Abstract:
A reversing radar Sensor Component presented by the invention includes a sensor, a damping rubber ring sleeved on a peripheral portion of the sensor, a base cover for receiving a front portion of the sensor and damping rubber ring therein, and a top cover capable of being mounted with the base cover and having an opening defined therein for exposing the front portion of the sensor therefrom. Both the base cover and top cover have several walls formed thereon. Several grooves are defined in the wall of the top cover. A buffer rubber ring is disposed between the wall of the top cover and wall of the base cover. The buffer rubber ring has plural protruding posts corresponding to the grooves. The buffer rubber ring and circular rubber sleeve and damping rubber ring form together double damping construction which increases the protection of the sensor from vibration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a reversing radar Sensor Component used for automobile. 
       BACKGROUD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Chinese Patent No. CN2929296 discloses a device for mounting the sensor of a reversing radar system. The reversing radar disclosed in this document is representative of most construction in the pertinent technical field. 
         [0003]    It can be seen from the specification and drawings of above technical, solution that the sensor of the reversing radar is inserted into a lid around which a damping cushion is disposed for protection of the sensor, thus protecting the damping cushion from being damaged due to vibration of the automobile. 
         [0004]    It has proved by practice that the protection of the above damping cushion is limited extremely. More specifically, forces will be applied from the automobile bumper guard to the column portion of the sensor during running process of the automobile during which large vibration happens, and therefore, the following problems arise: 
         [0005]    At first, as the resiliency of the damping cushion is limited, the forces applied onto the column portion of the securing device will be directly delivered to the column portion of the sensor, thus resulting in slight vibration of the sensor, which in turn causes offset of the sensor from its original position, thus leading to wrong signal detection and false alarm. 
         [0006]    Secondly, the reason of the forces imposed on the column portion of the securing device being directly delivered to the damping cushion surface is that the damping cushion is an integral part and the securing device is tightly engaged with the cushion, thus the room in which the deformation happens being insufficient. In other words, delivery of the forces can&#39;t be buffered. 
         [0007]    Thirdly, as toothed thorn is formed between the peripheral and bumper guard, and there is rigid connection between the two, the forces are directly delivered to the sensor. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, since the connection between the bumper guard and toothed thorn is rigid, and the mechanical rigidity of the toothed thorn is larger than its toughness, the toothed thorn is susceptible to being broken due to press of the bumper guard, thus resulting in instability in installation of the entire sensor and bumper guard, adversely influencing the normal operation of the sensor, and even leading to more serious problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    One object of the invention is to provide a reversing radar Sensor Component for better maintaining normal operation of the sensor, avoiding influence of the automobile vibration so as to realize accurate detection, as well as extending the life-span of the sensor. 
         [0010]    To achieve the above object, the following technical solution is provided. 
         [0011]    The reversing radar Sensor Component presented by the invention includes a sensor, a damping rubber ring sleeved on a peripheral portion of the sensor, a base cover for receiving a front portion of the sensor and damping rubber ring therein, and a top cover capable of being mounted with the base cover and having an opening defined therein for exposing the front portion of the sensor therefrom. Both the base cover and top cover have several walls formed thereon. Several grooves are defined in the wall of the top cover. A buffer rubber ring is disposed between the wall of the top cover and wall of the base cover. The buffer rubber ring has plural protruding posts corresponding to the grooves. 
         [0012]    To enhance reliable connection, the buffer rubber ring is press-fitted with the top cover and base cover. 
         [0013]    The both ends of the protruding post is designed to have a slope configuration so as to insert the post into the groove. 
         [0014]    To facilitate fixation, a circular rubber sleeve, which is sleeve on the peripheral portion of the sensor, is disposed between an exposed peripheral portion of the sensor and the top cover. 
         [0015]    To increase buffer space of the protruding post, corresponding to each protruding post, an axially extended slot is formed in an inner surface of the wall of the buffer rubber ring. The slot also extends inside the protruding post. Outwardly opened ramps are formed on the inner surface of the all of the buffer rubber ring at two sides of the slot of the protruding post 
         [0016]    To maintain stable connection between the top cover and base cover, the base cover has a plurality of snapping members formed on its outer surface of the wall, while the top cover has a plurality of locating holes defined in its wall at locations corresponding to the snapping members. The buffer rubber ring has a plurality of through holes defined in locations corresponding to the snapping members for passing through of the snapping members. The snapping members of the base cover come across the through holes of the buffer rubber ring and are secured into respective locating holes of the top cover. A back portion of the base cover has a stepped portion formed thereon. The diameter of the stepped portion is larger than that of a front portion of the base cover. A distal end of the wall of the top cover is able to be pressed against the circular stepped portion. 
         [0017]    To more effectively mount the electrical components, a circuit board electrically coupled&#39;to the sensor is secured onto a back end surface of the base cover. 
         [0018]    To enhance the protection, a rear cover is provided on the back end of the base cover for connecting with the base cover. 
         [0019]    Compared with prior art, the invention has the following advantages. 
         [0020]    Firstly arrangement of the buffer rubber ring helps to maintain reliable connection between the top cover and base cover such that during installation of the reversing radar sensor with the automobile bumper guard, little shock will occur. 
         [0021]    Secondly, the buffer rubber ring and circular rubber sleeve and damping rubber ring form together double damping construction which increases the protection of the sensor from vibration. 
         [0022]    Additionally, since the protruding posts of the buffer rubber ring are pressed against the automobile bumper guard, when one side of the buffer rubber ring is deformed due to application of the external forces which may be resulted from vibration of the automobile, the grooves defined in the other side of the post will compress the air, such that deformation will happen mostly on the posts of the buffer rubber ring. As a result, the external forces will not be directed to the sensor through the wall of the base cover and damping rubber ring, thus protecting the sensor from vibration and avoiding false alarm of the sensor. Furthermore, the inner surface of the wall of the buffer rubber ring at locations corresponding to the openings of the grooves of the post is designed to have outwardly opened ramp configuration and therefore, the space in which the deformation of the post occurs is increased, thus enhancing the buffering effect of the buffer rubber ring. 
         [0023]    In addition, compared to rigid component to be connected with the bumper guard, as the buffer rubber ring of the invention is full of resiliency and is press-fitted with the top cover, base cover and bumper guard, the connection among these components is more reliable, and the life-span of the components is also extended due to strong toughness of the buffer rubber ring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of a reversing radar Sensor Component of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows an assembled, sectional perspective view of the reversing radar Sensor Component of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a partial sectional view of a damping rubber ring of the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled perspective view of the reversing radar Sensor Component of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Various embodiments of the invention will be described below in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0029]    Reference is made to  FIG. 1  which illustrates from top to bottom a top cover  1 , a circular rubber sleeve  2 , a sensor  3 , a damping rubber ring  4 , a buffer rubber ring  5 , a base cover  6 , a circuit board  7  and a rear cover  8 . In the following description, the up direction of  FIG. 1  will be defined as the front portion (direction), while the down direction of  FIG. 1  will be defined as the back portion (direction). 
         [0030]    The detailed construction of every component of the reversing radar Sensor Component of the present invention and their connection relationship will be described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0031]    The top cover  1  has an annular flat front end surface  11  in the middle of which an opening  10  is defined axially. An annular wall  12  is extended in a back direction from the end surface  11 . A plurality of locating holes  15  is defined in the wall  12 . In addition, a plurality of grooves  18  is defined in the wall  12  and extends axially from back direction to the front direction. The inner diameter of the wall  12  is greater than that of the opening  10  so that a cylindrical space is define by the wall  12  for accommodating other components which will be mentioned below. 
         [0032]    A through hole  20  is defined at a central portion of the circular rubber sleeve  2 , and the sleeve  2  includes an upper portion  21  and a lower portion  22  larger than the upper portion  21  in size such that the sleeve  2  can encircle the front peripheral portion of the sensor  3  and can engage tightly the front portion of the cylindrical space of the top cover  1 . 
         [0033]    The sensor  3  is of a cylindrical shape and a plurality of pins  31  is provided on the back portion thereof for connecting with the circuit board  7 . 
         [0034]    The damping rubber ring  4  is of a barrel shape and has structure formed therein for engaging with the sensor  3  so as to locate the sensor therein. In addition, the damping rubber ring  4  has an extended axial height for protection of two pins  31  of the sensor  3 . The damping rubber ring  4  is sleeved on the back peripheral portion of the sensor  3 , whereas the circular rubber sleeve  2  is sleeved on the front peripheral portion of the sensor  3 . In other words, both the damping rubber ring  4  and circular rubber sleeve  2  are sleeved on an external cylindrical surface of the sensor  3 , thereby forming a first protective construction for the sensor  3 . It is noted that the damping rubber ring  4  can be pressed against the circular rubber sleeve  2 . 
         [0035]    A second protective construction is formed by the buffer rubber ring  5  the detailed structure of which will be discussed with reference to  FIG. 3 . The buffer rubber ring  5  is of a barrel shape made of rubber material. A wall  51  is provided on the buffer rubber ring  5 , and the outer diameter of the wall  51  matches with the inner diameter of the base cover  6 . Alternatively, the wall  51  may be press-fitted into the base cover  6 . Corresponding to the plurality of grooves  18  of the top cover  1 , a plurality of protruding posts  52  is provided on the buffer rubber ring  5 . These protruding posts  52  of the buffer rubber ring  5  are formed integrally with the wall  51  and extrude from the external surface of the wall  51  so that these posts  52  can be received into corresponding grooves  18  of the top cover  1 . Similarly, to maintain stable engagement between the protruding posts  52  and corresponding grooves  18 , the width of the posts  52  may be designed to be slightly larger than the horizontal width of the grooves  18  so as to obtain press-fit between the two components. Two ends  521 ,  523  of each protruding post  52  along the axial direction of the buffer rubber ring  5  are designed to have a slope configuration, thereby facilitating insertion of the protruding post  52  into corresponding groove  18  and avoiding collision and jam among the components. Each protruding post  52  has an axially extended slot  520  formed in the inner surface of the wall  51  of the buffer rubber ring  5 . The slot  520  also extends inside the protruding post  52  such that the entire post  52  forms a concave construction. When the outer surface of the protruding post  52  is pressed, the deformation of the post  52  will happen in a large free space. To further enlarge the free space for deformation of the post  52  and enhance the buffer effects of the buffer rubber ring  5 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , a transition portion  511 , which is located between the inner surface of the wall  51  of the buffer rubber ring  5  and the slot  520  of the protruding post  52 , is designed to be an outwardly opened ramp. There are two ramps formed at both sides of an opening of the slot  520 . Owing to the ramped transition portion  511 , the space in which deformation of the protruding post  52  occurs is further enlarged and, the entire buffer rubber ring  5  will have enhanced resiliency, thus significantly improving shock-absorption capability. 
         [0036]    The base cover  6  includes a front portion  61  designed to be an upwardly opened barrel and a back portion  62  designed to be a downwardly opened platform. In addition, the outer diameter of the back portion  62  is greater than that of the front portion  61  such that a stepped portion  620  is defined on the back portion  62 . When the top cover  1  is secured onto the base cover  6 , the distal end of the wall of the top cover  1  will be pressed against the stepped portion  620  of the base cover  6 . The front rim  610  of the front portion  61  of the base cover  6  is an annular shape with a greater outer diameter than the front portion so as to define between the stepped portion  620  and front rim  610  an annular slot  618  on which the buffer rubber ring  5  is sleeved. Corresponding to the plurality of locating holes  15  of the top cover  1 , a plurality of snapping members  63  is provided on the outer surface of the wall of the front portion  61  of the base cover  6 . In other words, these snapping members are formed on the peripheral of the annular slot  618 . These snapping members  63  might be snap-fitted into the locating holes  15  such that the base cover  6  and top cover  1  are secured with each firmly. To more reliably secure the buffer rubber ring  5  onto the annular slot  618  of the base cover  6 , the inner diameter of the ring  5  is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the annular slot  618  so as to form press-fit between the two components. Correspondingly, to make sure that the snapping members  63  which are provided on the outer surface of the annular slot  618  of the base cover  6 , pass through the buffer rubber ring  5  and then are snapped onto the top cover  1 , a plurality of through holes  50  is defined in the wall at locations corresponding to the snapping members  63  (or locating holes  15 ), of the buffer rubber ring  5 . It is clear that space  60  defined between the wall of the top cover  1  and all of the front portion  61  of the base cover  6  is sufficient to receive the buffer rubber ring  5 . As described above, the front portion  61  of the base cover  6  is designed to be an upwardly opened barrel and therefore, an upwardly opened receiving space  60  is defined for receiving the damping rubber ring  4  and the sensor  3  provided thereon. Moreover, the receiving space  60  of the base cover  6  has a connective construction for connecting the two pins  31  of the sensor  3  to the circuit board  7  placed inside the space  60 . The rear cover  8  is located on the back portion of the base cover  6 , and the rear cover  8  is locked with the back portion of the base cover  6  so as to enclose the circuit board  7  therein. 
         [0037]    The characteristic of the circuit board  7  is irrelevant to the subject matter of the invention and accordingly, description thereto is omitted. A through hole  80  is defined in the rear cover  8  through which an external control cable may pass so as to be connected with the circuit board  7 . 
         [0038]    The detailed assembly process of the reversing radar Sensor Component of the present invention is discussed below in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0039]    At first, the sensor  3  is inserted into the damping rubber ring  4 . As there is textured structure inside the ring  4  for securing the sensor  3 , the sensor  3  can be stably secured into the damping rubber ring  4 . 
         [0040]    Next, the damping rubber ring  4  together with the sensor  3  is placed into the front receiving space  60  of the base cover  6  such that the pins  31  of the sensor  3  are connected with the circuit board  7  located on the base cover  6 . 
         [0041]    After that, the buffer rubber ring  5  is sleeved on the annular slot  618  of the base cover  6 , the snapping members  63  pass through the through holes  50  predefined in the buffer rubber ring  5 , and the circular rubber sleeve  2  is sleeved onto the front peripheral portion of the sensor  3 . 
         [0042]    Then, the top cover  1  is placed downwardly onto the base cover  6 , and the snapping members  63  of the base cover  6  are snapped into the corresponding locating holes  15  of the top cover  1 , thus realizing assembling of the base cover  6  and top cover  1 . 
         [0043]    Finally, a control cable  9  passes through the through hole  80  of the rear cover  8  and then is connected to the circuit board  7  of the base cover  6 , and finally the rear cover  8  is installed thereon, hence completing the entire assembly process. 
         [0044]    In a summary, in the reversing radar Sensor Component provided by the invention, due to existence of the buffer rubber ring  5  which forms together with the circular rubber sleeve  2  and damping rubber ring  4  double-buffering construction, and due to great buffering effects brought by protruding posts  52  of the buffer rubber ring  5 , the whole assembly can be more reliably mounted with the automobile bumper guard, thus protecting the sensor  3  itself more effectively and avoiding false alarm resulted from automobile vibration. 
         [0045]    Though various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated above, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, variations and improvements made upon the illustrative embodiments fall within the scope of the invention, and the scope of the invention is only limited by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.