BOX-SHAPED FRAME FOR REMOVABLE CAR RADIOS

Abstract: Box-shaped frame (10) to carry removable car radio sets (50) in motor vehicles, in which the position of the rear end (30), on which there are electric connections (41), is adjustable to adapt the frame to car radios (50) of different lengths, by means of a series (22), (23) of notches (24), (25) placed on the windows (21), (22) in the opposite sides of said frame (10), which notches (24), (25) can be penetrated by strip-like projections (36), (37), fixed to the edges of the short elastic sides (32), (33) of the above rear end (30).

Description: Box-shaped frame for reraoveable car radios . The invention concerns a box-shaped frame, made to re¬ ceive car radio sets, said frame having electric connec- tions at its rear end. During installation of radio receiving sets in motor ve¬ hicles it is well known that difficulties often arise ove getting a good fit between the box-like spaces provided in said vehicles and the radio sets to go in them. It frequently happens that the radio set for this purpose is longer than the depth of the space in which it has to go and consequently the set projects outward in front. The disadvan ages so caused are: extra obstruction, a poor appearance and functional unreliability. The contrary may also happen, namely that the space is too long for the radio set so that electric contacts on the one and. the other do not match properly leading to discontinuity in the circuits to be created between those in the vehicle and those in the set. An expert must therefore be called in to make what alter¬ ations are needed to adapt the set to the prepared aper ¬ ture, or to replace said aperture with another, or else to buy a radio set that fits better into the one provided. By means of the above invention these drawbacks can be avoided and advantages gained as will be explained belo . Subject of the invention is a box-shaped frame, to receive radio sets that can be installed in motor vehicles, the position of the rear end of said frame, carrying elec¬ tric connections, being adjustable in relation to the rest of the frame thereby making it adaptable to take car radio sets of any leng h. For purposes of adaption the rear end of the frame is fast¬ ened to the sides of said frame by fixing means placed longitudinally. Other means, made specially in the short sides of the rear end, can be fitted onto one or other of the above fixing means to place said rear end to give the required depth of frame . In one type of execution the fixing means consist of a ser¬ ies of opposing notches made one after another along the sides of the frame, while the fixing means on the short sides of the rear end consist of a strip-like projection facing outward from said short side of said rear end. By making said strip-like projection fit into two suitably placed notches, the rear end of the frame can be fixed at the desired length. To find the most suitably placed notch said rear end can be pressed into the box-like frame since said rear end's short sides are elastic. The electric contacts on the radio set can be connected to those made on a plate to be mounted on the back end of the radio to ensure that they match up with connections on the rear end of the f ame. In the sides of said frame , coinciding with the position to be occupied by the above adjustable rear end, there are longitudinal windows. The notches to receive the strip—like projections for fastening the rear end are made in the opposing longitudinal edges of said windows. The length of said projection practically corresponds to the distance between the top and bottom ends of the set of notches made in said rectangular windows. The advantages of the invention are clear. By adjusting the depth of the box-like frame, mounted in the motor vehicle, the radio set can be inserted in the best position without any unpleasing and awkward obstruc¬ tion, at the same time ensuring stable electric connection by matching up those on the adjustable rear end of the box like frame with those on the radio set. Depth of the said frame can, as explained, be adjusted in a simple and reliable manner. The overall result can be summed up as functional, safe, pleasing in appearance and avoiding any outward obstruc¬ tion. All these advantages are obtained by simple and therefore inexpensive means. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made even clearer by the following example of its execution il ¬ lustrated by diagrammatic figures. Fig. l: Box-like frame, in perspective. Fig.2: Rear end of said frame, in perspective. Fig.3: Said frame and the rear end when being put toge- ther, seen from above. Fig.4: Frame and rear end when fitted together. Fig.5: Car radio set, connecting plate, box-like frame with its rear end all aligned in the stage of re¬ ciprocal association. The box-like frame 10 comprises the sides 11 , 12 and end sections 13, 14. Tabs 16 and 17 on the front edge 15 hold the frame in po¬ sition in the space made for it in the motor vehicle. The longitudinal rectangular windows 20, 21 are made in the sides 11, 12 of the frame, there being at the top and bottom of said windows sets 22, 23 of opposing notches 24, 25 made to allow the rear end 30 to be fitted in. The rear end 30 comprises a posterior back 31 and short sides 32, 33 joined to said back at corners 34 at 90°. The top and bottom edges of said sides are reinforced by flaps 35, at 90°, while the leading edges have con- tinuous strip-like projections 36, 37 on the horizon¬ tal centre-line axis of said short sides 32,33. Said strip projections 36, 37 are slightly shorter than the distance between the tops and bottoms of oppo¬ sing notches 24, 25. Electric connections 40 with contacts 41 are mounted on the rear end 30. To fit said rear end firmly into the box frame 10, the former is brought close to the latter and, as shown by the central arrow in Fig. 3, sides 32, 33 are simulta- neously pressed inwards, as shown by lateral arrows in Fig.3, until they reach the position indicated by the dotted lines 32' , 33* . When so pressed said sides can be pushed into the box¬ like frame until the strip projections 36, 37 reach an opposing pair of notches 24, 25 giving said frame the - right length in relation to that of the radio to go in it. Once pressure is taken off sides 32,33 said frame and said rear end will be firmly held together as seen in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows the radio 50 with surround 51 and handle 52 used to help pull it out. Just behind the radio is the substantially parallele¬ piped plate 53 comprising electric connection 54 and sockets that match up with the contacts 41 of electric connection 40 on the rear end 30 of the box-like frame 10. In this way electric contacts are ensured by simply push¬ ing the radio set 50 in place inside the box-like frame 10.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Box-shaped frame for holding removeable car radio sets in motor vehicles characterized in that it has a separate rear end " (30)- fitted with.electric connections whose position, in relation to said box-shaped frame (10), is adjustable in depth enabling the frame to be adapted to fit car radios (50) of any length. 2. Box-shaped frame for holding removeable car radio sets in motor vehicles as in claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment of the position of the rear end (30) in relation to the above frame (10) is made possible by a number of means, for holding the rear end (30) in position, spread lengthwise along the sides (11), (12) of the frame ( 10)in- to which other means on the short elastic sides (32), (33) of the rear end (30) can be fitted. 3. Box-shaped frame for holding removeable car radio sets in motor vehicles as in claim 2, characterized in that the means for holding the rear end (30) in position consist of a series (22), (23) of notches (24), (25) placed at inter- vals on the sides of the frame ( 10), while the means on the short elastic sides (32), (33) of the rear end (30) consist of strip-like projections (36), (37) facing out¬ wards and therefore towards the sides (11), (12) of the frame (10), their position coinciding with that of the not ches (24), (25), it being possible by fitting the strip-li projections (36), (37) into one or another of said notches (24), (25) to fix the rear end (30) at the desired depth. 4. Box-shaped frame for holding removeable car radio sets in motor vehicles as in claim 1, characterized in that the electric circuits in the radio set (50) can be connected to an electric connection (54) on a plate (53) applied to the back of the radio set (50) to match said connection reliably and securely with the electric connection (41) on the adjustable rear end (30) of the box-shaped frame ( 10). 5. Box-shaped frame for holding removeable car radio sets in motor vehicles as in claim 3, charac erized in that the sides ( I I), (12) of the box-shaped frame include adjustable rectangular windows (20), (21) coinciding with the position of the rear end (30) there being, on the longitudinal edges of said windows the series (22), (23) of opposing notches (24), (25) for receiving the strip-like projections (36), (37) on the rear end piece (30), the length of said projections (36), (37) being practically the same as the distance between the bot- toms of said opposing notches (24), (25). 6. Box-shaped frame for holding removeable car radio sets in motor vehicles as in claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the short sides (32), (33) of the adjustable rear end (30) are connected to the back (31) by a 90° bend and have, on the front edges of the two short sides, strip¬ like projections (36), (37) needed to lock into the ser¬ ies (22), (23) of the opposing notches (24), (25) in the edges of the rectangular windows (21), (22) of the box-shaped frame.

Inventors: MASTRIPPOLITO GIOVANNI, MASTRIPPOLITO, GIOVANNI
Applicants: MASTRIPPOLITO GIOVANNI, MASTRIPPOLITO, GIOVANNI
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B60R11
IPC codes: B60R11