Abstract:
A panel dock is disclosed, the panel dock comprising a body, a retainer, and a bracket. The retainer is rotably secured to the body and includes a shaft having at least one arm extending from the shaft and at least one finger extending from the shaft. The bracket is attachable to an electronic device. The bracket includes a bar sized to be secured between the arm and the finger.

Description:
[0001]    The disclosure relates generally to equipment for retaining electronic devices, and in particular to equipment for retaining electronic devices to a panel, such as in a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electronic devices are often used in vehicles where proper retention would be desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide equipment for removably mounting electronic equipment in a panel, such as an instrument panel found in vehicles. 
         [0004]    A panel dock is disclosed, the panel dock comprising a body, a retainer, and a bracket. The retainer is rotably secured to the body and includes a shaft having at least one arm extending from the shaft and at least one finger extending from the shaft. The bracket is attachable to an electronic device. The bracket includes a bar sized to be secured between the arm and the finger. 
         [0005]    Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a panel dock with an electronic device in an engaged position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of a panel dock with an electronic device in an engaged position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is another rear isometric view of a panel dock with an electronic device in an engaged position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric frontal view of a panel dock with an electronic device in a disengaged position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an isometric rear view of a panel dock with an electronic device in a disengaged position; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is another isometric rear view of a panel dock with an electronic device in a disengaged position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present disclosure generally provides equipment for removably mounting an electronic device in a panel, such as an instrument panel in a vehicle. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a panel dock  10  with an electronic device  12  in an engaged position. The panel dock has a body  13  with a face  14 . Body  13  further comprises a first side  16  and an opposite second side  18  (not visible in this figure) extend rearward from the face  14 . Body  13  also includes a top  20  and opposite bottom  22  also extend rearward from the face  14 . Electronic device  12  is shown generally flush with face  14  while in the engaged position. A plurality of mounting holes  24  are shown in side  16 . Mounting holes  24  accept fasteners (not shown) for securing the panel dock  10  to a panel (not shown), such as an instrument panel in a vehicle. Thumb wheel  26  extends through face  14  to allow operation of a retainer  28  shown and discussed in more detail below. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of a panel dock  10  with an electronic device  12  (not visible in this view) in an engaged position. Body  13  further includes a rear  30 . Side  16  and top  20  extend from face  14  to rear  30 . Rear  30  has keyholes  32  near side  16 . Electronic device  12  is shown with a wire  34 , wire  36 , and wire  38  extending from electronic device  12  through keyholes  32 . 
         [0019]    Retainer supports  40  extend rearward from rear  30  and include slots  42 . Near retainer supports  40  are holes  44  in rear  30 . A retainer  28  is rotably attached to panel dock  10  at retainer supports  40  such that portions of retainer  28  may extend through holes  44  upon rotation as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0020]    Retainer  28  has pins  48  that mate with slots  42  pins  48  are connected by shaft  50  that runs parallel to the axis of pins  48 . Cams  52  along shaft  50  mate with bearing surfaces  54  formed in rear  30 . Pins  48  in conjunction with cams  52  and bearings  54  (shown and discussed below) work in conjunction to allow and control the rotation of retainer  28  through a predetermined range of motion. Extending from shaft  50  are arms  56  and opposing fingers  58 . Together, arms  56  and fingers  58  trap, retract, and retain a bar  60  as retainer  28  is rotated from a disengaged position to the engaged position shown. Retainer  28  is rotated by movement of thumb wheel  26 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is another rear isometric view of a panel dock  10  with an electronic device  12  (not visible in this view) in an engaged position. Side  18  is clearly shown with mounting holes  24  and thumb wheel  26  extending through face  14 . Fingers  58  are shown to have a trapping indent  62  near a distal end, a retraction profile  64  below the trapping indent  62 , and a retaining indent  66  near the junction of finger  58  and shaft  50 . The trapping indent  62  allows a bar to be trapped between the finger  58  and arm  56  when the retainer is rotated in to a disengaged position as shown below. In the disengaged position the arms  56  and fingers  58  extend through holes  44  in the rear  30  to engage bar  60 . Once the bar  60  is trapped between the arm  56  and finger  58  in the trapping indent  62  the retainer  28  may be rotated thus drawing the arms  56 , fingers  58 , and trapped bars  60  through holes  44  in the rear  30 . As retainer  28  is rotated bars  60  slide along retracting profile  64  and into retaining indent  66 . The retraction rate and retention of bars  60  are controlled by the shapes of fingers  58  and arms  56 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of  FIG. 3 . A bracket has bar supports  70  and bars  60 . Bar supports  70  extend from a plate  71 . Plate  71  is attached to electronic device with fasteners  72 . As shown, fasteners  72  are screws sized to fit in preexisting holes in electronic device  12 . Other fasteners  72  could be used as appropriate, such as adhesives, hook and loop systems, or rivets, but screws allow simple attachment and detachment without damage to the electronic device  12 . 
         [0023]    Arms  56  each have a retraction profile  74  and retaining indent  76  to work with the corresponding features of fingers  58 . 
         [0024]    Rear  30  of panel dock  10  is more clearly visible in this view. Bearing surfaces  54  and holes  44  are shown aligned with retainer supports  40 . Air vent  80  is molded into rear  30  and allows for the addition of an air supply hose to cool electronic device  12  if necessary. Mounting plate  82  is molded into rear  30  to allow for alternate mounting means. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 . This view gives another perspective on retainer  28  and in particular shows the location of pins  48 , cams  52 , and the thumb wheel  26 . Another view of fingers  58  is also provided, clearly showing trapping indent  62 , retraction profile  64 , and retaining indent  66 . 
         [0026]    Bottom  22  extend from face  14  to rear  30  opposite top  20  and includes tabs  78 . Tabs  78  engage openings in the bottom of electronic device  12 . Electronic device  12  is placed into panel dock  10  bottom first to engage tabs  78  and then is pushed rearward such that bars  60  snap between arms  56  and fingers  58  into trapping indent  62  of fingers  58 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of  FIG. 2  more clearly showing both pins  48  and all four cams  52 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is an isometric frontal view of a panel dock  10  with an electronic device  12  in a disengaged position. Tabs  78  (not visible in this view) are engaging the bottom of electronic device  12  and bars  60  (not visible in this view) are trapped in trapping indent  62  (not visible in this view). Electronic device  12  may be held in this position by the tabs  78  and indents  62  indefinitely, thus allowing for access controls or ports on electronic device that may be hidden once electronic device  12  is in an engaged position. Tabs  78  and indents  62  secure electronic device  12  in the disengaged position such that device  12  does not fall loose upon rotation of thumb wheel  26 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is an isometric rear view of a panel dock  10  with an electronic device  12  in a disengaged position. Thumb wheel  26  is rotated along with shaft  50  such that fingers  58  and arms  56  extend through the holes  44  in rear  30  to engage bars  60  pin  48  engages slot  42  of retainer support  40  to allow rotation of retainer  28 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is another isometric rear view of a panel dock  10  with an electronic device  12  in a disengaged position. 
         [0031]    While this disclosure has described a certain embodiment and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of this embodiment and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of an example embodiment does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.