Abstract:
An apparatus and method for the magnetic-based, releasable and position adjustable attachment of an article to a support. The device is well suited for use with cameras, spotting scopes, navigational devices, distance finders, sensors, lights and other devices, but is not limited to use with these fields. The apparatus and method may include releasable mechanical mounting and/or reinforcement of the magnetic-based mounting. Anti-rotation of a mounted ancillary article is also disclosed, as is adjustable positioning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/904,790, filed on Sep. 28, 2007, and entitled Magnetic-Based Releasable, Adjustable Camera or Other Device Mount Apparatus which is hereby incorporated by reference. Application Ser. No. 11/904,790 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/083,676, filed Mar. 16, 2005, and entitled Walking Staff having Tripod Base and Adaptable Mount, which issued on Mar. 18, 2008, as U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,320. Application Ser. No. 11/083,676 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/554,298, filed Mar. 17, 2004, entitled Walking Staff with Tripod Base and having a common inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the magnetic-based releasable attachment of an item to a mount mechanism that affords adjustable positioning of the mounted item. The present invention is well suited for use with cameras, spotting scopes, navigational devices, distance finders, sensors, lights and other devices, but is not limited to use with these items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various releasable attachment mechanisms are known in the art and they include screw-on, clip-on, magnetic-based and other attachment schemes. The known attachment mechanisms that are made to attach a camera, spotting scope, navigational device and/or other article may have a beneficial purpose, but are disadvantageous for one or more of the following reasons. They may be cumbersome to use, may require an undesirable amount of time or effort to achieve attachment, do not attach with sufficient security and/or do not afford desired positioning. 
         [0004]    It is often desirable to position a camera, sensor or other device once it is mounted to a base. Various structures are known for positioning a mounted device. These include ball and socket mounts with a short or long handled set screw and mounts with multiple uniplanar adjustment mechanisms (for example, a pan and tilt head), permitting a user to adjust position in the vertical, horizontal and/or other plane. 
         [0005]    Though various devices are known, an unmet need exists for a mount mechanism that affords rapid and secure releasable attachment while also providing ready positioning of the mounted item in a significant range of positions. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, and more specifically to the prior art, prior art rapid mount devices are disadvantageous for not adequately supporting a camera with a large and heavy lens. When tilted to the side in a ball and socket mount, for example, the weight of the lens may cause the camera to rotate downward or otherwise move from a desired position. A need exists for a rapid mount that avoids downward rotation or other undesired movement of an article with significantly unevenly distributed weight. 
         [0007]    Another disadvantageous aspect of rapid mount devices of the prior art is that, to the extent they exist, they tend to require two-handed operation, particularly for securing the mounted connection of the item to be mounted to a base. A need exists for a rapid mount device that functions effectively through one-handed operation. 
         [0008]    A need further exists for a mount device that affords an audio indication of proper alignment and/or mounting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera, spotting scope or other item mount apparatus that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and affords rapid, secure and user-friendly mounting of the article to a base. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a mount apparatus that affords magnetic-based mounting with one-hand or one-finger operated mechanical reinforcement. 
         [0011]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a mount apparatus with a mechanism that prevents unwanted rotation/movement of an ancillary article mounted by the apparatus. 
         [0012]    These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of a magnetic-based releasable, adjustable camera or other device mount apparatus as described herein. 
         [0013]    The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1-2  are perspective views of one embodiment of a secure, releasable and position-adjustable mount device, with the mechanical latch in the locked position and released position, respectively ( FIG. 1  has a palm rest covering the magnet and  FIG. 2  has an article attachment member above the magnet). 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3-4  are an exploded perspective view and a non-exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the secure, releaseable attachment components of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mount device of  FIG. 1  used to mount a camera to a walking staff or tripod. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of one embodiment of a mount member in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of one embodiment of a secure, releasable and position-adjustable mount device  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown. In  FIG. 1 , a palm rest  90  covers magnet  41  and the mechanical locking member  44  is in the closed or locked position. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , another perspective view of the mount device of  FIG. 1  is shown. In  FIG. 2 , a mount member (discussed below) is positioned over and aligned for magnetic attachment to magnet  41 . Locking member  44  is shown in the released or unlocked position. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , an exploded perspective view and a non-exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the secure, releaseable attachment components  20  of device are respectively shown. It should be recognized that the perspective of  FIGS. 3-4  is turned a little more than approximately 90 degrees clockwise around a vertical axis from the perspective of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 2 , an exposed threaded member  62  is shown. In  FIG. 1 , this member is covered by palm rest  90 . The palm rest covers the magnet to protect it from damage or fouling. 
         [0022]    Mount device  10  is intended to releasably and securely mount and position an ancillary article. The ancillary article may be any device with a suitable attachment mechanism. This may include a camera, spotting scope, navigation device (including a distance or angle finder), sensor, light, palm rest and any other article of appropriate size, weight and configuration to attach to threaded member  62  (or to another suitable mounting mechanism used in place of member  62 ). Mount device  10  may in turn be mounted to any suitable substrate including, but not limited to, a tripod, monopod, light stand, frame, wall, or any other base, with positioning components  8  as shown in  FIG. 1  or without those components as shown in  FIG. 4 . It should be recognized that while a threaded member  62  is shown, any means of attaching upper mount portion  60  to an ancillary article, including releasable and non-releasable (e.g., glue, weld, integrally formed) arrangements, may be used without departing from the present invention. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates the mounting of a camera  92  as an ancillary article through mount device  10  to a tripod or monopod  5 .  FIG. 6  shows the teeth or protrusions  65  in the mount device  64  of upper mount portion  60 . These teeth work in concert with a complementary configuration in the disk member  33  of the lower mount portion to provide anti-rotation of a mounted ancillary article as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0024]    Mount device  10  may include a body or housing  11  that is configured at least in part to define a socket  12  that holds a ball  13 . A set screw  15  releasably locks the position of ball  13  within socket  12 . An extender  17  may protrude from ball  13  and couple to lower mount portion  30 . The releasable locking ball and socket arrangement  8  permits positioning an ancillary article  90 , 92  through various positions in three mutually orthogonal dimensions. It is known in the art. 
         [0025]    The lower mount portion  30  preferably includes a base structure  31  comprised of a plate  32  and a correspondingly shaped disk member  33  having a central recess  34 , a plurality of sequentially arranged protrusions  35  and recesses  36  and a mechanical locking recess  37 . Plate  32  may include one or more openings  38  through which screws  39  are inserted that mount disk  33  to plate  32 . Plate  31  may also include an opening  18  through which extender  17  is mounted and secured, thereby fixedly mounting the base structure about the extender  17 . 
         [0026]    The base structure  31  may have a central recess  34  or be otherwise configured to receive a magnet  41 . The base structure may also be configured to securely receive a pivot pin  43 . A mechanical locking member  44  is preferably mounted to pivot pin  43  and configured for movement between a locked position shown in  FIG. 1  and an unlocked or open position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    Locking member  44  may include a single piece of firm yet flexible material that is configured to achieve a secure “snap” fit or the like. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, plastic, steel, aluminum, or the like. In one embodiment, member  44  may include several inwardly disposed flange sections. The bottom two flange sections  46 - 47  preferably extend under disk  33  while the upper two flange sections  48 - 49  preferably extend over the mount disk  64  of the upper mount portion  60 . Flange section  47  on the locking end of locking member  44  preferably has a foot  51  that extends into locking recess  37  in disk  33 . 
         [0028]    The locking member  44  may include a movably coupling region  54  (a first region) and a locking region  55  (a second region). The locking flange  47  is preferably provided at the locking region  55 . The locking region may be movable relative to all or a portion if the first region, if the locking member is formed of a flexible material or if the locking region is otherwise configured to be movable relative to the first region. 
         [0029]    An actuator member  56 , that extends outwardly (from a vertical axis) beyond an adjacent portion of the locking member for ready contact by a user&#39;s finger, is preferably provided within or on the locking member  44 . In a more preferred embodiment, the actuator member  56  is provided in or near the second or locking region  55 . This permits a user&#39;s fingers to readily contact actuator  56  and thus operate device  10  with one hand or finger. 
         [0030]    The upper mount portion  60  may include threaded member  62 , mount disk  64 , a clip or like item  68  to hold the threaded member, and a spacer washer  71  that provides spacing between an ancillary article and device  10  so that the upper flange sections  48 - 49  can fit under the article to mechanically secure it. Threaded member  62  is preferably seated in a recess in the underside of mount disk  64  (not shown in the perspective of  FIGS. 2-3 ) and extends through opening  67  in mount disk  64  and opening  69  in spacer washer  71 . Mount disk  64  preferably includes a plurality of anti-rotation protrusions  65  and recesses  66  that are preferably geometrically complementary to protrusions  35  and  36  of the base structure. 
         [0031]    Spacer washer  71  may be formed of a rubber or like material that provides a higher friction surface and some degree of cushioning against physical shock. It may be glued on to mount disk  64 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the upper mount portion components assembled together and mechanical locking member  44  swung to the open position. 
         [0032]    Mount disk  64  is preferably formed of a magnetically active material for magnetic based releasable attachment to magnet  41 . Suitable material is known in the art. The position of the magnet is shown in FIGS.  2 , 3  and  5 , yet obscured from view in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Magnet  41  may be retained in disk  33  by a stronger magnetic attraction to disk  33  and/or gluing or other mechanical retention means. 
         [0033]    It should be recognized that disk  33  in which the magnet  41  is affixed may be made of non-ferrous or ferrous material. If the plate includes ferrous material than the magnetic field radiating from magnet  41  is enhanced on the side opposite the ferrous material of disk  33 , thus the side towards mount disk  64 . This achieves a stronger magnetic connection of mount disk  64  than when disk  33  is formed of non-ferrous material (or permits use of a magnet of lesser strength). 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of mount device  10  mounting a camera to a walking staff or tripod is shown. The upper mount portion  60  is mounted via threaded member  62  to the underside of an ancillary article  92 , a camera in the embodiment of  FIG. 5  (screwed into the standard threaded recess). The lower mount portion  30 , together with positioning components  8 , is mounted to the staff or tripod or other base  5 . 
         [0035]    The ancillary article with upper mount portion  60  connected to it is positioned over the lower mount portion such that the toothed protrusion and recess  65 , 66  of the upper mount portion  60  align with those of the lower mount portion. Magnet  41  magnetically pulls mount disk  64  on to disk  33  and as the protrusions slide off one another towards their corresponding recesses, the magnetic attraction causes the protrusions to snap into place producing an audible “click” sound. This click sound provides audible verification of proper alignment and magnetic retention. The mechanical locking member  44 , shown in the open position in  FIG. 5 , may then be snapped into place, mechanically securing the ancillary article. Mechanical locking member  44  can be readily moved into and out of the locking position by use of the thumb or finger of a user applied to actuator member  56 , permitting one-hand operation. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a side view of one embodiment of mount disk  64  in accordance with the present invention is shown.  FIG. 6  illustrates the preferably angled side walls  75  between protrusions  65  and recesses  66 . The rise or vertical dimension of the side walls is preferably at or greater than two times the run or horizontal dimension. The angle, α, from horizontal is preferably between 60 and 90 degrees and more preferably from 70 to 85 degrees. 
         [0037]    While the side walls and/or their transitions to the recessed or protruded surfaces may have some curve, they are preferably substantially angled (or otherwise configured) to provide more anti-rotation resistance (for example, than a softer sinusoidal or more gently sloped pattern). Angled side walls also produce a “click” sound when the protrusions are snapped into their complementary recesses by the force of the magnet. 
         [0038]    The anti-rotation components (the configuration of disk  33  and mount disk  64 ) may be used to support a camera with a heavy lens or other unevenly weighted article in a fixed position. A user may wish to tilt a camera at 90 degrees or some other inclination. If the camera has a heavy lens, the weight of the lens may cause the camera to rotate downward, i.e., the strength of the magnet alone may not be sufficient to hold the camera and lens in a desired position. The anti-rotation components provide sufficient resistance to hold a camera with a heavy lens, or another non-balanced load. 
         [0039]    In addition, the regularly repeating patterns of the protrusions and recesses permits a user to move a mounted camera (or other article) in fixed intervals. In the  FIG. 5 , for example, the pattern repeats every 30 degrees, giving a user  12  unique settings at which to position a mounted article. 
         [0040]    This indexed arrangement is also beneficial in permitting a photographer to take panorama or landscape photographs, for example, a user can mount a camera on a tripod and position it at regular intervals, enabling the photographer to take (or compile) a 360 degree wide-angle composite photograph. 
         [0041]    While a plurality of regularly spaced protrusions and recesses is shown, a single protrusion and recess may suffice to achieve anti-rotation. 
         [0042]    The ball and socket arrangement shown herein permits a camera or other device to be moved in three mutually orthogonal dimensions. It should be recognized that the present invention also supports movement of the mounted object in less than three mutually orthogonal dimensions, and the use of other positioning mechanisms that achiever position in two or three mutually orthogonal dimensions. 
         [0043]    In addition, while a ball and socket positioning unit is shown in FIGS.  1 , 2  and  5 , it should be recognized that the present invention, for example, the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , may be mounted to a pan and tilt unit, or to any other movable or non-movable base without departing from the present invention. 
         [0044]    It should also be recognized that the position of magnet  41  and the magnetically active material of disk  64  may be reversed. 
         [0045]    While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.