Configurable mounting bracket
First Claim
1. A mounting bracket, comprising:
- a plurality of permanently bendable tubular support legs each comprising a cavity extended between opposing first and second end portions;
filler means substantially filling the cavity of each permanently bendable tubular support leg for supporting the permanently bendable tubular support leg against collapse;
means for clamping the first end portions of the plurality of support legs in a fixed arrangement; and
means for securing the second end portions of the plurality of support legs relative to an external surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiply configurable tripodal mounting bracket having multiple permanently bendable tubular support legs each having an interior tubular cavity substantially filled with a solidified filler material, means for clamping a first end of each tubular support leg in a fixed tripodal arrangement, and means for securing a second end of each tubular support leg relative to an external surface, such as a vehicle floorboard. Each tubular support leg optionally including an elongated stiffener within the interior tubular cavity and embedded in the solidified filler material. The mounting bracket also includes means for fixing an external device, such as a portable desk or laptop computer, to the clamp portion of the bracket.
54 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A mounting bracket, comprising:
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a plurality of permanently bendable tubular support legs each comprising a cavity extended between opposing first and second end portions;
filler means substantially filling the cavity of each permanently bendable tubular support leg for supporting the permanently bendable tubular support leg against collapse;
means for clamping the first end portions of the plurality of support legs in a fixed arrangement; and
means for securing the second end portions of the plurality of support legs relative to an external surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12)
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- 10. The mounting bracket of claim I wherein the filler means further comprises a solidified liquid filler material.
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13. A vehicle mounting bracket, comprising:
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a plurality of elongated permanently bendable tubular support legs each comprising a first end portion structured for being clamped, an opposite second end portion structured for being secured relative to an external surface, and an interior tubular cavity extending between the first and second end portions;
a solidified filler material substantially filling the interior tubular cavity;
a clamp mechanism structured for clamping the first end portions of the plurality of support legs in a fixed arrangement; and
a shoe mechanism coupled to the second end portions of one of the plurality of support legs, the shoe mechanism being structured for securing the respective second end portion relative to an external surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A vehicle mounting bracket, comprising:
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a plurality of permanently bendable tubular support legs each having first and second lengthwise end portions at opposite ends thereof and a tubular interior cavity therebetween;
a solidified filler material substantially filling the tubular interior cavity of one or more of the plurality of permanently bendable tubular support legs;
a clamp for joining the plurality of tubular support legs in a relatively fixed arrangement, the clamp comprising;
an outer female collar forming therein a cavity having at intervals around an inside wall surface thereof a plurality of relief grooves that are sized for nesting of the first lengthwise end portion of one of the tubular support legs, one of the plurality of relief grooves being formed for each of the plurality of tubular support legs, an inner male wedge having at intervals around an outside wall surface thereof a plurality of relief grooves that are sized for nesting of the lengthwise end portion of one of the tubular support legs, one of the relief grooves being formed in a complementary configuration with a corresponding one of the relief grooves formed on the collar inside wall surface for forming a plurality of pairs of complementary relief grooves with one of the pairs being provided for each of the plurality of tubular support legs, each of the plurality of pairs of complementary relief grooves partly enclosing a lengthwise space that is smaller than the respective plurality of tubular support leg end portion; and
means for urging the male wedge into the outer female collar with each of the tubular support leg lengthwise end portions securely captured the lengthwise space partly enclosed by one of the pairs of complementary relief grooves. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for manufacturing a vehicle mounting bracket, the method comprising:
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of a permanently bendable tubular material, sizing a length of each of a plurality of elongated tubular members each having first and second end portions with a tubular interior cavity therebetween;
shaping one or more of the plurality of elongated tubular members into a configuration useful for operating in concert with others of the plurality of elongated tubular members for supporting a rigid mounting platform at the colocated first ends of the plurality of elongated tubular members;
substantially filling the tubular interior cavity of one or more of the plurality of elongated tubular members with a solidifiable liquid filler material;
substantially colocating the first ends of the plurality of elongated tubular members;
relatively fixing the colocated first ends of the plurality of elongated tubular members; and
supporting a rigid mounting platform at the colocated first ends of the plurality of elongated tubular members. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification