequent to such a dynamic loading event. [0004] A load sensing apparatus which mitigates such dynamic loading during a dynamic loading event would eliminate the requirement of replacing the load sensing apparatus subsequent to the dynamic loading event. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention is used in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a vehicle seat frame, a sensor, and a member. The vehicle seat frame supports a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat frame is movable vertically upon application of a vertical load to the vehicle seat frame. The sensor transfers the load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat from the vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan. The sensor detects a part of the load of the vehicle occupant and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of the part of the load transferred. The member damps force transferred by the vehicle seat and the vehicle seat frame to the vehicle floor pan. The member is interposed between the vehicle floor pan and the sensor. [0006] An apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention is used in a vehicle having a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan for supporting the vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a bracket, a sensor, and a member. The bracket supports a load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat is movable vertically relative to the bracket upon application of a vertical load to the vehicle seat. The sensor transfers the load of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan. The sensor detects a part of the load of the vehicle occupant and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of the part of the load transferred. The member damps force transferred by the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan. The member is interposed between the vehicle floor pan and the sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The foregoing and other features of the invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which: [0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; [0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one aspect of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; [0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; [0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another aspect of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and [0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, a vehicle occupant load sensing apparatus 10 is used in a vehicle having a seat 2 for the vehicle occupant. A vehicle floor pan 4 supports the vehicle seat 2. The apparatus 10 includes a vehicle seat frame 20 for supporting the vehicle seat 2, a sensor 99 for sensing a load placed on the vehicle seat, a resilient member 60 for absorbing dynamic loads imparted to the sensor by the vehicle seat, a bracket 30 for transmitting the load from the vehicle seat to the vehicle floor pan, an upper track 12 for supporting the bracket, and a lower track 16 for adjustably supporting the upper track. [0014] The vehicle seat frame 20 supports a weight load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat 2. During a vehicle collision, the seat frame 20 may also sustain upward and lateral loads created by the vehicle collision. The load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat 2 is transmitted through the sensor 99, the bracket 30, upper track 12, and lower track 16 from the vehicle seat frame 20 to the vehicle floor pan 4. [0015] The lower track 16 is fixedly attached to the vehicle floor pan 4 in a suitable manner. The lower track 16 has two opposite side rails 17, 18. The upper track 12 has two opposite rails 13, 14 that slidingly engage the side rails 17, 18 of the lower track 16. The upper track 12 may slide on the lower track 16 for manual forward or rearward adjustment of the position of the seat 2 for occupants of varying sizes, as is known in the art. The bracket 30 is thus supported by the upper track 12 so that it is vertically stationary and does not move as a result of loads applied to the vehicle seat 2. [0016] The bracket 30 is typically constructed of a suitable metal such as steel. The bracket 30 has a first horizontal lower portion 40 for fixed connection to the upper track 12 and a second upper horizontal portion 50 for connection to the sensor 99 through the resilient member 60. The first portion 40 of the bracket 30 is connected to the second portion 50 of the bracket 30 by a vertical portion 55 thereby forming a C-shaped channel (FIG. 3). The upper horizontal portion 50 of the bracket 30 has an upper surface 52 and a lower surface 54 opposite the upper surface. The lower horizontal portion 40 of the bracket 30 has an upper surface 42 and a lower surface 44 opposite the upper surface. [0017] The resilient member 60 is interposed between the sensor 99 and the first upper portion 50 of the bracket 30. The resilient member 60 absorbs, or dampens, dynamic loads placed on the vehicle seat 2 thereby protecting the sensor 99. The resilient member 60 typically a resilient bushing, is compressible and expandable as the vertical load on the seat frame 20 increases or decreases. The resilient member 60 is typically formed of rubber or other suitable elastomer. [0018] The resilient member 60 has a toroidal shape with a first upper surface 62 and a second lower surface 64 opposite the upper surface. The resilient member also has an inner annular surface 66 interconnecting the upper and lower surfaces 62, 64 and an outer annular surface 68 interconnecting the upper and lower surfaces. The outer annular surface 68 has an annular groove 69 for receiving the upper horizontal portion 50 of the bracket 30. [0019] A downward limit stop bracket 80 prevents over-travel of the vehicle seat frame 20 from an excessive downward load on the vehicle seat frame 20. The bracket 80 has an S-shape in cross-section (FIG. 2) with an upper horizontal portion 82, a lower horizontal portion 84, and a vertical middle portion 86 interconnecting the upper and lower portions. The upper horizontal portion 82 is secured for movement with the vehicle seat frame 20 such that, when a predetermined excessive downward load is applied to the vehicle seat frame 20, a lower surface 85 of the lower horizontal portion 84 contacts the upper surface 52 of the upper horizontal portion 50 of the bracket 30 thereby preventing further downward movement of the vehicle seat frame. The compressibility of the resilient member 60 allows this limited downward movement to occur. The predetermined excessive downward load is dependent on the material of construction of the resilient member 60. Continue reading about Seat load sensing apparatus... Full patent description for Seat load sensing apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Seat load sensing apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Seat load sensing apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Adjustable work surface Next Patent Application: Seat occupation detection mat Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Seat load sensing apparatus patent info. 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