Mounting Structure for vehicle crash sensor

• US 7,753,419 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kondo, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US12/104,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 293/117, 180/274, 200/61.45, 200/61.45 R
• US Class Current: 293/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type

Abstract

A sensor assembly of a vehicle includes a substantially horizontal protrusion secured to a body portion of the vehicle and extending therefrom in a direction of an impact input and a crash sensor mounted to the substantially horizontal protrusion, wherein the crash sensor is configured to detect an impact force applied to the body panel by the impact input.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly of a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:

a bumper cover;

a protrusion connected to the bumper cover and extended from inner surface of the bumper cover in a direction of an impact input; and

a crash sensor mounted to the protrusion;

wherein the crash sensor is configured to detect an impact force applied to the bumper cover by the impact input.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the crash sensor is mounted to the protrusion through a mounting bracket.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pressure receiving portion located at an end of the protrusion opposite an inner surface of the bumper cover;

and the pressure receiving portion extends in a direction intersecting with the protrusion.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket extends along the protrusion.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper cover comprises a bumper reinforcement at a vehicle interior side of the bumper cover, wherein the bumper reinforcement is the protrusion.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the protrusion exists at plural positions of the bumper cover, and plural crash sensors are mounted at each protrusion.

19. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper cover comprises a through hole defined by a wall portion, and the protrusion is a part of the wall of the through hole.

20. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the bumper cover comprises a lower edge wall extending toward the rear side of the vehicle so as to fix a radiator grill, and the protrusion is the lower edge wall.

6. A sensor assembly of a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:

a bumper;

a protrusion connected to the bumper and extended from inner surface of the bumper in a direction of an impact input; and

a crash sensor mounted to the protrusion;

wherein the crash sensor is configured to detect an impact force applied to the bumper by the impact input,

wherein the bumper comprises a through hole defined by a wall portion, and the protrusion is a part of the wall of the through hole.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the crash sensor is mounted to the protrusion through a mounting bracket.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pressure receiving portion located at an end of the protrusion opposite an inner surface of the bumper;

and the pressure receiving portion extends in a direction intersecting with the protrusion.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein the mounting bracket extends along the protrusion.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the bumper comprises a bumper reinforcement at a vehicle interior side of the bumper, wherein the bumper reinforcement is the protrusion.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the protrusion exists at plural positions of the bumper, and plural crash sensors are mounted at each protrusion.

7. A sensor assembly of a vehicle, the sensor assembly comprising:

a bumper;

a protrusion connected to the bumper and extended from inner surface of the bumper in a direction of an impact input; and

a crash sensor mounted to the protrusion;

wherein the crash sensor is configured to detect an impact force applied to the bumper by the impact input,

wherein the bumper comprises a lower edge wall extending toward the rear side of the vehicle so as to fix a radiator grill, and the protrusion is the lower edge wall.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the crash sensor is mounted to the protrusion through a mounting bracket.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a pressure receiving portion located at an end of the protrusion opposite an inner surface of the bumper;

and the pressure receiving portion extends in a direction intersecting with the protrusion.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein the mounting bracket extends along the protrusion.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the bumper comprises a bumper reinforcement at a vehicle interior side of the bumper, wherein the bumper reinforcement is the protrusion.

18. The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein the protrusion exists at plural positions of the bumper, and plural crash sensors are mounted at each protrusion.