Patent Application
20070001083
This application is cross-referenced to patent application entitled MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE, Attorney Docket No. CM08457K, filed on even date herewith.
This invention relates in general to mobile communication devices and more particularly to mounting mechanisms for such devices.
Mobile communication devices, particularly high power data and radio devices, require strong, stable mechanisms for mounting these devices into vehicles. In operation, mobile communication devices are regularly subjected to vibration, shock and various other adverse conditions. A bracket is typically mounted to the vehicle and used to retain the mobile communication device with mounting screws. During vibration and mechanical shock exposure, it is not uncommon to experience structural failure events such as loosening and/or shearing of mounting screws. When such assemblies are subjected to vibration or dynamic loading, the screws tend to loosen and eventually shear. Both a lack of proper preloading of the screws and a lack of compliancy in the system can cause such failures.
In many mobile communication systems, lock washers are used to prevent screws from loosening away from the bracket. However, the use of separate washer elements increases parts count, installation time and complexity. Some mounting bracket designs have eliminated the use of lock washers, but currently available designs still face issues with loosening of the screws during vibration and mechanical shock exposure.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved mounting apparatus for a mobile communication device.
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
The present invention may be embodied in several forms and manners. The description provided below and the drawings show exemplary embodiments of the invention. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention may be embodied in other forms and manners not shown below. The invention shall have the full scope of the claims and shall not be limited by the embodiments shown below. It is further understood that the use of relational terms, if any, such as first, second, top and bottom, front and rear and the like are used solely for distinguishing one entity or action from another, without necessarily requiring or implying any such actual relationship or order between such entities or actions.
Briefly, there is provided herein an apparatus for mounting a mobile communication device, such as to a vehicle. The mounting apparatus includes cantilevered beams to provide compliancy features and integrated lock washer functionality to the screw area of a mounting bracket. The compliancy features absorb vibration and shock while the integrated lock washer functionality minimizes backward screw rotation thereby preventing the mounting screws from loosening or backing off from the mounting bracket.
In accordance with the present invention, surface 104 includes a cut-away portion 112 characterized by a geometry that minimizes counterclockwise rotation of the screw. The preferred geometry utilizes an inverted s-shape cut-away having a clearance hole 110 for receiving the screw located between the curved cantilevered beams 106, 108.
In accordance with the present invention, the first and second cantilevered beams 106, 108 provide compliant coupling of the mobile communication device to the bracket. The curvature of the cantilevered beams in conjunction with the cut-away provide integrated lock washer functionality to prevent the screw from backing off. The amount of beam deflection can be adjusted from one product line to another based on product design requirements.
Referring to
In accordance with the present invention, each of the side surfaces 104 includes cut-away portion 112 forming a plurality of cantilevered beams 106, 108 deflecting away from each side surface and providing a clearance 110 for screw access 210. Each clearance hole 110 accepts a screw 210 which gets rotated into an opening within the mobile communication device.
Accordingly, there has been a mounting apparatus for a mobile communication device that provides both compliancy and integrated lock washer functionality. The compliancy feature minimizes mechanical stresses thereby minimizing the potential of stripping and/or shearing of the screw while the integrated lock washer functionality prevents the screws from being loosened and backing off. By forming the bracket as a unitary piece part the need for separate washers is eliminated thus decreasing parts count, simplifying assembly complexity and assembly time.
While the embodiments shown provide for inverted s-shape geometry, other geometries may also be suitable. For applications where screws are inserted using a counter-clockwise rotation, an s-shape cut-away can be used to minimize the screws from backing off in a clockwise direction—basically the reverse of what has been described thus far. For the purposes of this application, backward rotation is any rotational direction which loosens the screw away from the bracket whether that be clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Thus, the use of integrated cantilevered beams deflecting outward from the bracket minimize backward rotation and any backing off of the screw in a washerless system. Since lock washer functionality is integrated in the geometry of the bracket, the screws cannot become loose. A washerless system is thus provided making it easy to install and remove the mobile communication device to and from the bracket with fewer piece parts.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to-those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
