WO2006136360A1

WO2006136360A1 - Universal mounting for electronic devices in a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2006136360A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/005883
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Kerner
Original assignee: Daimlerchrysler Ag
Priority date: 2005-06-23
Filing date: 2006-06-20
Publication date: 2006-12-28
Also published as: DE102005029067B3

Abstract

A universal mounting (10) for various sizes of electronic devices, such as for example, mobile phones, mini-computers or similar on a motor vehicle is disclosed, with a U-shaped housing (2), with at least one adjustable side wall (3, 4), for matching to various widths of the devices (1) and with lateral elbows (5, 6), engaging the devices (1) from the front which are spring-loaded in the direction of a back wall (7) to hold the devices (1). The side walls (3, 4) are pre-loaded in the maximum open position thereof by means of a return spring (8) and may be fixed in the relative position thereof by means of a latching mechanism (9, 11) after being pushed together to the appropriate width for a device (1).

Description

DaimlerChrysler AG

Universal holder for electronic devices in a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a universal mount for different sized electronic devices in a motor vehicle. In motor vehicles nowadays a wide variety of electronic devices are used which do not permanently remain in the vehicle and are therefore detachably mounted in corresponding holders in the interior of the vehicle, preferably in the area of the instrument panel. In particular, mobile phones, garage remote controls, handheld computers (or PDAs) or digital audio devices may be mentioned as such electronic devices. Since these electronic devices have different dimensions, they each require specifically adapted brackets. So that not every change from one electronic device to another, the respective holder must be replaced, so-called universal brackets have been proposed.

The publications DE 101 23 556 C2 and DE 91 11 217 Ul describe, for example, mobile phone holders, which are provided with spring-loaded lateral clamping jaws. The jaws are spring loaded and can be pressed against the force of the spring. Although these known brackets are adjustable in a certain range in width to different electronic devices. However, they only provide a lateral hold of the devices and do not allow adaptation to different thickness devices, ie in the depth. In addition, these brackets are bad to use, since the jaws must be pressed against the spring force to the outside during insertion of the male devices. When removing the devices snap the side jaws back to their original position noisily. These known brackets are also designed only for a limited variation in the size dimension. For example, very thin and therefore wider micro-computers (so-called Palms) can not be included in such holders.

The present invention has the object of providing a universal support for different sized electronic devices, which is adapted in a wide range of variation to different dimensions of the devices and allows a secure grip and a comfortable operation.

This object is achieved with a universal mount with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a universal mount for different sized electronic devices in a motor vehicle is proposed with a U-shaped receptacle, which has at least one adjustable side wall to adapt to different widths of the devices and with the devices from the front encompassing lateral elbows, which in the direction of a rear wall for holding the devices are spring loaded. The holder is characterized in that the side walls are biased in their maximum open position by means of a return spring and are fixable to each other via a pawl mechanism after being pushed together to the corresponding width of a device in their relative position. The slidably arranged for width adjustment to each other Side walls are thus initially in their maximum open position and are pushed together with the first insertion of the device with a handle to the appropriate width and locked there automatically via the pawl mechanism. As long as the same device is used, this static width setting does not need to be changed. After opening the pawl mechanism, the at least one displaceable side wall is pushed back into its maximum open position, so again wider electronic devices can be accommodated. The side walls are thus not biased towards the device, so that the introduction of different widths devices is easily possible. The devices are still held securely in the receptacle of the holder, since they are pressed by the encompassing from the front angle pieces in the direction of the rear wall. Thus, an absolute holding security of the devices is guaranteed even with very different outer dimensions. Laterally, the devices are held passively by the corresponding side walls supplied and pressed in from the front by the spring-loaded, encompassing angle pieces regardless of their respective depth safely into the receptacle of the holder. The side walls of the bracket can be adjusted in a wider range of variation of the width of devices. The side walls are not biased toward the devices to be held, so that the attachment of different width devices without pressing apart of spring-loaded side elements is possible. The insertion and removal of the devices is very easy to do, since the side walls do not have to be pressed against a spring force. The secure hold of the devices is guaranteed despite their different widths and thicknesses, since laterally the deliverable side walls can be statically adjusted to the appropriate size and the front encompassing lateral elbows hold the devices securely due to their bias in the receptacle of the holder.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the angle pieces are hinged to adapt to different thicknesses of the devices slidably in a guide groove. The guide groove, which is arranged substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the holder in the side walls, allows a greater adaptation to different thicknesses of devices by the angle pieces are moved with their articulation in the guide groove. The laterally encompassing angle pieces are biased in any relative position in the direction of the device to be held. Due to the contact force of the contra-angles, the devices are held securely in the receptacle of the fixture regardless of their thickness.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the angle pieces with removed device on an upwardly flared, oblique receiving position, in which they are pivotable by means of a spring / lever assembly. As a result, the angle pieces form an upwardly expanding receiving gap for insertion of the devices. Differently thick devices can be inserted in a simple manner from above, with the respective angle pieces adapt to the corresponding thickness of the devices and cling to them. The angle pieces tilt it about its axis of rotation and, if necessary, moved in the guide groove in the outward direction. The angle pieces are thus on the one hand rotatable and on the other hand displaceable in each case against the action of a spring force. Preferably, the spring / lever arrangement of the lateral angle pieces consists of a pivot pin and an articulation lever, wherein the angle pieces are articulated about the pivot pin in a curved guide groove, and a leg spring, the Angle pieces acted upon in the direction of rotation of the expanding receiving position and in the direction of the rear wall. The lateral angle pieces are thus fastened in a structurally simple manner on the one hand rotatable and on the other hand slidably mounted in the receptacle of the holder. The bias in the direction of rotation and in the direction of the rear wall is preferably realized via a common leg spring, which is connected via a corresponding lever with the respective elbow. The attachment and adjustment of the lateral angle pieces is thus structurally simple and störungsunanfällig. The adaptation of the holder to different thicknesses of devices is made possible in a wide range of variations, without affecting the secure grip of the devices.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rear wall of the U-shaped receptacle is formed from L-shaped angled portions of the side walls, one of which has a receiving gap in which a portion of the displaceable side wall is positively inserted. The sliding side wall is guided and held securely in the receiving gap of the fixed side wall in this way. The bracket offers a stable recording for the devices in different settings. The adjustment of the angled side wall within a receiving gap of the rear wall portion of the fixed side wall is prone to failure. The structural design of the holder is kept simple.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the substantially U-shaped receptacle has a trough-like substructure with fixed side wall sections and forms the adjustable side wall an upper portion of the receptacle. This allows the return spring of the side walls in be provided the fixed, trough-like substructure of the recording. The trough-like substructure forms a base structure which is stable on all sides, which improves the overall stability of the mounting.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pawl mechanism consists of a spring-loaded pawl which engages in a toothing on the adjustable portion of the rear wall of the adjustable side wall. The pawl and the teeth are preferably provided at the upper end of the receptacle of the holder, so that the pawl when needed can be easily solved again. By means of the pawl engaging in the toothing, the receptacle can be adjusted and fixed to the desired width by compressing the side walls. The holder is simply adjusted to the required width by squeezing it with one hand. After release of the pawl, the adjustable side wall moves back into the maximum open position of the receptacle due to the return spring, which is provided between the fixed side wall and the adjustable side wall. As a result, a mechanically simple adjustment of the recording of the holder is provided in a wide range of variation in width, the handling is very simple. The adjustment is also fault-prone due to the mechanically simple structure.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receptacle of the universal mount in the lower area on a gap for electronic and / or mechanical interfaces. Thus, different electronic connections or mechanical coupling pieces can be provided in this area. According to the respective type of electronic device so the connection to the Vehicle-side facilities are ensured in a simple manner. The receiving space in the lower area also has the advantage that the mechanism for adapting to different widths and depths of the devices remains independent thereof. The interfaces are provided in a fixed area of the holder.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a Anlenk- kung axis for pivotally securing the universal bracket to a tray of the motor vehicle or the like is provided in the bottom area of the rear wall. The universal bracket can thus be folded and stowed if necessary in a storage tray of the vehicle. The universal support according to the invention is thus swung out only when needed in the interior of the vehicle. When not using the device this is folded together with the holder in a receiving tray, the back and bottom hinge axis allows a flush pivoting into the tray. The universal bracket is thus added together with the electronic device in the storage tray of the vehicle, without it protrudes disturbing into the interior of the vehicle.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in which the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawing show:

1 shows a first embodiment of a universal holder according to the invention at an associated Abiba shell of a motor vehicle in a schematic perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a universal holder according to the invention in a schematic perspective view in the maximum open position; FIG.

Fig. 3a is a sectional front view of the embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3b is a sectional side view of the embodiment of Fig. 2; and

3c is a partial plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 2nd

In Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a universal holder 10 according to the invention for electronic devices 1, such as cell phones, organizers, garage remote controls or audio accessories, shown. The universal mount 10 has a generally U-shaped receptacle 2, which is formed by a rear wall 7 and respective side walls 3, 4. The bracket 10 is used for releasably securing electronic devices 1, which are to be provided temporarily, for example, inside a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The holder 10 is designed for receiving differently dimensioned electronic devices 1. The universal mount 10 according to the invention can accommodate very different sized electronic devices 1, in particular in depth and in width.

For this purpose, the universal mount 10 has at least one adjustable side wall 4, which is arranged displaceable relative to a fixed side wall 3. The rear wall 7 of the receptacle 2 is formed in this embodiment of angled sections 3.1, 4.1 of the respective side walls 3, 4, wherein the fixed rear wall portion 3.1 a slit-like receptacle forms, in which the displaceable rear wall section 4.1 of the side wall 4 can be inserted positively. The width adjustment of the receptacle 2 of the holder 10 can thus take place in a wide range of variation. The interlocking displacement of wall sections 3.1, 4.1 allows a mechanically stable and safely guided displacement of the side walls 3, 4 to each other. The width adjustment of the universal holder 10 according to the invention is such that the side walls 3, 4 are in their maximum open position in a basic position in which they are biased by a return spring (not shown in Fig. 1). When inserting an electronic device 1 from above into the U-shaped receptacle 2, if necessary, the adjustable side wall 4 is delivered from the maximum open position to the correspondingly smaller width of the device 1. This can be done in a comfortable manner with only one hand of the user, the adjustable side wall 4 can be fixed in the desired position by a locking mechanism against the force of the return spring.

The universal mount 10 according to the invention also has two lateral angle pieces 5, 6, which are articulated in each case on the inner sides of the side walls 3, 4. The angle pieces 5, 6 are spring-loaded in the direction of the rear wall 7, so that they can exert a clamping force on an electronic device 1 to be held. The angle pieces 5, 6 embrace the front or front of a male electronic device 1 and are articulated in a respective guide groove 12 via pivot 13. The angle pieces 5, 6 thereby provide a secure fit of the male devices 1. The spring-loaded elbows 5, 6 allow a secure fit of the devices 1 even with very different depths. Thus, thinner devices 1 as well as thicker devices can be used in the invention. Universal holder 10 are taken equal. As can be seen in Fig. 1, are the elbows 5, 6 with the device removed in an upwardly flared opening position, in which they are pivoted by a spring. The insertion of the devices 1 is thus ensured regardless of their thickness in a simple manner. The angle pieces 5, 6 form a funnel-shaped upwardly open insertion gap together with the rear wall 7 of the receptacle 2. After insertion of the devices, the angle pieces 5, 6 lie flush against the front of the same. The pivot pins 13 allow a pivoting of the angle pieces 5, 6 in their guide grooves 12, which are designed arcuate in the embodiment shown. In this way, the bias of the angle pieces 5, 6 in the direction of the rear wall 7 as well as their bias in the upwardly flared opening position by one and the same spring, for example, a leg spring (not shown in Fig. 1) can be realized.

The universal mount 10 in this embodiment has a trough-like substructure 16 in which ports, interfaces or the like can be provided. The fixed, trough-like substructure 16 also has the advantage that the receptacle has a stable basic shape and can be mounted pivotably, for example via a Anlenkungsachse 17. In this embodiment, the universal mount 10 is articulated by a bottom-side pivot axis 17 in the region of the rear wall 7 and can, as shown in Fig. 1, are pivoted into a storage tray 18, for example, a motor vehicle for storage. Fig. 1 shows the pivoted-storage position of the device 1 in the holder 10 in dashed lines. The holder 10 is shown in a detached position without the electronic device 1 in solid lines in Fig. 1 schematically. The Arrows in Fig. 1 denote on the one hand the pivoting movement for receiving in the tray 18 and the spring forces of the biasing springs of the holder 10. The receptacle 18 itself is articulated via a pivoting mechanism to a fixed part, for example within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The receptacle 18 is wider than the pivotable universal mount 10 together with the electronic device 1, so that further storage options for small parts, such as keys or the like, are provided.

2, an embodiment of a universal holder 10 according to the invention is shown in its maximum open position in a schematic perspective view. The adjustable side wall 4 for width adjustment is adjustable only in an upper region. The bottom-side portion of the bracket 10 is formed by a fixed, trough-like substructure 16, in which a return spring 8 and other elements, such as the interfaces of the holder, find space. The adjustable side wall 4 has a rear wall 7 forming the rear wall portion 4.1, which can be inserted into a gap of the fixed rear wall portion 3.1. The adjustable side wall 4 can thus be inserted against the force of the return spring 8 - in the present case a tension coil spring. A pawl mechanism 9, 11 at the upper edge of the rear wall 7 allows locking of the adjustable side wall 4 in the desired relative position. The pawl mechanism is formed in this embodiment by a resilient pawl 9, which engages in a toothing 11 at the upper edge of the displaceable rear wall section 4.1 (see also Fig. 3a). The pawl 9 has an upwardly projecting portion over which it can be easily released by the user to snap back the adjustable side wall 4 in its maximum open position again. The pawl mechanism 9, 11 may be provided as well as the return spring 8 at a different position of the universal bracket 10. Essential to the invention is that the side walls 3, 4 are not spring loaded in the direction of the male devices, but have a static adjustment to the respective width of the male device, which is maintained by a pawl mechanism 9, 11 until another device to be used with different widths. The secure holding of the devices is essentially ensured by the front part of enclosing angle pieces 5, 6, which are spring-loaded in the direction of the rear wall 7, that is, on the devices to be held 1 out.

The universal holder 10 according to the invention is therefore particularly stable and immune to malfunction. The range of variation in thickness and width of receivable electronic devices is increased over prior art devices. The operation, that is, the insertion and removal of electronic devices, is also simplified because when inserting the devices no excessive spring forces must be overcome by biased lateral jaws.

In Fig. 3a, the installation of the return spring 8 for the adjustable side wall 4 in the bottom space 20 below the trough-like substructure 16 can be seen. The return spring 8 is in this case a tension coil spring, which is fixed on the outside via a plug and is coupled in the interior with the edge of the adjustable rear wall section 4.1. When adapting to a correspondingly reduced width compared to the maximum opening position, the user only has to surround the side walls 3, 4 from the outside and the adjustable side wall 4 via the teeth 11 and against move the force of the return spring 8 in the desired position. At the bottom of the holder 10 there are receiving lugs for an articulation axis 17, by way of which the universal holder 10 can be mounted pivotably in the interior of a motor vehicle (compare also the example of FIG.

FIGS. 3b and 3c each show a sectional side view and a sectioned, partial plan view of the universal mount 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 3b, the articulation and bias of the lateral elbow 5 is shown schematically. So that different thicknesses of male devices can be compensated, the angle pieces 5 are articulated via a pivot pin 13 in a guide groove 12. The bias voltage is provided by a leg spring 15, which is coupled to an articulation lever 14 such that also at low thicknesses as well as wider widths, the leg spring 15, the angle 5 in the direction of the rear wall 7 biased towards. For geometric reasons, the guide groove 12 is preferably formed curved around the pivot point of the leg spring (see Fig. 1 and 2). This allows a larger adjustment range in depth. In Fig. 3c is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the universal support 10 according to the invention is shown. In the bottom area, an opening 21 is provided for interfaces of the devices with stationary devices. The side walls 3, 4 may be partially lined with rubber mats 22 to prevent chattering and rattling noises.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments described for illustrative purposes and may have different configurations, as long as they fall within the scope of the claims. In particular, the displacement of the side walls 3, 4 relative to each other be designed differently, as long as at least one of the side walls is spring-loaded in the direction of a maximum opening position. The lateral angle pieces 5, 6 can be articulated differently and spring-loaded, for example in a straight guide and by means of several spring elements.

All in the description, the following claims and in the drawing illustrated features and elements may be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination.

Claims

DaimlerChrysler AGPatent claims

1. universal mount (10) for different sized e- lektronische devices (1) in a motor vehicle with a U-shaped receptacle (2), which at least one adjustable side wall (3, 4) to adapt to different widths of the devices (1) , and with the devices (1) from the front encompassing, lateral elbows (5, 6) which are spring loaded towards a rear wall (7) for holding the devices (1), characterized in that the side walls (3, 4) in their maximum open position by means of a return spring (8) are biased and a pawl mechanism (9, 11) after pushing together to the corresponding width of a device (1) are fixable to each other in their relative position.

2. Universal holder (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle pieces (5, 6) for adaptation to different thicknesses of the devices (1) are displaceably articulated in a guide groove (12).

3. universal holder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle pieces (5, 6) with removed device (1) have an upwardly widening, inclined receiving position in which they by means of a spring / lever arrangement (14, 15) are pivotable.

4. universal mount (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the angle pieces (5, 6) in each case via a pivot pin (13) and an articulation lever (14) are articulated in a curved guide groove (12), wherein a leg spring (15) is provided, which acts on the angle pieces (5, 6) in the direction of rotation of the expanding receiving position and in the direction of the rear wall (7).

5. Universal holder (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear wall (7) of L-shaped angled portions (3.1, 4.1) of the side walls (3, 4) is formed, of which one (3.1) has a receiving gap has, in which a portion (4.1) of the displaceable side wall (4) is positively inserted.

6. Universal holder (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (2) has a trough-like substructure (16) with fixed side wall sections and that the adjustable side wall (4) forms an upper portion of the receptacle (2).

7. Universal support (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pawl mechanism (9, 11) consists of a spring-loaded Teten pawl (9) which engages in a toothing (11) on the adjustable portion (4.1) of the rear wall (7) of the adjustable side wall (4).

8. Universal holder (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle (2) in the lower region has a gap (20) for electronic and / or mechanical interfaces of the device (1).

9. universal mount (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the bottom region of the rear wall (7) an articulation axis (17) for pivotally securing the universal mount (10) on a tray (18) of the motor vehicle is provided.