Protector with sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759003-B2
Application number	US-201514940738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A protector with a sensor operatively coupled on a sliding door detects an object by touch between two conductive parts in a hollow part with a space therebetween. The two conductive parts including a conductive part on a lower part of the hollow part as a side of the installation base member and a conductive part on an upper part of the hollow part as a side of a top end are shaped and positioned in a manner that an inner-cabin side end and an outer-cabin side end of the space are continuously provided directly on an inner peripheral surface of the hollow part. A coating layer covers at least an outer peripheral surface of the outer coat of the hollow part having the inner-cabin side end and the outer-cabin side end of the space continuously provided directly on the inner peripheral surface thereof.

First claim

We claim:

1. A protector with a sensor comprising:
an installation base member operatively coupled on at least one of a peripheral edge of a panel or a peripheral edge of an opening of an automobile body, said panel being moveable between at least two positions to open and close said opening of the automobile body, the panel being selected from the group consisting of a door and a sun roof of an automobile; and
a hollow part unified with the installation base member, the hollow part including an outer coat having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the hollow part having a shape of a tube, the hollow part having core wires, first and second conductive parts, and a space provided therein, the hollow part comprising synthetic rubber having flexibility, each of the first and second conductive parts having a respective one of the core wires embedded therein, the space being positioned between the first and second conductive parts; the hollow part having an inner-cabin side end and an outer-cabin side end each being connected with the installation base member, the inner-cabin side end and the outer-cabin side end being at a distance from each other along the installation base member in which:
when an object is disposed between said panel and said opening, and makes contact with said hollow part when said panel is moved towards a closed position, an electric signal provides an indication that said object is in said opening; and
said core wires drawn out in a longitudinal direction of said hollow part, each of the core wires including a respective lead joined with a control unit, wherein:
said first conductive part positioned within the hollow part between the inner-cabin side end and the outer-cabin side end adjacent the installation base member and said second conductive part spaced apart from the first conductive part; said first and second conductive parts shaped and positioned in a manner that an inner-cabin space end and an outer-cabin space end of said space are defined on the inner peripheral surface of the outer coat of said hollow part;
a coating layer only a first range of the outer peripheral surface of the outer coat from the inner-cabin side end of the hollow part to a part of the outer peripheral surface opposite the inner-cabin space end and a second range of the outer peripheral surface of the outer coat from the outer-cabin side end of the hollow part to a part of the outer peripheral surface opposite the outer-cabin space end, wherein the first range is separated from the second range by a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the outer coat void of a coating; and
the coating layer having a hardness higher than that of the hollow part.

2. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: a hardness of a material forming the coating layer is equal to or less than a hardness at which at least said electric signal is obtained.

3. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: Shore D hardness of the material forming the coating layer is not more than 47.

4. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein: the first conductive part has a convex shape and the second conductive part has a concave shape, and said first and second conductive parts are shaped and positioned in a manner that said space substantially has a V-shaped cross section, said space substantially has a uniform width in cross section and an opening of the V-shaped cross section faces the side of said installation base member.

5. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein: said installation base member, said hollow part, said first and second conductive parts and said core wires are integrally molded.

6. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein: Shore D hardness of the material forming the coating layer is not more than 47.

7. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein: the first conductive part has a convex shape and the second conductive part has a concave shape, and said first and second conductive parts are shaped and positioned in a manner that said space substantially has a V-shaped cross section, said space substantially has a uniform width in cross section and an opening of the V-shaped cross section faces the side of said installation base member.

8. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein: the first conductive part has a convex shape and the second conductive part has a concave shape, and said first and second conductive parts are shaped and positioned in a manner that said space substantially has a V-shaped cross section, said space substantially has a uniform width in cross section and an opening of the V-shaped cross section faces the side of said installation base member.

9. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein: the first conductive part has a convex shape and the second conductive part has a concave shape, and said first and second conductive parts are shaped and positioned in a manner that said space substantially has a V-shaped cross section, said space substantially has a uniform width in cross section and an opening of the V-shaped cross section faces the side of said installation base member.

10. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein: said installation base member, said hollow part, said first and second conductive parts and said core wires are integrally molded.

11. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein: said installation base member, said hollow part, said first and second conductive parts and said core wires are integrally molded.

12. The protector with the sensor as claimed in claim 4 , wherein: said installation base member, said hollow part, said first and second conductive parts and said core wires are integrally molded.

Assignees

• Nishikawa Rubber Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hirakawa Yuzo
• Hikiji Kano

Classifications

• E05Y2900/50

  for vehicles · CPC title

• E05Y2800/272

  hollow · CPC title

• E05F15/443 Primary

  specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs · CPC title

• E05F15/44

  responsive to changes in electrical conductivity · CPC title

• B60J10/273

  for enclosing or housing devices for purposes other than sealing, e.g. cables · CPC title