IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,344,285
Granted Patent B2
US 12,344,285 · App. 17/770,101 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

In-vehicle device

Inventor: Atsuki Watai (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
B61D17/00E05D2007/128
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,344,285
App. No.
17/770,101
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An in-vehicle device includes a housing having an opening, an openable-closable cover disposed over the opening of the housing, a first member fixed to the cover to rotate about a rotational axis and including a protruding segment protruding in the direction of the rotational axis, and a second member fixed to the housing to support the first member such that the first member is rotatable about the rotational axis and including a notch to engage with the protruding segment around a point of intersection with the rotational axis. The edge of the notch has first and second surfaces intersecting with each other. The second member limits the rotation range of the first member to the range between the position in contact with the first surface and the position in contact with the second surface.

Claims (69)

1. An in-vehicle device, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

an openable and closable cover disposed over the opening;

a first member fixed to the cover to rotate about a rotational axis, the first member comprising (i) a plate-like protruding segment protruding in a direction of the rotational axis and (ii) a plate-like fitting segment fixed to a main surface of the cover, the plate-like protruding segment having a surface that is coplanar with a surface of the plate-like fitting segment; and

a second member fixed to the housing to support the first member such that the first member is rotatable about the rotational axis, the second member comprising a notch around a point of intersection with the rotational axis, the notch being configured to engage with the protruding segment, wherein

an edge of the notch has a first surface and a second surface intersecting with each other, and

the second member limits a rotation range of the first member about the rotational axis to a range between a position at which the first member is in contact with the first surface and a position at which the first member is in contact with the second surface.

2. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 , wherein the second member limits displacement of the first member in the direction of the rotational axis.

3. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2 , wherein the first member rotates about the rotational axis while remaining in contact with the second member.

4. The in-vehicle device according to claim 3 , wherein

the first member further comprises a plate-like extending segment adjoining the fitting segment and extending in a direction away from the main surface of the cover, and

the second member abuts on a lower surface in a vertical direction of the extending segment of the first member, thereby supporting the first member.

5. The in-vehicle device according to claim 4 , wherein

the first member comprises a metal plate bent along a bending line, and

a portion of the metal plate facing the cover serves as the fitting segment, a portion of the metal plate extending from the fitting segment in the direction of the rotational axis serves as the protruding segment, and a portion of the metal plate protruding from the fitting segment in a direction intersecting the bending line serves as the extending segment.

6. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2 , wherein

the first member further comprises a plate-like extending segment adjoining the fitting segment and extending in a direction away from the main surface of the cover, and

the second member abuts on a lower surface in a vertical direction of the extending segment of the first member, thereby supporting the first member.

7. The in-vehicle device according to claim 6 , wherein

the first member comprises a metal plate bent along a bending line, and

a portion of the metal plate facing the cover serves as the fitting segment, a portion of the metal plate extending from the fitting segment in the direction of the rotational axis serves as the protruding segment, and a portion of the metal plate protruding from the fitting segment in a direction intersecting the bending line serves as the extending segment.

8. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 , wherein the first member rotates about the rotational axis while remaining in contact with the second member.

9. The in-vehicle device according to claim 8 , wherein

the first member further comprises a plate-like extending segment adjoining the fitting segment and extending in a direction away from the main surface of the cover, and

the second member abuts on a lower surface in a vertical direction of the extending segment of the first member, thereby supporting the first member.

10. The in-vehicle device according to claim 9 , wherein

the first member comprises a metal plate bent along a bending line, and

a portion of the metal plate facing the cover serves as the fitting segment, a portion of the metal plate extending from the fitting segment in the direction of the rotational axis serves as the protruding segment, and a portion of the metal plate protruding from the fitting segment in a direction intersecting the bending line serves as the extending segment.

11. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second member comprises:

a first-member supporting segment to support the first member; and

a rotation-range limiting segment having a shape for limiting the rotation range of the first member by coming into contact with the first member.

12. The in-vehicle device according to claim 11 , wherein

the second member comprises a pair of plate members at least partially opposed to each other in the direction of the rotational axis,

one of the pair of plate members serves as the first-member supporting segment to support the first member such that the first member is rotatable, and

the other of the pair of plate members serves as the rotation-range limiting segment comprising the notch.

13. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover retainer fixed to the housing to retain the cover while the cover is closed.

14. The in-vehicle device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

an engaging member fixed to the cover and including a through hole or a notch to receive the cover retainer with the cover being closed, wherein

the cover retainer has a shape of a plate extending in a direction away from the housing, and

the engaging member engages with the cover retainer while the cover retainer is inserted in the through hole or the notch of the engaging member.

15. The in-vehicle device according to claim 13 , wherein

the first member is fixed to one end of the cover in a longitudinal direction, and

the cover retainer is fixed to the housing at a position to be adjacent to another end of the cover in the longitudinal direction when the cover is closed.

16. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis extends in a vertical direction.

17. An in-vehicle device, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

an openable and closable cover disposed over the opening;

a first member fixed to the cover to rotate about a rotational axis, the first member comprising (i) a plate-like protruding segment protruding in a direction of the rotational axis and (ii) a plate-like fitting segment fixed to a main surface of the cover; and

a second member fixed to the housing to support the first member such that the first member is rotatable about the rotational axis, the second member comprising a notch around a point of intersection with the rotational axis, the notch being configured to engage with the protruding segment, wherein

an edge of the notch has a first surface and a second surface intersecting with each other,

the second member limits a rotation range of the first member about the rotational axis to a range between a position at which the first member is in contact with the first surface and a position at which the first member is in contact with the second surface,

the first member further comprises a plate-like extending segment adjoining the fitting segment and extending in a direction away from the main surface of the cover, and

the second member abuts on a lower surface in a vertical direction of the extending segment of the first member, thereby supporting the first member.

18. The in-vehicle device according to claim 17 , wherein

the first member comprises a metal plate bent along a bending line, and

a portion of the metal plate facing the cover serves as the fitting segment, a portion of the metal plate extending from the fitting segment in the direction of the rotational axis serves as the protruding segment, and a portion of the metal plate protruding from the fitting segment in a direction intersecting the bending line serves as the extending segment.

19. An in-vehicle device, comprising:

a housing having an opening;

an openable and closable cover disposed over the opening;

a first member fixed to the cover to rotate about a rotational axis, the first member comprising (i) a plate-like protruding segment protruding in a direction of the rotational axis and (ii) a plate-like fitting segment fixed to a main surface of the cover;

a second member fixed to the housing to support the first member such that the first member is rotatable about the rotational axis, the second member comprising a notch around a point of intersection with the rotational axis, the notch being configured to engage with the protruding segment; and

a displacement limiter fixed to the housing or the second member to limit displacement of the first member in a direction away from the housing while the cover is open, wherein

an edge of the notch has a first surface and a second surface intersecting with each other, and

the second member limits a rotation range of the first member about the rotational axis to a range between a position at which the first member is in contact with the first surface and a position at which the first member is in contact with the second surface.

20. The in-vehicle device according to claim 19 , wherein

the first member includes a hole, comprising a through hole, or an opening facing downward in a vertical direction, and

in response to maximum rotation of the first member by the rotation range from a position when the cover is closed, the displacement limiter is inserted in the hole and engages with the first member, thereby limiting displacement of the first member in the direction away from the housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2022
From: WATAI, ATSUKI
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059634/0136 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220389954A1 · Dec 8, 2022
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