Patent Description:
Current motor vehicle rear view mirror systems which enable the driver to view indirect fields of view are being replaced by camera systems. In order to monitor the required viewing zones, the camera system must be arranged in a specific layout in regard to frontal position and lateral spacing from the vehicle. The specified mounting location of the camera pod adapter assembly and it's method of installation may present disadvantages in the mounting process.

<CIT> describes an apparatus for mounting a camera to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a motor; a rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the rotatable shaft includes a mechanism for mounting a camera; and a controller coupled to the motor and configured to control rotation of the rotatable shaft based on a desired orientation of the camera.

<CIT> refers to a vehicle camera cover assembly, comprising a base bracket having a windshield attachment surface and a cover attachment surface opposite the windshield attachment surface, the base bracket defining an opening dimensioned to encircle a base member of a rear-view mirror, the cover attachment surface having an upper portion with a first attachment section, a lower portion with a second attachment section and midportion with an inner flange extending therefrom at a location spaced apart from the first attachment section and the second attachment section; an upper cover having an upper attachment section that aligns with and attaches to the first attachment section, the upper cover having a retention flange extending from one end thereof dimensioned and positioned to overlay the inner flange of the base bracket with the upper cover attached to the base bracket; and a lower cover having a lower attachment section that aligns with and removably connects to the second attachment section, the lower cover having an outer flange dimensioned and positioned such that with the upper cover and the lower cover installed to the base bracket, the outer flange covers and contacts the retention flange thereby confining the retention flange between the outer flange and the inner flange restricting movement of the upper cover relative to the lower cover and the base bracket.

<CIT> relates to a folding joint for attaching a rear view display device to a vehicle, comprising: a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the first and second hinge portions are designed to be mutually about a pivot axis to be rotatable around; and a hinge pin which at least partially coincides with the axis of rotation, the hinge pin being adapted to pivotally connect the first and second hinge sections to one another, wherein the hinge pin comprises a guide pin extending substantially perpendicularly from the hinge pin and a spring-loaded clamping bolt arranged on the guide pin, the spring-loaded clamping bolt comprising a cam portion and adapted to cooperate with at least one locking surface in the second hinge portion to adjustably lock relative to pivotal movement of the first and second hinge portions.

It is the object of this disclosure to further develop the existing camera pod mountings to overcome the problems of the prior art.

The object is achieved by the provision of a camera pod adapter assembly for mounting to an exterior of a vehicle, comprising: a camera pod adapter providing a mounting point for a camera pod system and mounting brackets; an attachment portion on a vehicle side for attachment of the camera pod adapter to the vehicle comprising at least one aperture; and fasteners, which can be turned in order to tighten the mounting brackets; wherein the fasteners are rotatable in such a way that the mounting brackets are in a first state in which they are extended the maximum distance away from the camera pod adapter, whereby in the first state, the mounting brackets are aligned such that they are able to be inserted through the respective aperture, and wherein the fasteners are rotatable in such a way that the mounting brackets are in a second state in which they are retracted such that they are a minimum distance away from the camera pod adapter, whereby, in the second state, the mounting brackets abut against the inner surface of the attachment portion, fixing the camera pod adapter in place. The adapter assembly is provided with a mounting side for attachment of a camera pod assembly, and a vehicle side for attachment to a vehicle. The adapter assembly, thus, is provided with fastners and mounting brackets which cooperatively fix the adapter assembly to the attachment portion of a vehicle.

The adapter assembly has mounting brackets having a first state and a second state. The fasteners are operable to move the mounting brackets from the first state to the second state. The fasteners are also operable to move the mounting brackets from the second state to the first state. The at least one first aperture is provided substantially perpendicular to the at least one mounting brackets; and the fastners are operable to be inserted through the at least one first aperture to fix the adapter assembly.

One general aspect of the adapter assembly may include at least one first aperture and an at least one second fastener. wherein one embodiment the at least one first aperture of the camera pod adapter assembly provided herein is provided substantially perpendicular to the at least one mounting bracket. The at least one second fastener is operable to be inserted through the at least one first aperture to fix the adapter assembly.

It should be noted that the features set out individually in the following description can be combined with each other in any technically advantageous manner and set out other forms of the present disclosure. The description further characterizes and specifies the present disclosure in particular in connection with the figures.

<FIG> illustrates an isometric view of a camera pod adapter in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the mounting side <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> is shown, which provides a mounting point for a camera pod system (not shown). A camera pod system may be attached to the mounting side <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> via camera pod system mount <NUM>. Aperture <NUM> provides an opening for a wiring harness (not shown) to pass from the vehicle through camera pod adapter <NUM> to a camera pod system. In other embodiments, the camera pod system may come equipped with an integrated self-cleaning system which would require a tube for a cleaning fluid, which could be passed through aperture <NUM>. Screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> are provided and can be turned in order to tighten mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> respectively (shown in <FIG>). Aperture <NUM> and aperture <NUM> provide openings through which a fastener (not shown) may be insert to secure camera pod adapter <NUM> to the exterior of a vehicle. In this embodiment, screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> are depicted as screws, however in other embodiments, screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> may be any other known fastener or fastening method.

<FIG> illustrates an isometric view of a camera pod adapter in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the vehicle side <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> is shown. Mounting bracket <NUM> comprises a threaded insert in which screw <NUM> is inserted. When screw <NUM> is turned clockwise, it will pull mounting bracket <NUM> towards camera pod adapter <NUM>, and when the screw <NUM> is turned counter-clockwise, it will push mounting bracket <NUM> away from camera pod adapter <NUM>. Similarly, mounting bracket <NUM> comprises a threaded insert in which screw <NUM> is inserted such that when the screw <NUM> is turned clockwise the mounting bracket <NUM> is pulled towards camera pod adapter <NUM> and when screw <NUM> is turned counter-clockwise the mounting bracket <NUM> is pushed away from camera pod adapter <NUM>. It should be noted that the described rotation of screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> are exemplary in nature and that the directions could easily be reversed. Further, it should be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that any number of different fastening methods could be used to retract or extend each of mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> away or towards camera pod adapter <NUM>. A gasket <NUM> is arranged such that it may provide a seal between vehicle side <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> and the surface of attachment portion <NUM> of <FIG>. In this example variation, camera pod adapter <NUM> comprises two mounting brackets, mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM>. However, in other example variations camera pod adapter <NUM> requires at least one or more mounting brackets.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a side view of the mounting brackets of a camera pod adapter in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. <FIG> depicts screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> having been rotated such that mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> are in a first state in which they are extended the maximum distance away from camera pod adapter <NUM>. <FIG> depicts screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> having been rotated such that mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> are in a second state in which they are retracted such that they are a minimum distance away from camera pod adapter <NUM>, i.e. in a position contrary to the first state.

<FIG> depicts a close up view of a mounting bracket and camera pod adapter in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Mounting bracket <NUM> is attached to screw <NUM> which may be used to move mounting bracket <NUM> from a first state to a second state or from a second state to a first state. As shown, camera pod adapter <NUM> additionally includes guide <NUM> and guide <NUM>. Guide <NUM> and guide <NUM> are fixed to camera pod adapter <NUM> such that guide <NUM> extends into aperture <NUM> and guide <NUM> extends into aperture <NUM>, where aperture <NUM> and aperture <NUM> are located on mounting bracket <NUM>. Guide <NUM> and guide <NUM> stabilize the mounting bracket <NUM> so that it remains fixed in place during the installation of camera pod adapter <NUM> which will be discussed further with additional reference to <FIG>. Mounting bracket <NUM> also has guides and apertures similar to guide <NUM>, guide <NUM>, aperture <NUM>, and aperture <NUM> in form and function. However for the sake of clarity, only the exemplary guides used to stabilize mounting bracket <NUM> are shown in subsequent figures.

<FIG> illustrates an isometric view of an attachment portion <NUM> of a vehicle for the attachment of a camera pod adapter <NUM> in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Attachment portion <NUM> may be located on a vehicle where it is desired to attach a camera pod. Aperture <NUM> provides an opening for a wiring harness or tube (not shown) to pass from the vehicle through camera pod adapter <NUM> to a camera pod system. Aperture <NUM> provides an opening through which the mounting bracket <NUM> may be inserted and aperture <NUM> provides an opening through which the mounting bracket <NUM> may be inserted. Slot <NUM> is connected to the aperture <NUM> and provides a space for the screw to be adjusted. The slot <NUM> is connected to aperture <NUM> in order to provide a space for the adjustment of screw <NUM>. A fastener (not shown) may be inserted through aperture <NUM> of the camera pod adapter <NUM> and into aperture <NUM> as well as through aperture <NUM> of the camera pod adapter <NUM> and into aperture <NUM> in order to fix camera pod adapter <NUM> to attachment portion <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the alignment of camera pod adapter <NUM> and attachment portion <NUM> in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. To install the camera pod adapter <NUM> at attachment portion <NUM>, the mounting bracket <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> must be in a first state in which they are the maximum distance away from camera pod adapter <NUM>. In the first state, the mounting bracket <NUM> is aligned such that it is able to be inserted through aperture <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> is aligned such that it is able to be inserted through aperture <NUM>. The alignment of the mounting bracket <NUM> to aperture <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> to aperture <NUM> can be seen in more clearly in <FIG>. At the time the mounting bracket <NUM> is inserted through aperture <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> is inserted through aperture <NUM>, there is a distance between camera pod adapter <NUM> and mounting the attachment portion <NUM>, which is shown by distance <NUM> in <FIG>.

Aligning the mounting brackets <NUM>, <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> to pass through their respective apertures means that a portion of screw <NUM>, guide <NUM>, and guide <NUM> will pass through aperture <NUM> and that a portion of screw <NUM> and its respective guides will pass through aperture <NUM>. Once the mounting bracket <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> described above have been extended through their respective apertures, camera pod adapter <NUM> may be fit onto attachment portion <NUM>. To fit camera pod adapter <NUM> to attachment portion <NUM>, screw <NUM>, guide <NUM>, and guide <NUM> are repositioned from aperture <NUM> into slot <NUM> while simultaneously screw <NUM> and the respective guides of mounting bracket <NUM> are repositioned from aperture <NUM> into slot <NUM> allowing vehicle side <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> to rest against the surface of attachment portion <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The length of slot <NUM> and slot <NUM> corresponds to distance <NUM> of <FIG> such that when camera pod adapter <NUM> is moved towards attachment portion <NUM>, distance <NUM> reduces until the camera pod adapter <NUM> contacts the attachment portion <NUM>. The distance <NUM> is approximately zero at the point of contact.

In this manner, the installation of the camera pod adapter <NUM> to the attachment portion <NUM> is performed easily in comparison to the current state of the art. Conventional adapters do not comprise the mounting bracket <NUM> or the mounting bracket <NUM> and generally only include screw <NUM> and screw <NUM>. During the installation process, the camera pod adapter <NUM> must be held in place while screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> are adjusted such that they line up with their respective apertures on attachment portion <NUM>. This can be difficult operation for a person to perform since one hand is used to hold camera pod adapter <NUM> in place. The alignment and turning of screw <NUM> and screw <NUM> must be done with a single free hand while simultaneously holding a screwdriver, drill, or other means of rotating the screw <NUM> and the screw <NUM> into their respective apertures.

As illustrated in <FIG>, once vehicle side <NUM> of camera pod adapter <NUM> is brought against the surface of attachment portion <NUM>, screw <NUM> and a screw <NUM> are turned in order to move mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> from a first state to a second state where they are a minimum distance away from camera pod adapter <NUM>. The mounting bracket <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> are translated towards camera pod adapter <NUM> when moving from the first state to the second state. The camera pod adapter <NUM> is translated against the surface of attachment portion <NUM> by moving screw <NUM>, guide <NUM>, and guide <NUM> into slot <NUM> as well as screw <NUM> and the respective guides of mounting bracket <NUM> into slot <NUM>. Thereby, the mounting bracket <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> are no longer aligned with aperture <NUM> or aperture <NUM> as shown previously in <FIG>. When in the second state, the mounting bracket <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> abut against the inner surface of attachment portion <NUM>, fixing camera pod adapter <NUM> in place.

<FIG> illustrates a camera pod adapter being attached to an attachment portion of a vehicle in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. After mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> are in their second state and are capable to hold the camera pod adapter <NUM> against attachment portion <NUM>, a fastener (not shown) may be insert through aperture <NUM> (<FIG>) into aperture <NUM> (<FIG>) and through aperture <NUM> (<FIG>) into aperture <NUM> (<FIG>) and then tightened in order to secure camera pod adapter <NUM> to attachment portion <NUM>. The insertion of fasteners through aperture <NUM> and aperture <NUM> into aperture <NUM> and aperture <NUM> secures camera pod adapter <NUM> along an axis substantially perpendicular to that of mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM>. The mounting bracket <NUM> and the mounting bracket <NUM> secure camera pod adapter <NUM> by applying force against attachment portion <NUM> adjacent to slot <NUM> and slot <NUM>. However, if only mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> are used, it would be possible to remove camera pod adapter <NUM> by applying an upward force relative to the camera pod adapter <NUM>. The use of fasteners insert through aperture <NUM> into aperture <NUM> and through aperture <NUM> into aperture <NUM> prevents camera pod adapter <NUM> from being removed from attachment portion <NUM> by the application of an upward force.

As each of the fasteners are inserted through aperture <NUM> and aperture <NUM> along with mounting bracket <NUM> and mounting bracket <NUM> being adjusted into a second state, the gasket <NUM> is compressed between camera pod adapter <NUM> and the outer surface of attachment portion <NUM>. Once fully compressed, the gasket <NUM> is able to seal any openings between camera pod adapter <NUM> and attachment portion <NUM> in order to prevent the intrusion of contaminants from the atmosphere external to the camera pod adapter to enter into the equipped vehicle.

Claim 1:
A camera pod adapter assembly for mounting to an exterior of a vehicle, comprising:
• a camera pod adapter (<NUM>) providing a mounting point for a camera pod system and mounting brackets (<NUM>,<NUM>);
• an attachment portion (<NUM>) on a vehicle side (<NUM>) for attachment of the camera pod adapter (<NUM>) to the vehicle comprising at least one aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>);
• fasteners (<NUM>, <NUM>), which can be turned in order to tighten the mounting brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein
the fasteners (<NUM>, <NUM>) are rotatable in such a way that the mounting brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>) are in a first state in which they are extended the maximum distance away from the camera pod adapter (<NUM>), whereby in the first state, the mounting brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>) are aligned such that they are able to be inserted through the respective aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
the fasteners (<NUM>, <NUM>) are rotatable in such a way that the mounting brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>) are in a second state in which they are retracted such that they are a minimum distance away from the camera pod adapter (<NUM>), whereby, in the second state, the mounting brackets (<NUM>, <NUM>) abut against the inner surface of the attachment portion (<NUM>), fixing the camera pod adapter (<NUM>) in place.