Patent 11148613 was granted and assigned to Witte Automotive on October, 2021 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The invention relates to a device for a motor vehicle having a protective element which can be pivoted from a closed position into an open position, with an environment detection unit which can be moved into an active position for image detection by an extension movement and into a resting position by a retraction movement, in which the environment detection unit is arranged to be externally inaccessible behind the protective element located in the closed position, and having a drive unit acting on the environment detection unit for moving the environment detection unit, the environment detection unit having an end face facing the protective element and two has adjoining side surfaces and wherein a pressing element for pressing on the protective element during the extension of the environment detection unit and a separate closing element for closing the protective element during retraction of the environment detection unit are formed on at least one of the side surfaces.