Abstract:
A mounting assembly for interconnecting a first object and a second object has a link assembly having a first end that couples the first object, and a second end that couples the second object, and a top plate assembly pivotably coupled to the second end of the link assembly. The top plate assembly includes an upper plate having a plurality of holes for attachment to a receiving device, and a lower plate pivotably coupled to the second end of the link assembly. The lower plate is connected to the upper plate only through a plurality of shock and vibration absorption members, thereby improving the shock and vibration absorption effect.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a flexible mounting apparatus, and in particular, to an improved universal ball-and-socket mounting apparatus that can be used to mount electronic devices to motorcycles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Motorcycle riders are increasingly mounting electronic devices to their motorcycles. These devices can include GPS units, cell phones, music players, radios, radar detectors, and other items. These electronic devices are often not designed to withstand the substantial shock and vibrations produced by a motorcycle. Therefore, it is advantageous to have a mount that will reduce the shock and vibrations experienced by the electronic device. 
         [0005]    Many electronic devices are also beginning to standardize the mounting hole locations. A common standardization is the AMPS hole pattern. The AMPS hole pattern consists of 4 holes in a rectangular pattern spaced 1.50″×1.19″ apart. Some devices do not have this pattern, but can be mounted on a flat plate using double sided tape or hook and loop fastener. To accommodate both of these mounting methods, it is advantageous to have a mount that has a flat top plate with an AMPS hole pattern. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to accomplish the above-described and other objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a mounting assembly for interconnecting a first object and a second object. The mounting assembly has a link assembly having a first end that couples the first object, and a second end that couples the second object, and a top plate assembly pivotably coupled to the second end of the link assembly. The top plate assembly includes an upper plate having a plurality of holes for attachment to a receiving device, and a lower plate pivotably coupled to the second end of the link assembly. The lower plate is connected to the upper plate only through a plurality of shock and vibration absorption members, thereby improving the shock and vibration absorption effect. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mounting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in use holding a radar detector on a handlebar of a motorcycle. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1  shown in an assembled state. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a top plate assembly for the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the top plate assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the top plate assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates how the cradle is connected to the top plate assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a mounting apparatus  20  according to the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , the mounting apparatus  20  is shown supporting a conventional radar detector  22  on the yoke stem  24  of a handlebar  25  of a conventional motorcycle. As such, the handlebar  25  functions as a supporting base. In this embodiment, the yoke stem  24  (and the handlebar  25 ) is the stationary object and the radar detector  22  is the movable object. The radar detector  22  is removably secured to a receiving device (e.g., cradle  23 ) that is connected to a top plate assembly  26  via screws  130 . The top plate assembly  26  is pivotably (e.g., including rotatably) connected to the top end of the mounting apparatus  20 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the mounting apparatus  20  comprises a split-arm assembly that has two separate and rigid link sections  28  and  30 , an upper coupler  32 , a lower coupler  34 , and a link screw  36 . The link sections  28  and  30  are essentially identical except that their holes  74   a,    74   b  are slightly different. The link section  28  has a countersink and clearance hole  74   a,  while the other link section  30  has a tapped hole  74   b.  The upper coupler  32  has a spherical upper ball  38  and the lower coupler  34  has a spherical lower ball  40 . Each link section  28 ,  30  has an upper socket section  42  and a lower socket section  44  positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends, respectively. The link sections  28 ,  30  are clamped together with the upper ball  38  retained inside the space defined by the upper socket sections  42 , and with the lower ball  40  retained inside the space defined by the lower socket sections  44 . The link screw  36  functions to clamp the link sections  28 ,  30  together with the help of a washer  70 , by extending through holes  74   a  and  74   b  provided at about the center of each link section  28  and  30 , respectively. 
         [0017]    The upper coupler  32  has a disc-shaped base  50  with a reduced-diameter neck  52  connecting the upper ball  38  and the base  50 . The top plate assembly  26  is connected to the base  50  by a screw  54 . The top plate assembly  26  will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0018]    The lower coupler  34  has a disc-shaped base  66  with a reduced-diameter neck  68  connecting the upper ball  40  and the base  66 . A yoke nut  72  is secured to the base  66 , with the yoke nut  72  adapted to be threadably connected to the yoke stem  24  using known techniques. 
         [0019]    The balls  38 ,  40 , the link sections  28 ,  30  and the bases  50  and  66  are preferably made of the same material, and the material can be a metal, or a plastic. These elements can be made of the same or different materials, but they should all have the same material hardness so that one component does not deform or damage the other. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , the top plate assembly  26  includes an upper plate  104  and a lower plate  102 . The upper plate  104  has a generally rectangular configuration with curved edges, while the lower plate  102  is generally shaped like the letter “I”, with two end bars  106  connected by an elongated central bar  108 . The bars  106 ,  108  can all have curved edges. As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the lower plate  102  has a smaller surface area than the upper plate  104 , thereby allowing portions of the underside (lower surface) of the upper plate  104  at the locations of the AMPS holes  122  to be exposed (i.e., not covered by the lower plate  102 ). 
         [0021]    The lower plate  102  is rigidly connected to the base  50  of the upper coupler  32  by the screw  54  whose head is seated between the upper plate  104  and the lower plate  102  (see  FIG. 6 ). The lower plate  102  has four holes at the corners, with a vibration absorbing grommet  110  placed into each of these holes. The upper plate  104  is then connected to lower plate  102  by inserting screws  112  through each of the corner holes  114  in the upper plate  104 , with each screw  112  passing through a corresponding vibration spacer  116  and then through the bore of the corresponding grommet  110 . Each screw  112  is secured by a locknut  118  and washer  120  combination. As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the upper plate  104  only connects to the lower plate  102  through the grommet  110 , thereby producing a vibration and shock absorbing effect. Therefore, the grommets  110  function as vibration and shock absorbing members. In this regard, the grommets  110  are preferably made from a thermoplastic or thermoset rubber such as PVC, Neoprene, or Urethane, with a hardness durometer of 20-60 Shore A. 
         [0022]    The upper plate  104  has two AMPS hole patterns (i.e., eight holes  122 ) to allow a device cradle (e.g., for a radar detector) to be mounted thereto. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , in the present embodiment, for example, the cradle  23  can have four holes  124  arranged in an AMPS hole pattern so that the cradle  23  can be mounted to the upper plate  104  using four screws  130  that extend through the four holes  124  in the cradle  23 , and four of the holes  122  in the upper plate  104 . Thus, the reduced surface area of the lower plate  102  allows the screws  130  to extend through the upper plate  104  without passing through the lower plate  102 , thereby improving shock and vibration absorption. As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the cradle  23  can have two opposing side bars that are connected by a rear bar, with the front edge of the cradle  23  is opened, so that the side bars can act as rails for allowing the radar detector  22  to be slid on to the cradle  23  via corresponding rails on the bottom or side of the radar detector  22 . 
         [0023]    The top plate assembly  26  provides numerous benefits. It has a flat upper plate  104 , which allows it to have a low profile. It facilitates universal use by providing the standard AMPS hole patterns. The low profile and standard hole patterns allow for a wide variety of different devices  22  and cradles  23  to be attached to the upper plate  104 . It is also convenient to use because the configuration of the lower plate  102  allows access for the screws  130  to connect the upper plate  104  to the cradle  23  without coupling the lower plate  102 . The top plate assembly  26  provides excellent shock and vibration absorption because only the grommets  110  connect the upper plate  104  and the lower plate  102 . Finally, the flat upper plate  104  allows for the use of double-sided adhesive tape or Velcro™, which can be useful for devices such as radar detectors that do not have cradles. 
         [0024]    Even though the mounting apparatus  20  is shown and described in connection with the yoke nut  72  and top plate assembly  26  for use in an automotive (or motorcycle) environment to support a radar detector  22 , these are merely non-limiting examples. The mounting apparatus  20  and top plate assembly  26  of the present invention can be applied to other applications and used with other connecting mechanisms. Examples include LCD monitors and GPS units, among others. 
         [0025]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.