Mounting means for switches instruments or the like

Claim 2

Mounting means for devices such as road vehicle instruments and switches comprising, a mounting frame defining an aperture, means whereby the mounting frame can be secured to a panel member of a road vehicle, a device carrier engaged in said aperture in the mounting frame, co-acting parts on the frame and the carrier serving to pivotally mount the device carrier for pivotal movement on the frame, and, use, pivoting further co-acting parts on the device carrier and the frame, the further co-acting parts defining releasable catch means for retaining the carrier against pivotal movement relative to the frame, and said catch means being positioned between the axis about which the carrier can pivot relative to the frame, and the edge of the frame which is, in sue, presented to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the catch means being releasable to permit pivoting of the carrier in a direction away from said frame edge by the application of a predetermined force to the carrier, and said predetermined force being so chosen as to be less than a force applied to the carrier by an occupant of the vehicle striking a device carried by the carrier in a manner to cause injury to that occupant in the event that the vehicle is involved in a collision, but being greater than the force which may be applied to the device in the course of normal operation of the device, wherein the dimensions of the device carrier, and the dimeNsions of said aperture in said frame are so related that said device carrier can pass through said aperture to permit assembly of the carrier to the frame.

Claim 3

Mounting means for devices such as road vehicle instruments and switches comprising, a mounting frame defining an aperture, means whereby the mounting frame can be secured to a panel member of a road vehicle, a device carrier engaged in said aperture in the mounting frame, co-acting parts on the frame and the carrier serving to pivotally mount the device carrier for pivotal movement on the frame, and, further co-acting parts on the device carrier and the frame, the further co-acting parts defining releasable catch means for retaining the carrier against pivotal movement relative to the frame, and said catch means being positioned between the axis about which the carrier can pivot relative to the frame, and the edge of the frame which is, in use, presented to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the catch means being releasable to permit pivoting of the carrier in a direction away from said frame edge by the application of a predetermined force to the carrier, and said predetermined force being so chosen as to be less than a force applied to the carrier by an occupant of the vehicle striking a device carried by the carrier in a manner to cause injury to that occupant in the event that the vehicle is involved in a collision, but being greater than the force which may be applied to the device in the course of normal operation of the device, wherein said co-acting parts on the frame and the carrier include a pair of pivot posts projecting from the carrier, and a pair of recesses in the frame, said posts being engageable in said recesses to pivotally mount the carrier on the frame, and the frame being provided with channels adjacent the recesses whereby that portion of the carrier having said pivot posts can be inserted through the frame by way of the channels to permit engagement of the pivot posts in said recesses without inserting the carrier completely through the aperture in the frame.

Claim 4

Mounting means for devices such as road vehicle instruments and switches comprising, a mounting frame defining an aperture, means whereby the mounting frame can be secured to a panel member of a road vehicle, a device carrier engaged in said aperture in the mounting frame, co-acting parts on the frame and the carrier serving to pivotally mount the device carrier for pivotal movement on the frame, and, further co-acting parts on the device carrier and the frame, the further co-acting parts defining releasable catch means for retaining the carrier against pivotal movement relative to the frame, and said catch means being positioned between the axis about which the carrier can pivot relative to the frame, and the edge of the frame which is, in use, presented to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the catch means being releasable to permit pivoting of the carrier in a direction away from said frame edge by the application of a predetermined force to the carrier, and said predetermined force being so chosen as to be less than a force applied to the carrier by an occupant of the vehicle striking a device carried by the carrier in a manner to cause injury to that occupant in the event that the vehicle is involved in a collision, but being greater than the force which may be applied to the device in the course of normal operation of the device, wherein said co-acting parts on the frame and the carrier include a pair of pivot posts projecting from the carrier, and a pair of recesses in the frame, said posts being engageable in said recesses to pivotally mount the carrier on the frame, and the frame being provided with channels adjacent the recesses whereby that portion of the carrier having said pivot posts can be inserted through the frame by way of the channels to permit engagement of the pivot posts in said recesses without inserting the carrier completely through the aperture in the frame.