Patent ID: 7261179

Claim:
An occupant detection apparatus comprising: a weight sensor which measures a weight of an occupant on a vehicle seat and is provided together with bottom structures positioned below a seat cushion of the vehicle seat, the weight sensor including: an arm bracket receiving a load applied to the vehicle seat; a sensor plate measuring the weight of the occupant based on the load received by the arm bracket; an arm transmitting the load received by the arm bracket to the sensor plate; a bracket pin connecting the arm bracket with the arm, and moving in an up-and-down direction in compliance with the load received by the arm bracket; and a base frame supporting the bracket pin while allowing a movement in the up-and-down direction of the bracket pin; and contact prevention means for preventing a contact between the weight sensor and an interior trim of a vehicle cabin, the interior trim being a floor carpet laid on a floor of a vehicle cabin, said contact prevention means being positioned in the vicinity of the bracket pin and preventing contact between the bracket pin of the weight sensor and the interior trim.