Battery powered trainable remote garage door opener module

• US 10,134,213 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Hendricks, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US15/401,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20170116806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 296 377, 296 378, 160188, 160201, 307 101, 341176
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A remote garage door opener module for after-market assembly into a vehicle for transmitting signals to a garage door opener includes a bezel positionable against a headliner of the vehicle along an interior surface thereof in a position over a hole in the headliner. The module further includes a housing enclosing a power source and electronic circuitry for transmitting the signals. The housing extends away from a first side of the bezel and is positionable at least partially through the hole in the headliner. The module further includes a button exposed at a second side of the bezel and coupled to the electronic circuitry and a mounting element selectively engageable with the headliner adjacent the hole and coupled with one of the housing or the bezel for coupling the module with the headliner.

Claims

1. A remote garage door opener module for assembly into a vehicle and transmitting signals to a garage door opener, the module comprising:

a housing enclosing a power source and electronic circuitry for transmitting the signals, the housing being positionable at least partially through a hole in a headliner of the vehicle;

a flange extending integrally outwardly from the housing and defining therewith a first surface positionable over the hole in the headliner;

a first mounting tab having a first threaded hole therein; and

a first actuation element including a screw and operably coupling the first mounting tab with the housing by engagement of the screw with the threaded hole.

2. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, further including a cover unit, including:

a bezel removably coupleable with the housing such that an operable end of the actuation element can be selectively exposed or concealed by the cover unit; and

a button exposed at a second side of the bezel and coupled to the electronic circuitry.

3. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein the first mounting tab is positionable against an adjacent portion of the housing and is rotatable to an extended position away from the adjacent wall by rotation of the screw.

4. The remote garage door opener module of claim 3, wherein:

the first mounting tab is further moveable toward the flange when in the extended position by continued rotation of the screw in the first direction; and

the first mounting tab is engageable with the headliner adjacent the hole by movement of the first mounting tab into contact with an exterior surface of the headliner.

5. The remote garage door opener module of claim 3, wherein the retracted position is such that the first mounting tab is disposed inwardly of an outer periphery of the flange.

6. The remote garage door opener module of claim 3, wherein the retracted position is further such that the first mounting tab is disposed inwardly of an outer periphery of the flange by at least about 2 mm.

7. The remote garage door opener module of claim 3, wherein:

the housing defines a recess; and

the retracted position is further such that at least a portion of the first mounting tab is disposed within the recess.

8. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein the first mounting tab is selectively engageable with the headliner at least partially by movement of the first mounting tab between the retracted position and the extended position.

9. The remote garage door opener module claim 1, wherein the first mounting tab is selectively engageable with the headliner at least partially by movement of the mounting element toward the flange.

10. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein engagement of the first mounting tab with the headliner adjacent the hole is such that a portion of the headliner adjacent the hole is captured between the first mounting tab and the flange.