Battery powered trainable remote garage door opener module

• US 9,576,408 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• 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:
  US14/810,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 160/188, 160/201, 307/10.1, 341/176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 bezel positionable against a headliner of the vehicle along an interior surface thereof in a position over a hole in the headliner;

a housing enclosing a power source and electronic circuitry for transmitting the signals, the housing extending away from a first side of the bezel and positionable at least partially through the hole in the headliner;

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, and

wherein the mounting element is moveable with respect to the housing between a retracted position and an extended position, the retracted position being such that the mounting element is disposed inwardly of an outer periphery of the bezel.

2. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein:

the mounting element is coupled with the housing so as to be rotatable in a direction toward and away from the bezel; and

the mounting element includes;

a retainer tab that extends away from the bezel when the mounting element is in the retracted position and outwardly from the housing when the mounting element is in the extended position; and

an actuator tab rigidly coupled with the retaining tab and having at least a portion extending outwardly away from the housing when the mounting element is in the retracted position and extending along a portion of the housing when the mounting element is in the extended position.

3. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein the retracted position is further such that the mounting element is disposed inwardly of an outer periphery of the bezel by at least about 2 mm.

4. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein:

the housing defines a recess; and

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

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

6. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein:

the housing defines a first surface positionable over the hole in the vehicle headliner; and

the mounting element is coupled with an actuation element having an operable end disposed along the first surface of the module such that the mounting element is selectively engageable by manipulation of the operable end of the actuation element.

7. The remote garage door opener module claim 6, wherein the mounting element is selectively engageable with the headliner at least partially by movement of the mounting element toward and away from the first surface.

8. The remote garage door opener module of claim 6, wherein:

the bezel is coupled with the buttons in a cover unit; and

the bezel is removably coupled with the housing such that the operable end of the actuation element can be selectively exposed or concealed by the cover unit.

9. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is a portion of a mounting unit that is selectively coupleable with the housing.

10. The remote garage door opener module of claim 1, wherein engagement of the mounting element with the headliner adjacent the hole is such that a portion of the headliner adjacent the hole is captured between the mounting element and one of the bezel, or a flange extending outwardly from the housing.