Camera and method of fixing camera to glass

Abstract

To provide a camera which allows a base to which a double-sided tape is applied to be pressed against glass easily and can be securely fixed to a surface of the glass.SOLUTION: A bracket 20 has: a flat plate part 21; and a pillar 22 for coupling a main part 10 to the flat plate part 21. In a flat plate body 30 for adhering glass, a first surface 31 on the side facing the flat plate part 21 is formed as a flat surface and a double-sided tape 40 is applied to a second surface 32 which is opposite to the first surface 31 and faces a surface of the glass. The bracket 20 to which the main part 10 is coupled is detachably attached to the flat plate body 30 for adhering the glass.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera and a method for fixing the camera to glass. [Background technology]

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, the main body of a drive recorder, which is an example of a camera, is attached via a support to a base to which double-sided tape is affixed. To attach the drive recorder to the inner surface of glass such as a windshield, an operator peels off the release liner from the double-sided tape and presses the base, which is integrated with the main body, against the glass with their fingers. This fixes the drive recorder to the inner surface of the glass by the adhesive force of the double-sided tape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-199802 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-107474 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The surface of the base, to which the double-sided tape is attached, that is pressed against the glass with a finger is provided with a support for connecting to the main body. Also, as described in Patent Document 1, the surface of the base that is pressed against the glass with a finger may be provided with a cable hook. Therefore, when pressing the base against the glass with a finger, the presence of the support or cable hook can make it difficult to press the base against the glass.

[0005] This can leave air bubbles between the glass and the double-sided tape, making it difficult to secure the dashcam to the inside of the glass.If the dashcam is not securely attached to the inside of the windshield, the weight of the dashcam or the force applied while driving can cause the base to peel off from the inside of the glass, and this is something that needs improvement.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a camera and a method for fixing the camera to glass that can easily press a base with double-sided tape attached against glass and can be firmly fixed to the surface of the glass. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a camera comprising: a main body having an imaging unit; a bracket having a flat plate; and a support for connecting the main body to the flat plate; and a flat plate for glass bonding, which has a first surface facing the flat plate that is flat and a second surface opposite the first surface that faces the glass surface, with double-sided tape affixed to it; and the bracket to which the main body is connected is detachable from the flat plate for glass bonding.

[0008] The present invention provides a method for fixing a camera to glass, which comprises adhering a glass-bonding plate having a first surface that is a flat surface without any protrusions and a second surface opposite the first surface with double-sided tape attached to the glass surface in advance with the double-sided tape, and fixing a bracket having a main body having an imaging unit connected by a support to the glass-bonding plate using a predetermined fixing structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the camera and the method for fixing the camera to glass of the present invention, the base to which the double-sided tape is attached can be easily pressed against the glass, and the camera can be firmly fixed to the surface of the glass. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a drive recorder, which is a camera according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a bracket to which a main body of a drive recorder, which is a camera according to one embodiment, is connected is removed from a glass bonding plate, which is a base. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 2 as seen from a different angle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing an enlarged view of a bracket and a glass bonding plate in a drive recorder, which is a camera according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration in which a slide hook structure is adopted instead of the snap-fit ​​structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 as a configuration for allowing a bracket and a glass bonding plate in a drive recorder, which is a camera according to one embodiment, to be detachably attached to each other. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which a drive recorder, which is a camera according to one embodiment, is attached to the inner surface of a windshield. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a drive recorder, which is a camera according to one embodiment, is attached to the inner surface of a windshield. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the flat plate portion of the bracket and the glass bonding flat plate in the drive recorder, which is a camera according to one embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a first example of the relationship between the curvature of the inner surface of a windshield and the curvature of a glass bonding plate. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a second example of the relationship between the curvature of the inner surface of the windshield and the curvature of the glass bonding plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A camera and a method for fixing the camera to glass according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The camera according to the embodiment is, for example, a drive recorder. The camera according to the embodiment is not limited to a drive recorder, but may also be a surveillance camera attached to glass such as a windowpane of a building. The camera according to the embodiment will be described below using a drive recorder as an example.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, a drive recorder 100, which is a camera according to one embodiment, includes a main body 10, a bracket 20, and a glass-bonding flat plate 30 serving as a base. The main body 10 includes an imaging unit 11 shown in FIG. 3 and a display 12 that displays an image of a subject captured by the imaging unit 11. The display 12 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal panel. The imaging unit 11 includes a lens 13 and an imaging element (not shown). Here, only the outermost lens 13 is shown, and the imaging unit 11 includes multiple lenses including the lens 13. Light from a subject enters the imaging unit 11 through the outermost lens 13 shown in FIG. 3, and an imaging element (not shown) captures an image of the subject.

[0013] Although the drive recorder 100 is provided with a display 12, the camera may not be provided with a display. That is, a display is not an essential component of the camera according to one embodiment.

[0014] 1, bracket 20 has a flat plate portion 21, a support post 22 for connecting main body portion 10 to flat plate portion 21, and a cable hook 23 for engaging a cable (not shown). Main body portion 10 is connected to support post 22 so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angular range so that the angle relative to flat plate portion 21 can be changed. Main body portion 10 and bracket 20 are previously integrated.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a state in which the bracket 20 to which the main body 10 is connected is removed from the glass-bonding plate 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the glass-bonding plate 30 has a flat first surface 31 facing the flat plate 21 of the bracket 20, and a double-sided tape 40 attached to a second surface 32 opposite the first surface 31, which faces the inner surface of, for example, the windshield 50 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). Here, a case in which the drive recorder 100 is attached to the inner surface of the windshield 50 is taken as an example. The drive recorder 100 may also be attached to the inner surface of a rear glass other than the windshield 50. The camera according to an embodiment may be attached to any surface of any glass.

[0016] The release liner of the double-sided tape 40 on the glass bonding plate 30 side has been peeled off, and the double-sided tape 40 is pre-adhered to the glass bonding plate 30. Before the glass bonding plate 30 is adhered to the inner surface of the windshield 50, the release liner of the double-sided tape 40 on the windshield 50 side has not been peeled off.

[0017] 1 and 2, the bracket 20 connected to the main body 10 is detachable from the glass-bonding plate 30. A snap-fit ​​structure is used as a suitable example of a configuration that allows the bracket 20 and the glass-bonding plate 30 to be detachable from each other.

[0018] The snap-fit ​​structure will be described in detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of fitting claws 24a to 24f for the snap-fit ​​structure are integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flat plate portion 21 of the bracket 20. The fitting claws 24a to 24f have an L-shape that rises perpendicular to the surface of the flat plate portion 21 and then points inward.

[0019] The fitting claws 24a to 24f are preferably formed on the flat plate portion 21 in a state where they do not protrude outward beyond the outer peripheral end face of the flat plate portion 21. If the fitting claws 24a to 24f do not protrude outward beyond the outer peripheral end face, it is possible to reduce the risk of the fitting claws 24a to 24f being damaged by force being applied to them.

[0020] 4, the glass-bonding plate 30 is formed with a plurality of fixing cutouts 34a-34f that are recessed inward from the outer peripheral end face and have a snap-fit ​​structure for accommodating the fitting claws 24a-24f and fitting the fitting claws 24a-24f into the glass-bonding plate 30. When the fitting claws 24a-24f are positioned in the fixing cutouts 34a-34f and the plate portion 21 is pressed into the glass-bonding plate 30, the fitting claws 24a-24f are accommodated in the fixing cutouts 34a-34f and fit near the fixing cutouts 34a-34f.

[0021] When the bracket 20 is attached to the glass-bonding plate 30, the fitting claws 24a to 24f are housed in the fixing notches 34a to 34f, so the fitting claws 24a to 24f do not protrude from the outer peripheral end face of the glass-bonding plate 30. Therefore, the drive recorder 100 has an excellent appearance.

[0022] The fixing notches 34a to 34f are provided two on each long side and one on each short side of the glass bonding plate 30, but the number of fixing notches and their locations are design factors and are not limited thereto.

[0023] The double-sided tape 40 has an air bubble discharge notch 41a extending from approximately the center of the upper edge toward the inside, and air bubble discharge notches 41b and 41c extending from two separate locations on the lower edge toward the inside. Peripheral notches 44a to 44f recessed inward from the outer peripheral end face are formed at positions corresponding to the fixing notches 34a to 34f of the double-sided tape 40. The peripheral notches 44a to 44f of the double-sided tape 40 are recessed further inward than the innermost positions of the fixing notches 34a to 34f of the glass bonding plate 30. Therefore, the peripheral notches 44a to 44f of the double-sided tape 40 do not prevent the fitting claws 24a to 24f from fitting near the fixing notches 34a to 34f of the glass bonding plate 30.

[0024] The outer peripheral cutouts 44c and 44d are connected to the ends of the bubble discharge cutouts 41b and 41c, respectively. The larger the area of ​​the double-sided tape 40, the stronger the adhesive strength. By connecting the outer peripheral cutouts 44c and 44d to the bubble discharge cutouts 41b and 41c, it is possible to minimize the reduction in the area of ​​the double-sided tape 40, and therefore the reduction in adhesive strength.

[0025] Although double-sided tape 40 has three bubble discharge notches 41a to 41c, it is sufficient that at least one bubble discharge notch is provided. The number of bubble discharge notches and their locations are design factors and are not limited. When only one bubble discharge notch is provided, it is preferable that bubble discharge notch 41a be oriented from approximately the center of the upper side toward the inside, or that the bubble discharge notch be oriented from approximately the center of the lower side toward the inside.

[0026] Instead of the snap-fit ​​structure described above, a slide hook structure shown in Fig. 5 may be employed as a structure for detachably connecting the bracket 20 and the glass-bonding plate body 30 to each other. As shown in Fig. 5, hooks 25a and 25b for the slide hook structure are integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the short side of the flat plate portion 21 of the bracket 20, and a locking piece 25c is integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the upper long side. When the hooks 25a and 25b are engaged with the outer peripheral edge of the short side of the glass-bonding plate body 30 and the flat plate portion 21 is slid, the locking piece 25c stops the sliding at a position where the flat plate portion 21 and the first surface 31 are substantially aligned.

[0027] To enable the bracket 20 and the glass-bonding plate 30 to be detachably attached to each other, the bracket 20 may be screwed to the glass-bonding plate 30. In consideration of ease of attachment and detachment, it is preferable to adopt a snap-fit ​​structure or a slide hook structure.

[0028] The worker simply attaches the drive recorder 100 having the above-described configuration to the inner surface of the windshield 50 as follows: The worker peels off the release liner on the windshield 50 side of the double-sided tape 40 and pre-adheres the glass bonding plate 30 to the inner surface of the windshield 50. The worker presses the first surface 31 against the windshield 50 with their fingers and attaches the glass bonding plate 30 to the inner surface of the windshield 50.

[0029] The glass bonding plate 30 does not have holes in the area where it comes into contact with the double-sided tape 40. In other words, the area of ​​the second surface 32 of the glass bonding plate 30 where it comes into contact with the double-sided tape 40 does not have holes. The "holes" mentioned here include both recesses cut out of a portion of the second surface 32 to prevent holes from being created, and holes drilled through a portion of the second surface 32 to the first surface 31. In other words, the area of ​​the glass bonding plate 30 where it comes into contact with the double-sided tape 40 can be said to be a flat surface. Here, it goes without saying that the first surface 31 of the glass bonding plate 30 is also flat and therefore does not have holes. Therefore, the thickness of the glass bonding plate 30 where it comes into contact with the double-sided tape 40 is uniform.

[0030] In other words, when the double-sided tape 40 is provided with the bubble-discharge notch 41, the glass-bonding plate 30 may also be provided with a hole (not shown) in the area of ​​the second surface 32 of the glass-bonding plate 30 that corresponds to the bubble-discharge notch 41. This is because even if the glass-bonding plate 30 has a hole in the area that corresponds to the bubble-discharge notch 41, a load can be applied to the entire surface of the double-sided tape 40, so there is little possibility of it affecting the generation of bubbles.

[0031] 4, the area of ​​the glass bonding plate 30 and the area of ​​the double-sided tape 40 are approximately equal, although the area of ​​the glass bonding plate 30 is larger. The area of ​​the double-sided tape 40 can be determined based on the total weight of the drive recorder 100. In other words, the heavier the total weight of the drive recorder 100, the larger the area of ​​the double-sided tape.

[0032] The first surface 31 does not have any hook-shaped protrusions, such as the support posts 22 or cable hooks 23, that make it difficult to insert a finger into the gap between the flat plate portion 21 of the bracket 20 and the cable hook 23, or any protrusions, such as the support posts 22, that make it difficult to apply a uniform load to the entire surface of the bracket 20. Furthermore, the glass bonding plate 30 does not have any holes where it comes into contact with the double-sided tape 40. Therefore, the glass bonding plate 30 can be easily pressed against the windshield 50, and a load can be applied to the entire surface of the double-sided tape 40 by pressing the glass bonding plate 30 with a finger. Most of the air between the double-sided tape 40 and the windshield 50 is expelled through the air bubble expulsion notches 41a-41c by pressing the glass bonding plate 30 with a finger, which applies a load to the entire surface of the double-sided tape 40. Therefore, almost no air bubbles remain between the double-sided tape 40 and the windshield 50.

[0033] The first surface 31 of the glass bonding plate 30 does not have to be a completely flat surface, and may have protrusions of minute size and height that allow the entire surface of the first surface 31 to be pressed with a finger and do not affect the variation in load when pressed with a finger. In other words, the first surface 31 may have any shape that allows a load to be applied uniformly to the entire surface of the double-sided tape 40 by pressing the glass bonding plate 30.

[0034] Next, the worker fixes the bracket 20, with the main body 10 connected by the support 22, to the glass bonding plate 30 using a predetermined fixing structure. As described above, it is preferable to adopt a snap fit structure or a slide hook structure as the predetermined fixing structure.

[0035] By using the above-described method for fixing the drive recorder to the windshield, the drive recorder 100 can be firmly fixed to the inner surface of the windshield 50 by the adhesive force of the double-sided tape 40, as shown in FIGS.

[0036] Up to this point, the glass bonding plate 30 has been described as having a uniform thickness at the portion in contact with the double-sided tape 40, but this is not limited thereto. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of an example of the flat plate portion 21 of the bracket 20 and the glass bonding plate 30, viewed from the upper end surface. In FIG. 8, the support posts 22, cable hooks 23, and engaging claws 24a-24f of the bracket 20, the fixing notches 34a-34f of the glass bonding plate 30, and the double-sided tape 40 are not shown. The first surface 31 is a flat surface. The second surface 32 may also be a flat surface as shown in FIG. 2, etc., or may be a curved surface with a predetermined curvature so as to closely match the curved surface of the inner surface of the windshield 50, as shown in FIG. 8. In other words, the thickness of the glass bonding plate 30 at the portion in contact with the double-sided tape 40 does not need to be uniform, as long as a load can be applied to the entire surface of the double-sided tape 40 by pressing the glass bonding plate 30.

[0037] The surface 211 of the flat plate portion 21 on which the support posts 22 are provided may be a flat surface or a curved surface. Here, when the surface 211 of the flat plate portion 21 on which the support posts 22 are provided is a curved surface, the curvature of the second surface 32 and the curvature of the surface 211 may be the same or different. The surface 212 of the flat plate portion 21 facing the first surface 31 of the glass bonding plate 30 is preferably a flat surface.

[0038] The curvature of the windshield 50 varies depending on the vehicle model. Fig. 9A shows a windshield 50 with the smallest curvature (largest radius of curvature), and Fig. 9B shows a windshield 50 with the largest curvature (smallest radius of curvature). Specifically, it is possible to extract the windshield 50 with the smallest curvature and the windshield 50 with the largest curvature from the vehicle models to which the drive recorder 100 can be installed through sales channels. If the second surface 32 of the glass bonding plate 30 is a curved surface and the curvature of the second surface 32 is set to a curvature intermediate between the minimum and maximum curvatures, the relationship between the second surface 32 and the windshield 50 will be as shown in Fig. 9A or 9B.

[0039] When the glass bonding plate 30 is attached to the inner surface of the windshield 50, which has the smallest curvature as shown in Fig. 9A, a gap Ga is generated between the left and right ends of the second surface 32 and the inner surface of the windshield 50. When the glass bonding plate 30 is attached to the inner surface of the windshield 50, which has the largest curvature as shown in Fig. 9B, a gap Gb is generated between the center in the left-right direction of the second surface 32 and the inner surface of the windshield 50. It is advisable to set the curvature of the second surface 32 so that the gap Ga and the gap Gb are the same distance.

[0040] As another example, the curvature of the second surface 32 may be set so that the gaps Ga and Gb are such that the load when pressing the center of the second surface 32 in the left-right direction is equal to the load when pressing the left and right ends.

[0041] Here, the relationship between the curvatures of the windshield 50 and the second surface 32 in the left-right direction has been described, but the same may be true for the relationship between the curvatures in the up-down direction.

[0042] The glass bonding plate 30 and the double-sided tape 40 are attached to the four corners of the corners shown in FIGS. You can also add an R that is even larger than R.

[0043] Although the first surface 31 of the glass-bonding plate 30 has been described as a flat surface without curvature, this is not limited to this. For example, if the second surface 32 of the glass-bonding plate 30 is a curved surface with a predetermined curvature, the first surface 31 may also be a curved surface with the same curvature. In this case, the curvature of the first surface 31 and the curvature of the second surface 32 may be different. When the first surface 31 of the glass-bonding plate 30 is curved, it is preferable that the surface 212 of the opposing flat plate portion 21 is also curved.

[0044] Incidentally, Patent Document 2 describes that the bracket attached to the inner surface of the windshield with double-sided tape and the camera body corresponding to the main body are detachable. Patent Document 2 also describes that the bracket is attached to the inner surface of the windshield with double-sided tape, and then the camera body is attached to the bracket.

[0045] The drive recorder 100 described above and the drive recorder described in Patent Document 2 are fundamentally different in configuration. The glass-bonding flat plate body 30 in the drive recorder 100 has a flat first surface 31 on the side facing the flat plate portion 21 of the bracket 20. In other words, no protruding portion such as a support pillar is formed on the first surface 31. On the other hand, in the drive recorder described in Patent Document 2, a protruding portion such as a support pillar is formed on the bracket.

[0046] Therefore, in the drive recorder described in Patent Document 2, even if the bracket and the camera body corresponding to the main body are detachable, the protrusion makes it difficult to press the bracket against the windshield when pressing it with your fingers against the windshield. As a result, air bubbles are likely to remain between the double-sided tape and the windshield. The drive recorder described in Patent Document 2 is essentially the same as a drive recorder in which the base and main body are integrated in terms of the ease of pressing the base against the windshield and the strength with which the live recorder is fixed to the inner surface of the windshield.

[0047] In contrast, in the drive recorder 100, the first surface 31 is a flat surface, so that the glass bonding plate 30 can be easily pressed against the windshield 50, and air bubbles hardly remain between the double-sided tape 40 and the windshield 50.

[0048] According to the drive recorder 100 and the method for fixing the drive recorder to the windshield described above, the glass bonding plate body 30, which is the base to which the double-sided tape 40 is attached, can be easily pressed against the windshield 50. According to the drive recorder 100 and the method for fixing the drive recorder to the windshield, the drive recorder 100 can be firmly fixed to the inner surface of the windshield 50.

[0049] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Main body 11 Imaging unit 12 Display 13 Lens 20 Bracket 21 Flat plate part 22 Posts 23 Cable hook 24a~24f Interlocking claws 25a, 25b hook 25c Locking piece 30 Glass adhesive plate 31 First Side 32 Second Side 34a~34f Fixing notches 40 double-sided tape 41a, 41b, 41c Notches for discharging air bubbles 44a~44f Outer periphery notch 50 Windshield 100 Drive Recorder

Claims

1. a main body having an imaging unit; a bracket having a flat plate portion and a support for connecting the main body portion to the flat plate portion; a glass bonding plate body having a first surface facing the flat plate portion as a flat surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the glass surface, to which a double-sided tape is attached; Equipped with The bracket to which the main body is connected is detachable from the glass bonding plate. camera.

2. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the glass bonding plate has no holes at the locations where the glass bonding plate contacts the double-sided tape.

3. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said bracket and said glass bonding plate are detachably attached to each other by a snap-fit ​​structure.

4. The flat plate portion of the bracket is formed with a plurality of fitting claws for the snap-fit ​​structure, each of which has a shape that rises perpendicular to the surface of the flat plate portion and then faces inward without protruding outward beyond the outer peripheral end surface of the flat plate portion, The glass-bonding flat plate has a plurality of fixing notches formed therein, which are recessed inward from the outer peripheral end surface of the glass-bonding flat plate and which accommodate the fitting claws of the plurality of fitting claws while fitting the fitting claws into the glass-bonding flat plate. The camera of claim 2 .

5. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second surface of the glass bonding plate is a curved surface having a predetermined curvature.

6. a glass bonding plate having a first surface that is a flat surface without a protrusion and a double-sided tape attached to a second surface opposite to the first surface; and the glass bonding plate is bonded to a glass surface in advance using the double-sided tape; A bracket, to which a main body having an imaging unit is connected by a support, is fixed to the glass bonding plate by a predetermined fixing structure. How to mount the camera on the glass.

Images