Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the in-dash mounting and support of a personal computer, a display unit, a keyboard or other piece of similar electronic equipment in a motor vehicle which provides means for pivoting, sliding and locking the position of the bracket assembly and electronic equipment mounted thereto relative to a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. The invention improves the ability of a driver or passenger to adjust and maintain the relative orientation of in-dash mounted electronic equipment for improving the ease with which electronic equipment may be utilized.

Abstract: A shielding and/or grounding strip includes a strip of material defining a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, a top surface, and a mounting surface, with the first longitudinal side forming a hook member. At least one barb element extends from the mounting surface of the strip of material and at least one contact flap is formed on the mounting surface of the strip of material.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting computer peripheral equipment, such as disk drives or CD ROMs, comprises a drive cage and rails. The drive cage, a part of a computer chassis, defines several bays for receiving disk drives or CD ROMs therein. The drive cage has side walls forming bends whereby each pair of bends defines a receiving channel in each bay, and spring tabs project into each bay. Two rails each having a leading end and spring fingers are attached to sides of the CD ROM for slidably mounting in the corresponding bay of the drive cage. The leading end of the rail facilitates alignment the receiving channel. The spring fingers abut against with the bend of the channel to prevent clearance from forming between the bend and the rail. When the CD ROM is fully inserted into the bay, the spring tabs are attached to the rail thereby providing good grounding and easy installation capabilities.

Abstract: A panel and drive cage assembly includes a panel and a drive cage attached to the panel. The panel defines an opening therein for providing access to the drive cage. A flange extends about the opening of the panel. A number of fingers extend from the flange. The drive cage forms a number of protrusions to extend through the opening and contact the corresponding fingers of the panel for enhancing grounding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a controller (30) along with its program selector switch (36) and other electrical components (34) on appliance front panels is disclosed. A twist mount (40) removably mounts a selector switch (36) and printed circuit board (32) to a control panel (20) of an appliance. The switch (36) may be positioned off-center on the printed circuit board (32) in a manner creating a gravity-based rotational torque force on the twist mount (40), such that the printed circuit board (32) acts as a cantilever arm during mounting, and the selector switch (36) is held in the mounted position via the gravity force after mounting.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus installation structure has an adapter with rotatably supporting a rotating shaft, and having a bearing part having elongated holes that cause exposure of screw holes and a pin hole of a rotating shaft and a base part. A pin of the rotating shaft is pressed into the pin hole, thereby restraining thrust-direction movement, and also limiting the swinging range of the rotating shaft. Through holes are provided on a radio apparatus at locations corresponding to the screw holes on the rotating shaft, and mounting screws are used to fix the radio apparatus to the bearing part of the adapter.

Abstract: A gauge mounting assembly (10) for mounting a gauge (12) to a vehicle instrument panel (18) includes a gauge (12) disposed within an annular gauge housing (14) and an annular gauge bracket (16) for securing the gauge (12) to the instrument panel (18). The gauge bracket (16) includes ratcheting surfaces (22) for retaining the housing (14) to the bracket (16) in any one of various positions. The ratcheting surfaces (22) are disposed upon flexible tabs (24) extending from the bracket (16). The gauge housing (14) includes a plurality of annular and parallel ribs (26) for engaging the ratcheting surfaces (22) on the tabs (24).

Abstract: Generally, the present invention provides a mounting or “rough in” bracket comprising a border surrounding an opening of a size and shape to accept for mounting one or more CEBUS tap point units adjacent to at least one standard electrical receptacle such as a switch or electrical outlet.

Abstract: A meter is mounted to an instrument panel. The meter has an engaging portion in the form of a projection-like rotation shaft and projections located on the side walls of the meter. The instrument panel has a support groove and guide grooves. The meter is inserted into the instrument panel so that the projection-like rotation portion engages with the support groove of the panel. The meter is rotated about the projection-like rotation portion while the projections on the side wall of the meter engage with the guide grooves of the instrument panel.

Abstract: A base plate (20) is provided in a standing manner on a center portion of one side surface of a front-surface panel (15), a control unit (3) of a servo amplifier is attached to one surface of the base plate (20), and a heat-radiation unit (19) of the servo amplifier is attached to the other surface. The control unit (3) and other electric parts in a cabinet (11) are connected to each other through a connector cable (9). When the front-surface panel (15) is drawn out to release only the connector cable (9), the control unit (3) and the heat-radiation unit (19) of the servo amplifier can be separated from the cabinet (11).

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat sink mounting apparatus for mounting a heat transfer device to an electronic substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for a dielectric strip having a longitudinal axis and opposing first and second sides, with the second side abutting the substrate when the heat sink mounting apparatus is mounted on a substrate. The heat sink mounting apparatus has a series of resilient planar fingers that are disposed on, and extend approximately normal to, the first side of the strip, which fingers are configured to removably engage a thermal transfer device. Notches on the fingers releasably secure the thermal transfer device to the heat sink mounting apparatus.

Abstract: An improved mounting bracket is closed which can be used to selectively support both 4 inch square electric boxes and 4{fraction (11/16)} inch square electrical boxes such that vertical movement of either type of electrical box is limited. The mounting bracket is preferably a one-piece, unitary member stamped from sheet metal. The mounting bracket has a top support rail, a bottom support rail and a pair of mounting ends coupling the support rails together to define a large, elongated central cut-out portion. An electrical box and its associated cover may be mounted between two wall studs by first attaching the mounting bracket of the present invention to the wall studs. The open front end of the box is then placed flush against the rear surface of the bracket such that a top portion of the box contacts the bottom rail of the bracket.

Abstract: Power switches are fix mounted in a switchgear cabinet by providing terminal sections on power conductors at the rear face of the switch housing which extend vertically beyond the housing. The power switches slide into cells in the cabinet through a front opening with projections on the sides of the switch engaging slots in mounting panels in the cabinet. The terminal sections of the power conductors are then accessible through the front opening for connection to the buses in the switchgear cabinet. Runbacks secured to the lower power conductors on the bottom power switch extend into a rear compartment in the cabinet for the connection to power cables as the power switch is inserted into the front compartment. A unitary arc shield/wire tray slides into the front compartment above the power switches after connection of the terminal sections to the buses and is removable to provide subsequent access to the power connections.

Abstract: A vehicle computer system has a housing sized to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard or other appropriate location. A computer is mounted within the housing and executes an open platform, multi-tasking operating system. The computer runs multiple applications on the operating system, including both vehicle-related applications (e.g., vehicle security application, vehicle diagnostics application, communications application, etc.) and non-vehicle-related applications (e.g., entertainment application, word processing, etc.). The computer system has an Internet wireless link to provide access to the Internet. One or more of the applications may utilize the link to access content on the Internet.

Abstract: A marine instrument display mount is provided for displaying an electrically powered marine instrument (for example, GPS plotter, depth finder, autopilot, radio, etc.) on the dashboard of a boat with a dashboard opening through which electrical cables pass that are used for powering the instrument. The apparatus includes a small footprint base or foot having a perimeter wall and an interior. The foot has a bore through which the electrical cables can pass for powering the marine instrument. The bore includes a vertical conduit portion that is preferably attached to the bottom plate of the foot, the conduit forming a dam that prevents water from entering the opening the opening through which the cables pass. An enlarged housing is supported above the foot and extends laterally to each side of the foot. This enables the housing to hold large marine instruments that can be much wider than the foot, especially important when dashboard space is at a premium or is minimal.

Abstract: A workstation including at least two walls, each of the walls having opposed ends, an upper panel, and a lower panel beneath the upper panel, the lower panel including a center plate with horizontal, parallel upper and lower side opening raceways on opposite sides of the plate; and a support post having opposed connection faces, one of the faces being connected to an end of one of the walls and the other face being connected to an end of the other of the walls, the post including conduits extending between the connecting faces, whereby utilities can be connected from raceways on one of the walls to raceways on the other of the walls through the post. Releasable edge and end caps are frictionally attached to the exposed wall edges.

Abstract: A vehicle computer system has a housing sized to be mounted in a vehicle dashboard or other appropriate location. A computer is mounted within the housing and executes an open platform, multi-tasking operating system. The computer runs multiple applications on the operating system, including both vehicle-related applications (e.g., vehicle security application, vehicle diagnostics application, communications application, etc.) and non-vehicle-related applications (e.g., entertainment application, word processing, etc.). The applications may be supplied by the vehicle manufacturer and/or by the vehicle user.

Abstract: A pair of risers are mounted on a mother or circuit board and trap one or two electronic circuit modules in an upstanding disposition and a bridging member extends between the risers. The bridging member forms a channel on its underside which engages a rail on a heat sink on one surface of the electronic module. The trappings of the rail by the bridging member positively restrains the module against movement away from the circuit board.