In-dash installation kit adaptable to different radios and different dash configurations

• US 4,895,326 A
• Filed: 03/06/1989
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scosche Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scosche Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Alves, Rober J., Nimpoeno, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US07/319,114
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 248/544, 248/558, 248/551, 248/DIG. 9, 248/298, 312/242, 312/296, 312/328, 312/7.1, 312/257 A, 455/345
• US Class Current: 248/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0047 using hidden fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/027 for Din-sized apparatus

Abstract

An in-dash radio installation kit, for installing a radio to a vehicle dash, comprises:

(a) a box-like molded plastic frame including walls comprising end walls and a main front panel interconnecting the end walls,

(b) the end walls having re-entrant recesses formed therein, with inner surface that are forwardly elongated,

(c) and through openings in the end walls for reception of connectors that connect the end walls to the radio chassis received between the end walls, with connector heads retained in the recesses and connector shanks passing through the openings. Brackets are attachable to the end walls via holes in the end walls above, arranged in rows above and below the re-entrant recesses, so that the brackets vertically bridge the re-entrant recesses and are selectively attachable to the end walls, forwardly and rearwardly.

Claims

1. In an in-dash radio installation kit, for installing a radio chassis or radio associated device chassis to a vehicle, the improvement comprising:

(a) a box-like, molded plastic frame having wall means including end walls and a main front panel interconnecting the side walls,

(b) the end walls having re-entrant recesses formed therein, said recesses having inner surfaces which are forwardly elongated,

(c) and through openings in said end walls for reception of connectors that connect the end walls to the chassis received between said end walls, with connector head means retained in said recesses and connector shanks passing through said openings that intersect said recesses,

(d) certain of said through openings being forwardly elongated for adjustment of the shanks therein,

(e) said recesses being forwardly elongated, the end walls being upright, and there being multiple of said recesses in each end wall, the multiple recesses vertically spaced apart,

(f) and including brackets extending vertically over said recesses, and other holes through said end walls, and aligned with said brackets fastened to said end walls, said brackets also adapted for adjustable attachment to vehicle dash structure.

2. The improvement of claim 1 including fasteners projecting from the brackets through said other holes, the brackets being upright and having L-shape with flanges projecting away from said end walls for attachment to vehicle dash structure.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said other holes are generally circular, the other holes in said end walls being spaced apart in at least one row that extends forwardly.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein there are two of said rows in each end wall, said end walls extending upright, the two rows of circular holes in each end wall being vertically spaced apart to form upper and lower rows.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said brackets extend between said upper and lower rows of holes and are attached thereto via fasteners.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each bracket has upper and lower locations at which there are two through apertures which are spaced apart in a forwardly extending row, the spacing of said apertures being different than the spacing of said holes, a selected one of said bracket apertures at an upper location being registered with a selected one of said holes in an upper row for reception of a fastener therethrough, and a selected one of said bracket apertures at a lower location being registered with a selected one of said holes in a lower row, for reception of a fastener therethrough.

7. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each bracket includes multiple tabs to be selectively usefully attached to vehicle dash structure, and remaining unselected and unused tabs carried by the bracket to be broken away.

8. The improvement of claim 7 including a wedge-shaped spacer adjacent a selected tab, for wedging between that tab and vehicle dash structure to which the tab is attachable.

9. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the walls have thickness less than 1/16 inch.

10. The improvement of claim 1 including an extension panel adjacent the frame front panel and attached thereto.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the extension panel has rearwardly projecting cantilevered arms with tapered rearward ends, the arms adapted to bend as the tapered rearward ends thereof cam against portions of the front panel bounding an opening formed therein.

12. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the forward extension panel is integral with the frame front panel, and forms space for reception of a radio forward section.

13. The improvement of claim 1 including forwardly facing break-away means integral with the frame and associated with the front main panel, said break-away means forming forward through openings to pass shaft tuning means of a first radio having a chassis, the break-away means adapted to be broken away from the frame to provide a relatively large opening for alternate reception of a second radio chassis.

14. The improvement of claim 13 wherein the main front panel has a front face, and said break-away means comprises a thin wall or walls generally parallel to said front face but offset relative thereto.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein the main front panel defines a generally rectangular through opening for alternate reception of:

(a) a radio equalizer chassis,

(b) a molded plastic pocket.

16. The improvement of claim 13 including said first radio at least partly received by the frame, the shaft tuning means comprising two shafts passing through the openings in said break-away walls.

17. The improvement of claim 1 including factory brackets attached to said first-mentioned brackets, the factory brackets attached to the dash structure.

18. The improvement of claim 17 wherein said first-mentioned brackets have upper and lower rows of apertures to attach to the frame end walls via other upper and lower openings therein, via fasteners passing through registered openings and apertures at such upper and lower locations, there being bolts attaching the first-mentioned brackets to said factory brackets with the bolts having heads reserved in said end wall recesses.