Adaptive mounting structure

• US 7,988,106 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US11/710,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 248/346.01, 248/346.02, 248/146, 248/160, 248/687, 248/910
• US Class Current: 248/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/006 by gluing gluing of plastics material B29C65/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/91 Weighted base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A novel adaptive mounting device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container containing a substantially plastically formable composition; a frame at least partially embedded in the plastically formable composition; and a presentation structure substantially supported on the frame external of the container. A method for manufacturing the novel adaptive mounting device is also provided.

Claims

1. An adaptive mounting device, comprising:

a substantially plastically formable composition;

a substantially flexible container substantially completely enclosing the substantially plastically formable composition therein;

a support structure at least partially embedded in the plastically formable composition; and

a presentation structure substantially supported on the support structure in a position substantially external of the container.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a traction mechanism positioned substantially opposite from the support structure.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the plastically formable composition further comprises a cohesively strong but pliable and ductile compound.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the compound further comprises a putty.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the plastically formable composition further comprises a hardening agent.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a container seal between the support structure and the presentation structure, the container seal substantially sealing the composition within the container.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the container further comprises a first layer of a first substantially flexible material, and a second layer of a second substantially flexible material.

8. An adaptive mounting device, comprising:

a substantially malleable base structure comprising a substantially flexible envelope at least partially filled with a substantially plastically formable composition, the envelope substantially completely surrounding the composition and substantially sealing the composition therein; and

a mounting structure comprising a frame at least partially embedded in the plastically formable composition and supporting a presentation structure positioned at least partially external of the envelope.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the plastically formable composition further comprises a cohesively strong, pliable and ductile putty compound.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the plastically formable composition further comprises a hardenable component.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the envelope further comprises a sealable portal thereinto.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the envelope further comprises first and second chambers separated by a breakable membrane.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the first chamber is at least partially filled with the hardenable component, and the second chamber is at least partially filled with a hardening agent.

14. The device of claim 8 wherein the envelope further comprises a first layer of a first substantially flexible material, and a second layer of a second substantially flexible material.

15. The device of claim 8 wherein the envelope further comprises a traction mechanism positioned substantially opposite of the mounting structure.

16. The device of claim 8 wherein the envelope further comprises a seal formed between the frame and presentation structure of the mounting structure.

17. An adaptive mounting device, comprising:

a substantially malleable base structure having a plastically formable composition substantially sealed within an envelope formed of a substantially flexible material;

a mounting structure, comprising;

a substantially rigid frame having a connector structure within the envelope and at least partially embedded in the plastically formable composition, and a presentation structure extended from the frame at least partially external of the envelope; and

a seal formed between the envelope and the mounting structure.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the connector structure further comprises a plurality of grippers projected from the frame opposite from the presentation structure.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the connector structure further comprises a plurality of plurality of holes formed in a substantially rigid plate portion of the frame.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the envelope further comprises a first layer of a first substantially flexible oil-resistant material, and a second layer of a second substantially flexible water-resistant material.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the plastically formable composition further comprises a cohesively strong, pliable and ductile putty compound formed of linseed oil and ground chalk.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein the plastically formable composition further comprises a hardenable resin;

and

further comprising a means for introducing a hardening agent into the hardenable resin.

23. A method for manufacturing an adaptive mounting device, the method comprising:

providing a substantially plastically formable composition substantially completely within a substantially flexible container;

at least partially embedding a portion of a support structure in the plastically formable composition; and

substantially supporting a presentation structure on the support structure external of the composition and the container.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising substantially sealing the composition in the container.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein forming the container further comprises forming a layer of elastomeric material over the composition.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein forming the container further comprises forming a second layer of elastomeric material over a first layer of elastomeric material.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein providing a substantially plastically formable composition further comprises providing a putty compound formed of oil and ground chalk.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing means for introducing a hardening agent to the composition.