U.S. patent application number 10/664186 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for universal mounting kit and method of using same.
Invention is credited to Menosky, Peter.
Application Number | 20050057921 10/664186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34274534 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050057921 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Menosky, Peter |
March 17, 2005 |
Universal mounting kit and method of using same
Abstract
A universal mounting kit includes a support apparatus, a set of
tie straps, a set of mounting pads and a sheet of instructions
directed to providing a user with a step by step procedure for
securing the support apparatus removably to first and second
tubular surfaces, where the first tubular surface is a desired
object such as a bicycle handlebar or gun barrel and where the
second tubular surface is another desired object such as a
flashlight housing or laser pen housing.
Inventors: |
Menosky, Peter; (Nicholson,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JERRY RICHARD POTTS
3248 VIA RIBERA
ESCONDIDO
CA
92029
US
|
Family ID: |
34274534 |
Appl. No.: |
10/664186 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20130101; B62J
6/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/110 |
International
Class: |
F41G 001/34 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A universal mounting kit, comprising: a tube engaging member
having an elongated U-shaped channel, said channel being
dimensioned to snugly engage a tubular member; another tube
engaging member having another elongated U-shaped channel, said
another channel being dimensioned to snugly engage another tubular
member; a rivet for securing said tube engaging member and said
another tube engaging member in a back to back configuration for
free rotational movement relative to one another and for partially
spacing them one from the another along a least a portion of their
respective longitudinal axes; a plurality of straps for removably
securing said tube engaging member to said tubular member; and
another plurality of straps for removably securing said another
tubular member to said another tube engaging member.
2. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said
tubular member is a handlebar.
3. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said
tubular member is a gun barrel.
4. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said
another tubular member is a flashlight housing.
5. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said
another tubular member is a laser pen housing.
6. A universal mounting kit, comprising: a support apparatus having
a upper support member with an expandable opening having a width
dimension of d and a lower support member with another expandable
opening having another width dimension of D; wherein said upper
support member and said lower support member are secured together
for free rotational movement relative to one another; wherein said
width dimension d corresponds to the radius dimension of a tubular
member; wherein said width dimension D corresponds to the radius
dimension of another tubular member; and wherein said support
apparatus is adapted to be secured to said tubular member.
7. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said
upper support member and said lower support member are secured
together by a rivet.
8. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, further
comprising: a plurality of devices for securing said support
apparatus to a tubular member.
9. The universal mounting kit according to claim 7, wherein said
plurality of devices is a plurality of tie straps.
10. The universal mounting kit according to claim 9, wherein said
plurality of devices is a plurality of pads including at least one
pad with a plurality of hooks and at least another pad with a
plurality of piles.
11. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, further
comprising: another plurality of devices for securing said support
apparatus to another tubular member.
12. The universal mounting kit according to claim 11, wherein said
another plurality of devices is another plurality of tie
straps.
13. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1, wherein said
another plurality of devices is another plurality of pads including
at least one pad with a plurality of hooks and at least another pad
with a plurality of piles.
14. A universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein a rivet
secures said lower support member to said upper support member in a
back to back configuration for free rotational movement relative to
one another and for partially spacing them one from the another
along a least a portion of their respective longitudinal axes.
15. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said
support apparatus is further adapted to be secured to said another
tubular member.
16. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said
tubular member is a handlebar.
17. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said
tubular member is a gun barrel.
18. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said
another tubular member is a flashlight housing.
19. The universal mounting kit according to claim 6, wherein said
another tubular member is a laser pen housing.
20. A method of mounting a tubular member to another tubular
member, comprising the steps of: providing a mounting kit having a
support apparatus, said support apparatus including an upper
support member and a lower support member; attaching said lower
support member to the another tubular member; and attaching said
upper support member to the tubular member.
21. The method of mounting according to claim 20, wherein said
upper support member and said lower support member are each
elongated U-shaped channel members and are pivotally mounted to one
another at about their geometric centers for rotational movement
relative to one another.
22. The method of mounting according to claim 21, wherein said step
of attaching said lower support member to the another tubular
member includes wrapping an elongated tie strap having a tail end
portion and a cinch end portion around the another tubular member
and said lower support member; and cinching said tail end portion
through said cinch end portion to secure them together mounting
said lower support member to the tubular member.
23. The method of mounting according to claim 22, wherein said step
of attaching said upper support member to the tubular member
includes wrapping another elongated tie strap having another tail
end portion and another cinch end portion around the tubular member
and said upper support member; and cinching said another tail end
portion through said another cinch end portion to secure them
together mounting said upper support member to the another tubular
member.
24. The method of mounting according to claim 23, wherein the
tubular member is a flashlight housing.
25. The method of mounting according to claim 24, wherein the
another tubular member is a handlebar.
26. A method of mounting a lantern to a tubular member, comprising
the steps of: providing a mounting kit having a support apparatus,
said support apparatus including an upper support member with a
opening having a width dimension of d and a lower support member
with another opening having another width dimension of D and
wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are
secured together for free rotational movement relative to one
another; pressing the opening of the lower support member onto the
tubular member with sufficient force to cause said lower support
member to wrap partially around the tubular member in a snug
friction tight fix; and pressing the opening of the upper support
member onto the lantern with sufficient force to cause said upper
support member to wrap partially around the lantern in a snug
friction tight fix.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said width dimension
d and said width dimension D are equal.
28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said width dimension
d and said width dimension D are unequal.
29. The universal mounting kit according to claim 1 further
comprising: an elongated cushion for mounting within said elongated
U-shaped channel to facilitate friction engagement with said
tubular member.
30. The universal mounting kit according to claim 29, further
comprising: a plurality of hook and pile members for helping to
mount said another tubular member within said another elongated
U-shaped channel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a mounting apparatus and kit and a
method of using the kit for mounting a flashlight to a cylindrical
tube, and more particularly to a universal mounting kit and method
of using the kit for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle or barrel
of a rifle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There have been many different types of mounting apparatus
for mounting a flashlight to a bicycle, a barrel of a rifle or some
other type of stationary surface. For example, reference can be
made to the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,555 by Miree; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,618,081 by Miree; U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,705 by Miree; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,697,725 by Miree; U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,772 by Jimenez et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,884 by Maglica et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,919
by Case; U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,268 by Case; and U.S. Pat. No.
6,565,226 by Cummings.
[0003] While several of the above-referenced patents disclose the
use of a mounting apparatus for securing a flashlight to a bicycle
or barrel of a rifle, such devices have not been entirely
satisfactory. In this regard, there is a need for a new and
improved universal mounting kit and method of using the kit for
mounting a flashlight to a bicycle or gun barrel in a fast and
convenient manner, at a very low cost, and where the flashlight can
be installed and removed without modification to the bicycle or gun
barrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention a
universal mounting kit includes a support apparatus, a set of tie
straps, a cushioning pad, a set of mounting pads, and a sh et of
instructions directed to providing a user with a step by step
procedure for securing the support apparatus removably to a tubular
surface, such as the handlebar of a bicycle or the barrel of a
rifle or shot gun and for removably securing a flashlight to the
support apparatus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a universal mounting kit,
which is constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a support apparatus
forming part of the universal mounting kit of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the support apparatus of FIG.
2;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom plane view of the support apparatus of
FIG. 2;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the support apparatus of FIG.
2, illustrating it supporting a flashlight from the handlebars of a
bicycle;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of the support apparatus of FIG.
2, illustrating it supporting a laser pen from the barrel of a
shotgun;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the support apparatus of FIG.
2, taken substantially along line 7-7;
[0012] FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate the steps of using the universal
mounting kit of FIG. 1 to removably secure a flashlight to the
handlebars of a bicycle;
[0013] FIG. 9 illustrates the steps of using the universal mounting
kit of FIG. 1 to removably secure a flashlight to the barrel of a
rifle; and
[0014] FIG. 10 illustrates another universal mounting kit, which is
constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating
the mounting kit supporting a flashlight from a tubular member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG.
1 thereof, there is illustrated a universal mounting kit 10, which
is constructed in accordance to the present invention. The
universal mounting kit 10 is adapted to be removably secured to a
first tubular surface, such as to the handlebars of a bicycle or
the barrel of a rifle or shot gun and is further adapted to be
removably secured to a second tubular surface, such as to the
housing body of a conventional flashlight or laser pen.
[0016] Considering now the universal mounting kit 10 in greater
detail with reference to FIG. 1, the universal mounting kit 10 is
packaged in a clear transparent bag 11 for facilitating displaying
or shipping the kit 10 in a convenient manner. Within the shipping
bag 11, the various components of the kit are arranged and
generally include a support apparatus 12, a cushion pad 13, a set
14 of tie straps 4043, a set 16 of mounting pads 50-53, a battery
powered lantern 17, such as a flashlight or laser pen, and a sheet
18 of instructions directed to providing a user with a step by step
procedure for securing the support apparatus 12 removably to a
tubular surface, such as the handlebar 60 (FIG. 5) of a bicycle or
the barrel 70 (FIG. 6) of a shotgun or the barrel 80 of a rifle and
for removably securing a flashlight 90 to the support apparatus
12.
[0017] As best seen in FIGS. 1-2, the support apparatus 12
generally includes a first or tube support member 20, having an
elongated U-shaped channel 32 adapted to engage and fit the concave
surface of the handlebar 60 (FIG. 5) of a bicycle or the gun barrel
70 (FIG. 6) of a shot gun or the barrel 80 (FIG. 9) of a rifle, and
a second or lantern support member 22, having another elongated
U-shaped channel 34, which is adapted to engage and fit the concave
surface of a lantern housing, such as the housing 92 of the
flashlight 90, or a laser pen housing 62 (FIG. 6) of a laser pen
60.
[0018] As best seen in FIG. 7, the tube support member 20 and the
lantern support member 22 are secured together by a rivet or pivot
pin 24, which allows the two support members 20 and 22 to rotate in
a 360 degree circle relative to one another and which causes them
to be slightly spaced from one another. The terminal ends of the
tube support member 20 and lantern support member 22, are
sufficiently spaced apart from one another to permit the tube
support member 20 to be removably secured in a fixed stationary
position to the handlebar 60 by a pair of the tie straps, such as
the tie straps 40-41 as best seen in FIG. 5.
[0019] As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, the cushion pad 13
includes a pad 36 having one of its surfaces coated with an
adhesive 38 that completely covers the surface except at one of its
corner. A peel sheet 37 (FIG. 1) covers and protects the adhesive
38 until it is time to use the cushion pad 13 as will be explained
hereinafter in greater detail.
[0020] As best seen in FIG. 1, each of the Velcro strips 50-53 in
the set 16 of strips, have one of their surfaces also coated with
an adhesive, such as an adhesive 54, that completely covers their
respective surfaces except for at a corner portion of each strip as
indicated relative to the pile bearing strip 50 and the hook
bearing strip 51. A peel sheet 56 having a peel off here mark 57
covers and protects the adhesive 54 disposed on the pile bearing
strips 50 and 53, while the hook bearing strips 51 and 52 have a
peel sheet 58 with a peel off here mark 59.
[0021] Considering now the method of using the universal mounting
kit 10 to secure a flashlight 90 to a tubular handlebar 60 in
greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5, and 8A-B, a user not
shown removes that various components from the shipping bag 11 and
opens the instructions 18 to review the step by step assembly
procedure.
[0022] In this regard, assembly of the kit 10 begins by the user
selecting the cushion pad 13 and grabbing it at its one marked
corner where its peel sheet 37 can be grasped and pull back and
completely away from the pad 36 so that its adhesive layer 38 is
completely exposed. The pad 36 is then oriented so that the
adhesive layer 38 will come into contact with the lower support
member 20. In the regard, the user brings the pad 36 into contact
with the support member 20, attaching the cushion pad 36 to the
tubular support member 20 so that the cushion pad 36 extends along
substantially the entire longitudinal dimension of the support
member 20 and completely covering the rivet 24 as best seen in FIG.
4. In this manner, as best seen in FIG. 8A, the cushion pad 36
protects the tubular surface 60 from being scratched by the rivet
24 and further acts as a friction like gripping surface the helps
hold the support member 20 in engagement with the tubular surface
60 when the support apparatus 12 is placed thereon.
[0023] Next the user secures the support member 20 to the handlebar
60 using two of the tie straps, such as the tie straps 40 and 41
respectively. With the support member removably fixed to the
handlebar 60, the user next rotates the lantern or upper support
member 22 so that is substantially perpendicular to the tubular or
lower support member 24 as best seen in FIG. 8A.
[0024] The user at this point in the assembly process can determine
whether to more permanently secure the flashlight 90 to the support
member 22 by using the other pair of tie straps 42 and 43
respectively as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 8B, or whether to
removably secure the flashlight 90 to the support member 22 by
using the set 16 of Velcro strips 50-54. In the first instance, the
user retrieves the other pair of tie straps 42 and 43 and secures
the back of the flashlight housing 92 to the back or rear end of
the support member 22 with tie strap 42 and secures the front of
the flashlight housing 92 to the front or forward facing portion of
the support member 22 with the tie strap 43. In the second
instance, the user retrieves one pair of like Velcro strips, either
both with loops or either both with hooks, and peels away their
respective peel sheets from their respective marked corners. As an
individual one of the peel sheets 56 is completely peeled away from
the adhesive 54, the user orients the adhesive 54 so that it can be
engaged with support member 22 to either the right or left of the
rivet 24 within the channel 34 as best seen in FIG. 3. The user
then presses the surface of the adhesive 54 into engagement with
the support member 22. The user then repeats this process using the
other one of the like Velcro strips to affix it to the support
member 22 but on the opposite side of the rivet 24 as best seen in
FIG. 3. In this manner, the two like Velcro strips 51 and 52 are
secured within channel 34 of the support member 22.
[0025] The user then selects the other remaining pair of like
Velcro strips 50 and 53 and removes their respective peel sheets so
they can be affixed to the flashlight housing in a spaced apart
manner as best seen in FIG. 8B. Once the support member 20 and the
flashlight housing 92 have been affixed with the set 16 of Velcro
strips, the flashlight 90 can be removably secured within the
channel 34 of support member 22. In this manner, whenever the user
needs the flashlight 90 for other than lighting the path of travel
for the bicycle, the user can easily and quickly remove the
flashlight 90 from the support apparatus 12 member and use it for
the other purpose. Once this alternate use for the flashlight 90
has been completely, the user can once again replace the flashlight
90 within the support apparatus 12 for use as a lantern to light
the path of travel that followed by the user on his or her bicycle.
These is an important feature of the present invention as the user
can quickly and easily install the kit 10, without modification to
the bicycle and can use the flashlight 90 for multiple
purposes.
[0026] In an alternative use of the kit 10, the user can affix the
support apparatus 12 to the barrel 70 of shotgun while
simultaneously securing a lantern, such as a laser pen 60, to the
support apparatus 12. In this regard, the user places the laser pen
60 within channel 34 of the lantern support member 22 and then
while holding the pen 60 in engagement with the support member 20,
and with the support member 20 in parallel alignment with the
support member 22, the user engages the previously installed
cushion pad 36 with the barrel 70 as best seen in FIG. 6.
[0027] Next the user secures the support apparatus 12 with its
loaded laser pen 60 to the barrel 70 using a pair of the tie
straps, such as the tie straps 40 and 41 as best seen in FIG. 6. In
this manner the user quickly and easily adapts the shot gun with a
laser pen 60 that is mounted without modifying the barrel 70 and
which is mounted in such a way to allow both batteries and bulbs
within the laser pen 60 to be easily replaced if such is
required.
[0028] From the foregoing, those skilled in the art should
understand that the barrel 80 of a rifle can also be adapted to
with a flashlight 90 using a similar procedure as best seen in FIG.
9. In this regard, with the flashlight 90 held within the support
member 22, the user engages the cushion pad 36 with the barrel 80.
The user then secures the flashlight 90 and the support apparatus
12 simultaneously to the barrel 80 using a pair of the tie straps,
such as tie straps 42 and 43.
[0029] Considering now the set 14 of tie straps 40-43 in greater
detail with reference to FIG. 1, each of the tie straps 40-43 are
identical in construction so only tie strap 40 will be described
hereinafter in greater detail.
[0030] Considering now the tie strap 40 in greater detail with
reference to FIG. 1, the tie strap 40 generally includes a flexible
bundling molded of plastic or nylon having an elongated body
portion 44 having a flat side 45 and a ribbed side 46 which extends
throughout the major length of the elongated body portion 44. One
end of the body portion 44 comprises a tail end portion 47, which
is slightly rounded. The opposite end of the body portion 44 of the
strap 40 terminates in an elongated clinching eyelet 48. The eyelet
48 has an aperture 49, which is dimensioned for receiving
therethrough the body portion 44 of the strap 40.
[0031] In use, a user grasps the tail end portion 47 and its
opposite eyelet end 48 passed about a tubular member, such as the
tubular member 80 with its ribbed side in 46 in facing relation
with the tubular member 8, from its far side, ten under the tubular
member 80 and forwardly upward to a position nearest to the user,
whereupon the eyelet end 48 is held in one hand and the tail end 47
is intruded into and through the aperture 49 until the tail end
portion of the body has been forced therethrough. With the body
portion so looped about the tubular member 80, the tail end portion
is grasps and pulled until the loop formed around the tubular
member is brought into abutting engagement with the tubular member
80. The eyelet 48 is self-locking with the ribs of the body thereby
resulting in a cinching of the strap 40 to secure the strap 40
about the tubular member 80.
[0032] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG.
10 there is illustrated another universal mounting kit 110, which
is constructed in accordance to the present invention. The mounting
kit 110 is identical in construction to mounting kit 10 except that
it has a different type of support apparatus 112. In this regard,
the support apparatus 112 includes a tubular support member 120 and
a lantern support member 122.
[0033] The tubular support member 120 has a flexible wall structure
with an opening having a width dimension "D" that expands as the
support member 120 is pressed down onto a tubular surface 80 having
a larger radius than the width dimension "D" of the opening of the
support member 120. When the support member 120 is further pushed
down onto the tubular surface 80, the flexible wall opening
continues to expand until its width dimension is the same as the
radius of the tubular surface 80 and then, as the user still
continues to push the support member 120 onto the tubular surface
80, the expanded flexible walls close down or wrap into abutting
engagement with the tubular surface 80 as best seen in FIG. 10,
thereby securing the support apparatus 112 to the tubular surface
80. With the support member 120 in a snug friction tight fix with
the tubular member 80, there is no need to use any of the tie
straps to further secure the support member 112 to the tubular
surface 80. It should be understood by those skilled in the art,
that should a user desired a more secure arrangement, the user can
use the tie straps within kit 110 to achieve this purpose.
[0034] Considering the support apparatus 112 in still greater
detail, the support member 122 also includes a flexible wall
structure with another opening having a width dimension "d" that is
substantially smaller than the width dimension "D" of the opening
in the support member 120. The width dimension "d" of the opening
in support member 122 expands as the support member 122 is pressed
down onto a tubular surface 92 having a larger radius than the
width dimension "d" of the opening of the support member 122. When
the support member 122 is further pushed down onto the tubular
surface 92, the flexible wall opening continues to expand until its
expanded width dimension "d+" is the same as the radius of the
tubular surface 92 and then, as the user still continues to push
the support member 122 onto the tubular surface 92, the flexible
wall snaps or closes down into abutting engagement with the tubular
surface 92, as best seen in FIG. 10, thereby securing the support
apparatus 112 to the tubular surface 92. With the support member
122 in a snug friction tight fix with the tubular member 92 there
is no need to use any of the tie straps or Velcro strips to further
secure the support member 112 to the tubular member 92. It should
be understood however, by those skilled in the art, that should a
user desired a more secure arrangement, the user can use the tie
straps or Velcro strips within kit 110 to achieve this purpose.
[0035] Although in the preferred embodiment of the present
invention the cushion pad 13 and the set 16 of Velcro strip have
been described as being used with support apparatus 12 in a
particular manner, it is contemplated within the scope of the
present invention, that the cushion pad 13 could be used in the
lantern support member 122 to protect the lantern 17 from being
scratched by the rivet 24, and that the set 16 of Velcro strips
could be mounted for use with the support member 120 and a
supporting surface, such as the handlebar 60. Thus, while
particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed, it is to be understood that various different
modifications are possible and are contemplated within the true
spirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention,
therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure
herein presented.
* * * * *