SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE WINDOW

• US 20110155874A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Hagen, Frank, Roehr, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,448,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/220.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0888 characterized by the attachment of the elements in a unit

Abstract

A sensor arrangement for a vehicle window includes a mounting frame having an engagement portion, a sensor housing attachable to the mounting frame, a spring-loaded bracket connected to the sensor housing, and a two-arm lever. The lever is pivotably mounted to the bracket, wherein pivoting of the lever causes the bracket to compress and press the sensor housing against the mounting frame. The second lever arm engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame after the lever is further pivoted to a final assembly position to thereby hold the sensor housing in place against the mounting frame.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement comprising:

a mounting frame having an engagement portion;

a sensor housing attachable to the mounting frame;

a spring-loaded bracket connected to the sensor housing; and

a lever having first and second lever arms, wherein the lever is pivotably mounted to the bracket, wherein pivoting of the lever causes the bracket to compress and press the sensor housing against the mounting frame, wherein the second lever arm engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame after the lever is further pivoted to a final assembly position to thereby hold the sensor housing in place against the mounting frame.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the first lever arm of the lever includes an actuating surface, wherein the first lever arm never engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein:

the lever includes two lever surfaces mounted parallel to two side surfaces of the sensor housing, and the lever surfaces are connected to one another by the actuating surface.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the engagement portion includes one or more pins on the mounting frame.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor housing includes a sensor housing body and a sensor housing cover;

wherein the bracket is on the sensor housing cover and is connected to the sensor housing body such that the sensor housing body and the sensor housing cover are mechanically connected to one another via the bracket with the sensor housing cover being sandwiched between the bracket and the sensor housing body.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the bracket includes a knife edge bearing;

wherein the lever is pivotably mounted on the knife edge bearing of the bracket.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the second lever arm includes a molded latching eye which latches in the final assembled position with a pin on the mounting frame.

8. A sensor arrangement for a vehicle window, the sensor arrangement comprising:

a mounting frame attachable to a window, the mounting frame having an engagement portion;

a sensor housing attachable to the mounting frame;

a spring-loaded bracket connected to the sensor housing; and

a lever having first and second lever arms, wherein the lever is pivotably mounted to the bracket, wherein pivoting of the lever causes the bracket to compress and press the sensor housing against the window when both the mounting frame is attached to the window and the sensor housing is attached to the mounting frame, wherein the second lever arm engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame after the lever is further pivoted to a final assembly position to thereby hold the sensor housing in place against the window.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the first lever arm of the lever includes an actuating surface, wherein the first lever arm never engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame.

10. The arrangement of claim 9 wherein:

the lever includes two lever surfaces mounted parallel to two side surfaces of the sensor housing, and the lever surfaces are connected to one another by the actuating surface.

11. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the engagement portion includes one or more pins on the mounting frame.

12. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the sensor housing includes a sensor housing body and a sensor housing cover;

wherein the bracket is on the sensor housing cover and is connected to the sensor housing body such that the sensor housing body and the sensor housing cover are mechanically connected to one another via the bracket with the sensor housing cover being sandwiched between the bracket and the sensor housing body.

13. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the bracket includes a knife edge bearing;

wherein the lever is pivotably mounted on the knife edge bearing of the bracket.

14. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein:

the second lever arm includes a molded latching eye which latches in the final assembled position with a pin on the mounting frame.

15. A sensor arrangement comprising:

a mounting frame having an engagement portion;

a sensor housing; and

a lever having first and second lever arms, wherein the lever is pivotably mounted to the sensor housing, wherein pivoting of the lever causes the sensor housing to move toward the mounting frame, wherein the second lever arm engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame after the lever is further pivoted to a final assembly position to thereby hold the sensor housing in place against the mounting frame.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the first lever arm of the lever includes an actuating surface, wherein the first lever arm never engages the engagement portion of the mounting frame.

17. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein:

the lever includes two lever surfaces mounted parallel to two side surfaces of the sensor housing, and the lever surfaces are connected to one another by the actuating surface.

18. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the sensor housing includes a sensor housing body and a sensor housing cover;

the sensor arrangement further comprising a bracket, wherein the bracket is on the sensor housing cover and is connected to the sensor housing body such that the sensor housing body and the sensor housing cover are mechanically connected to one another via the bracket with the sensor housing cover being sandwiched between the bracket and the sensor housing body.

19. The arrangement of claim 18 wherein:

the bracket includes a knife edge bearing;

wherein the lever is pivotably mounted on the knife edge bearing of the bracket.

20. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the second lever arm includes a molded latching eye which latches in the final assembled position with a pin on the mounting frame.