Brackets for automotive equipment

Abstract

To simplify and miniaturize a bracket for an on-vehicle device as appropriate and reasonable.SOLUTION: A reception unit 4 for an on-vehicle device comprises: a positioning wall 8 opposed to the front or the rear of the on-vehicle device; and an elastically deformable part 10 formed into a piece shape to extend back and forth from a base 10a positioned on the positioning wall 8 side. The elastically deformable part 10 includes an engagement part 9 with respect to an engaged part 2k formed on the side part of the on-vehicle device. A moving operation of the on-vehicle device toward a holding completion position with respect to the reception unit 4 is permitted through deformation of the elastically deformable part 10 caused by abutting of the engaging part 9 against the engaged part 2k, the on-vehicle device is brought into contact with the positioning wall 8 at the holding completion position through elastic returning of the elastically deformable part 10, and removal of the on-vehicle device from the reception unit 4 is blocked.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement in a bracket used to hold on a vehicle body an in-vehicle device that takes images of the outside of the vehicle through a window glass. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Patent Document 1 discloses a bracket for attaching a camera to the inside of an automobile windshield, the camera capturing an image of the outside of the automobile through the windshield.

[0003] In the camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, an engagement protrusion is formed on the rear side of the camera. The bracket is provided with a locking portion against which the engagement protrusion abuts from behind, and a leaf spring behind the locking portion that receives the engagement protrusion between the locking portion and the bracket in an elastically deformed state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-171168 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] This type of bracket is typically attached to the top of the window glass, occupying a certain area, and since it is necessary to arrange rearview mirrors and the like around the bracket, it is necessary to make this type of bracket as compact as possible in order to allow freedom in the layout of the automobile interior.

[0006] The main problem that the present invention aims to solve is how to appropriately and rationally simplify and miniaturize this type of bracket for vehicle-mounted equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, from a first aspect, the present invention provides a bracket for an in-vehicle device, comprising: A bracket that holds an in-vehicle device that captures images or senses the outside of the vehicle through the window glass on the vehicle body side, a fixing portion for fixing to the vehicle body side and a receiving portion for receiving at least a part of the on-vehicle device on the opposite side; The receiving portion is a positioning wall portion for positioning the in-vehicle device relative to the front or rear of the in-vehicle device; a piece-like elastically deformable portion extending in the front-rear direction from a base portion located on the positioning wall portion side, the elastically deformable portion is provided with a protruding engaging portion adapted to engage with an engaged portion formed on a side portion of the in-vehicle device, The movement of the vehicle-mounted equipment toward the holding completion position relative to the receiving section is permitted by deformation of the elastically deformable section due to the abutment of the engaged section with the engaging section, and the elastic return of the elastically deformable section causes the vehicle-mounted equipment to abut against the positioning wall section at the holding completion position, and prevents the vehicle-mounted equipment from slipping out of the receiving section.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, from a second viewpoint, the present invention provides a bracket for an in-vehicle device, comprising: A bracket that holds an in-vehicle device that captures images or senses the outside of the vehicle through the window glass on the vehicle body side, a fixing portion for fixing to the vehicle body side and a receiving portion for receiving at least a part of the on-vehicle device on the opposite side; The receiving portion is a positioning wall portion for positioning the in-vehicle device relative to the front or rear of the in-vehicle device; an engaging portion for engaging with an engaged portion formed on a side portion of the in-vehicle device; a support portion that can support a supported portion formed on the in-vehicle device at a position different from the engagement portion; The engaging portion is formed in an elastically deformable portion of the receiving portion, The supported portion is supported by the supporting portion, and the on-board equipment is moved from a first position where the formed side of the engaged portion of the on-board equipment is not completely contained within the receiving portion, toward a second position where the formed side of the engaged portion of the on-board equipment is completely contained within the receiving portion, using the supported portion as a fulcrum, by deformation of the elastically deformable portion due to the engaged portion abutting against the engaging portion, and the elastic return of the elastically deformable portion causes the on-board equipment to abut against the positioning wall portion at the second position and prevents the on-board equipment from returning to the first position.

[0009] In the invention according to the second aspect, the elastically deformable portion is in the form of a strip extending in the front-rear direction from a base portion located on the positioning wall portion side, and The engaging portion is provided in a protruding shape on the elastically deformable portion, In one aspect of the present invention, an inclined surface formed on the positioning wall side of the engaging portion is in contact with the engaged portion at the second position.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, an upwardly facing support surface that constitutes the engaging portion is positioned below the vehicle-mounted device in the second position.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, a guide surface is formed below the support surface of the engaging portion, which reduces the amount of protrusion of the engaging portion as it extends downward.

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, an additional elastically deformable portion is provided that is pressed against the upper portion of the vehicle-mounted device in the second position.

[0013] Furthermore, in the invention relating to the first or second aspect, one aspect of this invention is to provide the elastically deformable portion on both sides of an imaginary center line along the front-to-rear direction that divides the receiving portion into left and right halves, with the engaging portion corresponding to the engaged portion formed on each of the left and right side portions of the vehicle-mounted equipment, protruding toward the center line. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this invention, the movement operation for holding the vehicle-mounted camera in the receiving portion of the bracket is permitted by deformation of the elastically deformable portion due to abutment of the engaged portion against the engaging portion, and the elastically deformable portion abuts the vehicle-mounted device against the positioning wall portion due to elastic return, and the vehicle-mounted device can be held without requiring a separate structure to bias the vehicle-mounted device against the positioning wall portion in front of or behind the vehicle-mounted camera. In addition, since no separate structure other than the elastically deformable portion and the engaging portion is required on the left and right sides of the vehicle-mounted device, and no separate structure that protrudes below the vehicle-mounted device is required, the bracket can be made as simple and small as possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-vehicle camera held by a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle-mounted camera as viewed from a different direction than that shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bracket according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bracket as viewed from below. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the bracket. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main part of the bracket. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the main part showing the state in which the vehicle-mounted camera is held by the bracket. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the main part showing the state in which the vehicle-mounted camera is held by the bracket. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the center line L2 in FIG. 10, showing the state in which the bracket is attached to the front window. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the main part of the bracket. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side view of the main part showing the state in which part of the vehicle-mounted camera is placed at an angle in the receiving portion of the bracket, and the supported portion is in front of the supporting portion and is not yet supported. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the essential parts in the state shown in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side view of the essential part showing a state in which a part of the vehicle-mounted camera is placed at an angle in the receiving portion of the bracket, and the supported portion is supported by the supporting portion. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the essential parts in the state shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a side view of the main part showing the state in which the vehicle-mounted camera has been moved into the receiving portion of the bracket to a horizontal position. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the essential parts in the state shown in FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a side view of the main part showing the state in which the vehicle-mounted camera has been moved slightly forward from the state in FIG. 17 to the holding completion position. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the essential parts in the state shown in FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A typical embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 21. A bracket 3 according to this embodiment is used to hold on-board equipment such as an on-board camera 2 that captures and senses the outside of the vehicle through the window glass of the vehicle, on the vehicle body side. Typically, the bracket 3 is used to attach the on-board camera 2 that captures the outside of the vehicle through the window glass of the vehicle to the front window 1 or the inside of the rear window (not shown).

[0017] In the illustrated example, an in-vehicle camera 2 is held via this bracket 3 on the inside upper portion of the windshield 1. In the figures, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is indicated by the symbol x in Figs. 4 and 9, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by the symbol xa in Figs. 4 and 9, and the rear side of the vehicle is indicated by the symbol xb in Figs. 4 and 9. The left-right direction of the vehicle is indicated by the symbol y in Fig. 4, and the up-down direction is indicated by the symbol z in Figs. 3 and 9.

[0018] 9, the windshield 1 is inclined downwards on the front side xa of the vehicle. The bracket 3 is fixed to a surface 1a of the windshield 1 on the inside of the vehicle.

[0019] In this embodiment, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 by moving the vehicle-mounted camera 2 toward the receiving portion 4 of the bracket 3 fixed to the inside of the front window 1 toward the second position described below.

[0020] In the illustrated example, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 by supporting the support portion 5 of the bracket 3, which will be described later, at the supported portion 2j of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, and by moving the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from a first position (Figure 13) in which the side of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 that is formed with the engaged portion 2k, which will be described later, is not completely contained within the receiving portion 4, to a second position (Figures 16 and 19) in which the side of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 that is formed with the engaged portion 2k of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is completely contained within the receiving portion 4, using the supported portion 2j as a fulcrum.

[0021] In the illustrated example, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is in an oblique position with its front part 2d downward and its rear part 2e upward, and the supported part 2j is received from the front side by the support part 5 of the bracket 3, and in this received state, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is supported in the oblique position by the support part 5. In the illustrated example, this oblique position is the first position. In the illustrated example, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 by lifting the front part 2d of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from the first position using the supported part 2j as a fulcrum and moving the vehicle-mounted camera 2 until it is in a substantially horizontal position. In the illustrated example, this horizontal position is the second position.

[0022] In the second position, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 without rattle in three directions, i.e., the front-rear direction x, the left-right direction y, and the up-down direction z.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is attached to the windshield 1 via a bracket 3 so that the light incident portion 2a for capturing images faces the front side xa of the vehicle. In Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 2b denotes the top of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, the reference numeral 2c denotes the bottom, the reference numeral 2d denotes the front, the reference numeral 2e denotes the rear, the reference numeral 2f denotes the side, the reference numeral 2h denotes the plate-shaped portion, and the reference numeral 2i denotes the block-shaped portion.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 has a step 2g facing the forward side xa between the front portion 2d and the rear portion 2e on its upper portion 2b side, and the light incident portion 2a is provided in this step 2g. The vehicle-mounted camera 2 has a board-shaped portion 2h with a smaller dimension in the vertical direction z between the front portion 2d and the step 2g, and a block-shaped portion 2i with a larger dimension in the vertical direction z than the board-shaped portion 2h between the step 2g and the rear portion 2e. In other words, the upper surface of the board-shaped portion 2h is located lower than the upper surface of the block-shaped portion 2i, but the lower surfaces of the two are flush.

[0025] The block-shaped portion 2i is provided with supported portions 2j on the left and right side portions 2f of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, respectively, that are supported by the support portions 5 of the bracket 3. In the illustrated example, the support portions 5 protrude in the left-right direction y from the side portions 2f of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, and are plate-shaped with a width in the front-rear direction x and a thickness in the up-down direction z. The left and right supported portions 2j are substantially the same size and shape, and are formed at symmetrical positions across an imaginary center line L1 (see Figures 1 and 2) that divides the vehicle-mounted camera 2 into left and right halves.

[0026] The disc-shaped portion 2h has engaged portions 2k formed on the left and right sides thereof, so that the vehicle-mounted camera 2 has engaged portions 2k on the left and right side portions 2f thereof. The left and right engaging portions 2k each have a protruding piece shape with an outer surface 2m flush with the side surface of a plate-shaped portion 2h that forms part of the side portion 2f of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, and protrude downward from the plate-shaped portion 2h. The left and right engaged portions 2k are substantially the same in size and shape, and are formed at symmetrical positions across an imaginary center line L1 that divides the vehicle-mounted camera 2 into left and right halves. In the illustrated example, a rib 2o is formed on the bottom surface of the disc-shaped portion 2h, spanning between the left and right engaged portions 2k. A surface 2p of this rib 2o facing the rear portion 2e of the in-vehicle camera 2 intersects with an outer surface 2m of the engaged portion 2k at a right angle, and a corner 2n where these two surfaces 2p and 2m intersect comes into contact with a slope 9a of the engaging portion 9, which will be described later, when the in-vehicle device is in the second position.

[0027] The bracket 3 has a fixing portion 6 for fixing to the vehicle body side, and the opposite side thereof serves as a receiving portion 4 for the vehicle-mounted camera 2 . In the illustrated example, the bracket 3 has a base plate portion 7 that essentially has four sides: a front side 7a, a rear side 7b, a left side 7c, and a right side 7d. The bracket 3 is fixed at the top surface of the base plate portion 7 to the interior surface 1a of the windshield 1 by adhesive or the like. In other words, the top surface of the base plate portion 7 functions as the fixing portion 6. Because the windshield 1 has a downward slope toward the front, in the fixed state the base plate portion 7 also slopes accordingly, with the rear side 7b positioned higher than the front side 7a. Reference symbol 7e in FIG. 1 denotes an opening formed in the base plate portion 7 corresponding to the light incident portion 2a of the vehicle-mounted camera 2.

[0028] The receiving section 4 is a positioning wall portion 8 for positioning the front portion 2d or the rear portion 2e of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 as the vehicle-mounted device; an engaging portion 9 for engaging the engaged portion 2k formed on a side portion 2f of the vehicle-mounted camera 2; The vehicle-mounted camera includes a support portion that can support the supported portion formed on the vehicle-mounted camera at a position different from the engaging portion. In addition, the engaging portion 9 is formed on an elastically deformable portion 10 that constitutes the receiving portion 4.

[0029] In this embodiment, the base plate portion 7 has the opening 7e formed in the center thereof. Then, on both the left and right sides of this open portion 7e, a positioning wall portion 8 is formed on the front side, a support portion 5 is formed on the rear side, and further, an engaging portion 9 is positioned midway between the two to form an elastically deformable portion 10.

[0030] The left-side positioning wall 8, the support portion 5, and the elastically deformable portion 10, with the open portion 7e in between, form a left-side receiving portion outer shell 11 that protrudes downward toward the underside 7f of the base plate portion 7, The left-side receiving portion outer shell 11 protruding downward toward the undersurface 7f of the base plate 7 is formed by the right-side positioning wall 8, the support portion 5, and the elastically deformable portion 10 with the open portion 7e interposed therebetween, The receiving portion 4 is formed inside the two receiving portion outer walls 11.

[0031] The vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 in a space surrounded by the left and right receiving section outer casings 11 and the base plate section 7. Specifically, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 with its upper part 2b in contact with the underside 7f of the base plate section 7, its left side part 2f in contact with the left receiving section outer casing 11, its right side part 2f in contact with the right receiving section outer casing 11, and its front part 2d in contact with the left receiving section outer casing 11 and the positioning wall part 8 located in front of the right receiving section outer casing 11 (Figs. 19 to 21). In the illustrated example, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 so that its rear portion 2e protrudes from the receiving portion 4. A decorative cover (not shown) is removably attached below the bracket 3 that holds the vehicle-mounted camera 2 in this manner.

[0032] The elastically deformable portion 10 and the engaging portion 9 are provided on both sides of a virtual center line L2 (see Figure 10) along the front-to-back direction x that divides the receiving portion 4 into left and right halves, with the engaging portion 9 protruding toward the center line L2.

[0033] One of the left and right receiving portion outer walls 11 has a shape that is symmetrical to the other with respect to the center line L2.

[0034] In the illustrated example, the positioning wall 8 faces rearward and is formed by a plate-like body 8a that protrudes downward from the lower surface 7f of the base plate 7. The receiving section 4 is open to the front between the positioning wall 8 that forms the left receiving section outer shell 11 and the positioning wall 8 that forms the right receiving section outer shell 11.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the support portion 5 is formed by the upper part of the claw portion 5b that protrudes forward from the tip of the leg portion 5a that protrudes downward from the underside 7f of the base plate portion 7. A gap is formed between the support portion 5 and the underside 7f of the base plate portion 7 that allows the supported portion 2j of the block-shaped portion 2i of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to fit in the upper portion 2b of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 without any play.

[0036] In the illustrated example, the elastically deformable portion 10 has a strip shape extending from a base portion 10a located on the positioning wall portion 8 side along the front-rear direction x.

[0037] The elastically deformable portion 10 has a base portion 10a integrated with a positioning wall portion 8 formed on the frontmost side xa of the receiving portion outer shell 11, further forward than the support portion 5, and is positioned below the support portion 5 as a whole. A gap is formed between the elastically deformable portion 10 and the underside 7f of the base plate portion 7 positioned directly above it to accommodate the disc-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2. In the second position, the light incident portion 2a of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 on the disc-shaped portion 2h fits into the opening 7e.

[0038] The elastically deformable portion 10 has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction x in a side view. The elastically deformable portion 10 has an inner surface 10b facing the center line L2 and an outer surface 10c opposite thereto, and has a thickness in the left-to-right direction y. The elastically deformable portion 10 has a base portion 10a that is integrated with an edge portion 8b of a plate-like body 8a that constitutes the positioning wall portion 8 on the side of the center line L2, with a gap in the left-to-right direction y between this edge portion 8b and this plate-like body 8a, and the positioning wall portion 8 is positioned closer to the center line L2 than the inner surface 10b of the elastically deformable portion 10 (see FIG. 5).

[0039] The engaging portion 9 is provided between the middle position in the front-rear direction of the elastically deformable portion 10 and the free end portion 10d, i.e., protruding toward the free end portion 10d. The engaging portion 9 protrudes from the inner surface 10b of the elastically deformable portion 10 toward the center line L2.

[0040] The engaging portion 9 has a slope 9a facing the positioning wall portion 8, a support surface 9b facing upward, and a guide surface 9c located below the support surface 9b that reduces the amount of protrusion of the engaging portion 9 as it moves downward (see Figures 5 and 9).

[0041] The inclined surface 9a is inclined in a direction approaching the center line L2 as it extends rearward. A distance is provided between the engagement portion 9 and the free end 10d of the elastically deformable portion 10, and a back surface 9d of the engagement portion 9 located on the free end 10d side is oriented perpendicular to the center line L2. A top surface 9e of the engagement portion 9 is formed between the inclined surface 9a and the back surface 9d, and is substantially parallel to the center line L2. The top surface 9e is an area surrounded by the inclined surface 9a, the back surface 9d, the guide surface 9c, and the support surface 9b, and the distance between the engagement portion 9 and the center line L2 is smallest at the top surface 9e, and the distance gradually increases as it extends forward in the front-to-back direction x and gradually increases as it extends downward in the up-down direction z. The support surface 9b is flush with the upper surface 10e in the thickness direction between the inner surface 10b and the outer surface 10c of the elastically deformable portion 10, and in the second position, as described below, the elastically deformable portion 10 elastically returns to its original position, causing a portion of it to slip beneath the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 (see Figure 21).

[0042] In the illustrated example, first, the distance D1 (Figure 10) between the inner surface 10b of the elastically deformable portion 10 located on the left side of the center line L2 where the engaging portion 9 is not formed and the inner surface 10b of the elastically deformable portion 10 located on the right side of the center line L2 where the engaging portion 9 is not formed is made slightly larger than the dimension d1 (Figure 1) in the left-right direction y of the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2. Secondly, the distance D2 (Figure 10) between the top surface 9e of the engagement portion 9 located on the left side of the center line L2 and the top surface 9e of the engagement portion 9 located on the right side of the center line L2 is slightly smaller than the dimension d1 (Figure 1) in the left-right direction y of the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2. Third, the distance D3 (Figure 10) between the inclined surface 9a of the engagement portion 9 located on the left side of the center line L2 and the inclined surface 9a of the engagement portion 9 located on the right side of the center line L2 is slightly smaller than the dimension d1 (Figure 1) in the left-right direction y of the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2. Fourth, the distance D4 (Figure 6) between the engaging portion 9 and the supporting portion 5 in the front-to-rear direction x is substantially equal to the distance d2 (Figure 1) between the engaged portion 2k and the supported portion 2j in the front-to-rear direction x. Fifth, the distance D5 (Figure 6) between the positioning wall portion 8 and the inclined surface 9a of the engagement portion 9 is made substantially equal to the distance d3 (Figure 1) between the portion of the front portion 2d of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 corresponding to the positioning wall portion 8 and the engaged portion 2k.

[0043] As a result, the bracket 3 in this embodiment is designed to, firstly, allow the movement of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from the first position toward the second position by deformation of the elastically deformable portion 10 due to the abutment of the engaged portion 2k against the engaging portion 9.

[0044] In the illustrated example, first, the supported portion 2j of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is placed from the front side onto the support portion 5 from inside the vehicle cabin, relative to the bracket 3 fixed to the vehicle body side (the front window 1 in the illustrated example), and the vehicle-mounted camera 2 can be assembled from below in an oblique position with its front portion 2d side facing downwards so that the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 does not get caught on the elastically deformable portion 10 (Figure 13 / first position).

[0045] In the illustrated example, first, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is placed in an oblique position with its front part 2d facing downwards, and while elastically deforming both the left and right elastically deformable parts 10 of the bracket 3, the vehicle-mounted camera 2 can be inserted into the receiving part 4 until the supported parts 2j corresponding to the front of the left and right supporting parts 5 are positioned (Figure 11). Specifically, the engaging portion 9 is brought into sliding contact with the side surface of the plate-shaped portion 2h that forms part of the side portion 2f of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 and the outer surface 2m of the engaged portion 2k that is flush with the side surface 2m, causing the left and right elastically deformable portions 10 to elastically deform in a direction away from the center line L2. This elastic deformation is smoothed by the guide surface 9c. That is, the left engaged portion 2k of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 slides against the engaging portion 9 of the left receiving portion outer casing 11, and the right engaged portion 2k of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 slides against the engaging portion 9 of the right receiving portion outer casing 11. Then, by moving the vehicle-mounted camera 2 backward from the state in which the vehicle-mounted camera 2 has been inserted into the receiving portion 4, the supported portion 2j is supported by the supporting portion 5, and the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is set to the first position (Figures 11 to 13).

[0046] The distance between the left and right support parts 5 is slightly larger than the dimension in the left-right direction y of the block-shaped part 2i of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, but is smaller than the distance between the left and right supported parts 2j. This allows the rear part 2e side of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to be introduced from the front between the left and right support parts 5, and in the first position, the supported parts 2j abut against the legs 5a and are supported by the support parts 5. In the illustrated example, the left and right support portions 5 are each formed on the outer side with abutment portions 5c (see FIGS. 9 and 20) that contact the protruding ends of the supported portions 2j.

[0047] In addition, the bracket 3 in this embodiment is secondly configured so that the elastic return of the elastically deformable portion 10 causes the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to abut against the positioning wall portion 8 at the second position, and prevents the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from moving back to the first position.

[0048] In the illustrated example, in the process of moving the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from the first position to the second position, Engaged part 2k moves along the arc of an imaginary circle with the supported portion 2j as its center (FIGS. 13 to 16).

[0049] When the vehicle-mounted camera 2 reaches the second position, the engaging portion 9 can enter under the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, and the left and right elastically deformable portions 10 elastically return slightly in a direction approaching the center line L2. At the same time, the corner portion 2n of the engaged portion 2k is located behind the engaging portion 9 in the first position, but in the illustrated example, it is located in a position in contact with the top surface 9e of the engaging portion 9 immediately after reaching the second position (FIGS. 16 to 18).

[0050] In the illustrated example, when the corner 2n of the engaged portion 2k is in contact with the top surface 9e of the engaging portion 9 (FIG. 16), if the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is further pushed forward slightly, the corner 2n of the engaged portion 2k moves forward of the top surface 9e of the engaging portion 9 and comes into contact with the slope 9a of the engaging portion 9 (FIG. 19). In the second position, the supported portion 2j is oriented so that its upper and lower surfaces are substantially horizontal, and its lower surface comes into contact with the supporting portion 5. At the same time, the supported portion 2j is configured so that it will not come off the supporting portion 5 due to the pushing (FIG. 19).

[0051] The inclined surface 9a of the engaging portion 9 is at a greater distance from the center line L2 than the top surface 9e of the engaging portion 9, but is at a smaller distance from the center line L2 than the inner surface 10b of the elastically deformable portion 10 where the engaging portion 9 is not formed, so that the elastically deformable portion 10 is elastically deformed even in the state of Figure 19 in which the corner 2n of the engaged portion 2k is in contact with the inclined surface 9a of the engaging portion 9 as described above in the second position. However, the amount of elastic deformation is slightly smaller than in the state of Figure 16.

[0052] In the second position, the elastic return of the elastically deformable portion 10 allows the upward-facing support surface 9b constituting the engaging portion 9 to enter below the plate-shaped portion 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 (FIG. 21). This prevents the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from returning to the first position. Also, in the second position, the engaged portion 2k formed on the side portion 2f of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 contacts the inclined surface 9a formed on the positioning wall portion 8 side constituting the engaging portion 9, between the positioning wall portion 8 and the engaging portion 9. As a result, the elastic force of the elastically deformable portion 10 causes the front portion 2d of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to abut against the positioning wall portion 8. This completes the holding of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 by the bracket 3 (FIG. 19 / holding completion position).

[0053] In the illustrated example, the pushing from the state shown in Figure 16 causes the front part 2d formed by the plate-shaped part 2h of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to abut against the positioning wall part 8, and a support surface 8c is formed below this abutment point, which penetrates below the plate-shaped part 2h due to the pushing, and this support surface 8c also prevents the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from moving back to the first position (see Figure 6).

[0054] In the bracket 3 according to this embodiment, the movement operation for holding the vehicle-mounted camera 2 in the receiving portion 4 is permitted by deformation of the elastically deformable portion 10 due to the abutment of the engaged portion 2k against the engaging portion 9, and the elastic return of the elastically deformable portion 10 causes the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to abut against the positioning wall portion 8 and prevents the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from slipping out of the receiving portion 4, so the vehicle-mounted camera 2 can be held without requiring a separate structure to bias the vehicle-mounted camera 2 against the positioning wall portion 8 in front or behind the vehicle-mounted camera 2. In addition, no separate structure other than the elastically deformable portion 10 and the engaging portion 9 is required on the left and right sides of the vehicle-mounted camera 2, and no separate structure that protrudes below the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is required, so the bracket 3 can be made as simple and small as possible.

[0055] Furthermore, the state in which the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is held by the bracket 3 can be easily released by deforming the elastically deformable part 10 in a direction that releases the engagement between the engaged part 2k and the engaging part 9, in a direction away from the center line L2 in the illustrated example, using the free end part 10d that is positioned rearward of the engaging part 9 of the elastically deformable part 10, and the vehicle-mounted camera 2 can also be easily removed from the bracket 3. Specifically, after tilting the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to the first position by the release, in the illustrated example, the supported part 2j can be slid forward to come out from above the supporting part 5, and the vehicle-mounted camera 2 can then be removed from the receiving part 4.

[0056] In this embodiment, an additional elastically deformable portion 12 is provided at a location on the base plate portion 7 in the receiving portion 4 that is pressed against the upper portion 2b of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 at the second position. The elastically deformable portions 10 are provided on both sides of the center line L2 between the left and right receiving portion outer walls 11 (see FIG. 10).

[0057] In the illustrated example, the additional elastically deformable portion 12 is configured as an elastic piece having a base 12a on the rear side xb, a free end 12b on the front side xa, and a protrusion 12c protruding downward on the side of the free end 12b. When the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is moved from the first position to the second position, the upper surface of the block-shaped portion 2i of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 comes into contact with the protrusion 12c, causing the additional elastically deformable portion 12 to bend upward, and the resulting biasing force presses the supported portion 2j against the support portion 5, and the lower surface of the plate-shaped portion 2h that forms part of the bottom 2c of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is pressed against the engagement portion 9 and the support surface 8c, thereby preventing the vehicle-mounted camera 2 from rattling in the up-down direction z.

[0058] Although not shown in the drawings, the structure of the receiving portion 4 of the bracket 3 described above can also be established when the front and rear are reversed. That is, the bracket 3 according to the present invention can be configured such that the positioning wall portion 8 is formed on the rear side xb of the left and right receiving portion outer shells 11 that constitute the receiving portion 4, the rear side xb of the elastically deformable portion 10 is formed as the base portion 10a and the front side xa is formed as the free end portion 10d, and the support portion 5 is formed on each of the front sides xa of the receiving portion outer shells 11.

[0059] In the embodiments described above, the elastic deformation characteristics of the parts and components that should have them can be easily imparted by making those parts, the entire body including those parts, and those components into plastic molded products.

[0060] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all embodiments that can achieve the object of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 2k Engaged part 4 Reception Department 8 Positioning wall 9 Engagement part 10 Elastically deformable portion 10a base

Claims

1. A bracket for holding an in-vehicle device that captures and / or senses the outside of a vehicle through a window glass on a vehicle body side, a fixing portion for fixing to the vehicle body side and a receiving portion for receiving at least a part of the on-vehicle device on the opposite side; The receiving portion is a positioning wall portion for positioning the in-vehicle device relative to the front or rear of the in-vehicle device; an engaging portion for engaging with an engaged portion formed on a side portion of the in-vehicle device; a support portion that can support a supported portion formed on the in-vehicle device at a position different from the engagement portion; The engaging portion is formed in an elastically deformable portion of the receiving portion, The supported portion is supported by the supporting portion, and the in-vehicle device is moved from a first position where the side of the in-vehicle device where the engaged portion is formed is not completely contained within the receiving portion, toward a second position where the side of the in-vehicle device where the engaged portion is formed is completely contained within the receiving portion, using the supported portion as a fulcrum, by deformation of the elastically deformable portion due to contact of the engaged portion with the engaging portion, and the in-vehicle device is brought into contact with the positioning wall portion at the second position due to elastic return of the elastically deformable portion, and the in-vehicle device is prevented from returning to the first position, The elastically deformable portion has a strip shape extending in a front-rear direction from a base portion located on the positioning wall portion side, and The engaging portion is provided in a protruding shape on the elastically deformable portion, Moreover, the bracket for an in-vehicle device is configured so that the upwardly facing support surface that constitutes the engaging portion is positioned below the in-vehicle device at the second position.

2. A bracket for automotive equipment as described in claim 1, wherein a slope formed on the positioning wall portion side that constitutes the engaging portion is adapted to contact the engaged portion at the second position.

3. 2. The bracket for an in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein a guide surface is formed below the support surface of the engaging portion, the guide surface reducing the amount of protrusion of the engaging portion as it extends downward.

4. 2. The bracket for an in-vehicle device according to claim 1, further comprising an additional elastically deformable portion that is pressed against an upper portion of the in-vehicle device at the second position.

5. The bracket for an in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bracket is provided with elastically deformable portions on both sides of an imaginary center line along the front-to-rear direction that divides the receiving portion into left and right halves, the engaging portions corresponding to the engaged portions formed on the left and right side portions of the in-vehicle device being protruding toward the center line.

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