Universal Mounting System for Tablet-Controlled Stereo Head Unit
AssigneeMetra Electronics Corporation
InventorsWilliam H. Jones, JR., Anthony Flore
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 and an outer bezel perimeter configured to blend into said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (b) a head unit emulator bracket, having an outer emulator bracket perimeter, said outer emulator bracket perimeter being configured to fit in said standard opening in said bezel;
- (c) a right attachment bracket connected to said head unit emulator bracket, 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 head unit emulator bracket, said left attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said left attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (e) a standoff attached to said head unit emulator bracket;
- (e) a tablet receiver attached 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 and an outer bezel perimeter configured to blend into said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (b) a head unit emulator bracket, said head unit emulator bracket being configured to fit in said standard opening in said bezel;
- (c) a right attachment bracket connected to said head unit emulator bracket, 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 head unit emulator bracket, said left attachment bracket including dash mounting features configured to attach said left attachment bracket to said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (e) a standoff attached to said head unit emulator bracket;
- (e) a tablet receiver attached to said standoff;
- 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 and an outer bezel perimeter configured to blend into said existing vehicle dash assembly;
- (d) a head unit emulator bracket, having an outer emulator bracket perimeter, said outer emulator bracket perimeter being configured to fit in said standard opening in said bezel;
- (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 attached to said head unit emulator bracket;
- and
- (g) said tablet receiver being configured to hold said tablet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.