Mounting assembly for an exterior attachment device, rearview device and motor vehicle

Abstract

A mounting assembly for an attachment device of a vehicle includes receiving or holding means on a rearview device of the vehicle, the receiving or holding means being adapted so that the attachment device can be fixed by means of at least one fixing means of the attachment device in operative connection with at least one complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means, where at least one of the at least one fixing means of the attachment device or the receiving or holding means is configured to be in operative connection, where after fixation, the attachment device cannot be released from the fixing means without destruction, and at least one of the at least one fixing means of the attachment device or the complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means includes at least one of a clip, an undercut and a latch.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for an exterior attachment device of a motor vehicle, comprising: receiving or holding means on an exterior rearview device of the motor vehicle, the receiving or holding means being adapted so that the exterior attachment device can be fixed by means of at least one fixing means of the exterior attachment device in operative connection with at least one complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means, the at least one fixing means being formed as a unitary, undivided member, wherein at least one of the at least one fixing means of the exterior attachment device or the complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means is configured to be in operative connection so that after initial fixation, the exterior attachment device cannot be released from the at least one complementary fixing means without destroying the at least one fixing means, at least one of the at least one fixing means of the exterior attachment device or the at least one complementary fixing means of the receiving or holding means comprises at least one of a clip, an undercut and a latch, the at least one fixing means bends and springs back in the operative connection with the at least one complementary fixing means after fixation, the at least one fixing means of the exterior attachment device has at least one predetermined breaking point, and the predetermined breaking point is configured to break in response to the connection between the at least one fixing means and the at least one complementary fixing means being released.

2. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the exterior attachment device comprises at least one electrical connection, the electrical connection configured to be in electrical operative connection during fixing of the exterior attachment device with a complementary electrical connection element of the receiving or holding means.

3. The mounting assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one electrical connection of the exterior attachment device is at least one of self-locating and self-centering.

4. The mounting assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one electrical connection element of the exterior attachment device is fixed to the exterior attachment device.

5. The mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the exterior attachment device comprises at least one of a camera, a light, a light module, a microphone, a speaker, a display, a reflection element, a mirror, an antenna, a sensor, and a projector.

6. A rearview device comprising a holding means for a mounting assembly according to claim 1.

7. A motor vehicle comprising a holding means for a mounting assembly according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, certain examples of the present description are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of system, apparatuses, and methods consistent with the present description and, together with the description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic detail sectional view of a fixing means of a first mounting assembly for an external attachment device of a motor vehicle.

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic detail sectional view of a fixing means of a second mounting assembly.

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic detail sectional view of a fixing means of a third mounting assembly.

(5) FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are diagrams illustrating another schematic detail sectional view of the fixing means.

DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are diagrams which illustrate detailed views of examples of a mounting assembly 10 for an exterior attachment device 12 of a motor vehicle.

(7) The exterior attachment device 12 includes, for example, a camera, a lighting module, a logo display, a sensor for a driver assistance system, other imaging or display units, or combinations thereof.

(8) The attachment device 12 may include a fixing means 14 which, in this example, is in the form of a clip connector. The fixing means 14 may include a clip, projection, extension arm, clamp, latch, or protrusion.

(9) In the installed state of the exterior attachment device 12, the fixing means 14 engages a complementary fixing means 16 of a receiving or holding means 18 for the exterior attachment device 12. The receiving or holding means may include, for example, a bracket, an opening, a receptacle, a holder, among other holding structures.

(10) If the external attachment device 12 is inserted in the direction of the arrow 20 in the receiving or holding means 18, then the fixing means 14 may bend through and spring back in the end position of the attachment device 12 in the position shown in order to produce the desired rear grip.

(11) A removal of the attachment means device 12 against the direction of the arrow 20 is no longer possible in a nondestructive manner, which secures the exterior attachment device 12 against theft.

(12) It is possible, as shown in FIG. 1, to additionally provide the fixing means 14 with a predetermined breaking point 22 in order to prevent a non-destructive removal of the attachment device 12. The breaking point 22 may be in the form of a cut into the material of the fixing means 14 which allows the fixing means to bend without breaking.

(13) However, such a predetermined breaking point 22 can also be omitted, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fixing means 14 may also include a positive locking means 24, which engages in a complementary form-fitting means 26 of the motor vehicle-side fixing means 16. The positive locking means 24 and the form-fitting means 26 may include complimentary steps formed at the ends of the fixing means 14 and the motor vehicle-side fixing means 16, respectively.

(14) For fixation of the attachment device 12, a plurality of fixing means 14 of the type shown are preferably used, in particular more than three such fixing means 14. However, any number of fixing means 14 may be used.

(15) In addition, the external attachment device 12 may still have electrical connection elements which interact with the insertion of the external attachment device 12 into the receiving or holding means 18 acting as a receptacle 18 with complementary electrical connection elements of the motor vehicle.

(16) These electrical connection elements are not shown in the figures for clarity. The electrical connection means are preferably self-locating or self-centering in order to allow a particularly simple mounting of the external attachment device 12. Furthermore, the electrical connection elements themselves may still have clips, clamping or latching connectors which likewise cannot be detached in a non-destructive manner in order to further complicate theft of the exterior attachment device 12.

(17) The bracket like receiving or holding means 18 and/or the exterior attachment device 12 may further alternatively or additionally include devices that damage the exterior attachment device 12 at an illegal removal. For example, for this purpose, adhesive or color cartridges can be provided, which discharge in response to improper removal of the exterior attachment device 12 and make this unusable. Also, prestressed bolts or the like, which mechanically damage the external attachment device 12 in this case, may be used.

(18) Accordingly, a mounting assembly for an exterior attachment device 12 may protect the exterior attachment device 12 particularly well against theft.

(19) FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate detailed sectional views of the fixing means including the external attachment device 1, the receiving or holding means 2, the fixing means 3 (being a clip in FIGS. 4A-4D, the fixing means 4 (being a complementary clip in 4A-4D, the predetermined breaking points 5, and the positive locking means 6.

(20) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(21) 10 mounting assembly

(22) 12 external attachment means

(23) 14 fixing means

(24) 16 fixing means

(25) 18 receiving or holding means

(26) 20 arrow

(27) 22 predetermined breaking point

(28) 24 positive locking means

(29) 26 positive locking means