Push-in-snap mounting bracket for gauge

• US 8,291,763 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doug Montie, Gjergji Karanxha, Kevin Terry
• Original Assignee: Doug Montie, Gjergji Karanxha, Kevin Terry
• Inventors: Terry, Kevin, Montie, Doug, Karanxha, Gjergji
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Jamel
• Application Number:
  US12/799,446
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 734/31, 248/27.1, 248/27.3
• US Class Current: 73/431
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/828 Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• 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: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/113 Mount clips, snap-fit, e.g. quick fit with elastic members
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion

Abstract

A gauge mounting assembly for mounting a gauge to an instrument panel of a vehicle such as an automobile, boat, airplane or any other device utilizing said gauge and instrument panel. The gauge mounting assembly comprises: a gauge disposed within a gauge housing abutting a gauge housing flange; a gauge mounting bracket integrally attached to the gauge housing; said gauge mounting bracket comprising a circular base with a series of flexible fingers extending axially from said base; and, said fingers consisting of a ratcheting tip. When said gauge mounting assembly is positioned within a hole in said instrument panel the flexible fingers consist of an elastic dual-action cantilevered spring members. First, said fingers flex inwardly towards the axial surface of the gauge housing to permit passage through said hole. Second, said spring members bow outwardly from their original position exerting an outward force against said hole maintaining retention and alignment of the gauge housing. The ratcheting tips of the flexible fingers distal from said base become trapped on a opposite rear surface of said instrument panel, corresponding to the thickness, sandwiching the instrument panel between the gauge housing flange and corresponding ratcheting tips creating an exponential resistance in removal force created by the bowed shaped configuration of the spring members and automically centering the gauge device within the hole of the instrument panel without the need of a additional element.

Claims

1. A gauge mounting bracket for mounting a gauge disposed within a gauge housing and abutting a gauge housing flange to a front side of an instrument panel, said gauge mounting bracket comprising:

a circular base;

a series of identical flexible fingers extending axially from said base;

a means of assembly of said circular base and said series of flexible fingers integral to said gauge housing;

a ratcheting tip at a free end of said flexible fingers positioned distally from said base, said ratcheting tip becoming trapped against a rear surface of said instrument panel after insertion of the gauge housing in a hole of said instrument panel; and

,

an elastic dual-action cantilevered spring member of said flexible fingers exerting an outward force against a hole in said instrument panel by deformation of said spring member into an outwardly bowed shape configuration when said ratcheting tip is trapped against said rear surface of said instrument panel sandwiching said gauge housing flange against said instrument panel and aligning said gauge device disposed within said gauge housing.

2. The gauge mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said gauge bracket is manufactured from a thermoplastic material.

3. The gauge mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said circular base comprises electrical connector devices on said circular base.

4. The gauge mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the gauge device is disposed within the gauge mounting bracket as a permanent unit during manufacturing.

5. The gauge mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the gauge device is disposed within the gauge mounting bracket by an attachment means.