Patent Description:
Conventionally, in a train vehicle doorway to allow passenger entry and exit, there are provided sliding doors that slide in train vehicle front and rear directions. Such train vehicle sliding doors are provided with a structure for detecting the occurrence of passenger's body or belongings pinch in the sliding doors during closing of the sliding doors (see, e.g., <CIT>).

The door pinch detecting device described in <CIT> includes hollow door front edge rubber outer members, which are attached to front edges in closing directions of sliding doors, respectively, of a train vehicle, door front edge rubber inner members, which are detachably accommodated in hollow portions of the door front edge rubber outer members respectively, and piezoelectric members, which are fixed to front edges of the door front edge rubber inner members, respectively, to act as a foreign object detection sensor. When foreign object pinch in the sliding doors occurs, the piezoelectric members convert the deformation of the door front edge rubber inner members into an electric signal and output that electric signal, which is amplified and sent to an alarm device to generate an alarm. In response to that alarm, a trainman then opens the sliding doors to remove the pinched object.

On the other hand, the present applicant has suggested a cord switch (i.e. cord-shape switch type detection sensor) for detecting the occurrence of pinch in an automobile sliding door as described in e.g. <CIT>. This cord switch includes a cord switch main body with a plurality of conductor wires helically spaced apart from each other in an inner side of a tubular member, a member to be attached, which has an elastic modulus higher than an elastic modulus of the tubular member of the cord switch main body, and which is disposed along the cord switch main body, and a band-like impact absorbing member, which is interposed between the cord switch main body and the member to be attached, and which has an elastic modulus lower than an elastic modulus of the tubular member of the cord switch main body. With this cord switch, it is possible to detect pressures in all radial directions of the tubular member.

Although the door pinch detecting device described in <CIT> can precisely detect the occurrence of pinch when the piezoelectric members are acted on by pressure in moving directions of the sliding doors during closing of the sliding doors, the piezoelectric members may not necessarily securely react when acted on by an external force at oblique angles to the moving directions of the sliding doors during closing of the sliding doors, or when the pinched foreign object is a thin string-like object. For this reason, for example, when a passenger with belongings such as a main body object (e.g. a pass holder for holding cards, or the like) coupled to a tip of a string-like object exits from a train vehicle, if the string-like object is pinched in the sliding doors, and the passenger pulls the string-like object from the vehicle exterior, no alarm is generated, and the train vehicle may depart with the string-like object remaining pinched.

Even in the event of such pinch, in order to be able to detect the occurrence of pinch, the present inventors have considered, in the cord switch described in <CIT>, accommodating a plurality of the cord switch main bodies within a hollow portion of a door front edge rubber. In this case, however, when no proper hollow space is ensured by making the capacity of the hollow portion larger than its size required to accommodate the plurality of cord switch main bodies, the cushionability lowers, and in the event of passenger's body pinch, the passenger is subjected to a great impact. Further, if the hollow portion is too large, the locations of each of the cord switch main bodies within the hollow portion are not fixed, and sensor, which, during closing of a sliding door, is able to detect the occurrence of pinch, even when acted on by an external force at oblique angles to a moving direction of the sliding door. A pinch detection sensor according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>. The dependent claims define embodiments of the invention.

The pinch detection sensor according to the present invention makes it possible to, during closing of the sliding door, detect the occurrence of pinch, even when acted on by an external force at oblique angles to the moving direction of the sliding door.

<FIG> is an explanatory view showing a doorway <NUM> of a train vehicle <NUM> with pinch detection sensors <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the present invention being attached to left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, of the doorway <NUM>. In <FIG>, there are shown a passenger <NUM> exiting from the train vehicle <NUM> to a station platform <NUM> and belongings <NUM> of the passenger <NUM>. Further, in <FIG>, entry and exit directions of the passenger <NUM> are indicated by arrows A<NUM>, while moving directions (closing directions) during closing of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> are indicated by arrows A<NUM>.

The moving directions of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> are parallel to a forward movement direction of the train vehicle <NUM>. The entry and exit directions of the passenger <NUM> are perpendicular to the forward movement direction of the train vehicle <NUM> and parallel to thickness directions of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>. Each sliding door <NUM> includes a door plate <NUM> and a window glass <NUM> fitted in a window section <NUM>a of the door plate <NUM>.

The belongings <NUM> include, for example, a main body object <NUM> such as a pass holder for holding cards, and a string-like object <NUM> which is coupled to the main body object <NUM> at one end thereof. The other end of the string-like object <NUM> is gripped by the passenger <NUM>. Note that the other end of the string-like object <NUM> may be suspended by a belt or the like of the passenger <NUM>, for example.

By driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> which are provided in a vehicle body <NUM>, the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> are slid in front and rear directions of the vehicle body <NUM> to open and close the doorway <NUM>. The driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed above the doorway <NUM>, and are configured to include a linear motion mechanism such as a linear motor and a ball screw, for example. Further, the driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> are controlled by a control device <NUM>. The movement ranges (the positions of forward and backward movement ends) of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> are defined by stoppers (not shown) which are provided in the driving devices <NUM> and <NUM>.

The pinch detection sensors <NUM> are vertically attached to respective edge portions of the left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> opposite each other, and during closing of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>, in the event of pinch of the passenger <NUM> or their belongings <NUM> therebetween, the pinch detection sensors <NUM> detect that occurrence of pinch. When the control device <NUM> receives a signal indicating that occurrence of pinch from the pinch detection sensors <NUM>, the control device <NUM> controls the driving devices <NUM> and <NUM> for opening the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>. Note that when the control device <NUM> receives a signal indicating the occurrence of pinch from the pinch detection sensors <NUM>, the control device <NUM> may generate an alarm signal to give an alarm to a trainman such as a driver or a conductor. In this case, the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> are opened by being operated by the trainman.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing the pinch detection sensor <NUM> in a natural condition when not subjected to occurrence of pinch. In <FIG>, the pinch detection sensor <NUM> is indicated by a cross section parallel to the entry and exit directions A<NUM> of the passenger <NUM> and the closing directions A<NUM> of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> (in other words, a cross section at right angles to a longitudinal direction of the pinch detection sensor <NUM>). Further, in <FIG>, the upper side of the drawing corresponds to the vehicle exterior side (platform <NUM> side) of the train vehicle <NUM>, while the lower side of the drawing corresponds to the vehicle interior side.

The pinch detection sensor <NUM> includes a door front edge rubber <NUM>, which is attached to a front edge portion of the sliding door <NUM> in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM>, and a plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>. The door front edge rubber <NUM> has a hollow portion <NUM> inside, and the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are being accommodated in the hollow portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, three of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are accommodated in the hollow portion <NUM>.

The door plate <NUM> is vertically formed with a mating groove <NUM>b for attaching the door front edge rubber <NUM>. The mating groove <NUM>b is open in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM> through an opening <NUM>d between one pair of protruding pieces <NUM>c and <NUM>c opposite each other.

The door front edge rubber <NUM> integrally includes, in the cross section shown in <FIG>, a rectangular base section <NUM>, a cover section <NUM>, which covers the three linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM> relative to the hollow portion <NUM>, a mating portion <NUM>, which is mated into the mating groove <NUM>b of the door plate <NUM>, and a connecting portion <NUM>, which connects the base section <NUM> and the mating portion <NUM>. The door front edge rubber <NUM> is made of, for example, urethane rubber, EP rubber, silicone rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, olefin based or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer, urethane resin or the like, and is formed by extrusion molding.

The base section <NUM> is disposed on the one pair of protruding pieces <NUM>c and <NUM>c of the door plate <NUM> in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM>, and forms the hollow portion <NUM> between that base section <NUM> and the cover section <NUM>. The cover section <NUM> is curved in an arch shape (a semicircular shape) protruding in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM> in a middle portion in the passenger entry and exit directions, and is continuous with the base section <NUM> at both end portions of the cover section <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is disposed in the opening <NUM>d of the door plate <NUM>.

Further, the door front edge rubber <NUM> includes a partitioning portion <NUM> between the base section <NUM> and the cover section <NUM>, which partitions the hollow portion <NUM> into a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM>. Hereinafter, the three housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> will be referred to as the first to third housing spaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively. The first to third housing spaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are being aligned in the passenger entry and exit directions, in such a manner that the first housing space <NUM> is being formed in the middle portion in the passenger entry and exit directions, the second housing space <NUM> is being formed on the vehicle exterior side relative to the first housing space <NUM>, and the third housing space <NUM> is being formed on the vehicle interior side relative to the first housing space <NUM>.

The partitioning portion <NUM> includes a first wall section <NUM> that partitions the first housing space <NUM> and the second housing space <NUM>, and a second wall section <NUM> that partitions the first housing space <NUM> and the third housing space <NUM>. The first wall section <NUM> and the second wall section <NUM> are being provided parallel to each other in the moving direction of the sliding door <NUM>. Further, the first wall section <NUM> and the second wall section <NUM> are continuous with the base section <NUM> at their respective one end portions, while being continuous with the cover section <NUM> at their respective other end portions. This results in the first to third housing spaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> being partitioned with no gap therebetween by the partitioning portion <NUM>. The three linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are being accommodated in the first to third housing spaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively.

In this manner, in the present embodiment, the door front edge rubber <NUM> includes, in the hollow portion <NUM>, the first to third housing spaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for accommodating the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> respectively, so that movements of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> between the first to third housing spaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are restricted by the partitioning portion <NUM>.

Of the area occupied by the first housing space <NUM> in the cross section shown in <FIG>, the area of the hollow space excluding the portion where the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> is disposed is greater than the area of the portion where the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> is disposed. That is, when the proportion of the hollow space in the first housing space <NUM> is defined as the space ratio, this space ratio is <NUM>% or more. This results in impact relaxation when the door front edge rubber <NUM> collides with the passenger <NUM> body during closing of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the space ratios of the second and third housing spaces <NUM> and <NUM> are also <NUM>% or more. It should be noted, however, that the space ratios of the second and third housing spaces <NUM> and <NUM> are lower than the space ratio of the first housing space. The desirable range of the space ratio of the first housing space is <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less, while the desirable ranges of the space ratios of the second and third housing spaces <NUM> and <NUM> are <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less. This is because if the space ratios are too low, the cushionability lowers, or if the space ratios are too high, the locations of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> may be not fixed in appropriate ranges.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> in a natural condition when acted on by no external force. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> in a compressed condition when acted on by an external force.

The linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> includes a tube <NUM> which is formed of a tubular elastic body, and a plurality of conductor wires <NUM> which are spaced apart from each other in an inner side of that tube <NUM>. More specifically, two conductor wires <NUM> are being helically held on an inner surface of the tube <NUM> while being partially exposed, with a space <NUM> being formed in a central portion of the tube <NUM>. The tube <NUM> is made of, e.g., an insulating rubber material such as silicone rubber or ethylene propylene rubber, and has such elasticity as to be deformed by being acted on by an external force, and restored immediately no external force is exerted.

In a natural condition of the tube <NUM> when acted on by no external force, the plurality of conductor wires <NUM> are being held in non-contact with each other with the space <NUM> therebetween. Further, the tube <NUM> when acted on by an external force is elastically deformed to bring the plurality of conductor wires <NUM> into contact with each other. In each of the conductor wires <NUM>, a metal stranded wire <NUM> with multiple metal wires stranded together is being covered with a conductive covering layer <NUM>. This structure allows the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> to sense external pressure forces in all radial directions of the tube <NUM>.

<FIG> is a circuit diagram showing one example of an electric circuit <NUM> for detecting the occurrence of pinch in the sliding door <NUM> with the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM>. The electric circuit <NUM> is being configured to include the two conductor wires <NUM> of the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM>, and includes a power source <NUM>, a contact detection resistor <NUM> that connects together end portions of the two conductor wires <NUM>, an ammeter <NUM> and a current limitation resistor <NUM> that are connected in series with the power supply <NUM>. The ammeter <NUM> includes, for example, a current sensor such as a Hall IC and an amplifier, and its detection signal is output to the control device <NUM>.

In the electric circuit <NUM> configured as described above, when the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> is compressed and the conductor wires <NUM> are brought into contact with each other, electric current to be detected by the ammeter <NUM> varies. The control device <NUM> recognizes the occurrence of pinch in the sliding door <NUM> from the variation of the detection signal of the ammeter <NUM>, and stops or reverses the driving device <NUM>.

Note that although in <FIG> the electric circuit <NUM> is shown for only one linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM>, since in the present embodiment, the pinch detection sensor <NUM> has the three linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>, each of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> is being provided with its each electric circuit <NUM>, and the detection signals of the ammeters <NUM> of their respective electric circuits <NUM> are output to the control device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> when recognizing the occurrence of compression of any of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> stops or reverses the driving device <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, in order to enable secure detection of occurrence of pinch even when acted on by an external force at oblique angles to the moving direction of the sliding door <NUM> during closing of the sliding door <NUM>, the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are being arranged at locations different from each other in the passenger entry and exit directions. That is, the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are being arranged in such a manner as to be aligned in a direction which intersects the moving directions of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> and the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the door front edge rubber <NUM>, and be not overlapped in the moving directions of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>. Hereinafter, the direction which intersects the moving directions of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> and the longitudinal direction of the door front edge rubber <NUM> is referred to as the alignment direction.

More specifically, of the three linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>, one linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> is disposed in the middle portion in the alignment direction in the hollow portion <NUM>, while the other two linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are disposed on one side (vehicle exterior side) and the other side (vehicle interior side), respectively, in the alignment direction of the one linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM>. The linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> disposed on one side is being accommodated in the second housing space <NUM>, while the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> disposed on the other side is being accommodated in the third housing space <NUM>.

The lengths of the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> in a width direction of the sliding door <NUM> in the movement direction of the sliding door <NUM> are greater than the diameters of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>, thereby allowing the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> to be moved in the width direction of the sliding door <NUM> within the first housing space <NUM>, the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the second housing space <NUM> to be moved in the width direction of the sliding door <NUM> within the second housing space <NUM>, and the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the third housing space <NUM> to be moved in the width direction of the sliding door <NUM> within the third housing space <NUM>.

With this door front edge rubber <NUM> structure, even when a part of the passenger <NUM> body is pinched between the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> during closing of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>, pain felt by the passenger <NUM> is mitigated by the cushionability of the door front edge rubber <NUM> enhanced by the spaces of the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM>. In particular, the first housing space <NUM> located in the middle portion in the alignment direction is longer in length in the width direction of the sliding door <NUM> than the second and third housing spaces <NUM> and <NUM>, so that the impact when the tip of the cover section <NUM> collides with the passenger <NUM> is greatly relaxed. In the present embodiment, the length of the first housing space <NUM> in the width direction of the sliding door <NUM> is twice or more the diameter of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the compressed linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> when the tip of the cover section <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM> in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM> collides with a part <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> body during closing of the sliding door <NUM>. The linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> is being sandwiched between the cover section <NUM> and the base section <NUM>, with the tube <NUM> being elastically deformed, with the two conductor wires <NUM> being brought into contact with each other.

<FIG> shows the train vehicle <NUM> departing in its forward movement direction indicated by arrow A<NUM> with the string-like object <NUM> of the belongings <NUM> of the passenger <NUM> having exited to the vehicle exterior remaining pinched between the left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> of that vehicle <NUM>, with the main body object <NUM> of their belongings <NUM> being left behind in the vehicle interior.

In this condition, the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the second housing space <NUM> of the pinch detection sensor <NUM> attached to the rear sliding door <NUM> in the vehicle forward movement direction of the left and right sliding doors <NUM> is compressed, with its two conductor wires <NUM> being brought into contact with each other. This results in detection of the occurrence of pinch. That is, with the pinch detection sensors <NUM> according to the present embodiment, even when the string-like object <NUM> has such a thickness dimension that the occurrence of pinch is not detected only by it being pinched between the left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>, it is possible to detect the occurrence of pinch by that linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> being acted on by the external force at the oblique angle to the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Note that although not shown, when the train vehicle <NUM> departs with the string-like object <NUM> remaining pinched between the left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>, the cover section <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM> may be pulled to the vehicle exterior side, to compress the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the third housing space <NUM>, and bring its two conductor wires <NUM> into contact with each other. Further, the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the third housing space <NUM> can also be compressed when the passenger <NUM> collides with the door front edge rubber <NUM> by exiting from the vehicle interior side to the vehicle exterior side during closing of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>. Similarly, the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the second housing space <NUM> can also be compressed when the passenger <NUM> collides with the door front edge rubber <NUM> by entering the vehicle interior side from the vehicle exterior side during closing of the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>.

When the occurrence of pinch is detected with the pinch detection sensors <NUM> after departure of the train vehicle <NUM>, the train vehicle <NUM> is promptly stopped by the manual operation of the driver having received the alarm, or automatically in the case of automatic running, to open the sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to the first embodiment described above, the following operations and advantageous effects (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) can be obtained.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensor <NUM>A according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the base section <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM> has a semicircular protrusion <NUM> which protrudes in a door closing direction (to the cover section <NUM> side) in the middle portion in the alignment direction. This protrusion <NUM> is being formed across the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM>, and is most protruding toward the first housing space <NUM>.

According to the pinch detection sensor <NUM>A according to the above second embodiment, since the length of the first housing space <NUM> is shorter than that of the first embodiment, even when the amount of deformation of the cover section <NUM> is small, the two conductor wires <NUM> of the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> are brought into contact with each other, so even when the external force is relatively small, it is possible to detect the occurrence of pinch. Further, when acted on by external force at an oblique angle to the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM>, the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> accommodated in the second housing space <NUM> or the third housing space <NUM> are pressed against the protrusion <NUM>, to bring their two conductor wires <NUM> into contact with each other, therefore making it possible to also detect the occurrence of pinch which causes the relatively small external force at that oblique angle to the door closing direction.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensors <NUM>B according to a third embodiment. As with the detection switch <NUM>A according to the second embodiment, the detection switch <NUM>B is being provided with a protrusion <NUM> in the base section <NUM> which protrudes in the door closing direction in the middle portion in the alignment direction, but unlike that of the second embodiment, that protrusion <NUM> in the third embodiment is being formed into a trapezoidal shape. The protrusion <NUM> becomes wider in width in the alignment direction with increasing distance from the top surface of the first housing space <NUM>, so the distance between both side surfaces of the second and third housing spaces <NUM> and <NUM> becomes longer. Further, in the pinch detection sensor <NUM>B, the first wall section <NUM> and the second wall section <NUM> are extending from the corners between the top surface and both the side surfaces of the protrusion <NUM>, and at such oblique angles as to be separated from each other with respect to the moving direction of the sliding door <NUM>.

With this third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, it is also possible to detect even the occurrence of pinch which causes the relatively small external force.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensor <NUM>C according to a fourth embodiment. Although in the first to third embodiments, it has been described that the hollow portion <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM> is partitioned into three housing spaces, the hollow portion <NUM> in the pinch detection sensor <NUM>C according to the present embodiment is partitioned into two housing spaces. More specifically, the hollow portion <NUM> is partitioned into a first housing space <NUM> and a second housing space <NUM> by a single wall-like partitioning portion <NUM>, and respective one linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are being accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> and the second housing space <NUM>.

With the present embodiment, it is also possible to detect the occurrence of pinch which causes an external force at an oblique angle to the moving direction of the sliding door <NUM> during closing of the sliding door <NUM>. Further, since the number of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> can be reduced, cost lowering can be ensured, as compared with the first to third embodiments.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensor <NUM>D according to the fifth embodiment. Although in the first to fourth embodiments, it has been described that the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> are partitioned with no gap therebetween by the partitioning portion <NUM>, the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> in the pinch detection sensor <NUM>D according to the present embodiment are being configured in communication via gaps S<NUM> and S<NUM>. The sizes of the gaps S<NUM> and S<NUM> are narrower than the diameters of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>, so the movements of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> between the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> are restricted by the partition part <NUM> in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments.

With the fifth embodiment, it is also possible to fix the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> at such locations, respectively, that the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> are acted on by external forces in various directions, and it is possible to simplify the configuration of dies used for extrusion molding of the door front edge rubber <NUM>, and facilitate production of the door front edge rubber <NUM>.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensor <NUM>E according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. This pinch detection sensor <NUM>E is provided with a protrusion <NUM> in the base section <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM> of the pinch detection sensor <NUM>D according to the fifth embodiment, in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

With the sixth embodiment, in addition to the advantageous effects of the fifth embodiment, as with the second embodiment, it is possible to detect the occurrence of pinch which causes the relatively small external force.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensor <NUM>F according to the seventh embodiment. The pinch detection sensor <NUM>F is being provided with a protrusion <NUM> in the base section <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM>, and a partitioning portion <NUM> is being provided on a tip of that protrusion <NUM>. The partitioning portion <NUM> is being formed with an arc-shaped surface opposite the cover section <NUM>, which is greater in curvature than the outer circumferential surfaces of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>, and includes first and second protruding corner sections <NUM> and <NUM> in both end portions in the alignment direction. Gaps S<NUM> and S<NUM> are being formed between the first and second protruding corner sections <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, and the cover section <NUM>. The sizes of the gaps S<NUM> and S<NUM> are narrower than the diameters of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM>, so the movements of the linear shape pressure sensing members <NUM> between the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> are restricted.

According to the seventh embodiment, it is possible to detect with the protrusion <NUM> the occurrence of pinch which causes a relatively small external force, and since the first to third housing spaces <NUM> to <NUM> are being configured in communication with each other via the gaps S<NUM> and S<NUM>, the production of the door front edge rubber <NUM> is facilitated.

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a pinch detection sensor <NUM>G according to the eighth embodiment. In the pinch detection sensor <NUM>, the cover section <NUM> of the door front edge rubber <NUM> has an inward protrusion <NUM> which protrudes toward the base section <NUM> and to the one linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM>. The first wall section <NUM> that partitions the first housing space <NUM> and the second housing space <NUM>, and the second wall section <NUM> that partitions the first housing space <NUM> and the third housing space <NUM> are being provided between the base section <NUM> and the inward protrusion <NUM> of the cover section <NUM>.

According to the eighth embodiment, even when the amount of deformation of the cover section <NUM> is small as compared to the first embodiment, the two conductor wires <NUM> of the linear shape pressure sensing member <NUM> accommodated in the first housing space <NUM> are brought into contact with each other, so even when the external force is relatively small, it is possible to detect the occurrence of pinch in the closing direction of the sliding door <NUM>.

Next, a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. This embodiment is described for exemplary purposes only, it does not form part of the invention and does not fall under the scope of the claims. Although the first to eighth embodiments have been described on the condition that the pinch detection sensors having the same structures are used for the left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM>, the pinch detection sensor attached to one of the left and right sliding doors <NUM> and <NUM> and the pinch detection sensor attached to the other sliding door <NUM> in the present embodiment are different in structure. Hereinafter, the pinch detection sensor attached to one sliding door <NUM> will be referred to as one pincl7h detection sensor <NUM>H, while the pinch detection sensor attached to the other sliding door <NUM> will be referred to as the other pinch detection sensor <NUM>I.

The one pinch detection sensor <NUM>H is further provided with an outward protrusion <NUM> in the cover section <NUM> of the pinch detection sensor <NUM>G according to the eighth embodiment. The outward protrusion <NUM> is protruding from the middle portion in the alignment direction of the cover sections <NUM> toward the other pinch detection sensor <NUM>I and to the opposite side to the hollow portion <NUM>.

The other pinch detection sensor <NUM>I is configured as a modification to the pinch detection sensor <NUM>C according to the fourth embodiment, and is being provided with a mating recessed portion <NUM> in the middle portion in the alignment direction of the cover section <NUM>, which is mated with the outward protrusion <NUM> of the one pinch detection sensor <NUM>H. The mating recessed portion <NUM> is being formed in a range from the cover section <NUM> to the partitioning portion <NUM>. Note that in the door front edge rubber <NUM> of the other pinch detection sensor <NUM>I, the thickness in the alignment direction of the partitioning portion <NUM> that partitions the hollow portion <NUM> into the first housing space <NUM> and the second housing space <NUM> is being formed thicker at least in the end portion in the closing direction than the width in the alignment direction of the mating recessed portion <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A pinch detection sensor (<NUM>), for detecting the occurrence of pinch during closing of a sliding door (<NUM>), comprising:
a door front edge rubber (<NUM>) including a hollow portion (<NUM>) inside, to be attached to a front edge portion of the sliding door (<NUM>) in a closing movement direction of the sliding door; and
a plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members (<NUM>) accommodated in the hollow portion (<NUM>), each linear shape pressure sensing member comprising a tubular elastic body (<NUM>) and respective conductor wires (<NUM>) spaced apart from each other in an inner side of the tubular elastic body (<NUM>);
wherein the door front edge rubber (<NUM>) includes, in the hollow portion (<NUM>), a plurality of housing spaces (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), which accommodate the plurality of linear shape pressure sensing members (<NUM>), respectively, characterized in that
each of the lengths of the housing spaces (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>) in a width direction of the sliding door (<NUM>) in the movement direction of the sliding door (<NUM>) are greater than the respective diameters of the linear shape pressure sensing members (<NUM>), thereby allowing each of the linear shape pressure sensing members (<NUM>) accommodated in its respective housing space (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to be moved in a width direction of the sliding door (<NUM>) within its respective housing space (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM>), and
wherein movements of the linear shape pressure sensing members (<NUM>) between the plurality of housing spaces are restricted by a partitioning portion.