Releasable mount apparatus and system

• US 9,611,881 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Khodapanah, Tofigh, Chow, William Wai-Chung, Guerdrum, Jonathan H., Koh, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krycinski, Stanton L
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIBOGU, CHIEDU A
• Application Number:
  US14/213,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/05 Holder or carrier for specific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0516 Portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/06 Releasable fastening devices with snap-action quickly-detachable or mountable nuts to threaded bolts F16B37/0842
• 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 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• 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: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45089 Sliding or rotating element

Abstract

A mounting system can be used to releasably attach a first item to a second item. In one example, the first item can be a protective encasement for a mobile electronic device, and the second item can be a bicycle mount, suction cup mount, vehicle surface, office surface, or home surface. The mount assembly can include a first housing portion connected to a second housing portion, and can include a cam and torsion spring disposed within a housing volume defined by the first and second housing portions. A recess in the mount assembly can receive and retain a mounting cleat associated with the first item. One or more clasp mechanisms of the mount assembly can be configured to clasp the mounting cleat when it is inserted into the recess and to release the mounting cleat when the first housing portion is rotated relative to the second housing portion.

Claims

1. A mount assembly for releasably receiving a mounting cleat, the mount assembly comprising:

a top housing rotatably connected to a bottom housing, the top and bottom housings together defining a housing volume;

a recess disposed in a top surface of the top housing, the recess having at least one corner and being configured to receive the mounting cleat, the mounting cleat also having at least one corner for engaging the corner of the recess;

a center torsion spring disposed within the housing volume, the center torsion spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the center torsion spring being connected to the bottom housing, and the second end of the center torsion spring being connected to the top housing, wherein the top housing is rotatable between an unrotated position and a rotated position relative to the bottom housing, wherein, when the top housing is in the rotated position, the center torsion spring exerts a force upon the top housing, the force urging the top housing to return to the unrotated position relative to the bottom housing; and

a first clasp mechanism and a second clasp mechanism both at least partially disposed within the housing volume, wherein the first clasp mechanism opposes the second clasp mechanism, wherein the first and second clasp mechanisms each extend toward a center of the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position to retain the mounting cleat in the recess, wherein the first and second clasp mechanisms each retract away from the center of the recess to release the mounting cleat from the recess when the top housing is rotated relative to the bottom housing;

wherein the first and second clasp mechanism are configured to be forced away from the center of the recess by the mounting cleat to releasably receive the mounting cleat in the recess and wherein the first and second clasp mechanisms are further configured to release the retained mounting cleat when the retained mounting cleat is rotated relative to the mount assembly.

2. The mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first clasp spring disposed within the housing volume between the first clasp mechanism and one of an interior surface of the top housing and an interior surface of the bottom housing, the first clasp spring applying a force against the first clasp mechanism to maintain the first clasp mechanism extended into the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position.

3. The mount assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second clasp spring disposed within the housing volume between the second clasp mechanism and one of an interior surface of the top housing and an interior surface of the bottom housing, the second clasp spring applying a force against the second clasp mechanism to maintain the second clasp mechanism extended into the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position.

4. The mount assembly of claim 3, further comprising a cam disposed within the housing volume, the cam comprising:

a first cam arm extending outward from a centerline axis of the cam; and

a second cam arm extending outward from the centerline axis of the cam,

wherein as the top housing is transitioned between the unrotated position and the rotated position, the first cam arm applies an opposing force to the first clasp mechanism that overcomes the force applied by the first clasp spring, thereby causing the first clasp mechanism to retract from the recess, wherein as the top housing transitions between the unrotated position and the rotated position, the second cam arm applies an opposing force to the second clasp mechanism that overcomes the force applied by the second clasp spring, thereby causing the second clasp mechanism to retract from the recess.

5. The mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first pivot pin, the first clasp mechanism being installed on the first pivot pin, the first pivot pin enabling the first clasp mechanism to pivot between an extended position and a refracted position with respect to the recess, wherein the first clasp mechanism is in the extended position toward the center of the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the first clasp mechanism is in the retracted position away from the center of the recess when the top housing is in the rotated position.

6. The mount assembly of claim 5, further comprising a second pivot pin, the second clasp mechanism installed on the second pivot pin, the second pivot pin enabling the second clasp mechanism to pivot between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the recess, wherein the second clasp mechanism is in the extended position toward the center of the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the second clasp mechanism is in the retracted position away from the center of the recess when the top housing is in the rotated position.

7. The mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alignment element disposed within the recess, the alignment element selected from the group consisting of a magnet and a ferromagnetic material.

8. The mount assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one outer attachment cleat extending from an outer surface of the bottom housing, the at least one outer attachment cleat configured to engage holes in an item to permit the mount assembly to be attached to the item.

9. The mount assembly of claim 6, further comprising a lock switch, the lock switch, the lock switch having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, while in the locked position, the lock switch prevents the top housing from rotating relative to the bottom housing such that the first and second clasp mechanisms remain in their extended positions toward the center of the recess to retain the mounting cleat when the top housing in the unrotated position.

10. The mount assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second clasp springs are each selected from the group consisting of an elastic deformable cylinder, a torsion spring, and a compression spring.

11. A mounting system for attaching a first item to a second item, the mounting system comprising:

a mounting cleat comprising a first undercut in a first side surface and a second undercut in a second side surface, wherein the first side surface is opposite the second side surface;

the mounting cleat having a polygonal circumference; and

a mount assembly configured to releasably retain the mounting cleat, the mount assembly comprising;

a top housing rotatably connected to a bottom housing, the top and bottom housings together defining a housing volume;

a recess disposed in a top surface of the top housing, the recess having a polygonal circumference corresponding with the polygonal circumference of the mounting cleat and configured to receive the mounting cleat;

a center torsion spring disposed within the housing volume, the center torsion spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the center torsion spring being connected to the bottom housing, and the second end of the center torsion spring being connected to the top housing, wherein the top housing is rotatable between an unrotated position and a rotated position relative to the bottom housing, wherein, when the top housing is in the rotated position, the center torsion spring exerts a force upon the top housing, the force urging the top housing to return to the unrotated position relative to the bottom housing;

a first clasp mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing volume, wherein the first clasp mechanism extends toward a center of the recess and engages the first undercut of the mounting cleat when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the first clasp mechanism retracts away from the center of the recess to disengage the first undercut of the mounting cleat when the mounting cleat is rotated relative to the bottom housing while the mounting cleat is inserted into the recess; and

a second clasp mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing volume, wherein the second clasp mechanism extends toward the center of the recess and engages the second undercut of the mounting cleat when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the second clasp mechanism retracts away from the center of the recess to disengage the second undercut of the mounting cleat when the mounting cleat is rotated relative to the bottom housing while the mounting cleat is inserted into the recess;

where in the first and second clasp mechanisms are forced away from the center of the recess by the mounting cleat when the mounting cleat is inserted into the recess.

12. The mounting system of claim 11, further comprising a first clasp spring disposed within the housing volume between the first clasp mechanism and one of an interior surface of the top housing and an interior surface of the bottom housing, the first clasp spring applying a force against the first clasp mechanism to maintain the first clasp mechanism extended toward the center of the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position.

13. The mounting system of claim 12, further comprising a second clasp spring disposed within the housing volume between the second clasp mechanism and one of an interior surface of the top housing and an interior surface of the bottom housing, the second clasp spring applying a force against the second clasp mechanism to maintain the second clasp mechanism extended toward the center of the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position.

14. The mounting system of claim 13, further comprising a cam disposed within the housing volume, the cam comprising:

a first cam arm extending outward from a centerline axis of the cam; and

a second cam arm extending outward from the centerline axis of the cam,

wherein as the top housing transitions between the unrotated position and the rotated position, the first cam arm applies an opposing force to the first clasp mechanism that overcomes the force applied by the first clasp spring, thereby causing the first clasp mechanism to retract away from the center of the recess, wherein as the top housing transitions between the unrotated position and the rotated position, the second cam arm applies an opposing force to the second clasp mechanism that overcomes the force applied by the second clasp spring, thereby causing the second clasp mechanism to retract away from the center of the recess.

15. The mounting system of claim 11, further comprising a first pivot pin, the first clasp mechanism being installed on the first pivot pin, the first pivot pin enabling the first clasp mechanism to pivot between an extended position and a refracted position with respect to the recess, wherein the first clasp mechanism is in the extended position toward the center of the recess when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the first clasp mechanism is in the retracted position away from the center of the recess when the top housing is in the rotated position.

16. The mounting system of claim 15, further comprising a second pivot pin, the second clasp mechanism installed on the second pivot pin, the second pivot pin enabling the second clasp mechanism to pivot between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the recess, wherein the second clasp mechanism is in the extended position toward the center of the recess when top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the second clasp mechanism is in the retracted position away from the center of the recess when the top housing is in the rotated position.

17. The mounting system of claim 11, further comprising an alignment element disposed within the recess, the alignment element selected from the group consisting of a magnet and a ferromagnetic material.

18. The mounting system of claim 16, further comprising a lock switch, the lock switch having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, while in the locked position, the lock switch prevents the top housing from rotating relative to the bottom housing keeping the first and second clasp mechanism in their extended positions toward the center of the recess to retain the mounting cleat.

19. The mounting system of claim 13, wherein the first and second clasp springs are each selected from the group consisting of an elastic deformable cylinder, a torsion spring, and a compression spring.

20. A mounting system for attaching an encasement for a mobile electronic device to a surface, the mounting system comprising:

an encasement for a mobile electronic device, the encasement comprising a mounting cleat extending from an outer surface of the encasement, the mounting cleat having a non-round circumference and comprising a first undercut in a first side surface and a second undercut in a second side surface, wherein the first side surface is opposite the second side surface; and

a mount assembly configured to releasably attach to the mounting cleat, the mount assembly comprising;

a top housing rotatably connected to a bottom housing, the top and bottom housings together defining a housing volume;

a recess disposed in a top surface of the top housing, the recess having a non-round circumference the corresponds to the circumference of the mounting cleat, the recess configured to receive the mounting cleat;

a center torsion spring disposed within the housing volume, the center torsion spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the center torsion spring being connected to the bottom housing, and the second end of the center torsion spring being connected to the top housing, wherein the top housing is rotatable between an unrotated position and a rotated position relative to the bottom housing, wherein, when the top housing is in the rotated position, the center torsion spring exerts a force upon the top housing, the force urging the top housing to return to the unrotated position relative to the bottom housing;

a first clasp mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing volume, wherein the first clasp mechanism extends toward a center of the recess and engages the first undercut of the mounting cleat when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the first clasp mechanism retracts away from the center recess to disengage the first undercut of the mounting cleat when the mounting cleat is rotated relative to the bottom housing while the mounting cleat is inserted in the recess; and

a second clasp mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing volume, wherein the second clasp mechanism extends toward the center of the recess and engages the second undercut of the mounting cleat when the top housing is in the unrotated position, and wherein the second clasp mechanism retracts away from the center of the recess to disengage the second undercut of the mounting cleat when the mounting cleat is rotated relative to the bottom housing while the mounting cleat is inserted into the recess;

wherein the first and second clasp mechanisms are adapted to be forced away from the center of the recess by the mounting cleat as the mounting cleat is inserted into the recess.