Patent US3946178A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3946178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for indicating the presence of a load on a vehicle seat
Assignee: SWF Auto Electric GmbH
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Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A device for indicating the loading of a seat, particularly an automobile passenger seat, comprises a seat having a spring suspension with a pull switch mounted on a rigid plate held to the underside of the suspension. The pull switch includes an actuating member which is biased in a first switch position by a resilient element which is secured to a laterally remote part of the spring suspension and it operates on the actuating element to move it to a second switch position when the seat is loaded and the switch is moved with the spring suspension as it is flexed on the load.
Inventors
- 👤 Dieter Eberle
- 👤 Dieter Hanselmann
- 👤 Hans Prohaska
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/70; B60N2/7023; B60N2/7035; B60N2/7047; B60N2/7076; B60N2/002; B60N2/0021; B60N2/003; B60N2/0031; B60N2/0032; B60N2/7094; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat, particularly an automobile seat, comprising a seat having a spring suspension with an encircling frame, a plate connected to the underside of said spring suspension, a pull switch mounted on said plate, said pull switch having an actuator member extending outwardly from one end of said switch housing and being movable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said switch housing between at least two switch positions, and resilient means supporting said pull switch at the underside of said spring suspension and including a first resilient part connected to said actuator member and to one side of said spring suspension frame and a second resilient part connected to said switch housing in the opposite side of said spring suspension frame from said one side, said switch being movable upon loading and sagging of said spring suspension to cause movement of said actuator from the first switch position to the second switch position, said switch including means for returning said actuator to a first position when the load is removed from said spring suspension.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat, particularly an automobile seat, comprising a seat having a spring suspension with an encircling frame, a plate connected to the underside of said spring suspension, a pull switch mounted on said plate, said pull switch having an actuator member extending outwardly from one end of said switch housing and being movable inwardly and outwardly in respect to said switch housing between at least two switch positions, and resilient means supporting said pull switch at the underside of said spring suspension and including a first resilient part connected to said actuator member and to one side of said spring suspension frame and a second resilient part connected to said switch housing in the opposite side of said spring suspension frame from said one side, said switch being movable upon loading and sagging of said spring suspension to cause movement of said actuator from the first switch position to the second switch position, said switch including means for returning said actuator to a first position when the load is removed from said spring suspension.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
105 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, comprising a seat having a rigid frame with a horizontally extending spring suspension frame portion and a central resilient portion, a switch having a housing with a contact plate portion engaged on the underside of said central resilient portion and having one housing free end and an opposite housing end with an actuating member, and at least one first and second resilient member stretchable between said actuating member and one side of said spring suspension frame and said housing free end and the opposite side of said spring suspension frame.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
105 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, comprising a seat having a rigid frame with a horizontally extending spring suspension frame portion and a central resilient portion, a switch having a housing with a contact plate portion engaged on the underside of said central resilient portion and having one housing free end and an opposite housing end with an actuating member, and at least one first and second resilient member stretchable between said actuating member and one side of said spring suspension frame and said housing free end and the opposite side of said spring suspension frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, according to claim 2, wherein said second resilient member comprises a rigid member connected to said housing free end and having an angle portion secured to said spring suspension frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, according to claim 2, wherein said resilient means comprises two elastic members extending obliquely from said actuating member to respective corners of said spring suspension frame.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
131 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, comprising a seat having a rigid frame with a horizontally extending spring suspension frame, a switch having a contact plate portion engaged on the underside of said suspension frame and having one end secured to one end of said suspension frame and having an actuating member at the opposite end, resilient means secured to said actuating member and to said spring suspension frame adjacent the opposite end thereof, said resilient means comprising two elastic members extending obliquely from said actuating member to respective corners of said spring suspension frame, said resilient support means comprising rubber bands of O-shaped configuration forming loops at each end which are engaged with said suspension frame and said actuating member respectively.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
131 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, comprising a seat having a rigid frame with a horizontally extending spring suspension frame, a switch having a contact plate portion engaged on the underside of said suspension frame and having one end secured to one end of said suspension frame and having an actuating member at the opposite end, resilient means secured to said actuating member and to said spring suspension frame adjacent the opposite end thereof, said resilient means comprising two elastic members extending obliquely from said actuating member to respective corners of said spring suspension frame, said resilient support means comprising rubber bands of O-shaped configuration forming loops at each end which are engaged with said suspension frame and said actuating member respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, according to claim 5, including a disc member having two spaced apart bores, one of said bores being engaged over the end of said spring suspension frame and the other one accommodating said elastic bands.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, according to claim 6, including a fixing disc arranged around the suspension frame on each side of said disc members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, according to claim 7, wherein said fixing discs are made of resilient plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device for indicating the loading of a seat part of an automobile passenger seat, according to claim 6, wherein said disc member comprises a member forming an engaging hook around said bores which may be engaged over said spring frame.
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) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |