Structure for mounting camera on vehicle

• US 8,356,948 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Honda Elesys Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Honda Elesys Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Onishi, Motoyasu, Matori, Tadahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US13/067,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 396419-428
• US Class Current: 396/419
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02

Abstract

According to one embodiment, there is provided a structure for mounting a camera on a vehicle, including: a base fixed to a vehicle body; a camera; a slide mechanism configured to allow the camera to slide in a sliding direction so as to be detachably engaged with the base; and a spring member configured to generate a pressing force in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction between the base and the camera in an engaged state, thereby holding the camera with respect to the base.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting a camera on a vehicle, comprising:

a base fixed to a vehicle body;

a camera;

a slide mechanism configured to allow the camera to slide in a sliding direction so as to be detachably engaged with the base; and

a spring member, attached to the camera and configured to generate a pressing force in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction between the base and the camera in an engaged state, thereby holding the camera with respect to the base,

wherein the spring member includes an S-shaped spring portion, the S-shaped spring portion including

a first spring plate portion inclining such that a rear portion thereof in the sliding direction goes away from the camera,

a second spring plate portion extending from a rear end of the first spring plate portion in the sliding direction and inclining towards an opposite direction of the first spring plate portion, and

a third spring plate portion extending from a rear end of the second spring plate portion in the sliding direction and inclining towards an opposite direction of the second spring plate portion, and

wherein the base includes a locating portion to be engaged with the S-shaped spring portion to thereby locate the camera in the sliding direction.

2. The structure of claim 1,

wherein the spring member is attached to the camera at a side of the first spring plate portion.

3. The structure of claim 1,

wherein the base includes sliding guide portions respectively provided at left and right sides of the sliding direction,

wherein the camera includes slide walls respectively provided at the left and right sides of the sliding direction, the slide walls having slide concave portions respectively formed on facing sides thereof, and

wherein the slide mechanism is formed of the sliding guide portions and the slide concave portions.

4. The structure of claim 3,

wherein the spring member is attached to the camera between the left and right slide walls.

5. The structure of claim 3,

wherein the S-shaped spring portion includes

a fourth spring plate portion extending from a rear end of the third spring plate portion in the sliding direction and inclining towards an opposite direction of the third spring plate portion, the third spring plate portion and the fourth spring plate portion defining a bending portion therebetween, and

wherein the spring member generates the pressing force to hold the camera with respect to the base by the bending portion defined between the third spring plate portion and the fourth spring plate portion.

6. The structure of claim 1,

wherein the locating portion of the base engages with the second spring plate portion of the S-shaped portion.

7. A structure for mounting a camera on a vehicle, comprising:

a base fixed to a vehicle body;

a camera;

a slide mechanism configured to allow the camera to slide in a sliding direction so as to be detachably engaged with the base; and

a spring member, attached to the camera and configured to generate a pressing force in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction between the base and the camera in an engaged state, thereby holding the camera with respect to the base,

wherein the spring member includes an S-shaped spring portion, the S-shaped spring portion including

a first spring plate portion inclining such that a rear portion thereof in the sliding direction goes away from the camera,

a second spring plate portion extending from a rear end of the first spring plate portion in the sliding direction and inclining towards an opposite direction of the first spring plate portion, and

a third spring plate portion extending from a rear end of the second spring plate portion in the sliding direction and inclining towards an opposite direction of the second spring plate portion, and

wherein the spring member is attached to the camera at a side of the first spring plate portion.

8. The structure of claim 7,

wherein the base includes a locating portion to be engaged with the S-shaped portion to thereby locate the camera in the sliding direction.

9. The structure of claim 7,

wherein the base includes sliding guide portions respectively provided at left and right sides of the sliding direction,

wherein the camera includes slide walls respectively provided at the left and right sides of the sliding direction, the slide walls having slide concave portions respectively formed on facing sides thereof, and

wherein the slide mechanism is formed of the sliding guide portions and the slide concave portions.

10. The structure of claim 7,

wherein the base includes sliding guide portions respectively provided at left and right sides of the sliding direction,

wherein the camera includes slide walls respectively provided at the left and right sides of the sliding direction, the slide walls having slide concave portions respectively formed on facing sides thereof, and

wherein the slide mechanism is formed of the sliding guide portions and the slide concave portions.