In order to allow a user of equipment such as, for example, a camera, the use of both hands, the equipment can be attached to the user's body via, for example, clothing worn by the user. Attachment and removal of the equipment must be easily achieved; however, the equipment also must be securely attachable to the user's body in order to ensure the equipment will not detach when detachment is not desired such as, for example, during strenuous activity by the user. Moreover, the equipment must be secured tightly to the user's body to prevent the equipment from experiencing undesired movement away from the user's body.
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for securing a device to a user. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a device-mounting system that includes first and second plates that are selectively attachable to one another. The first plate includes a protrusion that extends outwardly from a face of the first plate. The protrusion includes a pin channel that is adapted to receive a pin. The second plate includes a protrusion housing that includes a recess for receiving the protrusion. The protrusion housing further includes a pin hole that is coaxially aligned with the pin channel when the protrusion is inserted into the recess. The second plate also includes a pin that is slideably mounted to the second plate and is further adapted to penetrate the pin channel and the pin hole when the pin is in a closed position.
In another embodiment, the device mounting system includes a first magnet secured to the first plate and a second magnet secured to the second plate. The first and second magnets are positioned on the first and second plates, respectively, so that the second magnet aligns with the first magnet when the protrusion is inserted into the protrusion housing.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Referring now to
In another embodiment, the bottom plate 20 may be secured to the user 14 via a hook and loop fastener. For example, the user 14 may wear a vest, such as, for example, a piece of body armor that includes a loop fastener. The bottom plate 20 can include a hook fastener 42 to secure the bottom plate 20 to the vest (e.g., see
The top plate 22 is adapted to be secured to the bottom plate 20 on an outside of the article of clothing 16, thereby sandwiching the article of clothing 16 between the bottom plate 20 and the top plate 22. In a typical embodiment, the top plate 22 is attached to the bottom plate 20 using one or more of a magnetic connection between the bottom plate 20 and the top plate 22, and engagement of the bottom plate 20 by a pin 62 of the top plate 22 (best seen in
The device 12 attaches to the top plate 22. The device 12 can be any device, such as, for example, a camera, that the user 14 desires to secure to himself. The top plate 22 includes one or more device-mounting features that interact with the device 12 to secure the device 12 thereto. Exemplary device mounting-features will be discussed in more detail with respect to
Referring now to
The plurality of holes 36 is adapted to receive magnets 74 to facilitate a magnetic coupling of the bottom plate 20 with the top plate 22. Each of the plurality of holes 36 includes a lip 38 and a plurality of crush tabs 40. Magnets 74 may be secured to holes 36 by pressing the magnets 74 into the holes 36. As the magnets 74 enter the holes 36, the crush tabs 40 deform and establish a force fit between the magnets 74 and the holes 36. The magnets 74 may be further secured to the holes 36 by lining the lips 38 with adhesive. The lips 38 are formed into the bottom plate 20 so that the lips 38 are flush with the front side of the bottom plate 20. Locating the lips 38 in this way helps prevent the magnets 74 from passing through the holes 36 when in close proximity to additional magnets 74 that are secured to the top plate 22. In another embodiment, the back side of the bottom plate 20 may include a portion of a hook and loop fastener 42 to enable the bottom plate 20 to be attached to a corresponding hook and loop fastener disposed on, for example, a vest of the user 14. In another embodiment, the hook and loop fastener 42 may comprise multiple pieces of hook and loop fastener disposed about the back of the bottom plate 20.
Referring now to
The pair of protrusion housings 50 extends outwardly from the front side of the top plate 22, and each protrusion housing 50 includes a recess 52, a pin hole 54, and a pin hole 56. Each recess 52 is adapted to receive one of the pair of protrusions 28. The pin holes 54 and 56 are coaxially aligned with each other, and are further positioned to be coaxially aligned with the pin channel 30 of the protrusion 28 when the protrusion 28 is inserted into the recess 52.
Each of the pair of sliders 58 is slideably coupled to the top plate 22 via tracks 60, and each of the pair of sliders 58 includes a pin 62 that can be engaged and disengaged with the pin holes 54 and 56 of the protrusion housing 50 by sliding the slider 58 along the track 60. In some embodiments, the tracks 60 include a step 64 that biases the slider 58 into a closed or open position. The step 64 is slightly raised above the track 60 so that the slider 58 must travel up and over the step 64 when being moved along the track 60 between open and closed positions. Other biasing means, such as, for example, a spring, can be used to bias the slider 58 in the closed position. A spring may be attached at a first end to a slider 58 and at a second end to housing 50. In this embodiment, pulling the slider 58 away from the housing 50 is resisted by the spring.
The top plate 22 can further include a pair of tapered shoulders 66 that biases the pair of sliders 58 in the closed position. The tapered shoulders 66 include a ramp-like feature that urges against the pair of sliders 58 as they are retracted away from the protrusion housing 50. When the pair of sliders 58 are fully retracted from the protrusion housings 50, the tapered shoulders 66 act as a temporary stop that biases the pair of sliders 58 in the open position (e.g., see
In some embodiments, the top plate 22 further includes various device-mounting features. For example, the top plate 22 may include a lip 68 and a tab 70 that interacts with the device 12 to secure the device 12 to the top plate 22. The top plate 22 can also include a post 72 that fits within a hole or groove in the device 12 to help secure the device 12 against shear forces. Multiple posts 72 may be included on the top plate 22 depending on the design of the device 12. In another embodiment, the top plate 22 may include other device mounting-features such as, for example, clamps, screws, slots, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, and the like.
Referring now collectively to
In one embodiment, the magnets 74 may each be installed in the bottom plate 20 with their magnetic poles oriented in the same direction. In this instance, the magnets 74 installed in the top plate 22 are likewise installed with their magnetic poles all facing the same direction so as to facilitate a magnetic coupling between the two plates. In another embodiment, the magnets 74 may be installed in the bottom plate 20 with their magnetic poles facing in different directions. For example, the bottom plate 20 may include a first row of magnets 74 with their magnetic poles oriented in a first direction, while a second row of magnets 74 may be oriented with their magnetic poles oriented in a second, opposite direction. In this instance, the magnets 74 installed in the top plate 22 are correspondingly installed so that magnetic coupling between the two plates can occur. Alternating the direction of the magnetic poles of the magnets 74 assists with an alignment of the two plates because, if the plates are not properly aligned, the magnets 74 will repel one another. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that the protrusions 28 also assist with the alignment of the top plate 22 with the bottom plate 20. However, in embodiments where the protrusions 28 and the protrusion housings 50 are omitted, arrangement of the magnets 74 can help ensure proper alignment of the top plate 22 with the bottom plate 20.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Although various embodiments of the method and system of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Specification, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein. It is intended that the Specification and examples be considered as illustrative only.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/067,586, filed on Oct. 23, 2014, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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