ADAPTOR FOR VEHICLE MOUNTS

• US 20080179478A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael G. Lee
• Original Assignee: Michael G. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/045,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179478A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/276.1
• 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 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps

Abstract

An adaptor for securing portable devices to mounts used in vehicles such as motorcycles comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls and opposed side walls each having a lower portion that projects outwardly from the bottom wall and is formed with a channel extending from one end wall to the other. A support plate of the vehicle mount slides into these channels, and a spring-biased pin carried by the bottom wall of the adaptor secures the adaptor in place onto the vehicle mount by extending into a locking bore formed in the support plate of such mount.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting portable devices to a vehicle mount having a support plate, comprising:

a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to one another;

said top wall and said bottom wall being formed with an array of aligning mounting holes, said top wall being adapted to mount a device having mounting structure received with said mounting holes;

each of said side walls having a lower portion that projects outwardly from said bottom wall, said lower portions each being formed with a channel extending between said end walls, said channels being adapted to receive the support plate of the vehicle mount; and

a pin axially movable within a bore formed in said bottom wall between an extended position and a retracted position, said pin engaging a spring which urges said pin to said extended position, said pin being adapted to move to said retracted position upon contact with the support plate of the vehicle mount and then move to said extended position within a locking bore formed in the support plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a stop mounted to one of said end walls in position to contact the sup port plate of the vehicle mount.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said array of mounting holes are sized and spatially oriented along said top and bottom walls so as to be adapted to receive mounting structure of a variety of different portable devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said array of mounting holes are sized and spatially oriented along said top and bottom walls so as to be adapted to receive mounting structure of a variety of different portable devices.

4. Apparatus for supporting portable devices on a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle mount including a support plate formed with a locking bore;

an adaptor releasably coupled to said vehicle mount, said adaptor including;

(i) a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls interconnected to one another;

(ii) said top wall and said bottom wall being formed with an array of aligning mounting holes, said top wall being adapted to mount a device having mounting structure received with said mounting holes;

(iii) each of said side walls having a lower portion that projects outwardly from said bottom wall, said lower portions each being formed with a channel extending between said end walls, said support plate of said vehicle mount being slidable within said channels;

(iv) a pin axially movable within a bore formed in said bottom wall between an extended position and a retracted position, said pin engaging a spring which exerts a spring force against said pin urging it to said extended position, said pin contacting said support plate and moving to said retracted position against said spring force in the course of sliding said support plate along said channels, said pin moving to an extended position into said locking bore upon alignment of said pin with said locking bore to releasably secure said adaptor to said vehicle mount.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a stop mounted to one of said end walls of said adaptor in position to contact said support plate of said vehicle mount.