Weight sensing apparatus for vehicle seat

A weight sensing apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

• a first mounting member mountable to a vehicle seat and having first and second opposed side portions;
• a second mounting member mountable to a vehicle body portion and having first and second opposed side portions positioned opposite said side portions of said first mounting member, said second mounting member being movable relative said first member along an axis extending through said first and second mounting members intermediate said respective side portions;
• a first arm extending from said first side of said first mounting member
• a second arm extending from said first side of said second member,
• a first bend portion interconnecting said first and second arms, said first arm, said second arm, and said first bend portion guiding relative movement between said first and second mounting members in a direction generally parallel to said axis, said first arm, said second arm, and said first bend portion urging a predetermined spaced relationship between said mounting members and impeding relative movement between said first and second mounting members upon application of said applied load;
• a third arm extending from said second side of said first mounting member;
• a fourth arm extending from said second side of said second mounting member,
• a second bend portion interconnecting said third and fourth arms, said third arm, said fourth arm, and said second bend portion guiding relative movement between said first and second mounting members in a direction generally parallel to said axis, said third arm, said fourth arm, and said second bend portion urging a predetermined spaced relationship between said first and second mounting members and impeding said relative movement between said first and second mounting members upon application of said applied load;
• and
• a sensor positioned between said first and second mounting members having a variable reluctance condition responsive to the relative position of said first and second mounting members, said reluctance condition changing in response to said spaced relationship between said first and second mounting members and, in turn, said applied load, said sensor providing a signal indicative of said applied load in response to said reluctance condition.