Self-cleaning vehicle camera assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10409055-B2
Application number	US-201715828203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

Vehicle camera assemblies comprising integrated self-cleaning assemblies. In some embodiments, the self-cleaning assembly may be configured to engage the camera housing and/or assembly by way of a snap-fit connection. In some embodiments, the snap-fit means may comprise a flexible coupling member. In some such embodiments, the snap-fit means may further comprise a rigid coupling member. The cleaning assembly may be removably coupleable with the camera housing to allow for cleaning, maintenance, and the like.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle camera assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a camera coupled with the housing;
a self-cleaning assembly releasably coupleable with the housing; and
means for releasably locking the self-cleaning assembly with the housing, wherein the means for releasably locking the self-cleaning assembly with the housing comprises:
a flexible coupling member configured to resiliently engage at least one of a recess and a ridge formed on the housing; and
a rigid coupling member.

2. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the means for releasably locking the self-cleaning assembly with the housing comprises snap-fit engagement means for releasably locking the self-cleaning assembly with the housing in a snap-fit configuration.

3. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 2 , wherein the snap-fit engagement means comprises a resiliently-deformable snap-fit engagement means.

4. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupling member extends from the self-cleaning assembly.

5. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupling member comprises a hooked end portion configured to releasably engage the at least one of a recess and a ridge.

6. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the means for releasably locking the self-cleaning assembly with the housing comprises a pair of rigid coupling members.

7. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pair of rigid coupling members is formed on the self-cleaning assembly, wherein the means for releasably locking the self-cleaning assembly with the housing further comprises a second pair of rigid coupling members formed on the housing, and wherein the pair of rigid coupling members is configured to slidably engage the second pair of rigid coupling members.

8. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second pair of rigid coupling members protrudes from an exterior surface of the housing, and wherein the at least one of a recess and a ridge is formed in the exterior surface of the housing in between the second pair of rigid coupling members.

9. A cleaning assembly for coupling with a vehicle camera, comprising:
a body;
a nozzle coupled with the body, wherein the nozzle is configured to deliver a fluid therethrough to clean an exterior window of a vehicle camera upon coupling the cleaning assembly with the vehicle camera;
a rigid coupling member configured to engage a vehicle camera housing to allow the cleaning assembly to be coupled with the vehicle camera; and
a flexible coupling member configured to engage the vehicle camera housing.

10. The cleaning assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flexible coupling member comprises a hooked end portion, and wherein the hooked end portion is configured to resiliently engage an engagement feature formed on the vehicle camera.

11. The cleaning assembly of claim 10 , wherein the body further comprises a pair of rigid coupling members.

12. The cleaning assembly of claim 11 , wherein the flexible coupling member extends from the body in between the pair of rigid coupling members.

Assignees

• Veoneer Us Inc

Inventors

• Leonelli Jr Frank Paul

Classifications

• G03B17/08

  Waterproof bodies or housings · CPC title

• G03B17/56

  Accessories (carrying-cases A45C11/38) · CPC title

• G03B17/02

  Bodies · CPC title

• G02B27/0006 Primary

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• B60S1/56

  specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} · CPC title