Abstract:
The invention relates to a mounting bracket ( 10 ), in particular for mounting a radiator ( 100 ). The bracket ( 10 ) comprises a stationary member ( 20 ) to be attached to the vehicle and a movable member ( 30 ) slideably mounted on the stationary member ( 20 ), preferably using guide rails ( 24   a,    24   b ). The movable member ( 30 ) is configured to move from a first position to a second position to thereby secure the radiator ( 100 ). A ratchet mechanism ( 42 ) including teeth ( 42   a ) on the stationary member ( 10 ) may be provided to lock the movable member ( 30 ). An independent claim is included directed to a method for securing a vehicle component.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a mounting bracket and, more particularly, to an adjustable bracket for mounting an automotive component. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Traditionally, brackets have been used to attach automotive components to vehicles and to substantially restrain movement of such components. For example, an automotive component such as a radiator can be fixed in place with a bracket. To install the bracket, one portion of the bracket is attached to the vehicle and another portion of the bracket is attached to the automotive component. Attachment of the bracket to the vehicle is typically accomplished using standard fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, rivets). Similarly, the bracket can be attached to the automotive component using a standard fastener such as a bolt and/or a special tool. 
         [0005]    One disadvantage of a conventional bracket is that such a bracket typically has a preformed shape and is designed to be installed at a predetermined location in the vehicle. Accordingly, a conventional bracket can only be used to secure an automotive component having dimensions that correspond to the shape and predetermined placement of the bracket. As a result, the conventional bracket is unable to accommodate components of varying size or components that deviate from specified dimensional tolerances. Moreover, conventional brackets are attached to automotive components using standard fasteners and/or special tools, which increases the manufacturing cost and assembly time because extra parts must be purchased and utilized on the assembly line. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One aspect of the present invention relates to a bracket for securing a vehicle component. The bracket includes a stationary member configured to be attached to a vehicle and a movable member slideably mounted on the stationary member. The movable member is configured to move from a first position to a second position to thereby secure the vehicle component. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a bracket. The bracket includes a support member for attachment to a vehicle body and a clamping member mounted on the support member. The clamping member is slideably adjustable so that the clamping member can be adjusted to secure vehicle components of various sizes. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for securing a vehicle component in place. The method includes providing a bracket that includes a stationary member and a moveable member slideably mounted on the stationary member; attaching the stationary member to a vehicle body in the vicinity of a vehicle component; moving the moveable member toward the vehicle component; discontinuing moving the moveable member when it contacts the vehicle component; and either automatically during the movement or subsequent to the movement, engaging a latching mechanism to substantially restrain movement of the vehicle component. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a module containing at least a radiator and a bracket including a stationary member configured to be attached to a vehicle and a movable member slideably mounted on the stationary member. The movable member is configured to move from a first position to a second position to thereby secure the module in place. 
         [0010]    Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for installing an automotive component in a vehicle. The method includes providing a module containing at least a radiator; installing the module in the vehicle; providing a bracket that includes a stationary member and a moveable member slideably mounted on the stationary member; attaching the stationary member to the vehicle so that the moveable member is positioned above a top surface of the module; moving the moveable member toward the top surface of the module until the moveable member contacts the top surface of the module; and activating a latching mechanism, either during the movement or subsequent to the movement, to retain the moveable member in contact with the top surface of the module. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain principles of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bracket according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bracket according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   a  in an uninstalled position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   b  in an uninstalled position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   a  in an installed position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   b  in an installed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   b.    
           [0019]      FIG. 5   a  is a top plan view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0020]      FIG. 5   b  is a top plan view of the bracket of  FIG. 1   b.    
           [0021]      FIGS. 6   a  to  6   c  are detailed drawings showing details of the brackets of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
           [0022]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are drawings showing details of the stationary member of the bracket of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
           [0023]      FIG. 8   a  is a top view and  FIG. 8   b  is a perspective view showing details of the movable portion of the bracket of  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b.    
           [0024]      FIG. 9   a  is a perspective view and  FIG. 9   b  is a cross-sectional view showing an isolator member of the bracket of  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b.    
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the bracket shown in  FIG. 1   b.    
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a front view of a preferred, optional locking member, and  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are cross-sectional views taken along the lines A-A and B-B, respectively. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an optional insert member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, an example of each being illustrated in the accompanying drawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbers throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 1   a ,  2   a ,  3   a  and  5   a  show a first embodiment of a bracket  10  according to the present invention.  FIGS. 1   b  through  5   b  show a second embodiment according to the invention. The bracket  10  is configured to secure an automotive (or vehicle) component  100  in position when the automotive component  100  is installed in a vehicle. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the bracket  10  includes a stationary member  20 , a moveable member  30 , and a latch mechanism  40 . The second embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1   b , differs from the first embodiment mainly by virtue of employing a separate locking member  60  to selectively engage the latch mechanism. 
         [0030]    The stationary (or support) member  20  supports the moveable member  30  and is configured to be attached to a vehicle structure such as a vehicle frame or body. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stationary member  20  includes fastening members  22   a  and  22   b  for attaching the stationary member  20  to the vehicle structure. The fastening members  22   a  and  22   b  preferably include holes  22   c  and  22   d , respectively, so that the fastening members  22   a  and  22   b  can be connected to the vehicle structure using standard fasteners such as bolts, screws, or rivets. Alternatively, the fastening members  22   a  and  22   b  can be attached to the structure by welding or bonding. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the stationary member  20  includes a mounting interface  24  that is configured to engage a corresponding mounting interface  34  on the moveable member  30  so that the moveable member  30  is supported on the stationary member  20 . For example, the mounting interface  24  of the stationary member  20  may include a first guide rail  24   a  and a second guide rail  24   b  (shown in  FIG. 7 ). Similarly, the mounting interface  34  of the moveable member  30  may include a first jaw  34   a  and a second jaw  34   b  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the moveable member  30  is mounted on the stationary member  20  by inserting the guide rails  24   a ,  24   b  into the jaws  34   a ,  34   b , respectively. In this manner, the stationary member  20  supports the moveable member  30 . 
         [0032]    The moveable (or clamping) member  30  is mounted on the stationary member  20  so that a position of the moveable member  30  is adjustable relative to the stationary member  20 . For example, the moveable member may be adjustable between a first position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) in which the moveable member  30  is not contacting the automotive component  100  (i.e., an uninstalled position) and a second position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) in which a contact surface  38  of the moveable member  30  is contacting a top surface  110  of the automotive component  100  (i.e., an installed position). Preferably, the moveable member  30  is slideably mounted on the stationary member  20  so that the moveable member  30  can move from the first position toward the second position. For example, the jaws  34   a ,  34   b  may be slideable along a length of the guide rails  24   a ,  24   b . As a result, a height of the moveable member  30  is adjustable so that the bracket  10  can secure automotive components of various sizes and dimensional tolerances. 
         [0033]    The moveable member  30  is adapted to be actuated from the uninstalled position to the installed position in a simple manner that does not require the use of special tools. For example, the moveable member  30  may be moved from the uninstalled position to the installed position by applying a force to an upper surface  36  of the moveable member  30  so that the moveable member  30  moves toward the automotive component  100 . The force may be applied, for example, by a hand of a person or by a robot or a machine. The degree of force required to actuate the moveable member  30  will vary depending on the design of the bracket  10  and can be readily determined by one of skill in the art. In the case of the first embodiment of  FIG. 1   a , the force is typically greater than in the case of the second embodiment of  FIG. 1   b , as explained below. 
         [0034]    The bracket  10  includes a latch mechanism  40  that may enable either one-way actuation of the moveable member  30  or two-way actuation of the moveable member  30 . Specifically, the latch mechanism  40  in the first embodiment is configured to allow only one-way movement of the moveable member  30  in a direction toward the automotive component  100  (i.e., in a direction toward the second or installed position) and to prevent movement of the moveable member  30  in a direction away from the automotive component  100  (i.e., in a direction toward the first or uninstalled position). In this case, the latch mechanism  40  is activated automatically as the moveable member  30  moves along the stationary member  20  toward the installed position. For example, the latch mechanism  40  may include an ratchet mechanism  42  that is designed to be automatically engaging. The ratchet mechanism  42  has teeth  42   a  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) disposed on the stationary member  20  and a projection  42   b  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) disposed on the moveable member  30 . Each tooth  42   a  includes an inclined surface S 1  and a substantially straight surface S 2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the inclined surfaces S 1  slope toward the installed position so that the projection  42   b  slides over an inclined surface S 1  when sufficient force is applied to the upper surface  36  of the moveable member  30 . After traversing an inclined surface of a tooth  42   a  or when application of the force is halted, the projection  42   b  snaps into a space  42   c  between adjacent teeth  42   a  and is prevented from moving back toward the uninstalled position by a surface S 2 . In this manner, the latch mechanism  40  allows the moveable member  30  to proceed in only one direction and can retain the moveable member  30  in a particular position. Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the bracket  10  includes an automatic latch mechanism  40  that operates automatically for one-way actuation of the moveable member  30  without the use of additional parts such as fasteners or special tools. 
         [0035]    In the alternative second embodiment, the bracket  10  includes a selectively engageable latch mechanism adapted to be manually locked or activated (e.g., by a person or robot) to secure the moveable member  30  in a desired position. In the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   b , a separate locking member  60  is provided to selectively engage the latch mechanism  40  in its final latched condition when the moveable member  30  has reached its final position. In this embodiment, the projection  42   b  is oriented such that is either does not contact or engage with the ratchet teeth  42   a , or so that it only lightly contacts teeth  42   a . In this way, the moveable member can be moved more easily and optionally can be moved in both directions during mounting of a part or component. Only when the moveable member  30  is positioned in its final location is the locking member  60  inserted and/or fully inserted into the moveable member, in order to bias the projection  42   b  into (more) secure engagement with the teeth  42   a . Details of one preferred locking member  60  are shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  11   a  and  11   b.    
         [0036]    Of course, many other types of selectively engageable locking systems are conceivable. For example, other systems for selectively engaging the ratchet mechanism are conceivable. In another example, the selectively engageable locking mechanism could include at least one aperture disposed on the moveable member  30  and a plurality of corresponding apertures disposed on the stationary member  20 . The moveable member  30  could be moved along the stationary member  20  until the aperture on the moveable member  30  aligns with an aperture on the stationary member  20  that is at the desired position. The manual latch mechanism could be activated by inserting a pin through the aligned apertures so that the moveable member  30  is retained relative to the stationary member  20 . When a selectively engageable latch mechanism is employed, the moveable member  30  can be configured for one-way (i.e., one direction) or two-way (i.e., two direction) actuation. 
         [0037]    The latch mechanism  40  may also include a release member for releasing or disengaging the latch mechanism  40 . When the latch mechanism  40  is actuated, the moveable member  30  is released and can be freely moved along the stationary member  20  in either direction (i.e., in a direction toward the installed position and in a direction toward the uninstalled position). As shown in  FIG. 5   a , an optional release member  44  may be, for example, a lever configured to allow the projection  42   b  to disengage from a space  42   c . In this manner, the bracket  10  can be readjusted after initial installment, e.g., to replace the mounted component. Alternatively, the bracket  10  may be configured for a single use so that readjustment of the bracket  10  is accomplished by breaking the bracket  10  to disengage the latch mechanism  40  and replacing the bracket  10  with a new bracket. In the case of the second embodiment, the locking member  60  can be removed in order to reposition the moveable member  30 . 
         [0038]    The stationary member  20  and the moveable member  30  may be formed of any material suitable for use in a vehicle application. For example, the stationary member  20  and the moveable member  30  may be formed of a polymer, a composite, or a metal. Preferably, however, the stationary member  20  and the moveable member  30  are formed of a nylon plastic. 
         [0039]    As shown, e.g., in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the moveable member  30  preferably includes an isolator member  38   a  having a clamping surface  38 . When the moveable member  30  is retained in the installed position by the latch mechanism  40 , the clamping surface  38  preferably contacts a top surface  110  of the automotive component  100  with sufficient force to securely stabilize (or fix) the component  100  in position so that movement of the component  100  is substantially restrained. The degree of force required to stabilize the component  100  depends on the automotive application and can readily be determined by one of skill in the art. Preferably, the clamping surface  38  and the isolator member  38   a  are formed of a polymer or rubber material. The material can also be selected so as to reduce the transmission of vibration through the isolator member  38   a , i.e., by having a degree of resilience. 
         [0040]    The moveable member  30  of the bracket  10  may include an aperture  50  that permits access to a portion of the automotive component  100  when the bracket  10  is in the installed position. For example, the top surface  110  of the automotive component  100  may include a connection  150  (e.g., for attaching a hose such as a coolant hose). To permit access to the connection  150  when the bracket  10  is in the installed position, the stationary member  20  is connected to the vehicle structure so that an axis A-A of the aperture  50  of the moveable member  30  substantially aligns with an axis B-B of the connection  150 . Accordingly, when the moveable member  30  is moved into the installed position, the connection  150  is received in the aperture  50  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to enable access to the connection  150 . 
         [0041]    In certain applications for the moveable member having an aperture  50 , it may also be desirable to include an optional insert that lines the aperture  50 . Such an insert is shown in exploded  FIG. 10  and also in  FIG. 12 . This insert is typically made of a more wear resistant material, such as a hard plastic, metal or composite material, since one reason to include such an insert is to prevent wear of the isolator member  38   a.    
         [0042]    In operation, the bracket  10  may be utilized to secure and stabilize the automotive component  100  in a vehicle. For example, the automotive component  100  (e.g., a module containing at least a radiator) is installed in a vehicle. The stationary member  20  of the bracket  10  is attached to the vehicle so that the moveable member  30  is positioned above the top surface  110  of the automotive component  100 . A force is applied to the upper surface  36  of the moveable member  30  so that the moveable member  30  moves relative to the stationary member  20  toward the top surface  110  of the automotive component  100 . Application of the force is continued at least until the contact surface  38  of the moveable member  30  contacts the top surface  110  of the automotive component  100 . Preferably, application of the force is continued until the contact surface  38  is pressed against the top surface  110  of the component  100  with sufficient force to substantially restrain movement and/or stabilize the component  100 . The latch mechanism  40  is activated (automatically or selectively) to thereby retain the moveable member  30  in contact with the top surface  110  of the automotive component  100 . 
         [0043]    In both the first and second embodiments, the two relatively moveable parts of the bracket can be initially connected to one another, e.g., by having the ratchet mechanism engaged in the first (or one of the initial few) tooth. This minimizes the number of separate parts to be handled during assembly or when supplying the assembly line. In the second embodiment, this initial connection can be either as a result of a partial or a complete insertion of the locking member  60 , and or by providing differently configured teeth near the beginning of the row of teeth. Obviously, the locking member can optionally be removed, if desired, during adjustment of the bracket, but this is not necessary. 
         [0044]    Thus, according to embodiments of the present invention, an adjustable bracket for securing automotive components of varying size and/or dimensional tolerance is provided. The adjustable bracket improves vehicle manufacturability and reduces cost by decreasing the number of parts and the assembly time required to install and secure an automotive component. Although the automotive component  100  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is a module that includes a radiator, a condenser, and a fan (i.e., a condenser radiator fan module or CRFM), the present invention is not limited to such modules. Rather, the invention applies to any automotive component that needs to be stabilized and/or securely fixed in place in a vehicle. Such automotive components include, for example, radiators, condensers, batteries, filter housings, coolant overflow reservoirs, fuel tanks, and electronic control modules. 
         [0045]    Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.