Universal mounting system for tablet-controlled stereo head unit
AssigneeMetra Electronics Corporation
InventorsWilliam H. Jones, Jr., Anthony Fiore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hardware system and method for mounting a tablet computing device in a vehicle dash. The invention makes use of an inventory of prior art mounting kits that are configured to mount standardized aftermarket stereo head units in a vehicle dash while smoothly blending the aftermarket head unit into the surrounding dash to create a finished appearance.
Claims20
In a split head unit having an electronics housing and a separate tablet, a mounting system configured to mount said tablet to an existing vehicle dash assembly, comprising:
- (a) a bezel having a standard opening configured to receive a conventional aftermarket stereo head unit and an outer bezel perimeter, with said outer bezel perimeter configured to fit within an OEM head unit opening in said vehicle dash assembly;
- (b) a head unit emulator bracket, including,
- (i) an outer emulator bracket perimeter, said outer emulator bracket perimeter being configured to slide into said standard opening in said bezel,
- (ii) a forward extending portion configured to emulate a form factor of said conventional aftermarket stereo head unit, including a right side and a left side;
- (c) a right attachment bracket connected to said right side of said forward extending portion, said right attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said right attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (d) a left attachment bracket connected to said left side of said forward extending portion, said left attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said left attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (e) a standoff connected to said head unit emulator bracket;
- (e) a tablet receiver connected to said standoff;
- and
- (f) said tablet receiver being configured to hold said tablet.
In a split head unit having an electronics housing and a separate tablet, a mounting system configured to mount said tablet to an existing vehicle dash assembly, comprising:
- (a) a bezel having a standard opening configured to receive a conventional aftermarket stereo head unit and an outer bezel perimeter, with said outer bezel perimeter configured to fit within an OEM head unit opening in said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (b) a head unit emulator bracket, including,
- (i) a forward-extending portion having a left side and a right side;
- (ii) said left side of said forward-extending portion and said right side of said forward-extending portion being configured to emulate a form factor of said conventional aftermarket stereo head unit;
- (c) a right attachment bracket connected to said right side of said forward-extending portion, said right attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said right attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (d) a left attachment bracket connected to said left side of said forward-extending portion, said left attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said left attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (e) a tablet receiver connected to said head unit emulator bracket;
- and
- (f) said tablet receiver being configured to hold said tablet.
A mounting system for mounting a stereo head unit in an existing vehicle dash assembly, comprising:
- (a) an electronics housing;
- (b) a tablet configured to provide a touch-based user interface for the operation of said electronics housing;
- (c) a bezel having a standard opening configured to receive a conventional aftermarket stereo head unit and an outer bezel perimeter, with said outer bezel perimeter configured to fit within an OEM head unit opening in said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (d) a head unit emulator bracket, including a forward-extending left side and right side, said left and right side being configured to emulate a form factor of said conventional aftermarket stereo head unit;
- (e) an attachment bracket connected to said head unit emulator bracket, said attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (f) a tablet receiver connected to said head unit emulator bracket;
- and
- (g) said tablet receiver being configured to hold said tablet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.