Secure universal mounting apparatus

• US 7,551,458 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard; Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Semenenko; Yuriy
• Application Number:
  US11/136,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20060285306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 361/807, 174/520
• US Class Current: 361/807
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings

Abstract

A universal mounting apparatus formed of a device cradle that is configured with a base plate having a device mounting surface with an integral stop structure adjacent to a first end thereof and projected thereabove, and a linear drive channel arranged along a first axis thereof. The universal mounting apparatus including a clamping mechanism having a linear drive shaft structured to slidingly engage the linear drive channel with a movable clamp structure projected above the device mounting surface adjacent to a second end of the base plate, the movable clamp structure has clamping surfaces inclined toward the device mounting surface and the integral stop structure projected thereabove. A spring is coupled for biasing the movable clamp structure toward the integral stop structure along the first axis.

Claims

1. A universal mounting apparatus for a mobile electronics device, the apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid cradle comprising a base plate and a stop structure arranged along a first operational axis of the base plate, the stop structure including one or more relatively stationary clamping surfaces that are projected above a device mounting surface of the base plate and substantially transverse thereof and includes clearance therethrough that is substantially aligned with the first operational axis of the base plate;

a linearly expandable clamping mechanism comprising;

two spaced apart surfaces formed in the base plate of the rigid cradle along the first operational axis thereof,

a movable clamp structure that is arranged for substantially linear elastic motion substantially along the first operational axis of the base plate of the rigid cradle, the movable clamp structure comprising one or more movable clamping surfaces that are projected above and angularly inclined toward the device mounting surface of the base plate, and further comprising a drive portion that is structured to be slidingly engaged between the two spaced apart surfaces,

an elastic biasing member comprising a resiliently compressible biasing member positioned between the two spaced apart surfaces, the elastic biasing member being coupled between the movable clamp structure and the base plate of the rigid cradle for elastically biasing the one or more movable clamping surfaces toward the stationary clamping surfaces in a substantially linear elastic motion substantially along the first operational axis of the base plate,

a locking key engaging the biasing member between the drive portion and at least one of the spaced apart surfaces, the locking key interlocked with at least one of the two spaced apart surfaces, and

one of the locking key and one of the spaced apart surfaces resiliently flexes to permit the locking key to be positioned between the two spaced apart surfaces and further relaxes for interlocking the locking key between the two spaced apart surfaces after the locking key is positioned; and

a plurality of substantially upright posts arranged between the one or more movable and stationary clamping surfaces, one or more of the posts being repositionable laterally of the first operational axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cradle further comprises mechanical connector structure formed thereon for mounting to an external support structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more movable clamping surfaces of the movable clamp structure form angles in the range of about 60 degrees to 90 degrees with the device mounting surface of the base plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more stationary clamping surfaces of the stop structure are further angularly inclined toward the device mounting surface of the base plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the stop structure further comprises a plurality of the one or more stationary clamping surfaces spaced apart across the first axis of base plate and having the clearance formed therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stop structure further comprises a housing structure projected above a device mounting surface of the base plate, the housing structure having the one or more relatively stationary clamping surfaces formed thereon with the clearance formed therethrough.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more relatively stationary clamping surfaces formed on the housing structure are arranged substantially upright relative to the device mounting surface of the base plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a printed wiring board having an electrical input/output interface connector mounted thereon; and

an adjustable height spacer structure arranged for securing the printed wiring board within the housing structure with the electrical input/output interface connector projected along the first axis of the base plate and inward of the one or more relatively stationary clamping surfaces through the clearance, the adjustable height spacer structure being structured for adjusting a position of the printed wiring board within the housing structure relative to the device mounting surface of the base plate.

9. A universal mounting apparatus for a mobile electronics device, the apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid device cradle comprising a base plate having a substantially planar device mounting surface with an integral stop structure adjacent to a first end thereof and projected thereabove, and an integral linear drive channel arranged along a first axis thereof, the linear drive channel further comprising two spaced apart surfaces formed in the base plate of the cradle along the first axis thereof;

a linear clamping mechanism comprising;

a substantially rigid linear drive shaft slidingly engaging the linear drive channel of the rigid cradle with a movable clamp structure projected above the device mounting surface of the base plate adjacent to a second end thereof, the movable clamp structure comprising one or more clamping surfaces angularly inclined toward the device mounting surface of the base plate and toward the integral stop structure projected thereabove, and further comprising a drive portion that is structured to be slidingly engaged between the two spaced apart surfaces,

a spring positioned between the two spaced apart surfaces and being coupled for biasing the movable clamp structure toward the integral stop structure of the base plate along the first axis thereof,

a locking key engaging the spring between the drive portion and at least one of the spaced apart surfaces, the locking key interlocked with at least one of the two spaced apart surfaces, and

one of the locking key and one of the spaced apart surfaces being resiliently flexible for receiving the locking key in a position between the two spaced apart surfaces and interlocking the locking key therewith; and

a plurality of substantially upright posts coupled to the base plate spaced apart on opposite sides of the first axis thereof between the first and second end thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein one or more of the plurality of upright posts is further adjustable relative to the first axis of the base plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one or more of the plurality of upright posts is further repositionable along the first axis of the base plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein one or more of the angularly inclined clamping surfaces form an angle in the range of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees with the device mounting surface of the base plate.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the integral stop structure further comprises one or more clamping surfaces angularly inclined toward the device mounting surface of the base plate and toward the second end of the base plate.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the device cradle further comprises an integral housing structure formed with the integral stop structure adjacent to the first end of the device mounting surface and projected thereabove, the housing structure further comprising a ceiling surface spaced away from the device mounting surface of the base plate;

and

further comprising;

a printed wiring board having an electrical input/output interface connector mounted thereon; and

an adjustable height spacer structure arranged for securing the printed wiring board within the housing structure in an adjustable offset position relative to the ceiling surface thereof with the electrical input/output interface connector substantially aligned along the first axis of the base plate and projected toward the second end of the base plate.

15. A universal mounting apparatus for a mobile electronics device, the apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid base plate having a substantially planar device mounting surface and an integral linear drive channel extended along a first axis of the base plate, the linear drive channel further comprising two spaced apart surfaces formed in the base plate substantially along the first axis thereof;

a substantially rigid housing structure integrally formed adjacent one end of the base plate, one surface of the housing being formed with one or more substantially planar clamping surfaces projected above the device mounting surface and a clearance passage positioned above the device mounting surface and substantially aligned with the first axis of the base plate;

a printed wiring board having an interior interface connector and an exterior interface connector mounted thereon;

an adjustable height spacer structure adjustably fixedly positioning the printed wiring board within the housing with the interior interface connector projected through the clearance passage above the device mounting surface and substantially aligned with the first axis of the base plate, the adjustable height spacer structure further comprising one or more different spacers positioned between the printed wiring board and an inner surface of the housing;

a plurality of substantially upright fence posts arranged along the first axis of the base plate on opposite sides of the device mounting surface; and

a spring-loaded clamping mechanism coupled to the base plate, the clamping mechanism comprising;

a movable clamp structure formed of a substantially rigid drive shaft that is structured to slide linearly between the two spaced apart surfaces of the drive channel relative to the device mounting surface of the base plate, and a clamp structure formed adjacent to a head end of the drive shaft and having an integral jaw structure projected above the drive shaft, and

a spring constrained between the two spaced apart surfaces of the drive channel and being coupled between the drive shaft and the drive channel for urging the clamp structure toward the clamping surfaces of the rigid housing structure,

a locking key engaging the spring between the drive shaft and at least one of the spaced apart surfaces, the locking key interlocked with at least one of the two spaced apart surfaces, and

one of the locking key and one of the spaced apart surfaces flexibly receiving the locking key between the two spaced apart surfaces and further for interlocking the locking key between the two spaced apart surfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fence posts are further adjustable relative to the first axis of the base plate.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the integral jaw structure of the movable clamp structure further comprises a plurality of clamping surfaces projected above the drive shaft and inclined theretoward.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein one or more of the plurality of inclined clamping surfaces form an angle in the range of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees with the drive shaft.