# US 10,870,397 B2 · Accessory mounting system for vehicles

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- Number: US 10,870,397 B2
- Document ID: US10870397B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/229,714
- Filed: 2018-12-21
- Published: 2020-06-25
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-21
- Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Edward Pokriefka; Martin Petersen; Dale Butterworth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870397B2

## CPC

- B60R 9/02: at the sides, e.g. on running-board
- B60R 11/02: for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
- B62D 33/027: movable
- B60R 5/041: {extensible externally of the vehicle body, e.g. to create an open luggage compartment of increased capacity (devices for anchoring the boot lid while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042)}
- B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)}
- B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle}
- B60R 2011/0052: {using screws, bolts, rivets or the like}
- B60R 2011/0059: {using clips, clamps, straps or the like}
- B60R 2011/0066: {using screws, bolts, rivets or the like}
- B60R 2011/0071: {using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like}
- B60R 2011/0082: {collapsible, e.g. for storing after use}
- B60R 2011/0085: {with adjustment by rotation in their operational position}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

The present disclosure describes an accessory mounting system for vehicles. The mounting system is reconfigurable between collapsed and expanded configurations, and includes first and second brackets. The first bracket is configured for releasable connection to a vehicle (e.g., via a utility track), and the second bracket is movably connected to the first bracket and configured to support an accessory, such as a speaker, a television, a monitor or other such display, and the like. The first bracket includes a rotatable locking mechanism that is engageable with the second bracket, as well as at least one fastener that is configured to releasably engage the vehicle (e.g., the utility track). The at least one fastener is positioned between the first and second brackets such that the at least one fastener is inaccessible when the mounting system is in the collapsed configuration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle, comprising:
a utility track secured to a wall of the vehicle; and
a mounting system configured to support an accessory, the mounting system being configured for releasable connection to the utility track and being reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the mounting system including:
a first bracket configured for releasable connection to the utility track;
a second bracket movably connected to the first bracket and configured to support the accessory, wherein the first bracket includes at least one fastener configured to releasably engage the utility track in the vehicle, and the at least one fastener is positioned between the first and second brackets such that the at least one fastener is inaccessible when the mounting system is in the collapsed configuration; and
a locking member configured for removable insertion into an opening defined in the second bracket, the locking member being rotatable between a first position, in which the locking member is positioned to engage the second bracket to maintain the collapsed configuration of the mounting system, and a second position, in which the locking member is positioned for passage through the opening in the second bracket to permit movement of the second bracket in relation to the first bracket such that the mounting system is movable into the expanded configuration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first bracket includes a series of articulable arms, the arms extending in generally parallel relation to the first bracket when the mounting system is in the collapsed configuration, and at least one of the arms extending transversely in relation to the first bracket when the mounting system is in the expanded configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the series of arms includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm having a first end portion pivotably connected to a body of the first bracket and an opposite second end portion, the second arm having a first end portion pivotally connected to the second end portion of the first arm and an opposite second end portion pivotally connected to the second bracket such that the second bracket is pivotable in relation to the second arm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the series of arms includes a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, the second arm being positioned between the first arm and the third arm, wherein the first arm and the third arm are each pivotally connected to a body of the second bracket, and the second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm and the third arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the second arm includes opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion of the second arm being pivotally connected to the first arm and the third arm, and the second end portion of the second arm being pivotally connected to the first bracket such that the second bracket is pivotable in relation to the second arm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener is rotatable between first and second positions, the at least one fastener being oriented in general alignment with the utility track in the first position such that the at least one fastener is disengageable from the utility track to allow for movement of the first bracket in relation to the utility track, and the at least one fastener being oriented out of general alignment with the utility track in the second position such that the at least one fastener is engageable with the utility track to fixedly secure the first bracket to the utility track.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the locking member is configured to receive a key, the locking member being rotatable from the first position to the second position upon insertion of the key.

### Claim 8

An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, comprising:
a first bracket configured for releasable connection to a utility track in the vehicle;
a second bracket movably connected to the first bracket and configured to support an accessory, wherein the first bracket includes a series of arms that are articulable to move the accessory mounting system between a collapsed configuration, in which each of the arms extends in generally parallel relation to the first bracket, and an expanded configuration, in which at least one of the arms extends transversely in relation to the first bracket; and
a locking mechanism repositionable between a locked configuration, in which the locking mechanism is configured to maintain the collapsed configuration of the accessory mounting system such that the accessory mounting system is secured to the vehicle, and an unlocked configuration, in which the locking mechanism is configured to permit movement of the accessory mounting system into the expanded configuration such that the accessory mounting system is removable from the vehicle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The accessory mounting system of claim 8, wherein the series of arms includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm having a first end portion pivotably connected to a body of the first bracket and an opposite second end portion, the second arm having a first end portion pivotally connected to the second end portion of the first arm and an opposite second end portion pivotally connected to the second bracket such that the second bracket is pivotable in relation to the second arm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The accessory mounting system of claim 8, wherein the series of arms includes a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, the second arm being positioned between the first arm and the third arm, wherein the first arm and the third arm are each pivotally connected to a body of the first bracket, and the second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm and the third arm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The accessory mounting system of claim 10, wherein the second arm includes opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion of the second arm being pivotally connected to the first arm and the third arm, and the second end portion of the second arm being configured to support the second bracket such that the second bracket is pivotable in relation to the second arm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The accessory mounting system of claim 8, wherein the first bracket further includes at least one fastener configured to releasably engage the utility track in the vehicle, the at least one fastener being positioned between the first and second brackets such that the at least one fastener is inaccessible when the accessory mounting system is in the collapsed configuration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The accessory mounting system of claim 12, wherein the at least one fastener is repositionable between a first position, in which the at least one fastener is positioned for disengagement from the utility track so as to allow for movement of the first bracket in relation to the utility track, and a second position, in which the at least one fastener is positioned for engagement with the utility track to fixedly secure the first bracket to the utility track.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The accessory mounting system of claim 13, wherein the at least one fastener is configured for rotation between the first position and the second position, the at least one fastener being oriented in general alignment with the utility track in the first position, and the at least one fastener being oriented out of general alignment with the utility track in the second position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The accessory mounting system of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member that is rotatable between a first position, in which the locking mechanism is in the locked configuration, and a second position, in which the locking mechanism is in the unlocked configuration.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The accessory mounting system of claim 15, wherein the locking member is configured to receive a key, the locking member being rotatable from the first position to the second position upon insertion of the key.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The accessory mounting system of claim 15, wherein the second bracket includes an opening configured to receive the locking member when the accessory mounting system is in the collapsed configuration, the locking member being configured to extend through the opening such that the locking member is engageable with the second bracket upon movement of the locking member into the first position to move the locking mechanism into the locked configuration.

### Claim 18

An accessory mounting system for a vehicle, comprising:
an outer bracket;
an inner bracket movably connected to the outer bracket such that the accessory mounting system is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
a pivot member configured to pivotally connect the inner bracket to an accessory to facilitate repositioning of the accessory;
at least one fastener configured to releasably connect the outer bracket to the vehicle, the at least one fastener being positioned between the inner and outer brackets such that the at least one fastener is inaccessible when the accessory mounting system is in the collapsed configuration; and
a locking mechanism secured to the outer bracket, the locking mechanism being engageable with the inner bracket to maintain the collapsed configuration of the accessory mounting system and disengageable from the inner bracket to permit movement of the accessory mounting system into the expanded configuration.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The accessory mounting system of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member configured for receipt by an opening formed in the inner bracket, the locking member being rotatable between a first position, in which the locking member is oriented in general alignment with the opening in the inner bracket to allow for insertion of the locking member into the opening and removal of the locking member from the opening, and a second position, in which the locking member is oriented out of general alignment with the opening in the inner bracket to prevent removal of the locking member from the opening.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The accessory mounting system of claim 19, wherein the locking member is configured to receive a key, the locking member being rotatable from the first position to the second position upon insertion of the key.