Accessory attachment plate for vehicle panels
First Claim
1. A molded, unitary apparatus for attaching accessories to a panel having surfaces on opposite sides thereof, comprising:
- a frame adapted to lie adjacent a surface on one side of said panel and having at least one dimension sufficient to span an opening formed in the panel;
at least one clamp pivotally coupled to said frame by a polymeric hinge and adapted to extend through said opening to engage a surface on an opposite side of the panel from the one side;
a plurality of teeth defined on one end of said clamp configured to engage said frame in a ratchet-like fashion and provide a range of locking positions of said clamp against said surface of said panel when extended through said opening for retaining said frame on the panel adjacent the panel opening; and
means for coupling an accessory to said frame.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plate for attaching an accessory to a panel such as a vehicle interior headliner including a molded polymeric frame having a dimension adapted to lie adjacent and span at least one opening formed in a panel to receive the accessory. At least one clamp, pivotally coupled to the frame, is adapted to be actuated from the same side of the panel on which the frame is mounted. The clamp swings through the panel opening and engages the opposite panel surface, locking the frame adjacent the panel opening. The frame includes bosses to receive fasteners attaching an accessory such as a vehicle light. In the alternative, the frame receives a conductive bracket for receiving a light bulb or other accessory, thereby acting as the accessory itself.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A molded, unitary apparatus for attaching accessories to a panel having surfaces on opposite sides thereof, comprising:
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a frame adapted to lie adjacent a surface on one side of said panel and having at least one dimension sufficient to span an opening formed in the panel; at least one clamp pivotally coupled to said frame by a polymeric hinge and adapted to extend through said opening to engage a surface on an opposite side of the panel from the one side; a plurality of teeth defined on one end of said clamp configured to engage said frame in a ratchet-like fashion and provide a range of locking positions of said clamp against said surface of said panel when extended through said opening for retaining said frame on the panel adjacent the panel opening; and means for coupling an accessory to said frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for attaching accessories to a panel having surfaces on opposite sides thereof, comprising:
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a frame adapted to lie adjacent a surface on one side of said panel and having at least one dimension sufficient to span an opening formed in the panel; securing means coupled to said frame and adapted to extend through said opening engaging a surface on an opposite side of the panel from the one side and retaining said frame on the panel adjacent the panel opening, said securing means including clamping means pivotally coupled to said frame for clamping opposing surfaces of the panel adjacent an edge of the opening; said clamping means includes a first flange having a lower edge pivotally coupled to said frame; a second flange offset from said lower edge and dependent from said first flange for engaging the opposite surface of said panel; and a plurality of teeth on said first flange for locking said first and second flange in relation to said frame; means for actuating said securing means from the same side of the panel as said frame; and means on said apparatus for coupling an accessory to said frame. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A plate for attaching an accessory to a panel, including:
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a frame molded from a polymeric material and adapted to lie adjacent a first surface of the panel and span at last one aperture in the panel to receive said accessory; at least one molded clamp coupled to said frame through a living hinge and adapted to swing through the panel aperture and engage a second surface of the panel opposite the first surface of said plate and adjacent the aperture, sandwiching the panel between said frame and said clamp; a plurality of teeth extending from one end of said clamp for engaging said frame in a plurality of positions and locking said clamp in position against the panel; and a flange for actuating said at least one clamp from the same side of the panel on which said frame is mounted. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A plate for attaching an accessory to a panel, including:
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a frame molded from a polymeric material and adapted to lie adjacent a first surface of the panel and span at least one aperture in the panel to receive said accessory; at least one molded clamp coupled to said frame through a living hinge and adapted to swing through the panel aperture and engage a second surface of the panel opposite the first surface of said plate and adjacent the aperture, sandwiching the panel between said frame and said clamp; and locking means for locking said clamp in position against the panel including at least one set of teeth for engaging said frame in a ratchet-like fashion to fix said clamp in position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A panel assembly adapted to receive at least one accessory, comprising:
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a panel having first and second generally opposing surfaces on opposite sides of said panel and at least one aperture extending through said surfaces; a plate disposed generally parallel to said first surface and overlying said aperture; at least one jaw extending from said plate for movement through said aperture to engage said second surface of said panel and hold said plate over said aperture; a flange for actuating said jaw into contact with said second surface of said panel and operable from said side of said panel on which said plate is mounted; and a plurality of teeth on said flange for engaging said plate in a ratchet-like fashion, thereby locking said jaw against said second surface of said panel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A panel assembly adapted to receive at least one accessory, comprising:
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a panel having first and second generally opposing surfaces on opposite sides of said panel and at least one aperture extending through said surfaces; a plate disposed generally parallel to said first surface and overlying said aperture; at least one securing means extending from said plate through said aperture and adapted to engage said second surface to hold said plate over said aperture, said securing means including clamping means pivotally coupled to said plate for clamping said first and second generally opposing surfaces of said panel adjacent an edge of said aperture, said clamping means including; a jaw coupled by a hinge to an interior of said plate and adapted to pivot about said hinge into said aperture and onto said second surface of said panel opposite said plate; ratchet means for locking said jaw against said second surface of said panel, wherein said ratchet means includes a plurality of serrated teeth defined along said lever and each adapted to engage an edge defined on said plate; and means for actuating said clamping means into contact with said second surface of said panel and operable from said first side of said panel on which said plate is mounted, wherein said means for actuating said clamping means includes lever means coupled to said jaw and adapted to pivot about said hinge for actuating said jaw against said second surface of said panel; and means on said plate adjacent said aperture adapted to receive an accessory. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An apparatus for attaching accessories to a panel, comprising:
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a frame adapted to lie adjacent a surface of the panel and having at least one dimension sufficient to span an opening formed in the panel; and clamping means attached to said frame for extending through said opening in the panel and clamping an opposing surface of the panel adjacent an edge of said opening, said clamping means including a first flange pivotally coupled to said frame and actuatable from the same side of the panel as said frame, a second flange dependent from said first flange for engaging the opposite surface of said panel, and a plurality of teeth on said first flange for locking said first and second flange in relation to said frame; and means for coupling an accessory to said frame on a side adjacent the panel.
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Specification