Navigational device for mounting on a support pillar of a vehicle and a method for doing same

Abstract

A navigation assembly () for mounting a conventional, portable navigational device () in a vehicle not originally equipped with navigational capabilities is provided. The navigation assembly () comprises the navigational device () and a mounting assembly (). Trim () covering a support pillar () of the vehicle and installed during manufacture of the vehicle is replaced with substantially similar trim () having the mounting assembly () mounted thereto or integrally formed therewith. The mounting assembly () comprises a base (), a docking station (), and a retractable face plate (). The base () of the mounting assembly () is secured to the trim () and includes a cut-out () in which the docking station () may be mounted. The docking station () also includes a cut-out () sized and configured to receive the navigational device (). The retractable face plate () covers the cut-out () in the docking station () and is retracted in the rearward position when the navigational device () is mounted in the docking station () and is retracted in the forward position when the navigational device () is not mounted in the docking station ().