Quick release electronics platform

• US 7,823,844 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): King; Anita M
• Application Number:
  US11/809,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 248/176.1, 248/309.1, 248/918, 248/346.07, 248/346.04, 248/316.4, 245/23, 361/807, 108/143, 174/520
• US Class Current: 248/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/02 with sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/06 Arrangements for positively actuating jaws
• 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: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles

Abstract

A device mounting platform apparatus having a reconfigurable biasing mechanism. The device mounting platform apparatus includes a frame member capable of being mounted in a vehicle and having a device mounting surface facing generally upward. A clamp member is slidably interconnected to the frame member along a first direction. A biasing mechanism is coupled between the frame and clamp members. The biasing mechanism is reconfigurable for urging a jaw portion of the clamp member along the first direction heading either toward or away from the frame member. The biasing mechanism is thus reconfigurable for either urging the clamp member open or urging it closed.

Claims

1. A device mounting platform apparatus, comprising:

a frame member formed with a device mounting surface between spaced apart first and second edges, the frame member being structured for being mounted in a vehicle with the device mounting surface having a generally upwardly orientation;

a clamp member slidably interconnected to the frame member for motion relative to the second edge of the frame member along a first direction oriented substantially crosswise of the spaced apart first and second edges thereof; and

a reconfigurable biasing mechanism coupled between the frame and clamp members, the biasing mechanism being reconfigurable between a first configuration for urging a jaw portion of the clamp member away from the second edge of the frame member along a first heading substantially aligned with the first direction, and a second configuration for urging the jaw portion of the clamp member toward the second edge of the frame member along a second heading substantially aligned with the first direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reconfigurable biasing mechanism further comprises a resiliently compressible biasing member coupled between the frame and clamp members, the biasing member being repositionable between different ones of first and second reaction portions fixed relative to a first one of the frame and clamp members in spaced apart positions substantially along the first direction and an actuator portion positioned relative to a second one of the frame and clamp members between the first and second fixed reaction portions, the biasing member being compressible between the actuator portion and the first fixed reaction portion in the first configuration, and compressible between the actuator portion and the second fixed reaction portion in the second configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the actuator portion of the reconfigurable biasing mechanism further comprises a repositionable actuator portion, the actuator portion being repositionable in the first and second configurations between respective different first and second actuator positions spaced apart substantially along the first direction between the first and second fixed reaction portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the repositionable actuator portion of the reconfigurable biasing mechanism is further repositionable between first and second positions relative to the clamp member;

and

the first and second reaction portions are further fixed relative to the frame member.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the repositionable actuator portion of the reconfigurable biasing mechanism is further repositionable between first and second positions relative to the frame member;

and

the first and second reaction portions are further fixed relative to the clamp member.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the clamp member further comprises a sled portion extended from the jaw portion thereof, the sled portion being slidably interconnected to the frame member for motion along the first direction for moving the jaw portion between first and second positions relative to the second edge of the frame member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the frame member further comprises a track formed substantially along the first direction between first and second edges of the mounting surface, the sled portion of the clamp member being structured to slide relative to the track.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sled portion of the clamp member further comprises the first and second fixed reaction portions and an elongated containment channel formed therebetween;

and

the biasing member further being resiliently compressible within the containment channel.

9. A device mounting platform apparatus, comprising:

a frame member formed with a device mounting surface between opposing first and second edges spaced apart along a first direction, the frame member being structured for being mounted in a vehicle with the device mounting surface having a generally upwardly orientation;

a jaw portion structured adjacent to the first edge of the frame member;

a guide mechanism structured substantially along the first direction adjacent to the device mounting surface of the frame member;

a clamp member having an elongated sled portion with a jaw portion extended substantially crosswise thereof adjacent to a first end thereof, the sled portion being slidably interconnected to the guide mechanism of the frame member for motion substantially along the first direction thereof; and

a reconfigurable biasing mechanism coupled between the frame and clamp members for urging the sled portion of the clamp member along the guide mechanism relative to the first direction, the biasing mechanism being reversible between a first configuration for resiliently urging the jaw portion of the clamp member away from the second edge of the frame member, and a second configuration for resiliently urging the jaw portion toward the second edge of the frame member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the sled portion of the clamp member further comprises a first reaction portion adjacent to the first end thereof, and a second reaction portion spaced away from the first reaction portion along the sled portion;

and

the reconfigurable biasing mechanism further comprises;

an actuator movable between first and second positions relative to the guide mechanism, the first and second positions being spaced apart along the first direction between the first and second reaction portions, and

a compression spring member, the compression spring member being resiliently compressible between the movable actuator and the first reaction portion of the clamp member when the movable actuator is in the first position, and compressible between the movable actuator and the second reaction portion of the clamp member when the movable actuator is in the second position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the guide mechanism further comprises a guide channel formed along the first direction of the frame member opposite from the device mounting surface, and the sled portion of the clamp member being structured to slide therein along the first direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sled portion of the clamp member further comprises an elongated containment channel formed between the first and second reaction portions thereof;

and

the compression spring member further being resiliently compressible within the containment channel of the sled portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sled portion of the clamp member is further interlockable with the jaw portion of the clamp member being retracted adjacent to the second edge of the frame member.

14. A device mounting platform apparatus, comprising:

a frame member formed with a device mounting surface between opposing first and second edges spaced apart along a first direction, the frame member further comprising means for being mounted in a vehicle with the device mounting surface having a generally upwardly orientation;

a clamp member movable relative to the frame member;

means for guiding the clamp member relative to the frame member along the first direction thereof; and

a means for biasing the clamp member relative to the frame member, the biasing means being reconfigurable between a first configuration for urging a jaw portion of the clamp member along a first heading substantially aligned with the first direction away from the second edge of the frame member, and a second configuration for urging the jaw portion of the clamp member along a second heading opposite from the first heading and substantially aligned with the first direction toward the second edge of the frame member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the biasing means further comprises a resiliently compressible biasing member;

and

the reconfigurable biasing means further comprises;

first and second reaction means operable between the frame and clamp members, the resiliently compressible biasing member being positioned between first and second reaction means,

means for actuating the biasing member, the actuating means actuating the biasing member relative to the first reaction means in the first configuration, and the actuating means actuating the biasing member relative to the second reaction means in the second configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for repositioning the actuating means between a first position between the first and second reaction means in the first configuration, and a different second position between the first and second reaction means in the second configuration.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first reaction means is positioned adjacent to the second edge of the frame member and the first position of the actuating means is spaced away therefrom in the first configuration, and the second reaction means is positioned spaced away from the second edge of the frame member and the second position of the actuating means is spaced adjacent thereto in the second configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the clamp member further comprises the first and second reaction means relative to the jaw portion thereof, the first reaction means being positioned adjacent thereto, and the second reaction means being positioned spaced away therefrom;

and

the frame member further comprises the first and second positions of the actuating means relative to the second edge thereof, the first position of the actuating means being spaced away therefrom, and the second position of the actuating means being spaced adjacent thereto.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the frame member further comprises the first and second reaction means relative to the second edge thereof, the first reaction means being positioned adjacent thereto, and the second reaction means being positioned spaced away therefrom;

and

the clamp member further comprises the first and second positions of the actuating means relative to the jaw portion thereof, the first position of the actuating means being spaced away therefrom, and the second position of the actuating means being spaced adjacent thereto.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for interlocking the clamp member relative to the frame member with the jaw portion adjacent to the second edge thereof.