Vehicle Slide Mount For Multiple Components

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a combination bracket and electrical connector assembly for plural components for removable installation into a vehicle. The combination includes a bracket assembly that surrounds two or more stacked components, holding the components together. An upper connector assembly has a first housing and a bottom open face and has plural first connecting elements mounted into the first housing, the upper connecting assembly arranged for mounting onto a vehicle surface. A lower connector assembly has a second housing and a top open face and is arranged for mounting onto the bracket assembly, the lower connector assembly having plural second connecting elements mounted into the second housing. The plural first connecting elements arranged to automatically engage the plural second connecting elements when the lower connector assembly is slid under the upper connector assembly.

Claims

1. A combination bracket and electrical connector assembly for plural components for removable installation into a vehicle, comprising: a bracket assembly that surrounds two stacked components, holding the two components together; and an upper connector assembly having a first housing and a bottom open face and having plural first connecting elements mounted into the first housing, the upper connecting assembly arranged for mounting onto a vehicle surface; a lower connector assembly having a second housing and a top open face and arranged for mounting onto the bracket assembly, the lower connector assembly having plural second connecting elements mounted into the second housing, the plural first connecting elements arranged to automatically engage the plural second connecting elements when the lower connector assembly is slid under the upper connector assembly.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting elements comprise sockets and the second connecting elements comprise plugs.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting elements comprise plugs and the second connecting elements comprise sockets.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting elements comprise a mix of plugs and sockets and the second connecting elements comprise a mix of plugs and sockets.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein two of the plural first connecting elements and two of the plural second connecting elements are dedicated to connecting two antennas each dedicated to a different signal band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the invention of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a first connector assembly from FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a second connector assembly from FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged side view taken from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment mounting arrangement for stacked components for vehicle mounting in a vehicle 8. The arrangement includes a lower first component 10 and an upper second component 14. The components can be police and fire scanners, Amateur Radio Band (Ham), Citizens Band (CB), Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), simple stereo receivers, a speaker, amplifiers, or navigation systems.

[0022] The first and second components 10, 14 are held together by a bracket assembly 18. The bracket assembly 18 includes a U-shaped base bracket 24 and an overlying, inverted U-shaped upper bracket 26. The two brackets 24, 26 are fixed together by left and right fasteners 32, 34 which each include a turning knob 40 that extends into a threaded stud 44. The threaded stud extends through a slot 46 in left and right vertical legs 48a, 48b of the base bracket 24 and is threaded into a threaded hole 52 in each of left and right vertical legs 56a, 56b of the upper bracket 26. The slots 46 provide for vertical adjustment between the brackets 24, 26 to accommodate components 10, 14 of different height dimensions.

[0023] A handle 58 is attached or formed with the upper bracket 26.

[0024] A pad 59 can be arranged between the upper component and the upper bracket 26, which can be compressed to retain the stacked components snugly within the bracket assembly 18.

[0025] A plug and socket assembly 60 is provided above the upper bracket 26. The plug and socket assembly 60 includes a lower plug assembly 64 fixed to the upper bracket 26 and an upper socket assembly 66 fixed to a surface 70 of the vehicle 8. such as an under-dash surface.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the lower plug assembly 64 comprises a housing with an open top face and open front and rear ends. The lower plug assembly 64 includes a first plug 74, a second plug 76 and a third plug 78. The plugs 74, 76, 78 are multi-conductor plugs. The first plug 74 includes pins 74a, 74b, 74c, 74d, and corresponding wires 75a, 75b, 75c, 75d. The second plug 76 includes pins 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76e, 76f. and corresponding wires 77a, 77b, 77c, 77d, 77e, 77f. The plug 78 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug, such as standard USB, mini-USB or micro-USB plug, or USB-C plug and has four pins 78a, 78b, 78c, 78d, which connect to 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the upper socket assembly 66 comprises a housing with an open bottom face and open rear and front ends. The upper socket assembly 66 includes a first socket 94, a second socket 96 and a third socket 98. The sockets 94, 96, 98 are multi-conductor sockets. The first socket includes pin connectors 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d. and corresponding wires 95a, 95b, 95c, 95d. The second socket 96 includes pin connectors 96a, 96b, 96c, 96d, 96e, 96f. and corresponding wires 97a, 97b, 97c, 97d, 97e, 97f. The socket 98 is a USB socket compatible with the USB plug 78 and has four pin connectors 98a, 98b, 99c, 98d connected to corresponding wires 99a, 99b, 99c, 99d.

[0028] The lower plug assembly 64 and the upper socket assembly 66 form a clam shell arrangement with the upper socket assembly partially fitting vertically into the lower plug assembly, such that when slid together in a horizontal direction, the housings of the plug assembly and the lower socket assembly cover the top and bottom of the plugs and sockets.

[0029] The plugs and sockets of the upper socket assembly and the lower plug assembly are arranged within the upper socket assembly and the lower plug assembly, such that when the lower socket assembly is slid onto the upper plug assembly the plugs mate with respective sockets to make electrical connections. The plug 74 mates with the socket 94, the plug 76 mates with the socket 96, the plug 78 mates with the socket 98. The pins and pin connectors within each of the respective plugs and sockets make electrical connection per the Table A. below. The conductors are assigned the functions set forth in the Table A.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A Plug Wires Service To/From 74a 75a scanner signal (+) to scanner component 74b 75b scanner signal () to scanner component 74c 75c amplifier power (+) to amplifier power input 74d 75d amplifier power () to amplifier power input 76a 77a radio signal (+) from amplifier input 76b 77b radio signal () from amplifier input 76c 77c Radio power (+) Radio power input 76d 77d Radio power () Radio power input 76e 77e PA/External speaker (+) Radio output 76f 77f PA/External speaker () Radio output 78a 79a GPS signal (+) to GPS device input 78b 79b GPS signal () to GPS device input 78c 79c GPS power (+) to GPS power input 78d 79d GPS power () to GPS power input Socket Wires Service To/From 94a 95a scanner signal (+) from scanner antenna 94b 95b scanner signal () from scanner antenna 94c 95c amplifier power (+) from vehicle power 94d 95d amplifier power () from vehicle power 96a 97a radio signal (+) from CB antenna 96b 97b radio signal () from CB antenna 96c 97c Radio power (+) from vehicle power 96d 97d Radio power () from vehicle power 96e 97e PA/External speaker (+) from Radio output 96f 97f PA/External speaker () from Radio oiutput 98a 99a GPS signal (+) from GPS antenna 98b 99b GPS signal () from GPS antenna 98c 99c GPS power (+) from vehicle power 98d 99d GPS power () from vehicle power

[0030] The Radio in the above table can refer to CB Radio, or Amateur Radio or Family Radio Service, or General Mobile Radio Service. The scanner can be a police and fire scanner or other type scanner.

[0031] The conductors of the lower plug assembly 64 are connected to components 10 and 14 as set forth in Table A. The conductors have corresponding electrical connectors for connecting to inputs and outputs of components 10 and 14 or are hard wired thereto onto terminals without a connector.

[0032] The conductors of the upper socket assembly are connected to inputs and outputs of the vehicle as set forth in Table A. The conductors have corresponding electrical connectors, as applicable for connecting to inputs and outputs of the vehicle or are hard wired into the vehicle electric system, or are hard wired to vehicle-carried or mounted antennas.

[0033] In operation, the assembly of components 10, 14, the bracket assembly 18 and the lower plug assembly 64 as a unit are slid into a dedicated space in the vehicle 8, such as under the dash or console, using the handle 58. The upper socket assembly 66 is pre-attached to a position in the dedicated space of the vehicle 8 at the proper elevation.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the lower plug assembly 64 is slid under the upper socket assembly 66 and the plugs and sockets within the respective lower plug assembly 64 and the upper socket assembly 66 engage and mate together, such as the plug 74 mating with the socket 94, and the plug 78 mating with the socket 98, and the plug 76 mating with the socket 96 (not shown), to complete all the electrical connections.

[0035] Also shown in FIG. 5 is a leaf-spring latch 112 formed of a bent single piece of spring metal, and having a base 113 at one end that is riveted or otherwise attached to the floor of the lower plug assembly, such as by a rivet 114. At an opposite end of the latch, is a tab 118 and between the tab 118 and the base 113 is a fold or loop 120 which snaps into a slot 122 in the upper socket assembly 66. To slide the assembly of components 10, 14, bracket assembly 18 and lower plug assembly 64 into place, the lower plug assembly, attached to the upper bracket 26, is slid under the upper socket assembly 66 and the latch is depressed to allow the lower plug assembly 64 to fully engage with the upper socket assembly wherein the latch 112 is resiliently deflected downward and upon full engagement snaps upward into the slot 122.

[0036] Removal of the assembly of components 10, 14, the bracket assembly 18 and the lower plug assembly 64 as a unit is reversed, in that the tab 118 is depressed by the user's finger while the handle 58 is pulled to disengage the upper socket assembly from the lower plug assembly.

[0037] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effectuated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.