Warning system for vehicle air dam

摘要

An air dam comprised of a molded plastic deflector panel is mounted beneath the front end structure of the vehicle forwardly of the front wheels. The deflector panel is subject to engagement with a parking bumper or other obstruction and is elastically yieldably movable upon such engagement within a certain range of elastic deformation and is subject to breakage upon deformation beyond the limit of the range of elastic deformation. A switch is mounted on the front end structure rearwardly of the molded plastic deflector panel and has an associated sensor which is operatively associated with the deflector panel and is adapted to actuate the switch in response to yielding movement of the deflector panel within the range of elastic deformation. A signal device is responsive to actuation of the switch in order to warn the vehicle operator that an obstruction has been engaged causing yieldable movement of the deflector panel within the range of elastic deformation and that a further forward movement of the vehicle may exceed the limit of the range of elastic deformation and thereby subject the deflector panel to breakage. The air deflector panel may be comprised of independently movable generally transverse central portion and wraparound corner portions at each end thereof in which case a switch means and associated sensor means may be provided for each of the independently movable portions of the deflector panel.