ELECTRICAL UNIT MOUNTING

• US 20120081844A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. A method of mounting an electrical unit for a side view mirror comprising:

providing a non-metallic housing that the electrical unit;

positioning an opening defined in a mounting tab that extends from the housing over an alignment pin for initially orienting the housing; and

installing a screw through the mounting tab into a boss in the automotive vehicle.

12. A method of mounting an electrical unit housing that is operatively associated with a remotely controlled side-view mirror of an automotive vehicle comprising:

locating the electrical unit adjacent a remote control mirror switch that actuates the mirror;

orienting an opening in the housing with an alignment pin; and

installing at least one removable threaded fastener through a mounting region of the housing and into a threaded boss.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising installing second and third removable threaded fasteners into respective second and third mounting regions.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the locating step includes positioning the electrical unit in a cowl lining area of the automotive vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the locating step includes positioning the electrical unit in the instrument panel.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the locating step includes positioning the electrical unit in an under cover of the instrument panel.