Patent Description:
In a vehicle, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles, displays are commonly used for driving assistance. For example, a display can be connected to a camera for the observation of dead angles. The display(s) is(are) most often integrated into or mounted on the dashboard. Document <CIT> discloses an example of an attachment of a display.

The driver needs to twist and/or lower the head while driving to look at this(these) screen(s). The position of the display(s) is therefore not optimal.

Another disadvantage of this solution is that the display is not easy to mount, dismount and/or change.

Furthermore, the display cannot usually be oriented to suit the size and driving position of the driver.

There is a need for a display mounting system with an adjustable mechanism that can be a type of hinge that angles display manually by driver, ball-joint or other solution. The system has to be modular so that it can be used for many displays/devices. Preferably, this system minimizes the amount of unique components in order to decrease the part and tool cost and the environmental footprint.

In some examples, each flat angle bracket may comprise a first arm and a second arm, wherein both first arms are in the same plane and are aligned and wherein both seconds arms are parallel to each other and on the same side of the plane including the first arms. This structure allows to pivot the adapter plate around an axle formed perpendicular to the second arms or to fixedly mount the adapter plate on the first arms. In this example, advantageously each first arm and each second arm may have at least one fixing hole, and at least two fixing holes may be coaxial.

In some examples, the display carrier may comprise at least three threaded holes, and the adapter plate may comprise at least three fixing holes being coincident with said at least three threaded holes. In this way, the adapter plate may be screwed onto the display carrier so that the display carrier can be securely fixed but can also be remove for maintenance of the display.

In a preferred example, the adapter plate may comprise a first set of slots running in a first direction and a second set of slots running in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In this way, a hinge can be formed according to the first direction or according to the second direction. In this example, at least a slot of the first set of slots may superimpose a slot of the second set of slots, thus forming a cross. On the place of this cross, it is possible to mount a fixation ear according to a first orientation or according to a second orientation.

The adapter plate may comprise a central opening. The connection of the display can be made through this opening.

Advantageously, the slots of the adapter plate are similar. In this way, the fixation ears can be standardized.

According to the invention, each fixation ear comprises a base adapted to fit into a slot and a body with a fixing hole. The fixation ears can be mounted on the same way on all the slots.

For a rigid construction, the adapter plate and/or the fixation ears may be made by cutting a sheet of metal.

For a good connection between a fixation ear and the adapter plate, the adapter plate and the fixation ears may be made from the same metal and may be welded together.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a display assembly may comprise: a display with a screen and a back portion, and
an attachment as described hereabove.

In some examples, the display assembly may comprise a first cover covering at least partially the display carrier and the back portion of the display and/or a second cover covering at least partially the rigid bracket. The first cover and/or the second cover may have an esthetic function but may also have a protective function.

In some examples, the adapter plate may comprise a central opening and the back portion of the display comprises a connector, and the central opening of the adapter plate may surround said connector.

According to a third aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle may comprise a display assembly as described hereabove.

The connecting flange of the rigid bracket of the attachment may be fixed on an A-pillar of the vehicle. This position is ergonomic for the driver and does not penalize the safety since it does not hide the road.

Advantageously, the connecting flange of the rigid bracket of the attachment may be fixed on the body in white of said vehicle.

The connecting flange of the rigid bracket of attachment may be screwed on the body of the vehicle so that it can be removed if no more useful.

<FIG> is a front view of a vehicle, for example a truck <NUM>, with a driver <NUM>. This vehicle comprises an inside display installation assembly <NUM> with a display and an attachment for the mounting of the display on a A-pillar <NUM> of the vehicle.

When he drives the vehicle, the driver observes the road and also both sides outside the vehicle. In some circumstances, there is also a need to observe dead angles. A camera may be arranged outside the vehicle and the display installation assembly <NUM> may be used to show the images taken by the camera.

The present disclosure proposes to mount the display on the A-pillar <NUM> of the vehicle. This position is ergonomic since the driver can see the display with a simple eye movement and this position is also safe since the display does not obstruct the view on the road.

<FIG> show more in details how to mount the display inside the vehicle and the present disclosure gives example attachment with a minimized amount of unique components.

<FIG> shows an exploded view of an example attachment for a display shown on <FIG>. On this figure, we can see a display <NUM>, a display carrier <NUM>, a cover <NUM>, an adapter plate <NUM>, fixation ears <NUM> and a rigid bracket <NUM>.

As can be seen on <FIG>, many kinds of displays <NUM> can be used in cooperation with an attachment according to the present disclosure. These figures show a <NUM>" display and a <NUM>" display. As suggested by these figures, the display <NUM> can be used in portrait mode or in landscape mode. This applies to both displays (<FIG>).

The display carrier <NUM> is a part that is adapted to the display <NUM>. It is an interface that can be fixedly mounted on a back side (opposite to a screen) of the display. In the examples shown on <FIG>, <FIG>, the display carrier <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM> and a central flange <NUM>. The frame <NUM> may be screwed onto the back portion of the display <NUM> if the structure of the display <NUM> allows a screwed fixation. In another example, the frame <NUM> may be clamped on the back portion and/or on the edges of the display <NUM>.

The central flange <NUM> is connected with the frame <NUM> and is adapted for receiving the adapter plate <NUM>. The central flange <NUM> may for example comprise threaded bores, for example four threaded bores, to receive the adapter plate <NUM> in a screwed construction. The display <NUM> comprises at least a connector for receiving data and/or current. Advantageously, the central flange <NUM> surrounds the at least one connector of the display.

The cover <NUM> is a cap covering at least partially the back portion of the display <NUM> and the display carrier <NUM>. It has an esthetic function but also a protective function for the display <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may be a plastic cover with a snap-on mounting. It comprises at least an opening <NUM> on the one side for the mechanical connection between the display and the rigid bracket <NUM> and on the other side for the electrical connection of the display <NUM>.

The adapter plate <NUM> is shown more in details on <FIG>. This adapter plate <NUM> is advantageously a piece which can be used for all kinds of displays <NUM> and all kinds of rigid brackets <NUM> for attachments according to the present disclosure.

The adapter plate <NUM> may be obtained by cutting a sheet of metal. In this case, the adapter plate <NUM> is a plane piece. It may be a rectangular or a square piece. Its angles may be rounded.

Adapter plate <NUM> could also be injection molded or metal casted.

The adapter plate <NUM> may comprise circular bores <NUM>, slotted holes <NUM>, first slots <NUM>, second slots <NUM> and a central opening <NUM>.

The adapter plate shown on <FIG> is a square shaped plate with rounded corners. It comprises two circular bores <NUM> placed near of two opposite corners. Both other corners of the plate are fitted each with a slotted hole <NUM>. The slotted holes <NUM> are oriented in two perpendiculars directions. Circular bores <NUM> and slotted holes <NUM> correspond with the threaded bores of the central flange of display carrier <NUM> so that adapter plate <NUM> can be screwed on the display carrier <NUM> through circular bores <NUM> and slotted holes <NUM>.

Advantageously, first slots <NUM> and second slots <NUM> are similar with a same length and a same width. First slots <NUM> are oriented in a first direction and second slots <NUM> are oriented in a second direction. The first direction may be oriented parallel to an edge of the adapter plate <NUM>. The second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction. A first slot may cross a second slot. At least one first slot <NUM> may be aligned with another first slot <NUM>. At least one second slot <NUM> may be aligned with another second slot <NUM>.

The adapter plate <NUM> shown on <FIG> comprises a central opening <NUM> having also a squared form. It further comprises a first row of first slots <NUM> aligned between a first edge of the adapter plate <NUM> and the central opening <NUM>, a second row of second slots <NUM> aligned between a second edge, adjacent to the first edge, and the central opening <NUM>. A first cross formed by a first slot <NUM> and a second slot <NUM> is cut in the adapter plate between a third edge and the central opening <NUM>. The first slot of the first cross is aligned with a first slot <NUM> of the first row. A second cross formed by a first slot <NUM> and a second slot <NUM> is cut in the adapter plate between a fourth edge and the central opening <NUM>. The second slot of the second cross is aligned with a second slot <NUM> of the second row. On <FIG>, each row of slots contains three slots.

A fixation ear <NUM> may be made from a metal sheet by cutting. The fixation ears <NUM> may be made from the same metal than the adapter plate <NUM>. Fixation ears <NUM> may also be injection molded or metal casted.

The fixation ears <NUM> are preferably similar.

A fixation ear <NUM> comprises a base <NUM> and a body <NUM>. The base <NUM> is adapted to fit into a first slot <NUM> or a second slot <NUM>. The body <NUM> of a fixation ear <NUM> is fitted with a fixing bore <NUM>. A fixation ear <NUM> may comprise a shoulder between the base <NUM> and the body <NUM> to define the position of the fixation ear <NUM> into a slot on the adapter plate <NUM>.

A fixation ear <NUM> may be welded into a slot of the adapter plate <NUM>. In another example, a fixation ear <NUM> may be crimped into a slot of the adapter plate <NUM>.

<FIG> show a set of three ears <NUM> welded on the adapter plate <NUM>.

The rigid bracket <NUM> may form a link between the adapter plate <NUM> and the A-pillar <NUM>. The rigid bracket <NUM> may comprise two opposite ends. A first end may be adapted to cooperate with fixation ears <NUM> mounted on the adapter plate <NUM>. A second end may be adapted to cooperate with the A-pillar <NUM>.

The first end of the rigid bracket is fitted with two flat angle brackets <NUM>. Each flat angle bracket <NUM> has a first arm and a second arm. Each arm has a fixation bore intended to cooperate with a fixing bore <NUM> of a fixation ear <NUM>. Both first arms are aligned in a plane and both second arms extend both perpendicularly to the first arms on a same side of the plane containing both first arms.

The first end of the rigid bracket <NUM> may also comprise a section <NUM> with an U-shaped cross-section. This section <NUM> may also comprise fixation bores intended to cooperate with a fixing bore <NUM> of a fixation ear <NUM>.

The second end of the rigid bracket may comprise a pillar flange <NUM>, eventually fitted with bores. The pillar flange <NUM> may be welded, or screwed, or glued on the A-pillar <NUM>. Preferably, the pillar flange <NUM>, and more generally the rigid bracket <NUM>, is mounted on the BIW (body in white) of the vehicle.

<FIG> shows a first example of a fixation between the rigid bracket <NUM> and the adapter plate <NUM>. In this case, the rigid bracket <NUM> is rigidly mounted on the adapter plate <NUM>: three fixation ears <NUM> cooperate with section <NUM> of the rigid bracket <NUM> and the fixation bores of the first arms of the flat angle bracket cooperate each with a fixing bore <NUM> of a fixation ear <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an electrical connection of the display <NUM>. An electric cable <NUM> is connected to the display <NUM>. It runs along the A-pilar <NUM> and the rigid bracket <NUM>. In this example, the rigid bracket is mounted on the adapter plate <NUM> with four fixation ears <NUM>. Both arms of both flat angle brackets cooperate each with fixation ears <NUM> mounted accordingly on the adapter plate <NUM>.

<FIG> corresponds to the example of <FIG> but shows the screen of the display <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a display <NUM> pivoting around the rigid bracket <NUM>. The two fixation bores of the second arms of the flat angle brackets <NUM> are aligned and form an axle <NUM>. The second arms of the flat angle brackets <NUM> may be mounted pivotally on two corresponding fixation ears <NUM>.

<FIG> shows another example of an attachment. In this example, the adapter plate <NUM> is not in a central position in regard to the display. It can be also remarked that a second cover <NUM> surrounds the rigid bracket <NUM>.

The described examples of an attachment allowing a display position in close proximity to an A-pillar so that the driver can view display content while driving vehicle or in living mode. This display could be used to see surroundings, for example it could replace mirror or enhance view outside of vehicle with help of cameras. The display can be set to drivers own preferences.

The attachment proposed in the present disclosure comprise an "universal" adapter plate and "universal" fixation ears minimizing the amount of unique components. Only the display carrier and the cover of the display are unique components. Rigid bracket is designed for all displays, but it could be necessary to have several rigid brackets for adaptation to the A-pillar. This structure decreases the part and tool cost and the environmental footprint.

According to the concept presented in the present disclosure, an amount of fixation ears is attached to a base plate (adapter plate) in the positions that are needed for the wished application and the chosen interface. The fixation ears can be fixated to the base plate by clips, welding, screwing, crimping,.

The base plate (adapter plate) with the needed interface is then fixated to the unit that will be attached into the cabin of the vehicle to the A-pillar.

Claim 1:
An attachment of a display (<NUM>) for use in a vehicle, comprising:
- a rigid bracket (<NUM>) having a first end with a connecting flange (<NUM>) and a second end with two flat angle brackets (<NUM>),
- a display carrier (<NUM>),
characterized in that :
- the attachment comprises an adapter plate (<NUM>) with a plurality of slots (<NUM>, <NUM>) and fixation ears (<NUM>), each fixation ear (<NUM>) being fixedly mounted into a slot (<NUM>, <NUM>),
- the adapter plate (<NUM>) is mounted on the display carrier (<NUM>),
- at least a fixation ear (<NUM>) cooperates with a flat angle bracket (<NUM>), and
- each fixation ear (<NUM>) comprises a base (<NUM>) adapted to fit into a slot (<NUM>, <NUM>) and a body (<NUM>) with a fixing hole (<NUM>).