PIVOT MOUNT ASSEMBLY

• US 20110101058A1
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tom Heckman
• Original Assignee: Tom Heckman
• Inventors: HECKMAN, TOM
• Application Number:
  US12/961,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20110101058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/401
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00

Abstract

A tablet mount assembly for mounting an electronic device (e.g., an Apple® iPad®) in the cockpit of an aircraft, and more specifically on the steering control of the aircraft. The tablet mount includes a receiving piece and a pivot mount assembly that includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is rotatable with respect to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a slot for connecting to the receiving piece, and the lower portion includes a securing mechanism and a positioning flange. The upper portion of the assembly is rotatable with respect to the lower portion, thereby allowing the electronic device to be mounted to be rotated from a portrait to a landscape orientation without removing the same from the mount. An indexing position system may be integrated between the lower and upper portions of the mount assembly and provides predetermined rotation increments for the device.

Claims

1. An aircraft tablet mount assembly for mounting a tablet computer to the steering control of an aircraft, comprising:

a receiving piece configured to receive an electronic device and having one or more tension elements configured to secure the electronic device; and

a pivot mount assembly configured to mount the tablet mount assembly to the steering control of the aircraft, comprising;

an upper portion having a top surface including a receiving slot configured to receive and secure the receiving piece;

a lower portion connected to the upper portion such that the upper portion is rotatable with respect to the lower portion, the lower portion having positioning flange on an underside thereof and a securing mechanism disposed along a lower edge of the lower portion; and

a mounting receiver mounted on the steering control of the aircraft and configured to receive said positioning flange and said securing mechanism of said lower portion.

2. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving piece further comprises:

a support piece having one or more tabs configured to overhang a receiving plane of the support piece; and

a locking piece having one or more tabs configured to overhang a receiving plane of the support piece.

3. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 2, wherein the tension element comprises one or more springs connecting said support piece and said locking piece configured to provide a force that draws the support piece and the locking piece together.

4. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 2, wherein the tabs are lined to prevent damage to the electronic device.

5. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 4, wherein the tab lining comprises one of a padded lining and a Teflon®

lining.

6. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 2, wherein said support piece and said locking piece have one or more finger openings.

7. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving piece is removably attached to the pivot mount assembly.

8. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the finger openings of the support piece and the locking piece are disposed in rotationally symmetric positions.

9. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving piece is configured to receive an Apple®

iPad®

.

10. The aircraft tablet mount assembly of claim 1, wherein said receiving slot is tapered such that the receiving piece to be mounted therein slidably engages said receiving slot from one side thereof only.