The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 07, 1998
Kurt L VanVoorhies, Detour Village, MI (US);
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc., Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A hydrostatic weight sensor incorporates a load distributor to prevent the bladder of the hydrostatic weight sensor from bottoming out under the influence of applied loads of sufficient concentration and magnitude. The load distributor comprises a flexible mat proximate a load bearing surface of the hydrostatic weight sensor, wherein the flexible mat may be constructed from slitted, punched, pierced, or expanded semi-rigid sheet, a multi-layer plurality of such sheets, or a woven assembly of a plurality of semi-rigid strips. The load distributor is sufficiently flexible to not interfere with seating comfort, yet sufficiently stiff to prevent the bladder of the hydrostatic weight sensor from bottoming out as a result of concentrated loading.