Mounting assembly for night vision display unit

Abstract

A mounting assembly for a night vision display unit uses friction hinges to effectively position the display unit at a desired position relative to the vehicle operator. In a dashboard mounting arrangement, the friction hinge dampens movement of the display unit. In the visor mounted arrangement, the friction hinge assembly and catch assembly ensure convenient, effective storage and deployment of the visor or display unit without one component adversely impacting on the operation and use of the other component.

Having thus described the present invention, it is now claimed:  
     
         1 . A mounting assembly for a night vision display unit in a vehicle compartment, the mounting assembly comprising: 
 a visor pivotally mounted in the associated vehicle compartment position adjacent an upper region of an associated windshield, the visor movable between a storage position and a use position;    a display unit pivotally mounted in the associated vehicle compartment position adjacent an upper region of an associated windshield, the display unit movable between a storage position and a deployed position; and    a first catch for securing at least one of the display unit and visor in their respective storage positions.    
     
     
         2 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a second catch for securing the display unit in the storage position when the visor is deployed.  
     
     
         3 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first catch includes a magnet disposed on one of the visor and the display unit, and a striker mounted on the other of the visor and display unit.  
     
     
         4 . The mounting assembly of  claim 3  wherein the striker is mounted in the vehicle compartment for securing the display unit in a storage position when the visor is in a use position.  
     
     
         5 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the visor includes a hinge along one edge disposed adjacent the windshield.  
     
     
         6 . The mounting assembly of  claim 5  wherein the display unit includes a hinge along one edge disposed in spaced relation from the windshield.  
     
     
         7 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first catch includes a magnet secured to one face of the display unit opposite a display face of the display unit.  
     
     
         8 . The mounting assembly of  claim 7  wherein the visor includes a striker secured to a first face of the visor that faces outwardly when the visor is disposed in the storage position.  
     
     
         9 . The mounting assembly of  claim 1  wherein the display unit includes a friction hinge that dampens the display unit in a desired orientation between the storage and deployed positions.  
     
     
         10 . A mounting assembly for securing a night vision display in a vehicle compartment, the mounting assembly comprising: 
 a night vision display unit pivotally mounted in the associated vehicle compartment; and    a friction hinge that dampens movement of the display unit.    
     
     
         11 . The mounting assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a striker and a magnet assembly for retaining the display unit in a stored position.  
     
     
         12 . The mounting assembly of  claim 11  wherein the magnet is secured to a non-display face of the display unit and the striker is secured to the vehicle compartment.  
     
     
         13 . The mounting assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a second striker secured to a visor for retaining the display unit in a stored position.  
     
     
         14 . The mounting assembly of  claim 13  wherein the visor is pivotally secured in the vehicle compartment along a hinge mounted adjacent the windshield and the night vision display unit is pivotally secured in the vehicle compartment along a hinge mounted in spaced relation to the windshield.  
     
     
         15 . The mounting assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a visor pivotally mounted in the vehicle compartment for selective movement between storage and deployed positions, the display unit adapted to overlay the visor when both the visor and the display unit are in the stored positions.  
     
     
         16 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  wherein hinges of the visor and the display unit, respectively, are located along opposite edges allowing the display unit and visor to overlap when disposed in their respective stored positions.  
     
     
         17 . The mounting assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a catch assembly having a first component on the display unit and a second component on the visor.  
     
     
         18 . The mounting assembly of  claim 17  wherein the first component is a magnet secured to the display unit and the second component is a striker secured to the visor.  
     
     
         19 . The mounting assembly of  claim 18  wherein the catch assembly further comprises a second striker in the vehicle compartment that selectively engages the magnet on the display unit when the visor is deployed and the display unit is located in the stored position.  
     
     
         20 . A method of mounting a display unit in a vehicle compartment that allows the display unit to be used without interfering with operation of the visor comprising the steps of: 
 incorporating a friction hinge into the display unit; and    securing the display unit in the vehicle compartment with a bracket that receives the hinge.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  comprising the further steps of securing a first striker to a face of a visor; securing a magnet to a face of the display unit for selective engagement with the first striker; and securing a second striker in the vehicle compartment for selective engagement with the magnet when the visor is deployed for use.