Adjustable Mounting Assemblies with Locking Systems

• US 20110133050A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Firstgroup America Incorporated (Firstgroup PLC)
• Original Assignee: Firstgroup America Incorporated (Firstgroup PLC)
• Inventors: Kennedy, Ryan, Lessard, Joseph J., Eisenberger, Dean N. SR.
• Application Number:
  US12/962,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/551
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/106 for handles pivoted about an axis perpendicular to the wing E05B13/101, E05B13/103, E05B13/105 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/042 the handle being at one side, the bolt at the other side or inside the wing
• 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 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A locking system for use in adjusting a mounting assembly includes a lock plate and a lock shaft mount. A lock shaft component is rotatably received within an opening of the lock of the lock plate and rotatably supported by the lock shaft mount. With the locking system in a locked configuration, the lock shaft component engages the lock plate which locks the positions of the lock plate relative to the position of the lock shaft mount. With the locking system in an unlocked configuration, the lock shaft component disengages the lock plate such that the lock plate moves along a length of the lock shaft component toward and away from the lock shaft mount.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for mounting equipment thereon, the mounting assembly comprising:

an adjustable mounting tray having an upper support surface for supporting equipment thereon, the adjustable mounting tray comprising a first tray component and a second tray component where at least one of the first and second tray components is moveable relative to the other of the first and second tray components to adjust a dimension of the adjustable mounting tray; and

a locking system comprising;

a lock plate mounted to the first tray component;

a lock shaft component rotatably received within an opening of the lock plate;

wherein, with the locking system in a locked configuration, the lock shaft component engages the lock plate which locks the positions of the first and second tray component relative to each other;

wherein, with the locking system in an unlocked configuration, the lock shaft component disengages the lock plate such that the lock plate moves along a length of the lock shaft component to move at least one of the first and second tray components relative to the other of the first and second tray components.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a lock shaft mount mounted to the second tray component, the lock shaft mount rotatably supporting the lock shaft component.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hook-like mounting finger extending upwardly from the mounting tray, the mounting finger including an overhanging portion that overhangs the upper support surface.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock shaft component comprises a threaded rod that includes a non-threaded surface that extends along a length of the threaded rod.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 4, wherein the lock plate includes the opening, which is a first opening that receives the lock shaft component, the lock plate further including a threaded locking rod that is received within a second opening that intersects the first opening such that threads of the threaded locking rod engage the threads of the lock shaft component with the locking system in the locked configuration.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the second opening intersects the first opening such that the threads of the threaded locking rod do not engage threads of the lock shaft component with the locking system in the unlocked configuration, the non-threaded surface of the lock shaft component facing the threads of the threaded locking rod.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cam lock component connected to the lock shaft component, the cam lock component including graspable structure that is accessible to an operator for rotating the lock shaft component to place the locking system in the locked and unlocked configurations.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a computer mounted upon the upper support surface.

9. A locking system for use in adjusting a mounting assembly, the locking system comprising:

a lock plate;

a lock shaft mount;

a lock shaft component rotatably received within an opening of the lock plate and rotatably supported by the lock shaft mount;

wherein, with the locking system in a locked configuration, the lock shaft component engages the lock plate which locks the positions of the of the lock plate relative to the position of the lock shaft mount;

wherein, with the locking system in an unlocked configuration, the lock shaft component disengages the lock plate such that the lock plate moves along a length of the lock shaft component toward and away from the lock shaft mount.

10. The locking system of claim 9, wherein the lock shaft component comprises a threaded rod that includes a non-threaded surface that extends along a length of the threaded rod.

11. The locking system of claim 10, wherein the lock plate includes the opening, which is a first opening that receives the lock shaft component, the lock plate further including a threaded locking rod that is received within a second opening that intersects the first opening such that threads of the threaded locking rod engage the threads of the lock shaft component with the locking system in the locked configuration.

12. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the second opening intersects the first opening such that the threads of the threaded locking rod do not engage threads of the lock shaft component with the locking system in the unlocked configuration.

13. The locking system of claim 9 further comprising a cam lock component connected to the lock shaft component, the cam lock component including graspable structure that is accessible to an operator for rotating the lock shaft component to place the locking system in the locked and unlocked configurations.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising a cam lock component connected to the lock shaft component, the cam lock component including graspable structure that is accessible to an operator for rotating the lock shaft component to place the locking system in the locked and unlocked configurations.

14. A method of mounting equipment to a support structure, the method comprising:

adjusting a dimension of an adjustable mounting tray having an upper support surface for supporting equipment thereon, the adjustable mounting tray comprising a first tray component and a second tray component where at least one of the first and second tray components is moveable relative to the other of the first and second tray components to adjust the dimension of the adjustable mounting tray;

locking the positions of the first and second tray components relative to each other at any one of a plurality of incremental positions using a locking system that comprises;

a lock plate mounted to the first tray component;

a lock shaft component rotatably received within an opening of the lock plate;

wherein, with the locking system in a locked configuration, the lock shaft component engaging the lock plate which locks the positions of the first and second tray component relative to each other;

wherein, with the locking system in an unlocked configuration, the lock shaft component disengaging the lock plate such that the lock plate moves along a length of the lock shaft component to move at least one of the first and second tray components relative to the other of the first and second tray components.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising engaging the equipment with a hook-like mounting finger extending upwardly from the mounting tray, the mounting finger including an overhanging portion that overhangs the upper support surface.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the lock shaft component comprises a threaded rod that includes a non-threaded surface that extends along a length of the threaded rod.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lock plate includes the opening, which is a first opening that receives the lock shaft component, the lock plate further including a threaded locking rod that is received within a second opening that intersects the first opening such that threads of the threaded locking rod engage the threads of the lock shaft component with the locking system in the locked configuration.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second opening intersects the first opening such that the threads of the threaded locking rod do not engage threads of the lock shaft component with the locking system in the unlocked configuration.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising rotating the lock shaft component such that the non-threaded surface faces the threads of the threaded locking rod.