PINCH SENSOR WITH DOOR SEAL

• US 20110232391A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ihashi, Yoshitomo, Ruby, Joseph Patrick III
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/768
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/80 specially adapted for opening panels, e.g. doors for non-fixed roofs B60J10/90
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/44 responsive to changes in electrical conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0057 measuring forces due to spring-shaped elements

Abstract

A sensor apparatus may include an attachment member operatively attached to a closure member of an associated vehicle, a sensor housing substantially enclosing an associated pinching sensor, a neck portion connecting the sensor housing to the attachment member, and a seal extending from the neck portion and contacting a body portion of the associated vehicle when the closure member is in a closed position.

Claims

1. A sensor apparatus comprising:

an attachment member defining an interior having a plurality of ribs, the attachment member including a first end rib located near a top portion of the attachment member, the attachment member including substantially parallel first and second side members and a base member substantially perpendicular to the first and second side members, wherein the first end rib is larger than any of the plurality of ribs, and wherein the attachment member is adapted to receive a portion of a closure member of an associated vehicle within the interior;

a sensor housing defining an interior and substantially enclosing an associated pinching sensor within the interior, the sensor housing adjacent the base member of the attachment member;

a neck portion connecting the sensor housing to the base member of the attachment member; and

a seal extending from the neck portion, the seal including an intermediate pivot point located between the neck portion and a distal end of the seal, the seal including an outer portion extending from the intermediate pivot point to the distal end, wherein the outer portion of the seal pivots about the intermediate pivot point when the seal contacts a body portion of the associated vehicle when the closure member is in a closed position.

2. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second side members of the attachment member are substantially equal in length and the base member of the attachment member is substantially shorter than the first and second side members.

3. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first side member includes the first end rib and the second side member includes a second end rib, wherein the first and second end ribs are substantially the same size.

4. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the neck portion includes substantially more material on a first side of the neck portion than on the second side of the neck portion.

5. The sensor apparatus of claim 4 wherein the seal extends from the first side of the neck portion.

6. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the neck portion includes substantially more material between the sensor housing and the first side member of the attachment member than between the sensor housing and the second side member of the attachment member.

7. The sensor apparatus of claim 6 wherein the seal extends from between the sensor housing and the first side member of the attachment member.

8. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein a center of the interior of the sensor housing is located substantially equidistant from the first and second side members of the attachment member.

9. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein a center of the interior of the sensor housing is substantially aligned with both a center of the interior of the attachment member and a center of the base of the attachment member.

10. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor housing is located between a plane defined by an exterior surface of a length of the first side member and a plane defined by an exterior surface of a length of the second side member.

11. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor housing is substantially circular.

12. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intermediate pivot point has substantially less material than the adjacent portions of the seal.

14. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ratio of the width of the first side of the neck portion to the width of the second side of the neck portion is between 1.2 and 2.0.

15. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ratio of the width of the first side of the neck portion to the width of the second side of the neck portion is between 1.5 and 2.0.

16. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ratio of the width of the first side of the neck portion to the width of the second side of the neck portion is between 1.6 and 1.8.

17. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ratio of the width of the interior of the sensor housing to the width of the first side of the neck portion is between 1.0 and 1.6.

18. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ratio of the width of the interior of the sensor housing to the width of the first side of the neck portion is between 1.2 and 1.5.

19. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the ratio of the width of the interior of the sensor housing to the width of the first side of the neck portion is between 1.3 and 1.5.

13. A sensor apparatus comprising:

an attachment member defining an interior having a plurality of ribs, the attachment member including substantially parallel first and second side members and a base member substantially perpendicular to the first and second side members, wherein the attachment member is adapted to receive a portion of a closure member of an associated vehicle within the interior;

a sensor housing defining an interior and substantially enclosing an associated pinching sensor within the interior, the sensor housing adjacent the base member of the attachment member, the sensor housing located substantially equidistant from the two side members of the attachment member;

a neck portion connecting the sensor housing to a bottom portion of the attachment member, the neck portion including substantially more material on a first side of the neck portion than on the second side of the neck portion, wherein the ratio of a width of the first side of the neck portion to a width of the second side of the neck portion is between 1.2 and 2.5, wherein the ratio of a width of the interior of the sensor housing to the width of the first side of the neck portion is between 0.8 and 1.8; and

a seal extending from the first side of the neck portion, wherein a distal end of the seal contacts a body portion of the associated vehicle when the closure member is in a closed position.

20. A sensor apparatus comprising:

an attachment member for attachment to a closure member;

a pinch sensor connected to the attachment member through a neck portion; and

a seal extending from the neck portion, the seal having a hinge located between the neck portion and a distal end of the seal, the hinge defined by a portion of the seal that is thinner than adjacent portions of the seal.