Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Patent
1996-08-16
2000-10-31
Stodola, Daniel P.
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
24822021, 24822111, 248 271, 379454, 224483, B60R 706, G12B 908
Patent
active
061389692
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention refers to a bracket for installation of equipment at the dashboard of a vehicle, comprising at least one attachment member and a flat part for holding said equipment, which attachment is located at one end of the bracket, the bracket also comprises a support member located at a distance from the attachment member, wherein the bracket in its installed position rests against the instrument panel with a certain preload.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Installation of mobile telephones and other additional equipment at the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, e.g. a passenger car, usually leads to a certain amount of damage upon the instrument panel. This may result in that the value of the vehicle is reduced at a coming selling of the vehicle. There is an obvious risk that the installation of said equipment affects the inner security of the vehicle, either when it is located too close to the driver or passenger of the vehicle, or by getting loose during an accident in which the vehicle is involved.
Also, the installation should not cause an increase in the noise level in the vehicle, e.g. due to vibration which cause rattling and creaking.
For example, SE-B-462646 describes a mounting bracket for mobile telephones, which bracket is produced of a plastic material with two tongues which are supposed to grip into slits in the instrument panel. Because this prior art mounting is provided with folding indents, it can easily be deformed at a collision and come loose. This prior art mounting displays several drawbacks, even if it does not necessitate damaging modifications to the instrument panel for installation. For example, the attachment to the instrument panel will not be so secure, that vibration related noise can be avoided. Besides, the installation position can be varied, which may result in that the position will be disadvantageous. Also, such disadvantageous positioning may lead to damages to cables connected to said additional equipment.
THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM
One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a bracket according to the above, which is simple to install in a stable manner, at a predetermined position at the instrument panel, without causing any marks or damages on said panel.
THE SOLUTION
For this purpose, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the attachment member is provided with attachment means for installation into an unoccupied switch socket in the instrument panel.
Preferable variants of the invention are presented in the depending claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described here below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 shows a bracket according to the invention in a side view,
FIG. 2 shows the bracket according to FIG. 1 in a plane view,
FIG. 3 shows the bracket according to FIGS. 1 and 2 during installation at the instrument panel of a vehicle, and
FIG. 4 shows the bracket in FIG. 3 after installation.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The bracket shown in the figures can for example be produced by bending a piece of sheet metal which is cut in its flat state. The cutting of such sheet metal pieces may for example be made at a low cost by means of a laser beam. The sheet metal piece is bent into the shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. According to an alternative, not shown embodiment, the bracket may be produced by injection moulding of plastic or aluminium.
Before bending the sheet metal piece is L-shaped, wherein a short limb 10 of the sheet metal piece is formed into an attachment member, and a longer limb is formed into a U with a flat part 12 and a support member 13.
The attachment member comprises a rectangular part 14 which is provided with hole for a bolt 15 which is rotatable arranged in the hole and has a bolt head 16. The screw thread is in engagement with a corresponding screw thread in a U-shaped clamp 17. The rectangular part 14 is insertable with the clamp 17 into an opening 18 in the instrument panel 19 shown in FIGS. 3
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AB Volvo
Stodola Daniel P.
Strimbu Gregory J.
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