Ball mounted mounting device

• US 20060011795A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David R. Dobbins
• Original Assignee: David R. Dobbins
• Inventors: Dobbins, David R.
• Application Number:
  US11/180,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/276.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0056 using suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0068 using suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/106 for ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2035 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2057 for tilting and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• 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 2200/02 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction

Abstract

An adaptable mounting apparatus for hand-held electronic device(s) includes at least one mounting fixture connected by a positionable support arm; wherein the support arm is capable of clamping or locking either end to a spherical ball-mounting fixture and the support arm is in a non-axial alignment between the mounting fixtures.

Claims

1. An adaptable mounting apparatus for hand-held electronics comprising:

at least one mounting fixture connected by a positionable support arm;

wherein the support arm is capable of clamping or locking either end to a spherical ball-mounting fixture and the support arm is in a non-axial alignment between the mounting fixtures.

2. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ball mounting fixture is in a non-axial alignment at one or both ends to further enhance positionability.

3. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cam-over-center, locking mechanism having mating face capable of engaging a spherical mounting surface.

4. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a spherical shaped clamp at one end that also grips the arm body along a hexagonal surface, with at least one of the clamping members having an internal contour to allow half-positioning on the six sides.

5. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber pad secured within a clearance allowance in the gripping area of each support arm clamp, wherein said rubber pad is a vibration buffer between the mounting fixture ball and the mating support arm clamping surfaces.

6. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suction mount at one or both ends of the support arm.

7. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a friction mount at one or both ends of the support arm.

8. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a multi-conforming mount at one or both ends of the support arm to work in cooperation with a bolt-on flange.

9. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said suction mount further comprises:

a housing including a spherical clamping surface;

a flange sleeve capable of sliding over a cylindrical surface of the housing;

a cam capable of operating against the flange and rotating around the axis of the cylindrical portion of the flange and housing; and

a suction cup which has an integral center shaft and cross mounting hole which nests in a recess in the bottom of the housing and is retained by an assembly pin.

10. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said friction mount further comprises:

a housing including a spherical clamping surface;

an upper mounting flange with a conical surface and having an anchoring boss with a cross hole for an assembly pin, wherein the anchoring boss mates with a recess in the housing and is retained in place by an assembly pin;

a lower mounting flange being provided with a conical surface opposing the upper mounting flange;

a friction ring of elastic material riding between the upper and lower mounting flanges and capable of being expanded as the flanges are drawn together; and

a bolt retained by lower mounting flange and threads into the upper mounting flange to expand the friction ring, wherein the friction mount is capable of mounting in a cup-holder recess commonly found in vehicles, and is fixed by frictional pressure radially exerted against the inside walls of the pocket.

11. The adaptable mounting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the multi-conforming mount further comprises:

a bolt-on ball mounting fixture,

a bendable contour sheet with forming memory and retention holes; and

one or more retention screws for attaching the contour sheet to the ball mounting fixture.

12. A method of adaptably mounting a hand-held electronics device, comprising mounting said hand-held electronics device within the adjustable jaws of the mounting apparatus of claim 1.