Weighted mounting platform

• US 20030102419A1
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,840,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/346.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/002 supported only by a person
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/91 Weighted base

Abstract

A weighted mounting platform for supporting a hand-held device, the weighted mounting platform having a plurality of flexible legs extending radially from a common central portion, the legs and common central portion being integrally formed of a heavy and malleable material; a lump of the heavy material integrally formed with each leg at an end thereof distal from the common central portion; a coating of elastomeric material formed over substantially the entire surface of the flexible legs, the common central portion and the integrally formed lumps; and an attaching means positioned at the common central portion for attaching a mounting device.

Claims

1. A weighted mounting platform, comprising:

a web formed of a thin section of malleable material;

a substantially solid weight secured at a position spaced away from a central portion of the web;

a flexible coating substantially covering the web and weighted portions; and

attachment means positioned at the central portion of the web.

2. The mounting platform of claim 1 wherein the weight comprises a plurality of legs extending radially from the central portion of the web.

3. The mounting platform of claim 1 wherein the weight is integral with the web.

4. The mounting platform of claim 1 wherein the malleable material comprises lead.

5. The mounting platform of claim 1, further comprising a thickened hub portion contiguous with at least a portion of the central portion of the web.

6. The mounting platform of claim 5 wherein the hub portion is integral with the central portion of the web.

7. A device for supporting an article in an upright orientation relative to a non-planar surface, the device comprising:

a web formed of a plurality of flexible legs extending from a common center, one or more of the legs having an integral weight formed distal from the common center;

a sheath of elastomeric material substantially coating the web of flexible legs and the one or more integral weights; and

attachment means extending uprightly relative to the common center.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the one or more weights are formed integrally with each of the plurality of flexible legs.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the flexible legs extend radially from the common center.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising a weighted hub portion positioned at the common center from which the legs extend.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the attachment means includes a quantity of fasteners coupling one of a male and a female portion of a ball-and-socket mounting device.

12. A weighted mounting platform, comprising:

a means for conforming to a non-planar surface;

a substantially solid stabilizing means coupled to the conforming means for maintaining the conforming means in a substantially constant position relative to the non-planar surface;

a means for substantially isolating the conforming means and the stabilizing means from a surrounding environment; and

a supporting means coupled for supporting an article in an upright orientation relative to the non-planar surface.

13. The mounting platform of claim 12 wherein the conforming means further comprises an integral plurality of leg means radially projected from a common center.

14. The mounting platform of claim 13 wherein the leg means are formed of a thickness of a substantially malleable material.

15. The mounting platform of claim 13 wherein the stabilizing means are integrally formed with the conforming means.

16. The mounting platform of claim 15 wherein the isolating means further comprises means for gripping the non-planar surface.

17. The mounting platform of claim 12 wherein the isolating means further comprises a sheath of elastomeric material.

18. A method for manufacturing a device for supporting an article in an upright orientation relative to a non-planar surface, the method comprising:

forming a web formed of a thin sheet of malleable material;

fixing a substantially solid weighted portion to the web at a position spaced away from a central portion of the web; and

covering substantially all of the web and weighted portions with a flexible coating.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning attachment means at the central portion of the web.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein forming a web further comprises forming a plurality of flexible legs extending from the central portion of the web.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein fixing the weighted portion to the web further comprises forming the weighted portion integrally with the web.

22. A weighted mounting platform for supporting a hand-held device, the weighted mounting platform comprising:

a plurality of flexible legs extending radially from a common central portion, the legs and common central portion being integrally formed of a heavy and malleable material;

a substantially solid lump of the heavy material integrally formed with each leg at an end thereof distal from the common central portion;

a coating of elastomeric material formed over substantially the entire surface of the flexible legs, the common central portion and the integrally formed lumps; and

an attaching means positioned at the common central portion for attaching a mounting device.

23. The mounting platform of claim 22, further comprising an intermediary mounting device coupled by the attaching means to the common central portion.

24. The mounting platform of claim 23 wherein the mounting device is structured as one of a male and a female portion of a ball-and-socket clamping device.

25. The mounting platform of claim 23 wherein the attaching means is a plurality of fasteners for coupling the intermediary mounting device to the common central portion.

26. The mounting platform of claim 23 wherein the heavy material comprises a metallic material including lead.