SCOOTER DEVICE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY

• US 20130134196A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: High Gear Specialties Inc.
• Original Assignee: High Gear Specialties Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,613,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/448
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0066 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/225 Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections

Abstract

A device mounting assembly particularly intended for connection to the mirror mount of a motorized scooter so that a portable device such as a cellular telephone may be positioned for ready access by the rider of the scooter includes a severable pin connection at the location where the assembly is coupled to the vehicle and/or to a portable device wherein the pin connections help resist relative movement at such locations under normal operating conditions of the vehicle but may be severed in response to the application of a sufficient force to the assembly to resist disengagement of the portable device from the vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a portable device to the mirror mount of a scooter, the mirror mount including a support rod coupled at one end to the scooter and at the opposite end to a mirror, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle mount including a first clamping element and a second clamping element;

said first clamping element having a first end formed with a first cavity which is effective to engage one portion of the support rod of the mirror mount, said first cavity defining spaced first and second end edges, a second end of said first housing being formed with a slot defining a first clamping section and a mating second clamping section, a first bore partially formed in each of said first and second clamping sections and a cross bore extending between said first and second clamping sections which intersects said first bore;

said second clamping element having a third end formed with a second cavity which is effective to engage another portion of the support rod of the mirror mount, said second cavity defining spaced third and fourth end edges;

at least one fastener connected between said first and second clamping elements so that said first and second cavities encircle the support rod of the mirror mount and said first and second end edges of said first clamping element engage respective third and fourth end edges of said second clamping element;

a first coupler having an extension formed with a circumferentially extending recess, said extension being received within said first bore of said first clamping element and rotatable therein to any position wherein at least a portion of said circumferentially extending recess aligns with said cross bore;

a mounting element insertable within said cross bore of said first clamping section and into a portion of said circumferentially extending recess which aligns with said cross bore, said mounting element being captured within said circumferentially extending recess of said extension between said first and second end portions thereof, said mounting element being effective to urge said first and second clamping sections toward one another;

a second coupler connected to said first coupler;

a device support adapted to support the portable device, said second coupler being connected to said device support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which one of said first and second couplers is formed with a first anti-rotation pin and the other of said first and second couplers is formed with at least one first cavity, said first and second couplers being connected to one another so that said first anti-rotation pin seats within said at least one first cavity to resist relative rotational movement between said first and second couplers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said at least one first cavity comprises a number of blind holes, said first anti-rotation pin being positionable into any one of said blind holes, the orientation of said first and second couplers relative to one another being varied depending upon in which one of said blind holes said first anti-rotation pin is seated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said one of said first coupler and said second coupler having said at least one first cavity is formed of a first material, said first anti-rotation pin being formed of a second material, one of said first and second materials having a hardness greater than the other so that in response to the application of a force to the apparatus one of said first anti-rotation pin and said first or second couplers undergoes shearing causing said first anti-rotation pin to break off or causing said first anti-rotation pin to break through said at least one first cavity thus permitting relative rotation between said first and second couplers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said device support is a device mounting plate, one of said second coupler and said device mounting plate being formed with a second anti-rotation pin and the other of said second coupler and said device mounting plate being formed with at least one second cavity, said second coupler and said device mounting plate being connected to one another so that said second anti-rotation pin seats within said at least one second cavity to resist relative rotation between said second coupler and said device mounting plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said at least one second cavity comprises a number of through bores formed in said device mounting plate, said second anti-rotation pin being formed on said second coupler, said second anti-rotation pin being positionable into any one of said through bores, the position of said second coupler and said device mounting plate relative to one another being varied depending upon in which one of said through bores said second anti-rotation pin is seated.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said one of said second coupler and said device mounting plate having said at least one second cavity being formed of a first material, said second anti-rotation pin being formed of a second material, one of said first and second materials having a hardness greater than the other so that in response to the application of a sufficient force to the apparatus one of said second anti-rotation pin and said second coupler or device mounting plate undergoes shearing causing said second anti-rotation pin to break off or causing said second anti-rotation pin to break through said at least one second cavity thus permitting relative rotation between said second coupler and said device mounting plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said device support is a support for cellular telephones.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said device support is a support for cameras.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said device support is a support for LCD displays.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said device support is a support for radar detectors.

12. Apparatus for mounting a portable device to the mirror mount of a scooter, the mirror mount including a support rod coupled at one end to the scooter and at the opposite end to a mirror, said apparatus comprising:

a vehicle mount including a first clamping element and a second clamping element;

said first clamping element having a first end formed with a first cavity which is effective to engage one portion of the support rod of the mirror mount, said first cavity defining spaced first and second end edges, a second end of said first housing being formed with a slot defining a first clamping section and a mating second clamping section, a first bore partially formed in each of said first and second clamping sections and a cross bore extending between said first and second clamping sections which intersects said first bore;

said second clamping element having a third end formed with a second cavity which is effective to engage another portion of the support rod of the mirror mount, said second cavity defining spaced third and fourth end edges;

at least one fastener connected between said first and second clamping elements so that said first and second cavities encircle the support rod of the mirror mount and said first and second end edges of said first clamping element engage respective third and fourth end edges of said second clamping element;

coupling structure including an extension having a circumferentially extending recess, said extension being received within said first bore of first clamping element and rotatable therein to any position wherein at least a portion of said circumferentially extending recess aligns with said cross bore;

a mounting element insertable within said cross bore of said first clamping section and into a portion of said circumferentially extending recess of said extension which aligns with said cross bore, said mounting element being captured within said circumferentially extending recess of said extension and being effective to urge said first and second clamping sections toward one another to connect said vehicle mount to said coupling structure;

a device support adapted to support the portable device, said coupling structure being connected to said device support.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said coupling structure comprises a first coupler connected to a second coupler, said first coupler being formed with said extension.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said second coupler is connected to said device support.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said second coupler is formed with a slot defining first and second clamping sections, a first bore partially formed in each of said first and second clamping sections and spanning said slot, and a cross bore partially formed in each of said first and second clamping sections which intersects said first bore.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further including a spacer formed with an extension having a circumferentially extending recess, said extension being insertable within said first bore partially formed in each of said first and second clamping sections of said second coupler and rotatable therein to any position wherein at least a portion of said circumferentially extending recess aligns with said cross bore.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further including a mounting element insertable within said cross bore and into a portion of said circumferentially extending recess which aligns with said cross bore, said mounting element being captured within said circumferentially extending recess and being effective to urge said first and second clamping sections of said second coupler toward one another to clamp said extension of said spacer between them.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said spacer is connected to said device support.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 in which said device support is formed with an extension having a circumferentially extending recess, said extension being insertable within said first bore partially formed in each of said first and second clamping sections of said second coupler and rotatable therein to any position wherein at least a portion of said circumferentially extending recess aligns with said cross bore.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including a mounting element insertable within said cross bore and into a portion of said circumferentially extending recess which aligns with said cross bore, said mounting element being captured within said circumferentially extending recess and being effective to urge said first and second clamping sections of said second coupler toward one another to clamp said extension of said device support between them.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said device support is a device mounting plate, one of said coupling structure and said device mounting plate being formed with an anti-rotation pin and the other of said coupling structure and said device mounting plate being formed with at least one cavity, said coupling structure and said device mounting plate being connected to one another so that said anti-rotation pin seats within said at least one cavity to resist relative rotation between said coupling structure and said device mounting plate.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 in which said at least one cavity comprises a number of through bores formed in said device mounting plate, said anti-rotation pin being formed on said coupling structure, said anti-rotation pin being positionable into any one of said through bores, the position of said coupling structure and said device mounting plate relative to one another being varied depending upon in which one of said through bores said anti-rotation pin is seated.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 in which said one of said coupling structure and said device mounting plate having said at least one cavity being formed of a first material, said anti-rotation pin being formed of a second material, one of said first and second materials having a hardness greater than the other so that in response to the application of a force to the apparatus one of said anti-rotation pin and said coupling structure undergoes shearing causing said anti-rotation pin to break off or causing said anti-rotation pin to break through said at least one cavity thus permitting relative rotation between said coupling structure and said device mounting plate.