Abstract:
Featured is a mounting device and methods related thereto for mounting the device to an object including cylindrical objects such as camera lenses, rifle scopes, telescopes, monoculars and binoculars. The mounting device includes a housing, having an exterior surface, that is to be mounted to an object and a resilient member. The housing is configured so as to include an interior passage having an inner cross section larger than that of the object to which the housing is to be mounted onto, and at least one slot extending from the housing exterior surface and into the housing interior passage. The resilient member is disposed about at least a portion of the housing exterior surface so a portion of the resilient member is positioned within each of the at least one slot in the housing and so this portion of the resilient member protrudes into the interior passage. In more specific aspects of the present invention, the housing is configured with a plurality of slots being arranged concentrically about the housing. A portion of the resilient member is positioned within each of the plurality of slots so these resilient member portions protrude into the interior passage. This protruding portion or these protruding portions of the resilient member contact and frictionally grab the object when it is inserted into the interior passage.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional application No. 60/108,539, filed Nov. 16, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for mounting a housing to an object such as a cylindrical object and device(s) related thereto, and more particularly to a method for mounting a housing to an object using a resilient member such as, for example, an O-ring that allows the housing to be easily and securely mounted and dismounted without the use of tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is necessary and desirable in certain circumstances to have the capability to mount a housing onto an object, a cylindrical object without the use of tools. More particularly a mounting technique in which the housing can be easily mounted thereto and dismounted therefrom. An example of such a circumstance is attaching or securing an optical filter or filter housing to a lens assembly. 
     One technique, as illustrated in FIG. 1, involves mounting a housing  2  to an object  4  by means of an O-ring  6  that is disposed in an internal groove  8  formed or machined in the interior surface of the housing aperture that receives the object. In this arrangement, the object  4  is slid into the aperture in the housing  2  or conversely the housing  2  is slid over the object  4  so the object is received in the housing aperture. When the object is disposed within the housing, the O-ring  6  is compressed in the internal groove  8  and against both the housing  2  and the object  4 . This compression of the O-ring  6  provides the friction and clamping forces that holds the housing  2  onto the object  4 . 
     Although this technique has proved effective in certain situations, there are situations under which this technique exhibits or has a problem(s). In one case, and as shown in FIG. 2, a piece of grit, sand or dirt is trapped behind the O-ring  6  in the internal groove  8 . This prevents the O-ring  6  from being compressed in the internal groove  8  so the object can pass, thus jamming the O-ring and/or object in the housing aperture. The presence of the grit, dirt or sand also can cause the O-rings to become damaged. In addition, such an application may result in the establishment of tighter size tolerances than that which are practical or achievable in the manufacturing process for the object  4 . 
     Other techniques for mounting a housing to an object involve the use of screw or threaded connections, castellated slots, clamping devices, set screws, adhesives and/or adhesive tape. These other techniques also are disadvantageous in many situations because their use may not be desirable or practical. For example, the presence of grit or sand can cause the threaded connection to become damaged, the object may not have threads, clamping devices or systems may be too bulky or require the use of tools that are not readily available in the field, set screws may damage the object or become lost and the adhesive systems or methods may not hold under all environmental conditions (e.g., in rain or underwater) or leave an undesirable residue(s). In addition, some of these techniques may require tighter size tolerances than that which is practical or achievable for manufacturing of the object. 
     It thus would be desirable to provide a new method(s) and device(s) for mounting a housing to an object such as a cylindrically shaped object that does not involve or require special tools or adhesives as well as devices related thereto. It would be particularly desirable to provide such a device and method that would allow such mounting when there is grit or sand present or grit as well as low tolerances. Such devices preferably would be simple in construction and less costly than prior art devices and such methods would not require highly skilled users to utilize the device or the use of specialized tools if any tools at all. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention features a device and method for mounting a housing to an object including cylindrical objects such as camera lenses, rifle scopes, telescopes, monoculars and binoculars. Using such a device and method, a housing can be securely and easily mounted to and dismounted from the object without the use of tools. Additionally, such a device and method are tolerant of manufacturing size variations and are useable in the presence of grit, snow, rain, ice and dirt. 
     In a first aspect of the invention, the object mounting device includes a housing and at least one resilient member. The housing includes an interior passage or cavity having an inner cross section larger than that of the object to which the housing is to be mounted onto. At one or more locations, preferably a plurality of locations and more preferably a multiplicity of locations, there is formed or provided in the housing a slot or slots, which slots are arranged concentrically about the housing. In more specific embodiments, the slots are equi-angularly spaced about the long axis and exterior surface of the housing. Each slot also extends from the housing exterior surface, through the housing and into the interior passage. 
     The resilient member is disposed about the housing exterior surface so a portion of the resilient member is positioned within each slot formed in the housing and also protrudes into the interior passage. More specifically, the portion(s) of the resilient member protruding into the interior passage protrude a predetermined distance beyond the inner surface of the interior passage so the protruding portion(s) contact and frictionally grab the object when it is inserted into the interior passage. In specific embodiments, the predetermined distance is about one-half (½) or less the thickness or cross-sectional thickness of the resilient member and more specifically a distance equal to about one-third (⅓) such a thickness. 
     In a specific embodiment, the plurality of concentrically formed slots are positioned in the housing so the protruding portions of the resilient member disposed therein contact and frictionally grab an end face of the object when it is inserted into the interior passage. In this way, the object mounting device can resist forces imposed along the long axis of the housing. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, an object mounting device includes a housing configured with a plurality of concentric slots that are arranged to form a plurality or more of sets of slots and at least a plurality of resilient members. Each set of slots are longitudinally spaced from each other and each slot extends from the housing exterior surface, through the housing and into the interior passage. 
     Each resilient member is disposed about the housing exterior surface so portions of each resilient member are positioned within a set of slots formed in the housing and protrude into the interior passage. Thus, when there is a plurality of slots and resilient members, there is one resilient member for each set of one or more slots. The portions protruding into the interior passage protrude a predetermined distance beyond the inner surface of the interior passage. In specific embodiments, the predetermined distance is about one-half (½) or less the thickness or cross-sectional thickness of the resilient member and more specifically a distance equal to about one-third (⅓) such a thickness. 
     The sets of one or more slots also are preferably positioned on the housing so at least the protruding portions of one of the plurality of resilient members contact and frictionally grab the object when it is inserted into the interior passage. In a more specific embodiment, at least one of the sets of slots is positioned so the protruding portion(s) of the resilient member disposed therein contacts and frictionally grabs an end face of the object when it is inserted into the interior passage. In this way, the object mounting device can resist forces imposed along the long axis of the housing. 
     In a third aspect of the invention, the resilient member only extends around a portion of the exterior surface of the housing and the object mounting device further includes means to secure the resilient member in place and so portions thereof protrude into the housing interior passage. In one specific embodiment, the resilient member is a resilient band that is secured at either end to the housing by means of a clamp. In a second specific embodiment, the resilient member is a ring of a resilient material and the securing means comprises two outwardly extending structure about which are looped portions of the resilient ring. The clamps and outwardly extending structures are positioned on the housing so the resilient band or resilient ring are appropriately tensioned so the protruding portion(s) thereof frictionally grab and contact the object. 
     In more specific embodiments, the object mounting device includes means for localizing each resilient member so it remains disposed within the slots. In one specific embodiment, a groove is formed or provided in the exterior surface of the housing and the slots are formed within the groove. In this arrangement, the resilient member is disposed in the groove and the slots. In other specific embodiments, ridges, pins or blocks or positioned about the exterior surface of the housing proximate the slot(s) so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the resilient member. Also, the leading edge of the housing interior passage can configured so as to not present a sharp edge (i.e., be chamfered). 
     In use, the housing with the resilient member is pressed onto the object so a portion of the object is received within the housing interior passage. The portion(s) of the resilient members protruding into the interior passage are forced outwards by the object thereby letting the object to fully enter the interior passage. The resiliency or elastic tension of the resilient member causes the resilient member to maintain a constricting tension on the object so as to securely and frictionally grab the object and thus hold the housing securely to the object. Conversely, a user can easily remove or dismount the housing from the object by pulling the housing off the object. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are discussed below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and desired objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures wherein like reference character denote corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cross-section view along the long axis of a housing that is mounted to a cylindrical object using a conventional O-ring technique; 
     FIG. 2 is a close-up of a portion of the partial cross-section view of FIG. 1 illustrating an obstruction in the groove; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a housing for one embodiment of an object mounting device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is another cross-section view taken along line  4 — 4  of the housing of FIG. 3 with a resilient member disposed in the groove; 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic close-up view of the cross-section depicted in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross-section view of the object mounting device when mounted on an object taken along the long axis of the housing of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a is a partial cross-section view of an object mounting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention taken along the long axis of the housing; 
     FIGS. 10A, B are partial cross-section views of an object mounting device according to a third embodiment taken along the long axis of a housing; 
     FIG. 11A is a side view of an object mounting device arranged with a resilient member extending partially about the housing; 
     FIG. 11B is an axonometric view of another object mounting device arranged with a resilient member extending partially about the housing; 
     FIGS. 12A-12D are axonometric views of alternative housing arrangements for the forgoing object mounting devices illustrating alternative techniques for holding a resilient member in position; and 
     FIG. 13 is a partial cross-section view along the long axis of a housing having a chamfered corner. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIGS. 3-8 an object mounting device  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention including a housing  110  and a resilient member  120 . The housing  110  is mounted to an object and is secured thereto by means of the resilient member  120  as hereinafter described. The interior passage  116  of the housing  110  in which is received the object is configured so as to complement the shape of the object. In an illustrative embodiment, the object is a cylindrical object  4  and the interior passage  116  also is cylindrical. In a specific embodiment, the housing  110  is made from a metal such as aluminum, however, this is not a limitation as the housing can be made from any material that is capable of withstanding the mechanical loads and environmental conditions to which the housing can be exposed. 
     The housing  110  is machined or configured with a groove  112  that runs about the circumference of the outer surface of the housing. The depressed surface of the groove  112 , as more clearly shown in FIG. 4, is further machined or configured in a plurality of areas so the groove communicates via one or more openings or slots  114 , preferably a plurality or more of slots, with the housing interior passage  116 . As a result of such machining or configuring, the remaining depressed surface of the groove  112  forms a plurality of lands  115 . The slots  114  and lands  115  also are formed in the groove  112  so a chord defined by each slot  114  is disposed within the interior passage  116 . Additionally, and as discussed below, the slots  114  and lands  115  are formed so a portion(s) of the resilient member  120  extends a predetermined distance  124  (FIG. 6) into the housing interior passage  116 . 
     The groove  112  also is positioned or formed in the housing  110  so it is provided a predetermined distance from an internal lip  118  that is formed about the circumference of the inner surface of the housing interior passage  116 . More It particularly, the groove  112  is positioned in the housing  110  with respect to the internal lip  118  so a resilient member  120  that is disposed in the groove will grip a side of the object to be located in the housing. 
     In a specific embodiment, the internal lip  118  forms a stop for the cylindrical object  4  when it is inserted into the housing  110 . The lip  118  in conjunction with the housing interior passage  116  also generally defines the space available within the housing  110  for receiving the cylindrical object  4 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the resilient member  120  is located in the groove  112  so portions  122  thereof extend parallel to the chord defined by each slot  114  and so these portions extend within the housing interior passage  116 . More specifically, and with reference to FIG. 6, each slot  114  is machined or formed in the housing  110  so each of these portions  122  extends into the housing interior passage a predetermined distance  124  beyond the line  119  circumscribed or defined by the inner surface of the housing. Generally, the predetermined distance  124  is established so the portions  122  of the resilient member  120  within the housing interior passage  116  are not dragged out of the groove  112  and thus jammed by the cylindrical object  4  when the cylindrical object is being inserted into the housing. Preferably, the slots are formed or machined so these portions extend a pre-determined distance  124  of about one-half or less the thickness  124  or cross-section thickness of the resilient member  120 , more particularly a distance of about one-third the diameter or thickness of the resilient member. 
     As shown in FIGS. 7-8, when the housing  110  is mounted upon the cylindrical object  4 , the resilient member portions  122  extending into the interior passage  116  are forced or pushed outwardly by the outer surface of the cylindrical object  4  so as to lie substantially within the slot  114  and groove  112 . The material for the resilient member  120  is selected so the cylindrical object  4  is frictionally grasped along the line  127  where the cylindrical object and the resilient member are in contact. Preferably, the material being used is such that the resilient member  120  does not have to be replaced after each use. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the resilient member  120  is an O-ring constructed or made of an elastomeric material such as for example rubber, viton, neoprene and silicone. Alternatively, the resilient member  120  is a coil spring, a circular spring band or a spring clip made of a metal such as steel or other resilient material. 
     The object mounting device  100  so configured is capable of being easily mounted and secured to the cylindrical object  4  without the use of tools. Also the above described combination of the housing  110  and resilient member  120  yields a mounting device  100  that is tolerant of manufacturing size variations as well as being capable of use under various conditions such as in the presence of dirt, grit, snow, rain and ice. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the object mounting device  100  includes a housing  110  that is constructed of aluminum. The housing  110  is machined or milled so a groove  112 , approximately 0.196 in. wide and approximately 0.119 in. deep, is provided about the circumference and approximately 0.207 in. back from an edge of the housing. The depressed surface of the groove  112  is further machined along a tangent line in five locations that are equi-angularly spaced so as to create five lands  115  and five slots  114  that communicate with a cylindrical interior passage  116  having a diameter of about 2.751 in. An O-ring made of neoprene, comprising the resilient member  120  and having a 0.875 in. cross section and a nominal inner diameter of 3 in., is stretched to fit into the groove  112 . After being disposed within the groove and when released, the resilient member  120  or O-ring is drawn into the slots  114  so portions  122  thereof protrude into the housing interior passage  116 . Such an object mounting device  100  is capable of grasping and remaining mounted to, for example, a cylindrical optical device having a nominal outer diameter of about 2.747 in. When the cylindrical optical device is inserted into the housing passage and resting against the lip  118  or stop, the resilient member portions  122  extending into the interior passage  116  frictionally grasp the cylindrical optical device so it remains disposed with the housing  110 . 
     There is shown in FIG. 9 an object mounting device  200  according to a second embodiment of the present invention including a housing  210  and a resilient member  220 . As with the first embodiment, the housing  210  is configured with a groove  212  and plurality of slots  214  and lands  215 , which slots communicate with the interior passage  216  of the housing. Additionally, the housing  210  includes an internal lip  218  or internal stop which the object  4  abuts when fully inserted within the housing. 
     In the second embodiment, the groove  212  and correspondingly the slots  214  and the lands  215  are formed in the housing  210  so they are a predetermined longitudinal distance remote from the lip  218 . This longitudinal distance is established so the resilient member portions  222  extending into the interior passage  216  and so they contact a shoulder  5  or end face of the object  4  that is remote from the internal lip  218  when the object is fully inserted and abutting the lip. 
     Such a configuration yields an object mounting device  200  that is resistive to sharp forces or impacts along the long axis of the housing that would tend to pull the housing off of the object  4  such as, for example, the recoil force of a rifle being fired. When a rifle is fired, the rifles recoil motion pulls the scope mounted thereto rearwards. The recoil motion of the rifle and the inertia of the housing tends to pull the housing, that is mounted to an end of the scope, off the scope. The object mounting device  200  of the present invention, however, is resistive to such a recoil motion and thus keeps the housing mounted to the rifle scope. 
     In all other respects, reference should be made to the foregoing discussion for the respective and corresponding parts of the first embodiment for further details and construction regarding the housing  210  and resilient member  220  of the second embodiment. 
     There is shown in FIGS. 10A, B an object mounting device  300  according to a third embodiment of the present invention that is configured to accommodate objects having varying lengths or objects to which another structure is attached and thus varying the distance from the front surface of the object and its back surface or a shoulder therefore. Such a mounting device  300  also is configurable so, as with the second embodiment, the mounting device can resist sharp forces and impacts along the long axis. An object mounting device  300  of the third embodiment includes a housing  310  and a plurality of resilient members  320   a,b.    
     The housing  310  is configured with a plurality of grooves  312 , one groove for each of the plurality of resilient members  320   a,b  that are disposed in side by side relation. Each groove  312  includes a plurality of slots  314  and lands  315 , which slots communicate with the interior passage  316  of the housing. Additionally, the housing  310  includes an internal lip  318  or internal stop. 
     The grooves  312  are positioned and spaced from each other so the resilient member portions  322  of at least one of the resilient members  312   a,b  frictionally grasps or engages an outer surface of the object  4  when the object is fully disposed within the housing  310 . The grooves also are positioned or formed so they are either proximate the internal lip  318  as illustrated in FIG. 7 or remote from the internal lip as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     There is illustrated in FIGS.  10 A,B an object mounting device  300  that is mounted on an cylindrical optical device  4 ′ having a shoulder  5 ′ at an end thereof. In one case, the cylindrical optical device  4 ′, as illustrated in FIG. 10A is disposed within the housing  310  such that the front surface thereof abuts the internal lip  318 . In this case, the portions  322  of the resilient member  320   b  that is closest to the internal lip  318  are in contact with and frictionally grasping the optical device&#39;s shoulder  5 ′. 
     In a second case, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, a structure such as an optical filter  7  is attached to or located so as to abut the front surface of the cylindrical optical device  4 ′. Thus, when the cylindrical optical device  4 ′with the attached filter  7  is disposed within the housing  310  so the filter abuts the internal lip  318 , the shoulder  5 ′ of the cylindrical optical device  4 ′ is at least grasped by the portions  322  of the resilient member  320   a  furthest from the internal lip. In this case, the corresponding portions  322  of the other resilient member  320   b  also can grasp the outside surface of the cylindrical body of the cylindrical optical device  4 ′ as further means for securing the housing to the optical device  4 ′. 
     Although two grooves  312  and resilient members are illustrated, this is not a limitation as the housing can be configured with a multiplicity of grooves and a plurality or more of resilient members  320  that can be disposed in all or some of the multiplicity of grooves. Additionally, although the grooves are illustrated as being disposed abutted next to each other, the grooves can be spaced from each other so as to accommodate a wide variety of changing lengths. Thus, and in contrast with prior art devices, the object mounting device  300  according to the third embodiment and the housing  318  therefore are adaptable for use with objects having varying lengths. Such a device  300  also is capable of withstanding sharp impact loads imposed along the long axis of the housing  300 . 
     In all other respects reference should be made to the foregoing discussion for the respective and corresponding parts of the first embodiment for further details and construction regarding the housing  310  and each of the plurality of resilient members  320   a,b  of the second embodiment. It is, however, within the scope of the third embodiment, for each of the plurality of resilient members  320   a,b  to be configured so they have similar or different construction and properties. Additionally, although an object having a shoulder is illustrated it is within the scope of the third embodiment for the housing to be mounted to objects having a constant diameter or cross section (i.e., without a shoulder) as well as having a non-circular cross section. 
     In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the resilient member extends only part way about the housing. Such an object mounting device is particularly advantageous in close quarter situations or arrangements where another structure is so close to the housing that this other structure could come into contact with the part of the resilient member that extends outwardly from the housing. This other structure also could prevent the housing from being easily mounted onto or dismounted from the object because of this obstruction and/or lead to the structural failure of the resilient member. 
     In one specific illustrative example of an object mounting device  400   a  according to the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, the device includes a housing  410   a , a resilient member  420   a  that extends part way around the housing and a screw or clamp  430  to secure each end of the resilient member. The housing  410   a  includes a plurality of lands and slots, which slots communicate with the interior passage of the housing as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 7. 
     The resilient member  420   a  is disposed about the housing so, as with the other above-described object mounting devices, portions thereof extend within the housing interior passage. The screws or clamps  430  in addition to securing the ends of the resilient member  420   a  also maintain the tension in the resilient members such that the portions thereof that extend through the slots into the interior passage of the housing frictional grasp or engage the outer surface of the object when the object is inserted within the housing as with any of the above-described object mounting devices. 
     The resilient member  420   a  is an elastomeric strip of material or a section of an elastomeric O-ring. In all other respects reference should be made to the foregoing discussion for the respective and corresponding parts of the first embodiment for further details and construction regarding the housing  410   a  and the resilient member  420   a.    
     In another illustrative example, as shown in FIG. 11B, an object mounting device  400   b  according to the fourth embodiment includes a housing  410   b  and a resilient member  420   b  that extends part way around the housing. The housing  410   b  includes a plurality of lands and slots  414   b  and two hook-like structures  419  about which is secured the resilient member  420   b . In a more specific embodiment, the resilient member  420   b  is an elastomer O-ring that is looped around the hook-like structures  419 . Alternatively, the housing includes two or more pins extending outwardly from the outer surface of the housing to which are secured the resilient member  420   b.    
     The slots  414   b  are configured or arranged as with the other described object mounting devices so portions of the resilient member  420   b  extend into the housing interior passage. In a more specific embodiment the slots are provided in the housing  410   b  so they lie under one or both adjacent paths or runs of the O-ring or resilient member  420   b . In all other pertinent respects, reference should be made to the foregoing discussion for the respective and corresponding parts of the first embodiment for further details and construction regarding the housing  410   b  and the resilient member  420   b.    
     In a number of the above-described object mounting devices of the present invention, the resilient member of a given embodiment is disposed within a groove formed or machined in the exterior surface of the housing. This, however, is not a limitation as the resilient member can be positioned and aligned on the housing using any of a number of techniques available to those skilled in the art. In one specific embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 12A the resilient member  520  is positioned and aligned on the housing  510   a  by means of the slots  514  that communicate with the interior passage of the housing. In another specific embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 12B, the resilient member  520  is positioned and aligned on the housing  510   b  by means of ridges  540  extending outwardly from the housing and on either side of the path of the resilient member  520 . The ridges  540  can be formed, for example, by a U-shaped arcuate member that is secured to the outside surface of the housing  510 . 
     In a further specific embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 12C, the resilient member  520  is positioned and aligned on the housing  510   c  by means of a plurality of pins  530  extending outwardly from the housing. In yet another specific embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 12D, the resilient member  520  is positioned and aligned on the housing  510   d  by means of a plurality of blocks  550  spaced about the housing. and positioned on either side of the flexible resilient member. More particularly, the pins  530  or the blocks  550  are disposed on either side of the path of the resilient member so as to restrain any longitudinal motion. 
     In the above described object mounting devices, the diameter or cross-section of the housing interior passage is larger than the external diameter or cross-section of the object  4  to which the housing is to be mounted upon. To minimize the potential of the object becoming stuck or jammed in the passage and thus preventing the object  4  from being easily removed, and with reference to FIG. 13, the rear edge  660  of a housing  610  is chamfered. In this way, a sharp edge of the housing  610  will not press into a side of the object  4  if the long axes of the object and housing are at an angle with respect to each other. For example, the rear edge  660  can be chamfered at an angle in the range of from about 10° to about 30° and more particularly chamfered at an angle of about 15°. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.