Mounting bracket used to attach a kick sensor to a vehicle body

Abstract

A mounting structure for a bracket used to attach a kick sensor to a vehicle body comprises a bracket mounting portion arranged on the bracket, an attachment portion arranged on the body, and a fastener that couples the bracket mounting portion and the attachment portion together. The fastener portion can be attached to and detached from the bracket mounting portion and the attachment portion.

Description

Title of the invention: Fixing structure for support

[0001] Domain

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a fixing structure for a bracket used to fix a kick sensor to the body of a vehicle.

[0003] Description of the Related Art

[0004] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2017-141640 discloses a vehicle comprising a body on which a kick sensor that detects the movement of a user's leg is attached. In the vehicle, the kick sensor detects the movement of a user's leg. This enables the sliding door or the rear door of the vehicle to open or close automatically. Generally, a bracket is used to attach the kick sensor to the body.

[0005] The bracket used to fix the kick sensor to the body is typically fixed to the body using a double-sided tape. For example, when the double-sided tape is used to fix the bracket to the body, to remove the bracket from the body for maintenance, the bracket is forcibly separated from the body. At this time, the double-sided tape is removed from the bracket or the body. The double-sided tape that has been removed once from the bracket or the body has reduced adhesive strength. Thus, if the double-sided tape removed once is used to fix the bracket to the body again, the bracket is fixed to the body unstably. This reduces the reliability of fixing the bracket to the body.

[0006] In order to ensure the reliability of fixing the bracket to the body, a new double-sided tape can be used to fix the bracket to the body again. However, a new double-sided tape must be prepared each time the double-sided tape is removed, thus increasing the cost. Abstract

[0007] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a fixing structure for a support which ensures the reliability of fixing a support on a body while reducing the cost.

[0008] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in simplified form which are described in more detail below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed invention, nor to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed invention.

[0009] A fixing structure for a support according to one aspect of the present disclosure is used for attaching a kick sensor to a body of a vehicle. The attachment structure includes at least one bracket attachment portion arranged on the bracket, at least one fastener portion arranged on the body, and at least one fastener that couples the bracket attachment portion and the fastener portion together. The fastener portion can be attached to and detached from the bracket attachment portion and the fastener portion. The fastener portion may include at least one bolt or fastener. The bracket may include a protective wall arranged between a wheel of the vehicle and the kick sensor, the protective wall may extend in a direction intersecting a direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0010] Other features and aspects will become more apparent from the detailed description below, the drawings and the claims. Brief description of the drawings

[0011] [Fig. 1] is a side view schematically showing the rear portion of a vehicle in one embodiment.

[0012] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the rear bumper, bracket and sensor kick of the vehicle shown in [Fig.l].

[0013] [Fig.3] is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of [Fig.2].

[0014] [Fig.4] is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of [Fig.2].

[0015] [Fig.5] is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of [Fig.2].

[0016] Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same numbers of reference refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions and illustration of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity, illustration and convenience. Detailed description

[0017] The present description provides a clear understanding of the methods, apparatuses and / or systems described. Modifications and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses and / or systems described will be more apparent to those skilled in the art. The sequences of operations are exemplary and may be modified, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, except for operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to those skilled in the art may be omitted.

[0018] The exemplary embodiments may take various forms, and are not limited to the described examples. However, the described examples are thorough and complete and convey the full scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0019] A fixing structure for a bracket 40 according to one embodiment is now described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The bracket 40 of the present embodiment is used to fix a kick sensor 30 on a rear bumper 20, which is part of the body of the vehicle 10. For illustration purposes, the direction indicating front, rear, left and right in the drawings defines the directions of the front, rear, top and bottom of the vehicle 10, respectively. The left-right direction of the vehicle 10 is the width direction of the vehicle.

[0020] As shown in [Fig.l], the rear bumper 20 of the vehicle 10 is positioned at the lower portion of the vehicle 10 and at the rear of a rear wheel 11 of the vehicle 10, which is a wheel. The kick sensor 30 is fixed on the rear bumper 20. The kick sensor 30 detects the movement of a leg 12 of the user. The kick sensor 30 comprises 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 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 changes in capacitance between each of the first and second sensor electrodes 31 and 32 and the user's leg 12 within the corresponding detection range.The sensor ECU 33 controls the opening and closing of a rear door 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 the rear door 13 of the vehicle to open and close automatically.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the kick sensor 30 is fixed on the rear bumper 20 by the bracket 40. The rear bumper 20 is made, for example, from iron. The rear bumper 20 comprises an elongated plate-shaped bumper body 21 which extends in the left-right direction. The bumper body 21 extends horizontally in the left-right direction and extends obliquely 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 horizontal to the longitudinal direction and is oblique to the front-rear direction.

[0022] Furthermore, the rear bumper 20 comprises an elongated plate-shaped bumper extension 22 which extends diagonally upward to the rear 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 to the transverse direction of the bumper body 21.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rear bumper 20 includes two plate-shaped first bumper-side attachment portions 23. The first bumper-side attachment portions 23 project 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 first circular insertion hole 23a. Each first insertion hole 23a extends through the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23 in the thickness direction.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the rear bumper 20 includes 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 side opposite 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 second circular insertion hole 24a. Each second insertion hole 24a extends through the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 24 in the thickness direction.

[0025] The support 40 is made, for example, from iron. The support 40 comprises first and second holding devices 41 and 42, which respectively hold the first and second sensor electrodes 31 and 32.

[0026] As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the first holding device 41 comprises two elongated plate-shaped guide parts 41a, which guide the first sensor electrode 31 and an elongated plate-shaped connecting part 41b. The connecting part 41b connects the base edges (the first ends in the transverse direction) of the two guide parts 41a to each other. The two guide parts 41a extend parallel to each other. The transverse direction of the connecting part 41b is orthogonal to the transverse direction of the guide parts 41a. The two edges of the connecting part 41b in the transverse direction extend respectively over all the base edges of the two guide parts 41a. The first holding device 41a has a U-shaped transverse shape.

[0027] The second holding device 42 comprises two elongated plate-shaped guide parts 42a, which guide the second sensor electrode 32 and the three plate-shaped connecting parts 42b. The three connecting parts 42b connect the base edges (first ends in the transverse direction) of the two guide parts 42a to each other. The two guide parts 42a extend parallel to each other. The longitudinal direction of the two guide parts 42a of the second holding device 42 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the two guide parts 41a of the first holding device 4L. The three connecting parts 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 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide portions 42a is substantially the same as the second bumper-side attachment portions 24 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bumper extension 22. The three connecting portions 42b connect the base edges of the two guide portions 42a to each other in three different positions that are separated from each other.

[0028] The holder 40 comprises an elongated plate-shaped coupling portion 43, which couples the first holding device 41 and the second holding device 42 together. 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 holding device 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 holding device 4L. The coupling portion 43 extends over all of the guide portions 41a and 42a.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the coupling portion 43 has through holes 43a, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction. The through holes 43a are arranged between the first holding device 41 and the second holding device 42. The through holes 43a of the coupling portion 43 reduce the weight of the support 40.

[0030] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, a first end of the coupling portion 43 in the longitudinal direction extends outward in the width direction beyond the first holding device 41 and the second holding device 42. The sensor ECU 33 is attached to a portion of the coupling portion 43 extending toward the first end beyond the first holding device 41 and the second holding device 42. Thus, the bracket 40 includes 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 projects from the first holding device 41 and the second holding device 42 in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the support 40 comprises a first elongated plate-shaped extension 45. The first extension 45 extends from the base edge of one of the guide portions 41a of the first holding device 41 which is further from the second holding device 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 (the first end in the transverse direction) of the first extension 45 extends over the entire base edge of the corresponding guide portion 41a.

[0032] The bracket 40 comprises 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, i.e., protrude in a direction away from the second holding device 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 bracket-side circular insertion hole 46a. Each bracket-side insertion hole 46a extends through the corresponding first bracket attachment portion 46 in the thickness direction.The diameter of each insertion hole on the bracket side 46a is the same as the diameter of the first insertion hole 23a of the corresponding first attachment part on the bumper side 23. .

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the holder comprises three second plate-shaped 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 parts 42a of the second holder 42 that is further away from the first holder 4L. The protrusion direction of each second extension 47 of the guide parts 42a corresponds to the transverse direction of the guide parts 42a. The distance between the second extensions 47 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide part 42a is substantially the same as the distance between the connecting parts 42b adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide parts 42a.

[0034] Furthermore, the bracket 40 includes 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 opposite side of the guide portion 42a. The second bracket attachment portions 48 extend toward the opposite side of the first holder 4L. 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 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the guide portions 42a is substantially the same as the second bumper-side attachment portions 24 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bumper extension 22.Each second support attachment portion 48 has a . internal screw hole 48a.

[0035] As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the bracket 40 is arranged inward from the rear bumper 20 in the vehicle 10. When the bracket 40 is arranged on the rear bumper 20, each first bracket attachment portion 46 is in contact with the 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 fixed to the corresponding first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by a fastener 50 and each second bracket attachment portion 48 is fixed to the corresponding second bumper-side attachment portion 24 by a bolt 60. Thus, the bracket 40 is fixed to the rear bumper 20.

[0036] Thus, each first bumper-side attachment portion 23 is a rear bumper attachment portion 20, to which the corresponding first bracket attachment portion 46 is attached. Furthermore, each second bumper-side attachment portion 24 is a rear bumper attachment portion 20, to which the corresponding second bracket attachment portion 48 is attached.

[0037] As shown in [Fig. 3], the fastener 50 comprises a tubular plastic fastener body 51 and a plastic pin 52 which is inserted into the fastener body 51. The fastener body 51 comprises a cylindrical insertion tube 51a and an annular flange 51b. The flange 51b protrudes in the radial direction from the base end (the 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 holder-side insertion hole 46a and the diameter of the first insertion hole 23a.

[0038] The pin 52 comprises a columnar insertion portion 52a which is 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 comprises a tapered portion 52c at the second end in the axial direction, i.e., the distal end positioned on the opposite side from the flange 52b. Furthermore, the insertion portion 52a comprises a circular flange 52d which protrudes 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 insertion tube 51a.

[0039] The insertion tube 51a of the attachment body 51 extends through the first insertion hole 23 of the corresponding first bumper-side attachment part 23 and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a of the first bracket attachment part 46 corresponding. The flange 51b is in contact with the lower surface of the first bumper-side attachment part 23, i.e., the surface on the side opposite the first bracket attachment part 46. In particular, the flange 51b is in contact with the peripheral region of the first insertion hole 23a in the lower surface of the first bumper-side attachment part 23. The insertion part 52a of the pin 52 is forcibly inserted into the insertion tube 51a. This presses the insertion tube 51a against the first insertion hole 23a and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a. Thus, the circumferential surface of the insertion tube 51a is in immediate contact with the first insertion hole 23a and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a.

[0040] The immediate contact of the outer circumferential surface of the insertion tube 51a with the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a engages the attachment body 51 with the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. For this reason, the first bracket attachment portion 46 is coupled to the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by the attachment 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, i.e., the end of the insertion tube 51a positioned on the opposite side of the flange 51b. This limits the separation of the pin 52 from the clip body 51. For this reason, the clip 50 remains attached to the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.

[0041] 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 cancels the immediate contact of the insertion tube 51a with the first insertion hole 23a and the bracket-side insertion hole 46a. For this reason, the coupling of the first bracket attachment portion 46 with the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 by the clip body 51 is canceled. In this way, the clip 50 can detach from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.Therefore, the clip 50 is a fastening part that couples the first bracket fastening part 46 and the first bumper-side fastening part 23 that correspond to each other and can be attached to and detached from the first bracket fastening part 46 and the first bumper-side fastening part 23.

[0042] As shown in [Fig. 4], the bolt 60 comprises a shank 60a which comprises an external screw, and a head 60b which projects 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 second part bumper-side attachment part 24. The bolt 60 is screwed into the inner screw hole 48a of the second bracket attachment part 48 until the head 60b contacts the upper surface of the second bumper-side attachment part 24, in particular, the peripheral region of the second insertion hole 24a of the upper surface. Thus, the second bracket attachment part 48 is coupled to the second bumper-side attachment part 24 by the bolt 60. Removing the shank 60a of the bolt 60 from the inner screw hole 48a cancels the coupling of the second bracket attachment part 48 and the second bumper-side attachment part 24 by the bolt 60. In this way, the bolt 60 is detachable from the second bracket attachment part 48 and the second bumper-side attachment part 24.Therefore, the bolt 60 is a fastener that couples the second bracket fastening portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 that correspond to each other and can be attached to and detached from the second bracket fastening portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.

[0043] In the attachment structure for the bracket 40 of the present embodiment, the bracket 40 can be attached to and detached from the rear bumper 20. The attachment and detachment are implemented by attaching and detaching the clip 50 to and the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 and by attaching and detaching the bolt 60 to and the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.

[0044] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the support 40 includes a protective wall 49 which is arranged between the rear wheel 11 and the kick 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 portion of the coupling portion 43 in a direction intersecting the coupling portion 43. The protective wall 49 is positioned between the rear wheel 11 and the sensor ECU 33. The protective wall 49 is arranged to intersect an input trajectory RI for a pebble ejected by the rear wheel 11 toward the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling. The input trajectory RI has been calculated in advance, for example, by experiments.

[0045] The operation of the first embodiment is now described.

[0046] In order to assemble the attachment structure for the bracket 40 having the configuration described above, one or more fasteners 50 are first used to couple the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 that 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. Therefore, one or more bolts 60 are used to couple the second bracket fixing portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 that correspond to each other. This completely fixes the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20. In other words, the bracket 40 is fixed to the rear bumper 20.

[0047] For example, to detach the bracket 40 fixed on the rear bumper 20 for maintenance, the bolt 60 is detached from the second bracket fixing portion 48 and the second bumper-side clip portion 24 and then the clip 50 is detached from the first bracket fixing portion 46 and the first bumper-side clip portion 23. This cancels the coupling of the second bracket fixing portion 48 and the second bumper-side clip portion 24 by the bolt 60 and cancels the coupling of the first bracket fixing portion 46 and the first bumper-side clip portion 23 by the clip 50. In other words, the bracket 40 is detached from the rear bumper 20.

[0048] In order to reattach the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20, the detached clip 50 is reattach to the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. Further, the detached bolt 60 is re-coupled to the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24. Thus, the clip 50 previously used to attach the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 to each other, and the previously used bolt 60 is used to attach the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other. In other words, the bracket 40 can be re-coupled to the rear bumper 20 using the previously used attachment parts.

[0049] The protective wall 49 is arranged between the rear wheel 11 and the sensor ECU 33. Thus, the foreign body such as a pebble, ejected from the rear wheel 11 toward the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling, i.e., a thrown pebble, hits the protective wall 49. Therefore, the protective wall 49 prevents a thrown pebble from hitting the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling.

[0050] The embodiment described above provides the following advantages.

[0051] -1- The fastener 50, which can be attached to and detached from the first attachment part of bracket 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 can be attached to and detached 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. Detachment of the clip 50 from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 is used to couple the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other. bracket attachment part 46 and the first bumper-side attachment part 23 cancels the coupling of the first bracket attachment part 46 and the first bumper-side attachment part 23 by the clip 50. Furthermore, the detachment of the bolt 60 from the second bracket attachment part 48 and the second bumper-side attachment part 24 cancels the coupling of the second bracket attachment part 48 and the second bumper-side attachment part 24 by the bolt 60. Thus, the bracket 40 is detached from the rear bumper 20.In order to reattach the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20, the clip 50 once detached from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 is again attached 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 to each other. Furthermore, the bolt 60 once detached from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 is again attached 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 to each other. Thus, the bracket 40 is fixed again to the rear bumper 20.

[0052] This overcomes the problem that occurs when the bracket 40 is fixed to the rear bumper 20 again using a double-sided tape that has been removed once. In other words, the bracket 40 cannot be fixed to the rear bumper 20 unstably. Furthermore, there is no need to prepare a new double-sided tape each time the bracket 40 is fixed again from the rear bumper 20. This reduces the cost. The structure described above ensures the reliability of fixing the bracket 40 to the rear bumper 20 while reducing the cost.

[0053] -2- Screwing the bolt 60 into the second support fixing part 48 torques the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other by the bolt 60. Further, engagement of the attachment 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 by the attachment 50. The bolt 60 screwed into the second bracket attachment portion 48 is a fastener that couples the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 to each other and can be attached to and detached from the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24.The clip 50 engaged with the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23 is a fastener that couples the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23. bumper 23 between them and can be attached to and detached from the first bracket attachment portion 46 and the first bumper-side attachment portion 23.

[0054] -3- The support 40 comprises the protective wall 49 which is arranged between the wheel rear wheel 11 of the vehicle 10 and the sensor ECU 33 of the kick sensor 30 to extend in the direction intersecting the direction of travel of the vehicle 10. The foreign body such as a pebble ejected from the rear wheel 11 toward the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling, strikes the protective wall 49. Therefore, the protective wall 49 prevents a thrown pebble from striking the sensor ECU 33 while the vehicle 10 is traveling. This eliminates the need to arrange an additional protective member that protects the sensor ECU 33 from a thrown pebble while the vehicle 10 is traveling and thus reduces the number of components.

[0055] The embodiment illustrated above may be modified in the following manner. The embodiments described above and the following modifications may be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.

[0056] The bracket 40 may be attached to the rear bumper 20 only by the fastener 50, without using a bolt 60. Alternatively, the bracket 40 may be attached to the rear bumper 20 only by the bolt 60, without using a fastener 50. In summary, the attachment part need simply comprise at least one of the bolt 60 and the fastener 50.

[0057] Furthermore, the second bracket attachment portion 48 and the second bumper-side attachment portion 24 may be coupled to each other by the bolt 60 by screwing the bolt 60 into the second bumper-side attachment portion 24. In summary, 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.

[0058] The support 40 need not include the protective wall 49. In this case, the vehicle 10 may include an additional protective element which protects the sensor ECU 33 against a thrown stone.

[0059] The bracket 40 need not be secured to the rear bumper 20 using the clip 50 in two positions. Instead, for example, the bracket 40 may be secured to the rear bumper 20 using the clip 50 in one position or three or more positions.

[0060] The bracket 40 need not be secured to the rear bumper 20 using the bolt 60 in three positions. Instead, for example, the bracket 40 may be secured to the rear bumper 20 using the bolt 60 in one position, two positions, or four or more positions.

[0061] The vehicle 10 may include a sliding door that opens and closes automatically by detecting the movement of the user's leg 12. In this case, the kick sensor 30 must be attached to a decorative part such as an aerodynamic part, which is part of the body arranged on the lower side of the sliding door, using the bracket 40.

[0062] Various changes in form and detail may be made to the above examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples are provided for the purpose of description only and not for purposes of limitation. The descriptions of features in each example are to be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be obtained if the sequences are carried out in a different order and / or if the components in a described system, architecture, device or circuit are combined differently, and / or replaced or supplemented by 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 variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the disclosure.

Claims

Claims

1. A fixing structure for a bracket (40) used for fixing a kick sensor (30) to a body (20) of a vehicle (10), the fixing structure comprising: a bracket (40) attached to the body (20), the bracket (40) supporting the kick sensor (30); at least one bracket fixing part (46, 48) arranged on the bracket (40); at least one attachment part (23, 24) arranged on the body (20);and at least one attachment piece (50, 60) which couples the support attachment portion (46, 48) and the attachment portion (23, 24) together, the attachment piece (50, 60) being attachable to and detachable from both the support attachment portion (46, 48) and the attachment portion (23, 24), wherein the support (40) comprises a protective wall (49) arranged between a wheel (11) of the vehicle (10) and the kick sensor (30), the protective wall (49) being arranged to intersect an entry path (RI) for a pebble ejected by the rear wheel (11) towards the kick sensor (30) while the vehicle (10) is moving.;

2. A fastening structure according to claim 1, wherein the fastening part (50, 60) comprises at least one bolt (60) or a clip (50).

3. A fixing structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective wall (49) extends in a direction intersecting a direction of travel of the vehicle (10).

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