Patent Application
20060011795
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptable mounting apparatus for hand-held electronics, and more particularly to an adaptable mounting apparatus including mounting fixtures connected by a positionable support arm. The support arm, may be arranged to clamp or lock by either end to a variety of mounting fixtures, e.g., including a spherical ball-mounting fixture.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is often desirable to provide a mount for a hand held electronics so that they can be placed in comfortable and advantageous position. A variety of devices have been developed to provide supports for hand held electronics and other similar sized objects and they are often difficult to position or difficult to control. Some of these devices are mechanically complex and expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,344 describes a mechanical plug device which is used to seal the end of a piper conduit. The device uses a seal which is placed between the pair of plate members which are tightened through a screw in order to perform a tight seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,420 describes a suction cup device used for moving glass windows or the like.
While these two devices have relevance to their own fields of interest, they are not commonly used in support devices for hand held electronics. Thus, the prior devices all have the shortcomings of not being easily adjustable and being mechanically complex.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings associated with the background art and achieves other advantages not realized by the background art.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a support arm with a non-axial alignment between the mounting fixtures. In other words, to offset the body of the arm in such a way that a rotation around the connector means at one or both ends can be positioned substantially beyond 90 degrees.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a non-axial alignment of the ball “mounting fixture” at one or both ends to further enhance positionability. This approach to adaptability is readily apparent in a mechanics wrench set wherein a curved handled wrench is more adaptable to reaching a confined bolt head than a straight wrench.
A third object of the present invention incorporates a cam-over-center, locking mechanism that works like vise-grip pliers. This arrangement differs from other well-known cam-over-center locking apparatus in that it clamps on a spherical surface with a substantially mating face.
A fourth object of the present invention includes a sphere-gripping clamp at one end that also grips the arm body along a hexagonal surface, e.g., the actual surface can be any number of sides, with at least one of the clamping members having an internal contour to allow half-positioning on the six sides (in the exemplary hexagonal surface). In other words, internal contour will allow the sphere-gripping clamp to index to twelve positions on six surfaces of the arm. This approach to indexing is readily apparent in a mechanics wrench set wherein a twelve point socket or wrench will allow access to a hexagonal bold head from twice as many radial positions. Prior designs provide for a degree of vibration isolation between the two mounting fixtures. In one arrangement a known product incorporates rubber balls molded onto a rigid mounting fixture. However, this method is expensive to produce and replace.
A fifth object of the present invention includes a clearance allowance in the gripping area of each support arm clamp to accommodate a rubber pad as a vibration buffer between the mounting fixture ball and the mating support arm clamping surfaces. These rubber pads are easily replaced when worn or decayed, (unserviceable). The basic configuration of the present invention is comprised of the described “support arm” and two “ball mounting-fixtures,” which position a bolt-on flange, as part of each mounting fixture, at either end of the support arm.
A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a “suction mount”, at one or both ends of the support arm, to replace the bolt-on flange.
A seventh objective is to provide “friction mount,” at one or both ends of the support arm, to replace the bolt-on flange.
An eighth objective is to provide a “multi-conforming mount” at one or both ends of the support arm, to work in cooperation with the bolt-on flange.
One or more of these and other objects are accomplished by a device as shown or described in the accompanying drawings.
One or more of these and other objects are further accomplished by a method of holding and mounting a device.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the mounting device for the present invention is shown as 10 in
As seen in
Basic Support Arms with bolt-on Mounting Fixtures are shown in
Cap 24 is formed from two halves that are bolted together to form a clamp on the bolt portion of the right hand mounting fixture. The upper portion of the caps also extend around the adjusting bolt 22 and lock it into position.
Lock 26 is a rigid member that connects with latch 30 on pin (d) and slides in a guide channel in the support arm to operate against the adjusting bolt. The arrangement of the lock causes the latch to be forced toward the left hand mounting fixture when the adjusting bolt is screwed inwardly so that the grip on the ball is tightened. The lock is also arranged so when the center of pivot pin (d) passes through the center line between the contact point of the adjusting bolt and the latch pivot pin, (a), the mid-surface of the lock contacts an internal surface of the latch to create a stop in the locked position. When the latch is pulled away from the spring pin (d) again passes through the center line to a free and unlocked condition causing an cam-over-center locking arrangement.
Spring 28 is a tension spring connecting the support arm at pin (e) and the jaw at pin (b) to cause an opening action by pivoting around pin (c). The spring opposes the latch in lock operating against the adjusting bolt.
Latch 30 provides an operating surface for the operator to lock and unlock the support arm assembly in regard to the left hand mounting fixture. The latch is retained within the recess in jaw 32 and pivots on pin (a) to operate the lock against the adjusting bolt. The latch provides an internal guide channel and stop surface for the lock toward the assembly in the locked position when the latch is closed.
Jaw 32 has a substantially spherical surface to form one side of the grip on the ball of the left hand mounting fixture. The jaw is retained in the recess within the support arm and pivots around pin (c). The jaw is pulled into an open position by the spring at pin (b) and is forced against the spring tension into a closed position by the cam-over-center relationship between the latch lock and adjusting bolt.
The other side of the grip on the ball of the left hand mounting fixture is provided by the support arm which has a similarly shaped spherical surface at the left hand end. The support arm also has a recess to retain the jaw 32, a recess to retain tension spring 28, an inner channel to guide lock 26 and a tubular portion threaded on the inside to retain the adjusting bolt 22.
As described above, the mounting fixture has a spherical surface which matches a surface on the support arm assembly by which is gripped. The neck which connects the ball with the mounting surface may be angled with respect to the mounting surface so as to provide an angular offset. The neck portion may also have a built in loophole for connecting a lanyard. This lanyard connects to the mounted electronic device as a safety from loss by inadvertent release of the Support Arm. This Mounting Fixture also has recesses and through holes in the mounting face to accommodate a variety of mounting arrangements to include a standard camera mounting screw, U-bolt clamps, a plumbing floor flange, and a conforming mounting plate for variable surfaces.
Shown in
It is desirable to provide a degree of vibration isolation between the two mounting fixtures. Previously, it was known to incorporate rubber balls mounted onto a rigid mounting fixture. This procedure is expensive for production and replacement. The present invention utilizes grip pad 36 as a vibration buffer between the ball of the mounting fixtures and the support arm clamp surfaces. These pads can be easily replaced, thus avoiding expensive replacement.
The mounting fixtures may include a suction mount at either or both ends to either hold an electronic device to the mounting device or hold the mounting device to a fixed surface. Such a suction mount may be used in place of the bolt-on flange. The “suction mount” is made up of five basic components in a preferred embodiment, e.g., more or less components may be incorporated into alternative embodiments: a housing, which includes a spherical clamping surface; a flange sleeve, which slides over a cylindrical surface of the housing; a cam, which operates against the flange and rotates around the axis of the cylindrical portion of the flange and housing; a suction cup which has an integral center shaft and cross mounting hole, which nests in a recess in the bottom of the housing and is retained by the fifth component, the assembly pin. The assembly pin both retains the suction cup within the housing and acts as the actuating member by which rotation of the cam exerts pressure against the flange, this to increase the seal of the suction cup. This mounting fixture is for mounting to glass or other smooth surfaces.
The Suction Cup 40 has a raised boss in the center that acts as an attachment/drive shaft 42. This boss mates inside of a Mounting Ball recess and is fixed in relation to the mounting sphere body by a Drive Pin 44. A radial fingered Flange Housing 66 rides over a cylindrical portion at the base of the Mounting Ball. The Flange Housing is rotationally fixed by a slot around the Drive Pin, but slides up or down in relationship to the axis of the mounting sphere cylinder.
A Cam 48 having a lower drive surface sits atop the Flange on the Flange drive surface. This Cam operates against the flange and Suction Cup rim while lifting the center of the Suction Cup via the center boss, and the Mounting Sphere body, and Drive Pin. In this arrangement a clockwise rotation of the Cam causes the center of the Suction Cup to rise, hence tightening the seal of the Suction Cup. The Flange has a recess in the bottom to provide clearance for the raised area of the Suction Cup while holding the rim tightly sealed.
Another feature of this flange is the Finger arrangement that contacts the Suction Cup Rim, shown in
The Mounting Ball Stabilizer is shown as 50. This internal boss with a concaved surface mates with the inside of the Suction Cup Boss and saddles the assembly Pin. By increasing the surface contact with the pliable material used in the Suction Cup, stability is enhanced. The simplicity of the assembly is shown here and in other parts of the Support Arm Assembly. These simple components and assembly methods are purposeful in that it is anticipated the assembly of this devise will be contracted to physically challenged workers. This philosophy of simplicity has dictated this design.
In place of suction mount, a friction mount may instead be used. The “friction mount” of a preferred embodiment is made up of six basic components, e.g., more or less components may be incorporated into alternative embodiments: a housing, which includes a spherical clamping surface; an upper mounting flange with a conical surface, and having an anchoring boss with a cross hole for an assembly pin; the anchoring boss mates with a recess in the housing and is retained in place by a third part, the assembly pin; a lower mounting flange is provided with a conical surface opposing the upper mounting flange; a friction ring of elastic material rides between the upper and lower mounting flanges and is expanded as the flanges are drawn together; and a bolt retained by lower mounting flange and threads into the upper mounting flange to expand the friction ring. This mounting fixture is for mounting in a cup-holder recess commonly found in vehicles, and is fixed by frictional pressure radially exerted against the inside walls of the pocket.
It is also possible to use a multi conforming mount to mount the mounting device. The “multi-conforming mount” is made up of three basic components, e.g., more or less components may be incorporated into alternative embodiments: a bolt-on ball mounting fixture, (as described earlier); a bendable contour sheet with forming memory and retention holes; and one or more retention screws for attaching the contour sheet to the ball mounting fixture.
Shown in
The Conforming Plate is intended to be of a relatively thin material easily hand bent, and with good memory for retaining shape. It also features a series of holes for screws (not shown) to attach the cradle to the Ball Mounting Fixture described earlier.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60587546 | Jul 2004 | US |
