Spare tire backup camera mounting system

• US 10,140,524 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brandmotion LLC
• Original Assignee: Brandmotion LLC
• Inventors: Varick, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNurlen, Scott
• Application Number:
  US15/267,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 224446, 224444, 224 4212- 4214, 224 422, 224 4224- 4225, 414464-466, 414463, 2482791, 2482761
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 43/02 external to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A monitoring system sufficient to provide a driver with video or other visual indicators for purposes of assessing an area external to a vehicle when underway is contemplated. The monitoring system may be configured as a camera-based monitoring system including a camera for viewing blind spots or other difficult to view areas when a vehicle is driven in reverse or otherwise operating in a manner where a direction of travel or other course of action produces a hazard or other concern within an exterior environment difficult for the driver to view or otherwise assess. The monitoring system may include a mounting system sufficient for mounting the camera to a spare-tire hub assembly used for securing a spare tire to a rear door or other rear-facing component of the vehicle in an exposed, vertical orientation.

Claims

1. A mounting system for mounting a camera of a backup-camera system to a spare-tire hub assembly affixed to an exterior, rearward portion of a vehicle for purposes of securing a spare tire thereon in an exposed, vertical orientation, the mounting system comprising:

a plate having a plurality of apertures radially arranged in a pattern sufficient for at least two of a plurality of studs extending rearwardly from a vertical surface of the spare-tire hub assembly to fit therethrough, the plurality of studs being radially arranged equidistantly around a center point to extend through a plurality of through holes included within a rim of the spare tire for purposes of securing the spare tire in the exposed, vertical orientation;

an arm mechanically coupled to the plate to facilitate positioning the camera radially outboard of the plurality of studs in a mounted position sufficient for the camera to peer through the spare tire;

a linkage for mechanically coupling the arm to the plate;

a plate fastener for removably attaching the linkage to the plate and an arm fastener for removably attaching the linkage to the arm;

wherein the plate fastener provides a plate pivot sufficient for rotating the linkage relative to the plate and wherein the arm fastener provides an arm pivot sufficient for rotating the arm relative to the linkage, thereby providing two rotational degrees of movement to facilitate positioning the camera while the at least two of the plurality of studs are fitted through the plate; and

wherein the linkage includes a plate channel and an arm channel with each of the plate and arm channels being elongated, the plate fastener being removably attachable along the plate channel to adjust positioning of the plate longitudinally therein and the arm fastener being removably attachable along the arm channel to adjust positioning of the arm longitudinally therein, thereby providing two longitudinal degrees of movement to facilitate positioning the camera while the at least two of the plurality of studs are fitted through the plate;

wherein the plate fastener and the arm fastener are threaded screws configured to respectively attach the linkage to the plate and the arm without use of nuts or additional connectors.

2. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein:

a distal end of the arm proximate an attachment to the camera is shaped to be at an angle relative to the linkage;

the plurality of apertures are arranged non-equidistantly around a center of the plate;

a quantity of the plurality of apertures is greater than a quantity of the plurality of studs;

the plurality of studs are shaped as cylinders and wherein the plurality of apertures are shaped to have a width greater than a diameter of the cylinders and a length longer than the width; and

the mounted position is sufficient for a majority of a viewing angle of the camera to be unobstructed by the spare tire.

3. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein:

the linkage is planar throughout;

the linkage is parallel with the plate when attached thereto with the plate fastener; and

the arm includes a connection end and a distal end with a central portion extending therebetween, wherein the connection end and the distal end are each angled relative to the central portion.

4. The mounting system of claim 3 wherein the connection end is angled at 90°

relative to the central portion and the distal end is angled at greater than 90°

relative to the central portion, thereby positioning the distal end rearwardly of the linkage and the plate when attached to the linkage.

5. The mounting system of claim 4 wherein the linkage has a length sufficient for positioning the camera to peer through an opening in the rim when the at least two of the plurality of studs are fitted through the plate and the spare tire is thereafter secured to the spare-tire hub assembly.

6. The mounting system of claim 5 wherein:

the distal end includes a first orifice;

the connection end includes a second orifice, the second orifice being circular and having a diameter larger than a cross-section of the arm fastener;

the arm fastener passes through the second orifice to attach the connection end to the linkage, thereby centering the arm pivot within the second orifice; and

the camera includes a screw for mounting within the first orifice.

7. The mounting system of the claim 6 wherein:

the camera has a viewing angle; and

the central portion is elongated an amount sufficient to position the distal end rearward of the spare tire such that the viewing angle of the camera is unobstructed by the spare tire.

8. The mounting system of claim 7 further comprising a press-fit washer for each of the at least two of the plurality of studs fitted through the plate, the press-fit washers being sufficient for retaining the plate to the at least two of the plurality of studs prior to securing the spare tire to the spare-tire hub assembly.

9. The mounting system of claim 8 wherein:

the threaded screws removably engage the elongated sides to permit re-positioning of the arm relative to the plate while the press-fit washers immovably retain the plate to the spare-tire hub assembly.

10. A monitoring system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a spare-tire hub assembly for securing a spare tire to a rear door or other rear-facing component in an exposed orientation and a passenger-compartment display system capable of displaying images and/or video to a vehicle occupant, the system comprising:

a camera configured for conveying recorded images to the display system for display to the vehicle occupant; and

a mounting system configured for attaching the camera to the spare-tire hub assembly, the mounting system including;

i) a plate having a plurality of apertures sufficient for at least one of a plurality of studs extending rearwardly from the spare-tire hub assembly to fit therethrough, the plurality of studs extending rearwardly to fit through a plurality of through holes included within a rim of the spare tire in order to secure the spare tire in the exposed orientation, the plate including a tab outward of the plurality of apertures, the tab including a first orifice;

ii) an arm having a connection end and a distal end with a central portion extending therebetween, the connection end and the distal end each being angled relative to the central portion, the camera being affixed to the distal end, the connection end including a second orifice, the first and second orifices being circular;

iii) a linkage planar throughout for mechanically connecting the arm to the plate such that the connection end and the tab are coplanar and parallel with the linkage, the linkage including a plate channel and an arm channel with each of the plate and arm channels being elongated;

iv) a plate fastener for removably attaching the plate via the first orifice within the plate channel and an arm fastener for removably attaching the arm via the second orifice within the arm channel, the plate and arm fasteners being respectively securable along and rotatable about the plate and arm channels to facilitate radially and longitudinally adjusting positioning of the camera; and

wherein the plate and arm fasteners are threaded screws with threads shaped to respectively engage sides of the plate and arm channels to attach the plate and the arm to the linkage without use of nuts or additional connectors.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the camera is configured for wirelessly conveying the recorded images to the display system.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of stud fasteners attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of studs between the plate and the spare tire to secure the plate against the spare-tire hub assembly, wherein the threaded screws permit the arm to be radially and longitudinally adjusted relative to the plate while the plurality of stud fasteners are attached to the plurality of studs.

13. A monitoring system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a spare-tire hub assembly for securing a spare tire to a rear door or other rear-facing component and a passenger-compartment display system capable of displaying to a vehicle occupant, the system comprising:

a camera for conveying images to the display system for display to the vehicle occupant; and

a mounting system for attaching the camera to the spare-tire hub assembly, the mounting system including;

i) a plate having a plurality of apertures sufficient for at least one of a plurality of studs extending rearwardly from the spare-tire hub assembly to fit therethrough, the plate including a first orifice outward of the plurality of apertures;

ii) an arm having a connection end and a distal end, the camera being affixed to the distal end and the connection end including a second orifice;

iii) a linkage interconnecting the plate with the arm, the linkage including a plate channel and an arm channel with the plate and arm channels being elongated;

iv) a plate fastener positioned through the first orifice removably attaching the plate to the plate channel using threads that engage sides of the plate channel; and

v) an arm fastener positioned through the second orifice removably attaching the arm to the arm channel using threads that engage sides of the arm channel.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the arm and plate fasteners are screws.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein rotation of the arm and plate screws in a first direction causes the threads to increase engagement with the sides of the corresponding one of the plate and arm channels and rotation of the arm and plate screws in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes the threads to decrease engagement with the sides of the corresponding one of the plate and arm channels, thereby permitting the plate and arm screws to removably engage the sides of the corresponding one of the plate and arm channels and to be radially and longitudinally re-positionable along the corresponding one of the arm and plate channels so as to enable corresponding re-positioning of the arm relative to the plate.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the mounting system includes a plurality of stud fasteners attached to two or more of the at least one of the plurality of studs extending through the plate to secure the plate to the spare-tire hub assembly; and

the arm and plate screws permit the re-positioning of the arm while the plurality of stud fasteners secure the plate to the spare-tire hub assembly.