Abstract:
A vehicle equipment mount for mounting one or more pieces of equipment within a vehicle, the vehicle equipment mount includes a base component that includes a floor plate, a middle plate, and an instrument mount plate, wherein the middle plate is movable with respect to the floor plate, and wherein the instrument mount plate connects with the middle plate. At least one first cradle connects to the instrument mount plate, the at least one first cradle being operable to hold a piece of equipment therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the mounting of equipment in a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle equipment mount that enables relatively easy access by persons within the vehicle to various pieces of equipment located or mounted within the vehicle equipment mount. 
         [0002]    Oftentimes employees (e.g., field technicians) of utility companies (e.g., gas, electric, etc.) drive around in a vehicle (e.g., a van) as part of their job responsibilities, where the vehicle contains specialized equipment that takes measurements, for example, it detects the presence of gas leaks in the geographic area in which the vehicle is being driven. The specialized equipment is not something that is typically standard equipment of the vehicle. Thus, the apparatus used to mount the equipment within the vehicle is also not usually standard equipment within the vehicle. Instead, the equipment and the mount are installed in the vehicle afterwards, typically by the utility company. 
         [0003]    The specialized equipment may comprise various measurement devices (e.g., gas leak detectors), along with a power supply that powers the equipment and a computer and printer. The power supply, computer and printer may be connected to the vehicle battery or may include its own battery or other source of electrical power. Various types of mounting schemes are utilized to mount the various pieces of equipment within the vehicle. Preferably, the equipment mount within the vehicle should allow the vehicle driver or front seat passenger easy access to the equipment to (e.g., to view the equipment display) while at the same time not interfering with the ability of the driver to safely drive the vehicle. 
         [0004]    Thus, while existing vehicle equipment mounts are somewhat suitable for their intended purposes, there remains a need for improvements in such vehicle equipment mounts. In particular, there remains a need for improvements in providing a vehicle equipment mount that allows for relatively easy and safe access by persons within the vehicle to various pieces of equipment located within the vehicle equipment mount. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle equipment mount for mounting one or more pieces of equipment within a vehicle, the vehicle equipment mount includes a base component that includes a floor plate, a middle plate, and an instrument mount plate, wherein the middle plate is movable with respect to the floor plate, and wherein the instrument mount plate connects with the middle plate. At least one first cradle connects to the instrument mount plate, the at least one first cradle being operable to hold a piece of equipment therein. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle equipment mount for mounting one or more pieces of equipment within a vehicle, the vehicle equipment mount includes a floor plate, a middle plate, an instrument mount plate, and at least one first cradle that connects to the instrument mount plate, the at least one cradle being operable to hold a piece of equipment therein. 
         [0007]    According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle equipment mount for mounting one or more pieces of equipment within a vehicle, the vehicle equipment mount includes a base component that includes a floor plate, a middle plate, and an instrument mount plate. The vehicle equipment mount further includes at least one first cradle that connects to the base component, the at least one cradle being operable to hold a piece of equipment therein, and at least one second cradle that connects with the base component; the at least one second cradle being operable to hold a piece of equipment therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Referring now to the drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a bottom or floor plate that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross section view of the bottom or floor plate of  FIG. 1  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a middle or roller plate that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the middle or roller plate of  FIG. 3  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a top or instrument mount plate that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the plates of  FIGS. 1-5  connected together to form a base component of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the base component of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a template of a mounting cradle that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the mounting cradle of  FIG. 8  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a second mounting cradle that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the second mounting cradle of  FIG. 10  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the second mounting cradle of  FIG. 10  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the second mounting cradle of  FIG. 10  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the base, and the first and second mounting cradles assembled together into the vehicle equipment mount according to an embodiment of the present invention and with various pieces of measuring equipment mounted thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there illustrated are top plan and cross section views, respectively, of a bottom or floor plate  20  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount  22  ( FIG. 14 ) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The floor plate  20  may comprise steel or other suitable material. The floor plate  20  may be one component of a base component  24  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), described in detail hereinafter. The floor plate  20  may be mounted to the floor or some other portion of a vehicle in a desired location (e.g., between the two front seats) using a plurality of bolts that fit through a corresponding plurality of holes  26  located in the floor plate  20 . Located along a portion of the left and right edges of the floor plate  20  (as viewed in  FIG. 1 ) are L-channels  28 ,  30  in which rollers  32  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) may move back-and-forth within, as described in detail hereinafter. Each L-channel  28 ,  30  may have a stop  34  located at one end of the channel  28 ,  30  to limit the movement of the rollers  32  in one direction. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there illustrated are top plan and cross section views, respectively, of a middle or roller plate  40  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The roller plate  40  may also comprise steel or other suitable material. Although not shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , but shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the roller plate  40  has the rollers  32  attached thereto for back-and-forth movement in the L-channels  28 ,  30  of the floor plate  20 . Other devices besides rollers  32  may be utilized to facilitate movement of the roller plate  40  with respect to the floor plate  20 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there illustrated is a top plan view of a top or instrument mount plate  44  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The instrument mount plate  44  may comprise a relatively flat piece of steel or other suitable material. The instrument mount plate  44  may have a number of holes  46  that facilitate the mounting to that plate  44  of various pieces of equipment along with set screws ( FIG. 14 ), and for also mounting the instrument mount plate  44  to the middle roller plate  40 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there illustrated are top plan and cross section views of the plates  20 ,  40 ,  44  of  FIGS. 1-5  connected together to form the base component  24  of the vehicle equipment mount  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a number of set screws  48  may be utilized to secure the top instrument mount plate  44  to the middle or roller plate  40 . The top and bottom ends of the middle or roller plate  40  are shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 6 . In use, the base component  24  is mounted to the floor or some other portion of a vehicle using, e.g., screws, to bolt the bottom or floor plate  20  to the vehicle. The instrument or top plate  44  is connected to the middle or roller plate  40 , and the two plates  40 ,  44  move back-and-forth within the L-channels  28 ,  30  in the floor plate  20  by way of the rollers  32 . Various pieces of equipment are attached to the base component  24 , as described in detail hereinafter. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there illustrated are a top plan view of a template of a mounting cradle  50 , and a perspective view of the resulting mounting cradle  50 , respectively, that is part of the vehicle equipment mount  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting cradle  50  may comprise aluminum, steel or other suitable material. The template may be cut or punched out of a sheet of stock material. The template may then have the four sides  52 - 58  folded up and the corners or junctions of the sides may be connected by welding or some other suitable means. In two of the sides  52 ,  56  are formed a plurality of elongated slots  60  that allow Velcro straps  62  ( FIG. 14 ) to pass through. A piece of equipment (e.g., a gas leak detection device) may be placed in an interior portion  64  of the mounting cradle  50  and secured in place by the Velcro straps. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-13 , there illustrated are top plan, side, front and perspective views, respectively, of a second mounting cradle  70  that is part of the vehicle equipment mount  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The second mounting cradle  70  may comprise aluminum, steel or other suitable material. The second mounting cradle may have a pair of side walls  72  that fold over to include top portions  74 . A stop  76  may be provided at one end cradle  70  to prevent a piece of equipment that may be placed in the cradle  70  from traveling beyond the end of the cradle with the stop  76 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , there illustrated is a perspective view of the base component  24 , and the first and second mounting cradles  50 ,  70  assembled together into the vehicle equipment mount  22  according to an embodiment of the present invention and with various pieces of measuring equipment and support equipment therefore mounted thereto. A pedestal  80  on which is mounted the first mounting cradle  50  may be included. A bottom plate  82  of the pedestal  80  may be secured to the top or instrument mount plate  44  of the base component  24  by, e.g., screws. However, the pedestal  80  is optional and instead the first mounting cradle  50  may be attached directly to the instrument mount plate  44  without use of the pedestal  80 . 
         [0030]    A piece of electronic equipment  84  may also be mounted somewhat vertically (i.e., at a slight incline angle), as seen in  FIG. 14 , to the bottom plate  82  of the pedestal  80  or to the top or instrument mounting plate  44  by, e.g., screws or set screws. The second mounting cradle  70  may then be mounted to the piece of electronic equipment  84  by, e.g., screws. However, the piece of electronic equipment  84  is optional. The second mounting cradle  70  may instead be directly mounted to the instrument mounting plate  44  or to the floor plate  20 . Although not shown in  FIG. 14 , a piece of electronic equipment (e.g., a gas leak detector) may be located within the first mounting cradle  50 , while another piece of electronic equipment may be located within the second mounting cradle  70 . As the second mounting cradle  70  is oriented primarily vertically when the vehicle equipment mount of an embodiment of the present invention is mounted within the vehicle, this cradle  70  is well suited for equipment in which the display panel and controls are located on one side such that the user can easily access and/or view the display panel and controls. A power supply  90  is shown mounted to the instrument plate  44 . 
         [0031]    While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.