Mounting structure to attach vehicle accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040669-B2
Application number	US-201916597166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2019
Priority date	Oct 9, 2019
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A mounting structure for a vehicle accessory comprises a panel including a surface defining a channel with a wall disposed between two sides extending from the surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge, and a tab, attached with the vehicle accessory, that mates with the channel, the tab being confined by the sides and the ledge between the surface and the wall such that the vehicle accessory is slideably and removably attached to the panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting structure for a vehicle accessory on a vehicle, the mounting structure comprising:
a panel including a surface defining a channel with a wall disposed between two sides extending from the surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge; and
a tab, attached with the vehicle accessory, that mates with the channel, the tab being confined by the sides and the ledge between the surface and the wall such that the vehicle accessory is slideably and removably attached to the panel, wherein the tab defines thickness that decreases from a first end to a second end of the tab.

2. The mounting structure of claim 1 , wherein the wall defines first and second diameters along a length of the channel, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.

3. The mounting structure of claim 2 , wherein the wall defines the first and second diameters in a tapered orientation such that the ledge defines an apex to hold a cantilever arm of the tab.

4. A mounting structure for a vehicle accessory on a vehicle, the mounting structure comprising:
a panel including a surface defining a channel with a wall disposed between two sides extending from the surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge; and
a tab, attached with the vehicle accessory that mates with the channel, the tab being confined by the sides and the ledge between the surface and the wall such that the vehicle accessory is slideably and removably attached to the panel, wherein the surface further defines a recessed bore defined at an angle toward a floor of the vehicle such that light from an ambient light engine projects through the bore.

5. The mounting structure of claim 1 further comprising electrical pads molded on the surface and within the channel to interconnect the vehicle accessory and a vehicle control sub-system.

6. The mounting structure of claim 1 further comprising a port formed in the channel beneath the ledge on a bottom surface of the channel.

7. A storage system for an interior of a vehicle, the storage system comprising:
a mounting structure for a vehicle panel, the mounting structure including a channel defined on the panel having a wall disposed between two sides extending from a surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge;
an accessory having a tab that mates with the channel, the tab being confined by the sides and the ledge between the surface and the wall such that the accessory is slideably and removably disposed within the channel; and
electrical pads molded on the surface and within the channel to interconnect the accessory and a vehicle control sub-system.

8. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the tab includes a cantilever arm that interconnects the accessory and the tab, the cantilever arm being slidable within the channel.

9. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the wall defines first and second diameters along a length of the channel, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.

10. The storage system of claim 9 , wherein the wall defines the first and second diameters in a tapered orientation such that the ledge defines an apex to retain a cantilever arm of the tab.

11. The storage system of claim 7 , wherein the surface further defines a recessed bore defined at an angle toward a floor of the vehicle such that light from an ambient light engine projects through the bore.

12. The storage system of claim 7 further comprising a port formed in the channel beneath the ledge on a bottom surface of the channel.

13. A vehicle comprising:
a panel disposed in an interior area of the vehicle, the panel defining a channel having a wall disposed between two sides extending from a surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge;
an accessory removably attached to the panel via a tab that mates with the channel, the tab being confined by the sides and the ledge between the surface and the wall such that the tab is slideably received within the channel; and
a port formed in the channel beneath the ledge on a bottom surface of the channel.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the tab includes a cantilever arm that interconnects the accessory and the tab, the cantilever arm being slidable within the channel.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the wall defines first and second diameters in a tapered orientation such that the ledge defines an apex to retain the cantilever arm of the tab.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the surface further defines a recessed bore defined at an angle toward a floor of the vehicle such that light from an ambient light engine projects through the bore.

17. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising electrical pads molded on the surface and within the channel to interconnect the accessory and a vehicle control sub-system.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Sinha Stuti
• Anderson Scott Culver
• Halonen Aaron
• Jammoul Daniel
• Salter Stuart C

Classifications

• B60R7/081

  for supporting maps · CPC title

• B60R7/087

  for stowing money or valuables, e.g. using safes · CPC title

• B60R7/046 Primary

  mounted on door · CPC title

• B60R7/06

  mounted on or below dashboards · CPC title

• B60R7/005

  Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests · CPC title