Collapsible vehicle camera arm assembly

A vehicle arm assembly comprising:

• a carrier base for attaching to a vehicle;
• support arm rotatably mounted relative to the carrier base;
• a first detent ring including a plurality of first detent projections circumferentially offset by a plurality of first detent channels;
• and
• a second detent ring including a plurality of second detent projections circumferentially offset by a plurality of second detent channels;
• wherein the first detent ring is fixed relative to one of the carrier base or the support arm and the second detent ring is fixed relative to the other of the carrier base or the support ring;
• wherein the first detent ring is in an intermeshing arrangement when the second detent ring in a first rotational position and in a non-intermeshing arrangement when in a second rotational position;
• and
• wherein in the second rotational position a first stop surface fixed relative to the carrier base is in engagement with a stop fixed relative to the support arm, wherein the plurality of first detent projections include at least two first projections each extending a first arcuate distance around the first detent ring, and only one of the plurality of first detent projections extends a second arcuate distance around the first detent ring with the second arcuate distance being greater than the first arcuate distance.

A method of operating a vehicle arm assembly, comprising:

• rotating a support arm including one of a first detent ring or a second detent ring relative to a carrier base having the other of the first detent ring or the second detent ring, wherein the first detent ring is configured to intermesh with the second detent ring;
• limiting rotation of the support arm relative to the carrier base in a first rotational direction with a first stop surface fixed relative to the carrier base engaging a stop fixed relative to the support arm, wherein the first detent ring and the second detent ring are in a non-intermeshed relationship when the stop engages the first stop surface;
• wherein the first detent ring includes a plurality of first channels separating a plurality of first projections, and the plurality of first projections include at least two first projections each extending a first arcuate distance around the first detent ring and a single first projection extending a second arcuate distance around the first detent ring with the second arcuate distance being greater than the first arcuate distance;
• and
• wherein the single first projection, one of the first channels, and one of the at least two first projections extend an arcuate distance of at least 60 degrees and less than 120 degrees around the first detent ring.