Patent ID: 6566869
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B60R,G01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A force sensor for generating a signal indicative of the usage of a seat belt comprising:a cylindrical first housing (70;70â€²) having a wall (72) and a bottom (74), the bottom including an opening (76), the cylindrical first housing including an internal cavity (124); a cable anchor (90) slidably received within the cavity and adapted to be connected to a cable (54); the cable (54) having one end secured to the cable anchor and another end operatively connected to an anchor point; a magnet (120) operatively connected to a top of the cable anchor and movable with the cable anchor; first means for biasing the cable anchor to resist motion of the cable anchor toward the bottom of the housing; a magnetic sensor means (200) for generating a signal indicative of the distance between it and the magnet, such distance proportional to a force applied to the seat belt; a sensor housing (180) securably connected relative to the cylindrical first housing and positioned upon the first housing to position the sensor means a determinable distance from the magnet at a null position; a housing end cap (150) securable to the cylindrical first housing for enclosing an open end of the cylindrical first housing, the magnet and the magnetic sensor means being relatively movable when a force of a determinable level is applied to the end cap thereby causing the relative movement of the magnet and the sensor means.