Patent Publication Number: US-2023151667-A1

Title: Anti-pinch sensor easy install to flange

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a POT International Application and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/011,632, filed Apr. 17, 2020, The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an anti-pinch sensor for a door of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Anti-pinch sensors are often used by automotive OEM&#39;s on the sides of a liftgate as a due care type safety item. Such sensors are used on liftgate doors that have a power actuation system, to stop or reverse a door if there is an obstacle in the way. These anti-pinch sensors create additional parts, additional costs, create assembly complexity, packaging concerns, appearance concerns, and quality concerns, Integrating the mounting surface of the anti-pinch sensor to the liftgate inner panel is an improvement over a conventional molded carrier but continuing to use two-sided sticky tape with adhesion promotor and mechanical fasteners as a primary attachment is not the most efficient. 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to reduce complexity, reduce cost, reduce possibility of poor assembly, improve quality, reduce assembly time, reduce weight, improve appearance when providing for a anti-pinch sensor in a vehicle liftgate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A liftgate for a vehicle having an anti-pinch sensor attached at an outer peripheral area of the liftgate is provided. The liftgate includes an outwardly extending flange portion. An anti-pinch sensor mount including a U-shaped cross section which is adapted to fit over and secure to the outwardly extending flange portion. An anti-pinch sensor is attached to the mount for sensing an interference in opening or closing of the liftgate and reversing the opening or closing of the liftgate. 
     This invention allows for a small easy to mold flange on the inner panel, does not require adhesion promotor, or two-sided sticky tape, has better self-locating features, has better performance and durability for real life testing such as car wash brushes. 
     Creating a pocket in the extrusion portion of the anti-pinch sensor that allows for easy assembly and locating onto a simple flange. 
     The present invention provides an open section that allows loading on a flange and is integrated into the anti-pinch sensor extrusion without adding extra components. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a sectional view of a liftgate having an anti-pinch sensor in accordance with the present invention; and, 
         FIG.  2    is a detailed sectional view of the anti-pinch sensor area of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a liftgate for a vehicle generally shown at  10 . The liftgate  10  has an anti-pinch sensor generally shown at  12  attached at an outer peripheral area of the liftgate  10 . The liftgate  10  includes an outer show surface panel  14  and an inner panel  16 . The inner panel  16  includes reinforcement structure  18 . Attachment structure  20 ,  22  attaches the inner panel  16  to outer panel  14 . The inner panel  16  is preferably formed of a filled thermoplastic and includes an outwardly extending flange portion  24 . 
     Anti-pinch sensor  12  includes an outer pinch sensor bulb portion  26  and a pinch sensor mount  28 . The mount portion  28  including a U-shaped cross section formed by two outer legs  30  and  32  connected by an inner wall  34  this mount is designed to fit over and secure to the outwardly extending flange portion  24 . Preferably the mount portion  28  is adapted for press fitting onto the flange  24 . Preferably the anti-pinch sensor bulb  26  and the pinch sensor mount  28  are an elongated one-piece extrusion. Typically, the mount portion  28  is mechanically attached and is of a durometer that will provide enough compression to hold onto the flange  24 . However, mount  28  can also be glued to the flange  24  with butyl adhesives or the like if further securement is necessary. Mechanical fasteners, staples and/or crimping of the flange are also used in other embodiments. Additionally, the flange  24  in other embodiments includes a stepped surface or openings which can promote securement of the mount portion  28  onto the flange. 
     The anti-pinch sensor bulb  26  is attached to the mount portion for sensing an interference in opening or closing of the liftgate and reversing the opening or closing of the liftgate thus the anti-pinch sensor bulb portion  26  is of a softer durometer than the mount to provide proper compression for sensing of an object which interferes with opening or closing of the liftgate. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the essence of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.