Universal cradle apparatus

• US 8,176,603 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/386,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20110057083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 245/22, 245/23, 245/27
• US Class Current: 24/523
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• 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 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44573 including track or way guided and retained gripping member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44581 Biased by distinct spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44615 with position locking-means for gripping members

Abstract

A universal cradle apparatus having a pair of substantially rigid jaw structures each configured with a flange structure having a substantially planar mounting surface adapted for being secured to respective cooperating male and female portions of a clamping mechanism formed of telescoping male linear drive shaft and mating female linear drive channel. One of the two jaw structures is configured with an inclined interior clamping surface that is projected above the respective flange structure and in resiliently flexible relationship therewith. The jaw structures are mounted on the respective drive shaft and drive channel each having its respective interior clamping surface facing toward the clamping surface of the other jaw. A threaded fastener secures the male drive shaft in the mating female drive channel of the clamping mechanism, thereby permitting linear adjustment of the two jaw structures along a linear drive axis of the clamping mechanism.

Claims

1. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:

a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising a male linear drive member that is slideable relative to a mating female linear drive member, and

wherein one of the male linear drive member and the mating female linear drive member is further structured for being secured to an external mounting surface;

first and second mounting surfaces each positioned on a respective one of the male linear drive member and the mating female linear drive member;

a securing mechanism structured for interlocking the first and second mounting surfaces against relative motion therebetween; and

a first substantially rigid jaw structure and a second resiliently flexible jaw structure, each of the first and second jaw structures being coupled to a respective one of the male drive member and the female drive member adjacent to the respective mounting surface thereof, each of the jaw structures having a respective clamping surface projected therefrom and forming mutually opposing interior clamping surfaces arranged adjacent to the mounting surfaces positioned therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the female linear drive member further comprises a device mounting surface and a channel spaced apart therefrom to receive the male linear drive member;

the male drive linear member further comprises a mating tongue that is structured to cooperate with the channel of the female drive member for moving the jaw structures together and apart; and

the securing mechanism further comprises a threaded fastener secured between the male and female drive members.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein at least one of the male and female drive members further comprises an elongated aperture therethrough, and a different one of the male and female drive members further comprises a threaded receiver structured for threadedly receiving the threaded fastener.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the male drive member further comprises a device mounting surface spaced apart from the tongue thereof and positioned to be substantially coplanar with the device mounting surface of the female drive member.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the clamping surface of the second resiliently flexible jaw structure further comprises a gripping portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second jaw structures is further formed integrally with the respective one of the male drive member and the mating female drive member.

7. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:

a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising a male linear drive member that is slideable relative to a mating female linear drive member, and

wherein one of the male linear drive member and the mating female linear drive member is further structured for being secured to an external mounting surface;

first and second mounting surfaces each positioned on a respective one of the male linear drive member and the mating female linear drive member;

a securing mechanism structured for constraining relative motion between the first and second mounting surfaces; and

a first substantially rigid jaw structure and a second resiliently flexible jaw structure, each of the first and second jaw structures being coupled to a respective one of the male drive member and the female drive member adjacent to the respective mounting surface thereof, each of the jaw structures having a respective clamping surface projected therefrom and forming mutually opposing interior clamping surfaces arranged adjacent to the mounting surfaces positioned therebetween, and wherein the second substantially resiliently flexible jaw structure is further inclined toward the mounting surfaces at an angle in the range between about 45 degrees and about 75 degrees.

8. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:

a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising;

(i) a female linear drive frame comprising a channel having an opening thereinto aligned along a common longitudinal drive axis,

(ii) a male linear drive member comprising a device mounting surface and a tongue that is structured to cooperate with the channel of the female linear drive frame for moving the male drive member toward and away from the female drive frame mating therewith along the common longitudinal drive axis, and

(iii) a securing mechanism for interlocking the male linear drive member with the female linear drive frame against relative motion therebetween;

a first device mounting surface formed on an external surface of the female linear drive channel and a first jaw structure being positioned adjacent to a second end thereof opposite from the opening into the channel thereof;

a second jaw structure having a second device mounting surface formed thereon and an interior clamping surface projected above the second device mounting surface and inclined there toward and being resiliently flexible relative to the second device mounting surface, the second jaw structure being positioned on the male drive shaft adjacent to the first end thereof with the second device mounting surface arranged substantially parallel with the first device mounting surface and the inclined interior clamping surface being arranged to cooperate with the first jaw structure; and

a substantially rigid base plate positioned on the clamping mechanism, the base plate being structured for being coupled to an external surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the securing mechanism further comprises further comprises a threaded fastener secured between the male drive member and female linear drive frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the threaded fastener of the securing mechanism is further secured between the tongue of the male drive member and the channel of the female linear drive frame.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of the male drive member and the female linear drive frame further comprises an elongated aperture therethrough, and a different one of the male drive member and the female linear drive frame further comprises a threaded receiver structured for threadedly receiving the threaded fastener.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the interior clamping surface further comprises one or more individual fingers inclined toward the second device mounting surface and forming an angle therewith in the range of about forty-five degrees to about ninety degrees.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein one of the first and second device mounting surfaces further comprises a pair of outstretched arms extended on opposite sides thereof about a common operational axis of the drive channel and drive shaft.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first jaw structure is further substantially rigid.

15. A universal cradle apparatus, comprising:

first and second jaw structures each having a base flange formed with a substantially planar device mounting surface and an interior clamping surface projected above the device mounting surface, the interior clamping surface of one of the first and second jaw structures being resiliently flexible relative to the device mounting surface and further being inclined toward the device mounting surface at an angle between about forty-five degrees and about ninety degrees;

a telescoping clamping mechanism, comprising;

(i) a frame member forming a substantially rigid channel having an opening thereinto formed at a first end thereof;

(ii) a substantially rigid male drive member having an elongated drive shaft extending from a first end thereof, the elongated drive shaft being structured to be slidingly received into the channel through the opening thereinto, and

(iii) a securing mechanism structured to interlock the drive shaft of the male drive member with the channel of the frame member;

the base flange of the first jaw structure coupled to the drive shaft of the male drive member adjacent to the first end thereof; and

the base flange of the second jaw structure coupled to the frame member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the securing mechanism further comprises:

a threaded aperture intersecting with the channel of the frame member;

an elongated slot formed through drive shaft of the male drive member and positioned to align with the threaded aperture intersecting with the channel of the frame member; and

a threaded fastener sized to pass through the elongated slot and threadably securable with the threaded aperture.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the drive shaft of the male drive member is further offset relative to the base flange of the first jaw structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the securing mechanism further comprises:

a plurality of threaded apertures intersecting with the channel of the frame member;

a plurality of elongated slots formed through drive shaft of the male drive member and each positioned to align with a corresponding one of the threaded apertures intersecting with the channel of the frame member; and

a plurality of threaded fasteners each sized to pass through one of the elongated slots and threadably securable with the corresponding threaded aperture.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the base flange of the respective first and second jaw structures each further comprise a central body with a pair of outstretched arms extended on opposite sides thereof forming the device mounting surface arranged along a common operational axis of the channel and drive shaft, a distal portion of each of the outstretched arms having an elastomeric material coupled thereto.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the frame member further comprises a flange structure having a pair of longitudinal slots formed therethrough and arranged substantially along a common operational axis of the channel and drive shaft, and the second jaw structure being positionally adjustable along the slots.