Load detection structure for vehicle seat

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a structure allowing for detection of a load applied to a vehicle seat. In particular, the invention is directed to such load detection structure for use in a vehicle seat slidable via a slide device.

#2. Description of Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a partly broken schematic side view showing a principal part of a load detection structure in accordance with the present invention, which is applied to a slide rail device;

#FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II—II in the FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a partly broken, exploded schematic perspective of the principal part of the load detection structure which is the same as the one shown in FIG. 1; and

#Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is illustrated one preferred mode of load detection structure applicable to a slidable vehicle seat in accordance with the present invention. Reference is first made to FIG. 1 in which designation (10) generally represents a load detection structure provided on a slide rail device (20). As will be elaborated, the load detection structure (10) is basically formed by a load detection means (16) comprising a rigid yet elastic block member (12) and a strain gauge (14) in combination.

#As is known, the slide rail device (20) comprises a stationary lower rail (26) to be fixed on a floor side (27) and a movable upper rail (24) slidably fitted in and along the lower rail (26). The typical known configuration of such slide rail device (20) is shown in FIG. 2, wherein the movable upper rail (24) has an upward extension (32) erecting vertically therefrom and a generally inverted-T-shaped base portion slidably accommodated within the lower rail (26) via steel balls (28) and rollers (30). As can be seen in FIG. 4, the upward extension (32) of upper rail (24) is adapted for fixation to a seat cushion (22) of a vehicle seat (18). Also, operatively arranged at that upper rail upward extension (32) are two load detection means (16) (16′) such that they are each disposed at forward and rearward end areas of the upward extension (32), respectively, as in FIG. 4, the details of which will be described later. Though not shown clearly, in fact, the slide rail device (20) is provided in pair; namely, a pair of slide rail devices (20) are provided under the bottom of seat cushion (22) via the load detection means (16), and therefore it is to be understood that in the illustrated embodiment, one pair of load detection means (16) are arranged at the respective forward areas of two slide rail devices (20) and another pair of load detection means (16′) are arranged at the respective rearward areas of two slide rail devices (20). For the sake of simplicity, a description will be made only of one slide rail device (20) and one load detection means (16) arranged thereon as in the figures.

#According to the illustrated mode of the present invention, the load detection means (16) is disposed on and along the lateral planar wall of the upper rail upward extension (32), and basically embodied by the combination of an oblong block member (12) and a strain gauge (14).