Vehicle mounting system

Abstract

Systems for mounting an object within a vehicle are disclosed. One such system includes a mounting plate, a bracket, and a hinge. The mounting plate is configured to be affixed to a dashboard of the vehicle. The bracket is adapted to receive the object to be mounted. The hinge has a base portion and a body portion movable relative to the base portion. The base portion of the hinge is mounted to the mounting plate and the body portion of the hinge is mounted to the bracket. The body portion of the hinge is pivotable relative to the base portion around a first axis, and the body portion of the hinge is rotatable around a second axis different from the first axis.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for mounting an object within a vehicle comprising:
 a mounting plate configured to be affixed to a dashboard of the vehicle;   a bracket adapted to receive the object to be mounted; and   a hinge rotatably coupling the mounting plate to the bracket such that the bracket is rotatable relative to the mounting plate around a first axis, and the bracket is rotatable relative to the mounting plate around a second axis oriented orthogonal to the first axis, the first axis not intersecting the second axis.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate defines a plane, and
 wherein the first axis is parallel to the plane.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket is pivotable around the first axis between a first position in which the bracket is positioned entirely on one side of the plane, and a second position in which the bracket is positioned crossing the plane. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein when the bracket is in the second position, the second axis is orthogonal to the plane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bumper delimiting a pivoting movement of the bracket in one direction around the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one bumper comprises a pair of bumpers delimiting the pivoting movement of the bracket in both directions around the first axis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a plate adapted to receive the object to be mounted. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plate of the bracket comprises a slot defining a movement direction of the object relative to the bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the movement direction defined by the slot is a rotational movement direction. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the rotational movement direction defined by the slot is orthogonal to a rotational direction of movement of the bracket around the second axis. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle comprising:
 a dashboard;   a mounting plate affixed to the dashboard;   a bracket adapted to receive an object to be mounted; and   a hinge rotatably coupling the mounting plate to the bracket such that the bracket is rotatable relative to the mounting plate around a first axis, and the bracket is rotatable relative to the mounting plate around a second axis oriented orthogonal to the first axis, the first axis not intersecting the second axis.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate defines a plane, and
 wherein the first axis is parallel to the plane.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the bracket is pivotable around the first axis between a first position in which the bracket is positioned entirely on one side of the plane, and a second position in which the bracket is positioned crossing the plane. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein when the bracket is in the second position, the second axis is orthogonal to the plane. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one bumper delimiting a pivoting movement of the bracket in one direction around the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one bumper comprises a pair of bumpers delimiting the pivoting movement of the bracket in both directions around the first axis. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket comprises a plate adapted to receive the object to be mounted. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the plate of the bracket comprises a slot defining a movement direction of the object relative to the bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the movement direction defined by the slot is a rotational movement direction. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the rotational movement direction defined by the slot is orthogonal to a rotational direction of movement of the bracket around the second axis.