Swing-down ceiling mount for motor-vehicle mirror or monitor

• US 6,557,812 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Sarnatech & Crone GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Sarnatech & Crone GmbH
• Inventors: Kutzehr, Roland, Gutbier, Mirko, Fallmann, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORRISON, NASCHICA SANDERS
• Application Number:
  US09/853,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 248/476, 248/479, 248/480, 248/485, 248/487, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/276.1, 248/287.1, 248/183.2, 248/179.1, 359/607, 359/841, 296/97.11, 296/97.8, 296/37.7, 403/52, 403/53, 403/54, 403/80
• US Class Current: 248/476
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/12 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/919 Adjustably orientable video screen support

Abstract

A mount assembly for a flat mirror or monitor has an outer frame fixed in a motor-vehicle roof and forming an opening, a member forming a side of the opening and pivotal in the frame about a horizontal first axis, and an inner frame fittable in the opening adjacent the member and carrying the flat mirror or monitor. A connector is pivotal in the member about a second axis transverse to the first axis. A slide joint secures the connector to the inner frame for movement of the inner frame parallel to the transverse second axis on the connector. The slide joint includes a slot formed in the connector and a screw seated in the movable frame and extending transversely through the slot.

Claims

1. In combination with a motor-vehicle roof and a flat mirror or monitor, a mount assembly comprising:

an outer frame fixed in the roof and forming an opening;

a member forming a side of the opening and pivotal in the frame about a horizontal first axis;

an inner frame fittable in the opening adjacent the member and carrying the flat mirror or monitor;

a connector pivotal in the member about a second axis transverse to the first axis;

means including a slide joint securing the connector to the inner frame for movement of the inner frame parallel to the transverse second axis on the connector; and

means including a pivot joint securing the connector to the inner frame for movement of the inner frame on the connector about a third axis transverse to the second axis and to a plane formed by the first and second axes, the pivot joint including a transverse hole through the connector and a screw seated in the inner frame and extending along the third axis through the hole.

2. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the slide joint includes a slot formed in the connector and extending generally parallel to the first axis and a screw seated in the movable frame and extending transversely through the slot.

3. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 2 wherein edges of the slot are roughened for frictional engagement with a head of the screw.

4. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the member is formed with a hole centered on the second axis and receiving a head of the connector.

5. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the hole is a slot elongated parallel to the first axis and slidably receiving the connector, whereby the inner frame can move parallel to the first axis relative to the member and outer frame.

6. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the inner frame is formed with an edge slot through which the connector passes.

7. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the connector is formed with side edges and the inner frame has formations engageable with the side edges for limiting pivoting of the inner frame about the third axis on the connector.

8. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 7 wherein the connector has a T-shaped part with arms forming the side edges.

9. The motor-vehicle mount assembly defined in claim 8 wherein the T-shaped part is between the mirror or monitor and the inner frame.