Securely Fixable Vehicular Display Mounting System
Novel multi-fastener fixable joint adjustments provide secure and watertight mounting to a vehicle while providing secure adjustment relative to the mount base and sandwiching gimbal mount devices with braces of relatively substantial design provide additional stability.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/451,577 filed Jan. 27, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a mounting system adapted to securely fix an electronic apparatus, such as a display screen, to a vehicle. The system is particularly optimized for use in nautical settings, but is readily adapted for use on other vehicles where operators or passengers wish to adjustably mount electronic apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn boating, it has become common to utilize numerous electronic devices to facilitate navigation, fishing or exploration, and communication. These electronics are more frequently the subject of substantial upgrades than boats or vehicles themselves so that electronic devices such as chart plotters, sonar, radar, fish finders, auto pilots, GPS devices, weather displays and communication devices are often added separate from the purchase of the boat itself. When adding electronics to a boat or other vehicle, it is desirable that the mount only need be affixed a single time even if the electronics are subsequently changed, that a certain amount of adjustability is provided for positioning the electronic screens and components, and that great stability be provided for the displays over an extended period of use. Numerous efforts have been made to provide suitable mounts including those designed by Ram Mount and described in U.S. Re. 43,806 and related patents, the Balz Out line of mounts, and structures from both Precision Sonar and Bass Boat Technologies.
As the availability of add-on electronic devices for vehicles has increased over the previous decades from largely only radio-telecommunication type devices to the present wide assortment of graphs and other electronics, so too have the mounting options for these electronics. In many cases, the manufacturers of the electronics provide simple bolt-on gimbal mounts, but these are inevitably built to economical cost points, often with thin and flexible metal or injection molded plastic parts. Add-on mounting options have developed to provide a variety of alternatives for the users of after-market electronics.
Boats present the most demanding environment for add-on electronics for several reasons. Although boats will usually not travel at the highest speeds of land and air vehicles, the vibratory forces acting on power boats is generally more severe. In the case of water compared to air vehicles, the greater vibratory forces are caused by the incompressibility of water in comparison to air, so that a boat encountering choppy water at any substantial speed leads to vibrations and impact forces on the boat hull. Similarly, in the case of water compared to land vehicles, the land vehicles are generally equipped with resilient tires and suspension systems to lessen the vibrations experienced while the boat hull receives a constant series of impacts. Of course, each of these powered vehicles are subject to additional vibrations from their engines.
Another reason for the more demanding environment in the case of water vehicles is the sheer number of add-on electronics utilized on boats. Furthermore, even with progress in reducing the size of individual electrical components, these apparatus are becoming larger and heavier. So for instance in 2018, a relatively small fresh water fishing boat might be equipped with two 16 inch video screen-type displays on a single mount. Each such display can weigh about 7 to 9 pounds resulting in a single mount carrying 15 to 20 pounds of electronics, weight that is subject to hours of vibration and multi-G forces from impact when the vehicle passes over waves or even ripples at high speed.
Additionally, deployment of electronics on personal watercraft more readily exposes the apparatus to sun and water than would be the case than when mounted in cabins of personal land vehicles or aircraft.
The prior art mounts suffer from one or more of three typical shortcomings: durability, lack of adjustability, or general flimsiness contributing to undesired movement. As previously mentioned, many electronic apparatus are provided with injection molded plastic gimbal mounts that simply lack adequate strength and ruggedness. Other mounts may be fixed so that it is difficult to either change out the electronic apparatus or to adjust the position of the apparatus to an optimal position. The lack of durability has become more pronounced as electronics have become larger and heavier. Many adjustable mounting systems provide only a single joint to support the entire apparatus. In addition, some joints rely upon gripping rubberized surfaces that wear with continual exposure to vibration and impact forces and become difficult to securely fasten. The vibration and repeated impact causes damage to the rubberized surfaces and reduces the effectiveness of the joint.
A key to the present mounting system is the use of a securely fixable joint structure with durable surfaces, and typically two such joints, while restricting the movement of the electrical apparatus to a somewhat limited range rather than attempting full three-axis movement.
The present system is also designed to provide secure and watertight mounting to a boat deck or console, and while providing secure adjustment relative to the mount base. In furtherance of these objectives, a flange may be bolted around the edge of an opening in a boat's console or deck, with recessed openings in the flange for hex-bolt heads; weather covers may be attached to a mounting plate fixed to the flange to protect cable openings from water; and sandwiching OEM gimbal mount devices with braces of relatively substantial design may provide additional stability and security. Novel multi-fastener fixable joint adjustments are utilized to provide further security.
The features of the invention will be better understood by referencing the accompanying drawings depicting various embodiments of the invention.
In nautical applications, the most common mounting positions for electronics are in the bow of the boat or at the console. It is sometimes sufficient to provide a single mounting assembly, but often a dual or double mount is useful so that multiple screens (“graphs”) or other electronic devices will be accessible to the crew. Illustrated in
Two notable features of the dual mount of
In
The securely fixable adjusting features 50,51 provide exceptional strength. When the structural components such as base brackets 46, connecting arms 47, and top mounting bar 43 are fabricated from quarter inch thick powder coated aluminum, the adjusting features can withstand approximately 400 foot pounds of force without joint failure, instead the aluminum begins to deform. When utilized in tandem with left and right lower adjusting features and left and right upper adjusting features as illustrated in the embodiments, this represents at least 800 foot pounds of force before failure, far in excess of the demands placed upon the mount when carrying a 20 pound electronics load. The use of left and right adjusting features also serves to create a rectangular structure with the base and mounting bracket that provides structural reinforcement and further enhances the integrity of the mounting system.
The exploded view of
Powder coated aluminum formed from quarter-inch plate is a preferred material due to its strength, weight, cost, and resistance to corrosion. Other materials such as titanium alloy, stainless steel, ceramics, and composite materials may be adapted for use in a fixably securable adjustable mount with appropriate modification. For instance, welding, permanent bonding, or unitary fabrication might be preferred methods with some alternative materials.
The console assemblies are addressed somewhat different requirements as the mounting flange 4C in
The console mount is also provided in a double assembly design as reflected in
In the L-shaped base bracket 46 of the dual bow mount embodiment B it can be seen that the base portion 66 of the bracket 46 has openings 27 to facilitate fastening to a faceplate 5. The base adjusting bracket 46 also has an upstanding portion 67 that is preferably generally nearly perpendicular to the faceplate and includes three arcuate slots 49 surrounding a center aperture 69. Optimally, 0.25 inch diameter bolts are connecting through the slots 69 with a similar adjusting face on a second planar surface. A larger bolt, such as a 0.375 inch diameter bolt, may be appropriate for the center aperture.
A similar connecting structure is found in the top mounting bar 43 depicted in
Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A vehicular electronics mounting system to secure electronic apparatus having a gimbal base comprising:
- spaced apart first and second parallel planar surfaces attached to a base and extending upward;
- spaced apart third and fourth parallel planar surfaces extending downward from a mounting bar;
- the first upward and third downwardly extending planar surfaces being rotationally connected;
- the second upward and fourth downwardly extending planar surfaces being rotationally connected;
- the said first and third planar surfaces and said second and fourth planar surfaces being securely fixable with respect to each other in a fashion sufficient to withstand at least 400 foot pounds of force; and
- a support bar securing the gimbal base to the mounting bar.
2. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 1 wherein each parallel planar surface has a central aperture that receives a bolt and further comprising:
- a first bolt securing the first upward and third downward extending surfaces; and
- a second bolt securing the second upward and fourth downward extending surfaces.
3. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 2 wherein the first upward and third downward extending surfaces each have a plurality of openings encircling the central aperture, and the openings on at least one of said surfaces being a plurality of arcuate slots, and
- the first and third surfaces being fixably secured together by bolts passing through the plurality of openings on the first and third planar surfaces.
4. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of openings surrounding the central aperture is at least three.
5. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 3 wherein the arcuate slots extend through an arc of between 60° and 100°.
6. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 1 wherein the base is a face plate secured to a mounting flange fixed to the vehicle.
7. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 1 wherein a second support bar secures a second gimbal base to the mounting bar.
8. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 1 wherein the third and fourth downwardly extending planar surfaces are the lower ends of first and second connecting arms that are connected to the mounting bar.
9. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 8 wherein the first and second connecting arms have upper ends with fifth and sixth parallel planar surfaces and spaced apart seventh and eighth parallel planar surfaces extend downward from the mounting bar; and
- the fifth and seventh planar surfaces are rotationally connected; and the
- sixth and eighth planar surfaces are rotationally connected.
10. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 3 wherein the first and second connecting arms have upper ends with fifth and sixth parallel planar surfaces and spaced apart seventh and eighth parallel planar surfaces extend downward from the mounting bar;
- the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth planar surfaces have central apertures;
- the fifth and seventh planar surfaces are rotationally connected with a third bolt passing through the central apertures therein;
- the sixth and eighth planar surfaces are rotationally connected with a fourth bolt passing through the central apertures therein; and
- the fifth and seventh surfaces each have a plurality of openings encircling the central aperture, and the openings on at least one of said surfaces being a plurality of arcuate slots, with the fifth and seventh surfaces being fixably secured together by bolts passing through the plurality of openings on the fifth and seventh planar surfaces.
11. A vehicular electronic mounting system having a first securely fixable rotatable joint comprising a first planar element with a central opening; a second planar element with a central opening; a fastener passing through the central openings of the first and second planar elements; wherein each of the first and second planar elements has a plurality of openings surrounding the central opening; and the plurality of openings on one of the planar elements are arcuate slots; and further comprising fasteners passing through the plurality of openings surrounding the central opening and securely fixing the planar surfaces in relation to each other; and
- having a second securely fixable rotatable joint comprising third planar element with a central opening; a fourth planar element with a central opening; a fastener passing through the central openings of the third and fourth planar elements; wherein each of the third and fourth planar elements has a plurality of openings surrounding the central opening; and the plurality of openings on one of the planar elements are arcuate slots; and further comprising fasteners passing through the plurality of openings surrounding the central opening and securely fixing the planar surfaces in relation to each other;
- wherein the first and third planar elements are parallel to one another and connected to a base, and the second and fourth planar elements are connected to a mounting structure for an electronic apparatus.
12. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein the first planar element of the first securely fixable joint and the first planar element of the second securely fixable joint are secured to a base.
13. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein the second planar element is a first end of a first connecting arm having a second end connected to the mounting structure.
14. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein a support bar secures a gimbal base of an electronics apparatus downward toward the mounting structure.
15. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein a removeable mounting plate is secured to the mounting structure and a support bar secures a gimbal base of an electronics apparatus to the mounting plate.
16. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 13 wherein the second end of the first connecting arm forms a first planar element of a third securely fixable joint.
17. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein the arcuate slots each extend through an arc of between 60° and 100°.
18. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein the securely fixable rotatable joints are able to withstand at least 400 foot pounds of force.
19. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 11 wherein the planar elements are fabricated from aluminum.
20. The vehicular electronic mounting system of claim 12 wherein the base is a faceplate secured to a flange mounted around an opening in the surface of the vehicle.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 27, 2018
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2018
Inventors: Ronald J. Speicher (Chattanooga, TN), David A. Craft (Chattanooga, TN)
Application Number: 15/881,771