Optical device mounting apparatus and related methods thereof

• US 9,249,923 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knight Vision, LLLP
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Mccreight Jr
• Inventors: DiCarlo, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): MARSH, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/896,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 248/316.1, 248/316.2, 248/231.31, 248/230.2, 248/228.2, 248/229.21, 248/222.13, 248/187.1, 248/177.1, 248/176.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/007 the device being tilted in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An optical device mounting apparatus and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus includes a base plate with a first fastener positioned through a hole in the base plate, wherein the first fastener is removably engageable with the optical device. A first wall is connected to the base plate and extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base plate. A second wall is connected to the base plate and extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base plate, wherein the second wall is different from the first wall. A stabilizing fastener is movably engaged within a hole formed within the second wall, wherein a space between the stabilizing fastener and the first wall removably receives a mounting structure of the optical device, wherein the mounting structure of the optical device is contactable by the stabilizing fastener and the first wall when it is received within the space.

Claims

1. An optical device mounting apparatus comprising:

a base plate;

a first fastener positioned through a hole in the base plate, wherein the first fastener is removably engaged with an optical device;

a first wall connected to the base plate and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base plate;

a second wall connected to the base plate and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base plate, wherein the second wall is different from the first wall; and

a stabilizing fastener movably engaged within a hole formed within the second wall, wherein a mounting structure of the optical device is removably positioned in a space between the stabilizing fastener and the first wall, wherein the mounting structure of the optical device is contacted by the stabilizing fastener and the first wall when it is positioned within the space.

2. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting shoe affixed to the base plate.

3. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure of the optical device received within the space is biased by the stabilizing fastener against the first wall, wherein the mounting structure is positioned in contact with the first wall.

4. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical device is restrained stationary relative to the base plate.

5. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hole in the base plate further comprises a counterbore within the base plate, wherein a head of the first fastener is positioned below an upper surface of the base plate.

6. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of a head of the first fastener is positioned flush with an upper surface of the base plate.

7. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wall is positioned at a first edge of the base plate and the second wall is positioned at a second edge of the base plate, wherein the first edge opposes the second edge.

8. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing fastener further comprises a threaded body and a contact surface, wherein the threaded body is movably engaged with the hole formed in the second wall, and wherein the contact surface is positioned between the first and second walls.

9. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a fastener head connected to the threaded body, wherein the second wall is positioned between the fastener head and the contact surface.

10. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a set screw positioned at least partially through at least one of the base plate and the second wall, wherein the set screw contacts a portion of the stabilizing fastener within the hole formed in the second wall.

11. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an interface material positioned between the set screw and the portion of the stabilizing fastener within the hole formed in the second wall.

12. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the interface material further comprises a spherical-shaped quantity of polytetrafluoroethylene.

13. An optical device mount comprising:

a base plate;

a first threaded fastener positioned through a counterbored hole in a middle portion of the base plate, wherein a head of the first threaded fastener is positioned below a surface of the base plate;

at least a first wall and a second wall connected to the base plate and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base plate, wherein the first wall is in an opposing position to the second wall; and

a threaded stabilizing fastener movably positioned at least partially within a hole formed within the second wall, the threaded stabilizing fastener having a device contact surface positioned between the first and second walls, wherein an optical device is stationarily positioned between the first and second walls with the first threaded fastener threadedly engaged with the optical device and the threaded stabilizing fastener biasing the optical device against the first wall.

14. The optical device mounting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first threaded fastener is positioned between the threaded stabilizing fastener and the first wall.

15. A method of mounting an optical device to an optical device mounting structure, the method comprising:

engaging a first fastener with a receiving hole positioned in a first surface of a mounting structure of the optical device, wherein the first fastener is positioned through a base plate hole within a base plate of the optical device mounting structure;

contacting a second surface of the mounting structure of the optical device with a first wall of the base plate, wherein the second surface of the mounting structure is substantially perpendicular to the first surface; and

contacting a third surface of the mounting structure or the optical device with a stabilizing fastener connected to the base plate, thereby biasing the mounting structure between the first wall of the base plate and the stabilizing fastener, wherein the third surface is substantially perpendicular to the first surface and substantially parallel to the second surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein engaging the first fastener with the receiving hole of the mounting structure and the biasing the mounting structure between the first wall of the base plate and the stabilizing fastener retains the mounting structure of the optical device stationary relative to the base plate.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of regulating movement of the stabilizing fastener with a set screw and an interface material, wherein the set screw biases the interface material against the stabilizing fastener.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of connecting the optical device mounting structure to at least one of a helmet mount, a weapon mount, and a pole mount with a mounting shoe, wherein the mounting shoe is affixed to the base plate of the optical device mounting structure.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing at least 0.015 inches of clearance between a head of the first fastener and the at least one helmet mount, weapon mount, and pole mount by positioned the head of the first fastener within a counterbore within the base plate.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the stabilizing fastener further comprises a threaded body movably engaged with threaded hole in a second wall of the base plate, wherein the second wall is positioned substantially perpendicular to the base plate, and wherein the step of contacting the third surface of the mounting structure of the optical device with the stabilizing fastener further comprises rotating the threaded body within the threaded hole, thereby moving the threaded body into a contacting position with the third surface of the mounting structure.