Adjustable-angle mounting system for hazard detector

• US 10,242,545 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kraz, Mark, Mittleman, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Skroupa, Josh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siegert, Cory B
• Application Number:
  US14/716,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 403 14, 403348, 403350, 403353, 403 78
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement

Abstract

A surface mount plate may include a plate having attachment mounting points that allow fasteners to secure the surface mount plate to a surface such that the surface mount plate is mounted in a fixed position on the surface. The surface mount plate may include a circular lip extending around at least a portion of the plate, the circular lip having distributed lip gaps. A sensor housing may include multiple sliders that couple with the circular lip of the surface mount plate when the sliders are aligned and inserted into the plurality of distributed lip gaps of the circular lip and the sensor housing is rotated. The sliders may slide along the lip to allow the housing to be rotated while the sensor housing remains coupled with the surface mount plate.

Claims

1. A surface mount system, the surface mount system comprising:

a surface mount plate, comprising;

a plate having a plurality of attachment mounting points that allow a plurality of fasteners to secure the surface mount plate to a surface such that the surface mount plate is mounted in a fixed position in relation to the surface; and

a circular lip extending around at least a first portion of the plate, the circular lip having a plurality of distributed lip gaps;

a seal that comprises a compressible ring, wherein;

the seal encircles all holes defined by the surface mount plate, including the plurality of attachment mounting points, present on the surface mount plate;

the seal is located on the surface mount plate outside of all the holes defined by the surface mount plate and inside of the plurality of distributed lip gaps;

the compressible ring is positioned on the surface mount plate such that, when a sensor housing is coupled with the surface mount plate and the sensor housing is rotated, the compressible ring is at least partially compressed and creates friction between the surface mount plate and the sensor housing; and

the sensor housing, comprising;

a plurality of sliders that removably couple with the circular lip of the surface mount plate when the plurality of sliders are aligned and inserted into the plurality of distributed lip gaps of the circular lip and the sensor housing is rotated wherein;

the plurality of sliders slide along the circular lip to allow the sensor housing to be rotated in relation to the surface mount plate while the sensor housing remains coupled with the surface mount plate;

and

the seal and the sensor housing, when the sensor housing is attached with the surface mount plate, prevents air from passing through every hole, including the plurality of attachment mounting points, into an environment of a sensor within the sensor housing.

2. The surface mount system of claim 1 wherein at least 0.40 Newton-meters of static friction is present between the compressible ring and the sensor housing.

3. The surface mount system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distributed lip gaps of the surface mount plate and the plurality of sliders of the sensor housing are distributed such that the sensor housing can be rotated at least 65 degrees in relation to the surface mount plate while the sensor housing is coupled with the circular lip of the surface mount plate.

4. The surface mount system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sliders that slide along the circular lip of the surface mount plate provide for non-indexed rotation of the sensor housing in relation to the surface mount plate, whereby a user can set an orientation of the sensor housing in relation to the surface mount plate by rotating the sensor housing while the sensor housing is coupled with the surface mount plate.

5. The surface mount system of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing further comprises a circular depressed lip within which the plurality of sliders are located.

6. The surface mount system of claim 5, wherein the circular lip of the surface mount plate seats within the circular depressed lip to permit rotation for aligning the plurality of distributed lip gaps with the plurality of sliders.

7. The surface mount system of claim 1, the surface mount plate further comprising a feedback nub located on the circular lip adjacent to a distributed lip gap of the plurality of distributed lip gaps, the feedback nub causing tactile feedback when a slider of the plurality of sliders passes over the feedback nub.

8. The surface mount system of claim 1, wherein the surface mount plate is circular and the sensor housing is rectangular.

9. A method for using a surface mount system to align a sensor device, the method comprising:

mounting a surface mount plate in a fixed position on a surface using a plurality of fasteners mounted through a plurality of attachment mounting points of the surface mount plate, wherein;

the surface mount plate comprises a circular lip having a plurality of distributed lip gaps;

the sensor device comprises a sensor housing and the surface mount plate; and

mounting occurs while the surface mount plate is detached from the sensor housing;

aligning a plurality of sliders of the sensor housing with the plurality of distributed lip gaps of the circular lip of the surface mount plate, wherein;

a seal, comprising a compressible ring, is positioned between the surface mount plate and the sensor housing when the sensor housing is attached with the surface mount plate;

the seal encircles all holes defined by the surface mount plate, including the plurality of attachment mounting points, present on the surface mount plate;

the seal is located on the surface mount plate outside of all the holes defined by the surface mount plate and inside of the plurality of distributed lip gaps;

the compressible ring is positioned on the surface mount plate such that, when the sensor housing is coupled with the surface mount plate and the sensor housing is rotated, the compressible ring is at least partially compressed and creates friction between the surface mount plate and the sensor housing; and

the seal and the sensor housing, when the sensor housing is attached with the surface mount plate, prevents air from passing through every hole, including the plurality of attachment mounting points, into an environment of a sensor within the sensor housing;

rotating the sensor housing in relation to the surface mount plate such that the plurality of sliders slide along the circular lip of the surface mount plate in non-indexed movement;

ceasing rotation of the sensor housing while the plurality of sliders are sliding along the circular lip of the surface mount plate in non-indexed movement at a position such that an edge of the sensor housing is parallel to an edge of an external object distinct from the sensor device; and

maintaining the position of the sensor housing relative to the surface mount plate following rotation of the sensor housing being ceased.

10. The method for using the surface mount system to align the sensor device of claim 9, the method further comprising:

prior to aligning the plurality of sliders of the sensor housing with the plurality of distributed lip gaps of the circular lip of the surface mount plate, connecting the sensor housing with one or more external wires that pass through the surface mount plate.

11. The method for using the surface mount system to align the sensor device of claim 10, wherein maintaining position of the sensor housing relative to the surface mount plate following rotation of the sensor housing being ceased comprises:

counteracting a rotational force applied by the one or more external wires to the sensor housing using friction between the seal and the sensor housing, wherein the seal is a compressible ring located between the sensor housing and the surface mount plate.

12. The method for using the surface mount system to align the sensor device of claim 11, further comprising:

while rotating the sensor housing in relation to the surface mount plate, signaling, to a user, via tactile feedback, that the sensor housing is fully coupled with the surface mount plate, wherein rotation of the sensor housing continues following the tactile feedback until the user ceases the rotation of the sensor housing such that the edge of the sensor housing is parallel to the edge of the external object.