Mounting structure to attach vehicle accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021107411-A1
Application number	US-201916597166-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2019
Priority date	Oct 9, 2019
Publication date	Apr 15, 2021
Grant date	—

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 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.

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 . The mounting structure of claim 1 , wherein the tab defines a thickness that decreases from a first end to a second end of the tab.

5 . The mounting structure of claim 1 , 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.

6 . 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.

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

8 . A storage system for an interior of a vehicle 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 the surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge; and 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 slidably and removably disposed within the channel.

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

10 . The storage system of claim 8 , wherein the wall defines first and second diameters along a length of the channel, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.

11 . The storage system of claim 8 , 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.

12 . The storage system of claim 8 , 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.

13 . The storage system of claim 8 further comprising electrical pads molded on the surface and within the channel to interconnect the vehicle accessory and a vehicle control sub-system.

14 . The storage system of claim 8 further comprising a port formed in the channel beneath the ledge on a bottom surface of the channel.

15 . 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 the surface in a direction toward an interior of the vehicle, the wall defining a ledge; and 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 slidably received within the channel.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the tab includes a cantilever arm that interconnects the accessory and the tab, the cantilever arm being slidable within the channel.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , 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.

18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , 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.

19 . The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising electrical pads molded on the surface and within the channel to interconnect the vehicle accessory and a vehicle control sub-system.

20 . The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a port formed in the channel beneath the ledge on a bottom surface of the channel.

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

• B60R7/043

  mounted on or under a seat · CPC title

• B60R7/06

  mounted on or below dashboards · CPC title

• B60R7/046 Primary

  mounted on door · CPC title

• B60R7/087

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