Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6661341?dq=7125605
Timestamp: 2014-11-23 10:09:07
Document Index: 76001633

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 24', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 45', 'art 44', 'art 45', 'art 45']

Patent US6661341 - Car-seat-occupant sensing device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA seat-occupant sensing device for a car seat is provided, such that a heater can be installed in the seat without deterioration of sitting comfort. A load sensor is mounted to a cushion frame of a car seat. The end of a flexible cushion support is linked with the load sensor. Because the flexible cushion...http://www.google.com/patents/US6661341?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6661341 - Car-seat-occupant sensing deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6661341 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/985,801Publication dateDec 9, 2003Filing dateNov 6, 2001Priority dateNov 8, 2000Fee statusLapsedAlso published asDE60119665D1, DE60119665T2, EP1205342A1, EP1205342B1, US20020053980Publication number09985801, 985801, US 6661341 B2, US 6661341B2, US-B2-6661341, US6661341 B2, US6661341B2InventorsKo Masuda, Katsutoshi Sasaki, Ken Obata, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Takuya NishimotoOriginal AssigneeNhk Spring Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (19), Referenced by (23), Classifications (16), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCar-seat-occupant sensing deviceUS 6661341 B2Abstract A seat-occupant sensing device for a car seat is provided, such that a heater can be installed in the seat without deterioration of sitting comfort. A load sensor is mounted to a cushion frame of a car seat. The end of a flexible cushion support is linked with the load sensor. Because the flexible cushion support flexes when a person sits on the seat, the load sensor detects the moment when the person sits on the seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the conventional problems, the objective of the present invention is to provide a car-seat-occupant sensing device wherein (1) a mat-like heater can be installed in a seat, such as in the seat cushion, without adversely affecting a seat's sitting comfort for a driver or passenger, and (2) damage to the sensing device can be prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entirety of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same parts have the same numbers.
Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 and 2 show Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This embodiment is applied for a seat cushion that the portion of the car seat where a person sits. A cushion frame 21 of the car seat is shaped so that an outer-side vertical part 24 stands upright along the entire periphery of a frame-like bottom part 23, and a flexible cushion support 25 is mounted to the bottom part 23.
Embodiment 2 FIG. 6 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The cushion frame 41 used in this embodiment is a pan-type frame, which is formed so that its bottom part 45 is entirely shaped into a flat plan and its vertical side part 44 integrally stands upright along the periphery of the two sides and back (and not the front) of the frame's bottom part 45. The frame is made entirely of resin. Such a pan-type cushion frame 41 does not include a flexible cushion support. A slit 47 that is used for installing the sensing plate 42, described below, is formed at the bottom part 45 of the pan-type cushion frame 41.
Embodiment 3 FIGS. 7-9 show the load sensor 50 in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. With respect to the load sensor 50 of Embodiment 3, the pressure-detecting spring 52 is inserted in the inner holding member 54, and the inner holding member 54 is inserted in the outer holding member 53 in such a way that both holding members can move rectilinearly in the axial direction along each other. Also, an inner electrode 57 having a terminal 59 on one end is attached to the outer face of the inner holding member 54 and an outer electrode 56 having a terminal 58 on one end is attached on the inner face of the outer holding member 53. Thus, the inner holding member 54 is inserted in the outer holding member 53 in such a way that the inner electrode 57 and the outer electrode 56 face each other.
EXPLANATION OF NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS 1 Car seat
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ClassificationB60N2/002, B60N2/7094European ClassificationB60N2/70Y, B60N2/00CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 31, 2012FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20111209Dec 9, 2011LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesJul 18, 2011REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedMay 18, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Nov 6, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: FURKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., JAPANOwner name: NHK SPRING CO., LTD, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MASUDA, KO;SASAKI, KATSUTOSHI;OBATA, KEN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012299/0105Effective date: 20011105Owner name: NHK SPRING CO., LTD 10, FUKUURA 3-CHOME KANAZAWA-KFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MASUDA, KO /AR;REEL/FRAME:012299/0105RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google