Configurable mounting bracket
A multiply configurable bracket formed of a substantially rigid elongated body having a groove oriented crosswise of the elongated body and formed partway therethrough, and a pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body straddling the groove and oriented crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove. A first part-spherical ball mount is coupled to one end of the elongated body and is aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof. A second part-spherical ball mount is coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis thereof. Both the first and second part-spherical ball mounts are formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.
The present invention relates to a configurable mounting bracket, and in particular to a vehicle-mountable multiply configurable mounting bracket structured for clamping to a handlebar of a bicycle, motorcycle, all terrain vehicle or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMounting brackets structured for clamping to a handlebar of a bicycle, motorcycle, all terrain vehicle or the like are generally well-known. Some of these known handlebar-mountable brackets are configurable to provide mounting apparatus at different positions relative to the vehicle handlebar. However, these known handlebar-mountable brackets have various limitations that limit their usefulness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a handlebar-mountable multiply configurable mounting bracket that overcomes limitations of the prior art for mounting insturments and other devices on a vehicle handlebar or another suitable portion of a vehicle.
The multiply configurable mounting bracket of the invention is provided by a substantially rigid elongated body having an arcuate groove formed in one longitudinal surface thereof and oriented crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body. A pair of elongated passages is formed through the body straddling the groove. An integral part-spherical ball mount is integrally formed with the body and projected from one end thereof, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface. A discrete part-spherical ball mount is coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the body, the discrete part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.
According to one aspect of the invention, the multiply configurable mounting bracket also includes a pair of spacers each structured with an elongated passage formed therethrough and mounted between the pair of elongated passages of the body and the handlebar on which the aparatus is mounted.
According to another aspect of the invention, the multiply configurable mounting bracket also includes an integral stem projected from the end of the elongated body. The integral stem is aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof and has the resiliently deformable material of the first part-spherical ball mount molded thereon.
According to another aspect of the invention, the discrete second part-spherical ball mount is threadedly secured to the body. By example and without limitation, the the body is formed with a passage therethrough between the arcuate groove and a surface of the body opposite from the groove. The discrete part-spherical ball mount has a threaded bore formed therein; and a threaded fastener resides in the passage formed through the body between the arcuate groove and a surface of the body opposite from the groove, the threaded fastener is threadedly engaged with the threaded bore formed in the discrete part-spherical ball mount. Alternatively, a discrete frame is interposed between the discrete part-spherical ball mount and the body. According to one example, the discrete part-spherical ball mount is threadedly coupled to the discrete frame.
Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.
The present invention is a handlebar-mounting bracket embodied, by example and without limitation, as a rigid multiply configurable mounting bracket for securely and fixedly mounting accessories within easy reach of the vehicle rider. The bracket is provided by a substantially rigid elongated body that is formed of a substantially rectangular body formed with substantially orthogonal side faces and opposing end faces oriented substantially orthogonal to the side faces. An arcuate groove is formed partway through the body and oriented substantially crosswise of the elongated body with an opening in a first side face of the body. A pair of fastener clearance passages is formed through the body straddling the groove and is oriented substantially crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove. A first part-spherical ball mount is projected from one end face of the elongated body and is aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis of the body, the first part-spherical ball mount is formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface. A second part-spherical ball mount is projected from a second side face of the body opposite from the first side face having the groove opening formed therein, and is oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal. axis of the body. The second part-spherical ball mount is also formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first part-spherical ball mount includes a stem integrally formed with the elongated body and projected from the end face thereof, and the resiliently deformable material is coupled to an end portion of the stem distal from the end face of the body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the handlebar-mounting bracket includes a threaded joint between the end face of the elongated body and the first part-spherical ball mount projected therefrom, such that the first part-spherical ball mount is threadedly assembled to the elongated body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the handlebar-mounting bracket includes a threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount projected therefrom, such that the second part-spherical ball mount is threadedly assembled to the elongated body. According to one embodiment of the invention, the threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount optionally includes a frame member interposed between the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount and the elongated body, wherein the frame is formed with a pair of fastener clearance passages that symmetrically straddle the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount and are substantially aligned with the pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the elongated body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the handlebar-mounting bracket includes a pair of spacers each structured with a fastener clearance passage formed therethrough, the spacers being interposed between the pair of fastener clearance passages in the elongated body straddling the groove and a pre-existing instrument or other device on the handlebar.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the handlebar-mounting bracket includes a pair of bolts sized to pass through the pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body and the fastener clearance passage formed the pair of spacers and extend at least a short distance therebeyond to engage pre-existing threaded holes on the handlebar. Alternatively, the bolts pass through matching holes in a U-clamp and are engaged by suitable threaded nuts.
FIFG. 1 is a front pictorial view and
A first part-spherical ball mount 28 is projected from one end surface 22 of the elongated rigid body 12 substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof The first part-spherical ball mount 28 is formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface, as described by Carnevali in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The first ball mount 28 is optionally integrally formed with the elongated body 12 by casting or overmolding the resiliently deformable material onto a short substantially rigid stem 30 integrally formed with the body 12 along its longitudinal axis L and extended from the end 22, as illustrated and described in detail in
A second discrete non-integral part-spherical ball mount 32 that is also formed of the resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface of the type described by Carnevali in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885 is provided on a second short substantially rigid internally-threaded stem 34 that is structured to be fastened to the apparatus body 12 to project from the face 18 opposite from the arcuate handlebar groove 26 that is formed in the mounting face 14. The stem 34 is secured to the body face 18 in a manner that resists rotation of the second ball mount 32 relative to the elongated body 12. For example, the second ball mount 32 is secured to the body face 18 by means of a threaded fastener or screw 36 through the body 12, as discussed in detail herein.
A pair of bolt clearance holes or slots 38, 40 (shown) are formed through the body 12 between the mounting face 14 and the opposite face 18 from which the second ball mount 32 is projected. In order to facilitate both engaging a round or otherwise curved bar, such as a handlebar, and clearing a pre-existing instrument mounted on the handlebar, the bolt clearance holes or slots 38, 40 are provided in positions symmetrically straddling the handlebar groove 26 and are oriented crosswise of both the longitudinal axis L of the elongated body 12 and the bore of the handlebar groove 26.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a pair of spacers 42, 44 are provided, one for each of the two bolt clearance holes or slots 38, 40. The spacers 42, 44 are long enough to hold the body 12 away from the handlebar when another instrument or device is pre-existing on the handlebar, or to operate between the body 12 and a U-clamp 46 (shown in
A pair of threaded fasteners 54, 56 are used to secure the body 12 of the bracket apparatus 10 to the vehicle handlebar. For example, the threaded fasteners 54, 56 are pre-existing mounting screws or bolts used to secure a pre-existing instrument or device on the vehicle handlebar, where the pre-existing instrument or device has a low profile in the vicinity of the mounting fasteners 54, 56. For example, the bolt clearance holes or slots 38, 40 are sized to straddle the pre-existing instrument or device while permitting the threaded fasteners 54, 56 to align with mounting holes in the pre-existing instrument or device. Alternatively, the threaded fasteners 54, 56 may be longer screws or bolts sized to replace shorter pre-existing mounting screws or bolts such that the replacement threaded fasteners 54, 56 secure the body 12 of the bracket apparatus 10 to the vehicle handlebar while simultaneously securing the pre-existing instrument or device.
As further illustrated in
As best illustrated in
As illustrated in
Mounting of the second discrete ball mount 32 to the discrete frame 118 is modeled after the apparatus body 12 as illustrated in
An alternative discrete non-integral ball mount 156 is formed on the stem 150 which may include means for retaining the cast or overmolded resiliently deformable material forming the alternative discrete ball mount 156. By example and without limitation, the retaining means is provided by a button head 158 for retaining the cast or overmolded resiliently deformable material. The button head 158, shown by example and without limitation as having a hexagonal shape, is coupled to a necked-down shaft portion 160 of the stem 150.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, materials may be substituted for the different components of the apparatus of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, as at least one embodiment of the invention is provided wherein the bracket is mounted using pre-existing bolt or screws 54, 56 that secure a pre-existing instrument or other device, the apparatus 10 of the invention is not limited to mounting on a vehicle handlebar but is structured for mounting in any position on any ground, marine or airborne vehicle having a pre-existing instrument or device with a suitably arranged mounting bolt pattern wherein a pair of pre-existing mounting bolts is matched by the bolt clearance holes or slots 38, 40 through the apparatus body 12. Therefore, the inventor makes the following claims.
Claims
1. A multiply configurable bracket comprising:
- a substantially rigid elongated body having an arcuate groove formed in one longitudinal surface thereof and a pair of elongated passages formed through the body straddling the groove;
- an integral part-spherical ball mount integrally formed with the body and projected from one end thereof, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface;
- a discrete part-spherical ball mount coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the body, the discrete part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.
2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the arcuate groove is further oriented crosswise of the elongated body.
3. The bracket of claim 2, further comprising a pair of spacers each structured with an elongated passage formed therethrough.
4. The bracket of claim 2, further comprising an integral stem projected from the end of the elongated body and aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof and having the resiliently deformable material of the first part-spherical ball mount molded thereon.
5. The bracket of claim 2 wherein the pair of elongated passages formed through the body straddling the groove further comprise a pair of elongated passages each aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated body.
6. The bracket of claim 2 wherein the discrete second part-spherical ball mount is threadedly secured to the body.
7. The bracket of claim 6 wherein:
- the body is formed with a passage therethrough between the arcuate groove and a surface of the body opposite from the groove;
- the discrete part-spherical ball mount further comprises a threaded bore formed therein; and
- further comprising a threaded fastener resident in the passage formed through the body between the arcuate groove and a surface of the body opposite from the groove, the threaded fastener being threadedly engaged with the threaded bore formed in the discrete part-spherical ball mount.
8. The bracket of claim 6, further comprising a discrete frame interposed between the discrete part-spherical ball mount and the body.
9. The bracket of claim 8 wherein the discrete part-spherical ball mount is threadedly coupled to the discrete frame.
10. A multiply configurable bracket comprising:
- a substantially rigid elongated body having a groove oriented crosswise of the elongated body and formed partway therethrough, and a pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body straddling the groove and oriented crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove;
- a first part-spherical ball mount coupled to one end of the elongated body and aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface;
- a second part-spherical ball mount coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis thereof, the second part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface; and
- a pair of spacers each structured with a fastener clearance passage formed therethrough.
11. The bracket of claim 10 wherein the first part-spherical ball mount is integrally formed with the body and is projected from the end thereof.
12. The bracket of claim 11 wherein the second part-spherical ball mount is discrete from the body.
13. The bracket of claim 12 wherein the discrete second part-spherical ball mount is threadedly secured to the body.
14. The bracket of claim 13 wherein the discrete second part-spherical ball mount further comprises a stem formed with a female thread;
- the body further comprises a fastener clearance passage therethrough between the groove and a portion of the body opposite from the groove; and
- further comprising a threaded fastener within the fastener clearance passage through the body between the groove and a portion of the body opposite from the groove and being threadedly engaged with the female thread within the stem of the discrete second part-spherical ball mount.
15. The bracket of claim 11, further comprising a frame having the second part-spherical ball mount secured thereto, the frame being coupled to the body opposite from the groove with the second part-spherical ball mount oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the body.
16. A multiply configurable bracket comprising:
- a substantially rigid elongated body formed of: a substantially rectangular body formed with substantially orthogonal side faces and opposing end faces oriented substantially orthogonal to the side faces, an arcuate groove formed partway through the body and oriented substantially crosswise of the elongated body with an opening in a first side face of the body, and a pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body straddling the groove and oriented substantially crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove;
- a first part-spherical ball mount projected from one end face of the elongated body and aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis of the body, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface; and
- a second part-spherical ball mount projected from a second side face of the body opposite from the first side face having the groove opening formed therein and oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the body, the second part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.
17. The bracket of claim 16 wherein the first part-spherical ball mount further comprises a stem integrally formed with the elongated body and projected from the end face thereof, and the resiliently deformable material being coupled to an end portion of the stem distal from the end face of the body.
18. The bracket of claim 16, further comprising a threaded joint between the end face of the elongated body and the first part-spherical ball mount projected therefrom.
19. The bracket of claim 16, further comprising a threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount projected therefrom.
20. The bracket of claim 19 wherein the threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount further comprises:
- a fastener clearance passage formed through the body between the arcuate groove and the second side face of the elongated body,
- a rigid stem having the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount molded on a first end thereof and a female thread formed in. a second end opposite from the resiliently deformable material, and
- a threaded fastener passing through the fastener clearance passage and being threadedly coupled to the female thread formed in the stem.
21. The bracket of claim 19 wherein the threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount further comprises a frame member interposed between the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount and the elongated body, the frame comprising a pair of fastener clearance passages formed therethrough symmetrically straddling the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount and being substantially aligned with the pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body.
22. The bracket of claim 19, further comprising a pair of spacers each structured with a fastener clearance passage formed therethrough.
23. The bracket of claim 22, further comprising a pair of bolts sized to pass through the pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body and the fastener clearance passage formed the pair of spacers and extend at least a short distance therebeyond.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 7, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2005
Inventor: Jeffrey Carnevali (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 10/862,688