METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RELOCATING VEHICLE BACKUP CAMERA

• US 20170050551A1
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bus Brown Inc
• Original Assignee: Bus Brown Inc
• Inventors: SMITH, Timothy, FITZGIBBON, Andrew, BUSH, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,963,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/00 Restoring or reconditioning objects straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/44 having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element vehicles with special provisions for invalids comprising means for loading or unloading invalid conveyances A61G3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/4485 Attaching the complete loading platform unit to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/027 movable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part

Abstract

A liftgate is provided with a modular sensor housing that spans a substantial portion of the width of the liftgate. The sensor housing has a plurality of rearward-facing apertures adapted to permit the cameras and/or proximity sensors from the vehicle to “see” through the housing. The sensor housing incorporates a plurality of sensor mounting brackets specifically adapted to the particular configuration of the vehicle sensors. The modular sensor housing enables a liftgate to be installed without disabling the rearview camera and proximity sensors.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a liftgate to a vehicle, the vehicle having a tailgate and a rear bumper, the vehicle further having an Original Equipment camera mounted in a camera mounting location in the tailgate or the bumper, the camera having an external configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle liftgate having a liftgate frame and a modular sensor housing, the modular sensor housing being attached to a lower portion of the liftgate frame and spanning the majority of the width of the liftgate;

detaching the camera from the camera mounting location;

removing the vehicle bumper and tailgate from the vehicle;

attaching the liftgate frame to the vehicle;

attaching the camera to a camera bracket, the camera bracket having an aperture sized and shaped to match the external configuration of the camera and a flange for mounting the camera bracket to the modular sensor housing; and

mounting the camera bracket to the modular sensor housing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detaching a proximity sensor from the vehicle bumper;

attaching the proximity sensor to a proximity sensor mounting bracket, the proximity sensor mounting bracket having an aperture sized and shaped to match an external configuration of the proximity sensor; and

mounting the proximity sensor mounting bracket to the modular sensor housing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the modular sensor housing comprises an elongated channel having a plurality of apertures formed in the web portion thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the proximity sensor mounting bracket comprises a structural angle having a C-shaped aperture formed in a web portion thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the backup camera mounting bracket comprises a structural angle having an elongated aperture formed in a web portion thereof.