U.S. patent application number 11/717290 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for quick release vent mounting clip.
Invention is credited to Ka-wing Mo.
Application Number | 20080224007 11/717290 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39713267 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080224007 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mo; Ka-wing |
September 18, 2008 |
Quick release vent mounting clip
Abstract
A clip for an air vent louver attachment apparatus for portable
electronic devices and the like, wherein the clip has an upper leg
and a lower leg and a quick release lever attached to the lower leg
for opening and closing the clip for insertion and removal onto a
fin of the air vent louver.
Inventors: |
Mo; Ka-wing; (Temple City,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
PO BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
39713267 |
Appl. No.: |
11/717290 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/231.81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 11/00 20130101;
B60R 2011/0005 20130101; B60R 2011/0059 20130101; B60R 2011/0078
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/231.81 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. A clip for a vehicle mounting apparatus comprising: an upper
leg; a lower leg having a quick release lever; and a flexible web
positioned between the upper and lower leg allowing the upper leg
and the lower leg to expand relative to one another when a force is
applied to the quick release lever.
2. The clip of claim 1, wherein the clip further includes
counter-opposed hooks positioned on an end of each of the upper leg
and lower leg.
3. The clip of claim 1, wherein the clip further has means
positioned opposite the counter-opposed hooks for attachment of the
clip to the vehicle mounting apparatus.
4. The clip of claim 1, wherein the means for attachment include a
head portion and a reduced neck position opposite the
counter-opposed hooks.
5. An attachment apparatus for electronic devices and the like in
an interior of a vehicle comprising: a vertical plate having at
least one attachment flange positioned on a front surface of the
flange; and at least one clip comprising: an upper leg; a lower leg
having a quick release lever; a flexible web positioned between the
upper leg and the lower leg allowing the upper leg and the lower
leg to expand away from each other when a force is applied to the
quick release lever; and means for attaching the clip to the
vertical plate.
6. The attachment apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a
positioning leg attached to the vertical plate below the clip.
7. The attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein there are two clips
spaced apart from one another.
8. The attachment apparatus of claim 5, wherein the attachment
means include a head portion on the clip and a reduced neck portion
for placement within a slot extending through the vertical plate.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting apparatus for a
vehicle interior, and more particularly to an apparatus having a
clip with a release lever for attaching the mounting apparatus to
the air vent louvers of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of electronic devices in vehicles has increased in
recent years. For example, such electronic devices can be global
positioning satellite devices, portable telephones, radios and
personal digital assistants, commonly known as PDAs, mounted within
a vehicle either permanently or in a manner such that the device
can be portable. The mounting or holding of these devices or other
types of items, such as coffee cups or soda cans, has generated a
number of attachment mechanisms. The various types of attachment
mechanisms or mounting apparatuses include apparatus which are
attached to the dashboard, floor or other support surface in a
vehicle such that the electronic device or other apparatus can be
viewed or accessed. Prior art mounting apparatuses typically are
secured within the interior of the vehicle through the use of
screws, bolts, rivets, velcro, putty, or other types of fasteners
including clips or adhesives.
[0003] A disadvantage of such prior mounting devices within the
vehicle is that the mounting devices cause damage to the surface to
which it is mounted, such as by drilling holes for fasteners or
adhesives remaining on the surface. A second problem associated
with these prior art mounting devices is that it is difficult to
remove or remount the apparatus at a different location within the
vehicle. In order to change the location of the mounting apparatus
within the vehicle, it must first be removed from its original
location which may require a variety of tools to remove the
fasteners used to secure the apparatus in its original location.
Once removed, the apparatus to be removed to a new location, or
reinserted, requires the time-consuming step of remounting the
apparatus.
[0004] To address these problems, mounting apparatus were developed
which included a clip as a component of the apparatus which
attached to air vent louvers in the vehicle. These attachment
apparatus incorporate clips which slide onto the air vent louvers.
The problem with the current style of vent clips is that they are
not easily removed, and again requires special tools to remove the
clips from the air vent fins.
[0005] Therefore, a need exists for an electronic device, or the
like, removable mounting apparatus for an air vent louver which
addresses the problem with prior mounting devices and which is easy
to install and remove without damaging the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is an improved mounting apparatus
which addresses the problems associated with prior mounting device
designs. The attachment mechanism of the present invention
incorporates a quick release vent-mounting clip which can be easily
opened at its end for easier insertion and removal from an air vent
fin. The clip incorporates an extended arm or quick release lever
which when pressed, opens the ends of the clip so that they can be
easily inserted and removed. The ends of the clip also incorporate
two counter-opposed hooks that provide a more secure fit when the
attachment mechanism is attached to the vent louver fin.
[0007] The present invention provides a mounting apparatus that
causes no damage to the surface of the vehicle interior. The
mounting apparatus of the present invention also allows for the
insertion and removal of the attachment mechanism without the
necessity of the use of tools.
[0008] Additional aspects of the invention, together with the
advantages and novel features thereof, will be set forth in the
following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art mounting apparatus of
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the mounting apparatus of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mounting clip of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting clip of FIG. 3 in a
resting position; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the mounting clip of FIG. 3 in an
expanded position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Prior art attachment mechanism 10 used in connection with
attachment to an air vent louver of a vehicle interior is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Attachment mechanism 10 includes a vertical plate 12
having a flange 14 positioned on a front surface 16 for attachment
of a portable electronic device or the like. Flange 14 is L-shaped
having a web 18 positioned between the flange 14 and vertical plate
12. Attachment mechanism 10 further includes a rear leg 20
connected to plate 12 by a housing 22 extending from a rear surface
24 of the vertical plate. Rear leg 20 is connected to housing 22 by
a rivet 26 or other suitable fastener and is used to support and
adjust the angle of plate 12 with respect to the air vent
louver.
[0015] Attachment apparatus 10 is connected to the air vent louver
by a clip 28 also extending rearwardly from rear face 24 of
vertical plate 12. Preferably, there are two clips 28 positioned on
either side of the vertical plate 12. The clip is held to vertical
plate 12 by a head portion 30 which extends through a slot 32 in
vertical plate 12. A neck portion (not shown) is positioned between
head 30 and the clip 28 which is held within slot 32. Slot 32 has
an enlarged opening 34 for receipt of head 30 and sliding of the
neck into slot 32. Clips 28 have a lower leg portion 36 having an
angled surface 38 for engaging an individual fin in the air vent
louver and guiding the clip onto the fin. An end 40 of the clip is
L-shaped thereby providing a stop for receiving and capturing the
rear edge of the fin within the clip. The attachment mechanism 10
is then securely held onto the fin of the air vent louver.
[0016] Removal of the attachment mechanism 10 from the air vent
louver is a difficult and time-consuming task due to the design of
the clip. A tool is required to be inserted into the louver to pry
down the flexible leg 36 to remove the clip from the louver.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the present invention includes an
improved clip 50 for easy insertion and removal of the attachment
mechanism 10. The current invention substitutes clip 50 with prior
clip 28. Clip 50 has an upper leg 52 and a lower leg 54 connected
by an integral curved web portion 56. Web portion 56 is flexible.
Lower leg 54 has a quick release lever 58 extending from an end
portion thereby providing a surface such that when an upward force
is applied to the lever, the upper and lower legs are spread from a
resting position as shown in FIG. 4 and an expanded position shown
in FIG. 5. When an upward force is applied to release lever 58,
flexible web 56 allows for the spreading of the upper and lower
legs 52 and 54. In the expanded position, the clips can be inserted
into the louver and removed from the louver. In the resting
position, shown in FIG. 4, the fin of the air vent louver is
retained between the upper and lower legs. The upper and lower legs
each include a hook 60 and 62, respectively, which forms a stop
surface for retaining the edge of the fin of the air vent louver.
As shown in FIG. 3, hooks 60 and 62 are counter opposed which
provides a secure fit when the clip is attached to the fins.
[0018] Gripping surfaces 64 and 66 are positioned on the top
surface of the upper leg 52 and on the lower surface of the quick
release lever 58 to provide a gripping surface for the fingers of
the user. In essence, during use the lever 58 is pinched upwardly
towards the upper leg 52.
[0019] Similar to clips 28, clip 50 includes a head portion 68 and
a neck portion 70 for connection of the clip to vertical plate 12.
Head 68 is inserted into opening 34 and slid sideways capturing
neck 70 in slot 32.
[0020] Although the present invention has been described and
illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment therefore, it is
to be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein
which do not depart from the scope of the present invention. For
example, flexible web 56 could be substituted by a spring to allow
upper and lower legs to move between the resting and expanded
position.
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