Sensor protector

A sensor protector includes two stays and a thin-plate shaped separate sheet held by the stays. The stays are provided on a bracket. The bracket holds a sensor and is fixed at a predetermined position to an outside panel of the body of a vehicle covered with a bumper cover of the vehicle. The sheet extends such that, in the sensor attached state, the sheet divides/partitions a space around the sensor formed between the outside panel of the body and the bumper cover into an upper space which contains the entirety of the detection surface of the sensor and a lower space which does not contain the detection surface of the sensor.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-182388, filed Sep. 27, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sensor protector for protecting a sensor fixed to an outside panel of the body of a vehicle.

FIG. 9shows a conventionally known sensor (for example, a radar sensor)100fixed to an outside panel (for example, a rear end panel)101of the body of a vehicle. The sensor100is covered with a bumper cover102so that the sensor100cannot be viewed from the outside of the vehicle. Further, cover members (not shown) for preventing erroneous detection are attached to the sensor100. The cover members are curved plates. In a state in which the sensor is attached/fixed to the outside panel of the body, the cover members protrude toward the outside of the body from both side portions of the sensor in the width direction of the vehicle (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2014-134414).

Hereinafter, the state in which the sensor is attached/fixed to the outside panel of the body will be simply referred to as the “sensor attached state.”

However, since the lower end of the bumper cover102is apart (located away) from the outside panel101of the body, in the sensor attached state, the space below the sensor100communicates with the space outside the vehicle. Therefore, snow, mud, or the like may pass through the gap between the lower end of the bumper cover102and the outside panel101of the body, reach the sensor100, and adhere to the detection surface of the sensor100. The adhesion of snow, mud, or the like to the detection surface of the sensor100may adversely affect the performance of the sensor.

Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-134414 discloses attaching cover members to the upper and lower sides of the sensor as well in the sensor attached state. However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-134414 does not disclose a specific way on how to attach the cover member to the sensor or on how to hold the cover member by the sensor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished so as to solve the above-described problem. Namely, one object of the present invention is to provide a sensor protector (hereinafter referred to as the “protector of the present invention”) which can reduce the possibility of adhesion of snow, mud, or the like to the detection surface of a sensor disposed/arranged/fixed in a space between an outside panel of a vehicle body and a bumper cover, the sensor protector being simple in structure and inexpensive.

A protector of the present invention comprises:

a stay (30,40) provided on a bracket (20) which holds a sensor (60) and is fixed at a predetermined position to an outside panel (101) of a body of a vehicle, the panel being covered with a bumper cover (102) of the vehicle, the stay being non-separable or separable from the bracket (the stay may be expressed as being integrated with the bracket or being separate from the bracket); and

a thin-plate shaped sheet (50) which is separable (or separate) from the stay and is held by the stay.

In a sensor attached state which is a state in which the bracket has been fixed to the outside panel, the sheet extends in a front-back direction and a width direction of the body in an area below a detection surface (61) of the sensor so as to partition/divide a space (S) around the sensor formed between the outside panel of the body and the bumper cover into an upper space (Sup) which contains the entirety of the detection surface (61) of the sensor and a lower space (Slo) which does not contain the detection surface (61) of the sensor.

In this manner, the protector of the present invention includes the sheet and the stay provided on the bracket which holds the sensor. When the bracket is fixed to the outside panel of the body, the sensor is substantially fixed to the outside panel through the bracket.

The stay and the bracket may be formed integrally. In other words, the stay may be non-separable from the bracket. Alternatively, the stay may be a member different from the bracket (namely, separate/separable from the bracket) and supported by and fixed to the bracket.

The sheet is a thin-plate-shaped member and is separate from the stay. In the case where the sheet is held by the stay in the sensor attached state, the sheet extends in the front-back direction of the vehicle and the width direction of the vehicle in an area/region below the detection surface of the sensor in the “space around the sensor” formed between the outside panel of the body and the bumper cover. Accordingly, the sheet partitions (or divides) the “space around the sensor” formed between the outside panel of the body and the bumper cover into “the upper space which substantially contains the entirety of the detection surface of the sensor” and “the lower space which does not contain the detection surface of said sensor”. The expression “substantially contains the entirety of the detection surface of the sensor” means to contain the entirety of a “part/portion of the surface of the sensor” which affects the detection accuracy of the sensor when something is adhered to the part. For example, in the case where the sensor is a radar sensor which will be described later, a transmission/reception surface which is the detection surface of the sensor. Accordingly, for example, a part/portion of a connector of the sensor may be contained in the lower space (because the part/portion of the connector does not affect the detection accuracy of the sensor when something is adhered to that part).

The sheet can substantially block “snow, mud, or the like” which passes through the opening formed between the outside panel of the body and the lower end of the bumper cover toward the detection surface of the sensor. Therefore, the protector of the present invention can reduce the possibility of adhesion of snow, mud, or the like to the detection surface of the sensor by its simple structure. Further, since the sheet has a thin-plate shape, it is easy to manufacture/form the outline shape. In addition, the sheet is held by the “stay which is a member different/separable from the sheet” and which is provided on the bracket. Therefore, it is possible to use the stay commonly among different vehicle models and manufacture the sheet to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the bumper cover of each vehicle model, so as to manufacture a sensor protector suitable for each vehicle model. Accordingly, the sensor protector can be provided more inexpensively as compared with the case where members corresponding to the stay and the sheet are manufactured integrally (non-separable from each other).

In one aspect/embodiment of the protector of the present invention,

the stay includes a sheet holding part (33,43) at a position of the stay located below a lower end part of the detection surface of the sensor in the sensor attached state, and the sheet holding part has an elastically deformable claw part (33C,43C) and a slit (SL1, SL2) into which the sheet is inserted; and

the sheet has a hole (51) with which the claw part can engage and is configured such that the sheet is held by the stay when the sheet is inserted into the slit and the claw part is engaged with the hole.

According to this aspect, the sheet can be held by the stay by merely inserting the sheet into the slit of the sheet holding part and bringing the claw part of the sheet holding part into engagement with the hole of the sheet. Therefore, the easiness of assembly of the sensor protector can be enhanced.

In another aspect/embodiment of the protector of the present invention, the sheet is formed from a plastic corrugated board, and the sheet has an outline shape which corresponds to a shape of an inner side surface of the bumper cover in plan view in the sensor attached state. More specifically, “an end part (sheet distal end part ST) of the sheet” opposite a part of the sheet (sheet proximal end part KT) held by the stay has a shape determined such that the end part extends along the inner wall surface of the bumper cover while being spaced a predetermined distance from the inner wall surface of the bumper cover.

The plastic corrugated board is light in weight, can maintain its shape by itself, and has sufficient rigidity and durability against snow, mud, and the like potentially flying toward the detection surface of the sensor. Further, the plastic corrugated board is a member whose outline shape can be formed easily through machining as compared with a solid sheet formed of, for example, resin or metal. Therefore, according to this aspect, a “sheet which is light in weight, has sufficient rigidity and durability, and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the bumper cover of each vehicle model” can be manufactured at low cost, whereby an inexpensive sensor protector can be provided.

In still another aspect/embodiment of the protector of the present invention, the sheet includes a pair of flat liner-sheets (L) facing each other and a plurality of straight juncture parts (FM) each of which joins the liner-sheets together and which extend parallel to one another, and is held by the stay such that, in the sensor attached state, the magnitude of an angle which is formed between a direction in which the juncture portions extend and an attachment surface part (B) of the outside panel of the body to which the bracket is fixed is 45° or less.

The plastic corrugated board has property/characteristic such that, when an external force is applied to the plastic corrugated board in a direction parallel to the planes thereof, the plastic corrugated board easily bends at/along one of the juncture portions. In this aspect, in the sensor attached state, the magnitude of the “angle between the extension direction of the juncture portions and the attachment surface part of the outside panel of said body to which the bracket is fixed” is 45° or less. Therefore, in the case where a light collision which applies a force to the bumper cover in the front-back direction of the vehicle occurs and the bumper cover moves and/or deforms toward the outside panel of the body, the sheet deforms such that it bends at one of the juncture portions. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent transmission of a large force from the bumper cover to the outside panel of the body through the sheet, thereby reducing the degree of damage of the outside panel of the body.

In still another aspect/embodiment of the protector of the present invention,

the sheet has a straight crease line portion (52R,52L) which extends, in the sensor attached state, in a direction having a component in a direction perpendicular to the attachment surface part of the outside panel of the body to which the bracket is fixed; and

the slit of the sheet holding part has a bent part into which the crease line portion is inserted.

According to this aspect, the sheet has the crease line portion. Therefore, in the sensor attached state, the sheet has an increased rigidity sufficient for maintaining the shape of the sheet more reliably. Furthermore, the crease line portion of the sheet is inserted into a bent part of the slit. Therefore, as a result of the sheet being merely held by the sheet holding part, the shape of the sheet bent at the crease line portion can be simply maintained. Thus, a sensor protector whose sheet hardly deforms over a long period of time is provided.

Notably, in the case where the sensor is a radar sensor which radiates and receives radio waves, a part of the sheet which is located on the side opposite the sensor with respect to the crease line portion may slope such that its position changes downward with increasing distance from the sensor in the sensor attached state. Namely, the sheet may have a sloping portion in the sensor attached state. Further, in the case where the sensor is the radar sensor, the sheet may slope such that its position changes downward with increasing distance from the sensor “in the direction perpendicular to the radio wave transmission/reception surface of the sensor.”

By virtue of these features, the sheet slopes such that its position changes downward with increasing distance from the sensor. Therefore, the sheet does not hinder radiation of radio waves from the sensor and reception of radio waves (reflection waves) by the sensor.

In the above description, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the constituent elements of the invention corresponding to those of embodiment of the invention which will be described later are accompanied by parenthesized names and/or symbols which are used in the embodiment; however, the constituent elements of the invention are not limited to those in the embodiment defined by the names and/or the symbols. Other objects, other features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiment of the invention which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIG. 1, a sensor protector10according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle (automobile)100. Hereinafter, the sensor protector10may be simply referred to as the “protector10” or a “protection fitting/member10” in some cases. The protector10also serves as a sensor attachment fitting/member for fixing the sensor60to the vehicle100.

As shown inFIG. 2, the protector10has a “structure for protecting the sensor60from snow, mud, or the like” which will be described later. The sensor60radiates a radio wave in the millimeter wave band and receives a reflection wave which a target (target object) produces/generates by reflecting the radiated radio wave. The sensor60is a radar sensor which detects the target (the distance to the target, the direction of the target, the relative speed of the target, etc.) by using the radiated radio wave and the received reflection wave. The sensor60has a housing in the shape of an approximately rectangular parallelepiped. The shape of the sensor60in front view is approximately square. The approximately square front surface of the sensor60serves as a transmission/reception surface61for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The transmission/reception surface61, which affects the detection accuracy of the sensor60, will also be referred to as the “detection surface61.”

The protector10includes a bracket20, a right stay30, a left stay40, and a sheet50.

As shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 4, the bracket20is a plate-shaped member formed of a metal (iron in the present example). The shape of the bracket20in front view is approximately pentagonal. The bracket20has three bolts21. The bolts21are fixed to the bracket20such that the bolts21protrude from the bracket20. The bolts21are respectively disposed in the vicinity of the three apexes of an approximately regular triangle.

The sensor60has three attachment portions62extending from side surfaces of the housing of the sensor60. A bolt hole is formed in each of the attachment portions62. The bolt holes of the attachment portions62are arranged at positions corresponding to the bolts21, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the bolts21are inserted into the bolt holes of the attachment portions62and are brought into screw engagement with nuts22. The sensor60is fixed to (held by) the bracket20as a result of the nuts22being tightened.

As shown inFIG. 4, a portion B of the back surface of the bracket20is fixed, by means of welding, to an attachment surface part of the back panel101, which portion is located in the vicinity of a right corner of the back panel101. The back panel101is a part of a rear outside panel of the body of the vehicle100. The attachment surface part is approximately flat. When the bracket20is fixed to the attachment surface part, the sensor60is fixed to (held by) the back panel101through the bracket20. In this state, the transmission/reception surface61of the sensor60becomes parallel to the attachment surface part.

In the following description, the direction toward the vertically upper side of the sensor60and the bracket20in the sensor attached state (namely, a state in which the bracket20holding the sensor60is fixed to the back panel101) will be referred to as the “apparatus upward direction,” and the direction toward the vertically lower side of the sensor60and the bracket20in the sensor attached state will be referred to as the “apparatus downward direction.” In addition, a horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the apparatus upward direction and is along the “transmission/reception surface61of the sensor60(and the attachment surface part to which the portion B of the back surface of the bracket20is fixed)” in the sensor attached state will be referred to as the “apparatus lateral direction.” Namely, the leftward direction in the sheet ofFIG. 3is the “apparatus leftward direction,” and the rightward direction in the sheet ofFIG. 3is the “apparatus rightward direction.” Furthermore, a direction which is perpendicular to the apparatus upward direction and is directed from the bracket20toward the sensor60in the sensor attached state (direction perpendicular to the sheet ofFIG. 3) will be referred to as the “apparatus near-side direction” or the “apparatus rearward direction.”

As can be understood fromFIG. 1,FIG. 4, etc., in the sensor attached state, the sensor60is covered with (hidden by) a bumper cover102. In other words, the sensor60is disposed/positioned in a space S formed between the back panel101and the bumper cover102. Accordingly, the sensor60transmits and receives radio waves through the bumper cover102. A lower end part of the bumper cover102is located away (or apart) from the back panel101. In other words, an opening is provided/formed between the lower end part of the bumper cover102and the back panel101.

The right stay30shown inFIG. 2,FIG. 3,FIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bis a member formed of resin (polyacetal (POM) in the present example). However, the right stay30may be formed of other types of resins such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The right stay30has an arm part/portion31, a clip part/portion32, and a sheet holding part/portion33.

The arm part31, which is plate-shaped, has a generally strip-like, arcuate shape in its front view. As will be described later in detail, the arm part31is supported by the bracket20through the clip part32. The arm part31extends in the apparatus vertical direction in the sensor attached state. The lower end of the arm part31is located at a position in the apparatus downward direction (on the lower side) with respect to the lower end of the transmission/reception surface61of the sensor60.

The clip part32is formed in an area/portion of the arm part31located slightly above the vertically center position of the arm part31. As shown inFIG. 5BandFIG. 6, the clip part32is formed/configured so as to protrude from the arm part31toward the bracket20. The clip part32has a pair of protrusions32awhich protrude upward and downward, respectively. The clip part32is formed/configured to be elastically deformable in the radial direction.

As shown inFIG. 6, the clip part32is inserted into an attachment hole22formed in the bracket20. When the clip part32is inserted into the attachment hole22while being elastically deformed, the protrusions32aengage with the edge of the attachment hole22. As a result, the right stay30is held by (fixed to) the bracket20.

The sheet holding part/portion (sheet attachment aprt/portion)33is a part/portion which is bent at the lower end of the arm part31and extends in a direction away from the bracket20(namely, the apparatus near-side direction) in the sensor attached state. As shown inFIG. 5AandFIG. 5B, the sheet holding part33includes an upper holding part/portion33aand a lower holding part/portion33b. The upper holding part33aand the lower holding part33bare plate-shaped parts extending in the apparatus lateral direction in the sensor attached state. The upper holding part33aand the lower holding part33bface each other with a predetermined spacing therebetween, so that a slit SL1is formed between the upper holding part33aand the lower holding part33b. The width of the slit SL1is substantially the same as the thickness of the sheet50.

Two cutouts are formed in the upper holding part33a. As a result, a left distal end part/portion33L, a center distal end part/portion33C, and a right distal end part/portion33R are formed on the distal end side (an end part located in the apparatus near-side direction) of the upper holding part33a. Thus, the center distal end part33C is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. As shown inFIG. 6, a claw33C1protruding downward is formed on the lower side of a distal end part of the center distal end part33C. In other words, the center distal end part33C constitutes a claw part/portion33C.

In front view, each of the “right distal end part33R” and a “part of the lower holding part33bfacing the right distal end part33R” has a part/portion extending in the apparatus lateral direction (part/portion located adjacent to the center distal end part33C) and a sloping part/portion which slopes, from the part extending in the apparatus lateral direction, slightly downward and toward the apparatus rightward direction. In other words, the “right distal end part33R” and the “part of the lower holding part33bfacing the right distal end part33R” form a bent part/portion.

The left stay40is formed of the same material as the right stay30and includes an arm part41, a clip part/portion42, and a sheet holding part/portion43. The shape of the left stay40is a mirror image of the shape of the right stay30.

Namely, the arm part41, which is plate-shaped, has a generally strip-like, arcuate shape in its front view. Similarly to the arm part31, the arm part41is supported by the bracket20through the clip part42. The arm part41extends in the apparatus vertical direction in the sensor attached state. The lower end of the arm part41is located below the lower end of the transmission/reception surface61of the sensor60.

The clip part42is formed in a part/portion of the arm part41located slightly above the vertically center position of the arm part41. The shape of the clip part42is identical with the shape of the clip part32. Therefore, “unillustrated protrusions identical with the protrusions32a” are formed on the clip part42. When the clip part42is inserted into an “attachment hole which is formed in the bracket20and is identical with the attachment hole22” while being elastically deformed, the protrusions engage with the edge of the attachment hole. As a result, the right stay40is held by (fixed to) the bracket20.

Similarly to the sheet holding part33, the sheet holding part (sheet attachment part/portion)43is a part/portion which is bent at the lower end of the arm part41and extends in a direction away from the bracket20(namely, the apparatus near-side direction) in the sensor attached state. As shown inFIG. 3, the sheet holding part43includes an upper holding part/portion43aand a lower holding part/portion43b. The upper holding part43aand the lower holding part43bare plate-shaped parts/portions extending in the apparatus lateral direction in the sensor attached state. The upper holding part43aand the lower holding part43bface each other with a predetermined spacing therebetween, so that a slit SL2is formed between the upper holding part43aand the lower holding part43b. The width of the slit SL2is substantially the same as the thickness of the sheet50.

Two cutouts are formed in the upper holding part43a. As a result, a left distal end part43L, a center distal end part43C, and a right distal end part43R are formed on the distal end side of the upper holding part43a. Thus, the center distal end part43C is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. A “claw which is identical with the claw33C1and protrudes downward” is formed on the lower side of a distal end part of the center distal end part43C. In other words, the center distal end part43C constitutes a claw part43C.

Each of the “left distal end part43L” and a “part/portion of the lower holding part43bfacing the left distal end part43L” has, in front view, a part/portion extending in the apparatus lateral direction (part/portion located adjacent to the center distal end part43C) and a sloping part/portion which slopes, from the part/portion extending in the apparatus lateral direction, slightly downward and toward the apparatus leftward direction. In other words, the “left distal end part43L” and the “part/portion of the lower holding part43bfacing the left distal end part43L” form a bent part/portion.

The sheet50is a plate-shaped member (sheet-shaped member) formed from a “plastic corrugated board made of synthetic resin” shown inFIG. 7. As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the sheet50is inserted into the slit SL1of the sheet holding part33and the slit SL2of the sheet holding part43, whereby the sheet50is supported (held) by the sheet holding part33and the sheet holding part43. The sheet50is manufactured through punching.

More specifically, the sheet50has a through hole51with which the claw33C1of the claw part33C engages as shown inFIG. 6when the sheet50is inserted into the slit SL1and the slit SL2. Further, the sheet50has an unillustrated through hole with which the claw of the claw part43C engages when the sheet50is inserted into the slit SL1and the slit SL2. The sheet50is inserted into the slit SL1and the slit SL2in such a manner that the claw33C1engages with the through hole51and the claw of the claw part43C engages with the unillustrated through hole, so as to be held by the sheet holding part33and the sheet holding part43.

Hereinafter, an “end part of the sheet50” held by the sheet holding part33and the sheet holding part43will also be referred to as the “sheet proximal/base end part (KT).” An end part of the sheet50on the side opposite the proximal end part of the sheet50(namely, located in the apparatus near-side direction) (an end part of the sheet50which is more remote from the bracket20than the proximal end part (KT)) will also be referred to as the “sheet distal end part (ST).” Further, the state in which the sheet50is held by the sheet holding part33and the sheet holding part43in the sensor attached state” will also be referred to as the “sheet installed/attached state.”

In the sheet installed state, the sheet50extends from the sheet proximal end part (KT) toward the bumper cover102and substantially in the apparatus lateral direction. As shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 6, in the sheet installed state, the sheet50has an attitude such that the sheet distal end part (ST) is located below the sheet proximal end part (KT). Namely, the sheet50is held such that the sheet50slopes in the apparatus near-side direction at a first predetermined angle θ (for example, 20°) with respect to the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the sheet50extends in the front-rear direction and the width direction of the body in a region below the detection surface61of the sensor60.

As shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 6, the sheet50has a shape determined such that, in the sheet installed state, the sheet distal end part (ST) faces the bumper cover102(the inner wall on the back side of the bumper cover102) with a predetermined distance (spacing) D therebetween. In other words, the sheet distal end part (ST) has an outline shape determined such that the outline of the sheet distal end part (ST) extends along the inner wall of the bumper cover102in the sheet installed state. Notably, the predetermined distance D may or may not be constant and is, for example, about 1 cm to 3 cm.

Accordingly, the sheet50divides/partitions the “space S around the sensor60” formed/located between the bumper cover102and the back panel101which is one outside panel of the body into an upper space Sup and a lower space Slo. The upper space Sup substantially contains the entirety (a whole) of the detection surface (the transmission/reception surface61) of the sensor60. The lower space Slo does not substantially contain the detection surface of the sensor60. In other words, the sheet50covers the sensor60(the detection surface of the sensor60) when the sensor60is viewed from the lower side of the vehicle100.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the sheet50has a right-hand crease line part/portion52R and a left-hand crease line part/portion52L. A part/portion of the sheet50between the “right-hand crease line part52R and the left-hand crease line part52L” is a sheet center part/portion50C. A part/portion of the sheet50located in the apparatus rightward direction with respect to the “right-hand crease line part52R” is a right sloping part/portion50R. A part/portion of the sheet50located in the apparatus leftward direction with respect to the “left-hand crease line part52L” is a left sloping part/portion50L.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the right-hand crease line part52R extends straight in the apparatus near-side direction from the proximal end part (KT) to the distal end part (ST) of the sheet50inserted into the bent part of the sheet holding part33(the bent part formed by the right distal end part33R and the lower holding part33b). Notably, no limitation is imposed on the direction of the right-hand crease line part52R so long as the direction of the right-hand crease line part52R contains a component in the direction perpendicular to the attachment surface part of the back panel101to which the bracket20is attached. The left-hand crease line part52L extends straight in the apparatus near-side direction from the proximal end part (KT) to the distal end part (ST) of the sheet50inserted into the bent part of the sheet holding part43(the bent part formed by the left distal end part43L and the lower holding part43b). Notably, no limitation is imposed on the direction of the left-hand crease line part52L so long as the direction of the left-hand crease line part52L contains a component in the direction perpendicular to the attachment surface part of the back panel101to which the bracket20is attached.

The right sloping part50R slopes in the apparatus downward direction while extending in the apparatus rightward direction. In the sheet installed state, the right sloping part50R slopes at a second predetermined angle (for example, 20°) with respect to the horizontal direction.

The left sloping part50L slopes in the apparatus downward direction while extending in the apparatus leftward direction. In the sheet installed state, the left sloping part50L slopes at a third predetermined angle (for example, 20°) with respect to the horizontal direction. The length of the left sloping part50L in the apparatus lateral direction is longer than that of the right sloping part50R. However, an end part of the left sloping part50L located in the apparatus leftward direction (namely, an end part of the sheet50on the left side in the apparatus lateral direction) is located in the side toward the right side of the body with respect to a center portion of the bumper cover102in the width direction of the vehicle.

As described above, each of the sheet center part50C, the right sloping part50R, and the left sloping part50L slopes in the apparatus near-side direction at the first predetermined angle θ (for example, 20°) with respect to the horizontal direction.

As shown inFIG. 7, the plastic corrugated board used to form the sheet50has two thin-plate-shaped liners (flat sheets or flat liner-sheets) L disposed parallel to each other with a gap formed therebetween, and a plurality of ribs R which join (connect) the two liners L. The ribs R are straight and extend parallel to one another. The parts/portions where the ribs R are formed will also be referred to as juncture parts/portions FM. The plastic corrugated board has property/characteristic such that, when an external force is applied to the plastic corrugated board in a direction parallel to the planes formed by the liners L, the plastic corrugated board easily bends at/along one of the juncture parts/portions FM.

As can be understood fromFIG. 2, the juncture parts FM of the sheet50extend approximately parallel to the attachment surface part (accordingly, the transmission/reception surface61). The expression “approximately parallel” is not limited to the case where the juncture parts FM of the sheet50are exactly parallel to the attachment surface part, but means that the magnitude of the angle between the attachment surface part and the extension direction of the juncture parts FM is 45° or smaller.

In the protector10configured as described above, the sheet50substantially divides/partitions the space S around the sensor60into the upper space Sup which substantially contains the entirety of the detection surface (the transmission/reception surface61) of the sensor60and the lower space Slo which does not substantially contain the detection surface of the sensor60.

Accordingly, the sheet50can substantially block “snow, mud, or the like” which passes through the opening formed between the back panel101and the lower end of the bumper cover102toward the detection surface of the sensor60. Therefore, the protector10can reduce the possibility of adhesion of snow, mud, or the like to the detection surface of the sensor60by its simple structure.

Since the sheet50has a thin-plate shape, formation of the outline shape through machining is easy. In addition, the sheet50is held by the “stays30and40which are members different and separated/independent from the sheet50” and which are provided on the bracket20. Therefore, it is possible to use the stays30and40commonly among different vehicle models and manufacture the sheet50to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the bumper cover102of each vehicle model. As a result, the protector10can be provided more inexpensively as compared with the case where members corresponding to the stays30and40and the sheet50are manufactured integrally.

The stays30and40have, at respective portions thereof located below the lower end part of the detection surface (the transmission/reception surface61) of the sensor60in the sensor attached state, the sheet holding parts33and43having the elastically deformable claw parts33C and43C and the slits SL1and SL2into which the sheet50is to be inserted. Thus, the sheet50can be held by the stays30and40by merely inserting the sheet50into the slit SL1and the slit SL2of the sheet holding parts33and43and bringing the claw parts33C and43C of the sheet holding parts into engagement with the holes51of the sheet50. Since the sheet50can be simply held by the stays30and40, the easiness of assembly (easiness of manufacture) of the protector10can be enhanced.

The sheet50is formed from a “plastic corrugated board” which is light in weight and can maintain its shape by itself, which has sufficient rigidity and durability against snow, mud, and the like potentially flying toward the sensor, and which is relatively inexpensive. Accordingly, a sheet having a shape corresponding to the shape of the bumper cover of each vehicle model can be manufactured at lower cost as compared with the case where a solid sheet formed of resin, metal, or the like is used.

In the sensor attached state, the juncture parts FM of the sheet50extend approximately parallel to the attachment surface part (accordingly, the transmission/reception surface61). Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 8, in the case where a light collision applies an external force to the bumper cover102in the front-back direction of the vehicle and the bumper cover102moves (deforms) toward the back panel101, the sheet50deforms such that it bends at one of the juncture parts FM. As a result, it is possible to prevent transmission of a large force from the bumper cover102to the back panel101(the outside panel of the body) through the sheet50, thereby reducing the degree of damage of the outside panel of the body.

The sheet50has crease line parts/portions (the right-hand crease line part52R and the left-hand crease line part52L). Therefore, in the sensor attached state, the sheet50has an increased rigidity sufficient for maintaining the shape of the sheet50more reliably. The crease line parts/portions of the sheet50are inserted into the bent parts of the slits (SL1and SL2) (the bent part of the sheet holding part33and the bent part of the sheet holding part43). Therefore, merely holding the sheet50with/using the sheet holding parts33and43can maintain the sheet50at bent shape (or bent) at the crease line portions52R and52L. Consequently, the protector10whose sheet50hardly deforms over a long period of time is provided.

In the sensor attached state, parts/portions of the sheet50each of which is located on the side opposite the sensor60with respect to the corresponding crease line portion (52R,52L) (namely, the left sloping part50L and the right sloping part50R) slope such that their positions change downward with increasing distance from the sensor60. In addition, the sheet50slopes such that, in the sensor attached state, its position changes downward with increasing distance from the sensor60in the direction perpendicular to the “radio wave transmission/reception surface (the apparatus near-side direction).”

By virtue of these features described above, the sheet50does not block radio waves radiated from the radio wave transmission/reception surface61of the sensor60and radio waves (reflection waves) to be received through the radio wave transmission/reception surface61(see radio wave boundary lines RW ofFIG. 4).

As described above, the protector10yields various effects. Notably, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be employed within the scope of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the protector10is disposed at the rear right corner of the vehicle100. However, in actuality, a “protector whose structure is a mirror image of the structure of the protector10” and which holds another sensor60is disposed at the rear left corner of the vehicle100. Further, the protector of the present invention may be disposed at a center portion of the rear end of the vehicle100.

A sensor similar to the sensor60and a protector similar to the protector10may be disposed at the front right corner of the vehicle100, the front left corner of the vehicle100, or a center portion of the front end of the vehicle100such that the sensor and the protector are located between a front bumper cover and the outside panel of the body.

The stays (the right stay30and the left stay40) are provided separately from the bracket20and are held by the bracket20. However, those stays may be integrated with the bracket20. The stays (the right stay30and the left stay40) may be formed of a material other than resin (for example, metal).

The sheet50may be a solid thin plate formed of, for example, metal or resin. The sensor60is not limited to a radar sensor so long as the sensor has a detection surface.