Ultrasonic obstacle detector and method of assembling the same
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic obstacle detector mounted on a bumper or the like of a vehicle for detecting an obstacle by ultrasonic waves, said detector comprising:
- a sensor case having in a front portion thereof an integrally formed sensor-mounting hollow portion with an outward flange, an ultrasonic sensor being fit into said sensor mounting hollow;
a circuit board contained inside said sensor case and electrically connected to said ultrasonic sensor;
a cap fit into an opening of said sensor case; and
a plate spring fit onto an outside of said sensor case for engaging with said cap to integrally hold together both said sensor case and said cap, wherein said plate spring has an integrally formed elastic engaging member for pinching a peripheral wall portion of a sensor-mounting hole between said flange and said elastic engaging member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cap is fit to a sensor case having a sensor-mounting hollow portion integrally formed therewith into which an ultrasonic sensor is fit. A plate spring is fit onto an outside of the sensor case to engage the plate spring with the cap. This plate spring integrally holds together both the sensor case and the cap. Having been constructed as above, the invention provides an easy integral assembly of a sensor case and a cap by means of a single plate spring and exhibits the ability for mounting and fixing the detector to a bumper or the like of a vehicle.
7 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic obstacle detector mounted on a bumper or the like of a vehicle for detecting an obstacle by ultrasonic waves, said detector comprising:
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a sensor case having in a front portion thereof an integrally formed sensor-mounting hollow portion with an outward flange, an ultrasonic sensor being fit into said sensor mounting hollow;
a circuit board contained inside said sensor case and electrically connected to said ultrasonic sensor;
a cap fit into an opening of said sensor case; and
a plate spring fit onto an outside of said sensor case for engaging with said cap to integrally hold together both said sensor case and said cap, wherein said plate spring has an integrally formed elastic engaging member for pinching a peripheral wall portion of a sensor-mounting hole between said flange and said elastic engaging member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of assembling an ultrasonic obstacle detector comprising:
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a first step of plugging a connector terminal into a terminal plug hole formed in a cap to be fit into a sensor case;
a second step of, after having plugged said connector terminal, plugging a circuit board through said connector terminal for soldering, and fitting said sensor case into said cap in a plugging direction of said terminal while containing said circuit board inside said sensor case; and
a third step of, after the fitting at said second step, fitting a plate spring onto said sensor case in the plugging direction of said terminal into said cap to engage said plate spring with said cap.
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Specification