US3761659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for indicating the loading of vehicle seat
Assignee: G RAU GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1972-04-27
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A device for indicating a load on a seat such as whether it is occupied by a passenger of a motor vehicle, comprises a seat having an interior spring suspension which flexes downwardly on the load when it is occupied. An indicator pull switch is mounted on a bracket within the interior frame of the seat spring suspension and it includes an actuating member which is engaged by a cable which extends to the spring suspension. The cable is advantageously held under tension produced by a draw spring and it holds the actuating member of the switch in one switch position. When the spring suspension is loaded the tension on the cable is relaxed and the spring actuating member is shifted to another spring position by an internal spring carried by the switch. In another embodiment the cable which is connected to the actuating member is guided through a sleeve guide secured to the spring suspension and its opposite end is looped on an opposite end portion of the seat frame.
Inventors
- 👤 H Prohaska
- 👤 D Eberle
- 👤 D Hanselmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/70; B60N2/7094; B60N2/002; B60N2/0021; B60N2/003; B60N2/0032; B60N2210/00; B60N2210/40; B60N2210/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A device for indicating a load on a seat, particularly a passenger seat of an automobile, comprising a seat having an interior spring suspension, an indicator switch mounted adjacent said interior spring suspension and having an actuating member, means biasing said actuating member to one switch position, a cable connected to said actuating member, and tensioning means for biasing said cable in a direction opposite to said biasing means to urge said actuating member to a second switch position when said spring suspension is unloaded and to permit said biasing means to shift said actuating member back to said one position when said seat is loaded and said spring suspension sags in a direction toward said actuating member, said seat including a frame having a front leg portion and a rear leg portion being arranged in spaced relationship and extending generally vertically with an intermediate horizontal seat portion extending therebetween, said cable being connected to said intermediate horizontal seat portion, means mounting said switch adjacent said front leg of said seat within said frame in a fixed position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A device for indicating a load on a seat, particularly a passenger seat of an automobile, comprising a seat having an interior spring suspension, an indicator switch mounted adjacent said interior spring suspension and having an actuating member, means biasing said actuating member to one switch position, a cable connected to said actuating member, and tensioning means for biasing said cable in a direction opposite to said biasing means to urge said actuating member to a second switch position when said spring suspension is unloaded and to permit said biasing means to shift said actuating member back to said one position when said seat is loaded and said spring suspension sags in a direction toward said actuating member, said seat including a frame having a front leg portion and a rear leg portion being arranged in spaced relationship and extending generally vertically with an intermediate horizontal seat portion extending therebetween, said cable being connected to said intermediate horizontal seat portion, means mounting said switch adjacent said front leg of said seat within said frame in a fixed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch device according to claim 1, wherein said cable is connected to the center of said seat spring suspension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switch according to claim 1, wherein said cable is provided with a hook, said spring suspension including spring bar elements one of which is engaged by said hook.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A switch device according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning means comprises a guide member secured to said spring suspension, said cable being looped through said guide member and having an end connected to said seat frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A switch device according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning means includes a draw spring connected between said cable and said actuating member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A switch according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises a return spring of said switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to claim 1 including a plurality of pull switches located at spaced locations along said seat frame each of said switches having an actuating member and a cable connected to said actuating member toward said actuator to a second switch position when said spring suspension is not loaded.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
174 words
A device for indicating a load on a seat, particularly a passenger seat of an automobile, comprising a seat having an interior spring suspension with a top substantially horizontal flexible spring seat portion with front and rear downwardly extending seat leg portions, an indicator switch mounted adjacent the lower end of one of said leg portions of said interior spring suspension and having an actuating member, an adjustment spring biasing said actuating member to one switch position, a cable connected at one end to said actuating member and having an opposite end connected to said top horizontal seat portion in the middle thereof and a draw spring connected between said actuating member and said cable and acting in a direction opposite to said biasing means to urge said actuating member to a second switch position when said spring suspension is unloaded and to permit said biasing means to shift said actuating member back to said one position when said seat is loaded and said spring suspension sags in a direction toward said actuating member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
174 words
A device for indicating a load on a seat, particularly a passenger seat of an automobile, comprising a seat having an interior spring suspension with a top substantially horizontal flexible spring seat portion with front and rear downwardly extending seat leg portions, an indicator switch mounted adjacent the lower end of one of said leg portions of said interior spring suspension and having an actuating member, an adjustment spring biasing said actuating member to one switch position, a cable connected at one end to said actuating member and having an opposite end connected to said top horizontal seat portion in the middle thereof and a draw spring connected between said actuating member and said cable and acting in a direction opposite to said biasing means to urge said actuating member to a second switch position when said spring suspension is unloaded and to permit said biasing means to shift said actuating member back to said one position when said seat is loaded and said spring suspension sags in a direction toward said actuating member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |