Ball mount assembly for vehicle

• US 10,240,712 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Filipiak, Kenneth R., Koleszar, Christopher J., Kuester, Ulrich A., Minikey, Jr., Danny L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wujciak, Alfred J
• Application Number:
  US15/862,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20180195661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 248481, 359871, 359872, 359874, 359880
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0647 Special features relating to adjustment for wear or play; Wear indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/01 Parts of vehicles in general
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A socket for a vehicle assembly is disclosed. The socket comprises a mounting structure comprising a plurality of side portions forming a first frame and a ball receiving structure formed by a second frame. The second frame is disposed within a perimeter of the first frame and comprises a plurality of support beams interconnected with the side portions of the first frame. The socket further comprises a ball mount interface comprising a contoured recess formed in each of the beams. The ball mount interface is configured to receive an exterior surface of a ball to form a ball and socket assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicle assembly for supporting a rearview display comprising:

the rearview display disposed in a housing;

a ball mount assembly adjustably connecting the housing to a portion of a vehicle, wherein the ball mount assembly comprises;

a ball;

a mounting structure comprising a plurality of side portions forming a first frame;

a ball receiving structure comprising a plurality of beams, the ball receiving structure configured to receive the ball and formed by a second frame disposed within a perimeter of the first frame; and

a ball mount interface comprising an aperture formed in each of the beams, wherein the ball mount interface is configured to receive an exterior surface of the ball to form a ball and socket assembly.

2. The vehicle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rearview display comprises at least one of a video display device and a rearward directed mirror.

3. The vehicle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second frame comprises a plurality of support beams interconnected with the side portions of the first frame.

4. The vehicle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ball mount interface further comprises a contoured recess formed in at least one of the beams and extending around a perimeter of the apertures.

5. The vehicle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first frame and the second frame each comprise a like number of sides and are offset about the engaging surface by 180 degrees divided by the number of sides.

6. The vehicle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs protruding into an opening formed by the ball mount interface from the first frame.

7. The vehicle assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of the protruding ribs forms an end portion spaced from the ball in an assembled configuration with the socket.