Abstract:
A bracket which is used for supporting electronic apparatus and which is adapted for removable connection to the console normally found in vehicles. The bracket includes a tongue part which is connectable to the console and a connector which is spaced from the tongue part and which is adapted for connection to the apparatus.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a bracket and will have specific application to a bracket used to connect electronic apparatus to a console normally found in vehicles.  
           [0002]    It is common practice to mount electronic apparatus such as television sets, DVD players, and CD players within motorized vehicles such as motor homes, automobiles and sport utility vehicles. Normally, such apparatus is permanently mounted within the vehicle so as to prevent its unauthorized taking. In this invention a bracket has been designed which is mountable to a component of the vehicle such as a console and which allows the electronic apparatus to be disconnected and removed from the vehicle for either safety reasons or in home use.  
           [0003]    The bracket of this invention includes a tongue part which is releasably connectable to the console and a tongue part which extends laterally from the console and is adapted for connection to the electronic apparatus. The connector is preferably of two part form which allows one part of the connector to be secured to the apparatus and snap fitted or interconnected with the other part to secure the apparatus to the bracket. When desired, the connecter can be released so to permit the apparatus to be separated from the remainder of the bracket.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, is it the object of this invention to provide a bracket for supporting electronic apparatus and which is mountable within the interior of a vehicle.  
           [0005]    The other object of this invention is provide a bracket for releasably mounting electronic apparatus within the interior of a vehicle.  
           [0006]    Still another object of this invention to provide a bracket of economical construction and of simple and reliable operation for releasably mounting electronic apparatus within the interior of a vehicle.  
           [0007]    Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon the reading of the following description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the console showing an electronic device mounted to the console by the bracket of this invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of this invention with the electronic device of FIG. 1 mounted to it and having its lid in closed form.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the console showing the bracket of this invention releasably connected to the console and the electronic apparatus in disconnected form from the bracket.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the component parts of the bracket of this invention in separated or exploded form.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in its assembled form.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a side view of the bracket of this invention shown supporting the electronic apparatus illustrated in broken line form.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a top view of the bracket of this invention as seen in FIG. 5.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of a modified embodiment of the bracket of this invention shown supporting an electronic apparatus illustrated in broken line form.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a top view of the console with the bracket of FIG. 9 removably connected thereto. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhausted or to limit the inventions to the precise forms disclosed. They are described in order to enable one having an ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention.  
         [0019]    Referring first to FIGS. 4 and 5, bracket  10  includes a tongue part  12 , a connector  14 , which is interconnected to tongue  12  by an extension part  16 . Connector  14  is of two part form, namely, a latch part  18  and a catch part  20 . Catch part  20  includes a mounting plate  22  to which the electronic apparatus such as the DVD player  24 , as shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , is connected. Latch part  18  is connected to extension part  16  of the bracket by suitable fasteners  26 . As best seen in FIG. 8, latch part  18  which is formed of a flexible shape- retaining plastic includes a release tab  28 . When release tab  28  is depressed, lip  30  of the tab is flexed outwardly and out of contact with circumferential rib  32  which is formed about the base of catch part  20 , freeing the catch part from the latch part to allow the removal of the connected apparatus from the bracket. Extension part  16  includes an up-turned bend  34  which serves as a stop at maximum depression of release tab  28 . To connect catch part  20  to latch part  18 , the catch part is depressed into the latch part with rib  32  being cammed over lip  30  and an opposing lip  36  of the latch part causing the lips  30  and  36  to be flexed outwardly to allow the catch part to be snapfitted and retained within the latch part as shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0020]    In FIG. 1, a console  38  is shown. Console  38  is of standard construction utilized in many vehicles and includes sidewalls  40  and a bottom wall  42 , forming an interior recess  44  which is used for storage. Console  38  has a open top  46  into recess  44 . A lid  48  spans the top  46  of console  38  in hinged fashion so as to swing between the open position shown in FIG. 3 and a closed position shown in FIG. 1. Console  38  may be mounted in an area between the spaced two front seats of the vehicle which is a common location. To mount bracket  10  to console  38 , a receiver  50  is provided. Receiver  50  includes a bottom plate  52  and a top plate  54  which overlay one another and are connected by fasteners  56  within console recess  44  to one of the sidewalls  40  of the console as shown in FIG. 3. Top plate  54  is outwardly offset so as to form a channel  60  when the two plates are mounted together and attached to the console. Tongue part  12  of bracket  10  is fitted slidably into channel  60  to releasably secure the bracket to the console. A tab  62  formed in top plate  54  protrudes flexibly into channel  60  and serves as a frictional retainer for the tongue part when it is seated within the channel.  
         [0021]    In FIGS. 9 and 10 the bracket  10  has been modified by having latch part  18  of connector  14  connected to extension part  16  by a pivot bolt  64 . This form of connection between the latch part and the extension part allows connector  14  to be pivoted such as shown in the broken line positions in FIG. 10 so as to permit the repositioning or swiveling of the connected electronic apparatus when the bracket is mounted to the console.  
         [0022]    The above described bracket  10  may be connected or disconnected from console  38  at the option of the user. Its connector  14  allows the supported electronic apparatus to be removed from the bracket with the bracket remaining attached to the console. Lid  48  of the console may be closed when bracket  10  is connected and is free to be opened to allow access to the interior recess  44  of the console at any time.  
         [0023]    Bracket  10  and receiver  50  is preferably formed of metal while connecter  18  is preferably of plastic construction.  
         [0024]    The invention as described is not to be limited to the details given but may be modified within the scope of the following claims.