MOUNT FOR VEHICULAR HEADS-UP DISPLAY

Abstract

A mount carries a heads-up display in an electric vehicle having two A-pillars and a cross beam extending transversely between the pillars, a support fixed to the cross beam and traversed by a steering column of the vehicle, and two transversely spaced flat brackets extending parallel to each other longitudinally forward from the support and embracing the display. Each bracket is formed wholly of sheet steel and has having a straight upper edge projecting longitudinally forward and downward and formed with a bent-out edge strip and an angled lower edge converging longitudinally away from the cross beam toward the upper edge and having a bent-out edge strip. Each bracket further has a front end provided with an attachment plate constructed for attachment to a vehicle firewall and a rear end formed with an upper hole constructed to receive a fastener securing the respective bracket to the support.

Claims

1. In combination with an electric vehicle having two A-pillars and a cross beam extending transversely between the pillars: a support fixed to the cross beam and traversed by a steering column of the vehicle; two transversely spaced flat brackets extending parallel to each other longitudinally forward from the support, each formed wholly of sheet steel, the brackets each having a straight upper edge projecting longitudinally forward and downward and formed with a bent-out edge strip and an angled lower edge converging longitudinally away from the cross beam toward the upper edge and having a bent-out edge strip, each bracket having a front end provided with an attachment plate constructed for attachment to a vehicle firewall and a rear end formed with an upper hole constructed to receive a fastener securing the respective bracket to the support; a plurality of attachment fittings on the upper edges; and a heads-up-display between the two brackets and having transversely projecting attachment tabs above the attachment fittings on the upper edges and constructed to be fastened to the attachment fittings on the upper edges to secure the display below a windshield of the vehicle.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein one of the brackets carries only a single one of the attachment fittings.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the other of the brackets carries only two of the attachment fittings spaced longitudinally apart.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the upper holes of the rear ends of the brackets are between the respective bent-out edge strips.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each bracket has a lower transversely throughgoing hole constructed to receive a fastener securing the respective bracket to the holder.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the attachment fittings for the heads-up display (1) are made of plastic with a fiber filling proportion being 30%5%.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the attachment fittings are injection-molded and each have a block body with an internally threaded insert and riding on of the upper edge of the respective bracket, the block body being unitary with a vertical crosspiece on the respective bracket.

8. The combination according to claim 7, in the X and Z directions wherein the inserts are of stainless steel.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the brackets 5) are adjustable vertically and horizontally.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the bent-out edge strips of each bracket project away from the other bracket and the edge strips project substantially at a right angle from a planar sheet-steel panel with which they are unitary.

11. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising on each of the attachment plates: a respective centering bushing as a tolerance compensation element for a reference bolt mounted to the firewall or end wall of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display and mount of this invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a partly exploded view of the structure of FIG. 1;

[0029] FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the two mounting brackets of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a centering element of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a detail view of the heads-up display; and

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting frame of this invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] As seen in the drawing, a mount for an augmented-reality heads-up display 1 in use is carried on the vehicle body by a cross beam 2 extending between the vehicle's two A-pillars 36 and 37. The vehicle's windshield is shown schematically at 39 and steering column at 38. A support 3 is attached to or connected to the cross beam 2. This cross beam 2 and the support 3 have fastening options for brackets 4 and 5 of the heads-up display 1 described below. For this purpose, two lugs 6 formed with respective mounting holes 7 are provided on the cross beam 2. Further such holes 7 are also provided on the support 3. The two brackets 4 and 5 for the heads-up display 1 are spaced apart and extend parallel to one another and are bolted, riveted, or otherwise fastened at the holes 7 to the support 3 and to the cross beam 2. The brackets 4 and 5 have respective front ends 8 and 9 directed toward and connected to an unillustrated firewall.

[0034] The brackets 4 and 5 extend essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis or normal travel direction of the vehicle shown at x in the drawing. The brackets 4 and 5 are constructed for attachment to the heads-up display 1. In addition, an unillustrated steering column of the electric vehicle extends through the support 3 in the mounting position in the region of the brackets 4 and 5 attached thereto.

[0035] Each of the brackets 4 and 5 consists of shaped steel sheet metal with a respective straight upper edge 10 and 11 directed toward the front end of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. Each of the approximately triangular brackets 4 and 5 also has a respective lower edge 12 and 13 forming a right angle. The brackets 4 and 5 each have respective upper edges 14, 15 and lower edges 16, 17 bent outward away from one another and from the plane of the respective bracket 4 or 5, so that the confronting faces of the brackets 4 and 5 are flat and only the angled bent-out edges 14, 15, 16, 17 project outward, forming a substantially flat contact surface between the brackets 4 and 5 for the heads-up display 1.

[0036] Rear ends 19 and 20 of the brackets 4 and 5 are fastened to the support 3, form with their edges 10, 11 or 12, 13 mutually converging regions that are brought together in the manner of a U-shaped profiling at their rear ends 19, 20 and have first perforations 21, 22 in the regions lying between the bent-out edges 14, 16 or 15, 17 for fastening to the support 3. The perforations 21, 22 are aligned approximately coaxially with the holes 7 of the lugs 6, so that fasteners can be guided and attached therethrough. The ends of the brackets 4 and 5 remote from the cross beam 2 have respective converging edges 10, 12 and 11, 13 and are each provided at the end face with plate-like connecting tabs or lugs 23, 24. These connecting lugs 23, 24 form the connection points to the unillustrated firewall. In the region of the upper edges 10, 12 or corresponding folded edges 14, 15, there are fittings 25, 26, 27 for supporting and fastening the heads-up display 1, for which purpose the heads-up display 1 has tab-shaped fastening projections 28, 29, 30. Corresponding holes for fasteners are provided in these mutually complementary parts.

[0037] The bracket 4, which is further in the transverse direction, i.e. in the Y-direction, from the outside of the electric vehicle, has for the heads-up display 1 the two fittings 25, 26 that are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] The bracket 5 closer to the outside of the electric vehicle has only one such fitting 27 for the heads-up display 1. While each bracket 4 and 5 has the first holes 21, 22 between the bent-out edges 16, 19 or 17, 20 for fasteners for connection to the support 3 or the cross beam 2 at the lugs 6, each bracket 4 and 5 has second holes 31, 32 near the angled lower edge 12, 13 and specifically in the area of the bend for fasteners for connection to the lower holes 7 of the support 3 of the cross beam 2.

[0039] The fittings 25, 26, 27 for the heads-up display 1 are made of plastic, preferably PP or PA. Preferably, this plastic is reinforced with glass fibers and/or carbon fibers. In this case, the fiber filling proportion can preferably be in the range of 30%+5%.

[0040] In addition, the fittings 25, 26, 27 are injection molded and each have a block-like body 14, 15 at the upper edge 10, 11 of the respective bracket 4 and 5, a casting connection being produced via a crosspiece brace or leg 33 of the bracket 4 and 5 fitting in a seat 34, 35 on the bent edge 16 or 17 of the lower edge 12 or 13. The brace 33 is only shown on the right in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 on the left, it is located on the far side of the bracket 4. The seat grooves 34 and 35 are formed along the lower edge in the underside of the bent edge 16 or 17 or are provided there.

[0041] Stainless steel threaded bushings are preferably held in the fittings 25, 26, 27 for securing the heads-up display 1 to it.

[0042] The flat connecting tabs 23, 24 have tolerance-compensating elements so that they can be aligned and fixed relative to the attachment point. The connecting tab 23 in particular has a centering bushing 36, preferably made of plastic, as an interface or receptacle for a reference pin, which is inserted into the corresponding receptacle 36.

[0043] All steel parts of the specified solution are provided with an anticorrosion coating, preferably with an electroplated zinc coating. In particular, the brackets 4 and 5 have a sheet thickness of preferably 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0044] Some essential components are shown only schematically and not in the form in which they are used in reality. This applies in particular to the heads-up display 1, the cross beam 2 and the support 3.

[0045] The design according to the invention achieves in particular a high dynamic stiffness of the connection geometry for the HUD projector so that it can project a vibration-free image onto the projection surface, namely the windshield 39 of the vehicle.

[0046] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

[0047] All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered essential to the invention.