Abstract:
Adjustable mounting apparatus for securing electrical connectors and equipment to powersports vehicles such as motorcycles, all terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. These mounting brackets are low cost, compact and lightweight. The brackets install easily without the use of fasteners and are adjustable without the use of tools or modification allowing them to conform to surfaces that may be flat, curved or fully round.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to electrical component mounting methods for motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other vehicle commonly referred to as powersports vehicles and also but not limited to other special purpose vehicle such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Owners and users of motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, commonly called powersports vehicles and other special purpose vehicles such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs are frequently modified from their original equipment manufactured configuration to add a variety of accessories that enhance the vehicle capability and the operator&#39;s experience. These added accessories may be roughly divided into three categories: low power up to 2 amp or 20 watts, medium power of 2 to 5 amps or 20 to 60 watts and high power of 6 amps or 80 watts and greater. Examples of low power accessories may include navigation systems such as global positioning systems, cell phones, entertainment systems, radar detectors, intra-vehicle rider to passenger communication systems, inter-vehicle short range communication systems, personal digital assistants and small computers. Medium power accessories may include on-road auxiliary lighting and single articles of heated clothing. High power devices may include high intensity off-road lighting, external battery chargers and multiple articles of heated clothing 
         [0003]    A search of available vehicle accessories shows that there exist many more types of low power accessories than medium or high power accessories. Moreover, low power accessories are commonly able to be easily removed from the vehicle for personal use. For example a cell phone is normally carried on the person but can be mounted in a quick detach cradle on a vehicle for hands-free use. High power accessories are more commonly attached more permanently on the vehicle. For example high power off road lights must be mounted rigidly to ensure proper beam aiming and require special purpose wiring capable of carrying high current. 
         [0004]    In spite of the fact that most accessories fall into the low power category, the availability of compact low power connectors with convenient vehicle mounting methods with quick detach capability non-existent in the market. 
         [0005]    The primary object of this invention is to provide the owners and users of powersports vehicles and specialty vehicles compact, lightweight, easy to install mounting methods that allow the utilization of compact low power connectors. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    To achieve the above objectives, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention broadly described herein to provide simple mounting brackets for compact low power connectors that are easily adjustable to a variety of vehicle surfaces. The mounting brackets described herein comprising: a base member of generally flat surface with flexible members at either end that allow the device to conform to surfaces that may be flat, curved or fully round. 
         [0007]    The mounting bracket may have either an integral part for securing a connector or a separate securing part that may be adjusted to provide optimized cable routing angles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1   a  shows an embodiment of a mounting bracket for an electrical connector comprising a mounting plate and integral coaxial barrel jack support element. This view shows the bracket in a flat configuration for mounting on a flat surface. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1   b  shows a view of the mounting side of said mounting bracket shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows the mounting bracket of  FIG. 1  configured to fit a rounded surface buy bending the integral hinge elements. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show an embodiment of an adjustable angle mounting bracket wherein the mounting plate and support for the coaxial barrel jack are constructed as separate parts joined by a single fastener. The two parts have mating male and female features with cylindrical indexing detent protuberances and cavities that allow the support part to be rotated to various angles for optimized electrical cable installation and routing. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show exploded and assembled views of the adjustable angle mounting bracket. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4   c  through  4   e  show the adjustable angle mounting bracket with the coaxial barrel support positioned at varying angles. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show a variation of the adjustable angle mounting bracket wherein the adjustment detents are radial concave and convex features rather than cylindrical. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the adjustable angle mounting bracket described in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b.    
           [0016]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  illustrate exploded and assembled views of an electrical connector fixed to the mounting bracket using two o-rings. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a typical mounting arrangement on a vehicle, in this case on a round tube such as a handle bar, highway bar or frame tube. The arrangement shown utilizes o-rings to attach the electrical connector to the mounting bracket and high strength double stick tape to secure the assembly to the vehicle. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows an alternate mounting arrangement where the electrical connector is fixed to the mounting bracket with tie wraps and the mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle with high strength double stick tape and tie wraps. This highly robust mounting arrangement would be advantageous in severe service such as off-road vehicles and ATVs where the assembly might get struck by brush, rocks or other debris. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying figures. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrates a mounting bracket  80  for mounting an electrical connector or other small device to a vehicle surface. Said mounting bracket  80  may be molded preferably from nylon due to its excellent flexural modulus and chemical resistance and good tensile strength; however other plastics and resilient materials such as synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) may be used. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1   a  shows a saddle element  85  shaped as a truncated hollow cylinder formed to accept the body shape of an electrical connector  100 . Again, shapes other than the truncated hollow cylinder could be utilized but are not optimum for the application. Said saddle element  85  includes two radial fixing grooves  84 , each located externally at the extreme ends of the cylinder. Said radial fixing grooves  84  form a natural fixing ridge  86  at the extreme ends of the saddle element  85 . Said fixing ridges  86  and radial fixing grooves  84  locate mounting parts as will be described in following paragraphs. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   a  also includes two small locating ribs  88  that are radially located around the extreme ends of the cylinder that enhance the longitudinal location of an installed electrical connector  100 . A mounting stalk  89  joins the saddle element  85  to a central mounting element  81 . 
         [0022]    Said central mounting element  81  is curved across its axial direction at a radius that fits a common vehicle handle bar or frame tube. The short longitudinal length of said central mounting element  81  insures that the height of the chord of said central mounting element  81  will fit close enough to a flat surface to provide support. 
         [0023]    Attached to, and integrally molded with this central mounting element  81  are flat mounting surfaces  82  joined by flexible members  83  commonly called living hinges. The said flexible members  83  provide a bend plane that allow the flat mounting surface  82  to be bent over a curved surface as will be described in the following paragraph. Said flat mounting surface  82  and flexible members  83  are mirrored about the axis of central mounting element  81  to give a total of four flexible elements much like a chain. This configuration of four flexible members  83  appears to be the optimum for flexibility for the overall part size, however any configuration with two or more flexible members  83  are possible. Small rounded linear fixing ribs  87  are located at the edges of each flexible member  83  to assist locating a mounting part as will be described in following paragraphs. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows the mounting bracket  80  bent at its flexible members  83  to form a circular shape. It follows that by bending the flexible members  83  of the mounting bracket  80  at different angles just about any surface shape can be accommodated from flat to gently curved such as a fuel tank or fairing, to a circle so tight as to cause the ends of the flat mounting surface  82  to touch. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show a two part mounting bracket that serves the same purpose as mounting bracket  80  but with an added feature that allows the encapsulated barrel jack to be aligned in multiple positions for enhanced cable routing. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates the barrel support  105  that includes the saddle element  85 , fixing ridge  86 , two radial fixing grooves  84 , two locating ribs  88  that combine to provide support for an electrical connector  100 . In place of the mounting plate parts, the barrel support  105  includes an axial pivot boss  109  preferably integrally molded to the barrel support  105  that protrudes from the convex side of said barrel support  105 . Said axial pivot boss includes an indexing element  106 , shown in this embodiment as a multi-sided star with rounded points. This embodiment is but one of many configurations with as few as four and as many as ten or more points that may be utilized to accomplish the indexing functions. As can be readily seen, the more points included in the configuration the finer the indexing angle possible. Said pivot boss includes a locating boss  108  that serves both as centering device and also as a hard stop for the mated parts that prevents the fastener from exerting excessive clamping force and thus preventing the rotation of the two parts with respect to each other. A central hole  107  with used for securing the barrel support  105  to its mating part which is further described in the following paragraphs. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3   b  illustrates a support plate  110  that includes the central mounting element  81 , flat mounting surfaces  82 , and flexible members  83 . Said support plate  110  includes an axial pivot cavity  101  preferably molded integrally on the convex side of the support plate  110 . Said axial pivot cavity  101  includes a cavity indexing element  102  shown in this embodiment as a multi-pointed star with rounded points so as to mate with the indexing element  106  of the barrel support  105 . Four spring slots  114  allow the walls of the axial pivot cavity  101  to distort outward when the barrel support  105  is rotated and thus acting like detent springs. Said axial pivot cavity  101  includes a central plate mounting hole  103  used for securing the support plate  110  to the barrel support  105 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4   a  shows and exploded view of barrel support  105  and support plate  110  affixed with rivet  104 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d , and  4   e  show the barrel support  105  and support plate  110  assembled in four of the many positions possible with the indexing features  102  and  106 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5   a  shows a barrel mount  125  of an embodiment of an adjustable mounting bracket includes the common bracket elements: saddle element  85 , fixing ridge  86 , two radial fixing grooves  84 , two locating ribs  88  that combine to provide support for an electrical connector  100 . In place of the mounting plate parts, the barrel support  125  includes a radial pivot boss  129  preferably integrally molded to the barrel support  125  that protrudes from the convex side of said barrel support  125 . Said radial pivot boss includes a plurality of indexing dots  126 , shown in this embodiment as radially positioned convex protrusions. Said radial pivot boss includes a radial locating boss  128  that serves both as centering device and also as a hard stop for the mated parts that prevents the fastener from exerting excessive clamping force and thus preventing the rotation of the two parts with respect to each other. A radial boss central hole  127  used for securing the barrel support  125  to its mating part which is further described in the following paragraphs. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5   b  illustrates a radial indexing support plate  120  that includes the central mounting element  81 , flat mounting surface  82 , and flexible members  83 . Said radial indexing support plate  120  includes a radial pivot surface  121  preferably molded integrally on the convex side of the radial indexing support plate  120 . Said radial pivot surface  121  includes a plurality of recessed indexing cavities  122  shown in this embodiment as concave depressions so as to mate with the indexing dots  126  of the barrel support  125 . Inherent flexibility of the plastic parts allows the barrel support  105  to rotate with respect to the radial indexing support plate  120 . Said radial pivot surface  121  includes an indexing support plate central hole  123  used for securing the radial indexing support plate  120  to the barrel support  125 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the adjustable mounting bracket including the radial indexing support plate  120 , barrel mount  125  and fastening rivet  104 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7   a  shows and exploded view of one embodiment of the parts that make up a mounted electrical connector  100 . As is shown in this embodiment, the assembly may be secured by two o-rings  140 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 7   b  shows the assembled view of the above embodiment. This view shows how the radial fixing grooves  84  of the saddle element  85  along with the radial grooves  12  of an electrical connector  100  securely capture the o-rings  140  preventing movement of the electrical connector  100  with respect to the mounting bracket  80 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows the assembly described in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  as installed on a non-flat surface. In this case the assembly is mounted on a tube  150  which might be a motorcycle handle bar, a frame tube, roll bar or a body strut. All of the elements of the assembly are the same as those used on a flat surface; an electrical connector  100  and mounting bracket  80  secured with two o-rings  140 . High performance double stick acrylic tape  141  secures the complete assembly to the vehicle. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows a more robust assembly embodiment wherein the o-rings  140  are replaced by tie-wraps  152  and the high performance double stick acrylic tape  141  is supplemented by tie-wraps  152 . This robust installation would be applicable in harsh duty environments such as off-road vehicles where the assembly might be subjected to strikes from brush and rocks and in the case of a vehicle upset, the earth or packed snow. 
         [0037]    It is evident from the above description that a wide variety of connector mounting configurations may be fashioned from the present invention. Different adjustable mounting brackets may be constructed in a variety of shapes using different materials to meet the needs of differing connector types and vehicle fitments. Accordingly, additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.