Aftermarket head unit installation kit for use with salvaged original equipment manufacturer (oem) vehicle controls

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an aftermarket autosound head unit installation kit for enabling installation of an aftermarket radio in a vehicle. The kit may include a panel. The panel may include a plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures may include a rectangular aperture. The rectangular aperture may have a roughly rectangular shape. The rectangular aperture may be configured for receiving and engaging a display associated with the aftermarket autosound head unit. The panel may further include two, or more, circular apertures. Each the two, or more, circular apertures may include a roughly circular shape. Each of the two circular apertures for receiving and engaging one of two OEM knob assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing an aftermarket radio in a vehicle, said method comprising:
 removing an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) autosound head unit from the vehicle;   removing a plurality of OEM knob assemblies from the face of the removed OEM head unit;   removing a plurality of detent retainers from the removed OEM head unit;   installing in the vehicle an aftermarket autosound head unit installation kit, said kit for enabling installation of an aftermarket head unit in the vehicle, said aftermarket head unit installation kit comprising a plurality of apertures for receiving and engaging the plurality of OEM knob assemblies and a plurality of detent retainer seats for receiving and engaging the plurality of detent retainers, said installing comprising:
 installing each of the plurality of OEM knob assemblies in an individual one of the plurality of apertures; and 
 installing each of the plurality of detent retainers in an individual one of the plurality of single detent retainer seats. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method of installing an aftermarket radio in a vehicle, said method comprising:
 removing an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) autosound head unit from the vehicle;   removing a plurality of OEM knob assemblies from the face of the removed OEM head unit;   installing in the vehicle an aftermarket autosound head unit installation kit, said kit for enabling installation of an aftermarket head unit in the vehicle, said aftermarket head unit installation kit comprising a plurality of apertures for receiving and engaging the plurality of OEM knob assemblies and a detent retainer seat for receiving and engaging the detent retainer, said installing the aftermarket head unit installation kit comprising:
 installing each one of the plurality of OEM knob assemblies in a single one of the plurality of apertures. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising removing a plurality of detent retainers from the removed OEM head unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising installing each of the plurality of detent retainers in a detent retainer seat. 
     
     
         5 . An aftermarket autosound head unit installation kit for enabling installation of an aftermarket radio in a vehicle, the kit comprising:
 a panel, said panel comprising a plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures comprising:
 a rectangular aperture comprising a roughly rectangular shape, the rectangular aperture for receiving and engaging a display associated with the aftermarket autosound head unit; and 
 two circular apertures, each of the two circular apertures comprising a roughly circular shape, each of the two circular apertures for receiving and engaging one of two OEM knob assemblies; and 
   a reduced-profile circuit board, the circuit board configured to replicate functionality of an OEM circuit board, said functionality that relates to receiving signals from each of the OEM knob assemblies.   
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of detent retainer seats, each of the detent retainer seats configured to receive and engage an OEM detent retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 5  further comprising a circuit board, the circuit board configured to replicate portions of an OEM circuit board that relate to receiving signals from each of the OEM knob assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7  wherein, upon engagement of the OEM knob assemblies to the panel, the circuit board is operationally coupled to each of the OEM knob assemblies. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8  wherein, the circuit board is configured to send signals to the vehicle, either via a data bus, a hardwired connection or wirelessly, in response to rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 8  wherein, the circuit board is configured to send signals to the vehicle, either via a data bus, a hardwired connection or wirelessly, in response to actuation of the knobs or actuation of a portion of the knobs. 
     
     
         11 . An aftermarket autosound head unit installation kit for enabling installation of an aftermarket radio in a vehicle, the kit comprising:
 a panel, said panel comprising a plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures comprising:
 a rectangular aperture comprising a roughly rectangular shape, the rectangular aperture for receiving and engaging a display associated with the aftermarket autosound head unit; 
 two circular apertures, each of the two circular apertures comprising a roughly circular shape, each of the two circular apertures for receiving and engaging one of two OEM knob assemblies; and 
   a reduced-profile circuit board, the circuit board configured to replicate portions of an OEM circuit board that relate to receiving signals from each of the OEM knob assemblies.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of detent retainer seats, each of the detent retainer seats configured to receive and engage an OEM detent retainer. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 11  wherein upon engagement of the OEM knob assemblies to the panel, the circuit board is operationally coupled to each of the OEM knob assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein the circuit board is configured to send signals to the vehicle, via at least one of a data bus, a hardwired connection or wirelessly, in response to rotation of each of the OEM knob assemblies. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein the reduced-profile circuit board comprises a front-on profile that is less than 60% of the front-on profile of an OEM circuit adapted to perform the same functions as the reduced-profile circuit board. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein, the circuit board is configured to send signals to the vehicle, either via a data bus, a hardwired connection or wirelessly, in response to actuation of each of the knob assemblies or actuation of a portion of each of the knob assemblies.