Device for measuring force acting upon a seat belt
AssigneeKey Safety Systems, Inc.
InventorsMartin Specht, Thomas Heckmayr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for measuring a belt force acting upon a vehicle seat belt has at least one spring that is connected indirectly to a bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to the vehicle structure. A measuring element is connected to the spring, and can be connected to the seat belt and is movably mounted against a bias of the at least one spring proportionally to the belt force, whereby the measuring element is guided by means of a low friction guide means in a predetermined direction.
Claims21
A device for measuring a belt force acting upon a vehicle seat belt comprising at least one spring which comprises a first engagement point on a connecting member that extends to a bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to a vehicle structure, a measuring element connected to a second spring securing position, which can be connected to the seat belt and is movably mounted against a bias of the at least one spring proportionally to the belt force, and a sensor which supplies an electrical signal proportional to the belt force, wherein the measuring element is guided by means of a low friction guide means with respect to the bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to the vehicle structure in a measuring direction, the guide means comprising guide elements disposed between the measuring element and the connecting member comprise slide bearings or roller bearings.
A device for measuring a belt force acting upon a vehicle seat belt comprising at least one spring which comprises a first engagement point on a connecting member that extends to a bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to a vehicle structure, a measuring element connected to a second spring securing position, which can be connected to the seat belt and is movably mounted against a bias of the at least one spring proportionally to the belt force, and a sensor which supplies an electrical signal proportional to the belt force, wherein the measuring element is guided by means of a low friction guide means with respect to the bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to the vehicle structure in a measuring direction, and further comprising at least two parallel structure-supporting spring, which are spaced at distance from each other in the direction of the belt force, wherein the parallel structure-supporting springs are leaf springs.
A device for measuring a belt force acting upon a vehicle seat belt comprising at least one spring which comprises a first engagement point on a connecting member that extends to a bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to a vehicle structure, a measuring element connected to a second spring securing position, which can be connected to the seat belt and is movably mounted against a bias of the at least one spring proportionally to the belt force, and a sensor which supplies an electrical signal proportional to the belt force, wherein the measuring element is guided by means of a low friction guide means with respect to the bearing member of the belt buckle that can be secured to the vehicle structure in a measuring direction, wherein the sensor is connected directly to the at least one spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.