Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7911356?dq=5537618&ei=urENT6-uEoHegQe698i5Bw
Timestamp: 2014-03-09 21:11:12
Document Index: 662165738

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12']

Patent US7911356 - Rain sensor - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA rain sensor is provided for fastening on an inner side of a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The rain sensor includes a holding frame for fastening to the inner side of the windscreen, a sensor element, a housing part for housing the sensor element such that the sensor element is arranged in the housing...http://www.google.com/patents/US7911356?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7911356 - Rain sensorAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7911356 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/985,004Publication dateMar 22, 2011Filing dateNov 13, 2007Priority dateNov 13, 2006Also published asCN101221054A, CN101221054B, DE202006017362U1, DE602007006739D1, EP1920980A1, EP1920980B1, US20080117074Publication number11985004, 985004, US 7911356 B2, US 7911356B2, US-B2-7911356, US7911356 B2, US7911356B2InventorsKarl-Heinz Wohlfahrt, Thomas EbnerOriginal AssigneeTrw Automotive Electronics & Components GmbhExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (26), Referenced by (8), Classifications (7), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRain sensorUS 7911356 B2Abstract A rain sensor is provided for fastening on an inner side of a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The rain sensor includes a holding frame for fastening to the inner side of the windscreen, a sensor element, a housing part for housing the sensor element such that the sensor element is arranged in the housing part, and a holding device for engaging the holding frame, the holding device being fastened to the housing part, wherein the holding device is brought into engagement with the holding frame in a pre-mounted state, and the holding device presses the housing part with the sensor element onto the windscreen in a final mounted state.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a rain sensor for fastening on an inner side of a windscreen of a motor vehicle with a holding frame for fastening on the inner side of the windscreen, a sensor element, a housing part in which the sensor element is arranged, and a holding device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rain sensors are known which detect the presence of raindrops on the windscreen of a motor vehicle and therefore make possible an automatic activation of the windscreen wipers. Mounting on the windscreen constitutes a problem here, because no reflections must occur between the sensor element and the windscreen. A gap, and equally an adhesive layer, are therefore to be avoided on the optical path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The rain sensor according to the invention has a holding device in which the components can be optimized separately for the functions of engaging and bracing. A secure mounting is thereby achieved with low production costs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 to 3 show a rain sensor for mounting on a windscreen (shown schematically in all of the figures as line 21) of a motor vehicle, for example. The rain sensor, which can be fastened on the inner side of the windscreen 21 has a generally parallelepiped shaped housing part 12, which is adapted to house a sensor element such that the sensor element is arranged in the housing part 12. A generally flat rectangular mounting frame 10 is provided for attachment to the inner side of the windscreen 21 and defines a recess for accommodating the housing part 12. Two fastening devices are attached to the housing part 12 on each of its short sides so that the fastening devices generally oppose each other on the housing part 12. Each fastening device is provided with a lever 18, which is pivotally mounted about an axis extending along a short side of the housing part 12 and a resilient bracket 16, which has one of its ends pivotally connected to the lever 18 at an eccentric portion 14 of the lever 18 so that it is eccentric to the axis about which the lever 18 is pivotally mounted. The other end of the bracket 16 is formed as an engagement member, which has two projecting portions. The bracket 16 may be formed of any suitable resilient sheet material, for example spring steel. Two engagement portions 20 are provided on the mounting frame 10 and define recesses arranged generally at the corners of each of the short sides of the mounting frame 10. The engagement portions 20 on the mounting frame 10 correspond to the engagement members formed by the bracket 16 of each fastening device so that the engagement members of the fastening devices are adapted to cooperate with the engagement portions 20 of the mounting frame 10.
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