U.S. patent application number 15/086019 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-05 for twist-base mount.
The applicant listed for this patent is Timothy P. Stender. Invention is credited to Timothy P. Stender.
Application Number | 20170284592 15/086019 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59959217 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170284592 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stender; Timothy P. |
October 5, 2017 |
TWIST-BASE MOUNT
Abstract
The Twist-Base Mount couples a single-screw,
substrate-penetrating element with an elastically-deformable,
concave base element that, once installed, acts as a spring,
exerting a downward force upon the substrate around its
circumference. Because the base element is rigidly attached to the
substrate-penetrating element, a force applied to the Mount
parallel to the plane of the substrate is offset by the pressure of
the perimeter of the base element against the substrate, resulting
in additional strength. The Mount's single-screw, self-boring
element allows quick and easy installation. The spring-like
base-element permits 360-degree rotation of the Mount while
maintaining uniform pressure against the substrate, thereby
preserving strength regardless of rotational positioning. The mount
remains economical in relation to mounts of similar strength and
rotational adjustability due to its insert-molded construction.
Inventors: |
Stender; Timothy P.;
(Otsego, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stender; Timothy P. |
Otsego |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59959217 |
Appl. No.: |
15/086019 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 3/13 20130101; F16B
5/0685 20130101; F16L 3/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16M 13/02 20060101
F16M013/02; F16L 3/02 20060101 F16L003/02; F16M 11/06 20060101
F16M011/06 |
Claims
1. A stable, rotatably-adjustable mount for a fixture, comprising:
a plastically-deformable, domeshaped base having a convex,
fixture-supporting topside portion and a concave, substrate-facing,
underside portion opposite the topside portion, having a
substrate-engaging portion defined by a circumferential edge,
wherein the dome shaped base is a section of a hollow sphere cut by
a plane; a single screw with a non-circular head that resists
twisting, said head rigidly embedded in a conical hub extending
perpendicularly away from a center of the underside portion, said
screw projecting perpendicularly away from the conical hub and
having a pointed substrate-engaging tip and sharp threads to
facilitate: (a) self-boring penetration of the substrate, (b)
compression of the circumferential edge of the base against the
substrate, and (c) a corresponding elastic deformation of the dome;
and a fixture attached to the fixture-supporting portion of the
base, wherein said hub includes a bottom portion having a flat
surface that acts as a stop to limit deformation of the wall of the
hub.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said circumferential edge has
protuberances uniformly spaced apart along the edge to provide
additional friction between the edge and the substrate to prevent
unintentional rotation of the base.
3. A device for securely and rotatably holding a first object on a
surface of a second object, comprising: a deformable hollow base
having a wall defining a dome shape, the wall having a lower
circumferential edge for engaging a substantially flat surface of
the second object, wherein the dome shape is a section of a sphere
cut by a plane; and a single screw extending lengthwise from a top
of the dome-shaped base along an axis perpendicular to a plane
defined by the lower circumferential edge of the dome shaped base,
wherein the base is comprised of a thermoplastic material and a
non-circular head of the screw is embedded in the thermoplastic
material of the base.
4-5. (canceled)
6. The device of claim 3, in which a countersunk hole is defined at
the top of the dome-shaped base and the screw includes a shank that
extends through the hole and a head seated in a countersink of the
hole.
7. The device of claim 3, in which the dome-shaped base is
comprised of a polyolefin.
8. The device of claim 7, in which the polyolefin is
polypropylene.
9. The device of claim 3, in which a plurality of nubs are defined
on the lower circumferential edge of the wall of the dome-shaped
base.
10. (canceled)
11. The device of claim 3, in which the dome shape is a section of
an ellipsoid cut by a plane perpendicular to a major or minor axis
of the ellipsoid.
12. The device of claim 3, in which the screw has a thread density
of at least 10 threads per inch.
13. The device of claim 3, in which the screw has a thread density
of at least 16 threads per inch.
14. The device of claim 3, in which the screw has a tapered
shank.
15. The device of claim 12, in which the screw is self-tapping.
16. The device of claim 12, in which the screw is
self-drilling.
17. The device of claim 3, in which a length ratio of the width of
the base to the height of the base is from 4 to 8.
18. The device of claim 3, in which a length ratio of the width of
the base to the height of the base is about 6.
19. The device of claim 3, in which the base includes a hub portion
extending from the top of the base toward a plane defined by the
lower circumferential edge of the wall of the base, the bottom of
the hub having a flat surface that acts as a stop to limit
deformation of the wall of the hub.
20. The device of claim 1, in which the diameter of the base is
from 1.5 to 2.5 inches and the length of the screw is from 0.5 to
1.5 inches.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This invention pertains to the field of mounts and mounting
systems, and more particularly to a single-screw, rotatable
mounting system for affixing a fixture to a substrate.
[0003] The related art includes mounting systems that comprise a
planar base element designed to rest against a substrate and a
substrate-penetrating element that extends orthogonally downward
from the base element for affixing the mount to the substrate.
[0004] Mounting systems vary in strength (the amount of weight that
can be supported when affixed to given substrate), speed of
installation (the amount of time required to affix the mount to a
substrate), rotational adjustability (the degree to which the mount
can pivot after installation while maintaining strength), and
economy (the degree to which the mount is not costly). While all
four attributes are desirable, they are, in general, mutually
exclusive or offsetting. For example, a strong mount would be
expected to cost more, due to its complexity or materials, or
require more time to install, perhaps due to multiple
substrate-penetrating elements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] The Twist-Base Mount solves the preceding dilemma by its
unique structure, which couples a single-screw,
substrate-penetrating element with a flexible, concave base element
that, once installed, acts as a spring, exerting a downward force
upon the substrate around its circumference. Because the base
element is rigidly attached to the substrate-penetrating element, a
force applied to the mount parallel to the plane of the substrate
is offset by the pressure of the perimeter of the base element
against the substrate, resulting in additional strength. Yet the
mount's single-screw, self-boring, substrate-penetrating element
still allows quick and easy installation, and the spring-like,
concave base-element permits 360-degree rotation of the mount while
maintaining uniform pressure against the substrate, thereby
preserving strength regardless of rotational positioning.
Nonetheless, the mount remains economical in relation to mounts of
similar strength and rotational adjustability due to its
insert-molded construction, in which the elastic base element is
formed and rigidly affixed to a rigid substrate-penetrating element
(such as a steel screw) by a single-step, plastic-injection molding
process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a sectioned top view of the Twist-Base Mount
showing the self-boring single screw molded into the bottom of the
base element and a conduit holder attached to the top of the base
element.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectioned side view of the Twist-Base Mount
showing the self-boring single screw protruding from the bottom of
the base element and a conduit holder attached to the top of the
base element, with the holder oriented perpendicular to the point
of view.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a sectioned side view of the Twist-Base Mount
showing the self-boring single screw protruding from the bottom of
the base element and a conduit holder attached to the top of the
base element, with the holder oriented parallel to the point of
view.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a sectioned bottom view of the Twist-Base Mount
showing the self-boring single screw molded into the bottom of the
base element and a conduit holder attached to the top of the base
element.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the Twist-Base Mount showing
the top of the base element, a partially-sectional view of the
self-boring single screw protruding from the bottom of the base
element, and a conduit holder attached to the top of the base
element, with the holder oriented at a 45-degree angle to the point
of view.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the Twist-Base Mount showing
the bottom of the base element, the self-boring single screw
protruding from the bottom of the base element, and a
partially-sectional view of a conduit holder attached to the top of
the base element, with the holder oriented at a 45-degree angle to
the point of view.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a sectioned top view of a variation of the
Twist-Base Mount in which the self-boring, single screw is not
insert-molded into the base element, but rather a counter-sunk hole
is provided into which a separate, self-boring single screw can be
inserted. A conduit holder attached to the top of the base
element.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a sectioned side view of a variation of the
Twist-Base Mount in which the self-boring, single screw is not
insert-molded into the base element, but rather a counter-sunk hole
is provided into which a separate, self-boring, single screw can be
inserted. A conduit holder attached to the top of the base element,
with the holder oriented perpendicular to the point of view.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a sectioned side view of a variation of the
Twist-Base Mount in which the self-boring, single screw is not
insert-molded into the base element, but rather a counter-sunk hole
is provided into which a separate, self-boring, single screw can be
inserted. A conduit holder attached to the top of the base element,
with the holder oriented parallel to the point of view.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a variation of the
Twist-Base Mount showing the top of the base element in which the
self-boring, single screw is not insert-molded into the base
element, but rather a counter-sunk hole is provided into which a
separate, self-boring, single screw can be inserted. A conduit
holder attached to the top of the base element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a stable, rotatably-adjustable,
self-boring mount for fixtures (the "Twist-Base Mount" or "Mount"),
comprises a hollow, deformable, dome-shaped base element 11 made of
a thermoplastic material. The dome shape can be a section of a
sphere or an ellipsoid cut by a plane in which the ratio of the
width of the base to the height of the base can be between 4 inches
and 8 inches. The diameter of the base can be from 1.5 inches to
2.5 inches. A self-boring, screw element 12 is attached to the
underside of the base element. Base element 11 comprises a convex,
fixture-supporting topside portion 9, a concave, substrate-facing,
underside portion 3 opposite the topside portion, a generally
cylindrical or frustoconical hub 4 extending perpendicularly away
from the center of said underside portion 3, and a
substrate-engaging portion defined by a circumferential edge 2. A
plurality of protuberances 1 (each, a "detent" or "nub") are
defined on the circumferential edge 2. Each detent can have a
hemispherical shape and a base diameter less than or equal to the
width of the edge 2. Protuberances 1 can be uniformly spaced-apart
along the circumferential edge 2. The detents provide additional
friction between the edge 2 and the substrate to prevent
unintentional rotation of the base 11. Hub 4 has a flat lower
surface. When the Mount is installed, the lower surface of hub 4
abuts the substrate, preventing further penetration of the
substrate by screw element 12, which in turn prevents an excessive
deformation of base 11. Screw element 12 comprises a non-circular
head portion 5 (for instance, a hex head, as depicted, or a
thumb-screw head) that resists twisting when embedded in the base
element, a shaft with a threaded portion 8, an optional
non-threaded portion 10, and a pointed substrate-engaging tip with
sharp threads to facilitate self-boring penetration of the
substrate and fixation to the substrate with sufficient grip to
compress the circumferential edge 2 against the substrate and
effectuate a counteracting elastic deformation of the dome-shaped
base element 11. Non-circular head portion 5 is rigidly embedded in
hub portion 4. Threaded portion 8 can have a thread density between
10 and 16 threads per inch. Threaded portion 8 and non-threaded
portion 10 (collectively, the "shank" of the screw element) are,
optionally, tapered. The screw element has a tip 6 that is,
optionally, self-tapping and/or self-drilling. The length of the
screw can be from 0.5 to 1.5 inches. A fixture such as a conduit
holder 7 is attached to the topside of the base element.
[0017] Because the base element 11 is rigidly attached to the screw
element 12, a force applied to the fixture 7 in the plane
perpendicular to the axis of the screw element 12 is counteracted
by a force exerted on the substrate by the circumferential edge 2
of the elastically-deformable, spring-like base element 11. Unlike
the prior art, this spring-like quality imparts additional strength
to the Twist-Base Mount, while the Mount's single-screw,
self-boring, substrate-penetrating element still permits quick and
easy installation, and the spring-like quality of base element 11
permits 360-degree rotation of the mount while maintaining uniform
pressure against the substrate, thereby preserving strength
regardless of the rotational positioning of the Mount.
[0018] FIGS. 7-10 depict a variation of the Twist-Base Mount (the
"Countersunk Mount") that is identical to the Twist-Base Mount
except that a self-boring, single screw is not insert-molded into
the base element, but rather a countersunk hole is provided into
which a separate, self-boring, single screw can be inserted and
seated. The features of the Countersunk Mount depicted in FIGS. 7,
8, 9, and 10 are identical to those of Twist-Base Mount depicted in
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 except that the screw element 12 appearing in
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is absent and instead, in the same location, a
hole 13 is bored through the center and along the axis of the base
element 11 and the hub 4. Said hole has a wider, optionally conical
and tapered, upper portion 14 and a narrower lower portion 15 such
that a screw (supplied separately), comprising a head portion and a
narrower shaft portion, where said head portion is narrower that
the diameter of the wider upper portion 14 of the hole, but wider
that the diameter of the narrower lower portion 15 of the hole, can
be inserted into the hole with the bottom of said head portion
seated against the surface formed by the junction of the wider
upper portion 14 and the narrower lower portion 15 of the hole 13,
or if the upper portion of the hole is conical and tapered, then
against its conical, tapered surface. The Countersunk Mount is
affixed to the substrate with a separately-supplied screw.
[0019] The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-10, wherein a conduit
holder is attached to the top of the rotatable base, is just one
possible use of the Twist-Base Mount. Other embodiments may
incorporate different holders, fixtures, hooks, anchors, or cleats
in place of the conduit holder.
[0020] A Twist-Base Mount can be made by insert-molding a 1.5''
steel screw element 12 with a polypropylene 2'' diameter base
element 11 in an injection-molding machine. Typically, the wall
thickness of base element 11 (i.e. the distance between the convex,
fixture-supporting topside portion 9 and the concave,
substrate-facing, underside portion 3) is uniform. One suitable
wall thickness when the base is 2'' in diameter and made of
polypropylene is 0.093 inches. The base element 11 may be made of
any elastic material so long as the wall thickness of the base
element is adjusted correlatively to produce a similar modulus of
flexibility. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the hub 4
extends from the center of the underside portion 3 of the base 11
in the direction of the substrate along the axis of the screw 12 a
distance less than the furthest extent of the nubs on the
circumferential edge by 150% of the thread pitch of the screw. This
relationship between the lower extent of the base 11 and the lower
extent of the hub 4 permits the base to rotate 360 degrees while
maintaining contact between the nubs and the substrate, yet avoids
excessive deformation of the base by over-penetration of the screw
into the substrate.
* * * * *