Mounting device, system and method

• US 8,109,680 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Olien
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Olien
• Inventors: Olien, Michael A
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/711,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20100215355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 396427-428
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

The present application is directed to a device for securing an object to a mountable surface. The device is configured to face the object secured thereto in any direction up to 360 degrees about the mountable surface. The device comprises a mating surface securable to the mountable surface via a tamper proof locking means and a support attached to the mating surface that is operationally configured to secure the object thereto.

Claims

1. A device for securing an object to a T-post, the device being configured to face the object secured thereto in any direction up to 360 degrees about the T-post, comprising:

a mating surface including one or more “

H”

shaped apertures and one or more tamper proof locking means corresponding to the one or more apertures, each aperture being operationally configured to receive the T-post there through, each tamper proof locking means being operationally configured to secure the device to the T-post; and

a support attached to the mating surface, the support being operationally configured to secure the object thereto;

wherein the mating surface includes a planar member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the tamper proof locking means includes a female type mating surface securable to the T-post via a biasing fastener.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the tamper proof locking means includes a lock guard extending from the female type mating surface and configured to receive the biasing fastener therein, the longitudinal axis of the lock guard being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the female type mating surface.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein at least part of the inner dimensions of the one or more “

H”

shaped apertures are substantially similar to the outer dimensions of the T-post.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the biasing fastener is a tamper proof screw.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the object is a trail camera.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the trail camera is supported by a receptacle type receiver support.

8. A system for securing an object to a T-post, comprising:

a mounting device including (1) a mating surface including a planar member having one or more apertures there through, each aperture being operationally configured to receive the T-post there through, and (2) a support attached to the planar member, the support being operationally configured to secure the object thereto; and

a means for tethering the object to the mounting device;

wherein the one or more apertures include an “

H”

shape.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the mounting device comprises a tamper proof locking means including a female type mating surface for receiving the T-post there through.

10. A method for securing a trail camera to a pre-existing fence T-post comprising:

providing a device having (1) a mating surface including a planar member including one or more apertures and one or more tamper proof locking means corresponding to the one or more apertures, each aperture being operationally configured to receive the T-post there through, each tamper proof locking means having a female type mating surface for receiving the T-post, the tamper proof locking means being operationally configured to secure the device to the T-post;

(2) a support attached to the mating surface, the support being operationally configured to secure the trail camera thereto, wherein the one or more apertures include an “

H”

shape, and (3) and a means for tethering the trail camera to said device;

identifying a desirable fence T-post;

slipping the device over the top of the T-post;

applying a biasing means to secure the female type mating surface of the device to said T-post; and

locking the trail camera to the device via said tethering means.