Device mount

Abstract

A device mount for mounting a device such as a video camera, range finder, game caller and the like to a structure such as a weapon. The device mount includes a support plate and a threaded attaching portion. The support plate is adapted to support a device resting thereon. Moreover, the support plate has a plurality of mounting apertures passing there through. The threaded attaching portion is coupled to an end of the support plate. The threaded attaching portion is adapted to selectively engage a threaded recess of a structure.

Description

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices are often used when hunting for game. Such devices include rangefinders, cameras, game callers and the like. However, trying to operate such devices without hindering the hunt can be challenging. For example, if the device is being held in one hand during its operation, a shot could be missed due to the time it would take to place the device to the side and properly engaging the weapon for firing.

For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a system of mounting a device on a structure to minimize disruptions to a hunt.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summaries are provided as way of examples and not by way of limitations. Moreover, the summaries may include more or less elements than are in the claims and merely provided to give the reader a basic understanding of some of the elements of the present invention.

In one embodiment, a device mount is provided. The device mount includes a support plate and a threaded attaching portion. The support plate is adapted to support a device resting thereon. Moreover, the support plate has a plurality of mounting apertures passing there through. The threaded attaching portion is coupled to an end of the support plate. The threaded attaching portion is adapted to selectively engage a threaded recess of a structure.

In yet another embodiment, a device mount is provided. The device mount includes a support portion, a neck portion and a threaded attaching portion. The support portion has an engaging surface adapted to support a device. The support portion also has at least one mounting aperture passing there through. The neck portion extends from an end of the support potion. The threaded attaching portion further extends from the neck portion.

In still another embodiment, a method of attaching a device to a structure is provided. The method includes engaging external threads of a device mount to internal threads in a bore of the structure. Placing a device on support surface of a support portion of the device mount. Aligning a threaded recess in the device with one of a plurality of mounting apertures that pass through the support portion such that the device is positioned in a desired location in relation to the device mount and securing the device to the device mount via one of the mounting apertures that pass through the support portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a back view of a device mount of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, is a top view of the device mount of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device mount of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the mounting of the device mount of FIG. I to a bow of one embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method of attaching a device such as a video camera, a range finder, a game caller or other device to a structure such as a weapon. In particular, in some embodiments a device mount that is threadably connected to a recess in a structure is used. The device is in turn mounted to an engaging surface of the device mount. In one embodiment, the device is coupled to the engaging surfaces via thumb screw.

Referring to FIG. 1, a back view of a device mount 100 of one embodiment is provided. This view illustrates a neck portion 102 of the device mount 100 and the end of a threaded attaching portion 104. Also illustrated is a securing tightening nut 105. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the device mount 100. As illustrated, the device mount 100 includes a support plate 106. The support plate (or support portion) 106 has a plurality of mounting apertures 108 that extend there through. The mounting apertures 108 allow a device to be coupled to the support plate 106. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is a center of weight axis 103. In one embodiment, the weight of the device mount 100 is generally equally distributed on each side of the center of weight axis 103. The equal weight distribution along the axis 103 helps maintain the center of weight balance of a bow when the device mount 100 is coupled to a counterweight insert (or bore) of the bow. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the support plate 106 is generally in a rectangular shape to accommodate devices that have a generally rectangular shade. However, other shapes can be used to accommodate other shapes of devices. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to a support plate 106 that is generally rectangular in shape. FIG. 2 also illustrates that the neck portion 102 is tapered in towards the threaded attaching portion 104. This tapering allows for added clearance of items attached to the structure or even portions of the structure when the device mount 100 is attached to the structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the device mount 100. This view also illustrates that the support plate 106 has a relatively flat engaging surface 300 that is designed to support a device coupled to the device mount 100. As illustrated, in one embodiment, the neck portion 102 has a thickness that is thicker than the thickness of the support plate 106. The thickness of the neck portion 102 is dependant on the size of the threaded attaching portion 104. That is, the neck portion thickness is selected to provide enough support for the threaded attaching portion 104. In one embodiment, the thickness of the support plate 106 is dependant on the size of a standard thumb screw that is passed through one of the plurality of mounting apertures 108 to mount a device to the device mount 100. In one embodiment, the thickness of the support plate is between 0.300 to 0.320 inches.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of the device mount 100 being attached to a bow 400 in one embodiment. As illustrated, the treaded attaching portion 104 is adapted to engage an internally threaded bore 402 in the bow 400. In one embodiment, the internally threaded bore 402 is a counterweight bar insert 402. It is understood, however, that the device mount 100 can be attached to any threaded bore on any type of weapon or any other type of structure. Once the threaded attaching portion 104 is threadably engaged with the internally threaded bore 402, the nut is tightened against a surface of the bow about the bore 402 to secure the device mount 102 in a static position in relation to the bow 400. FIG. 4, also illustrates, a device 408 being mounted to the device mount 102. As illustrated, a threaded attaching device 406 such as a thumb screw 406 is positioned through one of the plurality of mounting apertures 108 and threadably engaged to an internally threaded bore 410 in the device 408. The plurality of mounting apertures 108 allow for the placement of different kinds and different brands of devices 408 to be coupled to the same device mount 100. That is, even if the devices have threaded bores in different locations, the device mount 100 of the present invention will work by simply choosing the mounting aperture 108 that places the device in the desired location in relation to the device mount 100. Hence, in some embodiments, a universal device mount 100 is provided. Moreover, the plurality of mounting apertures 108 also allows for the adjustment in placement of the device 408 on the support plate 106 to align the weight distribution of the device 408 and the device mount 100 along a center of weight axis of the bow 400 when coupled to the counterweight bar threaded insert 402. Hence, by doing this, the balance of the bow to the right or left in relation to the user while in use will not be affected.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A device mount, the device mount comprising:

a support plate adapted to support a device resting thereon, the support plate having a plurality of mounting apertures passing there through; and

a threaded attaching portion coupled to an end of the support plate, the threaded attaching portion adapted to selectively engage a threaded recess of a structure.

2. The device mount of claim 1, wherein the threaded attaching portion is adapted to threadably engage a counterweight bar threaded insert of a bow.

3. The device mount of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures are adapted to allow a thumb screw to be passed there through to engage a threaded recess in the device.

4. The device mount of claim 1, further comprising:

a neck portion positioned between the support plate and the threaded attaching portion.

5. The device mount of claim 1, further comprising:

a nut having internal threads adapted to engage the threaded screw portion, the nut adapted to secure the device mount to the structure.

6. The device mount of claim 1, wherein the structure is a weapon.

7. A device mount, the device mount comprising:

a support portion having an engaging surface adapted to support a device, the support portion having at least one mounting aperture passing there through;

a neck portion extending from an end of the support potion; and

a threaded attaching portion extending from the neck portion.

8. The device mount of claim 7, wherein the neck portion is a tapered neck portion having a first end extending from the support potion and a second end upon which the threaded attaching portion extends from, the first end of the neck portion being larger than the second end.

9. The device mount of claim 7, wherein the at least one mounting aperture is a plurality of mounting apertures.

10. The device mount of claim 7, wherein the threaded attaching portion is adapted to threadably engage a threaded bore in a structure.

11. The device mount of claim 10, wherein the structure is a bow and the threaded bore is a threaded counterweight bar insert.

12. The device mount of claim 7, wherein each of the mounting apertures are adapted to allow a thumb screw to be passed there through to engage a threaded recess in the device.

13. The device mount of claim 7, further comprising:

a nut having internal threads adapted to engage the threaded attaching portion, wherein the nut secures the device mount to the bow at a desired position.

14. The device mount of claim 7, wherein the support portion is in the form of a relatively flat plate.

15. The device mount of claim 7, further comprising:

a thumb screw adapted to pass through the at least one mounting aperture to coupled a device to the support portion.

16. The device mount of claim 7, wherein the device is at least one of a video camera, a sound producing device and a rangefinder.

17. The device mount of claim 7, wherein the support portion has a thickness between and including 0.300 and 0.320 inches.

18. The device mount of claim 7, wherein generally an equal amount of weight of the device mount is position on either side of a center of weight axis of the device mount.

19. A method of attaching a device to a structure, the method comprising:

engaging external threads of a device mount to internal threads in a bore of the structure;

placing a device on support surface of a support portion of the device mount;

aligning a threaded recess in the device with one of a plurality of mounting apertures that pass through the support portion such that the device is positioned in a desired location in relation to the device mount; and

securing the device to the device mount via one of the mounting apertures that passes through the support portion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

positioning the mount at a desired rotational position in relation to the structure; and

securing the mount in the desired location with a nut.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the structure is a bow and the bore is a counterweight bar insert.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein securing the device to the mount, further comprises:

inserting an externally threaded thumb screw through the one mounting aperture; and

threadably engaging internal threads in a recess in the device with the externally threaded thumb screw.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

adjusting the position of the device on the device plate to center a weight distribution of the device.