U.S. patent application number 15/934085 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-26 for no-drill permanent-like surface mounting device.
The applicant listed for this patent is AmLee Innovations Corp. Invention is credited to Fredrick J. Amato, Matthew Lee Jackson, Charles A. Lee.
Application Number | 20180209581 15/934085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50185780 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180209581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amato; Fredrick J. ; et
al. |
July 26, 2018 |
NO-DRILL PERMANENT-LIKE SURFACE MOUNTING DEVICE
Abstract
This invention relates to the configuration of a mounting base
and a method of mounting objects to hard surfaces using the
combination of at least one anchoring screw, bolt, rod, or
assembly; one mounting base; and one chemical bonding material to
perform the anchoring function.
Inventors: |
Amato; Fredrick J.; (Fort
Worth, TX) ; Jackson; Matthew Lee; (Keller, TX)
; Lee; Charles A.; (North Richland Hills, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AmLee Innovations Corp |
North Richland Hills |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50185780 |
Appl. No.: |
15/934085 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14011736 |
Aug 27, 2013 |
9958110 |
|
|
15934085 |
|
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|
61696178 |
Sep 2, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 91/08 20130101;
F16M 7/00 20130101; B29C 66/47 20130101; Y10T 156/10 20150115; B29C
65/76 20130101; B29C 65/48 20130101; B29C 65/561 20130101; F16M
13/02 20130101; B29C 65/72 20130101; A47B 91/024 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16M 13/02 20060101
F16M013/02; F16M 7/00 20060101 F16M007/00; A47B 91/08 20060101
A47B091/08; A47B 91/02 20060101 A47B091/02 |
Claims
1.-11. (canceled)
12. A mounting assembly, comprising: a rigid substantially
undeformable mounting base having a bottom surface and top surface,
the rigid substantially undeformable mounting base including one or
more threaded mounting holes fully penetrating there through; and
bond enhancing marks located in the bottom surface of the rigid
substantially undeformable mounting base, the bond enhancing marks
such that the bottom surface has a greater surface area for a given
unit area than the top surface has for the same unit area.
13. The mounting assembly of claim 12, further including one or
more threaded members engaging the one or more threaded mounting
holes.
14. The mounting assembly of claim 12, further including a chemical
bonding material configured to bond the bottom surface of the
substantially undeformable mounting base to an object, the greater
surface area for the given unit area providing improved
bonding.
15. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein the bond enhancing
marks are grooves in the bottom surface.
16. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the grooves are two
or more concentric grooves.
17. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein the top surface
includes a tapered edge.
18. The mounting assembly of claim 17, wherein the tapered edge is
about a 60-degree tapered edge.
19. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein the rigid
substantially undeformable mounting base has a circular
configuration.
20. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein the rigid
substantially undeformable mounting base has a square
configuration.
21. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein the rigid
substantially undeformable mounting base has a hexagonal
configuration.
22. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one of the
one or more threaded mounting holes is aligned substantially along
a center line of the rigid substantially undeformable mounting
base.
23. The mounting assembly of claim 12, wherein this rigid
substantially undeformable mounting base is a steel rigid
substantially undeformable mounting base.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to provisional patent
application Ser. No. 61/696,178, filed on Sep. 2, 2012.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates in general to the mounting of
equipment and other devices that are desirable to affix to surface
areas in a permanent or permanent-like manner, and particularly to
a mounting base and method of mounting equipment and other devices
of any variety of grade, duty, or weight, in a permanent-like
manner which also allows a means of removing and re-using the
mounting apparatus in similar subsequent applications without
permanently or materially damaging the mounted surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Mounting equipment and other devices (for example but not
limited to, shop or kitchen equipment, shelving, safes, etc.)
typically require that anchoring devices be screwed, nailed,
drilled, or otherwise permanently fixed into the surface to be
mounted against. There are many solutions available to mount items
of varying grade, duty, or weight, but all current solutions
require that an anchoring device penetrate into the mounted
surface, which permanently damages, weakens, marks, scars, and
otherwise destroys, or renders less useful, the immediate area
whereby the anchor penetrates.
[0005] Further, items that get mounted onto surfaces frequently
need to be removed from the mounted area or relocated. Current
devices and methods to mount items in this fashion do not consider
or allow for the removal of the anchoring mechanism without
materially damaging the mounted surface. Various patents disclose
devices and methods to mount or anchor items to flat surfaces, but
improvements are desired. For example, a common means of anchoring
a large shop tool to the floor is to drill a series of large holes
several inches deep into concrete, insert a concrete anchoring
bolt, apply a very large amount of outward and/or upward pressure
within the drilled hole of the concrete by screwing down the anchor
bolt into the concrete hole. This method weakens the concrete
surface and makes it vulnerable to a variety of subsequent damage.
And when the shop tool needs to be relocated, the anchoring bolt
must be either ripped out of the floor (further damaging the
surface) or cut flush to the floor, thus rendering that specific
area less useful or desirable for future uses.
[0006] Also, many items that need to be mounted to flat surfaces do
not get mounted because either the existing mounting options
require too much time and resources to complete, or their owners do
not desire to damage the flat surfaces required to mount the items.
Lack of a reliable mounting solution that addresses customers'
desire to quickly mount items while also allowing for a means to
quickly remove or relocate the mounting apparatus when needed, ends
up raising a variety of otherwise low to negligible risks (if the
said equipment had been mounted), including risk of injury, death,
damage, and theft. For example, safes need to be mounted to a
strong surface in order to effectively reduce the risk of theft.
But many owners of safes do not anchor them at all because of the
high degree of time and resources needed to install them, as well
as the destructive nature of conventional mounting options. This
scenario also applies to many types of equipment that should be
mounted but generally do not get mounted. For example, air
compressors, grinders, drill presses, sanders, benches, picnic
tables, event tents and awnings often fall into this scenario.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In this invention, a mounting base anchors a variety of
mountable objects to solid surfaces in a permanent-like fashion
through the use of a chemical bonding compound applied to the
base's bottom side, and through the use of a variety of attaching
mechanisms applied to the base's top side. However, this invention
also allows the mounting base to be removed and reused if desired,
and thus the mountable objects as well, without permanently
damaging or destroying the mountable objects or flat surfaces
whereupon the mounting occurred.
[0008] The invention has advantages beyond traditional mechanical
anchoring products and methods. Some advantages, without
limitation, are as follows. This invention eliminates the need
permanently damage a finished or unfinished surface (for example
but not limited to, concrete, steel, brick, wood, rock, metal,
plastic, or tile) when a heavy or large object or device needs to
be mounted upon that surface. Since the mounting base is secured
with chemical bonding material, the mounted surface area does not
get penetrated into by anything, and is thus preserved from
material. Contrast this feature with conventional mounting
technology, which for example, tends to require mounting screws or
bolts to be anchored, hammered, or otherwise penetrated into the
surface in order to perform their anchoring and fastening function,
and thus permanently damaging that same surface.
[0009] This invention also allows a mounted surface to be reused in
the future when a mounting base or mounting assembly is removed,
just as if a device had never been mounted upon it. Since the
mounting base does not penetrate into the mounted surface area, and
can be easily removed with chemical bond-breaking methods, the
structural integrity of the mounted surface area is preserved and
can be reused for any applicable reason in the future. Contrast
this with conventional mounting technology, which leaves surface
damage (for example but not limited to, holes, cracks, gashes,
gouges, tears, rips, bolts, screws, nails, rods) on the mounted
surface area when the mounted object is removed. Often, this
surface area damage prevents that immediate and surrounding surface
area from being reused again in the future, and thus reduces the
overall utility of that area. For example, if a floor-mounted piece
of equipment in a work shop needs to be relocated, conventional
mounting technologies will leave damage on the surface area whereby
the equipment was mounted. No future equipment can be mounted at
this location due to the weakened or otherwise compromised
concrete, and is thus no longer safe or fit to be used again for
this fashion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
mounting base 4 in accordance with this invention, shown
in-position within an exploded component view of a mounting base
assembly 15.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a view of the mounting base 4 and mounting base
assembly 15 of FIG. 1, showing the base and assembly in a
fully-installed configuration.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting base 4 from
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a front view of the mounting base 4 from FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a top view of the mounting base 4 from FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the mounting base 4 from FIG.
1.
[0019] FIG. 9 is an example of an alternate configuration of the
mounting base 4 from FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a second example of an alternate configuration of
the mounting base 4 from FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the mounting base 4 from
FIG. 1 in an installed configuration with chemical bonding material
12 applied to the bottom of the mounting base, and extreme cold 14
being applied to the mounting base.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the mounting base 4 from
FIG. 1 in an installed configuration with chemical bonding material
12 applied to the bottom of the mounting base, and extreme heat 15
being applied to the mounting base.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the mounting base 4 from
FIG. 1 that has been lifted off of the chemical bonding material
12.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the mounting base 4 from
FIG. 1 in an installed configuration with chemical bonding material
12 applied to the bottom of the mounting base, and an anchoring
screw, bolt or rod 5 mounted within the top-part of the mounting
base anchoring hole. The anchoring screw, bolt, or rod is being
turned in a tightening fashion 16, and leveraging the resulting
load force from the anchor screw, bolt or rod to break the chemical
bond.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the mounting base 4 from
FIG. 1 with an anchoring screw, bolt or rod 5 mounted within the
top-part of the mounting base anchoring hole. The mounting base has
been lifted off of the chemical bonding material 12 by utilizing
the methods depicted in FIG. 11, 12 or 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The present inventions now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some examples of the embodiments of the inventions are shown.
Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms
and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so
that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.
Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting assembly 15 is shown with a
mounting base 4 containing at least one mounting hole, constructed
in accordance with this invention. The mounting assembly 15
(comprising at least one mounting base 4, chemical bonding material
12, anchoring screw, bolt, or rod 5; and/or at least one mounting
nut, washer or fastening mechanism 9) may be comprised of a number
of different types, composition, and designs and the particular
ones shown are for example only. The chemical bonding material 12
is also affixed to a solid surface area (not shown). Different
attachments, equipment or other devices (all not shown) may also be
affixed to the mounting base 4 through a variety of means. One
means of affixing devices to the mounting base 4 is illustrated in
the included Figures, which employs an anchoring screw, bolt or rod
5 and at least one mounting nut, washer or fastening mechanism 9 as
illustrated. For illustrative purposes, each of the mounting
assembly 15 components has been aligned along the center line 11 of
the mounting base 4. This provides an example of how the mounting
assembly 15 components expand apart, and fit together into an
assembly. Though illustrated along a center line 11, each anchor
hole 2 and related components do not necessarily need to align with
the mounting base center line 11, but can also align with any point
on the mounting base 4.
[0028] When installed, the mounting assembly 15 can be subjected to
a variety of different forces or combinations of forces: some of
which include compression loads, tension loads and shear loads; all
of which relate to the objects that are mounted upon the mounting
assembly 15 and the environmental conditions by which the mounting
assembly 15 and mounted solid surface are subjected to. Though any
material may be used to construct the components of mounting
assembly 15, careful consideration must be made in selecting the
materials used so that each component can withstand the different
forces by which they will be subjected to when installed. In the
configuration illustrated in the related Figures, steel was used as
the designed material, though this may change to meet different
requirements.
[0029] The outer dimensions of mounting base 4 can be of any shape
or size, currently illustrated in a circular configuration, with a
tapered edge 3. The height 7 of mounting base 4 can be of any
height, though its minimum height needs to allow for enough
anchoring strength for the bottom part of anchor bolt or rod 5 to
reliably secure the objects or assemblies (not shown) that will be
mounted upon the mounting base 4. In its current configuration as
illustrated in the related Figures, the mounting base 4 is 1/2 inch
high. The width of mounting base 4 can be of any measure, and be
configured into any shape. For example, the related illustrations
show the base configured in a circular shape that is 2 and 3/4
inches in diameter, but can be any shape or size. In FIGS. 9 and
10, two examples of alternate configurations of mounting base 4 are
illustrated. But these alternate base configurations (shape, size,
material composition, bottom and top markings and patterning, etc.)
can be of any variability. Though not required, mounting base 4 may
also contain one or more tapered edge 3 of any angle, length, arch,
or other pattern. A tapered edge 3 may begin from any corner or
both corners of mounting base 4, and may extend to any length or
shape necessary to achieve the desired characteristics. For
example, in the related illustrated Figures the tapered edge 3 was
achieved with a 60-degree taper that was extended to a tapered
length of 9/16-inch.
[0030] One or more anchoring hole(s) 2 penetrates through both top
and bottom sides of mounting base 4. Each anchoring hole 2 must
create an open space within mounting base 4 so, for illustrative
purposes, that air could enter one end of the mounting base, pass
through the hole, and exit the other end of the mounting base. Each
anchoring hole may be created in any manner, can be of any size,
and the ends of each hole, as positioned on the top and bottom
planes of the mounting base 4 need not be the same size. But each
hole made within mounting base 4 must mate with the bottom part of
an anchoring bolt or rod 5 in a manner that produces an appropriate
amount of anchoring strength to withstand the forces that the
mounted objects and environment will subject upon it. Any method or
technology may be employed to mate each anchoring hole 2 with the
bottom part of an anchoring bolt or rod 5, so long as the mated
strength can withstand the related forces applied. Further, each
anchoring hole 2 must penetrate through both the top and bottom
sides of the mounting base 4, as further illustrated in FIG. 7
(mounting base 4 top view) and 8 (mounting base 4 bottom view).
[0031] There are no requirements for the width or shape of each
anchoring hole 2, except for at the top of mounting base 4, the
minimum width and shape of each anchoring hole 2 must allow the
bottom part of an anchoring bolt or rod 5 to pass through the top
of mounting base 4. In the illustrated example, a single anchoring
hole 2 was bored out to a circular shape that accepts a standard 16
thread-count bolt that is 3/8-inch in diameter. This anchoring hole
2 fully penetrates through both top and bottom sides of mounting
base 4, in a manner that if desired, an individual could pass air
into one end of the base, through the center and out the other.
[0032] It is important to note the purpose of penetrating the
bottom-part of the mounting base 4 with the anchoring hole 2, as
illustrated in FIG. 8. By extending at least one anchoring hole 2
through the bottom-part of mounting base 4, two important features
are accomplished. First, the chemical bond strength is further
enhanced, and second anchoring hole 2 allows for one method of
removing the mounting base 4 from its mounted surface area, which
will be further detailed below.
[0033] At least one anchoring screw, bolt, or rod 5, and/or at
least one mounting nut, washer or fastening mechanism 9 is mated
with the top part of mounting base 4 in order to perform the
anchoring function for mounted and secured equipment or other
objects. Any method or technology may be used to mate at least one
anchoring screw, bolt or rod 5, and/or at least one mounting nut,
washer or fastening mechanism 9 to the mounting base 4. In the
illustrated Figures, a standard 16-thread count 3/8-inch hex nut is
mated with the anchoring bolt or rod 5 of the same thread-count and
bolt diameter, but any quantity, configuration, and combination of
nuts, washers, or other fastening mechanisms may be employed to
perform the same function.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 7, mount-enhancing marks 1 may be
placed on the top surface of mounting base 4. These mount-enhancing
marks 1 can be glued, bonded, molded, prepared, finished, marked,
etched, grooved, penetrated or otherwise transformed in any fashion
onto the top surface of mounting base 4. Their purpose is to
maximize an object's mount-ability onto the mounting assembly 15 by
focusing, concentrating, securing or stabilizing the object onto
the mounting base 4.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 8, bond-enhancing marks 8 are placed
on the bottom surface of mounting base 4. These bond-enhancing
marks 8 can be molded, prepared, finished, marked, etched, grooved,
penetrated or otherwise transformed in any fashion onto the bottom
surface of mounting base 4. Their purpose is to focus and leverage
the bonding strength of chemical bonding material 12 by increasing
the resultant surface area on the faying surface of the mount
4.
[0036] A chemical bonding material 12 is applied onto either the
bottom surface of mounting base 4, onto the surface area to be used
for affixing the mounting base 4, or onto both. The volume of
chemical bonding material 12 needed to apply can be of any quantity
desired.
[0037] If a mounting base 4 needs to be removed from a mounted
surface area, there are 3 methods to perform the removal. FIG. 11
illustrates the first of the three ways. In FIG. 11, extreme cold
14 of minus 110 degrees Fahrenheit or lower may be applied to the
mounting base 4 for a certain duration of time. This extreme cold
weakens the chemical bond properties and allows for human-applied
force to break the mounting base 4 apart from the chemical bond
material 12. From the illustrated example in FIG. 11, extreme cold
14 in the form of dry ice is being applied atop the mounting base 4
to break the chemical bond strength from chemical bonding material
12. Once the extreme cold has been applied for an appropriate
duration of time, a small force-bearing object can break the
mounting base 4 apart from the chemical bonding material 12. For
example, a hand hammer (not shown) may then strike the mounting
base 4, and snap the base off of the chemical bonding material 12.
FIG. 13 shows that the mounting base 4 has now been removed from
the chemical bonding material 12.
[0038] FIG. 12 illustrates the second of the three ways to remove a
mounting base 4 from a mounted surface area. In FIG. 12, extreme
heat 15 in the form of +300 degrees Fahrenheit or higher may be
applied to the mounting base 4 for a certain duration of time. This
extreme heat weakens the chemical bond properties and allows for
human-applied force to break the mounting base 4 apart from the
chemical bond material 12. From the illustrated example in FIG. 12,
extreme heat 15 from a heat gun (not shown) is being applied atop
the mounting base 4 to weaken the chemical bond strength from
chemical bonding material 12. For example, a hand hammer (not
shown) may then strike the mounting base 4, and snap the base off
of the chemical bonding material 12. FIG. 13 shows that the
mounting base 4 has now been removed from the chemical bonding
material 12.
[0039] Finally, FIG. 14 illustrates the third of the three ways to
remove a mounting base 4 from a mounted surface area. In FIG. 14,
an anchoring screw, bolt or rod 5 is being screwed or turned inward
16 into mounting base 4 anchoring hole. This method will produce
extreme tension force upon the chemical bonding material 12 and
break the chemical bond properties, thus also breaking free the
mounting base 4 apart from the chemical bond material 12. From the
illustrated example in FIG. 14, a person (not shown) is screwing
the anchoring bolt or rod 5 in an inward fashion into the mounting
base 4 until the mounting base 4 breaks apart from the chemical
bonding material 12. FIG. 15 shows that the mounting base 4 and
anchoring screw, bolt or rod 5 has now been removed from the
chemical bonding material 12.
[0040] In addition to the benefits of this invention, as briefly
outlined in the Summary section above, this invention also saves
time and expense, compared to conventional mounting installation
and removal techniques. It eliminates key steps from conventional
techniques, which in turn significantly reduces the time and
financial cost to mount and remove devices. For example but not
limited to, no drills are needed, no drill bits are needed, no
steps to repair or patch holes in concrete, no time lost waiting
for concrete to dry. In this example, time savings from employing
this invention can range from 2 hours to several days, depending on
the nature of the conventional techniques employed. And expenses
saved can be as much several hundred dollars by eliminating the
need for specialized concrete drilling equipment.
[0041] This invention also raises the safety of the installation
process, and the immediate mounted area post-installation. There is
no Personal Protective Equipment needed to install this invention,
contrasted with what would be recommended when penetrating into
concrete, brick, or steel, or other surface material using
conventional mounting methods. There is virtually no debris
generated, and virtually no cleanup or waste protocols to follow.
There is significantly reduced risk of falling or tripping injury
caused by the unused remains from a conventionally mounted device
when not properly removed.
[0042] While the foregoing written description of the invention
enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered
presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will
understand and appreciate the existence of variations,
combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method,
and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited
by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all
embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *