US 11,807,180 B2
Retainer member
Keisuke Ueda, Kariya (JP); Taketo Harada, Kariya (JP); and Takeo Tsuzuki, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/181,967.
Application 17/181,967 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2019/029687, filed on Jul. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-157615 (JP), filed on Aug. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0170968 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 7/521 (2006.01); B60R 21/01 (2006.01); G01S 15/931 (2020.01)
CPC B60R 21/01 (2013.01) [G01S 7/521 (2013.01); G01S 15/931 (2013.01); B60R 2021/01006 (2013.01); G01S 2015/938 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retainer member which secures an ultrasonic sensor to a vehicle body component, the ultrasonic sensor configured to be equipped with a sensor body which includes a cylindrical ultrasonic microphone and a microphone support, the ultrasonic microphone extending in an axial direction parallel to a longitudinal center line and including a protruding portion located on a tip side thereof in the axial direction and a supported portion located on a base side thereof in the axial direction, the microphone support having the protruding portion protruding outside thereof and also retaining the supported portion, comprising:
a body retaining portion which is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and has an opening in a base side thereof in the axial direction, the body retaining portion having at least a portion of the microphone support disposed therein;
a microphone facing portion which is of a cylindrical shape accommodating the ultrasonic microphone, disposed outside the ultrasonic microphone in a radial direction oriented radially from the longitudinal center line, and extends from the body retaining portion toward the tip side in the axial direction;
a pair of fastening portions which are each of a plate-like shape and equipped with engaging portions engaging the sensor body, the fastening portions extending from the microphone facing portion toward the base side in the axial direction along the longitudinal center line, the fastening portions facing each other across the longitudinal center line;
a drain path which passes through the microphone facing portion or a first one of the fastening portions in the radial direction and serves to discharge water from an inner space in the microphone facing portion to outside the inner space; and
a stamped wall portion which faces the drain path through the longitudinal center line and is located in the microphone facing portion or a second one of the fastening portions in alignment with the drain path.