machine

Abstract

For example, the present invention provides equipment that can conceal wiring and other components that are pulled out from the enclosure. [Solution] A cable is pulled out from the right side of the case 10 of the drive recorder 1. The pulled-out cable is routed upward along the vehicle's windshield and pulled inside the vehicle's roof headlining. The cable from the right side of the case 10 to the position hidden by the roof headlining is covered by a guide cover 50 and a cable cover 70. A concealing plate 511 is placed at the joint between the opening of the guide cover 50 and the end 73 of the cable cover 70. The concealing plate 511 overlaps with the outer surface of the end 73 of the cable cover 70. Therefore, no gap is formed at the joint between the opening of the guide cover 50 and the end 73 of the cable cover 70. This allows the cable pulled out from the drive recorder 1 to be hidden.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, devices and the like.

Background Art

[0002] There is known an in-vehicle device including a mounting bracket having a cylindrical main body, a ring portion rotatably mounted on an outer peripheral surface of one end portion in the axial direction of the main body, and a mounting plate connected to the outside of the ring portion, and a nut member attached to one end portion of the main body and sandwiching and fixing the ring portion between the main body and itself (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, when an in-vehicle device is mounted on the vehicle's windshield, it is assumed that the power cable, which is routed from the side of the main unit, will be pulled upwards, for example, and then routed into the vehicle's interior through the roof headlining adjacent to the upper edge of the windshield to connect to the power supply. In this case, the portion of the wiring other than the part routed into the vehicle's interior will be exposed to the outside, which would look unsightly and give the strong impression that it is an aftermarket option. Therefore, one method is to attach a long cover member along the wiring to hide the exposed portion. In this case, the cover member is attached along the wiring for the portion that can be routed from the roof headlining to the windshield. However, for the portion beyond that, up to the point where the wiring from the side of the main unit is routed to the outside, it is not possible to route it along the windshield, so a cover member cannot be attached, and the wiring cannot be hidden.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide equipment, for example, that can conceal wiring and other components that are pulled out from the enclosure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The device has a housing that is attached to a mounting position on the mounting surface of an object, and wiring is drawn out from a predetermined surface of the housing, and the portion of the wiring opposite to the housing side is pulled into a concealing member that is provided continuously on the mounting surface of the object and is for concealing the wiring inside the object, and the device includes a cover member that covers the portion of the wiring from the position on the predetermined surface to the position that is concealed by the concealing member.

[0007] The "device" of this invention can be anything that mounts electronic components, for example, something that connects to an external power supply via wiring, or something that can be electrically connected to other devices. The "object" to which the device is attached can be anything, for example, a vehicle such as an automobile, furniture, a building, etc. The "mounting surface" is one surface of the object to which the housing is attached, and the surface shape can be anything, but it is preferable that it be flat. The angle of the mounting surface is not limited, and it may be a horizontal surface, a vertical surface, or an inclined surface. The "mounting position" means the position on the mounting surface where the housing is attached. The predetermined surface of the housing can be any surface that makes up the housing, but it is preferable that it be a surface other than the surface that faces the mounting surface when it is attached to the mounting position. This allows the wiring to be routed from the predetermined surface without the mounting surface getting in the way. Furthermore, "continuous with the mounting surface" means, for example, that it is continuous adjacent to the mounting surface, or that it is continuous overlapping the mounting surface, and it means that the edge of the concealed member (for example, a black ceramic line provided on the edge of the roof headlining of a vehicle) is parallel to the mounting surface. Furthermore, "concealing component" refers to any component that can conceal wiring, and is not limited to components provided solely for that purpose. Also, the color of the concealing component can be anything, but it is preferable that it be opaque in order to conceal the wiring. In addition, the "predetermined position on the predetermined surface" refers to the position on the predetermined surface from which the wiring is drawn out, and the position that is exposed to the outside of the enclosure.

[0008] Since the wiring extending from the equipment is hidden by the cover and not exposed to the outside, the appearance between the equipment's casing and the concealed component is improved. Furthermore, because the cover conceals the wiring between the casing and the concealed component, the casing appears to be connected to the concealed component via the cover, creating a sense of unity between the equipment and the component.

[0009] (2) The device is equipped with a direction changing means for pulling the wiring out from the predetermined surface toward the mounting position and further bending it in a direction along the mounting surface to change its direction, and the cover member is equipped with a first cover member that covers the portion of the wiring from the predetermined surface toward the mounting position toward the predetermined position, and a second cover member that covers the portion of the wiring from the predetermined position toward the mounting surface toward the position hidden by the concealing member, and it is preferable that the opening of the first cover member for pulling the wiring out to the outside is provided with an overlapping portion that overlaps with the outer surface of one end in the longitudinal direction of the second cover member.

[0010] "Designated position" refers to the position of the wiring closest to the mounting position among the portions of the wiring that are pulled out toward the mounting position. Also, "along the mounting surface" does not necessarily mean closely following the mounting surface, but may also mean following parallel to the mounting surface with a gap in between. In other words, it may be floating relative to the mounting surface. Furthermore, "overlapping with the outer surface of one end in the longitudinal direction" may mean overlapping with the entire outer surface, or overlapping with only a part of it. The first cover member and the second cover member should preferably be opaque in order to conceal the wiring.

[0011] The direction-changing mechanism pulls the wiring out from a predetermined surface towards the mounting surface of the object, and then bends it in a direction that follows the mounting surface, so that the wiring can be pulled out along the mounting surface to the position of the concealing member. The cover member consists of a first cover member and a second cover member, which are separate components. The first cover member covers the portion of the wiring that is pulled out from the predetermined surface towards the mounting position to a predetermined position, and the second cover member covers the portion that is pulled out from the predetermined position along the mounting surface to the position where it is concealed by the concealing member. By dividing the role of concealing the wiring between the first cover member and the second cover member, each portion can be reliably covered. At the joint between the opening of the first cover member and the end of the second cover member, an overlapping portion is provided in the opening of the first cover member. Since the overlapping portion overlaps with the outer surface of the end of the second cover member, no gap is formed at the joint between the opening of the first cover member and the end of the second cover member. As a result, the first and second cover members neatly conceal the portion that is pulled out from a predetermined surface of the housing along the mounting surface and then pulled into the concealing member.

[0012] In particular, the second cover member should be fixed to the mounting surface by adhesive or the like. This allows the wiring to be supported while aligned with the mounting surface. Furthermore, if the mounting surface is an inclined surface such as the windshield of a vehicle, fixing the second cover member to the windshield by adhesive or the like can prevent aerial wiring, which is one of the strict standards regulated by automobile manufacturers for deliveries. The first cover member may consist of one or more members. The second cover member should be made of a flexible material. This allows it to be bent while attached to the wiring. The second cover member should also have a shape that can embrace the wiring from the outside, for example, a cylindrical shape with a slit cut along its length. In that case, it is even more desirable that it has elastic recovery force. Examples of materials with elastic recovery force include resin and rubber. This allows the second cover member to return to its original shape and automatically embrace the wiring inside simply by pushing it open from the slit and positioning the wiring inside. In particular, the second cover member should be straight. By making the second cover member straight, the wiring portion that follows the mounting surface can be arranged in a straight line, so, for example, the shortest distance can be used to connect the opening of the first cover member to the position of the concealed member. Furthermore, the second cover member should be made of a flexible material. This allows the second cover member to conform to parts of the mounting surface that are not flat (for example, uneven or curved surfaces). The second cover member should be fixed to the mounting surface by adhesive or the like.

[0013] (3) The other end of the second cover member opposite to the one end is preferably provided with an insertion portion into which at least a part is inserted into the inside of the concealing member. Since at least a part of the insertion portion provided at the other end of the second cover member is inserted into the inside of the concealing member, no gap is created between the other end of the second cover member and the concealing member. As a result, the wiring is not exposed at all at the joint between the other end of the second cover member and the concealing member, thus improving the appearance of the surrounding area. The joint between the other end of the second cover member and the concealing member is the joint that is created between the other end of the second cover member and the edge of the concealing member. The concealing member may be formed of a member that is overlapped with another member (different from the concealing member) that is provided continuously on the mounting surface with a gap between them. That is, the concealing member may be such that it can form a storage space between itself and other members. Alternatively, the concealing member may be such that it can form a storage space inside itself. The "insertion portion" should be shaped so that at least a part of it is inserted into such a storage space.

[0014] (4) The second cover member is made of a cuttable material and is preferably cut to a length corresponding to the shortest distance from the position of the opening of the first cover member to the position of the edge of the concealing member. Since the second cover member is made of a cuttable material, even if the distance from the mounting position to the concealing member differs depending on the type of object, the second cover member can be cut to a length corresponding to the shortest distance from the position of the opening of the first cover member to the position of the concealing member. The shortest distance from the position of the opening of the first cover member to the position of the concealing member is, for example, the shortest distance from the position of the opening of the first cover member to the position of the edge of the concealing member. This allows the wiring pulled out from the opening of the first cover member to be pulled out in a straight line over the shortest distance to the position of the concealing member. Therefore, the area occupied by the wiring and the second cover member on the mounting surface of the object can be minimized, and the appearance of the mounting surface of the object is not impaired. In particular, if an insertion part is provided at the other end of the second cover member, which is inserted into the inside of the concealing member at least in part, one end of the second cover member may be cut. This allows the length of the second cover member, which has an insertion portion at the other end, to be freely adjusted to suit the object.

[0015] (5) The in-vehicle equipment includes a mounting portion for fixing the housing to the mounting position, and the housing is rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the vertical direction with respect to the mounting portion, and the predetermined surface is a side surface of the housing that intersects the axis, and when the housing is rotated around the axis, the outlet for drawing out the wiring provided on the side surface moves in the same plane around the axis. The housing rotates vertically around an axis perpendicular to the vertical direction. In such a housing, the wiring is drawn out from an outlet provided on a side surface perpendicular to the axis of the housing. With this configuration, even if the housing rotates vertically, the outlet only moves in the same plane around the axis on the side surface, so such a side surface can be covered with the first cover member.

[0016] (6) The side surface is such that when the housing is rotated about the axis, the outlet moves in an arc shape within the same plane about the axis, and the first cover member is preferably formed in an arc shape at least in the portion of the outer edge corresponding to the range in which the outlet moves as the housing rotates about the axis. Since the outlet moves in an arc shape within the same plane about the axis on the side surface, the outer edge shape of at least the portion of the first cover member corresponding to the range in which the outlet moves can be made in an arc shape to match the movement of the wiring pulled out from such an outlet. This makes the shape of the first cover member rounded and soft.

[0017] (7) The first cover member is fixed to the side surface of the housing so as to be rotatable coaxially with the axis, and the opening is positioned close to the mounting portion. When the housing is rotated in one direction relative to the mounting portion, the first cover member is fixed in a position rotated in the opposite direction to the one direction by the same angle as the rotation angle of the housing. When the housing is rotated in one direction relative to the mounting portion, the position of the opening shifts according to the angle of rotation. At this time, the first cover member is rotated coaxially with the axis of the housing and in the opposite direction. This makes it possible to return the position of the opening to a position close to the mounting portion. This makes it possible to keep wiring pulled out from the opening along the mounting surface without it floating relative to the mounting surface, even if the angular position of the housing relative to the mounting portion changes. Note that "position close to the mounting portion" means a position adjacent to the mounting portion, and includes positions adjacent with a gap in between.

[0018] (8) The side surface is circular in shape, the outlet is provided at a position offset from the center of the side surface, and a fixing part is provided at the center of the side surface for rotatably fixing the first cover member, and when the first cover member is rotated and its position is fixed, the opening is preferably positioned close to the mounting part. This allows the first cover member to be fixed rotatably on the circular side surface of the housing coaxially with the axis of the housing. Therefore, even if the angle position relative to the mounting part changes by rotating the housing from a state in which the opening provided in the first cover member is positioned close to the mounting part, the positional relationship between the mounting part and the first cover member can be easily returned to its original state simply by rotating the first cover member. Note that "position close to the mounting part" means a position adjacent to the mounting part, and includes positions adjacent with a gap in between.

[0019] (9) The first cover member is provided with a projection that protrudes from its own rotation center side toward the mounting portion side, The protruding portion may have the opening located adjacent to the mounting portion. The opening for pulling out the wiring is provided in the protruding portion of the first cover member that protrudes toward the mounting portion, and is located adjacent to the mounting portion. This allows the position of the protruding portion to be easily adjusted to a position adjacent to the mounting portion by rotating the first cover member, even if the angular position of the housing relative to the mounting portion changes. In particular, the first cover member may be made radially smaller in the portion other than the protruding portion. This allows the first cover member to be made into a shape such as a gourd or a teardrop, so that it does not become larger and appears more compact compared to, for example, a circular shape.

[0020] (10) A flat surface is provided adjacent to the opening of the protruding portion, and when the position of the first cover member is fixed so that the flat surface is parallel to and at the same height as the mounting surface of the mounting portion, the opening is to open in a direction parallel to the flat surface. The opening can be easily opened in a direction along the mounting surface simply by rotating the first cover member and fixing its position so that the flat surface of the protruding portion is parallel to and at the same height as the mounting surface of the mounting portion.

[0021] (11) The mounting portion is provided with a first mark, and the flat surface is provided with a second mark. When the first cover member is rotated and fixed in position so that the second mark aligns with the first mark, the flat surface is positioned parallel to and at the same height as the mounting surface. When the angular position of the housing is changed relative to the mounting portion, the position of the opening can be easily and quickly adjusted simply by rotating the first cover member and fixing in position so that the second mark aligns with the first mark. For example, the second mark may be omitted and the first mark may align with a specific position on the flat surface, or the first mark may be omitted and the second mark may align with a specific position on the mounting portion.

[0022] (12) The housing can rotate about the axis with respect to the mounting portion and be fixed at a predetermined pitch, and the first cover member may be rotatably fixed at the same pitch as the predetermined pitch on the side surface. Thereby, the mutual positional relationship between the mounting portion and the first cover member can be easily and accurately adjusted.

[0023] (13) The direction changing means may bend the wiring drawn from the predetermined surface parallel to the predetermined surface, bend it in an arc shape on the side away from the mounting portion within the plane parallel to the predetermined surface, then draw it out toward the mounting surface side, and further bend it in the direction along the mounting surface to change the direction. By bending the wiring parallel to the predetermined surface, bending it in an arc shape on the side away from the mounting portion within the plane parallel to the predetermined surface, then drawing it out toward the mounting surface side, and further bending it in the direction along the mounting surface to change the direction, the tension of the wiring can be applied in the direction along the mounting surface. Thereby, since the tension of the wiring is not applied to the mounting surface, it is possible to prevent the first cover member from being urged in the direction away from the mounting surface by the wiring. Note that "parallel to the predetermined surface" is not limited to complete parallelism, and for example, it may have a slight inclination with respect to the predetermined surface. Also, "bending it in an arc shape on the side away from the mounting portion" means, for example, an arc shape in which the mounting portion side is concave and the side opposite to the mounting portion side is convex.

[0024] (14) The first cover member preferably includes a flat side wall portion that is spaced apart in parallel from the predetermined surface with a gap. Since the side wall portion of the first cover member is arranged with a gap from the predetermined surface of the housing, the wiring can be arranged in the gap. Thereby, it is possible to cover the portion of the wiring drawn from the predetermined surface to a predetermined position on the side drawn out from the predetermined surface toward the mounting position. Also, since the side wall portion is formed in a flat plate shape, it does not bulge or protrude outward. Thereby, the entire device can be made to look compact.

[0025] (15) The opening may open in a direction along the mounting surface. Since the opening opens in a direction along the mounting surface, the wiring drawn out from the opening does not float with respect to the mounting surface and can be drawn out linearly along the mounting surface as it is. Further, the portion drawn out linearly from the opening can be covered with the second cover member. In particular, the opening of the first cover member may open in a tangential direction of a virtual circle centered on the axis of the first cover member. Furthermore, it is preferable that this tangential direction is parallel to the mounting surface of the mounting portion. Thereby, the opening can draw out the wiring in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the object and can be aligned along the mounting surface.

[0026] (16) The mounting portion may be the other surface of the housing adjacent to the predetermined surface of the housing and provided at a position close to the predetermined surface. Thereby, since the mounting portion and the first cover member are visually recognized as an integral structure, the entire in-vehicle device can be made to look compact.

[0027] (17) The device includes support means for supporting the housing in a state separated from the mounting surface. The housing includes electronic components, and a predetermined gap may be formed between the first cover member and the mounting surface. Since a predetermined gap is formed between the first cover member and the mounting surface, vibrations of the object are not transmitted to the housing through the first cover member. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the first cover member from colliding with the mounting surface of the object due to vibrations or the like of the object, and thus prevent a strong impact from occurring on the housing via the first cover member and affecting the driving of the electronic components provided in the housing.

[0028] (18) The device is preferably an in-vehicle device that is installed in an automobile. This allows the wiring drawn out from the in-vehicle device to be hidden by the cover member and not exposed to the outside, thereby improving the appearance between the housing of the in-vehicle device and the concealed member of the vehicle. Furthermore, since the cover member covers the wiring between the housing and the concealed member, the housing appears to be connected to the concealed member via the cover member, thus creating a sense of unity between the in-vehicle device and the vehicle. This reduces the aftermarket appearance of the in-vehicle device, making it appear as if it were an original part of the automobile.

[0029] The inventions described in (1) to (18) above can be combined in any way. For example, one invention may have at least one of the other configurations from (2) to (18) without having all or part of (1). In particular, it is preferable to have the configuration of (1) and to have it in combination with at least one of the configurations from (2) to (18). Alternatively, any components from (1) to (18) may be extracted and combined. The applicant intends to obtain patent rights for such configurations as well. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] This is an overall perspective view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 2] This is a disassembled perspective view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 3] This is a front view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 4] This is a right side view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 5] This is a left side view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 7] This is a bottom view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 8] This is a rear view of drive recorder 1. [Figure 9] This is an overall perspective view of Case 10. [Figure 10] This is a right side view of Case 10. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 12] This is a front view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 13] This is a right side view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 14] This is a left side view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 15] This is a plan view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 16] This is a bottom view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 17] This is a rear view of the guide cover 50. [Figure 18] This is an overall perspective view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover and guide cover omitted. [Figure 19] This is a right-side view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover and guide cover omitted. [Figure 20] This is a bottom view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover and guide cover omitted. [Figure 21] This is an overall perspective view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover omitted. [Figure 22] This is a front view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover omitted. [Figure 23] This is a right side view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover omitted. [Figure 24] This is a plan view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover omitted. [Figure 25] This is a bottom view of drive recorder 1 with the cable cover omitted. [Figure 26] Figure 23 is a partially enlarged view of the W2 region. [Figure 27] Figure 4 is a partially enlarged view of the W1 region shown. [Figure 28] This is a right side view of the drive recorder 1 with the relative angular position of the case 10 to the mounting plate 33 changed. [Figure 29] This diagram shows the position P1 of the drive recorder, which is installed on the windshield 101 of the vehicle. [Figure 30] This diagram shows the drive recorder 1 mounted on the windshield 101 of the vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate the technical features that the present invention may adopt. The configuration of the articles described is not intended to be the sole limiting factor, but is merely an illustrative example. In the following description, for the sake of explanation, the left, right, front, back, and up directions indicated by the arrows in the figures will be used, but these do not necessarily uniquely define the direction of the drive recorder 1.

[0032] The drive recorder 1 shown in Figure 1 is configured to store forward-facing video footage and driving data showing the driver's driving actions (braking, turn signal operation, driving route, etc.) for a certain period before and after an accident or sudden braking. To briefly explain the configuration for storing video data, the CCD camera 13 constantly captures images of the vehicle and its surroundings from the driver's viewpoint (field of view), and stores the captured images in a temporary memory such as a ring buffer. The images stored in this temporary memory are continuously updated with the latest images, and past video data is retained for a set amount of time. On the other hand, the drive recorder 1 is equipped with sensors such as an acceleration sensor that detect impacts that occur during accidents or sudden braking / steering. When the output value of the sensor exceeds a threshold, it reads video footage from a certain period before the threshold was exceeded (impact detection) from the temporary memory and stores it in non-volatile memory (SD memory card, etc.). After the threshold is exceeded, it stores video footage from the CCD camera taken thereafter either directly or via the temporary memory into the non-volatile memory, thereby saving video footage and the aforementioned driving data for a predetermined period before and after the impact to the non-volatile memory (SD card). When an accident occurs, it is possible to clearly testify to the driver's innocence based on the vehicle status information (video footage, etc.) of the vehicle stored in the non-volatile memory. In addition, if the drive recorder 1 detects reckless and dangerous driving operations such as sudden steering or sudden braking, it can emit a warning sound to alert the driver, thereby creating a certain sense of tension in the driver. Since the drive recorder 1 records and stores video footage of the front of the vehicle, it is usually used mounted on the vehicle's windshield 101 (see Figures 29 and 30).

[0033] The structure of the drive recorder 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The drive recorder 1 is a unit configured in an L-shape in plan view (see Figures 6 and 7), and comprises a case 10, a mounting bracket 30, a nut member 40, a guide cover 50, a screw 60, a cable cover 70, etc. The case 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with an axis extending in the left-right direction, and has a CCD camera 13 on its front. The mounting bracket 30 has a ring portion 31 rotatably attached to one end of the case 10 on the right end side (axis direction), and a mounting plate 33 connected to the ring portion 31 is fixed by adhesive to the mounting position P1 (see Figure 29) on the vehicle's windshield 101. The mounting position P1 is set, for example, at a predetermined position on the windshield 101 that is away from the black ceramic line 210 provided along the edge of the roof headlining 200 provided on the ceiling of the passenger compartment. The mounting position P1 is set, for example, at a distance L1 downward from the black ceramic line 210 and a distance L2 to the left from the vehicle center O. The nut member 40 is formed in a ring shape and is attached to the right end side of the case 10. The nut member 40 secures the case 10 to the mounting bracket 30.

[0034] The guide cover 50 is rotatably mounted on the right end of the case 10, coaxially with the axis of the case 10. The guide cover 50 covers the cable 20 (see Figures 2 and 14) that is pulled out from the right side 14 (see Figure 2) of the case 10, from the right side 14 to a position adjacent to the mounting plate 33. The cable 20 is, for example, a power cable, but it may be any other cable, or a harness with multiple wires bundled together. It may also be more than one cable. The screw 60 rotatably supports and fixes the guide cover 50 to the right side 14 of the case 10. The cable 20 is pulled out parallel to the mounting plate 33 from an opening 55 provided in the upper rear corner of the guide cover 50. As shown in Figure 30, when mounted on the vehicle's windshield 101, the cable 20 is routed upward, for example, along the windshield 101, and pulled inside the black ceramic line 210 of the roof headlining 200, where it is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) inside the vehicle. The cable cover 70 is mounted from the outside along the cable 20 from the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 to the black ceramic line 210 of the roof headlining 200.

[0035] The drive recorder 1 having the above configuration has the ring portion 31 of the mounting bracket 30 rotatably attached to the case 10. Therefore, the relative angular position between the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 and the case 10 can be changed. The tilt angle of the vehicle's windshield 101 (see Figure 30) differs depending on the type of vehicle, but by changing the relative angular position between the mounting plate 33 and the case 10, the drive recorder 1 can accommodate different types of vehicles with a single unit configuration. The components of the drive recorder 1 will be described in order below.

[0036] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the structure of case 10 will be explained. Case 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Case 10 is constructed by joining together a first case 11 and a second case 12, which are divided into two halves (front and back). One end 11A and 12A of the first case 11 and the second case 12 are formed to be slightly smaller in external dimensions, and a step is formed between these one end 11A and 12A and the central part in the axial direction of case 10. On the wall surface where this step is formed, on the side of one end 11A, a tooth portion 17, which is a triangular wave-shaped (sawtooth-shaped) serration, is formed in a semi-circular arc shape when viewed from the right side. A male screw 18 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip side of one end 11A and 12A that protrudes to the right of the first case 11 and the second case 12.

[0037] On the tip side of one end 11A, 12A, small semicircular protrusions 11D, 12D are provided when viewed from the right side. The protrusions 11D, 12D constitute a roughly cylindrical protrusion that projects to the right. The right side surface 14 of the protrusion is formed in a roughly circular shape when viewed from the right side (see Figure 10). The right side surface 14 is provided with a screw hole 15, an outlet 16, teeth 12G, etc. The screw hole 15 is located in the center of the right side surface 14. A screw 60 (see Figure 2) for rotatably fixing the guide cover 50 is fastened to the screw hole 15. The outlet 16 is located behind the screw hole 15 and on the side of the protrusion 12D. The cable 20 is pulled out to the right from the outlet 16. The outlet 16 is offset to the rear from the center of the right side surface 14. Therefore, the screw hole 15 for rotatably fixing the guide cover 50 can be provided in the center of the right side surface 14. Therefore, the guide cover 50 can be rotated coaxially with the axis of the case 10 and at the center of the right side surface 14.

[0038] The tooth portion 12G is formed on the convex portion 12D side of the right side surface 14, opposite the tooth portion 17, and has a smaller diameter than the tooth portion 17, forming a semi-circular arc shape when viewed from the right side. The tooth portion 12G is formed in a triangular wave shape (sawtooth shape) with the same pitch as the tooth portion 17. The tooth portion 12G engages with the tooth portion 58 of the guide cover 50 (see Figures 11 and 14), which will be described later. The position of the tooth portion 12G can be anywhere on the right side surface 14, as long as it surrounds the center of the right side surface 14, but it is preferable that it be outside the center of the right side surface 14. In this case, the pitch of the tooth portion 12G can be finely engraved. The pitch of the tooth portion 12G is also not limited, but a wider pitch is preferable to a narrower one. This makes it easier to create an angle for rotating the guide cover 50. In addition, although the tooth portion 12G is formed in a semi-circular arc shape, the length is not limited as long as it is in a circular arc shape. For example, the tooth portion 12G could be circular in shape, encircling the center of the right side surface 14. However, since the case 10 in this embodiment is divided into two parts, half of the tooth portion 12G is sufficient.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the first case 11 and the second case 12 have flat surfaces 11E and 12E on the opposite side of the joint surface that are parallel to the joint surface. Therefore, these flat surfaces 11E and 12E are set to be parallel to each other. As shown in Figure 9, a circular opening 11B is formed in the middle of the vertical direction on the left end of the flat surface 11E, which is part of the front surface of case 10. Inside the opening 11B, a CCD camera 13 is provided, protruding forward from the inside of case 10. The field of view of the CCD camera 13 is set to be perpendicular to the flat surface 11E. Also, an SD card slot 22 (see Figure 5) is provided on the left side of case 10. An SD card (not shown) can be inserted into and removed from the SD card slot 22.

[0040] Referring to Figure 2, the structure of the mounting bracket 30 will be described. The mounting bracket 30 comprises a ring portion 31, a connecting column portion 32 (see Figure 5), a mounting plate 33, etc. The ring portion 31 is formed in a ring shape and has an inner diameter that is approximately the same as (slightly larger than) the outer diameter of one end 11A, 12A of the first case 11 and the second case 12. The connecting column portion 32 is provided standing upright on the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion 31. The mounting plate 33 is provided at the tip of the connecting column portion 32 and is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that is slightly elongated in the front-to-back direction in a plan view (see Figure 6). The mounting plate 33 is arranged at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the diameter direction of the ring portion 31 (see Figure 5). A base surface 33B having a predetermined thickness is provided on the mounting surface 33A facing upwards of the mounting plate 33. The base surface 33B is formed to be raised one step higher in order to be attached to the rectangular windshield 101 in a plan view. Double-sided tape 35 is attached to the base surface 33B. The adhesive surface of the double-sided tape 35 may be divided into, for example, several rectangular pieces. The adhesive part of the double-sided tape 35 is exposed by peeling off the release paper. Furthermore, a mark M1 is provided at a position near the front on the right end of the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33. Mark M1 serves as a reference when aligning the position of the guide cover 50 with respect to the mounting plate 33. The shape of mark M1 can be anything, but for example, making it a straight line mark extending in the left-right direction makes alignment easier.

[0041] On one side of the ring portion 31 (the side facing the case 10), teeth 34 are formed around its entire circumference. The teeth 34 are formed in a triangular wave shape (sawtooth shape) and are set to the same dimensions and shape so as to mesh with the teeth 17 formed on the case 10. When the ring portion 31 is attached to one end 11A, 12A of the first case 11 and the second case 12, the ring portion 31 can be rotated in forward and reverse directions relative to the one end 11A, 12A of the first case 11 and the second case 12, for example, at a 5° pitch, with its central axis as the center of rotation. Then, the teeth 17 provided on the case 10 and the teeth 34 provided on the ring portion 31 mesh together, preventing rotation.

[0042] Referring to Figure 2, the structure of the nut member 40 will be explained. The nut member 40 has a flat, disc-shaped cap form, and a female thread 41A that screws into the male thread 18 is formed on its inner circumferential surface 41. A circular through hole 42 is formed in the center of the nut member 40. The lid surface 401 surrounding the through hole 42 is a curved surface that bulges outward as it moves radially inward. When the ring portion 31 of the mounting bracket 30 is attached to one end 11A, 12A of the first case 11 and the second case 12, the male thread 18 protrudes outward (to the right) from the ring portion 31. Therefore, the nut member 40 is attached to the protruding male thread 18. Then, by securely fastening the female thread of the nut member 40 to the male thread 18 of the case 10, the distance between the nut member 40 and the stepped portion of the case 10 where the teeth 17 are formed is reduced, so that the ring portion 31 can be clamped between the case 10 and the nut member 40 with a predetermined force. As a result, the case 10 is securely fixed to the mounting bracket 30.

[0043] When firmly fixed, the teeth 17 and 34 interlock, preventing the rotation of the ring portion 31 and thus the mounting bracket 30. When the nut member 40 is loosened, this rotation is permitted. Therefore, the relative angular position between the case 10 and the mounting bracket 30 can be set (adjusted) to any position and fixed in that position. In other words, if the plane (direction) parallel to the joining surface of the first case 11 and the second case 12 is considered the basic vertical direction of the case 10, the angle between that vertical direction and the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 can be changed.

[0044] Furthermore, by securely fastening the nut member 40, the teeth 17 of the case 10 and the teeth 34 of the mounting bracket 30 interlock firmly, reliably preventing rotation. Therefore, even if the drive recorder 1 is subjected to an impact due to an accident or the like, the orientation and posture of the case 10 will maintain the basic posture when the drive recorder 1 is mounted on the windshield 101 (as long as the mounting plate 33 does not detach from the windshield 101), and it will be securely fixed.

[0045] The structure of the guide cover 50 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 11 to 17. The guide cover 50 is formed in a roughly gourd shape when viewed from the right side (see Figures 2 and 13). The guide cover 50 is formed in a lid shape with a U-shaped cross-section and is positioned, for example, with the inside facing to the left. The guide cover 50 comprises a side wall portion 51 and a peripheral wall portion 52. The side wall portion 51 is formed in a roughly gourd-shaped flat plate that extends vertically when viewed from the right side, and when viewed from the right side, it comprises a circular portion 51A and a rectangular portion 51B that protrudes upward from the top of the circular portion 51A. A hole 54 is provided in the center of the circular portion 51A, penetrating in the thickness direction. A cylindrical shaft portion 57 is provided perpendicular to the inner surface of the circular portion 51A at a position corresponding to the hole portion 54 on the inner surface of the circular portion 51A. The shaft hole of the shaft portion 57 is in communication with the hole portion 54. The peripheral wall portion 52 is provided along the outer edge of the side wall portion 51 and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape extending to the left from the outer edge. The width B1 (see Figure 12), which is the length of the peripheral wall portion 52 in the left-right direction, is set to a length sufficient to accommodate, for example, the cable 20 inside.

[0046] The guide cover 50, composed of a side wall portion 51 and a peripheral wall portion 52, has a projection portion 56 that protrudes radially outward from a shaft portion 57 provided on the side wall portion 51, and the portion other than the projection portion 56 is tapered radially inward. An opening 55 is provided at the upper rear corner of the peripheral wall portion 52 of the projection portion 56 (see Figures 11, 14, and 15). The position of the opening 55 corresponds to the position of the upper rear corner of the rectangular portion 51B of the side wall portion 51. The opening 55 is formed in the shape of a roughly U-shaped notch that opens to the left side when viewed from the rear (see Figures 11 and 17). The peripheral wall portion 52 is divided at the upper rear position by the opening 55. The lower edge of the U-shaped opening 55 is formed by the lower end portion 551, which is one end of the peripheral wall portion 52. The upper edge of the opening 55 is formed by the upper end portion 552, which is the other end of the peripheral wall portion 52. The right side of the opening 55 is formed by the rectangular portion 51B of the side wall 51. The lower end 551 protrudes from below relative to the lower side of the opening 55. The upper end 552 protrudes approximately horizontally from the front relative to the upper side of the opening 55. The upper end 552 is located in front of the upper rear corner of the rectangular portion 51B of the side wall 51. The lower end 551 is located behind the upper end 552. Therefore, when the guide cover 50 is attached to the right side surface 14 of the case 10, the opening 55 is open in a manner that includes openings at the top and at the rear. To the right of this opening 55, a concealed plate portion 511, which will be described later, is located at the upper rear corner of the side wall 51.

[0047] Furthermore, a flat portion 53, which is a plane extending forward from the upper end 552, is formed on the peripheral wall portion 52 located at the upper end of the protruding portion 56. The flat portion 53 is inclined slightly upward to the left from the upper end of the rectangular portion 51B of the side wall portion 51 toward the left side, which is the right side surface 14 of the case 10 (see Figures 12 and 17). A mark M2 is provided on the left end of the upper surface of the flat portion 53. Mark M2 is used for alignment with mark M1 provided on the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33. The shape of mark M2 can be anything, but for example, making it a straight line extending in the left-right direction, which is the same shape as mark M1, makes alignment easier.

[0048] As shown in Figure 17, when the opening 55 is viewed from the rear, the lower end 551 of the peripheral wall portion 52 is inclined slightly downward to the left toward the left side, which is the right side 14 of the case 10. Furthermore, as described above, the flat portion 53 is inclined slightly upward to the left toward the left. As a result, the opening 55 is formed in a roughly trapezoidal shape. By inclining the flat portion 53 slightly upward to the left toward the left, the side wall portion 51 of the guide cover 50 can be made smaller, making the guide cover 50 appear more compact. In addition, the width B2 (see Figure 17), which is the length of the opening 55 in the left-right direction (length parallel to the axial direction of the guide cover 50), is the same as, or slightly shorter than, the width K1 (see Figure 1) of the end portion 73 of the cable cover 70, which will be described later. The end portion 73 of the cable cover 70 is held without any gaps in the opening 55. The positional relationship between the end portion 73 of the cable cover 70 and the opening 55 will be described later.

[0049] As shown in Figures 12 and 17, when the guide cover 50 is fixed to the right side surface 14 of the case 10, the left end portion 521 of the peripheral wall portion 52 is positioned towards the case 10. At the left end portion 521, a stepped portion 522 is formed in the part corresponding to the flat portion 53, which is lower to the right. As will be described later, the part of the left end portion 521 other than the stepped portion 522 is positioned close to the right side surface 14 of the case 10 and the lid surface 401 of the nut member 40 that is positioned around it. Therefore, the part other than the stepped portion 522 is curved slightly to the right in the vertical direction, especially in the center, to match the surface shape of the lid surface 401. This allows the left end portion 521 of the guide cover 50 to be positioned close to the right side surface 14 of the case 10 and the lid surface 401 of the nut member 40, giving the guide cover 50 a sense of unity as if it were part of the case 10.

[0050] On the other hand, the stepped portion 522 is positioned with a gap between it and the right end portion 331 of the mounting plate 33 to prevent interference. This allows the tip of the protruding portion 56 of the guide cover 50 to be positioned as close as possible to the right end portion 331 of the mounting plate 33, so that the opening 55 can be positioned adjacent to the mounting plate 33. Since the cable 20 can be pulled out from the opening 55 at a position adjacent to the mounting plate 33, it is possible to prevent the cable 20 from floating away from the vehicle's windshield 101 at the opening 55.

[0051] On the left end 521 of such a guide cover 50, a toothed portion 58 (see Figures 11 and 14) is formed over the semi-circular portion which is approximately the lower half. The toothed portion 58 is a triangular wave-shaped (sawtooth-shaped) serration and is set to the same dimensions and shape so as to mesh with the toothed portion 12G (see Figures 9 and 10) formed on the right side surface 14 of the case 10. By placing the guide cover 50 on the right side surface 14 of the case 10 and loosely fastening the screw 60 through the hole 54 and shaft 57 to the screw hole 15 provided in the center of the right side surface 14, the guide cover 50 can be rotated in forward and reverse relative to the right side surface 14 of the case 10, with the screw 60 as the center of rotation. Then, by meshing the toothed portion 58 on the guide cover 50 with the toothed portion 12G on the right side surface 14 of the case 10, rotation is suppressed. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pitch of teeth 12G and 58 is set to be the same as the pitch of teeth 17 and 34, so that the rotational pitch of the guide cover 50 relative to the case 10 can be matched to the rotational pitch of the case 10 relative to the mounting plate 33. This makes it easier to adjust the position of the guide cover 50 relative to the case 10 when the relative angular position of the case 10 relative to the mounting plate 33 is changed.

[0052] Furthermore, the guide cover 50 having the above structure has a diameter that tapers inward in the radial direction in all parts except the protruding portion 56, and is formed in a roughly gourd shape or teardrop shape when viewed from the right side. Therefore, it can be made smaller than a guide cover that is circular with approximately the same diameter as the case 10. As a result, the entire structure in which the guide cover 50 is fixed to the case 10 can be made inconspicuous and compact.

[0053] Referring to Figure 2, the structure of the cable cover 70 will be explained. The cable cover 70 is, for example, a rubber member formed in a straight line. The outer edge of the cable cover 70 is formed in a rectangular cross-section, and inside it is a cable insertion hole 74 that extends in the longitudinal direction. On one surface of the cable cover 70 parallel to the longitudinal direction is a fixing surface 76 for fixing to the windshield 101 by adhesive or the like. The fixing surface 76 is provided with a notch groove 75 that divides the center in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The notch groove 75 communicates with the cable insertion hole 74. Therefore, by pushing the notch groove 75 in the width direction, the cable 20 can be pushed into the inside of the cable insertion hole 74. Also, since the width of the cable insertion hole 74 is longer than the width of the notch groove 75, the cable cover 70 can hold the cable 20 inside the cable insertion hole 74. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cable cover 70 from detaching from the cable 20.

[0054] An insertion portion 72 is provided at one end of the cable cover 70 in the longitudinal direction. The insertion portion 72 is the part that is inserted inside the black ceramic line 210 (see Figures 29 and 30) of the vehicle's roof headlining 200. The insertion portion 72 is formed in a roughly U-shape in side view and includes, for example, a horizontal plate portion 721, a first vertical wall portion 722, a second vertical wall portion 723, etc. The horizontal plate portion 721 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view and is wider than the central part of the cable cover 70. The first vertical wall portion 722 and the second vertical wall portion 723 are erected on the opposite side from the fixing surface 76 at positions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the cable cover 70. The insertion portion 72 also has a fixing surface 76, a cable insertion hole 74, and a notched groove 75. In this insertion section 72, the bent end of the black ceramic line 210 of the roof headlining 200 is inserted between the first vertical wall section 722 and the second vertical wall section 723 (see Figure 30). As a result, the end of the black ceramic line 210 is sandwiched between the first vertical wall section 722 and the second vertical wall section 723. Thus, the horizontal plate section 721 and the first vertical wall section 722 of the insertion section 72 are inserted inside the black ceramic line 210. The horizontal plate section 721 and the first vertical wall section 722 are then positioned in the space formed between the roof headlining 200 and the sheet metal 104 provided adjacent to the upper end of the windshield 101. Thus, the insertion section 72 is sandwiched between the roof headlining 200 and the sheet metal 104. The horizontal plate portion 721 and the first vertical wall portion 722 are inserted inside the black ceramic line 210, and the second vertical wall portion 723 abuts against the outer surface of the end of the black ceramic line 210. This allows the cable 20, which is pulled out from the opening of the cable insertion hole 74 provided at the bottom of the first vertical wall portion 722, to be pulled out and positioned inside the roof headlining 200.

[0055] As will be described later, the cable cover 70 needs to be adjusted in length according to the mounting position P1 (see Figure 29) set on the vehicle's windshield 101. In this case, the other end of the cable cover 70 opposite to the insertion portion 72, which is located at the opening 55 of the guide cover 50, should be cut with scissors or the like so that the length of the cable cover 70 (specifically, the length from the end 73 of the cable cover 70 to the second vertical wall portion 723 of the insertion portion 72) corresponds to the distance L1. This allows the length of the cable cover 70 to be adjusted while leaving the insertion portion 72 intact. The material of the cable cover 70 in this embodiment may be other than rubber, but since it needs to be cut, an elastic material is preferable, and more preferably a soft material. For example, in addition to rubber, an elastomer may be used. Also, if it is soft, it can be installed by pushing it open by hand, making installation easy. Furthermore, because it is an elastic material, the straight cable cover 70 can be bent, allowing it to conform to the surface shape of the vehicle's windshield 101 and be securely fixed. In addition, the color of the cable cover 70 can be anything, but since it needs to cover and hide the cable 20, it is preferable that it be opaque, and more preferably opaque and the same color as the guide cover 50. This enhances the sense of unity with the guide cover 50.

[0056] Referring to Figures 18 to 20, the routing of the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16 on the right side 14 of the case 10 will be explained. As described above, in this embodiment, the cable 20 is pulled out from the right side 14 (from the axial direction) of the case 10 with its axis oriented in the left-right direction. This is because even if the case 10 rotates with respect to the mounting plate 33 and the relative angular position changes, the cable 20 can be pulled out towards the windshield 101, then routed along the windshield 101, and raised towards the roof headlining 200. In this embodiment, between the time the cable 20 is pulled out from the outlet 16 and then routed towards the windshield 101 and along the windshield 101, several changes in direction occur inside the guide cover 50, as described below. This makes it possible to pull out the cable 20 smoothly along the surface of the vehicle's windshield 101, while reducing the effect of tension on the cable 20 caused by the routing, regardless of how the relative angular position of the case 10 with respect to the mounting plate 33 changes.

[0057] Let's explain in detail the tension on the cable 20 and the tension relief effect caused by changing the direction of the cable 20. If the cable outlet 16 from which the cable 20 is pulled is close to the windshield 101, the cable 20 will form an S-shape. In this case, tension will be applied to the cable 20 in a direction that is upright relative to the windshield 101, so the guide cover 50 will be biased downward by the cable 20. If the tension on the cable 20 becomes excessively strong, it will be impossible to push the cable 20 inside the guide cover 50, making it difficult to attach the guide cover 50 to the right side 14 of the case 10.

[0058] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 18 to 20, after pulling the cable 20 out to the right from the outlet 16, it is bent in a direction parallel to the right side surface 14, and then, within a virtual plane parallel to the right side surface 14, it is turned in an arc around the outside of the screw hole 15 and pulled out towards the mounting plate 33, and then pulled out in a direction parallel to the mounting plate 33. As a result, tension is naturally applied to the cable 20 in the direction along the windshield 101. In other words, the tension of the cable 20 can be released in a straight direction parallel to the mounting plate 33. This effectively prevents the guide cover 50 from being biased downward.

[0059] As mentioned above, the outlet 16 is located off-center from the center of the right side 14 of the case 10, so the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16 can be routed around the outside of the center of the right side 14. The position of the outlet 16 can be anywhere other than the center of the right side 14, but it is preferable that it be located further away from the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 rather than closer. If the outlet 16 is located close to the opening 55, the tension on the cable 20 will be strong, especially if the cable 20 is thick or stiff. Therefore, having the outlet 16 located farther from the opening 55 allows the cable 20 to be routed around the outside of the center of the right side 14 without strain.

[0060] In this embodiment, the routing of the cable 20 by changing its direction is performed inside the gourd-shaped guide cover 50. Here, for example, with respect to the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16, the portion from the outlet 16 to the right side of the cable 20 is designated as the first portion 201, the portion from the right side to the outside of the screw hole 15 that is routed in an arc is designated as the second portion 202, the portion from the arc-shaped route to the mounting plate 33 side is designated as the third portion 203, and the portion from the mounting plate 33 side that is bent in a direction parallel to the mounting plate 33 and pulled out in a straight line is designated as the fourth portion 204.

[0061] As described above, the guide cover 50 has a projection 56 that protrudes radially outward from the circular main body. As shown in Figure 19, the first portion 201 to the third portion 203 of the cable 20 are housed inside the guide cover 50. The base portion of the projection 56 of the cable 20 is located in front of the third portion 203 of the cable 20. The base portion of the projection 56 is the part that connects to the circular main body, and is therefore curved so as to be slightly smaller in diameter radially inward of the guide cover 50 (see Figure 13). Since the peripheral wall portion 52 of this curved portion is positioned along the front of the third portion 203, the third portion 203 of the cable 20 can be brought closer to the opening 55. This allows the cable 20 to be pulled out in a straight line from the opening 55 without being forcibly bent.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the case 10 may be rotated relative to the mounting plate 33 to change its relative angular position. In this case, the outlet 16 only moves in an arc shape within a virtual coplane on the right side surface 14, around the axis of the guide cover 50 (see the arrow shown in Figure 19). Therefore, the outlet 16 does not move significantly in the left-right direction (axis direction of the guide cover 50). As a result, the cable 20, which is pulled out from the outlet 16 and has its direction changed as described above, also does not move significantly in the left-right direction. Thus, the side wall portion 51 of the guide cover 50, which covers the first portion 201 to the third portion 203 of the cable 20, can be formed as a flat plate parallel to the right side surface 14 of the case 10. As a result, the guide cover 50 does not protrude significantly to the right (see Figure 3), and the lateral dimension from the left side surface of the case 10 to the side wall portion 51 of the guide cover 50 can be made as small and compact as possible.

[0063] Furthermore, since the cable outlet 16 moves in an arc shape within a virtual coplane on the right side surface 14, centering on the axis of the guide cover 50, the outer edge shape of at least the portion of the guide cover 50 corresponding to the range in which the cable outlet 16 moves can be made arc-shaped to match the movement of the cable 20 pulled out from the cable outlet 16. This gives the guide cover 50 a rounded and soft appearance.

[0064] Referring to Figures 21 to 26, the position of the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 fixed to the case 10 and the direction in which it opens will be explained. When the guide cover 50 is fixed to the right side surface 14 of the case 10, the tip of the protrusion 56 is positioned adjacent to the right end 331 of the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30. Here, as shown in Figure 26, the flat portion 53 provided at the tip of the protrusion 56 is positioned at the same height and parallel to the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33. The opening 55 is located at the upper rear corner of the peripheral wall portion 52 of such a protrusion 56, so that a part of the top and the rear are open. The upper end 552, which is the top edge of the opening 55, is parallel to the inclination direction of the mounting plate 33 and is oriented diagonally upward relative to the rear (see Figures 21, 22, and 24). On the other hand, the lower end 551, which is the lower edge of the opening 55, is oriented approximately perpendicular to the mounting plate 33 (see Figures 23 and 24). Due to this positional relationship, the opening 55 is oriented parallel to the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33 when it is adjacent to the right end 331 of the mounting plate 33.

[0065] Then, as shown in Figure 26, near the opening 55, the cable 20 comes into contact with the inner surface of the flat portion 53 and is pulled out in the direction of the upper end 552. In other words, the cable 20 is pulled out from the opening 55 in a direction along the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33. This allows the fourth portion 204 of the cable 20 pulled out from the opening 55 to be aligned with the windshield 101 of the vehicle (see Figures 29 and 30) to which the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33 is attached.

[0066] When the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 is set to the above position, the mark M2 provided on the left end of the upper surface of the flat portion 53 of the guide cover 50 is positioned opposite the mark M1 provided on the front right end 331 side of the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33 (see Figures 1 and 6). For example, if the case 10 is rotated relative to the mounting plate 33 to change its relative angular position, the position of the opening 55 relative to the mounting plate 33 will shift. In this case, the relative angular position of the guide cover 50 relative to the right side surface 14 of the case 10 should be changed so that the mark M2 is positioned opposite the mark M1. Alternatively, even if marks M1 and M2 are not provided, for example, if the case 10 is rotated X° in the positive direction relative to the mounting plate 33 and its position is fixed, the guide cover 50 should be rotated X° in the negative direction relative to the case 10, coaxially with the axis of the case 10. This will return the position of the opening 55 relative to the mounting plate 33 to its original state.

[0067] Referring to Figures 1 to 8 and Figure 27, the relative positional relationship between the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 and the end 73 of the cable cover 70 will be explained. Of the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16 on the right side 14 of the case 10, the first portion 201 to the third portion 203 are covered by the guide cover 50. A straight cable cover 70 is attached to the fourth portion 204 of the cable 20 that is pulled out in a straight line from the opening 55. With the cable cover 70 attached to the fourth portion 204, the end 73 of the cable cover 70 is positioned in the opening 55 of the guide cover 50. Here, the concealed plate portion 511 of the guide cover 50 is positioned on the right side of the opening 55, and the lid surface 401 of the nut member 40 is positioned on the left side of the opening 55 (see Figure 27). The end 73 of the cable cover 70 is then inserted between the concealed plate portion 511 and the lid surface 401. Here, the width B2 (see Figure 17), which is the length of the opening 55 in the left-right direction, is slightly shorter than the width K1 (see Figure 1) of the cable cover 70. Therefore, the end 73 of the cable cover 70 is inserted into the opening 55 by pushing it in.

[0068] Furthermore, since the height K2 of the cable cover 70 (see Figure 4) is higher than the height B3 of the opening 55 (see Figure 17), when the end 73 of the cable cover 70 is inserted into the opening 55, the end 73 of the cable cover 70 comes into contact with the upper end 552 of the opening 55. As a result, the end 73 of the cable cover 70 is not inserted all the way to the back of the protrusion 56 of the guide cover 50. This is because, as mentioned above, inside the protrusion 56 of the guide cover 50, the third portion 203 of the cable 20 is guided diagonally toward the opening 55, so the end 73 of the cable cover 70 comes into contact with that portion and does not get in the way. Also, if the cable cover 70 were inserted all the way to the back (front) of the guide cover 50, the cable 20 would have to be bent at a sharp angle. Therefore, as in this embodiment, by inserting only a portion of the end 73 of the cable cover 70 into the opening 55 inside the protruding portion 56 of the guide cover 50, the cable 20 that has been pulled out from the outlet 16 around the outside of the screw hole 15 towards the mounting plate 33 can be guided into the opening 55 in a bent state without any difficulty.

[0069] The cable cover 70 is positioned to protrude above the flat portion 53 of the guide cover 50. A gap is formed between the outer surface of the end 73 of the cable cover 70 and the lower end 551 of the opening 55 of the guide cover 50, but they may be brought into contact. The end 73 of the cable cover 70 is held in place from both sides in the left-right direction by the concealed plate portion 511 of the guide cover 50 and the cover surface 401 of the nut member 40. This firmly fixes the position of the end 73 of the cable cover 70 relative to the opening 55, preventing the end 73 of the cable cover 70 from separating from the opening 55 and becoming suspended in mid-air above the vehicle's windshield 101.

[0070] When viewed from the right side with the end 73 of the cable cover 70 fixed to the opening 55, the concealed plate portion 511 of the guide cover 50 overlaps the outer surface of the end 73 of the cable cover 70 in a direction parallel to the length direction of the cable cover 70. In this state, the cable insertion hole 74 of the cable cover 70 is located at the same height as the portion overlapping with the concealed plate portion 511. Therefore, the cable 20 inserted through the cable insertion hole 74 is reliably hidden by the concealed plate portion 511 and can be made completely invisible from the outside. As a result, the joint between the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 and the end 73 of the cable cover 70 can be concealed by the concealed plate portion 511, so that the cable 20 is not exposed at this joint portion either.

[0071] Furthermore, when the drive recorder 1, mounted on the vehicle's windshield 101, is viewed from the windshield 101 side (see Figures 3 and 30), the end 73 of the cable cover 70 abuts against the upper end 552 of the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 (see Figure 27), so the cable 20 is hidden by the guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70 and is not exposed. In addition, although the notch groove 75 of the cable cover 70 is located on the windshield 101 side, when attached to the cable 20, the notch groove 75 is almost closed, so the cable 20, which is inserted into the cable insertion hole 74 located below it, is not visible at all. Furthermore, as described above, the insertion portion 72 of the cable cover 70 is inserted and installed inside the black ceramic line 210 of the roof headlining 200 of the passenger compartment (see Figure 30).

[0072] Therefore, in this embodiment, the cable 20 of the drive recorder 1 can be hidden by covering the first portion 201 to the third portion 203 of the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16 on the right side 14 of the case 10 with the guide cover 50, covering the fourth portion with the cable cover 70, and further covering the joint portion between the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 and the end portion 73 of the cable cover 70 with a concealing plate portion 511 provided in the opening 55, and inserting the insertion portion 72 on the opposite side of the end portion 73 of the cable cover 70 into the inside of the black ceramic line 210. As a result, the cable 20 that was pulled out and exposed between the case 10 and the roof headlining 200 of the vehicle interior can be hidden, thereby improving the appearance of that part. Furthermore, since the case 10 appears to be connected to the roof headlining 200 via the guide cover 50 and cable cover 70, a sense of unity can be created between the drive recorder 1 and the vehicle, reducing the aftermarket appearance of the drive recorder 1 and making it look as if it were an original part of the car. In addition, for example, by making the case 10, guide cover 50, and cable cover 70 the same color, the drive recorder 1 can be strongly recognized as a single structure.

[0073] Furthermore, the guide cover 50 and cable cover 70, which conceal the cable 20, are designed to be different in shape from the cable 20. The guide cover 50 has a compact, gourd-like shape, while the cable cover 70 is a straight, columnar object that completely conceals the flexibility of the cable 20, thus effectively eliminating the presence of the cable 20. In addition, the cable cover 70 extends from the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the case 10 and is positioned to connect perpendicularly to the black ceramic line 210 of the roof headlining 200 of the passenger compartment. As a result, the case 10, cable cover 70, and black ceramic line 210 are arranged in an H-shape, which is aesthetically pleasing.

[0074] Furthermore, by fixing the fixing surface 76 of the cable cover 70 to the windshield 101 with double-sided tape or the like, the cable 20 can be hidden by the guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70, and it is possible to prevent it from becoming an aerial cable. Tier 1 suppliers, which are companies that supply parts directly to automobile manufacturers, have strict standards regarding aerial cable wiring, but this embodiment can provide a drive recorder 1 that fully meets the standards of such Tier 1 suppliers.

[0075] Referring to Figures 28 to 30, an example of how to mount the drive recorder 1 to the windshield 101 of a vehicle will be explained. First, the relative angle position of the case 10 with respect to the mounting plate 33 is changed to match the tilt angle of the windshield 101 (see Figure 28). As described above, the drive recorder 1 can be adjusted to various windshield angles (25 to 75 degrees). In other words, the mounting plate 33 is parallel to the angle of the windshield 101, but as described above, the relative angle position of the case 10 with respect to the mounting plate 33 (mounting bracket 30) can be adjusted, so regardless of the angle of the mounting plate 33 (windshield), the case 10 can be made to be parallel to a vertical plane (relative to the ground) in its basic vertical direction. Of course, the angle between the basic vertical direction of the case 10 and the vertical plane relative to the ground can also be set to an appropriate angle. Therefore, one drive recorder 1 can be installed in different types of vehicles.

[0076] Next, the relative angular position of the guide cover 50 with respect to the case 10 is changed. As described above, in this embodiment, the relative angular position of the guide cover 50 with respect to the right side surface 14 of the case 10 is changed so that the mark M2 provided on the flat portion 53 of the guide cover 50 is positioned opposite the mark M1 provided on the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33. This allows the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 to be oriented parallel to the mounting surface 33A of the mounting plate 33 at a position adjacent to the mounting plate 33.

[0077] Next, the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 is fixed to the mounting position P1 (see Figure 29) on the windshield 101. Double-sided tape 35 (or other adhesive material) is attached to the upper surface of the mounting plate 33, and the mounting plate 33 is fixed to the windshield 101 of the vehicle using the double-sided tape 35 (see Figure 30). In this state, the flat portion 53 of the protruding portion 56 of the guide cover 50 is parallel to and at the same height as the base surface 33B of the mounting plate 33. The base surface 33B is adhered to the windshield 101 by the double-sided tape 35. Here, as shown in Figure 30, the flat portion 53 of the protruding portion 56 of the guide cover 50 is floating away from the windshield 101 and does not come into contact with it. This prevents the guide cover 50 from colliding with the windshield 101 due to vibrations while the vehicle is in motion, and prevents the impact from being transmitted to the case 10, causing the electronic components inside the case 10 to sense the impact and resulting in a drive malfunction.

[0078] Next, measure the shortest distance from the opening 55 to the roof headlining 200. Cut one end of the cable cover 70 with scissors to match the measured distance. Attach the cable cover 70 to the cable 20. Position the end 73 of the cable cover 70 in the opening 55 of the guide cover 50. At this time, place the insertion portion 72 of the cable cover 70 inside the black ceramic line 210 of the roof headlining 200. Position the end 73 of the cable cover 70 in the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 as described above, and insert it between the concealed plate portion 511 and the cover surface 401 of the nut member 40 to hold it in place. This completes the installation of the drive recorder 1.

[0079] The drive recorder 1 is easily recognizable as a single integrated structure, comprising the case 10, guide cover 50, and cable cover 70, and furthermore, as a single integrated structure with the roof headlining 200. Therefore, the drive recorder 1 can give the impression to those around it that it is an original part of the vehicle.

[0080] Furthermore, since the cable cover 70 is positioned perpendicular to the axial direction of case 10, it is perceived as an inverted L-shaped structure in plan view, giving the impression that it is part of the roof headlining 200.

[0081] The mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 and the cable cover 70 are positioned close together, creating a sense of unity. This makes it look compact, stylish, and cool. In addition, not only the mounting plate 33 but also the cable cover 70 is glued and fixed to the windshield 101, so the drive recorder 1 can be fixed to the windshield 101 in a double-layered manner. This firmly fixes the drive recorder 1 to the windshield 101, preventing it from falling in the event of an accident.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the drive recorder 1 allows, for example, the mounting bracket 30 to remain on the windshield 101. In other words, the parts other than the mounting bracket 30, namely the case 10, guide cover 50, and cable cover 70, can be moved to another vehicle. As a result, the mounting bracket 30 does not need to be removed from the windshield 101, thus eliminating the need to remove adhesive from the double-sided tape 35 that may have stuck to the windshield 101.

[0083] In the above description, the drive recorder 1 is an example of the "device" of the present invention. The guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70 are examples of the "cover members" of the present invention. The guide cover 50 is an example of the "first cover member" of the present invention. The cable cover 70 is an example of the "second cover member" of the present invention. The roof headlining 200 is an example of the "concealed member" of the present invention. The case 10 is an example of the "housing" of the present invention. The concealed plate portion 511 is an example of the "concealed member" of the present invention. The screw 60 is an example of the "fixing portion" of the present invention. The right side surface 14 of the case 10 is an example of the "determined surface" and "side surface" of the present invention. The flat portion 53 of the guide cover 50 is an example of the "flat surface" of the present invention. The mounting bracket 30 is an example of the "support means" of the present invention.

[0084] As described above, the drive recorder 1 of this embodiment has a case 10 that is mounted at a mounting position P1 on the windshield 101 of the vehicle. The drive recorder 1 has a cable 20 that runs out from the right side 14 of the case 10, and the portion of the cable 20 opposite to the case 10 is routed inside the roof headlining 200 which is continuously provided on the windshield 101 of the vehicle. The drive recorder 1 covers the portion of the cable 20 that runs out from the right side 14 of the case 10 and is hidden by the roof headlining 200 with a guide cover 50 and a cable cover 70. As a result, the cable 20 that runs out from the drive recorder 1 is not exposed to the outside, improving the appearance between the case 10 and the roof headlining 200. Furthermore, since the guide cover 50 and cable cover 70 cover the cable 20 between the case 10 and the roof headlining 200, the case 10 appears to be connected to the roof headlining 200 via the guide cover 50 and cable cover 70, thus creating a sense of unity between the drive recorder 1 and the vehicle.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70 are provided as separate components. The guide cover 50 covers the portion of the cable 20 from the right side 14 to a position adjacent to the mounting plate 33, while the cable cover 70 covers the portion of the cable 20 from a position adjacent to the mounting plate 33 to a position where it is pulled out along the vehicle's windshield 101 and hidden by the roof headlining 200. By assigning the roles of the guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70 to conceal the portion of the cable 20, each portion can be reliably covered. At the joint between the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 and the end 73 of the cable cover 70, a concealing plate portion 511 is provided in the opening 55 of the guide cover 50. Since the concealing plate portion 511 overlaps with the outer surface of the end 73 of the cable cover 70, no gap is formed at the joint between the opening 55 of the guide cover 50 and the end 73 of the cable cover 70. This allows the guide cover 50 and cable cover 70 to neatly conceal the portion that is pulled out from the right side 14 of the case 10 along the vehicle's windshield 101 and retracted into the roof headlining 200.

[0086] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. In this embodiment, a drive recorder 1 was described as an example of a device, but any device equipped with electronic components may be used, and it is not limited to in-vehicle devices.

[0087] Furthermore, the drive recorder 1 of this embodiment includes a mounting bracket 30, and the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 is attached to the windshield 101 of the vehicle to rotatably support the case 10. However, it can also be applied to a type in which the case 10 is fixed to the windshield 101 of the vehicle by adhesive or the like. In that case, for example, the cable can be routed from a predetermined surface different from the surface of the case 10 that is attached to the mounting position P1 of the windshield 101.

[0088] Furthermore, although the guide cover 50 is gourd-shaped with its outer edge reduced in diameter except for the protruding portion 56, it may have other shapes, for example, it may be circular. In this case, the sense of unity with the case 10 can be enhanced.

[0089] Furthermore, in the drive recorder 1 of this embodiment, the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 is positioned towards the right side 14 of the case 10 from which the cable 20 is pulled out. However, it may also be positioned towards the left side of the case 10, or it may be positioned in the middle of the case 10 in the left-right direction.

[0090] In this embodiment, the cable 20 is routed out of the case 10 from the outlet 16, but instead of the outlet 16, a connection point such as a DC jack may be provided. By connecting one end of the cable to the DC jack, the cable may be routed out from the right side 14 of the case 10.

[0091] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cable 20 is routed from the right side 14 of the case 10, but the cable 20 may also be routed from another side of the case 10.

[0092] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cable 20 is covered by two cover members, the guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70, but the guide cover 50 and the cable cover 70 may be made from a single member. Also, the guide cover 50 may be made from two or more members instead of one. Similarly, the cable cover 70 may be made from two or more members instead of one.

[0093] Furthermore, in this embodiment, on the right side 14 of the case 10, the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16 is routed around the outside of the screw hole 15 before being brought out towards the mounting plate 33. However, for example, the cable 20 pulled out from the outlet 16 could be guided directly towards the opening 55.

[0094] While various aspects of the present invention have been described above using embodiments and modifications, it should be noted that these embodiments and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but rather to facilitate understanding of the invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of the various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the attached claims, even configurations not currently specified in the claims are intended to be included in the claims in the future. The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the embodiments described above. The components of each embodiment and modification described above may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment and modification may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or a component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. The present invention also intends to obtain rights to these combinations through amendments or divisional applications of this application. In addition, the present invention intends to obtain rights to the overall design or partial design through a change application to a design application. The drawing depicts the entire device with solid lines, but it encompasses not only the overall design but also partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, it includes not only partial designs for some components of the device, but also partial designs for parts of the device that are unrelated to any components. Parts of the device may be components of the device, or parts of those components. The intention is to obtain rights not only for the overall design, but also for partial designs where any portion of the solid lines in the drawing is represented as a dashed line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1. Dashcam 10 cases 11. Case 1 13 CCD cameras 14 Right side 15 screw holes 16 Drawer 20 Cables 30 Mounting brackets 33 Mounting plate 33A Mounting surface 50 Guide Cover 51 Side wall section 53 Flat area 55 Opening 56 Protrusion 60 screws 70 Cable Covers 72 Insertion section 73 End 101 Windshield 104 Sheet metal 200 Roof Headlining 210 Black Ceraline M1 Mark M2 Mark P1 Mounting position

Claims

1. A guide cover that is fixed to a predetermined surface of a device mounted on a vehicle, The guide cover has a side wall portion, a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall portion provided along the outer edge of the side wall portion and extending in one direction, and a flat portion connected to the peripheral wall portion. An opening is formed at the end of the peripheral wall portion. A concealing plate is positioned on one side of the aforementioned opening. A guide cover characterized by the following features.

2. The opening is an opening surrounded by the end portion of the peripheral wall and the flat portion. The end of the peripheral wall portion is inclined in one direction, and the flat portion is inclined in the other direction, so that the opening is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape. The guide cover according to feature 1.

3. The width of the opening, which is the length parallel to the axial direction of the peripheral wall, is set to be the same as the width of the end of the straight cable cover, or slightly shorter than the width of the end. A guide cover according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the features described herein.

4. When the guide cover is fixed to the predetermined surface, a stepped portion is formed at one end of the peripheral wall portion, which is lower than the surface of the side wall portion. A guide cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The stepped portion is designed to avoid interference with the end of a plate-shaped member positioned near the predetermined surface to which the guide cover is fixed, by leaving a gap between them. This allows the tip of the protruding part of the guide cover to be positioned as close as possible to the end of the plate-shaped member, thereby enabling the opening to be positioned adjacent to the plate-shaped member. The guide cover according to feature 4.

6. The guide cover has a hole that penetrates through the center of the side wall in the thickness direction, A cylindrical shaft is provided perpendicular to the inner surface of the side wall at a position corresponding to the hole, and the shaft hole of the shaft is in communication with the hole. A guide cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The guide cover has an outer edge shape that is arc-shaped, so that it conforms to the movement of the wiring pulled out from the outlet provided on the predetermined surface. A guide cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The guide cover is fixed to the side of the case, which is attached to the vehicle's windshield via a mounting bracket. A guide cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The guide cover is positioned close to the lid surface of the nut member that is arranged around the side surface of the case. The guide cover according to feature 8.

10. When the guide cover is attached to the windshield, the flat portion of the protruding part is raised away from the windshield and does not come into contact with the windshield. The guide cover according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it is as described above.

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