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:
Apr. 12, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 20, 2003
Akifumi Nishino, Sakai, JP;
Ryuji Kitagawa, Sakai, JP;
Kenzo Ushiro, Sakai, JP;
Hiroki Fukudome, Sakai, JP;
Akifumi Nishino, Sakai, JP;
Ryuji Kitagawa, Sakai, JP;
Kenzo Ushiro, Sakai, JP;
Hiroki Fukudome, Sakai, JP;
Kubota Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An operator presence sensing apparatus for a seat of a vehicle includes a base member () for supporting the seat (), and a relay member () extending vertically between the base member and the seat. The seat is oscillatable about a pivot axis (X) extending in a transverse direction in the base member. The relay member is pivotably supported at one end thereof by the pivot axis and at the other end by the base member through a cushion spring (). A seat lift-up spring () is disposed between an underside of the seat and the base member for receiving part of the weight of the seat. The seat unoccupied by the operator is oscillated to a floating position lifted from the relay member by the lift-up spring. The apparatus further comprises an operator presence sensing switch () for detecting the seat occupied by the operator and oscillated from the floating position to a lower seated position, and a restricting device () for restricting the relay member oscillating upward by action of the cushion spring when the seat is not occupied by the operator.