GB2596526A

GB2596526A - A sensor holder for a vehicle bumper

Info

Publication number: GB2596526A
Application number: GB2009790.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beadle David
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-26
Filing date: 2020-06-26
Publication date: 2022-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-26
Also published as: GB2596526B; GB202009790D0

Abstract

A sensor holder 10 such as for a vehicle bumper 12, wherein the sensor holder comprises: an attachment plate 14 formed of a first material and arranged to be fixed to a B-surface 16 of the vehicle bumper; and a sensor locator 18 formed of a second material and joined to the plate, the sensor locator comprising a turret 19 having an aperture 20 and a catch 22 for locating and retaining a sensor 24, the sensor locator further comprising a notch 26 suitable for retaining an adhesive pad 28 for contact with the B-surface of the vehicle bumper. The first material may be polypropylene and the second material acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, where the sensor holder is formed in a twin-shot moulding process. The adhesive pad is intended to mitigate distortion of the bumper when the sensor holder is brought into contact with the bumper and a seal 31 located between the sensor and bumper is forced to compress. A method of attaching a sensor holder to a vehicle bumper is also disclosed.

Description

A SENSOR HOLDER FOR A VEHICLE BUMPER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a sensor holder for a vehicle bumper. Aspects of the invention relate to a sensor holder, a sensor holder assembly, a bumper assembly, a vehicle and a method of attaching a sensor holder assembly to a vehicle bumper.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide sensor holders to hold sensors in place within or about vehicle components, for example bumpers. However, the installation of a sensor in known sensor holders can lead to distortion of the vehicle component. The present invention provides an improved sensor holder to address the problems associated with known sensor holders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention are defined in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sensor holder in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a sensor holder apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a sensor holder apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 4 shows a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a sensor holder 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The sensor holder provides a location and retention means to retain a front face 23 of a sensor 24, for example a park distance control (PDC) sensor, in a position relative to an A-surface 11 of a vehicle bumper 12. The sensor is thus positioned/located in a sensor aperture 30 which is formed in the bumper. It will be appreciated that the relationship of the front face 23 to the A-surface 11 is measurable as a depth D and is variable within the scope of the invention. In an example embodiment the depth D is equal to 0.5mm. Other values for depth D, for example in the range 0-1.2mm may be useful. The sensor holder comprises an attachment plate 14 formed of a first material. The first material may be a plastic material, for example a polypropylene (PP).

The plate 14 is arranged be fixed to a B-surface 16 of the vehicle bumper 12 using plastic welding, for example ultrasonic welding, at, for example, spot locations indicated at 32. Other welding locations may be useful. In an example embodiment the first material is chosen to match the material of the bumper 12 so as to facilitate welding. The plate may be shaped to match the B-surface of the bumper.

As shown, the sensor holder 10 comprises a sensor locator 18 formed of a second material and joined to the plate 14. In the embodiment shown the join is illustrated at line 17. It will be appreciated that in embodiments of the invention the sensor holder comprises two or more plates 14 joined to the sensor holder 18. In other examples one plate 14 is provided to surround the sensor holder 18.

The sensor locator 18 comprises a collar or turret 19 having an aperture 20 and a retention formation, for example a catch 22 for locating and retaining the sensor 24. In an example embodiment, the second material is selected to provide elastic properties and is for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). As will be appreciated, the elastic properties of the sensor locator 18 permit the turret 19 and/or the catch 22 to flex as the sensor is introduced to the sensor holder 10 and then to subsequently return to the original position so that the catch 22 engages a corresponding feature (not shown) on the sensor. It will also be appreciated that such example second materials may not be suitable for welding to the B-surface 16 of the bumper 12. The invention therefore advantageously provides plastic properties to permit fixing of the plate 14 to the bumper 12 through welding while providing elastic properties to permit effective retention of the sensor 24.

In embodiments of the invention, the sensor locator 18 comprises a notch 26 suitable for retaining an adhesive pad 28 for contact with the B-surface 16 of the vehicle bumper 12. Advantageously the adhesive pad 28 adheres the B-surface of the vehicle bumper 12 to the sensor locator 18. This provides a fixing of the sensor holder 10 to the bumper at a location proximal to the sensor aperture 30. This is advantageous in that application of a force F in the direction shown to install the sensor holder (as will be described) causes compression of a seal 31 between the sensor and the bumper. The force required to suitably compress the seal, and in turn the expansion force stored by the compressed seal, can cause distortion of the bumper at a region close to the sensor aperture 30. Provision of the adhesive pad 28 in the notch 26 mitigates the distortion. The provision of the sensor holder 10 with the adhesive pad 28 is referred to as a sensor holder assembly 100. In example embodiments the sensor holder assembly 100 is provided with the adhesive pad 28 retained in the notch 26.

The attachment or installation method for the sensor holder assembly 100 comprises, by way of example, locating the aperture 20 of the sensor locator 18 about a sensor aperture 30 formed in the bumper 12 and welding, at for example spot weld locations 32, the plate 14 to the bumper 12. Installation with a sensor comprises placement of the sensor 24 coupled with the seal 31 into the sensor holder prior to co-locating the apertures 20, 30. In this way the step of co-locating the apertures may instead comprise locating the sensor face 23 centrally in the sensor aperture 30. The force F as previously mentioned is applied to compress the seal 31 prior to welding.

The sensor holder 10 as described in the preceding embodiments is formed, in an example embodiment, using a twin-shot or two-shot moulding process. The twin-shot process first moulds the sensor locator using material such as ABS and then moulds the plate to the sensor locator using material for the plate such as PP. Other moulding processes may be useful.

Figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of opposing sides of a sensor holder apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown the sensor holder 10 comprises two plates 14 joined either side of a central sensor locator 18 as hereinbefore described. As illustrated in Figure 3, the join 17 between the sensor locator 18 and the plates 14 is substantially straight. Other shaped joins may be useful.

Figure 4 shows a bumper assembly 150 and a vehicle 200 each comprising a sensor holder or a sensor holder assembly 100. As will be appreciated the sensor holder or sensor holder assembly is not visible on or outside of the bumper assembly or vehicle A-surface 201 as shown. It will be appreciated that the sensor holder or the sensor holder assembly can form part of a wing mirror, door, or other vehicle component assembly in other embodiments of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sensor holder (10) for a vehicle bumper (12), wherein the sensor holder comprises: an attachment plate (14) formed of a first material and arranged to be fixed to a B-surface (16) of the vehicle bumper; and a sensor locator (18) formed of a second material and joined to the plate (14), the sensor locator comprising a turret (19) having an aperture (20) and a catch (22) for locating and retaining a sensor (24), the sensor locator further comprising a notch (26) suitable for retaining an adhesive pad (28) for contact with the B-surface of the vehicle bumper.
2. A sensor holder (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first material is polypropylene.
3. A sensor holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second material is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
4. A sensor holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensor holder (10) is formed in a twin-shot moulding process
5. A sensor holder assembly (100) comprising: a sensor holder (10) as claimed in any preceding claim; and an adhesive pad (28) suitable for retention in the notch (26).
6. A sensor holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adhesive pad (28) is retained in the notch (26).
7. A bumper assembly (150) comprising: a sensor holder (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4; or a sensor holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6.
8. A vehicle (200) comprising: a sensor holder (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4; a sensor holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6; or a bumper assembly (150) as claimed in claim 7.
9. A method of attaching a sensor holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6 to a vehicle bumper (12); wherein the method comprises: locating the plate aperture (20) about a sensor aperture (30) formed in the bumper (12); and welding (32) the plate (14) to the bumper (12).