Rearview mirror bracket

• US 7,837,173 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Kazensky, Dennis B., Baker, Benjamin H., Zinser, Craig H., Czewski, James J., Walmsley, Patrick D., Nagrant, Nicholas P., Lybecker, Kent S., Bisnack, William C., Hagen, Thomas D., Willey, Mark R., Frakes, Ryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US12/249,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 248/475.1, 248/476, 359/872, 359/876, 296/1.11
• US Class Current: 248/475.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

According to various exemplary embodiments, an apparatus is provided for mounting a rearview display and one or more electronic components in a vehicle. An example of the apparatus comprises an inside rearview assembly for mounting an electronic component near a windshield of a vehicle including a mirror and an adjustable support connected to the mirror. The rearview assembly also includes a bracket configured to mount on the windshield, including an attaching structure configured to attach the bracket to the windshield and a support frame coupled to the attaching structure. The support frame has a portion set off from the windshield to accommodate the electronic component between the windshield and the set off portion. The support frame is connected to the adjustable support.

Claims

1. An inside rearview assembly for mounting an electronic component to a windshield of a vehicle comprising:

a mirror;

an adjustable support connected to the mirror; and

a bracket configured to mount the electronic component in contact with the windshield behind the mirror such that the adjustable support extends away from the bracket and the windshield to the mirror, the bracket comprising;

an attaching structure configured to attach the bracket to the windshield and having a hole configured to accept the electronic component in contact with the windshield; and

a support frame coupled to the attaching structure and to the adjustable support, the support frame having a set off portion extending from the bracket away from the windshield to accommodate the electronic component in the hole and between the windshield and the set off portion.

2. An inside rearview assembly according to claim 1 the support frame further comprising:

a mirror mounting support to connect the adjustable support to the set off portion set off from the windshield.

3. An inside rearview assembly according to claim 1, the bracket further comprising multiple mounting structures configured to mount multiple electronic components.

4. An inside rearview assembly according to claim 1 wherein the attaching structure comprises multiple bonding buttons configured to bond to the windshield of the vehicle.

5. A bracket for mounting an electronic component to a windshield behind a rearview mirror, the bracket comprising:

a support frame configured to mount to the windshield, the support frame comprising;

an attaching structure configured to mount to the face of the windshield, the attaching structure having at least one hole configured to accept the electronic component so that the electronic component is in contact with the windshield;

multiple raised support members extending away from a the attaching structure and the windshield; and

a cross-support member attached to the multiple raised support members, to thereby create a region between the multiple raised support members, the cross support member, and the windshield to mount the electronic component in the at least one hole so that the electronic component contacts with the windshield; and

a mirror mounting support connected to the cross-support member that is configured to mount the rearview mirror on the opposite side of the electronic component from the windshield so that the driver'"'"'s view of the electronic component is at least partially obscured by the mirror.

6. A bracket according to claim 5 wherein the electronic component is a lane departure warning camera.

7. A bracket according to claim 5 wherein the mirror mounting support comprises a mirror button integrally connected to the cross-support member.

8. A bracket according to claim 5 wherein the support frame is formed of structurally engineered plastic.

9. A bracket according to claim 5 wherein the at least one hole of the attaching structure comprises multiple holes each configured to accept and mount one of a plurality of multiple electronic components in contact with the windshield.

10. A bracket according to claim 9 wherein the multiple mounting structures comprise:

a humidity sensor support structure configured to support a humidity sensor in contact with the windshield;

a radio frequency sensor support structure configured to support a radio frequency sensor; and

a rain sensor support structure configured to support a rain sensor adjacent to the windshield.

11. A bracket according to claim 10 wherein the bracket further comprises an electrical socket to connect the multiple electronic components to a power source and to a data communication system.

12. A bracket according to claim 5 wherein the multiple raised support members and the cross-support member are integrally formed.

13. A passenger vehicle comprising:

a windshield; and

a bracket mounted to the windshield, the bracket comprising;

a predominantly flat attaching structure attaching the bracket to a face of the windshield and having a hole;

a mirror mounting support mounting a rearview mirror, wherein the mirror mounting support is set off from the windshield; and

a first mounting structure supporting a first electronic device behind the mirror mounting support and against the windshield, the bracket supporting the first electronic device such that a portion of the first electronic device is placed in the hole in the bracket and in contact with the windshield behind the mirror.

14. A passenger vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the bracket is formed of structurally engineered plastic.

15. A passenger vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the bracket further comprises a second mounting structure configured to support a second electronic device.

16. A passenger vehicle according to claim 15 further comprising a windshield wiper, wherein the windshield has a region cleared by the windshield wiper, and wherein the second mounting structure is configured to support a rain sensor in relation to the windshield such that the rain sensor detects a condition of the windshield in a portion of the region cleared by the windshield wiper.

17. A passenger vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the first mounting structure is configured to support a camera, and wherein the bracket has multiple mounting structures configured to mount multiple electronic devices, the multiple mounting structures comprising:

a humidity sensor support structure configured to support a humidity sensor in contact with the windshield;

a radio frequency sensor support structure configured to support a radio frequency sensor;

a rain sensor support structure configured to support a rain sensor adjacent to the windshield.

18. A passenger vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the passenger vehicle has a centerplane, wherein the windshield has a centerline traversing the centerplane, and wherein the bracket is mounted along the centerplane of the passenger vehicle, and adjacent to the centerline of the windshield.

19. A passenger vehicle according to claim 18 wherein the rearview mirror is mounted substantially along the centerplane of the passenger vehicle.

20. A passenger vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the bracket further comprises an electrical socket for connecting the first electronic device to a power source and to a data communication system.