BATTERY POWERED TRAINABLE REMOTE GARAGE DOOR OPENER MODULE

• US 20160037664A1
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Hendricks, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,576,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A remote garage door opener module for after-market assembly into a vehicle for transmitting signals to a garage door opener includes a bezel positionable against a headliner of the vehicle along an interior surface thereof in a position over a hole in the headliner. The module further includes a housing enclosing a power source and electronic circuitry for transmitting the signals. The housing extends away from a first side of the bezel and is positionable at least partially through the hole in the headliner. The module further includes a button exposed at a second side of the bezel and coupled to the electronic circuitry and a mounting element selectively engageable with the headliner adjacent the hole and coupled with one of the housing or the bezel for coupling the module with the headliner.

Claims

1. A remote garage door opener module for assembly into a vehicle and transmitting signals to a garage door opener, the module comprising:

a bezel positionable against a headliner of the vehicle along an interior surface thereof in a position over a hole in the headliner;

a housing enclosing a power source and electronic circuitry for transmitting the signals, the housing extending away from a first side of the bezel and positionable at least partially through the hole in the headliner;

a button exposed at a second side of the bezel and coupled to the electronic circuitry; and

a mounting element selectively engageable with the headliner adjacent the hole and coupled with one of the housing or the bezel for coupling the module with the headliner.

2. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is moveable with respect to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position, the retracted position being such that the mounting element is disposed inwardly of an outer periphery of the bezel.

3. The remote garage door opener module of claim 2, wherein:

the mounting element is coupled with the housing so as to be rotatable in a direction toward and away from the bezel; and

the mounting element includes;

a retainer tab that extends away from the bezel when the mounting element is in the retracted position and outwardly from the housing when the mounting element is in the extended position; and

an actuator tab rigidly coupled with the retaining tab and having at least a portion extending outwardly away from the housing when the mounting element is in the retracted position and extending along a portion of the housing when the mounting element is in the extended position.

4. The remote garage door opener module of claim 2, wherein the retracted position is further such that the mounting element is disposed inwardly of an outer periphery of the bezel by at least about 2 mm.

5. The remote garage door opener module of claim 2, wherein:

the housing defines a recess; and

the retracted position is further such that at least a portion of the mounting element is disposed within the recess.

6. The remote garage door opener module of claim 2, wherein the mounting element is selectively engageable with the headliner at least partially by movement of the mounting element between the retracted position and the extended position.

7. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein:

the housing defines a first surface positionable over the hole in the vehicle headliner; and

the mounting element is coupled with an actuation element having an operable end disposed along the first surface of the module such that the mounting element is selectively engageable by manipulation of the operable end of the actuation element.

8. The remote garage door opener module claim 7, wherein the mounting element is selectively engageable with the headliner at least partially by movement of the mounting element toward and away from the first surface.

9. The remote garage door opener module of claim 7, wherein:

the bezel is coupled with the buttons in a cover unit; and

the bezel is removably coupled with the housing such that the operable end of the actuation element can be selectively exposed or concealed by the cover unit.

10. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is a portion of a mounting unit that is selectively coupleable with the housing.

11. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein engagement of the mounting element with the headliner adjacent the hole is such that a portion of the headliner adjacent the hole is captured between the mounting element and one of the bezel, or a flange extending outwardly from the housing.

12. A remote garage door opener module for assembly into a vehicle and transmitting signals to a garage door opener, the module comprising:

a housing enclosing a power source and electronic circuitry for transmitting the signals, the housing being positionable at least partially through the hole in a headliner of the vehicle;

a flange extending integrally outwardly from the housing and defining therewith a first surface positionable over the hole in the headliner;

a first mounting tab having a first threaded hole therein; and

a first actuation element including a screw and operably coupling the first mounting tab with the housing by engagement of the screw with the threaded hole.

13. The remote garage door opener module of claim 12, further including a cover unit, including:

a bezel removably coupleable with the housing such that an operable end of the actuation element can be selectively exposed or concealed by the cover unit; and

a button exposed at a second side of the bezel and coupled to the electronic circuitry.

14. The remote garage door opener module of claim 12, wherein the first mounting tab is positionable against an adjacent portion of the housing and is rotatable to an extended position away from the adjacent wall by rotation of the screw.

15. The remote garage door opener module of claim 14, wherein:

the first mounting tab is further moveable toward the flange when in the extended position by continued rotation of the screw in the first direction; and

the first mounting tab is engageable with the headliner adjacent the hole by movement of the first mounting tab into contact with an exterior surface of the headliner.

16. A method for installing a remote garage door opener module in a vehicle, the method comprising:

forming a hole in a headliner of the vehicle, the hole extending between a first side of the headliner disposed toward the interior of the vehicle and a second side of the headliner disposed toward a roof panel of the vehicle;

positioning at least a portion of a housing of a remote garage door opener module within the hole with a retention portion thereof in contact with the first side of the headliner; and

engaging a mounting element operably coupled with the housing portion of the remote garage door opener module with the second side of the headliner adjacent the hole to couple the module with the headliner.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the retention portion is defined on a flange of the remote garage door opener module extending outwardly from the housing, the method further including:

assembling a cover unit, including a bezel and at least one button, with the housing portion so as to extend over the hole and the flange.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the mounting element is a tab having a threaded hole therein and is operably coupled with the housing by a screw by engagement thereof with the threaded hole, the method further including; and

engaging the mounting element includes rotating the screw to cause rotation of the mounting tab from a retracted position against the housing to an extended position away from the housing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein engaging the mounting element further includes continuing to rotate the screw to cause linear movement of the first mounting tab into contact with the second side of the headliner.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the mounting element is coupled with the housing so as to be rotatable in a direction toward and away from the retention portion and includes a retainer tab and an actuator tab rigidly coupled with the retaining tab; and

engaging the mounting element includes pressing the actuator tab against the headliner to cause rotation of the mounting element to move the retaining tab into contact with the second side of the headliner.