Seat weight sensor

US6286861A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Leonard Cech · Brighton, US
• Michael R. Sewell · Blenheim, CA
• Edward J. Gillis · South Lyon, US
• Dennis E. Palmer · South Lyon, US
• James G. Stanley · Novi, US
• Vinh Tran · North Andover, US
• Todd Bowman · Grand Blanc, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 11, 2001
• Expiry date: Sep 7, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S297/03
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A hydrostatic weight sensor comprises a bladder of flexible material that contains a fluid, preferably in an amount less than the capacity of the bladder when the bladder is unloaded, the pressure of which is sensed by a pressure sensor so as to provide a measure of weight upon the bladder. The bladder is mountable within a seat below the seat cushion and above the seat base, wherein seating loads are distributed across the bladder by the seat cushion and the seat base. In one embodiment, the bladder comprises a plurality of sheets of flexible material that are sealably connected to one another along a periphery, and are further connected to one another at one or more locations within the periphery so as to create a plurality of fluid containing zones that are in fluid communication with one another.