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:
Feb. 20, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2005
George B. Wolfe, Plymouth, MI (US);
Nick L. Smith, Southfield, MI (US);
George B. Wolfe, Plymouth, MI (US);
Nick L. Smith, Southfield, MI (US);
TRW Automotive U.S. LLC, Livonia, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus () is used in a vehicle having a seat () for a vehicle occupant and a vehicle floor pan () for supporting the vehicle seat (). The apparatus () includes a vehicle seat frame (), a bracket (), a spring element (or), a lever (), and a sensor (). The spring element (or) compresses to allow the vehicle seat frame () to move vertically when the load of the vehicle occupant acts on the vehicle seat (). The lever () has a first end portion () and a second end portion () opposite the first end portion (). The first end portion () is movable with the vehicle seat frame (). The second end portion () is movable with the vehicle seat frame (). The lever () has a middle portion () interposed between the first end portion () and the second end portion (). The lever () bends as the vehicle seat frame () moves vertically relative to the bracket (). The sensor () detects movement of the middle portion () of the lever () and provides an output signal indicative of the amount of movement of the middle portion () of the lever ().