Abstract:
A universal laptop computer mount for mounting a laptop thereon includes a mounting surface member and at least one hold down member which is pivotably mounted, slidably mounted or both pivotably and slidably mounted on the mounting surface member for securing the laptop computer to the mounting surface member. The at least one hold down member may include at least first and second clips located on opposite sides, front and rear portions or on all sides of the mounting surface to secure the laptop in place. The mounting surface member may include first and second mounting surface members wherein the second mounting surface member is slidable with respect to the first mounting surface member. The method of assembly of the mount and of securing a laptop or other object to the mount is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is directed to a universal laptop computer mount that incorporates unique features for allowing the mounting of different sized computers to permit both quick installation and removal of the computers from the mount. 
   2. Discussion of the Background Art 
   Laptop computer supports are known in the industry and are exemplified by those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,624, U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,074 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,390, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference. While each of these supports are effective in securing a laptop computer to the mount, such are unnecessarily complex in structure and thus are characterized by having a complicated design, assembly and manufacturing process. In addition, securing of the laptop computer to the mount may not result in reliable mounting of the same in the event a lateral force or an upward force on the mount is generated such as when the mount is traveling in a vehicle or during a flight on an aircraft. Accordingly, there is a need for a reliable computer mount which can secure laptop computer to the mount in a reliable fashion and can secure the same even when the mount is subject to a jarring action in the application of forces to the mount in any direction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the above-noted prior art and to make certain that a reliable mount is provided which permits securing of a laptop thereto in a easy manner and permitting assembly of the mount to be accomplished with a minimum number of parts, at a relatively low cost and obtain secure mounting in a more reliable manner than that available by conventional mounts. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a universal laptop computer mount for mounting a laptop thereon which includes a mounting surface member and at least one hold-down member pivotably mounted on the mounting surface member for securing a laptop computer to the mounting surface member in a reliable fashion. The hold-down member may comprise at least one of a plurality of clips located on opposite sides and/or clips located on front and rear portions of the mounting surface. The at least one hold-down member may comprise a projecting member located at an end portion of the hold-down member which is engageable with an upper surface portion of the laptop member, the hold-down member being pivotably movable so that the projecting member is in turn movable towards or away from the mounting surface member so as to secure the laptop in place. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a method securing a laptop computer to the mount which comprises providing a mounting surface member upon which the laptop computer is positionable, pivotably adjustably mounting at least one hold-down member to the mounting surface member and securing the laptop computer to the mounting surface member by contacting the laptop computer with the at least one bold-down member. 
   It is further envisioned that while the laptop computer is securable to the mounting member, the mounting member can be universal in nature and can be used to secure other objects to a surface. Thus, it can be understood that one of ordinary skill in the art can utilize this device to secure any portable structure to a mounting surface in a reliable manner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top, front and right side perspective view of the universal laptop computer mount in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top, front and right side perspective view thereof showing the mounting surface removed to illustrate the structure housed within the mount; and 
       FIG. 3  shows the computer mount with the cover surface thereof removed, including a cut-away view of the lock mechanism used to lock the slidable mounting surface thereof in place. 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternate embodiment of the mount. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the computer mount device in accordance with the present invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, comprises a two piece box having one portion thereof which is extendable in an outward manner to accommodate different sized laptop computers or other structures which are mountable on and securable to a mounting surface. The device incorporates the use of a laptop computer mounting surface  1  and a movable mounting surface extension  2  which is slidably mounted on mounting surface  1  by at least one hold-down clip  4 . Each of these hold-down clips  4  are secured to the inside edges of the box utilizing U-style nuts  6  or can be mounted at other locations if desired. Each curved clip  4  has a slot  8  formed therein running substantially the length of the clip  4 . The clips  4  are pressable into the U-style nuts  6  until the hole in the nut lines up with the radius of the slot  8 . The clips  4  are then attached to the inside edges of the box with appropriate fasteners  10 . 
   The U-style nuts  6  can be positioned, respectively, anywhere along the slots  8  in the curved clips  4 , so as to allow the clips to be adjusted to different heights above the computer-mounting surfaces  1 ,  2 . Since each of the clips has a curved profile, such can rotate inside the limited height of the box so as to hide the clip. This feature is important because if the clips  4  were straight, such may have to be mounted to the outside of the box and the bottom ends of the clips would hang down and cause a hazard to end users. However, it is understood that a straight clip or other orthogonal shape clip could be used if it would not hang down significantly from the box and have only limited movement in a longitudinal direction thereof or instead would only be secured in place so as to be able to pivot in a downward direction towards the computer (not shown) mounted on the mounting surfaces  1 ,  2  for securing the computer in place or pivot in an upward direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting surfaces  1 ,  2  to permit it to be removed from the mounting surfaces. 
   The clips  4  have a pin type protrusion  12  at one end thereof, such protrusion being engageable with the upper surface of the laptop computer mounted on the mounting surface  1 . 2 . While the clips  4  are shown as being mounted on the sides of the mounting surface  1  and movable extension  2 , it is of course understood that the clip could also be located or even be exclusively located on the front and/or rear sides of the mounting surfaces  1 ,  2 . The pin type protrusion  12  extends over the computer and prevents the computer from being lifted off the computer mounting surfaces  1 ,  2  either accidentally or intentionally. Thus clips  4  serve to reliably secure the laptop computer to the mount so as to prevent unauthorized renewal of the same or to prevent accidental removal or dislodging of the laptop from the mounting surfaces  1 ,  2 . The protrusion  12  may be covered with a rubber sleeve of similar material to prevent any marring or scratching of the computer. Based upon tightening or loosening of the U-style nut  6 , the position of each of the clips is adjustable along a slot  15  formed in flanges of mounting surfaces  1  and  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The nut  6  could also include a locking device as part of the structure thereof such as a key type lock or have a specially designed outer surface to permit securing of the same by a wrench of a special type of design to permit loosening of the lock of the nut. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the device incorporates the use of a mechanical friction type lock mechanism  16 . The stationary bottom  33  of mounting surface  1  has a substantially square-shaped tube  18  mounted thereto although it is understood that other shaped tubes such as a circular or an elliptically shaped tube in cross section would, for example, be possible. Tube  18  comprises at least one part of the lock mechanism  16 . The second part of the locking mechanism  16  is mountable to the movable extension or mounting surface  2 . This lock mechanism comprises a winged turn type lock  20  wherein the lock is key actuated, for example, by insertion into a key hole formed in the lock. 
   A threaded rod  22  is mountable to the backside of the lock  20 . A set of hex nuts  23  can be screwed onto the rod  22 . These nuts  23  may comprise jam nuts and are positionable where the end portion of the lock mechanism  16  is located. In addition, a square washer  24  can be placed over the threaded rod  22 . Washer  22  can be moved freely over the rod  22 . A rubber plug  26  is placed over the threaded rod  22  and pushed up so as to tightly engage the washer  24 . Next, a square nut  28  is screwed onto the threaded rod up to the rubber plug  26 . Lastly, a cotter pin  29  is installed through a hole located at the end of the threaded rod to keep the assembly from coming off the end of the threaded rod  22 . 
   When the mount is assembled, the threaded rod  22  with the previously assembled components is inserted into the tube  18  that is mounted to the stationary mounting surface  1 . Guide members  30  are mounted on surface  1  for being positioned in slots  32  formed in the movable extension  2 . This allows for a smooth linear range of adjustment of extension  2  with respect to mounting surface  1 . Once the movable extension in the form of movable mounting surface  2  is positioned in the correct location to hold the computer or other object that is to be used by the end user, the wing portion of the lock  20  is turned clockwise. This clockwise rotation will turn the threaded rod  22  and pull the square nut  28  into the rubber plug  26 , thus compressing the rubber plug between the square nut  28  and the square washer  24  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . When the rubber plug  26  is compressed, the four sides of the plug will expand and contact the inner walls of the tube  18  that is mounted on the stationary mounting surface  1 . This contact causes friction and holds the movable extension mounting surface  2  at the desired location. The key  20  in the end of the wing turn locks the threaded rod  22  in place so the rod cannot be turned in either direction. 
   To open the mechanism, the operator need only unlock the wing lock  20  by turning and rotating the wing lock in a counterclockwise direction. The square nut  28  will back off the threaded rod  22  in turn decompressing the rubber plug  26 . The plug  26  will thus return to its original shape so as to sufficiently reduce the coefficient of friction of the plug with respect to the tube  18  and the movable extension  2  will again be free to be movable either towards or away from mounting surface  1 . 
   A spacer  34  may also be provided beneath each end of tube  18  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  to align along the longitudinal axis of tube  18  with the longitudinal axis of rod  22 . Retainers  36  each have an offset flange portion with a hole (not shown) such that when inserted into the top slot and rotated upward, the hole in the flange portion that was inserted in slot  38  lines up with the bottom slot shown in  FIG. 1 . The offset in the bracket prevents each of the retainers  36  from rotating once a securing member (unnumbered) is connected thereto as shown in  FIG. 1 . The computer mounting surface  1  may also have adjustable front retainers  36 ,  36  mounted in slots  38 ,  38  formed in a side portion of the computer mounting surface and be provided with an adjustable rear support bracket  40  as illustrated. 
   It is understood that an equivalent for the fasteners  6  may include any form of nut, bolt, screw or other type of securing mechanism to allow for adjustable securing of the clips  4  in place. It is further noted that rear support bracket  40  is adjustable with respect to the L-shaped bracket  42  having a slot  14  formed therein to which it is attached which in turn secures the same to side portion of the mounting surface  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
   In the alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a bracket  44  in the form of a pin member  44  mounted on a base  46  slidably positioned on bracket  42  as shown, and is slidably attached to the base by a conventional pivot member. 
   The present invention also includes a method of securing laptop computer or other object to a mount by utilizing through the steps described above. 
   Obviously, variations on the structure shown above are possible and would be within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. These variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.