Internally tethered seat bladder for occupant weight estimation

摘要

An elastomeric seat bladder (30) for a vehicle occupant weight estimation system (10) includes a plurality of elastomeric tethers (38) defined by bands or sheets of elastomeric material coupling upper and lower layers (30a, 30b) of the bladder within a peripheral weld (36) in order to reduce fluid pooling and distention or bulging of the bladder (30) due to localized loading. The elastomeric tethers (38) are spot or seam welded to upper and lower sheets (30a, 30b) of the bladder (30); they extend to limit distension where required, and otherwise partially or fully collapse to minimize vertical shunting of occupant weight through the bladder (30).