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:
Sep. 11, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 22, 2000
George B. Wolfe, Plymouth, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle has a seat (,) for a vehicle occupant, a vehicle floor pan (,) for supporting the seat (,), and a weight sensing apparatus (,). The apparatus (,) includes a vehicle seat frame (,), a bracket (,), a member (,), a lever (,), and a sensor (,). The vehicle seat frame (,) supports a weight load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (,). The weight load of the vehicle occupant in the vehicle seat (,) is transmitted through the bracket (,) from the vehicle seat frame (,) to the vehicle floor pan (,). The member (,) is interposed between the vehicle seat frame (,) and the bracket (,). The member (,) is compressible as the weight load on the seat frame (,) increases and is expandable as the weight load on the seat frame (,) decreases. As the member (,) compresses and expands the seat frame (,) moves vertically relative to the bracket (,). The lever (,) has a first end (,) fixed to and movable with the seat frame (,) and a second end (,) associated with the bracket (,). The lever (,) bends as the seat frame (,) moves vertically relative to the bracket (,). The sensor (,) detects bending of the lever (,) and provides an output weight signal indicative of the amount of bending of the lever (,).