U.S. patent application number 10/990896 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for locking ratchet base.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey D. Carnevali.
Application Number | 20060102823 10/990896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36385276 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060102823 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carnevali; Jeffrey D. |
May 18, 2006 |
Locking ratchet base
Abstract
A ratcheting mounting device has a substantially rigid base that
is formed with a receptor surface projected above a foot portion
that is structured with one or more through holes for securing the
base to an external surface such as a floor or wall; a
substantially rigid ratcheting coupler that is formed with an
insertion surface and an appendage coupler for securing an
appendage thereto; a plurality of cooperating truncated
pyramid-shaped teeth and sockets arranged between the respective
receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler
for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the
surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations; and
a clamping mechanism that is structured for constraining the
respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and
ratcheting coupler in different angular relationships.
Inventors: |
Carnevali; Jeffrey D.;
(Seattle, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES J RUPNICK
PO BOX 46752
SEATTLE
WA
98146
US
|
Family ID: |
36385276 |
Appl. No.: |
10/990896 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/534 ;
248/292.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 13/02 20130101;
F16C 11/10 20130101; F16M 11/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/534 ;
248/292.12 |
International
Class: |
E04G 3/00 20060101
E04G003/00 |
Claims
1. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising: a substantially rigid
base formed with a first substantially planar surface projected
above a foot portion structured with a means for securing the base
to an external surface; a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler
formed with a second substantially planar surface and an appendage
coupler for securing an appendage thereto; a plurality of
cooperating teeth and sockets arranged between the planar surfaces
of the base and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of the
ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different
stepwise angular orientations; and a clamping mechanism structured
for constraining the planar surfaces of the base and ratcheting
coupler in different angular relationships.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the clamping mechanism further
comprises a threaded member for compressing the surface of the
ratcheting coupler against the surface of the base.
3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a spring positioned
for biasing the surface of the ratcheting coupler away from the
surface of the base.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cooperating teeth
and sockets are further spaced at cooperating angular intervals in
first and second matching substantially circular patterns.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of teeth is less
than the plurality of sockets.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the base to
an external surface further comprises a means for securing the
first substantially planar surface in an upright orientation
relative to the external surface.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the appendage coupler further
comprises a cinching mechanism structured for cinching an appendage
in a parallel arrangement with the substantially planar surface of
the ratcheting coupler.
8. The device of claim 7, further comprising an elongated appendage
cinched by the cinching mechanism in a parallel arrangement with
the substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the elongated appendage further
comprises a mounting platform at an end thereof distal from the
ratcheting coupler.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the mounting platform further
comprises a partial sphere of resiliently compressible
material.
11. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising: a base formed with a
first substantially planar surface, and being further formed with a
means for securing the base to an external surface; a ratcheting
coupler formed with a second substantially planar surface, and
being further formed with a means for securing an appendage; a
means for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative
to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular
orientations; and a means for constraining the ratcheting coupler
in a selected angular relationship with the base.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for constraining the
ratcheting coupler in a selected angular relationship with the base
further comprises a means for compressing the surface of the
ratcheting coupler against the surface of the base.
13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a means for biasing
the surface of the ratcheting coupler away from the surface of the
base.
14. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for orienting the
surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the
base in different stepwise angular orientations further comprises a
plurality of cooperating sockets and teeth operating between the
surface of the ratcheting coupler and the surface of the base with
the sockets being spaced at first angular intervals in a first
substantially circular pattern and the teeth being spaced at second
angular intervals in a second substantially circular pattern that
matches the first circular pattern.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the plurality of teeth is less
than the plurality of sockets.
16. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for securing the base
to an external surface further comprises a means for securing the
base in an upright orientation relative to the external
surface.
17. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for securing an
appendage to the ratcheting coupler further comprises a means for
cinching an appendage in a parallel arrangement with the
substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.
18. The device of claim 17, further comprises an elongated
appendage cinched in a parallel arrangement with the substantially
planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein the elongated appendage further
comprises a mounting platform at an end thereof distal from the
ratcheting coupler.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein the mounting platform further
comprises a partial sphere of resiliently compressible
material.
21. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising: a base formed with a
foot that is structured for securing the base to an external
surface, and a receptor coupled to the foot and having a
substantially planar receptor face formed with a plurality of
sockets arranged in a first circular pattern at uniform first
intervals; a ratcheting coupler having a substantially planar
insertion face formed with a plurality of teeth projecting
therefrom and arranged in a second circular pattern that is
substantially the same as the first circular pattern of sockets and
at positions that correspond to the first intervals, and an
appendage coupler for securing an appendage in a ratcheting
rotational relationship to the base; and a coupler clamping
mechanism structured for securing the ratcheting coupler to the
base with the teeth inserted into the sockets.
22. The device of claim 21 wherein the plurality of teeth is less
than the plurality of sockets.
23. The device of claim 21 wherein the coupler clamping mechanism
is further structured for securing the ratcheting coupler to the
base with the teeth inserted into the sockets in different angular
orientations of the insertion face relative to the receptor
face.
24. The device of claim 21 wherein the coupler clamping mechanism
is further structured for applying an axial force along a line of
contact that forces the insertion face against the receptor
face.
25. The device of claim 21, further comprising an appendage secured
by the appendage coupler.
Description
[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. NPI-032) entitled,
"LOCKING RATCHET BASE," filed in the name of Jeffrey D. Carnevali
on the same date herewith via USPS "Express Mail" Mailing Label
Number: ED 259 545 621 US, the complete disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a mechanical mounting
device, and in particular to a secure ratcheting mounting device
for supporting external objects relative to a fixed platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Universal mounting devices are known for providing a
positionable mounting platform in different air, land and marine
vehicles. These universally positionable mounting platforms are
typically structured to support a wide variety of mobile devices,
such as cellular telephones, portable global positioning system
(GPS) receivers, notebook computers, Personal Digital Accessories
(PDAs) and other mobile devices. However secure such known
universally positionable mounting platforms are, to date these
positionable mounting platforms have been known to be limited in
load carrying capabilities.
[0004] FIG. 1, for example, illustrates one such universal mounting
device 1 that provides positionable mounting platform 2. As shown
here and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885, which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, universal
mounting device 1 is founded on a base 3 that is secured to a fixed
surface with a quantity of screws or other fasteners 4. A partial
sphere 5 of resiliently compressible material is presented on a
post 6 for access by a pair of clamping arms 7 that together form a
socket that is positionally secured relative to the partial sphere
5 when a clamping mechanism 8 is tightened. The positionable
mounting platform 2 is presented on a second sphere 9 of
resiliently compressible material that is captured in a second
socket formed at the opposite end of the clamping arms 7 and
relatively positionally secured by increased tightening of the
clamping mechanism 8. The positionable mounting platform 2 (shown
without features) is optionally structured to support any of the
above variety of mobile devices or another device or structure of
the user's choice.
[0005] However, the universally positionable mounting platform
shown here and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885 would have to
be of ungainly size to support some very large loads, for example,
loads applied at the end of a two or three foot lever arm.
Therefore, a novel mechanical mounting device for supporting such
extreme loads is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention overcomes the manufacturing and load
capacity limitations of the prior art by providing a ratcheting
mounting device having a substantially rigid base that is formed
with a first substantially planar receptor surface projected above
a foot portion that is structured with one or more through holes
for securing the base to an external surface such as a floor or
wall; a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler that is formed with
a second substantially planar insertion surface and an appendage
coupler for securing an appendage thereto; a plurality of
cooperating truncated pyramid-shaped teeth and sockets arranged
between the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base
and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of the ratcheting
coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise
angular orientations, and a clamping mechanism that is structured
for constraining the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of
the base and ratcheting coupler in different angular
relationships.
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the clamping
mechanism is structured as a threaded member for compressing the
insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler against the receptor
surface of the base. Optionally, a compression spring is positioned
between the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base
and ratcheting coupler for biasing the insertion surface of the
ratcheting coupler away from the receptor surface of the base.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality
of cooperating teeth and sockets are spaced at cooperating angular
intervals in first and second matching substantially circular
patterns. Optionally, the number of teeth is the same or less than
as the number of sockets.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the foot
portion of the base optionally secures the receptor surface in an
upright or perpendicular orientation relative to the external
surface.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the appendage
coupler for securing an appendage to the ratcheting coupler
includes a cinching mechanism that is structured for cinching an
appendage in a parallel arrangement with the insertion surface of
the ratcheting coupler.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the ratcheting
mounting device further includes an elongated appendage cinched by
the cinching mechanism in a parallel arrangement with the insertion
surface of the ratcheting coupler. According to another aspect of
the invention including the appendage, a mounting platform is
provided at an end of the appendage distal from the ratcheting
coupler. Optionally, the mounting platform at the distal end of the
appendage is structured as a partial sphere of resiliently
compressible material.
[0012] Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The 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:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates one known universal mounting device
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view that illustrates the present
invention by example and without limitation embodied as a
ratcheting mounting device;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an end view of a base portion of the ratcheting
mounting device according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is an end view of a ratcheting coupler portion of the
ratcheting mounting device according to one embodiment of the
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the embodiment of
the ratcheting mounting device illustrated in FIG. 2 that
illustrates mating of the ratcheting coupler portion with the base
portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view that illustrates the present
invention by example and without limitation embodied as a
ratcheting mounting device 10 having a base 12 with a ratcheting
coupler 14 secured thereto by a coupler clamping mechanism 16. The
ratcheting coupler 14 includes an appendage coupler 18 that
operates as a means for securing an elongated and substantially
cylindrical appendage A in a ratcheting rotational relationship to
the base 12. The appendage coupler 18 includes an appendage
clamping mechanism 20 for securing the appendage A to the base 12
through the ratcheting coupler 14. A universal mounting device 1 of
the type illustrated in FIG. 1 is optionally coupled to an end
A.sub.d of the appendage A distal from the ratcheting mounting
device 10, while a proximal end A.sub.P of the appendage A is
coupled to the ratcheting mounting device 10 through the appendage
coupler 18. For example, the distal end A.sub.d of the appendage A
operates as the base 3, whereby the post 6 is mounted on the distal
end A.sub.d of the appendage A for presenting the partial sphere 5
of resiliently compressible material for access by the pair of
clamping arms 7 of the universal mounting device 1, as illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an end view of the base 12 according to one
embodiment of the invention. The base 12 is formed of a strong and
substantially rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic, and
according to one embodiment of the invention, is formed as an
single integral unit, as by conventional machining, forging,
casting or injection molding techniques. According to one
embodiment of the invention, the base 12 includes a foot 22
structured with multiple apertures 24 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 5)
pierced with fasteners 25 that operate as a means for securing the
base 12 to a floor, wall or other external surface E for operation
of the ratcheting mounting device 10 in for supporting external
objects relative to a fixed platform. A female receptor 26 is
projected from the foot 22 having a substantially planar upright
receptor face 28 that is oriented crosswise to the floor or other
external surface E by the foot 22. For example, according to one
embodiment of the invention, multiple gussets 30 operate as a means
for supporting the receptor 26 relative to the foot 22 with the
receptor face 28 oriented in an upright manner crosswise to the
external surface E. The receptor 26 includes multiple female
sockets 32 recessed relative to the receptor face 28 and
substantially uniformly spaced by a selected angle .alpha. at
regular angular intervals I in a substantially circular pattern
P.sub.S. According to one embodiment of the invention, the
individual female sockets 32 are formed with interior wall surfaces
33 that are angularly inclined inwardly from the receptor face 28
in a truncated inverse pyramidal shape. A substantially cylindrical
aperture 34 is formed completely through the receptor 26 at
substantially the center of the circular pattern P.sub.S of the
recessed sockets 32. The aperture 34 is aligned substantially
perpendicular to the receptor face 28. The functions of the
recessed sockets 32 and aperture 34 are described herein below.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an end view of the ratcheting coupler 14 according
to one embodiment of the invention. The ratcheting coupler 14 is
formed of a strong and substantially rigid material, such as metal
or rigid plastic, and according to one embodiment of the invention,
is formed as an single integral unit, as by conventional machining,
forging, casting or injection molding techniques. According to one
embodiment of the invention, the ratcheting coupler 14 includes a
hub 36 having a substantially planar insertion face 38 which
includes multiple male teeth 40 projected therefrom. The multiple
male teeth 40 are sized and shaped to be received into and mate
with the female sockets 32 in the receptor face 28 of the female
receptor 26. According to one embodiment of the invention, when the
individual female sockets 32 of the female receptor 26 are formed
with interior surfaces 33 that are angularly inclined inwardly from
the receptor face 28 in a truncated inverse pyramidal shape, as
described herein, the mating male teeth 40 are formed with exterior
wall surfaces 41 that are angularly inclined outwardly from the
insertion face 38 in a truncated pyramidal shape that is sized to
mate with and substantially fill the inverse pyramidal shape of the
female sockets 32. The multiple male teeth 40 are arranged in a
substantially circular pattern P.sub.C that is substantially
matched to the circular pattern P.sub.S of the recessed sockets 32
in the receptor face 28 of the female receptor 26. The multiple
male teeth 40 are optionally substantially uniformly spaced by the
same selected angle .alpha. as the recessed sockets 32 at the same
regular angular intervals I of the recessed sockets 32 about the
circular pattern P.sub.C that matches the circular pattern P.sub.S
of the recessed sockets 32. Alternatively, as shown, the pattern
P.sub.C of teeth 40 is broken at intervals such that the teeth 40
are arranged in multiple clusters 42a, 42b, 42c, through 42n in the
circular pattern P.sub.C, with each of the clusters 42a through 42n
having as few as one or more than one of the male teeth 40.
Adjacent clusters 42a, 42b are angularly spaced by an angle b that
is an integer multiple of the angle .alpha. separating the
individual sockets 32, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the
individual male teeth 40 are angularly spaced on the circular
pattern P.sub.C at the angle b that is a multiple of the angle
.alpha. separating adjacent female sockets 32 on the receptor face
28.
[0023] Accordingly, the male teeth 40 are structured to enter
different ones of the female sockets 32 in different angular
rotations of the insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face 28
of the base 12. Stated differently, the matching circular
arrangements P.sub.S and P.sub.C of female sockets 32 and male
teeth 40 are structured such that the male teeth 40 fit into the
female sockets 32 at any of many different angularly rotated steps
at regular angular intervals I around the face 28 of the receptor
26. As such, the matching circular arrangements P.sub.S and P.sub.C
of female sockets 32 and male teeth 40 cooperate to provide a means
for orienting the insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face
28 in different prescribed angular orientations in stepwise
fashion, wherein the steps between different angularly adjacent
orientations is prescribed by the angle .alpha. of the intervals I
between adjacent female sockets 32 on the receptor face 28.
[0024] Radially enlarging the circular patterns P.sub.S and P.sub.C
spaces the sockets 32 and teeth 40 from the centers of the circular
patterns P.sub.S and P.sub.C, which increases the holding strength
of the ratcheting mounting device 10 by increasing the lever arm at
which the cooperating sockets 32 and teeth 40 operate. Radially
enlarging the circular patterns P.sub.S and P.sub.C and spacing the
sockets 32 and teeth 40 further from the circular centers also
increases the number of intervals I at which the cooperating
sockets 32 and teeth 40 can be placed by increasing the linear
distance between adjacent angular positions. In other words, the
sockets 32 can be positioned closer together without breaking into
one another when their circular pattern P.sub.S is larger, and
therefore, more of the sockets 32 can be emplaced, and the angle
.alpha. of the angular intervals I between them made smaller. The
size of the matching circular pattern P.sub.C of teeth 40 must also
increase to a matching size with the circular pattern P.sub.S, but
the quantity of cooperating teeth 40 does not have to increase to
take advantage of the larger quantity of sockets 32 at narrower
angular intervals I for decreasing the proscribed angular intervals
.alpha. between different angularly adjacent orientations of the
insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face 28. Accordingly,
the ratcheting coupler 14 can be rotated between the different
prescribed angles .alpha. relative to the receptor 26 and to the
floor or other external surface E through the receptor 26 and foot
22 of the base 12 by moving the teeth 40 to different ones of the
sockets 32.
[0025] A substantially cylindrical aperture 43 is formed completely
through the hub 36 at substantially the center of the circular
pattern P.sub.C of the projected male teeth 40. The aperture 43 is
aligned substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar
insertion face 38. The substantially cylindrical aperture 43
functions in combination with the aperture 34 through the receptor
26 portion of the base 12 for clamping the planar insertion face 38
securely against the receptor face 28 with the male teeth 40
inserted into different ones of the recessed sockets 32 to
constrain the ratcheting coupler 14 in a selected angular
relationship with the base 12 by means of the coupler clamping
mechanism 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, according to
one embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical apertures 34 and
43 are matching clearance holes for a threaded fastener 66 (shown
in FIG. 5) that operates as part of the coupler clamping mechanism
16 for clamping the ratcheting coupler 14 to the base 12.
[0026] The appendage coupler 18 of the ratcheting coupler 14
operates as a means for securing the appendage A (shown in FIG. 2)
in a ratcheting rotational relationship to the base 12 through the
male teeth 40 mating into the female sockets 32 in the face 28 of
the receptor 26. The appendage coupler 18 extends from the hub 36
at any convenient angle, including substantially perpendicular, as
shown. By example and without limitation, according to one
embodiment of the invention, the appendage coupler 18 includes an
optionally open-ended tubular female sleeve 44 structured to
receive the substantially cylindrical appendage A structured as a
rod or tube, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tubular sleeve 44 is
bottomed by a seat 46 that operates as a stop for the appendage A.
The appendage coupler 18 also includes the appendage clamping
mechanism 20 for securing the appendage A. By example and without
limitation, according to one embodiment of the invention, the
appendage clamping mechanism 20 is a part-tubular extension 48 of
the tubular sleeve 44 projected away from the hub 36. A
part-tubular cincture 50 extends from a longitudinal edge surface
52 of the part-tubular extension 48 to substantially enclose the
tubular space 54 defined by the part-tubular extension 48. A
cinching mechanism or clasp 56 is provided as a means for cinching
the part-tubular cincture 50 against the part-tubular extension 48
to secure the proximal end A.sub.P of the appendage A within the
tubular space 54. For example, a pair of arms 58, 60 operate as the
means for cinching the part-tubular cincture 50 against the
part-tubular extension 48. The first arm 58 projects from the
part-tubular cincture 50 slightly spaced away from the second arm
60 that projects from the part-tubular extension 48 peripheral to
the tubular space 54. A fastener 61 (shown in FIG. 2) operates
through matching apertures 62, 64 through the respective arms 58,
60 to cinch the arms 58, 60 toward one another across the small
space there between. By cinching the arms 58, 60 toward one
another, the fastener 61 reduces the inside diameter of the tubular
space 54 to secure the proximal end A.sub.P of the cylindrical
appendage A. According to one embodiment of the invention, one
aperture 62 (or 64) of the first and second matching apertures 62,
64 is a clearance hole sized to pass the fastener 61, and the other
aperture 64 (or 62) is an internally threaded aperture sized to
threadedly engage the fastener 61. Alternatively, both the first
and second matching apertures 62, 64 are structured as clearance
holes sized to pass the fastener 61, and the fastener 61 is
operated with a threaded nut.
[0027] FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the ratcheting
mounting device 10 that illustrates mating of the ratcheting
coupler 14 with the base 12. Accordingly, the upright receptor face
28 and insertion face 38 are mutually parallel with one another and
oriented substantially perpendicular to a line of contact L.sub.C.
The multiple female sockets 32 and multiple male teeth 40 are
directed opposite to one another along the line of contact L.sub.C.
As discussed herein, the circular pattern P.sub.C of teeth 40 is
matched, i.e., substantially identical, to the circular pattern
P.sub.S of the recessed sockets 32. Furthermore, the individual
male teeth 40 are structured to be received into and mate snugly
with each of the different female sockets 32. Accordingly, when the
multiple teeth 40 on the insertion face 38 are introduced into the
sockets 32 on the receptor face 28, the ratcheting coupler 14 is
angularly fixed relative to the base 12. The coupler clamping
mechanism 16 applies an axial load or force F.sub.C along the line
of contact L.sub.C that forces the insertion face 38 of the hub 36
against the receptor face 28 of the receptor 26. Because the
pyramidal shape of the male teeth 40 matches and substantially fill
the inverse pyramidal shape of the female sockets 32, when the male
teeth 40 mated with the female sockets 32 under the axial force
F.sub.C applied along the line of contact L.sub.C, the ratcheting
coupler 14 is secured in substantially fixed angular relationship
with the receptor 26. Accordingly, the appendage A cannot be
rotated relative to the base 12 and the external surface E to which
the foot 22 of the base 12 is attached, without either breaking all
the teeth 40 from the insertion face 38, or separating the
ratcheting coupler 14 from the receptor 26. The first is next to
impossible because the base 12 and ratcheting coupler 14 are both
formed of strong and substantially rigid material, such as metal or
rigid plastic, and the second is also next to impossible because
the base 12 and ratcheting coupler 14 are securely forced together
under the load F.sub.C applied by the coupler clamping mechanism
16.
[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the coupler
clamping mechanism 16 includes the threaded fastener 66 for
clamping the ratcheting coupler 14 to the base 12. The threaded
fastener 66 is, for example, a male threaded member, such as a
bolt, stud or rod, that is projected perpendicularly from the
insertion face 38 along the line of contact L.sub.C. When the
threaded fastener 66 is a stud, the aperture 34 through the
receptor 26 is a threaded aperture structured to receive and retain
the stud-type threaded fastener 66 with a threaded shaft 67
projected from the receptor face 28 along the line of contact
L.sub.C. Alternatively, the aperture 34 is eliminated, and the
threaded shaft portion 67 of the stud-type threaded fastener 66 is
projected out of the insertion surface 38, as by being originally
formed as an integral part of the receptor 26, or as being welded
or otherwise fixed to the insertion surface 38. When the threaded
fastener 66 is a bolt, the threaded shaft 67 of the bolt-type
threaded fastener 66 is sized to pass through the aperture 34, and
the bolt-type threaded fastener 66 includes a head 68 that is
oversize relative to the aperture 34 for being constrained thereby
on an opposite side 70 of the receptor 26 from the receptor face
28.
[0029] The coupler clamping mechanism 16 also includes a knob 72
(shown in FIG. 2) having an internally threaded bore 74 structured
for threadedly engaging the threaded shaft 67 of the threaded
fastener 66. The knob 72 is turnable by hand for operating in
combination with the threaded fastener 66 as a means for applying
the axial force F.sub.C that forces the insertion face 38 of the
hub 36 against the receptor face 28 of the receptor 26 along the
line of contact L.sub.C. Under the axial force F.sub.C each of the
male teeth 40 is unable to move relative to the mating sockets 32,
and in-turn the ratcheting coupler 14 is forcibly constrained
against angular rotation relative to the receptor 26 and base 12
which is constrained relative to the floor or other external
surface E by means of the fasteners 25 through the foot 22, as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0030] Other means for applying the axial force F.sub.C, such as a
cam device, are also known and are considered to be equivalent to
the coupler clamping mechanism 16 described herein for practicing
the invention.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, a coil or
other compression spring 76 is provided between the ratcheting
coupler 14 and the base 12 as a means for biasing the hub 36 away
from the receptor 26, and thereby separating the insertion face 38
from the receptor face 28 and retrieving the teeth 40 from the
sockets 32 when the coupler clamping mechanism 16 is operated in
reverse to remove the axial force F.sub.C. When the compression
spring 76 is provided as a coil or other tubular spring device, it
is optionally sized to fit over the shaft 67 of the threaded
fastener 66 as a means for retaining the spring 76 within the
assembly of the ratcheting mounting device 10 during manual
rotation and reorientation of the ratcheting coupler 14 relative to
the base 12.
[0032] Accordingly, the ratcheting mounting device 10 of the
invention effectively supports remote external objects relative to
a fixed platform at a significant distance from the fixed
platform.
[0033] According to different embodiments of the invention, the
base 12, ratcheting coupler 14, coupler clamping mechanism 16, and
appendage coupler 18 are embodied with different structure to
perform the same function to achieve the same result in
substantially the same way. For example, the hub 36 portion of the
ratcheting coupler 14 is formed with the receptor face 28 with the
sockets 32 formed therein, and the receptor 26 portion of the base
12 is formed with the insertion face 38 which includes multiple
male teeth 40 projected therefrom. In another example, the sockets
32 and teeth 40 are formed as cooperating truncated conical
structures. According to another example, coupler clamping
mechanism 16 is a cam mechanism having the knob 72 structured to
operate in concert with the shaft 67 for applying the axial force
F.sub.C that compresses the insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against
the receptor face 28 of the receptor 26 along the line of contact
L.sub.C. In still another example, the cinching mechanism 56 is
replaced with a conventional set screw in a threaded aperture
aligned with the tubular space 54. Alternatively, the appendage
coupler 18 is formed as a plate having a plurality of apertures for
mounting the appendage A thereto by means of fasteners operating
through the apertures.
[0034] Accordingly, 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. Therefore, the inventor makes
the following claims.
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