Electrical unit mounting

• US 8,358,498 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hill, John, Luong, Michael Khanh, Wolf, Jason T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/895,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/46 Electrical connections
• 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: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A mounting assembly and method of mounting an electrical unit to an automotive dashboard includes providing an electrical unit and operatively engaging the electrical unit to a cover, either an undercover of the instrument panel, or a cowl lining area. Alignment pins provided in the cover cooperate with openings in mounting tabs of the electrical unit for positioning the electrical unit while fastener screws are subsequently installed to secure the unit to the cover.

Claims

1. An electrical unit mounting assembly secured to an automotive panel comprising:

an electrical unit including a memory member for storing data regarding a mirror position;

a cover configured for operative engagement with the associated panel; and

the electrical unit mounted to the cover with at least one alignment member and at least one reusable threaded fastener.

2. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 further including second and third reusable threaded fasteners disposed in spaced locations relative to the at least one reusable fasteners.

3. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the alignment member extends from the cover for receipt in an alignment opening in the electrical unit.

4. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover further includes at least one boss for receiving the at least one reusable threaded fastener.

5. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 4 wherein the cover further includes second and third bosses disposed in spaced locations for receiving respective second and third reusable threaded fasteners.

6. The electric unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical unit includes a housing having a mounting tab extending from a perimeter portion thereof, the mounting tab including an opening dimensioned to receive an alignment pin therethrough for properly orienting the electrical unit relative to the cover.

7. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 6 further comprising second and third mounting tabs extending from spaced perimeter locations on the housing.

8. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical unit is mounted adjacent a remote control mirror switch located on the instrument panel.

9. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover is an undercover that mounts to an instrument panel of the automotive vehicle.

10. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover is a side cowl lining area.

11. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the associated panel is a vehicle dashboard having a remote control mirror switch in operative communication with the memory member that store data regarding the mirror.

12. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein the cover is an undercover of the vehicle dashboard and the electrical unit is secured to the undercover.

13. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 12 wherein the undercover includes the at least one alignment member extending therefrom for engagement with an opening in the electrical unit.

14. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 13 wherein the electrical unit includes multiple mounting tabs extending therefrom for securing the electrical unit to the undercover.

15. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 14 wherein one of the mounting tabs includes the opening that receives the at least one alignment member.

16. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 15 wherein the electrical unit has a generally rectangular conformation and mounting tabs extend outwardly from at least two sides thereof.

17. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein the cover is a side cowl lining area.

18. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 17 wherein the side cowl lining area includes the at least one alignment member extending therefrom for engagement with an opening in the electrical unit.

19. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 18 wherein the electrical unit includes multiple mounting tabs extending therefrom for securing the electrical unit to the undercover.

20. The electrical unit mounting assembly of claim 19 wherein one of the mounting tabs includes the opening that receives the at least one alignment member.