Abstract:
A mounting bracket may include a base plate, at least one stationary clip disposed on the base plate, a push releasing plate disposed in spaced apart relation to the at least one stationary clip, and at least one movable clip operatively coupled to and movable with the push releasing plate. The stationary clip or clips and movable clip or clips are disposed and configured to mate with cavities in respective ends of a pump when the push releasing plate is in a non-pivoted position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention pertains to the field of mounting brackets. More particularly, the present invention pertains to mounting brackets configured to receive and retain pumps, such as air pumps. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Mounting brackets are generally used to secure devices, for example pumps, to a particular location so that the pump remains stationary while in use by a user. For example, a mounting bracket may be screwed onto a surface, such as a wall, and the pump mounted on the bracket will have a fixed location. Therefore, the user must move to the fixed location of the pump in order to use the pump. Having the pump secured at a fixed location may create problems if the user is limited in the location that the user can use the pump. In order to overcome the problems associated with existing mounting brackets what is needed is a mounting bracket that is easily movable to a different location from its present location, while still allowing for the pump that is attached to the bracket to be secured. For example, a mounting bracket that is movable without having to separate the mounting bracket from the surface the mounting bracket is secured to. In addition, it may be advantageous to also provide the mounting bracket so that the pump itself is easily removable from the bracket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a mounting bracket is provided that may be coupled to a pump, such as a Flojet air pump (N5000), to allow secure mounting of the pump to a slide track so that the pump is movable while attached to the mounting bracket, and also to allow quick disconnecting of the mounting bracket from the pump. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting bracket may include a base plate, at least one stationary clip disposed on the base plate in a substantially fixed location and orientation, a push-releasing plate disposed in spaced apart relation to the at least one stationary clip, and at least one movable clip operatively coupled to and movable with the push-releasing plate. The at least one stationary clip and at least one movable clip may be disposed and configured to mate with cavities in respective end caps of a pump when the push-releasing plate is in a non-pivoted position. The push-releasing plate may be resiliently and pivotably coupled to the base plate. 
     The base plate in an embodiment of the present invention may have a ribbed structure configured and arranged to serve as a strength member. The base plate may also include opposing sides configured so as to slidably couple the base plate to a tracked bracket holder. The base plate may also include at least one fastener receiving device. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention the at least one movable clip may be positioned on the push-releasing plate in a substantially fixed location and orientation. 
     The mounting bracket in an embodiment of the invention may also include a valve coupling configured to hold a valve of the pump. The mounting bracket may also include at least one spring configured to provide resistance against a tracked bracket holder. 
     The mounting bracket in an embodiment of the invention may include at least two stationary clips. The mounting bracket may include at least two movable clips. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a bracket according to an aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a stationary side view of the bracket of  FIG. 1  coupled to a pump. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the flexible side of the bracket of  FIG. 1  coupled to a pump. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the flexible side of the bracket of  FIG. 1  coupled to a pump and slidably mounted to a slide track. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The mounting bracket  10 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , includes a base plate  24  with a stationary side  18 . The stationary side  18  may include one or more stationary hooks  22  that may be coupled to the stationary side  18  so that the one or more stationary hooks  22  do not move relative to the base plate  24  when a force is applied to the one or more hooks  22 . As shown, the mounting bracket  10  includes two stationary hooks  22 , but it is understood that the invention may be implemented with one stationary hook or multiple stationary hooks. The stationary side  18  may be held in place relative to the base plate  24  by supporting structures or because the stationary side  18  is made from non-flexible material. 
     The mounting bracket  10  may also include a flexible side  28  that may include one or more flexible hooks  12 . The flexible side  28  may also include a push-releasing plate  30 . The push-releasing plate  30  is operatively coupled to the one or more flexible hooks  12  so the flexible hooks  12  move in the direction that the push-releasing plate  30  is urged, by for example an external force. The flexible side  28  and flexible hooks  12  may be made from substantially the same material as the mounting bracket  10 , or may be formed from a material that is more flexible than the other components of the mounting bracket. 
     The mounting bracket  10  as shown includes one or more ribs  14  that form a rib structure to provide strength to the mounting bracket. For example, the mounting bracket  10  may be formed from a flexible material so that it is of one piece construction, and the flexible side  28  is capable of deflecting upon the application of force. The ribs  14  may be positioned on the side of the base plate  24  to which the stationary hooks  22  and flexible hooks  12  are coupled. As seen in  FIG. 1 , for example, the ribs  14  themselves may also be supported by additional structures. 
     The mounting bracket  10  includes one or more mounting holes  26  that are configured to receive a fastening device, such as a screw, nail, fastener or the like, in order to mount the mounting bracket  10  in a particular location. The mounting holes  26  may be configured so that the mounting bracket  10  may be slidably fastened to the fastening device or devices. For example, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the mounting holes  26  may be larger towards the bottom than they are at the top. In this manner, the mounting bracket  10  may be placed in a position so that the fastening device or devices protrude through the base plate  24 , and then by downwardly urging the mounting bracket  10  the mounting will be fastened to the fastening device or devices. 
     The mounting bracket  10  may also include a valve coupling  16  for securing or mounting a valve (not shown) that may be attached to a pump coupled to the mounting bracket  10 . For example, the valve coupling  16  may be used to mount a transfer valve to the top of the pump coupled to the mounting bracket. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting bracket  10  may be configured to receive and support a pump  34 , for example an air pump. The pump  34  may be a Flojet N5000 Air Pump, for example. However, it is contemplated that the mounting bracket  10  may be configured to receive and support a variety of pumps known to one skilled in the art. The stationary hooks  22  are configured to engage hollow cavities  32  in the end caps  20  of the pump  34 .  FIG. 2  shows one exemplary embodiment of a configuration of stationary hooks  22  that may be used to engage the hollow cavities  32  in order to receive and support the pump  34 .  FIG. 3  shows a perspective of the pump  34  supported by the mounting bracket  10  from the flexible side  28 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  the stationary hooks  22  engage hollow cavities  32  on one side of the pump  34 , while the flexible hooks  12  engage the hollow cavities  32  on the other side of the pump  34 . For example, the Flojet N5000 Air Pump has hollow cavities on the end caps of the pump, and the stationary hooks  22  and flexible hooks may be configured to engage these hollow cavities on respective end caps of the Flojet N5000 Air Pump. 
     The mounting bracket  10  is configured to support and retain the pump  34  by positioning the hollow cavities  32  on one end of the pump against the stationary hooks  22 . The other end of the pump  34  may then be urged towards the base plate  24 , and the flexible hooks  12  can be deflected away from the pump  34  by the pressure of the end cap  20  of the pump on the flexible hooks  12 , or due to a force applied to the push-releasing plate  30 . When the pump  34  is positioned against the base plate  24 , or possibly the ribs  14 , the flexible hooks  12  will couple with the hollow cavities  32  of the pump  34  and secure the pump  34  into the mounting bracket  10 . To release the pump  34  from the mounting bracket  10 , a force may be applied to the push-releasing plate  30 , such as by pushing on the plate  30  to disengage the flexible hooks  12  from the hollow cavities of the pump  34 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the mounting bracket  10  may also be configured to slide into a slide track  40 . The slide track  40  may include folded edges  42  that are configured to couple to the base plate  24  of the mounting bracket  10 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the edges of the base plate  24  may be tapered to facilitate insertion of the mounting bracket  10  into the slide track. In this manner, the mounting bracket  10  may allow for the pump  34 , such as a Flojet Air Pump N5000, to be securely mounted on the slide track  40 , and easily removed for pump maintenance or replacement. 
     As further seen in  FIG. 1 , the mounting bracket  10  may also include one or more springs  15 , for example leaf springs, that are configured to provide resistance against the slide track  40  so that the mounting bracket  40  remains relatively stationary unless a user applies sufficient force to overcome the resistance supplied by the springs  15  against the slide track  40 . 
     It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.