Camera fitting structure

Abstract

To improve efficiency of camera fitting / detaching work to a window in a fitting structure for fitting a camera disposed on an in-vehicle side of the window of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A camera fitting structure 20 comprises: a fitting member 22 fitted to a camera 21; and a holding member 23 that is fixed to the inner surface of a window and that holds the fitting member. The holding member includes a fixed frame 25 fixed to the inner surface of the window, a hood 26 that protrudes from the fixed frame toward a vehicle inside, and a reception barrel 27 that extends from the hood toward the vehicle inside and receives the camera. The reception barrel includes a pair of engaging claws 51 which is elastically deformable. The fitting member includes a base 61 that supports the camera, and a pair of side walls 62 that extends from the base toward a vehicle outside and that is arranged on both sides of the reception barrel. On each side wall, an engaging hole 66 engaged with each engaging claw from the side of an axis is provided, and the engaging claw penetrates each side wall in a direction orthogonal to the axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment structure of a camera mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, efforts have been actively made to provide access to a sustainable transport system that takes into account people in vulnerable positions among traffic participants. Towards this realization, research and development have been focused on further improving traffic safety and convenience through research and development related to preventive safety technologies.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an attachment structure of a camera for photographing the situation around a vehicle. The attachment structure of the camera described in Patent Document 1 includes a camera and a bracket (holding member) for attaching the camera to the windshield.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Even after the manufacture of the vehicle, when the camera fails or the like, it is necessary to attach and detach the camera to and from the window. However, when the periphery of the camera is surrounded by the vehicle body frame or the camera is mounted at a deep position in the vehicle body, the working space for attaching and detaching the camera is limited, and in some cases, the operator can only insert one arm into the working space. In such a case, there is a risk that the working efficiency of attaching and detaching the camera to and from the window may decrease.

[0006] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to improve the work efficiency of attaching and detaching a camera arranged on the inner side of a window of a vehicle to the window in an attachment structure for attaching the camera to the window. And, by extension, it contributes to the development of a sustainable transportation system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention is an attachment structure (20) for attaching a camera (21) arranged on the inner side of a window (8) of a vehicle (1) to the window, the attachment structure having an attachment member (22) attached to the camera and a holding member (23) fixed to the inner surface of the window and holding the attachment member. The holding member has a fixing frame (25) fixed to the inner surface of the window, a hood (26) protruding from the fixing frame toward the inner side of the vehicle and defining a visual field space (S) of the camera, and a receiving cylinder (27) extending around an axis (A2) from the hood toward the inner side of the vehicle and receiving the camera. The receiving cylinder has a pair of elastically deformable engaging claws (51). The attachment member has a base portion (61) supporting the camera and a pair of side wall portions (62) extending from the base portion toward the outer side of the vehicle and arranged on both sides of the receiving cylinder. Each side wall portion is provided with an engaging hole (66) into which each engaging claw engages from the side of the axis, and the engaging hole penetrates the respective side wall portion in a direction orthogonal to the axis.

[0008] According to this aspect, an operator can engage the engaging claws of the holding member with the engaging holes of the mounting member by pushing the mounting member attached to the camera into the holding member fixed to the inner surface of the window from the vehicle interior side. Thereby, the camera is attached to the window via the mounting member and the holding member. The operator can remove the mounting member from the holding member by pressing the engaging claws of the holding member engaged with the engaging holes of the mounting member toward the side of the axis while pulling the mounting member toward the vehicle interior side with respect to the holding member. Thereby, the camera is removed from the window. As described above, the operator can attach and detach the camera to and from the window by simple operations. Therefore, even when the working space for attaching and detaching the camera is limited and the operator can insert only one arm into the working space, the working efficiency of attaching and detaching the camera to and from the window can be improved.

[0009] In the above aspect, the engaging holes may be formed across the base portion and the respective side wall portions, and may penetrate the base portion in a direction parallel to the axis.

[0010] According to this aspect, even in a situation where the engaging position between the engaging hole of the mounting member and the engaging claw of the holding member cannot be visually recognized, the operator can confirm the engaging position between the engaging hole and the engaging claw by touching the engaging claw with a finger through the engaging hole. Therefore, the operator can easily press the engaging claw engaged with the engaging hole toward the side of the axis and easily remove the mounting member from the holding member.

[0011] In the above aspect, the base portion may have a protruding portion (71) protruding toward the vehicle interior side from the edge portion of each engaging hole.

[0012] According to this aspect, even in a situation where the engaging position between the engaging hole of the mounting member and the engaging claw of the holding member cannot be visually recognized, the operator can easily confirm the engaging position between the engaging hole and the engaging claw by touching the protruding portion with a finger. Therefore, the operator can more easily press the engaging claw engaged with the engaging hole toward the side of the axis and more easily remove the mounting member from the holding member.

[0013] In the above aspect, the surface of the protruding portion on the side opposite to the axis may be parallel to the axis.

[0014] According to this aspect, the operator can stably grip the attachment member. Therefore, the operator can more easily press the engagement claw engaged with the engagement hole toward the axis side, and can more easily remove the attachment member from the holding member.

[0015] In the above aspect, each of the engagement claws may have a piece portion (51A) extending along a direction parallel to the axis and a claw portion (51B) protruding from the tip of the piece portion toward the side opposite to the axis, and the claw portion may be engaged with each of the engagement holes.

[0016] According to this aspect, the engagement claws are formed with a simple configuration.

[0017] In the above aspect, each of the engagement claws may be defined by a slit (53) provided in the receiving cylinder.

[0018] According to this aspect, the engagement claws are formed with a simple configuration.

[0019] In the above aspect, a harness (57) may be connected to the camera, and a harness holding portion (35) for holding the harness may be provided on the fixed frame.

[0020] According to this aspect, interference between the harness and other members provided on the vehicle is suppressed.

[0021] In the above aspect, the harness holding portion may have a pair of protruding pieces protruding from the inner surface of the fixed frame on the vehicle interior side and arranged at intervals from each other, and the harness may be sandwiched between the pair of protruding pieces.

[0022] According to this aspect, since the harness is sandwiched between the pair of protruding pieces, the movement of the harness is restricted, so that interference between the harness and other members provided on the vehicle is further suppressed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the above configuration, in an attachment structure for attaching a camera disposed on the vehicle interior side of a vehicle window to the window, the work efficiency of attaching and detaching the camera to and from the window can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a vehicle 1 provided with a camera attachment structure (hereinafter referred to as "camera attachment structure 20") according to the present invention will be described. The arrow FR appropriately attached to each drawing indicates the front of the vehicle 1.

[0026] The vehicle 1 is, for example, a four-wheel automobile. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 has side structures 2 that constitute the left and right sides of the vehicle 1. The side structure 2 of the vehicle 1 has a body frame 3 (see FIG. 2). The body frame 3 is formed by joining, for example, an outer panel 4 disposed on the left and right outer sides of the vehicle 1 and an inner panel 5 (see FIG. 2) disposed on the left and right inner sides of the outer panel 4 to each other.

[0027] An opening 6 penetrating in the left-right direction is provided in a portion of the outer panel 4 corresponding to the rear portion of the side structure 2. The opening 6 of the outer panel 4 is formed in a substantially triangular shape. A quarter glass 8 (an example of a window) is provided in the opening 6 of the outer panel 4. In the present embodiment, the quarter glass 8 has a base material layer 11 and a light-shielding layer 12 that is overlapped with the base material layer 11 from the vehicle interior side. The base material layer 11 is formed of glass and has transparency. The light-shielding layer 12 is formed of black ceramic printed on the inner surface (the surface on the vehicle interior side) of the base material layer 11 and does not have transparency. The light-shielding layer 12 is provided with a substantially rectangular first opening 14 and a substantially trapezoidal second opening 16.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 17 penetrating in the left-right direction is provided in the inner panel 5. The size of the opening 17 of the inner panel 5 is set such that one arm of an operator can pass through. The operator can access the inner surface (the surface on the vehicle interior side) of the quarter glass 8 by passing an arm through the opening 17 of the inner panel 5 from the vehicle interior side.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the camera mounting structure 20 is a structure for mounting a camera 21 disposed on the vehicle interior side of the quarter glass 8 to the quarter glass 8. The camera mounting structure 20 has a camera 21 that photographs the periphery of the vehicle 1, a mounting member 22 attached to the camera 21, and a holding member 23 that is fixed to the inner surface (the surface on the vehicle interior side) of the quarter glass 8 and holds the mounting member 22. In the present embodiment, the camera 21 is disposed so as to photograph the front and the left and right outer sides of the vehicle 1. That is, the optical axis A1 of the camera 21 faces the front and the left and right outer sides of the vehicle 1.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the holding member 23 includes a fixing frame 25 fixed to the inner surface of the quarter glass 8, a hood 26 that protrudes from the fixing frame 25 toward the vehicle interior and defines the visual field space S of the camera 21, and a receiving cylinder 27 that extends around the axis A2 from the hood 26 toward the vehicle interior and receives the camera 21.

[0031] The fixing frame 25 is formed in a rectangular frame shape along the inner surface of the quarter glass 8 and defines a rectangular opening 25A. The fixing frame 25 includes a lower plate portion 29 that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, a front plate portion 30 that extends upward from the front end portion of the lower plate portion 29, a rear plate portion 31 that extends upward from the rear end portion of the lower plate portion 29, and an upper plate portion 32 that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 and connects the upper end portions of the front plate portion 30 and the rear plate portion 31. The outer surfaces (the surfaces on the vehicle exterior side) of the lower plate portion 29, the front plate portion 30, the rear plate portion 31, and the upper plate portion 32 are adhered to the inner surface (the surface on the vehicle interior side) of the quarter glass 8 by, for example, an adhesive or the like.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixing frame 25 is provided with a plurality of through holes 34 that penetrate in the left-right direction of the vehicle 1, a pair of harness holding portions 35 that hold the harness 57 of the camera 21 described later, and a hook claw 39 on which the harness 57 of the camera 21 is hooked. In the present embodiment, three through holes 34 are provided at intervals from the upper plate portion 32 to the front plate portion 30 of the fixing frame 25. Specifically, the through hole 34 includes a first through hole 34A provided above the opening 25A of the fixing frame 25, a second through hole 34B provided in front of and above the vehicle 1 with respect to the opening 25A of the fixing frame 25, and a third through hole 34C provided in front of the vehicle 1 with respect to the opening 25A of the fixing frame 25.

[0033] Each harness holding portion 35 projects from the inner surface (the in-vehicle side surface) of the fixed frame 25 and has a pair of projecting pieces 37 that are spaced apart from each other. Each projecting piece 37 is formed in a plate shape. In the present embodiment, each projecting piece 37 projects inwardly to the left and right of the vehicle 1 from the edge of the first through hole 34A of the fixed frame 25 and the edge of the third through hole 34C of the fixed frame 25. The tip (the inner end portion on the left and right of the vehicle 1) of each projecting piece 37 bulges toward the central axis side of the corresponding through holes 34A and 34C.

[0034] The engaging claw 39 has a projecting portion 39A (see FIG. 6) that projects inwardly to the left and right of the vehicle 1 from the edge of the second through hole 34B of the fixed frame 25, and a bent portion 39B that bends from the tip (the inner end portion on the in-vehicle side) of the projecting portion 39A toward the central axis side of the second through hole 34B. The projecting portion 39A and the bent portion 39B are formed in a plate shape. The projecting portion 39A is provided at the edge of the second through hole 34B on the side of the opening 25A of the fixed frame 25.

[0035] The hood 26 is integrally formed with the fixed frame 25. The hood 26 has a front wall portion 41 that inclines inwardly to the left and right rearward of the vehicle 1 from the front plate portion 30 of the fixed frame 25, a rear wall portion 42 that inclines inwardly to the left and right forward of the vehicle 1 from the rear plate portion 31 of the fixed frame 25 and is connected to the rear end portion (the inner end portion on the in-vehicle side) of the front wall portion 41, an upper wall portion 43 that extends inwardly to the left and right of the vehicle 1 from the upper plate portion 32 of the fixed frame 25 and connects the upper end portions of the front wall portion 41 and the rear wall portion 42, and a bottom wall portion 44 that extends inwardly to the left and right of the vehicle 1 from the lower plate portion 29 of the fixed frame 25 and connects the lower end portions of the front wall portion 41 and the rear wall portion 42. A receiving hole 46 that penetrates in a direction parallel to the optical axis A1 of the camera 21 is formed in the rear wall portion 42. The lens 55 of the camera 21 described later is disposed in the receiving hole 46.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the visual field space S of the camera 21 is defined by the front wall portion 41, the rear wall portion 42, the upper wall portion 43, and the bottom wall portion 44. The visual field space S of the camera 21 is a space for allowing light from the outside of the vehicle 1 to enter the lens 55 of the camera 21 described later. The visual field space S of the camera 21 is provided at a position corresponding to the first opening 14 (see FIG. 1) of the light shielding layer 12 of the quarter glass 8. That is, the light from the outside of the vehicle 1 passes through the first opening 14 of the light shielding layer 12 of the quarter glass 8 and enters the visual field space S of the camera 21.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the receiving cylinder 27 is integrally formed with the fixed frame 25 and the hood 26. In the present embodiment, the receiving cylinder 27 is formed in a rectangular tube shape. The axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 is aligned with the optical axis A1 of the camera 21. That is, the receiving cylinder 27 projects inward of the vehicle along the optical axis A1 of the camera 21 from the hood 26.

[0038] The receiving cylinder 27 has an upper wall 47 connected to the upper wall portion 43 of the hood 26, a lower wall 48 connected to the bottom wall portion 44 of the hood 26, and a pair of side walls 49 connecting both side portions of the upper wall 47 and both side portions of the lower wall 48.

[0039] The receiving cylinder 27 has a pair of engaging claws 51 that can be elastically deformed in a direction intersecting the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Each engaging claw 51 has a piece portion 51A extending along a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27, and a claw portion 51B protruding from the tip (the end portion on the vehicle inner side) of the piece portion 51A toward the side opposite to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, each engaging claw 51 is defined by a pair of slits 53 provided in the receiving cylinder 27.

[0040] In this embodiment, the pair of slits 53 extend along a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 and are arranged at intervals from each other. In this embodiment, one part 51A of one engaging claw 51 is defined by the pair of slits 53 provided in the upper wall 47 of the receiving cylinder 27. Each slit 53 provided in the upper wall 47 is formed from the central portion of the upper wall 47 to the tip (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) of the upper wall 47. Also, one part 51A of the other engaging claw 51 is defined by the pair of slits 53 provided in the lower wall 48 of the receiving cylinder 27. Each slit 53 provided in the lower wall 48 is formed from the central portion of the lower wall 48 to the tip (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) of the lower wall 48. The tip (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) of each engaging claw 51 is located on the vehicle exterior side rather than the tip (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) of the receiving cylinder 27.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the claw portion 51B of each engaging claw 51 has a contact surface 51C facing the vehicle exterior side. Also, the outer surface (the surface on the side opposite to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27) of the claw portion 51B of each engaging claw 51 is inclined toward the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 toward the tip (the vehicle interior side).

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the camera 21 includes, for example, a lens 55 forming an optical system, an imaging element (not shown) such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), a casing 56 that houses the lens 55 and the imaging element, a terminal (not shown) connected to the imaging element, a harness 57 having one end connected to the terminal, and a connector portion 58 that houses one end of the harness 57.

[0043] The casing 56 is formed in a substantially rectangular tubular shape extending in a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 (i.e., the optical axis A1 of the camera 21). A lens 55 is disposed at the front portion (the portion outside the vehicle) of the casing 56. The lens 55 of the camera 21 is received in a receiving hole 46 provided in the rear wall portion 42 of the hood 26. A connector portion 58 is provided at the rear portion (the portion inside the vehicle) of the casing 56. A plurality of fastening holes (not shown) penetrating in a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 are provided in the rear end surface (the end surface inside the vehicle) of the casing 56. Female threads (not shown) are formed in each fastening hole.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the attachment member 22 is formed of a resin material. The attachment member 22 has a base portion 61 that supports the camera 21 and a pair of side wall portions 62 extending outward from the base portion 61 toward the outside of the vehicle.

[0045] The base portion 61 is formed in a plate shape. The main surface of the base portion 61 faces in a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 (i.e., the optical axis A1 of the camera 21). As shown in FIG. 9, a first through hole 63 and a plurality of second through holes 64 penetrating in a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 are formed in the base portion 61. The first through hole 63 is provided at the central portion of the base portion 61. The connector portion 58 of the camera 21 passes through the first through hole 63. The central axis of each second through hole 64 is aligned with the central axis of the corresponding fastening hole of the casing 56 of the camera 21. The camera 21 is fastened to the attachment member 22 by bolts 65 that pass through the second through holes 64 of the base portion 61, for example, and are screwed into the female threads of the fastening holes of the casing 56.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each side wall portion 62 is formed in a plate shape. The main surface of each side wall portion 62 faces in a direction perpendicular to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. In the present embodiment, the pair of side wall portions 62 are connected to the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the base portion 61.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 7, each side wall portion 62 is arranged with a gap G from the corresponding upper and lower surfaces of the casing 56 of the camera 21. Specifically, the side wall portion 62 connected to the upper end portion of the base portion 61 is arranged above the upper surface of the corresponding casing 56 of the camera 21. The upper wall 47 of the receiving cylinder 27 is arranged in the gap G between the side wall portion 62 connected to the upper end portion of the base portion 61 and the upper surface of the casing 56 of the camera 21. Also, the side wall portion 62 connected to the lower end portion of the base portion 61 is arranged below the lower surface of the corresponding casing 56 of the camera 21. The lower wall 48 of the receiving cylinder 27 is arranged in the gap G between the side wall portion 62 connected to the lower end portion of the base portion 61 and the lower surface of the casing 56 of the camera 21.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the mounting member 22 is provided with a pair of engagement holes 66. Each engagement claw 51 of the receiving cylinder 27 is engaged with each engagement hole 66 from the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Each engagement hole 66 is provided in the base portion 61 and each side wall portion 62. That is, each engagement hole 66 is formed across the base portion 61 and each side wall portion 62. Among the engagement holes 66, the portion provided in the base portion 61 penetrates the base portion 61 in a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Also, among the engagement holes 66, the portion provided in each side wall portion 62 penetrates each side wall portion 62 in a direction orthogonal to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. As shown in FIG. 8, each side wall portion 62 has a first edge 67 that defines one end portion (the end portion on the vehicle outer side) of the engagement hole 66, and a pair of first side edges 68 that extend from the first edge 67 toward the vehicle inner side. As shown in FIG. 9, the base portion 61 has a second edge 69 that defines the other end portion (the end portion on the side of the optical axis A1 of the camera 21) of each engagement hole 66, and a pair of second side edges 70 that extend from the second edge 69 to the side opposite to the optical axis A1 of the camera 21 and are connected to the corresponding first side edges 68. The vertical interval between the second edge 69 of the base portion 61 and the inner surface of the side wall portion 62 (the surface on the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27) is substantially equal to the amount of the vertical component of the displacement amount of the engagement claw 51 required for the contact between the first edge 67 of the side wall portion 62 and the contact surface 51C of the engagement claw 51 to be released.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the first edge 67 of each side wall portion 62 is in contact with the contact surface 51C of the claw portion 51B of the corresponding engaging claw 51. Further, the end portion (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) of the receiving cylinder 27 is in contact with the outer surface (the surface on the vehicle exterior side) of the base portion 61. The tip end (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) of each engaging claw 51 of the receiving cylinder 27 is located on the vehicle interior side with respect to the outer surface (the surface on the vehicle exterior side) of the base portion 61.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a pair of protruding portions 71 are provided on the base portion 61. Each protruding portion 71 protrudes toward the vehicle interior from the edge portion of each engaging hole 66. The outer surface (the surface on the side opposite to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27) of each protruding portion 71 is arranged on the same plane as the second edge 69 (see FIG. 8) of the base portion 61. Further, the outer surface of each protruding portion 71 is parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27.

[0051] On both side portions of the base portion 61, first standing wall portions 73 that protrude toward the vehicle interior from the inner surface (the surface on the vehicle interior side) of the base portion 61 are provided. Further, on the peripheral edge portion of each side wall portion 62, second standing wall portions 74 that are connected to the first standing wall portions 73 and protrude toward the side opposite to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 are provided.

[0052] In the camera mounting structure 20 configured as described above, the operation for attaching the camera 21 to the quarter glass 8 will be described. Hereinafter, the description will be made on the premise that the holding member 23 is already fixed to the inner surface of the quarter glass 8 and the camera 21 is already attached to the attachment member 22.

[0053] First, the operator grips the mounting member 22. Specifically, the operator grips a pair of protruding portions 71 provided on the base portion 61 of the mounting member 22 from the side opposite to the optical axis A1 of the camera 21. Next, with the pair of protruding portions 71 gripped, the operator passes the arm on the side where the pair of protruding portions 71 are gripped through the opening 17 of the inner panel 5 from the inside of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 10(A), next, the operator inserts the camera 21 attached to the mounting member 22 into the receiving cylinder 27 of the holding member 23. At this time, the upper wall 47 and the lower wall 48 of the receiving cylinder 27 are inserted into the gap G provided between each side wall portion 62 of the mounting member 22 and the casing 56 of the camera 21. When the camera 21 is inserted to a predetermined position in the receiving cylinder 27, the claw portions 51B of the respective engaging claws 51 provided on the receiving cylinder 27 contact the inner surface (the surface on the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27) of the corresponding side wall portion 62. As shown in FIG. 10(B), as the camera 21 is further inserted into the receiving cylinder 27, the claw portions 51B of the respective engaging claws 51 are pressed by the inner surface of the corresponding side wall portion 62, and one portion 51A of each engaging claw 51 is elastically deformed toward the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. As shown in FIG. 10(C), in order to further insert the camera 21 into the receiving cylinder 27, when the operator pushes the mounting member 22 into the receiving cylinder 27 from the inside of the vehicle, the first edge 67 of the side wall portion 62 moves to the outside of the vehicle with respect to the contact surface 51C of the claw portion 51B of the corresponding engaging claw 51. At this time, the elastic deformation of one portion 51A of each engaging claw 51 is released, and one portion 51A of each engaging claw 51 returns to its original position. Also, the contact surface 51C of the claw portion 51B of the engaging claw 51 corresponding to the first edge 67 of the side wall portion 62 comes into contact. In this way, each engaging claw 51 engages with the corresponding engaging hole 66 from the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27.

[0054] Next, the operator holds the harness 57 of the camera 21 in the harness holding portion 35 provided on the fixing frame 25 of the holding member 23. Also, the operator hooks the harness 57 of the camera 21 on the hooking claw 39 provided on the fixing frame 25 of the holding member 23. Thus, the camera 21 is attached to the quarter glass 8 via the mounting member 22 and the holding member 23.

[0055] In other embodiments, after the operator holds the harness 57 of the camera 21 in the harness holding portion 35, the operator may insert the camera 21 into the receiving cylinder 27 of the holding member 23.

[0056] Next, in the camera mounting structure 20, an operation for removing the camera 21 from the quarter glass 8 will be described.

[0057] First, the operator removes the harness 57 of the camera 21 from the harness holding portion 35 of the holding member 23. Next, the operator passes the arm through the opening 17 of the inner panel 5 from the vehicle interior side. As shown in FIG. 11(A), next, the operator grips a pair of protruding portions 71 of the mounting member 22. Further, the operator presses the claw portion 51B of each engaging claw 51 toward the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 with the finger 75 of the hand, and elastically deforms one portion 51A of each engaging claw 51 toward the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. As a result, the contact between the contact surface 51C of the claw portion 51B of each engaging claw 51 and the first edge 67 of the corresponding side wall portion 62 is released, and each engaging claw 51 disengages from the corresponding engaging hole 66. Next, while maintaining the state in which the claw portion 51B of each engaging claw 51 is pressed toward the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27, the operator pulls out the camera 21 from the receiving cylinder 27 toward the vehicle interior side. When the camera 21 is pulled out from the receiving cylinder 27 to a predetermined position, the first edge 67 of the side wall portion 62 moves to the vehicle interior side with respect to the contact surface 51C of the claw portion 51B of the corresponding engaging claw 51. As a result, the claw portion 51B of each engaging claw 51 is pressed by the inner surface of the corresponding side wall portion 62 (the surface on the axis A2 side of the receiving cylinder 27). As shown in FIG. 11(B), when the camera 21 is further pulled out from the receiving cylinder 27 and the tip (the end portion on the vehicle exterior side) of each side wall portion 62 moves to the vehicle interior side with respect to the claw portion 51B of the corresponding engaging claw 51, the elastic deformation of one portion 51A of each engaging claw 51 is released, and one portion 51A of each engaging claw 51 returns to its original position. Thus, the camera 21 is removed from the quarter glass 8.

[0058] In the camera mounting structure 20 configured as described above, each engaging claw 51 provided on the receiving cylinder 27 engages with the corresponding engaging hole 66 from the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Therefore, by pushing the mounting member 22 attached to the camera 21 into the holding member 23 fixed to the inner surface of the quarter glass 8 from the vehicle interior side, the engaging claw 51 of the holding member 23 can be engaged with the engaging hole 66 of the mounting member 22. Thereby, the camera 21 is attached to the quarter glass 8 via the mounting member 22 and the holding member 23. Also, the operator can remove the mounting member 22 from the holding member 23 by pressing the engaging claw 51 of the holding member 23 engaged with the engaging hole 66 of the mounting member 22 toward the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 and pulling out the mounting member 22 toward the vehicle interior side with respect to the holding member 23. Thereby, the camera 21 is removed from the quarter glass 8. As described above, the operator can attach and detach the camera 21 to and from the quarter glass 8 by simple operations. Therefore, even when the working space for attaching and detaching the camera 21 is limited and the operator can insert only one arm into the working space, the working efficiency of attaching and detaching the camera 21 to and from the quarter glass 8 can be improved.

[0059] Each engaging hole 66 is formed across the corresponding side wall portion 62 and base portion 61. Among each engaging hole 66, the portion provided in the base portion 61 penetrates the base portion 61 in a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Also, the base portion 61 is provided with a protruding portion 71 that protrudes toward the vehicle interior side from the edge of each engaging hole 66. Therefore, for example, even in a situation where the engaging position between the engaging hole 66 of the mounting member 22 and the engaging claw 51 of the holding member 23 cannot be visually recognized by the inner panel 5 of the vehicle body frame 3, the operator can easily confirm the engaging position between the engaging hole 66 and the engaging claw 51 by touching the protruding portion 71 with the finger 75. Therefore, the operator can more easily press the engaging claw 51 engaged with the engaging hole 66 toward the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27 and more easily remove the mounting member 22 from the holding member 23.

[0060] The outer surface of each protruding portion 71 (the surface on the side opposite to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27) is parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Thereby, the operator can stably grip the attachment member 22. Therefore, the operator can more easily press the engaging claw 51 engaged with the engaging hole 66 toward the side of the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27, and can more easily remove the attachment member 22 from the holding member 23.

[0061] Each engaging claw 51 has a piece portion 51A extending along a direction parallel to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27, and a claw portion 51B protruding from the tip of the piece portion 51A (the end portion on the vehicle interior side) toward the side opposite to the axis A2 of the receiving cylinder 27. Further, each engaging claw 51 is defined by a slit 53 provided in the receiving cylinder 27. Thereby, the engaging claw 51 is formed with a simple configuration.

[0062] The fixing frame 25 is provided with a pair of harness holding portions 35 for holding the harness 57 of the camera 21. Each harness holding portion 35 protrudes from the vehicle interior side surface of the fixing frame 25 and has a pair of protruding pieces 37 arranged at intervals from each other. The harness 57 of the camera 21 is sandwiched between the pair of protruding pieces 37. Thereby, since the movement of the harness 57 is restricted, the interference between the harness 57 and other members provided on the vehicle 1 is further suppressed.

[0063] With the above, the description of the specific embodiment is finished, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified and implemented. For example, in the above embodiment, the side wall portions 62 of the attachment member 22 are provided at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the base portion 61, but may be provided at the left and right end portions of the base portion 61. In the above embodiment, the quarter glass 8 is taken as an example of a window, but in other embodiments, a component other than the quarter glass 8 (for example, a front glass or a rear glass) may be taken as an example of a window.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0064] 1: Vehicle 8: Quarter glass (window) 20: Camera mounting structure 21: Camera 22: Mounting member 23: Holding member 25: Fixed frame 26: Hood 27: Receiving cylinder 35: Harness holding part 51: Engaging claw 51A: Single part 51B: Claw part 53: Slit 57: Harness 61: Base part 62: Side wall part 66: Engaging hole 71: Protrusion A2: Axis of the receiving cylinder (axis) S: Field of view space of the camera

Claims

1. An attachment structure for attaching a camera disposed on the inner side of a window of a vehicle to the window, comprising: an attachment member attached to the camera; a holding member fixed to the inner surface of the window and holding the attachment member; wherein the holding member includes a fixing frame fixed to the inner surface of the window; a hood protruding from the fixing frame toward the inner side of the vehicle and defining a viewing space of the camera; and a receiving cylinder extending around an axis from the hood toward the inner side of the vehicle and receiving the camera; wherein the receiving cylinder has a pair of engagement claws that can be elastically deformed; and the attachment member includes a base portion supporting the camera; and a pair of side wall portions extending from the base portion toward the outer side of the vehicle and disposed on both sides of the receiving cylinder; wherein each side wall portion is provided with an engagement hole into which each engagement claw engages from the side of the axis, and the engagement hole penetrates each side wall portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis. A mounting structure for a camera.

2. The engagement hole is formed across the base portion and each side wall portion, and penetrates the base portion in a direction parallel to the axis. The mounting structure for a camera according to claim 1.

3. The base portion has a protruding portion protruding toward the inner side of the vehicle from an edge portion of each engagement hole. The mounting structure for a camera according to claim 2.

4. A surface of the protruding portion on a side opposite to the axis is parallel to the axis. The mounting structure for a camera according to claim 3.

5. Each engagement claw has a piece portion extending along a direction parallel to the axis; and a claw portion protruding from a tip of the piece portion toward a side opposite to the axis; wherein the claw portion engages with each engagement hole. The mounting structure for a camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Each engagement claw is defined by a slit provided in the receiving cylinder. The mounting structure for a camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A harness is connected to the camera; and the fixing frame is provided with a harness holding portion for holding the harness. The mounting structure for a camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. The harness holding portion has a pair of protruding pieces protruding from an inner surface of the fixing frame on the inner side of the vehicle and spaced apart from each other; and the harness is sandwiched between the pair of protruding pieces. The mounting structure for a camera according to claim 7.

Images