Attachment unit for installing imaging apparatus in vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides an attachment unit for installing a video camera in various vehicles. This attachment unit prevents a mount from rotating together with an arm. The attachment unit includes a mount secured to a hook member for a sun visor, an arm attached to the mount, and an attachment table attached to a tip end of the arm. Herein, the arm is rotatable about a first vertical axis with respect to the mount. An attachment hole is formed in a base end of the mount, and includes a square main hole and irregularities each formed around the main hole. The attachment hole is formed into a shape such that fitting parts of various hook members are fitted thereinto.

1 . An attachment unit for installing an imaging apparatus in a vehicle by means of a hook member for a sun visor fastened to a ceiling of the vehicle with a screw, the hook member including a pedestal part, a hooking part formed under the pedestal part and a fitting part protruding upward from the pedestal part, the fitting part including a fastening portion having a screw hole for attachment formed therein and rotation locking pieces each formed on an outer periphery of the fastening portion, 
 the attachment unit comprising a mount secured to the hook member, an arm attached to the mount, and an attachment table attached to a tip end of the arm, wherein    the arm rotates about a vertical axis with respect to the mount,    the imaging apparatus is attached to the attachment table,    the mount includes an attachment hole formed in a base end thereof,    the attachment hole includes a main hole into which at least the fastening portion of the hook member is fitted, and abutment portions each formed on an outer periphery of the main hole in correspondence with rotation locking pieces of a variety of hook members such that at least one of the rotation locking pieces of the variety of hook members abuts against the abutment portions, and    the outer periphery of the main hole prevents the rotation locking pieces from being disengaged from the abutment portions.    
     
     
         2 . The attachment unit according to  claim 1 , wherein irregularities are formed as abutment portions on the outer periphery of the main hole.  
     
     
         3 . The attachment unit according to  claim 2 , wherein concaves are formed at a rear side of the main hole such that the mount slides forward with respect to the hook member and the rotation locking pieces of the hook member are engaged with the concaves.  
     
     
         4 . The attachment unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a clearance is created between the rotation locking piece and the abutment portion.  
     
     
         5 . The attachment unit according to  claim 1 , wherein rotation locking pieces of each hook member abut against the abutment portions at three points.  
     
     
         6 . The attachment unit according to  claim 2 , wherein two convexes are formed on one side of the main hole with a space into which the rotation locking pieces of the hook member are fitted, and spaces are provided between outer ends of the convexes and both sides of the main hole respectively such that the rotation locking pieces of the hook members are fitted into the spaces.  
     
     
         7 . The attachment unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an attachment hole having a size larger than that of the fitting part of the hook member is formed in the base end of the mount, and set screws are allowed to protrude from the attachment hole so as to serve as abutment portions.  
     
     
         8 . The attachment unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an attachment hole having a size larger than that of the fitting part of the hook member is formed in the base end of the mount, a pair of engagement members each sliding in one of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction of the mount are provided in the attachment hole, abutment portions engaged with the rotation locking pieces of the hook member are formed on an inner circumference of each engagement member.  
     
     
         9 . An attachment unit for installing an imaging apparatus in a vehicle by means of a hook member for a sun visor fastened to a ceiling of the vehicle with a screw, the hook member including a pedestal part, a hooking part formed under the pedestal part and a fitting part protruding upward from the pedestal part, the fitting part including a fastening portion having a screw hole for attachment formed therein and rotation locking pieces each formed on an outer periphery of the fastening portion, 
 the attachment unit comprising a mount secured to the hook member, an arm attached to the mount, and an attachment table attached to a tip end of the arm, wherein    the arm rotates about a vertical axis with respect to the mount,    the imaging apparatus is attached to the attachment table,    the mount includes an attachment hole formed in a base end thereof,    the mount includes a mount main body, and mount replacement parts each engaged/disengaged with/from the mount main body and each having an attachment hole formed therein,    the mount replacement parts are provided in correspondence with fitting parts of a variety of hook members, and    the attachment holes of the mount replacement parts are formed in accordance with shapes of the fitting parts of the hook members.