The present disclosure generally relates to a mounting assembly, and more particularly to a mounting assembly for a rearview device.
One aspect of the disclosure includes a mounting assembly for a rearview device. A windshield bracket defines a central aperture and includes internal ledges disposed about the central aperture. A mount is operably coupled with the rearview device. The mount includes pre-loading posts. A spring clip includes a base and a plurality of legs. Each leg includes an upright portion extending from the base. A connecting portion extends inwardly from the upright portion. An engagement portion extends upward away from the base. At least one loading lever extends laterally from the connecting portion.
Another aspect of the disclosure includes a mounting assembly for a rearview device. A mount is operably coupled with the rearview device. The mount includes at least one pre-loading post. A spring clip includes a base and a plurality of legs. Each leg includes an upright portion extending from the base. A connecting portion extends inwardly from the upright portion. An engagement portion extends upward away from the base. At least one loading lever extends laterally from the connecting portion. The at least one loading lever is configured to engage the at least one pre-loading post, which pushes the engagement portion away from the base.
Yet another aspect of the disclosure includes a spring clip for a mounting assembly for a rearview device. The spring clip includes a base. A plurality of legs extend outwardly from the base. Each leg includes an upright portion extending from the base. A connecting portion extends inwardly from the upright portion. An engagement portion extends upward away from the base. At least one loading lever extends laterally from the connecting portion. The at least one loading lever is configured to engage a pre-loading post of a mount to push the engagement portion away from the base.
Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a mounting assembly for a rearview device having a spring clip that includes preloading features that provide ease of manufacture, while providing a robust connection between the rearview device and the mounting assembly that minimizes buzz squeak and rattle concerns and also maintains a rearview device at a desired elevation relative to the mounting assembly. Installation of a mount with a windshield bracket is also made easier because of the preloading features incorporated into the spring clip.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a mounting assembly. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
Referring to
With reference again to
The illustrated review device 12 may include any of a number of review device constructions including an electro-optics assembly or a display mirror assembly that displays images captured by an imager. The imager may be positioned inside or outside the vehicle. Although the illustrations show a single ball mount, the pivot member or ball 52 of the mount 22 may include a single ball mount or may include a dual ball arrangement. Regardless of the construction of the review device 12 or the adjustment of the review device 12, the interface 56 of the spring clip 30 with the mount 22 and the preloading that occurs as a result of the structure of the spring clip 30 and preloading posts of the mount provides a stable mounting construction that is easy to manufacture and has high adjustability for a user.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference now to
Mechanical fasteners 64 are then positioned through the fastener aperture 62 of the spring clip 30 and into the receiving aperture 66 of the mount 22 and rotated into secure connection with the receiving aperture 66 of the mount 22. During rotation of the mechanical fasteners 64, the loading levers 42 come into contact with the pre-loading posts 24. As the base 32 of the spring clip 30 is drawn down onto the spring clip interface 56, the pre-loading posts 24 force the loading levers 42, and consequently, the connecting portion 38, away from the base 32, thereby creating a compressive force between the connecting portion 38 and the base 32. This pre-loading effort reduces the amount of deflection necessary to deflect the spring clip 30 fully during installation of the mount, spring clip and mirror assembly to the windscreen bracket 14. This construction also minimizes the effort required to rotate the mount 22 into place against the windshield bracket 14.
With reference to
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its form, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, number of fasteners used, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
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