Quick release electronics platform

• US 6,585,212 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D Carnevali
• Inventors: Carnevali, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZUMNY, JONATHON A
• Application Number:
  US09/933,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 108/40, 108/44, 108/55.1, 108/55.3, 108/64, 108/65, 312/223.2, 312/319.1, 312/332.1, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 248/176.1, 248/178.1, 248/179.1, 248/181.1, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 248/510, 248/346.04, 248/346.07, 248/346.3, 248/346.5
• US Class Current: 248/346.07
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A mounting platform having first and second frame members being slidably interconnected along a first direction, at least one of the first and second frame members including a device mounting surface positioned relative to the first direction; one or more clamping members coupled to each of the first and second frame members, each of the clamping members including a clamping surface being spaced above and inclined toward the device mounting surface; and a biasing member coupled between the first and second frame members for biasing the first and second frame members toward one another along the first direction.

Claims

1. A mounting platform, comprising:

first and second frame members being slidably interconnected along a first direction, at least one of the first and second frame members including a device mounting surface positioned relative to the first direction;

one or more clamping members coupled to each of the first and second frame members, each of the clamping members including;

a base portion structured for mounting on a surface of one of the first and second frame members,

a clamping surface being spaced above and inclined toward the device mounting surface, and

a jaw portion extending from the base portion at an angle between approximately 120 ions and 150 degrees, the clamping surface being formed as a facet of the jaw portion; and

a biasing member coupled between the first and second frame members for biasing the first and second frame members toward one another along the first direction.

2. The mounting platform of claim 1, wherein the frame member that includes a device mounting surface further comprises a mounting structure coupled to a surface thereof, the mounting structure being structured for coupling with a mounting device that is exclusive of the mounting platform.

3. The mounting platform of claim 2, wherein the mounting structure is coupled to a surface of the frame member that is opposite from the device mounting surface.

4. The mounting platform of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a tension spring.

5. The mounting platform of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second frame members includes a device mounting surface, and the respective device mounting surfaces are substantially planar surfaces that are relatively positioned for substantially coplanar motion.

6. The mounting platform of claim 1, wherein the first and second frame members include cooperating track-and-slide members that are structured to operate along the first direction.

7. The mounting platform of claim 1, wherein the device mounting surface includes a portion that exhibits a relatively high coefficient of friction.

8. The mounting platform of claim 7, wherein the portion of the device mounting surface that exhibits a relatively high coefficient of friction further comprises a sheet of material adhered to the device mounting surface.

9. The mounting platform of claim 8, wherein the sheet of material is one of a natural and a synthetic rubber-type material.

10. The mounting platform of claim 1, wherein the clamping surface includes a portion that exhibits a relatively high coefficient of friction.

11. The mounting platform of claim 10, wherein the portion of the clamping surface that exhibits a relatively high coefficient of friction further comprises one of a thin sheet of rubber and a conventional non-skid material adhered to the clamping surface.

12. The mounting platform of claim 10, wherein the portion of the clamping surface that exhibits a relatively high coefficient of friction further comprises a resilient cushion formed of an elastomeric material.

13. A The mounting platform of claim 12, wherein the jaw portion of each of the one or more clamping members includes a curved neck portion extending between the base portion and a substantially straight portion extending at the predetermined angle from the base portion and having the clamping surface formed as facet thereof.

14. A mounting platform comprising:

a first body portion having a track that is aligned along a first direction and a first device mounting surface adjacent to the track;

a second body portion having a slide that is structured to slidably engage the track for relative motion along the first direction and a second device mounting surface adjacent to the slide;

a resilient biasing mechanism that is mechanically coupled between the first and second body portions for biasing the first and second body portions together along the first direction; and

a plurality of clamping mechanisms, each clamping mechanism including;

a substantially rigid, elongated base portion including structure for mounting on one of the first and second body portions adjacent to the first and second device mounting surfaces,

a substantially rigid, elongated jaw portion extending at an obtuse angle of between approximately 120 and 150 degrees from one end of the elongated base portion, and

a resilient compressible pad mechanically fixed to a surface of the jaw portion positioned on an interior of the obtuse angle, one or more of the clamping mechanisms being coupled to each of the first and second body portions such that the surface of the jaw portion having the resilient compressible pad fixed thereto projects above and inclines toward the respective first and second device mounting surface for compressing an external object between the jaw portion and the respective first and second device mounting surface.

15. The mounting platform of claim 14, wherein the resilient biasing mechanism is a tension spring.

16. An accessory device mounting platform, comprising:

a first body portion having a first device mounting surface interconnected to a track that is aligned along a first direction and;

a second body portion having a second device mounting surface interconnected to a slide that is structured to slidably engage the track for relative motion along the first direction;

an elastic biasing member engaged with each of the first and second body portions for urging the second body portion to approach the first body portion along the first direction;

a clamp member including a base portion and a jaw portion extending at an angle between approximately 120 and 150 degrees therefrom and having a clamping surface formed as a facet thereof, one or more of the clamp members mounted on each of the first and second body portions such that the clamping surface projects above and faces toward the respective first and second body portion along the first direction and being inclined toward the respective first and second device mounting surface.

17. The mounting platform of claim 16, further comprising a mounting structure positioned on one of the first and second body portions for mechanically engaging a mounting device.

18. The mounting platform of claim 17, wherein the mounting structure is positioned on a surface of one of the first and second body portions opposite from the device mounting surface.

19. The mounting platform of claim 17, wherein the biasing member is a resilient biasing member.

20. The mounting platform of claim 19, wherein the resilient biasing member is a tension spring.

21. A mounting device, comprising:

a clamping mechanism, comprising;

a substantially rigid base portion including a mounting structure for mounting on an external member,

a substantially rigid jaw portion extending at an obtuse angle from one end of the base portion, and

a resilient compressible pad fixed to a surface of the jaw portion positioned on an interior of the obtuse angle;

first and second frame members slidably interconnected for relative motion along a first direction, one of the first and second frame members including a device mounting surface positioned relative to the first direction and a clamp mounting surface formed relative to the device mounting surface, the clamp mounting surface being structured to cooperate with the mounting structure of the clamping mechanism for positioning the resilient compressible pad spaced away from and inclined toward the device mounting surface; and

a biasing member mechanically coupled between the first and second frame members for biasing the first and second frame members together along the first direction.

22. The clamping mechanism of claim 21, wherein the jaw portion further comprises an elongated, substantially planar portion and a curved neck portion extending between the base portion and the elongated planar portion, the elongated, substantially planar portion including the surface to which the resilient compressible pad is fixed.

23. The clamping mechanism of claim 21, wherein the resilient compressible pad is formed of an elastomer.

24. The clamping mechanism of claim 21, wherein the elongated base portion further comprises a surface positioned on an interior of the angle and having a relatively high coefficient of friction.

25. The clamping mechanism of claim 24, wherein the surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction is formed having one of a grooved, a knurled, a diamond, a serrated, a slotted, and a roughened surface.

26. The clamping mechanism of claim 21, wherein the structure for mounting of the elongated base portion further comprises a slotted aperture formed therethrough.

27. A clamping mechanism, comprising:

a substantially rigid, elongated base portion including structure for mounting on an external member;

a substantially rigid, elongated jaw portion extending at a predetermined obtuse angle from one end of the elongated base portion;

a resilient compressible pad mechanically fixed to a surface of the jaw portion positioned on an interior of the obtuse angle; and

a mounting platform, including;

first and second frame members being slidably interconnected for relative motion along a first direction, one of the first and second frame members including a device mounting surface positioned relative to the first direction and a clamp mounting surface formed relative to the device mounting surface, the clamp mounting surface being structured to cooperate with the mounting structure of the clamping mechanism for positioning the resilient compressible pad spaced away from and inclined toward the device mounting surface; and

a biasing member being mechanically coupled between the first and second frame members for biasing the first and second frame members together along the first direction.

28. The clamping mechanism of claim 27, wherein each of the first and second frame members includes a clamp mounting surface, and further comprising one or more of the clamping mechanisms mounted on each clamp mounting surface.

29. The clamping mechanism of claim 28, wherein each of the first and second frame members includes a device mounting surface positioned relative to the first direction.

30. The clamping mechanism of claim 27, wherein the predetermined obtuse angle at which the jaw portion extends from one end of the elongated base portion is an angle between about 120 and about 150 degrees.

31. The clamping mechanism of claim 27, wherein each of the clamp mounting surface and the base portion of the clamping mechanism are formed with cooperating anti-slippage structures.

32. The clamping mechanism of claim 31, wherein the cooperating anti-slippage structures are selected from a group of anti-slippage structures made up of a grooved, a knurled, a diamond, a serrated, a slotted, and a roughened surface area.

33. A mounting platform, comprising:

first and second frame members being slidably interconnected along a first direction, at least one of the first and second frame members including a device mounting surface positioned relative to the first direction;

one or more clamping members coupled to each of the first and second frame members, each of the clamping members including a clamping surface being spaced above and inclined toward the device mounting surface and comprising a resilient cushion formed of an elastomeric material that exhibits a relatively high coefficient of friction, wherein each of the one or more clamping members includes a base portion structured for mounting on a surface of one of the first and second frame members, and a jaw portion formed as a curved neck portion extending between the base portion and a substantially straight portion extending at an angle between approximately 120 and 150 degrees from the base portion and having the clamping surface formed as facet thereof; and

a biasing member coupled between the first and second frame members for biasing the first and second frame members toward one another along the first direction.