Abstract:
A positioner member having a spherically curved wall with an opening through it, a receiver having a surface complementary to the curved wall to nestably interfit with it, a releasable locking member disposed behind the curved wall, and an elongated connector member extending from the receiver through the opening in the curved wall and into engagement with the locking member to permit tightening and loosening of the positioner and receiver, whereby they may be moved relative to one another in a three-dimensionally orbital manner when the connector and locking element are loosened but immovably clamped when these two elements are tightened. The positioner member is attachable to a desired external support such as an automobile dashboard, and the receiver is attachable to a brake controller or other such device. The receiver may be integral with the brake controller, formed in or attached to a side thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/110,235 filed Nov. 30, 1998, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to variable-attitude mounting devices or mechanisms, which are used to hold a desired object in one or more selected positions for use by an operator, and in a more particular sense relates to a variable-attitude or “universal” type mounting device for operator-controllable devices, for example controllers for actuating and controlling vehicle brakes, especially electrically-actuated brakes on a towed vehicle such as a trailer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the past, towed vehicle brake controllers (as well as other such hand-operated devices) have typically been mounted in operating position by using either a very simple bracket or other such mounting device or by a direct-mounting means such as adhesive or velcro, etc., which held the controller or other such device in a fixed position once applied or installed. In more recent times, simple pivot mounts have come into use which permit adjustment in at least one axis; usually, by utilizing a generally U-shaped yoke or clevice mount to which the controller is attached at mutually opposite points along its sides, thus providing an upwardly and downwardly tiltable mount which enables the user to correspondingly adjust the operating position of the controller to at least some extent, in order to make it more convenient. Other such known mounting devices have included a slide mechanism which permits the controller and/or the U-shaped holder to be raised or lowered as well as tilted, thereby providing a certain additional amount of operational flexibility. 
     Although there has been this limited amount of progress over time, none of the aforementioned devices have provided optimal position-selection capability for the operator, since the degree and range of motion they provide is so relatively limited. Furthermore, these prior art devices and methods have left a great deal to be desired from the standpoint of appearance as well as that of functionality, since most of them have been relatively unattractive mechanical devices, often made from simple metal stampings or the like. 
     Accordingly, the prior art has not provided mounts for brake controllers or the like which were either attractive or which permitted multi-directional positioning of the controller, and this last-mentioned shortcoming has made it increasingly unlikely that the vehicle operator will be able to orient the controller in the particular position needed for optimum performance. That is, since many such controllers include a gravitationally affected inertia sensor for detecting momentum changes associated with vehicle braking, these controllers require particular positioning attitudes which must be within a specified range of verticality for proper operation. With the increasingly complex shapes of automotive dashboards which continue to occur, it becomes increasingly difficult to find an appropriate mounting site for the controller which will provide the desired operational positioning, particularly if the known types of mounts are used since this requires, ready and uncomplicated access to the operator for manual adjustment and operation, freedom from interference or interaction with other automotive controls or the like in the area, positioning which is not objectionably prominent, and a shape and surface configuration which permits the necessary functional orientation for the inertial sensor, etc. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a substantial and desirable step forward in the art in comparison to conventional mounting devices such as those referred to above. This is accomplished by providing an adjustable mounting structure or mechanism which will securely hold the controller or other such device in a particular position which is selected from a practically unlimited number of possible such positions, achieved through allowable motion of the controller/device in both pitch and yaw axes as well as about both a pivot axis and a translational axis. 
     Trailer brake controllers are located in and operated from the towing vehicles, and are usually mounted on or near the dashboard. The present invention provides a new form of variable-attitude, selectable-position mounting device for brake controllers and other such devices which easily and readily lends itself to optimal controller positioning on practically any dashboard shape, and it does so in a most economical and easily-manufacturable manner, utilizing a minimum of parts which are readily and economically manufacturable and which require only minimal assembly time while require virtually no subsequent maintenance and involve essentially no likelihood of subsequent malfunction or failure. 
     In addition to the foregoing objectives and advantages, the present invention provides a new form and type of adjustably positionable mount for brake controllers and the like which provides an aesthetic and attractive exterior appearance, and which lends itself to direct integration with the controller or other such device which it is being used to position, by conformably configuring the adjacent surface of the controller, or by utilizing a simple, inexpensively manufactured and easily implemented adapter device to be disposed therebetween. 
     The foregoing principal aspects and features of the invention will become better understood upon review of the ensuing specification and the attached drawings, describing and illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a brake controller mounted beneath a surface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective of the mount alone, shown apart from the controller and mounting surface; and 
     FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional side elevational view showing the apparatus of FIGS.  1  and  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The basic nature of a preferred form of mounting apparatus in accordance with the invention is illustratively depicted in FIG. 1, in which a controller  10  is suspended beneath a support surface  12  (for example, part of an automotive dashboard) by the mounting apparatus  14 . While the device to be mounted by use of the invention may in a broad sense be essentially any operator-controllable device of most any shape and particular type, the controller  10  may be regarded as a typical example of a trailer brake controller used in the automotive field. As described further below, however, the particular controller  10  illustrated herein does include at least one special attribute which allows it to be in effect integrated with the mounting apparatus  14 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, however, the controller  10  is shown to additionally include a basically conventional form of pivot mounting pad  16  disposed along the side nearest the viewer, it being understood that a complementary such pivot pad will also be provided on the opposite such side, both being for use with conventional pivot-type mounts as described above, if and where desired. When the preferred mounting apparatus  14  is utilized, the pivot pads  16  are unnecessary. 
     As generally seen in FIG. 1, the mounting apparatus  14  has a semi or partially spherical dome-like exterior portion, and includes a plurality of attachment recesses  18  which enable attachment of the mounting apparatus to the support surface  12  by use of mechanical fasteners such as screws or the like. As indicated below, other types of attachment means are also readily accommodated by the apparatus  14 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 in exploded form, in which it will be seen that the mounting apparatus  14  basically comprises only three parts, i.e., a disk-like base  20 , an interior slide element  22  (sometimes referred to as a locking element), and an outer shell  24  which comprises a segment of a spherically shaped basically hollow member (sometimes referred to as a positioner member). As generally illustrated in FIG.  1  and as described further below, the base  20 , slide/locking element  22 , and positioner member/outer shell  24  fit together in a nestable manner to provide a unitary operating device having a generally flat (or other desired configuration) surface on one side (i.e., the bottom side of base  20 , shown closest to support surface  12 ) and a spherically configured opposite side (i.e., the outer surface of shell  24 ). 
     The spherically configured exterior of outer shell  24  fits conformably into a corresponding recess  26  in the adjacent surface of controller  10  (sometimes referred to as a receiver), preferably by providing smoothly slidable and correspondingly spherical surfaces on each which smoothly interfit with one another and thus provide numerous points of mutual contact. Of course, a simple circular opening would also serve to receive the spherical outer shell  24 , but would only contact it along an annular series of points. Broadly considered, either such receiver configuration would constitute a “recess,” however. 
     The assembled mounting apparatus  14  is held in place against the adjacent surface of controller  10  by an elongated connector  28  such as a machine screw or bolt, which protrudes outwardly through an appropriately sized aperture  30  at the bottom of spherical recess  26  (entering from the opposite side of the controller  10  and extending through a passage therebetween). Connector  28  engages a correspondingly sized and internally threaded aperture  32  that extends through slide/locking element  22  (preferably, through a hub-like thickened portion  34  of the latter, provided for additional strength). 
     The component parts of mounting apparatus  14 , i.e., base  20 , slide element  22 , and positioner member  24 , are illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3, in which it may more clearly be seen that base  20  has a pair of mutually parallel, downwardly depending wall-like guide members  36 , which extend outwardly from its otherwise-flat lower surface to provide guide rails for the sides of slide element  22 . More particularly, guide members  36  preferably have a circularly configured outer perimeter which is sized to closely interfit with the concave inside surface of outer shell  24 , between and immediately adjacent a pair of corresponding walls  38  formed inside shell  24  and extending from its concave inside surface to the plane of the perimetral opening at the base of the latter. 
     Slide/locking element  22 , as noted above, mounts inside the positioner member/outer shell  24 , and is disposed between the projecting guide rail members or walls  36  of base  20  when the latter is in place covering the open base extremity of shell  24 . It should be noted that the bottom surface  22 A (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) of slide element  22  is spherically configured, and sized to fit conformably against the concave interior surface of outer shell  24 , against and with respect to which it may therefore readily slide. This sliding movement would therefore define a three-dimensional orbital movement of positioner member  24  if unrestrained; however, the sides  22 B,  22 C of slide element  22  comprise basically parallel edges which are sized to fit closely but slidably between the depending guide walls or rails  36  of base  20  when the latter is at the base of positioner member  24 , in effect closing the open bottom thereof. Consequently, movement of slide element  22  is basically constrained to a rocking-type action, along guide walls or rails  36 . 
     Preferably, outer shell  24  is formed to have a plurality of annularly spaced ridge portions  40  (FIG. 3) which extend toward one another in a common plane from along the inside edge of its open bottom perimeter, and the size relationship between shell  24  and base  20  is such that base  20  may be snapped into place, with ridges  40  holding the two components together (with slide element  22  slidably disposed inside shell  24 ). As noted previously, shell  24  preferably or desirably includes a plurality of mutually spaced attachment structures, e.g., recesses  18 , which comprise cylindrically-shaped wall segments defining correspondingly shaped generally tubular recesses in the otherwise-spherical outer wall of shell  24 , together with corresponding co-planar base walls  18 A having apertures  18 B through which screws or the like may be extended to secure the assembled mounting apparatus  14  onto a desired support surface such as that shown at  12 . In order to complement and accommodate this feature, semicircular recesses  42  are preferably provided at appropriate corresponding locations around the exterior periphery of base  20 . As will be understood, a variety of other means could be used to secure the assembled mounting apparatus  14  onto a support surface, including adhesives, velcro, etc., which could be used between the flat bottom surface of base  20  and the selected exterior support surface. Consequently, base  20  may also be deemed an attachment structure, or part of one. As will also be understood by those skilled in the art, the three major components (base  20 , slide  22 , and shell  24 ) may all readily be made of polymeric material, and by injection molding or other such techniques. 
     As noted above, the controller  10  is desirably mounted upon the mounting apparatus  14  by providing a spherically configured recess  26  in its top (or bottom) surface which conformably receives the domed outside surface of shell  24  in a smoothly slidable manner, with an elongated machine screw or bolt  28  that extends through controller  10  from the opposite side and is received into the threaded recess  32  of slide element  22 . This relationship is illustrated in FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through controller  10  and passing through the aperture  30  at the center of its spherical recess  26 . As illustrated in FIG. 4 (and as also seen in FIG. 1, and to a lesser degree in FIGS. 2 and 3) the outer shell  24  has a slot  44  of predetermined length which extends through its outer wall and provides access for bolt/screw  28  to engage aperture  32  of slide element  22 , inside shell  24 . By this structural configuration, slot  44  also accommodates the arcuate sliding, rocker-like relative motion between slide element  22  and outer shell  24 , referred to previously. That is, slide element  22  is guided in this rocker-like motion along the spherical inside surface of shell  24  by guide walls or rails  36  of base  20 ; however, slot  44  and bolt/screw  28  also guide this movement, as well as allowing it to occur and limiting its allowable range, since slot  44  allows bolt/screw  28  to extend through the spherical outer wall of shell  24  and be screwed into aperture  32  of slide member  22 , thereby directly connecting the controller  10  to slide member  22 . 
     As will be apparent from the foregoing, the nature and amount of positioning provided for the controller  10  in relation to support surface  12  made possible by operation of mounting apparatus  14  is of a substantially universal nature, and limited only by potential contact of the adjacent surface of controller  10  with the underside of support surface  12  and/or by the relative size and degree of curvature of outer shell  24  and the length of slot of  44 . More particularly, controller  10  may be moved to an essentially infinite number of different positions with respect to outer shell  24  by moving the controller along the length of slot  44  and/or rotating it with respect to bolt/screw  28  at any of the different increments of such motion along slot  44 . In addition to the virtually innumerable different positions made available by the described tri-axial (three degree of freedom) motion, rotational movement of controller  10  about the axis of bolt/screw  28  also provides for a wide variety of different orientations of the controller  10  with respect to the operator of the vehicle. Thus, the attitude of controller  10  may be varied at will in a practically limitless manner, according to the desires of the operator. Of course, it is important that the bolt/screw  28  and threaded aperture  32  of slide member  22  be sufficiently strong to permit them to be tightly screwed together at selected positions of adjustment, so as to preclude relative motion between the controller  10  and mounting apparatus  14  by in effect clamping the outer spherical wall of shell  24  between slide member  22  and the corresponding spherical depression or recess  26  in the adjacent side of controller  10 , by use of a screwdriver. Of course, the interfit between these slidable components may be such that a certain degree of friction is provided between these parts, while nonetheless permitting slidable repositioning by slightly loosening bolt/screw  28  and applying a small amount of force to the controller with respect to the mounting apparatus. 
     As noted earlier above, the particular embodiment just described represents a preferred embodiment of the underlying concept; however, various other such embodiments as well as modifications and variations in this preferred embodiment will no doubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon considering the foregoing disclosure. In this regard, however, it is to be noted that the novel mounting apparatus provided herewith is also potentially of great usefulness with controllers or other such devices that do not have an integral spherical recess  26  or the like if a corresponding adapter element is provided. This may take the form of a disk-like member to be disposed between the mounting apparatus  14  and a controller or other such device of different external configuration, such adapter having the desired spherical recess (or at least a circular opening) on one side, for receiving the outside of shell  24 , and on its opposite side having whatever configuration is needed to complement and nest against the outer case configuration of the controller which is desired to be so mounted. Of course, such adapter should also include an aperture or passage for the bolt/screw  28 , or other such mechanical securement configuration. 
     All such modifications and variations should be deemed included within the concept of the invention unless stated otherwise. Thus, the scope of the invention should be deemed to include the underlying concept, the novel arrangement and assembly of parts comprising the preferred embodiment of the mounting apparatus itself, together with analogous other such components, and the novel integration of controller case configuration and mounting apparatus exterior configuration, as described above or as otherwise may be provided, together with the more universal type of assembly utilizing an adapter element as above described. All such components and subcombinations, combinations are thus considered to be included within the invention provided.