Bracket mountable in an unoccupied switch socket in a vehicle dashboard for holding equipment such as a telephone

• US 6,138,969 A
• Filed: 08/16/1996
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AB Volvo
• Original Assignee: AB Volvo
• Inventors: Olausson, Jan-Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Strimbu, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US08/693,300
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 248/222.52, 248/220.21, 248/221.11, 248/27.1, 248/231.61, 248/231.41, 403/22, 403/388, 379/446, 379/455, 379/454, 379/426, 224/483
• US Class Current: 248/222.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0066 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like

Abstract

A bracket for installation of equipment on the dashboard of a vehicle includes at least one attachment member, a flat part for holding the equipment and a support member. The attachment member is located at one end of the bracket and the support member is located at another end of the bracket at a distance spaced from the attachment member. In its installed position, the support member rests against the dashboard with a certain preload. The attachment member includes a U-shaped clamp which is designed to be installed into an unoccupied switch socket in the dashboard.

Claims

1. A bracket for installation in a free switch socket on a vehicle dashboard, said bracket having a first end and a second end, the first end of the bracket having a flat surface and being provided with at least one attachment member, a support member arranged at the second end at a distance spaced apart from the attachment member, and an angular holder part having a first section and a second section, said first section being connected to the attachment member and said second section forming a flat holder portion attached to the support member and being substantially parallel to said flat surface of said first end, the support member having first and second surfaces and being angled back towards the attachment member with at least a portion of the first surface of the support member facing towards the holder part, the attachment member including a U-shaped clamp for installation into the free switch socket on the vehicle dashboard, said support member being adapted to rest against the vehicle dashboard with a preload when the bracket is installed on the vehicle dashboard with the U-shaped clamp installed in the free switch socket, said U-shaped clamp being provided with a hole that threadably receives a bolt provided at the first end of the bracket, said U-shaped clamp being rotatable with respect to the support member between a first position in which said U-shaped clamp is insertable into the free switch socket and a second position in which the U-shaped clamp is clamped in position in the free switch socket upon tightening the bolt.

2. The bracket of claim 1, including a compressible element mounted on the second surface of the support member.

3. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the flat holder portion is configured to receive and hold equipment.

4. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the attachment member includes a rectangular part at the first end of the bracket provided with a hole that receives the bolt.

5. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the flat holder portion includes a plurality of holes for mounting equipment.

6. A bracket for installation in a free switch socket on a vehicle dashboard, said bracket being comprised of a piece of sheet metal having a first end and a second end, the piece of sheet metal comprising at least one attachment member arranged at said first end, a support member arranged at the second end at a distance spaced apart from the attachment member, and a holder part located between the attachment member and the support member, the holder part including a first portion and a flat second portion, the flat second portion of the holder part being connected to and angularly disposed with respect to the first portion of the holder part, the support member being connected to an end of the flat second portion of the holder part and the attachment member being connected to an end of the first portion of the holder part, said bracket further comprising a compressible element mounted on a surface of the support member which faces away from the flat second portion of the holder part, the compressible element being adapted to be pressed against the vehicle dashboard and compressed when the bracket is installed on the vehicle dashboard, the attachment member including a U-shaped clamp for installation into the free switch socket of the vehicle dashboard so that when the bracket is installed on the vehicle dashboard with the U-shaped clamp installed in the free switch socket the support member is adapted to rest against the vehicle dashboard with a preload, said U-shaped clamp being provided with a hole that threadably receives a bolt provided at the first end of the bracket, said U-shaped clamp being rotatable with respect to the support member between a first position in which said U-shaped clamp is insertable into the free switch socket and a second position in which the U-shaped clamp is clamped in position in the free switch socket upon tightening the bolt.

7. The bracket of claim 6, wherein the attachment member includes a rectangular part at the first end of the bracket provided with a hole that receives the bolt.

8. The bracket of claim 6, wherein the flat second portion includes a plurality of holes for mounting equipment.

9. An equipment mounting bracket for installation in a free switch socket on a vehicle dashboard, said bracket comprising a holder part that includes a first portion having first and second ends and a flat second portion having first and second ends, the first end of the flat second portion of the holder part being connected to the first end of the first portion of the holder part, the flat second portion of the holder part being angularly disposed with respect to the first portion of the holder part, at least one attachment member arranged at said second end of said first portion of the holder part, a support member arranged at the second end of the flat second portion of the holder part at a distance from the attachment member, the support member including first and second surfaces, the support member being angularly disposed with respect to the flat second portion of the holder part and being angled back towards the attachment member so that at least a portion of the first surface faces towards the flat second portion of the holder part, the flat second portion of the holder part including means for mounting a piece of equipment on the flat second portion of the holder part, the attachment member including a U-shaped clamp for installation into the free switch socket so that when the bracket is installed on the vehicle dashboard with the U-shaped clamp installed in the free switch socket, the support member is adapted to rest against the vehicle dashboard with a preload, said U-shaped clamp being provided with a hole that threadably receives a bolt connected to the attachment member, said U-shaped clamp being rotatable with respect to the support member between a first position in which said U-shaped clamp is insertable into the free switch socket and a second position in which the U-shaped clamp is clamped in position in the free switch socket upon tightening the bolt.

10. The bracket of claim 9, including a compressible element mounted on the second surface of the support member.

11. The bracket of claim 9, wherein the attachment member includes a rectangular part provided with a hole that receives the bolt.

12. A bracket installed in a free switch socket on dashboard of a vehicle, said bracket having a first end and a second end, the first end of the bracket being provided with at least one attachment member installed in the free switch socket on the vehicle dashboard to mount the bracket with respect to the vehicle dashboard, said bracket including a holder part for holding equipment, and said bracket including a support member arranged at a distance spaced apart from the attachment member, said support member resting with a preload against an inwardly facing surface of the vehicle dashboard that faces inwardly towards an interior compartment of the vehicle, said attachment member comprising a U-shaped clamp provided with a hole that threadably receives a bolt, said bolt connecting the U-shaped clamp to the first end of the bracket, said U-shaped clamp being rotatable with respect to the support member between a first position in which said U-shaped clamp is insertable into the free switch socket and a second position in which the U-shaped clamp is clamped in position in the free switch socket upon tightening the bolt.

13. The bracket of claim 12, including a compressible element mounted on the support member and positioned between the inwardly facing surface of the vehicle dashboard and the support member.