Sensor protector

• US 7,812,721 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Nishikawa Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Nishikawa Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Orimoto, Youji, Kudo, Dalsuke, Hoshina, Masaru, Koeda, Hironori
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US12/167,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/544, 340/545.1, 340/545.3, 340/545.7, 340/545.8, 340/551, 340/552, 49/26, 49/28, 495/01, 495/02, 495/04, 298/972, 298/972.12, 318/445, 318/466, 318/480
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/00 Doors B60J10/00 takes precedence; window aspects B60J1/00 ; side board or tailgate structures for open load compartments B62D33/023
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/42 Detection using safety edges
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/142 of the elongated strip type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49627 Frame component

Abstract

A sensor protector adapted to be attached to either a body or a door of a vehicle includes a hollow portion for accommodating a touch sensor for sensing whether or not an object exists between the body and the door of the vehicle, an attaching base portion formed as a unit with the hollow portion and including a core material embedded therein, a recessed portion provided at the attaching base portion having a rectangular shape formed by cutting out the attaching base portion, plural block-shaped cover portions formed contiguously with respective cut surfaces of the attaching base portion for covering the respective cut surfaces, and mating plates provided at two cover portions formed contiguously with respective visible front walls of the attaching base portion, the mating plates having facing mating edges which mate together when the sensor protector is bent.

Claims

1. A sensor protector adapted to be attached to either a body or a door of a vehicle, comprising:

a hollow portion for accommodating a touch sensor for sensing whether or not an object exists between the body and the door of the vehicle;

an attaching base portion formed as a unit with the hollow portion and including a core material embedded therein;

a recessed portion provided at the attaching base portion having a rectangular shape formed by cutting out the attaching base portion;

plural block-shaped cover portions formed contiguously with respective cut surfaces of the attaching base portion for covering the respective cut surfaces; and

mating plates provided at two cover portions formed contiguously with respective visible front walls of the attaching base portion, the mating plates having facing mating edges which mate together when the sensor protector is bent.

2. The sensor protector according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor protector is adapted to be attached to the body of the vehicle.

3. The sensor protector according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor protector is adapted to be attached to the door of the vehicle.

4. The sensor protector according to claim 1, wherein

the block-shaped cover portions are formed contiguously with the respective cut surfaces and a clearance is formed between the hollow portion and the block-shaped cover portions by a core inserted in the recessed portion in the vicinity of the hollow portion.

5. The sensor protector according to claim 4, further comprising:

extended portions formed contiguously with the respective visible front walls of the block-shaped cover portions, the extended portions extending from the mating plates toward the hollow portion for covering and hiding the clearance.

6. The sensor protector according to claim 1, wherein

each of the facing mating plates has a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape and mating edges of the mating plates form a right angle.