U.S. patent application number 14/684373 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-13 for adjustable bracket for mounting an electronic media device in a vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. Invention is credited to Wiliam Maeda, Christopher D. Prazeres, Antonio M. Quadros, Joao Claudio Brito Santos.
Application Number | 20160297374 14/684373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56895985 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160297374 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prazeres; Christopher D. ;
et al. |
October 13, 2016 |
ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR MOUNTING AN ELECTRONIC MEDIA DEVICE IN A
VEHICLE
Abstract
An adjustable bracket for mounting an electronic media device
(EMD) in a vehicle includes a rigid housing mountable to an
instrument panel substrate. A linear rail is fixedly attached to
the housing. A lower arm is pivotally connected to the housing and
rotatable between a lower arm stowed position with the lower arm
parallel to the rail and a lower arm extended position with the
lower arm perpendicular to the rail. An upper arm assembly is
adjustably connected to the rail and has a hinged upper arm
rotatable between an upper arm stowed position with the upper arm
parallel to the rail and an upper arm extended position with the
upper arm perpendicular to the rail. In the respective extended
positions, the lower arm and the upper arm are to engage and retain
the EMD with an EMD display visible to an occupant of the vehicle
during vehicle operation.
Inventors: |
Prazeres; Christopher D.;
(Sao Bernardo do Campo, BR) ; Quadros; Antonio M.;
(Sao Paulo, BR) ; Maeda; Wiliam; (Sao Paulo,
BR) ; Santos; Joao Claudio Brito; (Centro - Sao
Bernardo do Campo, BR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56895985 |
Appl. No.: |
14/684373 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/06 20130101; B60R
2011/0094 20130101; B60R 2011/0071 20130101; B60R 2011/0082
20130101; B60R 11/0252 20130101; B60R 11/02 20130101; B60R 11/0258
20130101; B60R 2011/0005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 11/02 20060101
B60R011/02; B62D 25/14 20060101 B62D025/14 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 3, further
comprising: a cavity defined by the housing, wherein the hinged
upper arm in the upper arm stowed position is within the cavity and
the lower arm in the lower arm stowed position is within the
cavity; and a removable cover panel to cover the cavity.
3. An adjustable bracket for mounting an electronic media device
(EMD) in a vehicle, comprising: a rigid housing mountable to an
instrument panel substrate; a linear rail fixedly attached to the
housing; a lower arm pivotally connected to the housing, the lower
arm rotatable between a lower arm stowed position with the lower
arm parallel to the rail and a lower arm extended position with the
lower arm perpendicular to the rail; an upper arm assembly
adjustably connected to the rail; the upper arm assembly having a
hinged upper arm rotatable between an upper arm stowed position
with the upper arm parallel to the rail and an upper arm extended
position with the upper arm perpendicular to the rail wherein in
the respective extended positions, the lower arm and the upper arm
are to engage and retain the EMD with an EMD display visible to an
occupant of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle; a lower
hinge having the lower arm articulatably attached thereto; a
plurality of detents disposed on the rail; the upper arm assembly
including a carriage adjustably attached to the rail, the carriage
having the upper arm articulatably attached thereto at an upper
hinge; and an anchor tooth defined on the carriage to selectably
engage a selectable detent in the plurality of detents wherein the
selectable detent corresponds to a selectable location of the
carriage with respect to the rail.
4. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 3, further
comprising: an anchor spring disposed on the carriage to urge the
anchor tooth toward engagement with the selectable detent wherein
the anchor spring is to be overcome by a selective application of a
predetermined release force applied via the upper arm perpendicular
to the rail thereby to cause the upper arm assembly to be slidable
along the rail.
5. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 3, further
comprising: an anterior wall defined by the housing opposite an
opening of the cavity; a lower wall extending between the anterior
wall and the opening of the cavity; a lower rotation stop defined
by the lower wall to limit the rotation of the lower arm to an
angle of about 90 degrees corresponding to the lower arm extended
position; and an upper rotation stop defined by the carriage to
limit the rotation of the upper arm to an angle of about 90 degrees
corresponding to the upper arm extended position.
6. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 3, further
comprising: an upper retention slot defined at a retainer end of
the upper arm opposite the upper hinge; and a lower retention slot
defined at a receiver end of the lower arm opposite the lower hinge
wherein the upper retention slot and the lower retention slot are
parallel to hold the EMD therebetween.
7. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 6, further
comprising: an upper resilient liner disposed on the upper
retention slot; and a lower resilient liner disposed on the lower
retention slot wherein the upper resilient liner and the lower
resilient liner are to cushion the EMD when the EMD is held between
the upper retention slot and the lower retention slot.
8. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 6, further comprising
a backstop defined on the upper arm to support the EMD without
permanent deformation of the backstop against a force applied to
use a touch screen of the EMD wherein the force is less than about
5 Newtons.
9. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 8, further
comprising: a first cable pass-through slot defined in the upper
arm; and a second cable pass-through slot defined in the lower
arm.
10. The adjustable bracket as defined in claim 6 wherein the upper
retention slot and the lower retention slot are adjustably spaced
from about 40 millimeters (mm) to about 200 mm apart.
11. (canceled)
12. The instrument panel as defined in claim 13, further
comprising: a cavity defined in a visible surface of the instrument
panel, wherein the hinged upper arm in the upper arm stowed
position is within the cavity and the lower arm in the lower arm
stowed position is within the cavity; and a removable cover panel
to cover the cavity.
13. An instrument panel for a vehicle, comprising: an instrument
panel substrate; a linear rail fixedly attached to the substrate; a
lower arm pivotally connected to the substrate, the lower arm
rotatable between a lower arm stowed position with the lower arm
rotated parallel to the rail and a lower arm extended position with
the lower arm rotated perpendicular to the rail; an upper arm
assembly adjustably connected to the rail, the upper arm assembly
having a hinged upper arm rotatable between an upper arm stowed
position with the upper arm rotated parallel to the rail and an
upper arm extended position with the upper arm rotated
perpendicular to the rail wherein in the respective extended
positions, the lower arm and the upper arm are to engage an
electronic media device (EMD) having a display to retain the media
device with the display visible to an occupant of the vehicle
during operation of the vehicle; a lower hinge having the lower arm
articulatably attached thereto; a plurality of detents disposed on
the rail; the upper arm assembly including a carriage adjustably
attached to the rail, the carriage having the upper arm
articulatably attached thereto at an upper hinge; and an anchor
tooth defined on the carriage to selectably engage a selectable
detent in the plurality of detents wherein the selectable detent
corresponds to a selectable location of the carriage with respect
to the rail.
14. The instrument panel as defined in claim 13, further
comprising: an anchor spring disposed on the carriage to urge the
anchor tooth toward engagement with the selectable detent wherein
the anchor spring is to be overcome by a selective application of a
predetermined release force applied via the upper arm perpendicular
to the rail thereby to cause the upper arm assembly to be slidable
along the rail.
15. The instrument panel as defined in claim 13, further
comprising: a housing defining an anterior wall opposite an opening
of the cavity; a lower wall extending between the anterior wall and
the visible surface; a lower rotation stop defined by the lower
wall to limit the rotation of the lower arm to an angle of about 90
degrees corresponding to the lower arm extended position; and an
upper rotation stop defined by the carriage to limit the rotation
of the upper arm to an angle of about 90 degrees corresponding to
the upper arm extended position.
16. The instrument panel as defined in claim 13, further
comprising: an upper retention slot defined at a retainer end of
the upper arm opposite the upper hinge; and a lower retention slot
defined at a receiver end of the lower arm opposite the lower hinge
wherein the upper retention slot and the lower retention slot are
parallel to hold the EMD therebetween.
17. The instrument panel as defined in claim 16, further
comprising: a upper resilient liner disposed on the upper retention
slot; and a lower resilient liner disposed on the lower retention
slot wherein the upper resilient liner and the lower resilient
liner are to cushion the EMD when the EMD is held between the upper
retention slot and the lower retention slot.
18. The instrument panel as defined in claim 16, further comprising
a backstop defined on the upper arm to support the EMD without
permanent deformation of the backstop against a force applied to
use a touch screen of the EMD wherein the force is less than about
5 Newtons.
19. The instrument panel as defined in claim 18, further
comprising: a first cable pass-through slot defined in the upper
arm; and a second cable pass-through slot defined in the lower
arm.
20. The instrument panel as defined in claim 16 wherein the upper
retention slot and the lower retention slot are adjustably spaced
from about 40 millimeters (mm) to about 200 mm apart.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Electronic media devices such as smartphones and tablet
computers are usable in many locations. Such electronic media
devices programmed for various applications provide useful
information, communication, and entertainment. In some cases,
electronic media devices provide services that may be useful or
desirable to an occupant or driver of a vehicle. For example, some
smartphones have a Global Position System (GPS) based navigation
system application that displays route information on an
interactive dynamic map display. Music or other audio programming
may be stored and played on a smartphone or tablet computer. It may
be convenient to mount the electronic media device so that the
display is visible and the controls are accessible from a seated
position in the vehicle.
SUMMARY
[0002] An adjustable bracket for mounting an electronic media
device (EMD) in a vehicle includes a rigid housing mountable to an
instrument panel substrate. A linear rail is fixedly attached to
the housing. A lower arm is pivotally connected to the housing and
rotatable between a lower arm stowed position with the lower arm
parallel to the rail, and a lower arm extended position with the
lower arm perpendicular to the rail. An upper arm assembly is
adjustably connected to the rail and has a hinged upper arm
rotatable between an upper arm stowed position with the upper arm
parallel to the rail and an upper arm extended position with the
upper arm perpendicular to the rail. In the respective extended
positions, the lower arm and the upper arm are to engage and retain
the EMD with an EMD display visible to an occupant of the vehicle
during vehicle operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Features and advantages of examples of the present
disclosure will become apparent by reference to the following
detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numerals
correspond to similar, though perhaps not identical, components.
For the sake of brevity, reference numerals or features having a
previously described function may or may not be described in
connection with other drawings in which they appear.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic rear perspective view depicting a
vehicle with an example of an adjustable bracket for mounting an
electronic media device in the vehicle according to the present
disclosure;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting an
example of an adjustable bracket for mounting an electronic media
device in a vehicle according to the present disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a semi-schematic side view depicting an example of
an instrument panel with an adjustable bracket with a large
electronic media device engaged and retained by the adjustable
bracket according to the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a semi-schematic side view depicting an example of
an instrument panel with an adjustable bracket with the upper arm
in the upper arm stowed position and the lower arm in the lower arm
stowed position and the removable cover installed according to the
present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic side view depicting the example
of the instrument panel with the adjustable bracket depicted in
FIG. 4 with a small electronic media device engaged and retained by
the adjustable bracket according to the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic side view depicting the example
of an instrument panel with the adjustable bracket directly
attached to the instrument panel, with the upper arm in the upper
arm stowed position and the lower arm in the lower arm stowed
position according to the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 7 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting the
example shown in FIG. 2 with a large electronic media device
engaged and retained by the adjustable bracket according to the
present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 8 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting the
example shown in FIG. 2 with a small electronic media device
engaged and retained by the adjustable bracket according to the
present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 9 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting the
example shown in FIG. 2 with a removable cover panel covering a
cavity defined in a housing according to the present
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 10 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting an
example of an instrument panel according to the present
disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 11 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting an
example of an instrument panel substrate according to the present
disclosure; and
[0015] FIG. 12 is a semi-schematic exploded perspective view
depicting an example of an instrument panel with an adjustable
bracket according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The present disclosure relates to an adjustable mounting
bracket for mounting an electronic media device in a vehicle. The
electronic media device may be, for example, a smartphone or a
tablet computer. As used herein, an electronic media device means a
portable electronic device, having a graphical user interface
display and controls. Non-limiting examples of electronic media
devices include Apple iPhone.RTM., iPad.RTM., iPad.RTM. Mini, and
Samsung Galaxy S5.RTM.. As used herein, an electronic media device
need not have all of the functionality of a smartphone. For
example, a Magellan.RTM. GPS navigation system, a Personal Data
Assistant (PDA) and an iPod.RTM. are electronic media devices as
defined herein. The mounting bracket of the present disclosure is
not for mounting a laptop or notebook computer, except if the
notebook computer is a convertible notebook computer in tablet mode
or a hybrid laptop computer in tablet mode. A convertible laptop
computer is a laptop computer that folds into a tablet computer.
The screen swivels around and folds back down, turning the machine
into a rectangular slate. In tablet mode, the convertible laptop is
heavier and thicker than an iPad or Android tablet. The convertible
laptop computer has a screen/display that remains on the unit,
whereas the screen on a hybrid laptop is removed to become the
tablet.
[0017] The adjustable mounting bracket of the present disclosure is
built into the vehicle, providing styling and functionality that is
coordinated with the vehicle. Although various aftermarket brackets
exist, they generally interfere with functions of the vehicles in
which they are mounted. For example, a bracket that is anchored in
the cup-holder at least temporarily takes away the ability of the
cup holder to hold cups. A bracket that anchors in an HVAC
(heating, ventilation and air conditioning) vent interferes with
HVAC. The existing brackets may mount using suction cups on the
windshield and interfere with defroster flow. Existing brackets may
hold the electronic media device in a position that obscures or
interferes with access to controls/buttons/knobs for radio, climate
control, lighting, hazard lights, etc. In sharp contrast, the
adjustable mounting bracket of the present disclosure does not hold
the electronic media device in a position that occludes visibility
of, or interferes with, any control device in the vehicle.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic rear perspective view depicting a
vehicle 20 with an example of an adjustable bracket 10 for mounting
an EMD 12'' in the vehicle 20 according to the present disclosure.
In FIG. 1, a rigid housing 11 of the adjustable bracket 10 is
depicted with a large EMD 12'' mounted with an electronic media
device display 23 visible to an occupant 24 of the vehicle 20
during vehicle operation. FIG. 2 is a semi-schematic perspective
view depicting an example of the adjustable bracket 10 for mounting
an EMD 12 in a vehicle 20 according to the present disclosure. In
an example depicted in FIGS. 2-6, the adjustable bracket 10
includes the rigid housing 11 mountable to an instrument panel
substrate 21. A linear rail 13 is fixedly attached to the housing
11. A lower arm 14 is pivotally connected to the housing 11. The
lower arm 14 is rotatable between a lower arm stowed position 15
(see FIG. 4) with the lower arm 14 parallel to the rail 13, and a
lower arm extended position 16 with the lower arm 14 perpendicular
to the rail 13 (see FIG. 3). An upper arm assembly 17 is adjustably
connected to the rail 13. The upper arm assembly 17 has a hinged
upper arm 18 rotatable between an upper arm stowed position 19 (see
FIG. 4) with the upper arm 18 parallel to the rail 13, and an upper
arm extended position 22 with the upper arm 18 perpendicular to the
rail 13. In the respective extended positions 16 and 22, the lower
arm 14 and the upper arm 18 are to engage and retain the EMD 12
with the electronic media device display 23 visible to an occupant
24 of the vehicle 20 during vehicle operation.
[0019] As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cavity 25 is defined by the
housing 11. The hinged upper arm 18 in the upper arm stowed
position 19 is within the cavity 25 and the lower arm 14 in the
lower arm stowed position 15 is within the cavity 25. When the
hinged upper arm 18 is in the upper arm stowed position 19 and the
lower arm 14 is in the lower arm stowed position 15, the removable
cover panel 26 can be installed to cover the cavity 25. As used
herein, "hinged upper arm 18 within the cavity 25", and "the lower
arm 14 within the cavity 25" mean when the removable cover panel 26
is installed to cover the cavity 25, the hinged upper arm 18 and
the lower arm 14 do not contact or protrude through the removable
cover panel 26.
[0020] A lower hinge 28 has the lower arm 14 articulatably attached
thereto. A plurality of detents 29 is disposed on the rail 13. The
upper arm assembly 17 includes a carriage 30 adjustably attached to
the rail 13. The carriage 30 has the upper arm 18 articulatably
attached thereto at an upper hinge 31. An anchor tooth 32 is
defined on the carriage 30 to selectably engage a selectable detent
33 in the plurality of detents 29. The selectable detent 33
corresponds to a selectable location 34 of the carriage 30 with
respect to the rail 13.
[0021] In the example depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, an anchor spring
35 may be disposed on the carriage 30 to urge the anchor tooth 32
toward engagement with the selectable detent 33. The anchor spring
35 is to be overcome by a selective application of a predetermined
release force 53 applied via the upper arm 18 perpendicular to the
rail 13 thereby to cause the upper arm assembly 17 to be slidable
along the rail 13. The predetermined release force 53 compresses
the anchor spring 35, thereby disengaging the anchor tooth 32 from
the selectable detent 33 in the plurality of detents 29. As
depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the anchor spring 35 has a "U" shaped
cross-section; however, in other examples of the present
disclosure, the anchor spring 35 may be a helical spring or a
resilient block (not shown).
[0022] An anterior wall 37 is defined by the housing 11 opposite an
opening 38 of the cavity 25. A lower wall 51 extends between the
anterior wall 37 and the opening 38 of the cavity 25. A lower
rotation stop 39 is defined by the lower wall 51 to limit the
rotation of the lower arm 14 to an angle of about 90 degrees
corresponding to the lower arm extended position 16. An upper
rotation stop 40 is defined by the carriage 30 to limit the
rotation of the upper arm 18 to an angle of about 90 degrees
corresponding to the upper arm extended position 22. In the example
depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper arm 18 has an eccentric curved
surface 55 that only contacts the carriage 30 when the upper arm 18
is in the upper arm extended position 22.
[0023] An upper retention slot 41 is defined at a retainer end 42
of the upper arm 18 opposite the upper hinge 31. The upper
retention slot 41 is wide enough to accept an edge of the EMD 12.
In this paragraph, "wide" means the dimension from front to back
that accepts the smallest linear dimension of the EMD 12. In an
example, the upper retention slot 41 may be from about 6 mm to
about 12 mm wide. A lower retention slot 43 is defined at a
receiver end 44 of the lower arm 14 opposite the lower hinge 28.
The lower retention slot 43 is wide enough to accept an edge of the
EMD 12. In an example, the lower retention slot 43 may be from
about 6 mm to about 12 mm wide. The upper retention slot 41 and the
lower retention slot 43 are parallel to hold the EMD 12
therebetween.
[0024] As an example of adjusting the upper arm assembly 17, the
user 54 may grasp the upper arm 18 and push forward on the upper
arm 18 in the vehicle 20 to release the anchor tooth 32 from the
plurality of detents 29. Next, the user may slide the upper arm
assembly 17 up or down to a position that corresponds to a size of
the EMD 12. In an example, visible markings may be made on the
housing to aid the user in adjusting the upper arm for a particular
model. For example, a mark may be made for a position corresponding
to an iPad.RTM., or a Samsung Galaxy S5.RTM.. After the user slides
the upper arm assembly 17 to the position that corresponds to the
EMD 12, releasing the upper arm assembly 17 allows the anchor
spring 35 to move the anchor tooth 32 into the nearest selectable
detent 33 in the plurality of detents 29, thereby securing the
upper arm assembly in place until another adjustment is made by the
user 54.
[0025] In an example of the present disclosure, an upper resilient
liner 45 is disposed on the upper retention slot 41. A lower
resilient liner 46 is disposed on the lower retention slot 43. The
upper resilient liner 45 and the lower resilient liner 46 are to
cushion the EMD 12 when the EMD 12 is held between the upper
retention slot 41 and the lower retention slot 43. In an example,
the upper resilient liner 45 and the lower resilient liner 46 may
be made from EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) foam. The upper resilient
liner 45 and the lower resilient liner 46 may have an unstressed
thickness of around 3 mm and be soft enough to avoid scratching the
EMD 12 while still rendering sufficient support to prevent rattles
during vehicle 20 operation.
[0026] In an example, the upper resilient liner 45 and the lower
resilient liner 46 may be formed from a flexible, expanded rubber
material having a range of compression deflection from about 2 kPa
(kilopascals) to about 5 kPa. The compression deflection value is
to be determined after 1 minute of a single 50% compression on
unplied material (no preflex) after being compressed at a rate of
50 millimeters/minute (mm/min). Specimens of the expanded rubber
material for the compression deflection test are 50 mm.times.50 mm
with a minimum specimen thickness of about 3.2 mm. All adhesive
surfaces are to be dusted with talc to prevent adhesion to the
compression plates in the test apparatus.
[0027] A backstop 47 may be defined on the upper arm 18 to support
the EMD 12 without permanent deformation of the backstop 47 against
a force 48 applied to use a touch screen 52 of the EMD 12. In an
example, the force 48 may be less than about 5 Newtons. A first
cable pass-through slot 49 may be defined in the upper arm 18. A
second cable pass-through slot 50 may be defined in the lower arm
14. The cable pass through may be convenient for routing, for
example, a USB cable or a power cable. However, the EMD 12 may be
used wirelessly, without connecting the EMD 12 with wires or cables
in the vehicle.
[0028] In an example of the present disclosure, the upper retention
slot 41 and the lower retention slot 43 are adjustably spaced from
a first distance 56 of about 40 millimeters (mm) to a second
distance 57 of about 200 mm apart (see FIG. 2). In another example,
the upper retention slot 41 and the lower retention slot 43 are
adjustably spaced from the first distance 56 of about 40 mm to the
second distance 57 of about 150 mm apart.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic side view depicting the example
of the instrument panel 58 with the adjustable bracket 10 depicted
in FIG. 4 with a small EMD 12' engaged and retained by the
adjustable bracket 10 according to the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic side view depicting the example
of the instrument panel 58 with the adjustable bracket 10 directly
attached to the instrument panel 58, with the upper arm 18 in the
upper arm stowed position 19 and the lower arm 14 in the lower arm
stowed position 15 according to the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting the
example shown in FIG. 2 with a large EMD 12'' engaged and retained
by the adjustable bracket 10 according to the present disclosure.
The large EMD 12'' may have an electronic media device display 23
that is visible to an occupant 24 of the vehicle 20 during vehicle
operation. Further, when the EMD 12'' is engaged and retained by
the adjustable bracket 10 according to the present disclosure, the
EMD 12'' and particularly, the electronic media device display 23
may be accessible by the occupant 24 sitting in a seat of the
vehicle 20. The seat may be a passenger seat or a driver seat. As
used herein, "accessible" means that the occupant 24 may touch
controls of the EMD 12, 12', 12'' to manipulate functions of the
EMD 12, 12', 12''. For example, an EMD 12'' may have a Graphical
User Interface implemented as a touch screen 52. While it may also
be possible to control the EMD 12, 12', 12'' without contacting the
EMD 12, 12', 12'' (for example by voice commands), the present
disclosure is for making the EMD 12, 12', 12'' accessible as
defined above.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting the
example shown in FIG. 2 with a small EMD 12' engaged and retained
by the adjustable bracket 10 according to the present disclosure.
Similar to the large EMD 12'', the small EMD 12' may have an
electronic media device display 23 that is visible to an occupant
24 of the vehicle 20 during vehicle operation. Further, when the
small EMD 12' is engaged and retained by the adjustable bracket 10
according to the present disclosure, the small EMD 12' and
particularly, the electronic media device display 23 may be
accessible by the occupant 24 sitting in a seat of the vehicle 20.
The seat may be a passenger seat or a driver seat.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting the
example shown in FIG. 2 with a removable cover panel 26 covering a
cavity 25 defined in the housing according to the present
disclosure. A recessed finger grip 59 may be disposed in the
removable cover panel 26 to ease removal of the removable cover
panel 26 from the housing 11. For example, a finger may be inserted
into the recessed finger grip 59 to pull the removable cover panel
26 away from the housing 11. The removable cover panel 26 may be
stowable in a storage compartment (not shown) of the vehicle
20.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting an
example of the instrument panel 58 according to the present
disclosure. The instrument panel 58 depicted in FIG. 10 does not
show the adjustable bracket 10. As disclosed herein, the bracket 10
may mounted on the instrument panel 58 with, or without a separate
housing 11. The instrument panel 58 includes the instrument panel
substrate 21 shown in FIG. 11. The linear rail 13 is fixedly
attached to the instrument panel substrate 21. In an example, the
linear rail 13 may be fixedly attached to the instrument panel
substrate 21 via the housing 11 as indicated in FIG. 12. In other
examples, the linear rail 13 may be directly attached to the
instrument panel substrate 21. In examples in which the adjustable
bracket 10 is directly attached to the instrument panel 58, i.e.
without a separate housing 11, the cavity 25' may be defined in a
visible surface 61 of in the instrument panel 58. The visible
surface 61 of the instrument panel 58 is directly visible to the
occupant 24 of the vehicle 20 when the occupant 24 is sitting in a
seat of the vehicle 20. The visible surface 61 of the instrument
panel 58 may be partially occluded by the removable cover panel 26.
The seat may be a passenger seat or a driver seat. Although the
vehicle 20 depicted in FIG. 1 is in a left drive configuration, it
is to be understood that examples of the present disclosure may be
included in right drive, dual-controlled and driverless
vehicles.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a semi-schematic perspective view depicting an
example of the instrument panel substrate 21 according to the
present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a semi-schematic exploded
perspective view depicting an example of an instrument panel 58
with an adjustable bracket 10 according to the present disclosure.
In the example depicted in FIG. 12, the adjustable bracket 10
includes a housing 11 that is separable from the instrument panel
58. In other words, the adjustable bracket 10 shown is an
adjustable bracket module 60 that may ease final assembly of the
vehicle 20.
[0036] It is to be understood that the ranges provided herein
include the stated range and any value or sub-range within the
stated range. For example, a range from about 6 mm to about 12 mm
should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited
limits of about 6 mm and about 12 mm, but also to include
individual values, such as 7 mm, 8.5 mm, 9.2 mm etc., and
sub-ranges, such as from about 7 mm to about 11 mm, etc.
Furthermore, when "about" is utilized to describe a value, this is
meant to encompass minor variations (up to .+-.10%) from the stated
value.
[0037] In describing and claiming the examples disclosed herein,
the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents
unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0038] It is to be understood that the terms
"connect/connected/connection" and/or the like are broadly defined
herein to encompass a variety of divergent connected arrangements
and assembly techniques. These arrangements and techniques include,
but are not limited to (1) the direct communication between one
component and another component with no intervening components
therebetween; and (2) the communication of one component and
another component with one or more components therebetween,
provided that the one component being "connected to" the other
component is somehow in operative communication with the other
component (notwithstanding the presence of one or more additional
components therebetween).
[0039] Furthermore, reference throughout the specification to "one
example", "another example", "an example", and so forth, means that
a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or
characteristic) described in connection with the example is
included in at least one example described herein, and may or may
not be present in other examples. In addition, it is to be
understood that the described elements for any example may be
combined in any suitable manner in the various examples unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0040] While several examples have been described in detail, it is
to be understood that the disclosed examples may be modified.
Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered
non-limiting.
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