Universal equipment mount

• US 20060237608A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosen Sunvisor Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Rosen Sunvisor Systems LLC
• Inventors: Wilson, Andy, Hanson, Niles, Gilbert, Jon, Hanson, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/276.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0226 comprising a ball joint or at least two axes of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/126 for tilting and panning F16M11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction

Abstract

A universal mount for mounting equipment to a surface in a desired orientation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting equipment to a surface, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an extender having a first end and a second end;

(b) a first mount receivable in said first end, said first mount having a substantially planar first face capable of a first range of movement when said first mount is received in said first end, said range of movement including rotation about at least one axis;

(c) a second mount receivable in said second end, said second mount having a substantially planar second face capable of a second range of movement when said first mount is received in said first end, said range of movement including rotation about at least one axis; and

(d) at least one locking member capable of restricting the ranges of movement of said first mount and said second mount, respectively, independently of one another

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said first face is selectively lockable into a plurality of positions within said range of movement.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where said second face is selectively lockable into a plurality of positions within said range of movement.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 where said first and second faces are each selectively lockable into any desired position within said range of movement.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 where said first and second ranges of movement each include rotation about three different axes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where said first and second mounts provide equipment mounted to said apparatus a range of motion having five degrees of freedom.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 where each of said degrees of freedom may be individually restricted.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 where said first mount includes a first locking member that selectively restricts rotation about a first one of said respective at least one axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 where said first mount includes a second locking member that selectively removes a second one of said three degrees of freedom.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 where said first mount includes a third locking member that selectively removes a third one of said three degrees of freedom.

11. An apparatus for mounting equipment to a surface, said apparatus comprising:

(a) first and second attachment faces spaced apart from each other;

(b) said first attachment face selectively rotatable about a first axis;

(c) said first axis rotatable about a second axis; and

(d) a first engagement member associated with said first attachment face, engagement of which prevents rotation of said first attachment face about said first axis but does not prevent rotation of said first axis about said second axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 including a second engagement member associated with said first face, engagement of which prevents rotation of said first axis about said second axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 where said second axis is rotatable about a third axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 including a third engagement member associated with said first face, engagement of which prevents rotation of said second axis about said third axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 where said first attachment face has a range of motion about said first, second, and third axes, and said first, second, and third engagement members together permit said attachment face to be locked into any selected position within said range of motion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 where said first attachment face is substantially planar.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 including an extender matingly engageable with first and second mounts, said first and second mounts each defining a respective one of said first face and said second face.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 where said second attachment face is selectively rotatable about a third axis, said third axis is rotatable about a fourth axis, and said apparatus includes a second engagement member associated with said second face, engagement of which prevents rotation of said second attachment face about said third axis but does not prevent rotation of said third axis about said fourth axis.

19. A mount comprising:

(a) an attachment face selectively rotatable about a first axis, said first axis rotatable about a second axis;

(b) first and second engagement members, engagement of each said engagement member preventing movement about a respective one of said first and second axes but not preventing movement about the other said axis; and

(c) said first and second engagement members each capable of remaining in an engaged position while said attachment face is supporting a moment of at least about 20 foot-pounds.

20. The mount of claim 19 where said first axis is at a diagonal with respect to said attachment face.