Mounting structure for bracket

Abstract

Mounting structure for a bracket (40) used to mount a foot sensor (30) on a body (20) of a vehicle (10), wherein the mounting structure comprises the following: the bracket (40) which is attached to the body (20), wherein the bracket (40) holds the pedal sensor (30) which comprises a sensor electrode (31) and a sensor ECU (33); a mounting section (46, 48) which is arranged on the mounting (40); an attachment section (23, 24) which is arranged on the body (20); and a fastening device (50, 60) that couples the mounting section (46, 48) and the mounting section (23, 24) together, wherein the fastening device (50, 60) is attachable to and detachable from the mounting section (46, 48) and the mounting section (23, 24), where the holder (40) a plate-shaped ECU mounting section (44) to which the sensor ECU (33) is attached, and has a plate-shaped protective wall (49) extending from a front end of the ECU mounting section (44) and positioned between a rear wheel (11) of the vehicle (10) and the sensor ECU (33), wherein the protective wall (49) is arranged to cut an entry path (R1) for a stone thrown from the rear wheel (11) to the sensor ECU (33) while the vehicle (10) is moving.

Description

1. Area

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mounting structure for a bracket used to mount a kick sensor on the body of a vehicle. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] JP 2017-141640 A discloses a vehicle having a body to which a kick sensor is attached, which detects the movement of a user's leg. In the vehicle, the kick sensor detects the movement of a user's leg. This allows for automatic opening and closing of the vehicle's sliding door or tailgate. Generally, a bracket is used to attach the kick sensor to the body.

[0003] The bracket used to attach the footstep sensor to the body is typically attached to the body using double-sided adhesive tape. For example, when double-sided adhesive tape is used, in order to remove the body-attached bracket from the body for maintenance, the bracket is forcibly separated from the body. At this time, the double-sided adhesive tape is detached from the bracket or the body. The double-sided adhesive tape that has been detached from the bracket or the body once has reduced adhesive strength. Thus, if the double-sided adhesive tape that has been detached once is used to reattach the bracket to the body, the bracket will be attached to the body in an unstable manner. This reduces the reliability of attaching the bracket to the body.

[0004] To ensure the reliability of attaching the bracket to the body, a new double-sided adhesive tape can be used to reattach the bracket to the body. However, a new double-sided adhesive tape must be provided each time the double-sided adhesive tape is removed, which increases costs.

[0005] DE 10 2015 201 967 A1 discloses a mounting structure for a bracket used to mount a foot pedal sensor on a body of a vehicle, the mounting structure comprising: a bracket mounting portion disposed on the bracket; a mounting portion disposed on the body; and a fastening device coupling the bracket mounting portion and the mounting portion to each other, the fastening device being attachable to and detachable from the bracket mounting portion and the mounting portion. Further mounting structures for a bracket used to attach a kick sensor to a body of a vehicle are known from DE 10 2010 027 502 A1, DE 10 2016 213 378 A1, US 2018 / 0 348 015 A1 and JP 2017- 25 481 A. SUMMARY

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting structure for a bracket that ensures the reliability of mounting a bracket on a body while reducing the cost.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved with a mounting structure according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] Other features and aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view schematically showing the rear part of a vehicle in one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear bumper, bracket and kick sensor of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1 is shown. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

[0009] In the drawings and detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and representation of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] This description provides a comprehensive understanding of the methods, devices, and / or systems described. Modifications and equivalents of the methods, devices, and / or systems described will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Sequences of operations are exemplary and may be changed as apparent to those skilled in the art, except for operations that necessarily occur in a certain order. Descriptions of functions and structures well known to those skilled in the art may be omitted.

[0011] Exemplary embodiments may take various forms and are not limited to the described examples. However, the described examples are exhaustive and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0012] A mounting structure for a bracket 40 according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 1 to 5. The bracket 40 of the present embodiment is used to attach a kick sensor 30 to a rear bumper 20, which is a part of the body of the vehicle 10. For illustrative purposes, the directions indicating front, rear, left, and right in the drawings define the front, rear, top, and bottom directions of the vehicle 10, respectively. The left-right direction of the vehicle 10 is the width direction of the vehicle.

[0013] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the rear bumper 20 of the vehicle 10 is located at the lower part of the vehicle 10 and at the rear side of a rear wheel 11 of the vehicle 10, which is a wheel. The kick sensor 30 is attached to the rear bumper 20. The kick sensor 30 detects the movement of a user's leg 12. The kick sensor 30 has a first sensor electrode 31, a second sensor electrode 32, and a sensor ECU 33. The first and second sensor electrodes 31 and 32 are electrical wires electrically connected to the sensor ECU 33. Each of the first and second sensor electrodes 31 and 32 has a predetermined detection range. The kick sensor 30 is a capacitive proximity sensor that detects capacitance changes between each of the first and second sensor electrodes 31 and 32 and the user's leg 12 in the corresponding detection range.The sensor ECU 33 controls the opening and closing of a tailgate 13 of the vehicle 10 based on the capacitance changes. The kick sensor 30 detects the movement of the user's leg 12, thereby enabling automatic opening and closing of the tailgate 13 of the vehicle 10.

[0014] As in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 4, the kick sensor 30 is attached to the rear bumper 20 through the bracket 40. The rear bumper 20 is made of, for example, iron. The rear bumper 20 has an elongated plate-shaped bumper body 21 extending in the left-right direction. The bumper body 21 extends horizontally in the left-right direction and extends obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction. The longitudinal direction of the bumper body 21 is the left-right direction of the vehicle 10. The transverse direction of the bumper body 21 is the left-right direction of the vehicle 10. The transverse direction of the bumper body 21 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is oblique with respect to the front-rear direction.

[0015] Furthermore, the rear bumper 20 has an elongated plate-shaped bumper extension 22 extending diagonally upward toward the rear side from the rear edge of the bumper body 21. The longitudinal direction of the bumper extension 22 is the left-right direction of the vehicle 10. The transverse direction of the bumper extension 22 is oblique with respect to the transverse direction of the bumper body 21.

[0016] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 3, the rear bumper 20 has two plate-shaped first bumper-side attachment portions 23. The first bumper-side attachment portions 23 protrude forward from the front end of the bumper body 21. The two first bumper-side attachment portions 23 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the bumper body 21. Each first bumper-side attachment portion 23 has a circular first insertion hole 23a. Each first insertion hole 23a extends through the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23 in the thickness direction.

[0017] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear bumper 20 has three plate-shaped second bumper-side attachment portions 24. The second bumper-side attachment portions 24 protrude forward from the edge of the bumper extension 22 on the opposite side from the bumper body 21. The three second bumper-side attachment portions 24 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the bumper extension 22. Each second bumper-side attachment portion 24 has a circular second insertion hole 24a. Each second insertion hole 24a extends through the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 24 in the thickness direction.

[0018] The holder 40 is made of iron, for example. The holder 40 has first and second holders 41 and 42 that hold the first and second sensor electrodes 31 and 32, respectively.

[0019] As in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 4, the first holder 41 has two elongated plate-shaped guide portions 41a that guide the first sensor electrode 31, and an elongated plate-shaped connecting portion 41b. The connecting portion 41b connects base edges (first ends in the transverse direction) of the two guide portions 41a to each other. The two guide portions 41a extend parallel to each other. The transverse direction of the connecting portion 41b is perpendicular to the transverse direction of the guide portions 41a. The two edges of the connecting portion 41b in the transverse direction each extend over the entire base edges of the two guide portions 41a. The first holder 41 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

[0020] The second bracket 42 has two elongated plate-shaped guide portions 42a that guide the second sensor electrode 32, and three plate-shaped connecting portions 42b. The three connecting portions 42b connect base edges (first ends in the transverse direction) of the two guide portions 42a to each other. The two guide portions 42a extend parallel to each other. The longitudinal direction of the two guide portions 42a of the second bracket 42 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the two guide portions 41a of the first bracket 41. The three connecting portions 42b are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the guide portion 42a. The distance between the connecting portions 42b, which are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide portions 42a, is substantially the same as that between the second bumper-side attachment portions 24, which are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bumper extension 22.The three connecting portions 42b connect base edges of the two guide portions 42a to each other at three different positions separated from each other.

[0021] The bracket 40 has an elongated, plate-shaped coupling portion 43 that couples the first holder 41 and the second holder 42 to each other. The longitudinal direction of the coupling portion 43 corresponds to the longitudinal directions of the guide portions 41a and 42a. A first edge of the coupling portion 43 in the transverse direction is coupled to the base edge of the guide portion 41a, which is closer to the second holder 42. A second edge of the coupling portion 43 in the transverse direction is coupled to the base edge of the guide portion 42a, which is closer to the first holder 41. The coupling portion 43 extends over the entire guide portions 41a and 42a.

[0022] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the coupling portion 43 has through holes 43a arranged in the longitudinal direction. The through holes 43a are located between the first bracket 41 and the second bracket 42. The through holes 43a of the coupling portion 43 reduce the weight of the bracket 40.

[0023] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 5, a first end of the coupling portion 43 extends longitudinally outward in the width direction beyond the first bracket 41 and the second bracket 42. The sensor ECU 33 is attached to a part of the coupling portion 43 that extends to the first end beyond the first bracket 41 and the second bracket 42. Thus, the bracket 40 has an ECU attachment portion 44 to which the sensor ECU 33 is attached. The ECU attachment portion 44 is a portion of the coupling portion 43 that protrudes from the first bracket 41 and the second bracket 42 in the longitudinal direction.

[0024] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 40 has an elongated, plate-shaped first extension 45. The first extension 45 extends from the base edge of one of the guide portions 41a of the first holder 41 that is farther away from the second holder 42. The longitudinal direction of the first extension 45 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the guide portion 41a. The transverse direction of the first extension 45 corresponds to the transverse direction of the guide portion 41a. The base edge (first end in the transverse direction) of the first extension 45 extends over the entire base edge of the corresponding guide portion 41a.

[0025] The bracket 40 has two plate-shaped first bracket attachment portions 46. The first bracket attachment portions 46 protrude forward from a second end of the first extension 45 in the transverse direction, that is, they protrude in a direction away from the second bracket 42. The two first bracket attachment portions 46 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the first extension 45. The distance between the two first bracket attachment portions 46 is substantially the same as the distance between the two first bumper-side attachment portions 23. Each first bracket attachment portion 46 has a circular bracket-side insertion hole 46a. Each bracket-side insertion hole 46a extends through the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 46 in the thickness direction.The diameter of each bracket-side insertion hole 46a is the same as the diameter of the first insertion hole 23a of the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23.

[0026] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the bracket 40 has three plate-shaped second extensions 47. The three second extensions 47 protrude from the distal end (the second end in the transverse direction) of one of the two guide portions 42a of the second holder 42, which is farther away from the first holder 41. The protrusion direction of each second extension 47 from the guide portions 42a corresponds to the transverse direction of the guide portions 42a. The distance between the second extensions 47, which are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide portion 42a, is substantially the same as the distance between the connecting portions 42b, which are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the connecting portions 42a.

[0027] Furthermore, the bracket 40 has plate-shaped second bracket attachment portions 48. The second bracket attachment portions 48 are continuous with the edges of the second extensions 47 on the side opposite the guide portion 42a. The second bracket attachment portions 48 extend to the opposite side of the first holder 41. The three second bracket attachment portions 48 are bracket attachment portions of the bracket 40. The three second bracket attachment portions 48 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the guide portion 42a. The distance between the second bracket attachment portions 48, which are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide portions 42a, is substantially the same as that between the second bumper-side attachment portions 24, which are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bumper extension 22.Every second bracket mounting portion 48 has an internally threaded hole 48a.

[0028] As in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the bracket 40 is disposed inward of the rear bumper 20 in the vehicle 10. When the bracket 40 is disposed on the rear bumper 20, each first bracket attachment portion 46 is in contact with the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23, and each second bracket attachment portion 48 is in contact with the corresponding second bumper-side attachment portion 24. Each first bracket attachment portion 46 is attached to the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by a clip 50, and each second bracket attachment portion 48 is attached to the corresponding second bumper-side attachment portion 24 by a bolt 60. Thus, the bracket is attached to the rear bumper 20.

[0029] Thus, each first bumper-side attachment portion 23 is an attachment portion of the rear bumper 20 to which the corresponding first bracket attachment portion 46 is attached. Furthermore, each second bumper-side attachment portion 24 is an attachment portion of the rear bumper 20 to which the corresponding second bracket attachment portion 48 is attached.

[0030] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the clip 50 includes a tubular plastic clip body 51 and a plastic pin 52 inserted into the clip body 51. The clip body 51 includes a cylindrical insertion tube 51a and an annular flange 51b. The flange 51b protrudes in the radial direction from the base end (first end in the axial direction) of the insertion tube 51a. The outer diameter of the insertion tube 51a is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bracket-side insertion hole 46a and the diameter of the first insertion hole 23a.

[0031] The pin 52 has a columnar insertion portion 52a inserted into the insertion tube 51a and an annular flange 52b. The flange 52b protrudes in the radial direction from the base end (first end in the axial direction) of the insertion portion 52a. The outer diameter of the insertion portion 52a is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the insertion tube 51a. The insertion portion 52a has a tapered portion 52c at the second end in the axial direction, that is, at the distal end located on the side opposite the flange 52b. Furthermore, the insertion portion 52a has a circular flange 52d protruding in the radial direction from the distal end of the tapered portion 52c. The outer diameter of the flange 52d is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the insert tube 51a.

[0032] The insertion tube 51a of the clip body 51 extends through the first insertion hole 23a of the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23 and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a of the corresponding first bracket attachment portion 46. The flange 51b contacts the lower surface of the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, that is, the surface on the side opposite to the first bracket attachment portion 46. Specifically, the flange 51b contacts the surrounding region of the first insertion hole 23a in the lower surface of the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. The insertion portion 52a of the pin 52 is forcibly inserted into the insertion tube 52a. This presses the insertion tube 51a against the first insertion hole 23a and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a.Thus, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion tube 51a is in close contact with the first insertion hole 23a and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a.

[0033] The close contact of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion tube 51a with the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a engages the clip body 51 with the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. As a result, the first bracket attachment portion 46 is coupled to the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 through the clip body 51. Furthermore, the flange 52d of the insertion portion 52a protrudes from a distal end of the insertion tube 51a to engage with the distal end, that is, the end of the insertion tube 51a located on the side opposite the flange 51b. This limits the separation of the pin 52 from the clip body 51. As a result, the clip 50 remains attached to the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.

[0034] When the clip 50 is detached from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, the pin 52 is forcibly pulled out of the clip body 51. This releases the tight contact of the insertion tube 51a with the first insertion hole 23a and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a. As a result, the coupling of the first bracket attachment portion 46 to the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by the clip body 51 is released. In this way, the clip 50 is detachable from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.Accordingly, the clip 50 is a fastening device that couples the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 that correspond to each other, and is attachable to and detachable from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.

[0035] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 4, the bolt 60 has a shank 60a having an external thread and a head 60b protruding in the radial direction from the base end (first end in the axial direction) of the shank 60a. The shank 60a of the bolt 60 extends through the second insertion hole 24a of the corresponding second bumper-side attachment portion 24. The bolt 60 is screwed into the internally threaded hole 48a of the second bracket attachment portion 48 until the head 60b comes into contact with the upper surface of the second bumper-side attachment portion 24, specifically, with the surrounding region of the second insertion hole 24a of the upper surface. Thus, the second bracket attachment portion 48 is coupled to the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 by the bolt 60.Removing the shank 60a of the bolt 60 from the internally threaded hole 48a releases the coupling of the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 by the bolt 60. In this manner, the bolt 60 is detachable from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24. Accordingly, the bolt 60 is a fastening device that couples the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24, which correspond to each other, and is attachable to and detachable from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.

[0036] In the mounting structure for the bracket 40 of the present embodiment, the bracket 40 is attachable to and detachable from the rear bumper 20. The attachment and detachment are realized by attaching and detaching the clip 50 to and from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, and attaching and detaching the bolt 60 to and from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.

[0037] As in Fig. 2 and Fig.As shown in Fig. 5, the bracket 40 has a protective wall 49 disposed between the rear wheel 11 and the pedaling sensor 30. The protective wall 49 extends in a direction intersecting the traveling direction of the vehicle 10. The protective wall 49 extends from a part of the coupling portion 43 in a direction intersecting the coupling portion 43. The protective wall 49 is located between the rear wheel 11 and the sensor ECU 33. The protective wall 49 is arranged to intersect an entry path R1 for a stone thrown from the rear wheel 11 to the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling. The entry path R1 has been calculated in advance through, for example, experiments.

[0038] The operation of the present embodiment will now be described.

[0039] To assemble the mounting structure for the bracket 40 having the configuration described above, one or more clips 50 are first used to couple the first bracket mounting portion 46 and the first bumper-side mounting portion 23, which correspond to each other. This temporarily fixes the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20. In other words, the bracket 40 is positioned relative to the rear bumper 20. Subsequently, one or more bolts 60 are used to couple the second bracket mounting portion 48 and the second bumper-side mounting portion 24, which correspond to each other. This completely fixes the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20. In other words, the bracket 40 is attached to the rear bumper 20.

[0040] For example, to remove the bracket 40 attached to the rear shock absorber 20 for maintenance, the bolt 60 is removed from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24, and then the clip 50 is removed from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. This releases the coupling of the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 by the bolt 60 and releases the coupling of the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by the clip 50. In other words, the bracket 40 is removed from the rear bumper 20.

[0041] To reattach the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20, the removed clip 50 is reattached to the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. Furthermore, the removed bolt 60 is reattached to the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24. Thus, the previously used clip 50 is used to attach the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, and the previously used bolt 60 is used to attach the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24. In other words, the bracket 40 can be reattached to the rear bumper 20 using the previously used fasteners.

[0042] The protective wall 49 is arranged between the rear wheel 11 and the sensor ECU 33. Thus, foreign particles such as a stone thrown from the rear wheel 11 toward the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling (i.e., a flying stone) strike the protective wall 49. Consequently, the protective wall 49 prevents a flying stone from hitting the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling.

[0043] The embodiment described above provides the following advantages.

[0044] (1) The clip 50, which is attachable to and detachable from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, is used to couple the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 to each other. Furthermore, the bolt 60, which is attachable to and detachable from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24, is used to couple the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other. Thus, the bracket 40 is attached to the rear bumper 20.Detaching the clip 50 from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 releases the coupling of the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by the clip 50. Furthermore, detaching the bolt 60 from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 releases the coupling of the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 by the bolt 60. Thus, the bracket 40 is detached from the rear bumper 20.To reattach the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20, the clip 50, which was once detached from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, is reattached to the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 to couple the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. Furthermore, the bolt 60, which was once detached from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24, is reattached to the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to couple the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.Thus, the bracket 40 is reattached to the rear bumper 20.

[0045] This overcomes the problem that occurs when the bracket 40 is reattached to the rear bumper 20 using a double-sided adhesive tape that has been detached once. In other words, the bracket 40 is prevented from being unstably attached to the rear bumper 20. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a new double-sided adhesive tape each time the bracket 40 is reattached to the rear bumper 20. This reduces costs. The above-described structure ensures the reliability of attaching the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20 while reducing costs.

[0046] (2) Screwing the bolt 60 into the second bracket attachment portion 48 couples the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other through the bolt 60. Further, engaging the clip 50 with the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 couples the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 to each other through the clip 50. The bolt 60 screwed into the second bracket attachment portion 48 is a fastening device that couples the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other, and is attachable to and detachable from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.The clip 50, which engages with the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23, is a fastening device that couples the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 to each other, and is attachable to and detachable from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.

[0047] (3) The bracket 40 has the protective wall 49 disposed between the rear wheel 11 of the vehicle 10 and the sensor ECU 33 of the pedal sensor 30 so as to extend in the direction intersecting the traveling direction of the vehicle 10. Foreign particles, such as a stone, thrown from the rear wheel 11 toward the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling impact the protective wall 49. Accordingly, the protective wall 49 prevents a flying stone from impacting the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling. This eliminates the need to dispose an additional protective member that protects the sensor ECU 33 from a flying stone while the vehicle 10 is traveling, thus reducing the number of components.

[0048] The above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. The above-described embodiments and the following modifications may be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.

[0049] The bracket 40 may be attached to the rear bumper 20 only by the clip 50, without using the bolt 60. Alternatively, the bracket 40 may be attached to the rear bumper 20 only by the bolt 60, without using the clip 50. In short, the fastening device needs to include at least one of the bolt 60 and the clip 50.

[0050] Furthermore, the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 can be coupled by the bolt 60 by screwing the bolt 60 into the second bumper-side attachment portion 24. In short, the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 simply need to be coupled to each other by the bolt 60 by screwing the bolt 60 into the second bracket attachment portion 48 or the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.

[0051] The bracket 40 does not need to be attached to the rear bumper 20 using the clip 50 in two positions. Instead, the bracket 40 can be attached to the rear bumper 20 using the clip 50 in one position or in three or more positions. The bracket 40 does not need to be attached to the rear bumper 20 using the bolt 60 in three positions. Instead, for example, the bracket 40 can be attached to the rear bumper 20 using the bolt 60 in one position, two positions, or four or more positions.

[0052] The vehicle 10 may have a sliding door that automatically opens and closes by detecting the movement of the user's leg 12. In this case, the kick sensor 30 should be mounted on a decorative part, such as an aerodynamic part, which is a part of the body located on the lower side of the sliding door, using the bracket 40.

[0053] Various changes in form and details may be made to the foregoing examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples are for the purpose of description only and not for the purpose of limitation. Descriptions of features in each example are to be deemed applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if sequences are performed in a different order and / or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined differently and / or replaced or supplemented with other components or their equivalents. The scope of the disclosure is not defined by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents. All changes within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are intended to be embraced within the disclosure.

Claims

[1] Mounting structure for a bracket (40) used to mount a kick sensor (30) on a body (20) of a vehicle (10), the mounting structure comprising: the bracket (40) attached to the body (20), the bracket (40) holding the kick sensor (30) comprising a sensor electrode (31) and a sensor ECU (33); a bracket mounting portion (46, 48) disposed on the bracket (40); an attachment portion (23, 24) disposed on the body (20); and a fastening device (50, 60) which couples the bracket attachment section (46, 48) and the attachment section (23, 24) to one another, wherein the fastening device (50, 60) is attachable to and detachable from the bracket attachment section (46, 48) and the attachment section (23, 24), wherein the holder (40) a plate-shaped ECU mounting portion (44) to which the sensor ECU (33) is mounted, and a plate-shaped protective wall (49) extending from a front end of the ECU mounting portion (44) and disposed between a rear wheel (11) of the vehicle (10) and the sensor ECU (33), wherein the protective wall (49) is arranged to cut an entry path (R1) for a stone thrown from the rear wheel (11) to the sensor ECU (33) while the vehicle (10) is traveling. [2] The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means (50, 60) comprises at least one of a bolt (60) or a clip (50). [3] The mounting structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective wall (49) extends in a direction intersecting a traveling direction of the vehicle (10).

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