DOUBLE BALL SLIDE ON MOUNT WITH SCREW OVER SENSOR

• US 20140091123A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Minikey, Danny L. Jr., Kim, Chul Bock, Choi, Pil Joon, Lee, Daniel B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,244,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/567
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/182 for mirrors

Abstract

A double ball rearview device mounting assembly includes a bracket having a windshield engagement surface, an internal sensor receiving aperture, and an external clip engagement wall. A sensor is adapted for reception in the internal sensor receiving aperture. A clip is operably coupled to the bracket to secure the sensor. A bracket cover is configured to slide into secure engagement with the bracket and includes a first mounting ball. A barrel is pivotally coupled to the first mounting ball at one end, and is pivotally coupled to a second mounting ball at the other end. A rearview device is operably mounted to the second mounting ball.

Claims

1. A double ball rearview device mounting assembly comprising:

a bracket including;

a windshield engagement surface;

an internal sensor receiving aperture; and

an external clip engagement wall;

a sensor adapted for reception in the internal sensor receiving aperture;

a clip operably coupled to the external clip engagement wall of the bracket and supporting the sensor in the internal sensor receiving aperture; and

a bracket cover configured to slide into secure engagement with the bracket.

2. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a rain sensor.

3. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a rear wall configured to abut the bracket cover and limit the rearward motion of the bracket cover.

4. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a first engagement member to engage a first protrusion extending outwardly from a first side wall of the bracket and a second engagement member to engage a second protrusion extending outwardly from a second side wall of the bracket.

5. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 4, wherein the clip further includes a plurality of sensor engagement members, with each sensor engagement member configured to engage an outwardly extending protrusion from the sensor.

6. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a first side wall with a first rail and a second side wall with a second rail, wherein the first rail and the second rail are configured to slidingly engage the bracket cover.

7. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket cover includes a shroud to conceal the sensor and the bracket, with a neck and a first mounting ball extending generally downwardly from the shroud for mounting of a rearview device.

8. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a barrel with a first end that is pivotally coupled to the first mounting ball extending downwardly from the shroud; and

a second mounting ball pivotally coupled to a second end of the barrel.

9. The double ball rearview device mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket cover includes a forward wall having a wire and power line aperture.

10. A rearview device mounting assembly, comprising:

a bracket including;

a windshield engagement surface;

an internal sensor receiving aperture; and

a first slide rail on a first side and a second slide rail on a second side;

a sensor adapted for reception in the internal sensor receiving aperture;

a clip operably coupling the sensor to the bracket; and

a bracket cover configured to slide into secure engagement with first slide rail and the second slide rail, and having a mounting ball extending therefrom.

11. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the clip includes a plurality of engagement legs which mechanically engage with outwardly extending protrusions from the bracket.

12. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein the clip further includes a plurality of engagement legs which mechanically engage with outwardly extending protrusions from the sensor.

13. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein the clip further includes an aperture to receive a protrusion extending downwardly from the sensor.

14. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the bracket includes a downwardly depending rear wall configured to abut the bracket cover and limit the rearward motion of the bracket cover.

15. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 14, wherein the rear wall is arcuate.

16. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the bracket cover includes a forward wall having a wire and power line aperture.

17. The rearview device mounting assembly of claim 16, wherein the bracket cover includes a supplemental data port for receiving data and power lines.

18. A method of installing a double ball rearview device mounting assembly on a vehicle windshield, comprising the following steps:

securing a windshield engagement surface of a bracket to the windshield, with a first slide rail on a first side of the bracket and a second slide rail on a second side of the bracket;

positioning a sensor into a sensor receiving aperture in the bracket;

securing the sensor with a clip; and

slidingly engaging a bracket cover with the bracket, wherein the bracket cover at least partially conceals and protects the sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of securing the sensor with a clip includes mechanically engaging a first lateral leg of the clip with a first protrusion extending outwardly from the bracket and mechanically engaging a second lateral leg of the clip with a second protrusion extending outwardly from the bracket.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of slidingly engaging the bracket cover with the bracket includes the step of operably engaging a complementary first slide rail and a complementary second slide rail of the bracket cover with the first slide rail and the second slide rail of the bracket.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of slidingly engaging the bracket cover with the bracket includes the step of sliding the bracket cover rearwardly with respect to the bracket until the bracket cover encounters a rear wall of the bracket.