Apparatus for measuring child seat anchor tension
A child seat anchor apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring tension exerted on a system including a pair of anchor brackets disposed between the bottom and back cushions of a vehicle seat. In a first mechanization, the anchor brackets are directly coupled to individual sensors mounted on an anchor frame that is bolted to the seat frame. In a second mechanization, the anchor brackets are fastened to an anchor frame that is pivotably mounted on the seat frame, and the anchor frame is additionally coupled to the seat frame through a single sensor responsive to the tension exerted on the anchor frame by the anchor brackets.
The subject application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/705,708, filed Nov. 11, 2003.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a child seat anchor system for a motor vehicle seat, and more particularly to apparatus for measuring the tension exerted on the anchor system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVehicle occupant weight sensing systems are useful in connection with air bags and other pyrotechnically deployed restraints as a means of characterizing the occupant for purposes of determining whether to allow or suppress deployment of the restraints. In cases where an infant seat or child booster seat is placed on the seat cushion and cinched down with the seat belt, the presence of the infant or child seat can be detected based in part on a measure of the seat belt tension. However, in cases where the vehicle seat is equipped with a child seat anchoring system such as the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, the infant or child seat can be secured using the seat anchors instead of the seat belt. Since tension applied to such child seat anchors produces an effect similar to that which occurs when the child seat is secured with the seat belt, it is desired to measure the tension exerted on such a child seat anchoring system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to apparatus for measuring the tension exerted on a child seat anchoring system including a pair of anchor brackets disposed between the bottom and back cushions of a vehicle seat. In a first embodiment, the anchor brackets are directly coupled to individual tension sensors mounted on an anchor frame that is bolted to the seat frame supporting the bottom cushion of the seat. In a second embodiment, the anchor brackets are fastened to an anchor frame that is pivotably mounted on the seat frame, and the anchor frame is additionally coupled to the seat frame through a single strain sensor responsive to the tension exerted on the anchor frame by the anchor brackets.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The seat 10 is equipped with a pair of child seat anchor brackets 24a, 24b for securely fastening an infant or child booster seat 26 to the seat 10 via the tethers 26a (only one of which is depicted in
In general, the present invention is directed to an apparatus including at least one tension or strain sensor coupled to an anchor frame for measuring the tension exerted on the anchor brackets 24a, 24b.
Referring to the embodiment of
Referring to the embodiment of
In summary, the present invention provides a reliable and cost-effective apparatus for measuring the tension exerted on a pair of child seat anchor brackets in a vehicle seat. While the invention has been described in reference to the illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications in addition to those mentioned above will occur to persons skilled in the art. For example, the strain sensors 30a, 30b, 52 may be replaced with suitably mounted strain gauges, and so on. Accordingly, it will be understood that anchor tension measurement devices incorporating these and other modifications may fall within the scope of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. Apparatus for measuring tension exerted on a child seat anchor bracket of a vehicle seat, comprising:
- an anchor frame coupled to the anchor bracket, and secured to a frame of the vehicle seat; and
- a tension or strain sensor coupled to the anchor frame,
- wherein said anchor bracket is rigidly secured to said anchor frame and said sensor includes a first portion coupled to said anchor frame and a second portion coupled to the seat frame.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame between said pivot joint and said anchor bracket.
3. Apparatus for measuring tension exerted on a child seat anchor bracket of a vehicle seat, comprising:
- an anchor frame rigidly secured to the anchor bracket, and secured to a frame of the vehicle seat; and
- a tension sensor including a first portion coupled to said anchor frame and a second portion coupled to the seat frame.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame between said pivot joint and said anchor bracket.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said anchor frame extends laterally across said seat, and first and second child seat anchor brackets are rigidly secured to laterally opposite ends of said anchor frame such that said first and second anchor brackets are disposed in a gap between back and bottom cushions of said seat.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame at a point intermediate said first and second child seat anchor brackets.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame at a point intermediate said pivot joint and said anchor brackets.
8. An apparatus for measuring a cinching tension on a child seat placed on a bottom cushion of a vehicle seat, said vehicle seat having a pressure sensor disposed therein operative to monitor the weight of an occupant and provide an occupant weight output signal to an occupant detection system electronic control unit, said child seat having first and second tethers affixed thereto for cinching said child seat to said vehicle seat independently of an occupant restraining seat belt system associated with said vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
- first and second laterally spaced child seat anchor brackets straddling said child seat in proximity to said bottom cushion, said first and second child seat anchor brackets being adapted to tensively secure said first and second tethers to said vehicle seat, respectively;
- an anchor frame rigidly carrying the anchor brackets extending across a lateral width dimension of the vehicle seat and secured to a frame of the vehicle seat by a coupling affecting limited relative movement therebetween; and
- a tension sensor mountingly coupled between the seat frame and anchor frame, said tension sensor providing an output signal to said occupant detection system electronic control unit as a function of the preset tension in said tether straps.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said tension sensor includes a first portion rigidly secured to said anchor frame and a second portion rigidly secured to said seat frame.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame between said pivot joint and said anchor bracket.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said anchor frame extends laterally across said seat, and first and second child seat anchor brackets are rigidly secured to laterally opposite ends of said anchor frame such that said first and second anchor brackets are disposed in a gap between back and bottom cushions of said seat.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame at a point intermediate said first and second child seat anchor brackets.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame at a point intermediate said pivot joint and said anchor brackets.
14. In a vehicle seat assembly including a generally vertically disposed back cushion, a seat portion including a generally horizontally disposed bottom cushion carried upon a seat frame, pressure sensor means disposed within said seat portion operative to monitor the weight of an occupant and provide an occupant weight output signal to an occupant detection system electronic control unit, and an occupant restraining seat belt, an apparatus for measuring the tension exerted on a plurality of tether straps by a child seat disposed on said bottom cushion, said tethers arranged for securing said child seat to said vehicle seat assembly, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of laterally spaced child seat anchor brackets straddling said child seat, each anchor bracket adapted to tensively secure a corresponding tether affixed to said child seat;
- an anchor frame rigidly carrying the anchor brackets extending across a lateral width dimension of the vehicle seat an secured to a frame of the vehicle seat by a coupling affecting limited relative movement therebetween; and
- a tension sensor mountingly coupled between said seat frame and said anchor frame, said tension sensor operative to provide a tension sensor output signal to said occupant detection system electronic control unit as a function of the sensed tension in said tethers.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said occupant detection system electronic control unit is operative to generate an output signal as a function of said occupant weight output signal and said tension sensor output signal.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said anchor frame is secured to said seat frame by a pivot coupling.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said anchor frame defines a pocket area for nestingly receiving and securing said tension sensor therein.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said pocket area is integrally formed adjacent one lateral end of said anchor frame.
19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said anchor frame defines surface contours therein to enhance characteristic stiffness of said anchor frame.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said surface contours are integrally formed in said anchor frame as a plurality of laterally spaced depressions therein.
21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of tension sensors, one tension sensor associated with each child seat anchor bracket.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each said tension sensor is operative to provide an associated tension sensor output signal to said occupant detection system electronic control unit.
23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:
- said tension sensor comprises a first portion coupled to said anchor frame and a second portion coupled to the seat frame.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame between said pivot joint and said anchor bracket.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said anchor frame extends laterally across said seat, and each child seat anchor brackets is rigidly secured to laterally opposite ends of said anchor frame such that each of said anchor brackets are at least partially disposed in said juncture gap between back and bottom cushions of said vehicle seat.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame at a point intermediate first and second child seat anchor brackets.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said anchor frame is secured to the seat frame by a pivot coupling, and the first portion of said sensor is coupled to said anchor frame at a point intermediate said pivot joint and said anchor brackets.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 17, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Inventors: Eric C. Hayden (Cicero, IN), Royce L. Rennaker (Converse, IN), Chance L. Scales (Kokomo, IN), Duane D. Fortune (Lebanon, IN)
Application Number: 12/218,744
International Classification: A47C 7/62 (20060101);