Magnetic mounting assembly
First Claim
1. A mounting assembly capable of securely and stably attaching a positionable object to be variably fixed in a desired selected position by frictional and magnetic forces to a support, wherein said mounting assembly comprises:
- (a) a positioning element attached to said positionable object including ball means for universally varying the position of said positionable object; and
(b) a support element in supporting contact with said support including socket means configured to receive said ball means for securely contacting and holding said ball means so that the positionable object is fixed in said desired position;
wherein one of said ball means or said socket means includes a magnetic material and the other of said ball means or said socket means includes a nonmagnetic, magnetically attractive material, said magnetic material and said magnetically attractive material being selected to achieve an optimum balance between the frictional and magnetic forces required to hold said positionable object in said desired selected position;
wherein said socket means includes cup means configured to receive and movably hold said ball means, and said cup means includes a magnetic material, and said ball means comprises a hollow ball formed of a nonmagnetic material containing an optimally selected quantity of a magnetically attractive material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic mounting assembly for securely attaching a positionable object to be variably fixed in a desired selected position to a support, for universally moving the positionable object to the desired selected position, and for holding the positionable object in that position during operation is provided, including a positioning element with a ball that is attached to the positionable object. A support element includes a socket configured to movably engage the ball. One of either the ball or socket includes a magnetic material and the other includes a magnetically attractive material to hold the ball in the socket by magnetic as well as frictional forces. An adjustment collar controls the axial movement of the ball to increase or decrease the magnetic force holding the ball in the socket. This mounting assembly is particularly useful for supporting a camera on a tripod.
82 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A mounting assembly capable of securely and stably attaching a positionable object to be variably fixed in a desired selected position by frictional and magnetic forces to a support, wherein said mounting assembly comprises:
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(a) a positioning element attached to said positionable object including ball means for universally varying the position of said positionable object; and (b) a support element in supporting contact with said support including socket means configured to receive said ball means for securely contacting and holding said ball means so that the positionable object is fixed in said desired position;
wherein one of said ball means or said socket means includes a magnetic material and the other of said ball means or said socket means includes a nonmagnetic, magnetically attractive material, said magnetic material and said magnetically attractive material being selected to achieve an optimum balance between the frictional and magnetic forces required to hold said positionable object in said desired selected position;
wherein said socket means includes cup means configured to receive and movably hold said ball means, and said cup means includes a magnetic material, and said ball means comprises a hollow ball formed of a nonmagnetic material containing an optimally selected quantity of a magnetically attractive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A mounting assembly capable of securely and stably attaching a camera to be variably fixed in a desired position selected from an infinite range of universally available positions by frictional and magnetic forces to a support, wherein said mounting assembly comprises:
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(a) a positioning element comprising ball means attached to said camera and configured for universally moving the camera to a selected desired position, wherein said ball means comprises a hollow ball made of a nonmagnetic material containing within a magnetically attractive material; (b) a support element including at one end thereof socket means configured to receive said ball means and for securely contacting and holding said ball means to variably fix said camera in said selected desired position, said support element further including in the end opposite said socket means attachment means for securing said support element to said support, wherein said socket means is formed of a magnetic material selected to achieve an optimum balance between the frictional and magnetic forces required to hold said camera in said selected desired position; (c) adjustment collar means positioned in exterior contact with said ball means and in engaging contact with said socket means for adjustably moving said ball means axially into and out of contact with said socket means; and (d) camera attachment and positioning means on said positioning element for attaching said ball means to said camera and for controlling the universal movement of said ball means in said socket means to move the camera to said desired selected position and variably fix the camera in said position. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification