Abstract:
A quick mount connector allows for easy rotation of an object, such as an antenna. The connector has a base, a coupling member and an object mount. The base is configured for connection to a surface and includes base teeth around an inner circumference. The coupling member is configured to be inserted into the base and rotates relative the base about a first axis of rotation. The coupling member has a cylindrical portion with mating teeth along its outer circumference; the mating teeth are configured to engage the base teeth. The object mount attaches to the coupling member and rotates relative the coupling member about a second axis of rotation. The object mount has a mounting plate configured for connection to the object; and a locking assembly configured to adjustably couple the coupling member to the object mount.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/861,280, filed on Aug. 1, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     The present invention relates generally to connectors and in particular, to an improved quick mount connector that provides multiple axes of rotation. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often times it is necessary to mount an object to surface, while facilitating a position of the object to be modified as necessary. Accordingly, a number of connectors have been developed so that the object can be mounted to the surface and then the angle and direction in which the object is position can be dynamically modified. As an example, in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, antennas are mounted to a portal. The direction in which each antenna is mounted affects the transmission and reception of RFID signals. Accordingly, connectors are used to allow the direction of the antenna to be changed without reattaching the connector each time. 
     However, existing connectors are expensive to manufacture and often include several moving parts. Accordingly, there exists a need for improvements to quick mount connectors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with an aspect of an embodiment there is provided a connector comprising: a base configured for connection to a surface, the base comprising: a first cylindrical portion; a second cylindrical including base teeth along its inner circumference; and a lip covering the base teeth; a coupling member configured to be inserted into the base and rotate relative the base about a first axis of rotation, the coupling member comprising: a cylindrical portion including mating teeth along its out circumference, the mating teeth configured to engage the base teeth and the lip; and a pair of substantially parallel plates extending from the cylindrical portion; an object mount configured to be attached to the coupling member and rotate relative the coupling member about a second axis of rotation, the coupling member comprising an object mounting plate configured for connection to an object; and a locking assembly configured to adjustably couple the coupling member to the object mount. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1 a    is an isometric view of a connector; 
         FIG. 1 b    is a sectional isometric view of the connector of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2 a    is an isometric view of a base of the connector of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2 b    is a front side elevation view of the base of  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 2 c    is a plan view of the base of  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 3 a    is an isometric view of a coupling member of the connector of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 3 b    is a front side elevation view of the coupling member of  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 3 c    is a plan view of the coupling member of  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 4 a    is an isometric view of an object mount of the connector of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 4 b    is a front side elevation view of the object mount of  FIG. 4   a;    
         FIG. 4 c    is a right side elevation view of the object mount of  FIG. 4   a;    
         FIG. 4 d    is a plan view of the object mount of  FIG. 4   a;    
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a locking assembly of  FIG. 1 a   ; and 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a pin of  FIG. 1   a.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     For convenience, like numerals in the description refer to like structures in the drawings. Referring to  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , an isometric view of a connector is illustrated generally as reference numeral  100 . The connector  100  comprises a base member  102 , a coupling member  104 , an object mount  106 , a locking assembly  108  and a pin  110 . 
     The base member  102  is configured to be attached to a structure or surface upon which the entire connector  100  is to be mounted. The object mount  106  is configured to be attached to an object, such as an antenna for example. The coupling member  104  is configured to be rotatably coupled to the base member  102 . Specifically, the coupling member  104  is configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation  112 , aligned with its central axis. Accordingly, the coupling member  104  can rotate in the direction indicated by arrow A. The object mount  106  is configured to be rotatably coupled to coupling member  106 . Specifically, the object mount  106  is configured rotate about a second axis of rotation  114 . The second axis of rotation  114  is located at a point of connection between the coupling member  104  and the object mount  106  and is normal to the first axis of rotation  112 . Accordingly, the object mount  106  can rotate in the direction indicated by arrow B. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 a  to 2 c   , the base member  102  is illustrated in greater detail. The base member  102  comprises support plate  201 , a cylinder  203  and attachment passages  212 . In this embodiment, the support plate  201  is ring shaped and includes a plurality of openings (not shown). The cylinder  203  includes a first cylindrical portion  202 , a second cylindrical portion  204 , an opening  206 , base teeth  208 , and a lip  210 . The first cylindrical portion  202  is proximate to the inner circumference of the support plate  201 . The second cylindrical portion  204  is distal to the inner circumference of the support plate  201 . In this embodiment, the first cylindrical portion  202  has a greater circumference than the second cylindrical portion  204 . The base teeth  208  project from the inner surface of the second cylindrical portion  204 . The lip  210  is configured to cover the base teeth  208 . Thus, the opening  206  of the cylinder  203  is smaller at the second cylindrical portion  204  than at the first cylindrical portion  202 . The attachment passages  212  are positioned by the openings in the support plate  201  and are sized to receive screw, bolts or the like to connect the base member  102  to a mounting surface. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 a  to 3 c   , the coupling member  104  is illustrated in more detail. The coupling member  104  comprises a cylindrical portion  301 , a pair of spaced apart plates  303  and a support block  305 . 
     The cylindrical portion  301  includes coupling teeth  302  and pin holes  306 . The coupling teeth  302  are positioned along an edge of the cylindrical portion  301  and project from the outer surface. The pin holes  306  are diametrically opposed and positioned away from the coupling teeth  302 . Specifically, the pin holes  306  are positioned at a distance sufficient to accommodate the lip  210  of the base member  102 . 
     The plates  303  are generally rectangular and extend from the cylindrical portion  301  away from the coupling teeth  302 . The plates  303  include bolt apertures  310  and protrusions  316 . The support block  305  is positioned between the pair of plates and configured to extend along only a portion of the length of the plates  303 . Bolt apertures  310  are positioned at opposing bolt positions in the plates  303 . In this embodiment, the support block  305  is present at the bolt positions in the plates  303 . Accordingly, the bolt apertures  310  extend through the support block  305 . Each plate  303  includes at least one of the protrusions  316  near a plate end distal to the coupling teeth  302 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 a  to 4 d   , the object mount  106  is illustrated in more detail. The object mount  106  comprises an object mounting plate  402  and a pair of coupling plates  403 . Each of the coupling plates  403  includes a mount bolt aperture  406  and recesses  408 . The coupling plates  403  are normal to the object mounting plate  402  and positioned on an opposite surface of the object mounting plate  402  to which the object is to be attached. The coupling plates  403  are substantially triangular and attached to the object mounting plate  402  at their base. Further, the coupling plates  403  stand proud of the object mounting plate  402  and are substantially parallel to each other in a spaced apart relationship. The recesses  408  are sized to receive the protrusions  316  of the coupling member  104 . Further, the recesses  408  are aligned in an arcuate manner such that they are furthest from the object mounting plate  402  at the edges of the coupling plates  403 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the locking assembly  108  is shown in greater detail. In this embodiment, the locking assembly  108  includes a bolt  502  affixed, at one end, to a knob  504 . The bolt  502  is configured to be inserted through the bolt apertures  310  and the mount bolt apertures  406 , and fastened in place using a nut  506 . The locking assembly  108  can be loosened and tightened by rotation of the knob  504 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the pin  110  is shown in greater detail. In this embodiment, the pin  110  comprises a round end  508  end an angled end  510 . The rounded end  508  assists in gripping the pin  110  for removal or insertion in the pin holes  306 . The angled end  510  is configured to inhibit accident removal from the pin holes  306 . 
     To assemble the connector  100 , the coupling member  104  is coupled with the base member  102  by inserting the coupling member  104  through the opening  206  of the cylinder  203  until the coupling teeth  302  engage the base teeth  208 . Complete passage of the coupling member  104  through the opening  206  is blocked when the coupling teeth  302  engage the lip  210 . The coupling member  104  can be locked in place by inserting the pin  110  through the pin holes  306 . This restricts the coupling member  104  from being withdrawn through the opening  106  and holds the lip  210  between the pin  110  and the coupling teeth  302 . 
     The object mount  106  is coupled with the coupling member  104  by aligning the mount bolt apertures  406  on the object mount  106  with the bolt apertures  310  on the coupling member  104  and inserting the locking assembly  108  there through. The protrusion  316  is positioned to engage a corresponding one of the recesses  408  on the object mount  106 . As the locking assembly  108  is tightened, a greater pressure is applied between the plates  303  of the coupling member  104  and the coupling plates  403  of the object mount  106 . Accordingly, the protrusions  316  more robustly engage the corresponding recesses  408  and restrict rotation of the object mount  106  about the second axis of rotation  114 . Base member  102  can be attached to a surface and an object can be attached to the object mount  106 . 
     The positioning of the object can be adjusted by rotating the coupling member  104  about the first axis of rotation  112  and rotating the object mount  106  about the second axis of rotation  114 . In order to rotate the coupling member  104 , the pin  110  is removed from the pin holes  306 . The coupling member  104  can be moved so that the coupling teeth  302  are positioned within the first cylindrical section  202  of the base member  102  and, thereby, disengaged from the base teeth  208 . This allows the coupling member  104  to be rotated about the first axis of rotation  112 . Once the desired position is reached, the coupling member  104  can be moved so that the coupling teeth  302  are positioned within the second cylindrical section  204  of the base member  102  and, thereby, re-engaged with the base teeth  208 . The coupling member  104  is locked in position by replacing the pin  110  into the pin holes  306 . As will be appreciated by a skilled person, the resolution at which coupling member  104  can be rotated depends, at least in part on the size of the base teeth  208  and the coupling teeth  302 . 
     In order to rotate the object mount  106 , the locking assembly  108  is loosened by rotating the knob  504 . The pressure applied between the plates  303  of coupling member  104  and the coupling plates  403  of the object mount  106  is lessened. This allows the object mount  106  to be rotated about the second axis of rotation  114 . Once the desired position is reached, the locking assembly  108  is tightened and the protrusions  316  once again engages corresponding recesses  408 , thereby restricting rotation of the object mount  106  about the second axis of rotation  114 . As will be appreciated by a skilled person, the resolution at which object mount  106  can be rotated depends, at least in part on the size of the protrusion  316  and the recesses  408 , as well as the number of recesses  408 . 
     The configuration of the connector  100  permits for adjustment of orientation of the object mount  106  such that an object, such as an antenna, connected to the object mounting plate  402  can quickly and easily be positioned in a variety of directions at a number of different angles. The parts of the connector  100  are relatively inexpensive and easily manufactured. 
     Although the embodiment described above uses the pin  110  to lock the coupling member  104  is place, the pin  110  may be optional. For example, if the base member  102  is connected to a surface so that it is positioned above the object mount  106 , gravity may be sufficient to maintain engagement between the base teeth  208  and the coupling teeth  302 . 
     A person of skill in the art will appreciate that while bolts are described as connecting the base member  102  to a mounting surface, any suitable connection means may be used. Furthermore, greater or fewer attachment passages  212  may be used. In addition, the attachment passages  212  may be excluded and an adhesive may be used to connect the base member  102  to a mounting surface. 
     Although embodiments have been described above with reference to the figures, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.