Abstract:
An adjustable attachment mechanism includes an elongate shaft, first and second seats disposed on opposite ends of the shaft, first and second collars, and an actuator. The first and second collars are disposed to translate along the elongate shaft. An inner surface of the first collar cooperates with the first seat to define a first receptacle and an inner surface of the second collar cooperates with the second seat to define a second receptacle. The actuator is in communication with the first and second collars and is actuable to selectively traverse the first and second collars along the shaft in a first direction away from each other and in a second direction toward each other, the movement in the first direction loosening the first and second receptacles and the movement in the second direction tightening the first and second receptacles.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to adjustable mounting assemblies. More specifically, the present invention relates to an assembly for mounting two articles and facilitating selective positioning of the articles with respect to each other. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional mechanisms are known to adjustably mount a number of devices. Ball and socket joints, brackets, couplers, and variations thereof all have been used for various mounting needs. 
     Recently, advances have been made in the field of optics and display technologies such that that personal video display devices have become increasingly useful for entertainment purposes and for tactical, e.g., military, purposes. For example, conventionally known are display engines approximately one inch high by two inches wide by two inches deep that display images and information. Such small displays are placed proximate a user&#39;s eye preferably out of a main line of sight, so as to be available for reference, but not to impede normal vision. 
     There is a need in the art for an improved assembly capable of mounting two articles relative to each other. There also is a need in the art for an assembly capable of mounting personal video displays and providing easy and reliable positioning of the video displays. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the foregoing needs in the art by providing a selectively adjustable mounting assembly. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, an adjustable attachment mechanism includes an elongate shaft, first and second seats disposed on opposite ends of the shaft, first and second collars, and an actuator. The first and second collars are disposed to translate along the elongate shaft. An inner surface of the first collar cooperates with the first seat to define a first receptacle and an inner surface of the second collar cooperates with the second seat to define a second receptacle. The actuator is in communication with the first and second collars and is actuable to selectively traverse the first and second collars along the shaft in a first direction away from each other and in a second direction toward each other, the movement in the first direction loosening the first and second receptacles and the movement in the second direction tightening the first and second receptacles. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, an adjustable attachment mechanism includes an elongate shaft, first and second collars, and an actuator. The elongate shaft has a first seat at one end and a second seat at the other end. The first and second collars are disposed on the shaft and translatable along a length of the shaft. The first and second collars each have a receiving area and a threaded portion, and are disposed on the shaft such that the receiving area of the first collar and the first seat define a first receptacle and the receiving area of the second collar and the second seat define a second receptacle. The actuator is rotatable about the elongate shaft. The actuator has a first threaded portion disposed to cooperate with the threaded portion of the first collar and a second threaded portion disposed to cooperate with the second threaded portion of the second collar. The threaded portion of the first collar and the threaded portion of the second collar are oppositely threaded such that when the actuator is rotated in a first direction, the threaded engagements of the actuator to the first and second collars cause the first and second collars to move along the shaft away from each other, and when the actuator is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the threaded engagements of the actuator to the first and second collars cause the first and second collars to move along the shaft toward each other. 
     An understanding of these and other features of the Applicants&#39; invention may be had with reference to the attached figures and following description, in which the present invention is illustrated and described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable mounting assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the adjustable mounting assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable mounting assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable mounting assembly of  FIG. 1  as used in conjunction with an optical device and a coupler. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the assembly illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a preferred adjustable mounting assembly  10  generally includes an adjustment mechanism  20  disposed between opposing collars  30 ,  40 . Each of the collars  30 ,  40  defines a receptacle  50  for receiving an article to be mounted. (In  FIG. 1 , the receiving area of the collar  40  is obscured by a shroud  60 .) As will be described below in more detail, the mounting assembly  10  generally operates by actuating the adjustment mechanism  20  to loosen the collars  30 ,  40 , thereby allowing an object contained within the receptacle to be selectively adjusted. When a desired positioning of the article is achieved, the adjusting mechanism  20  is actuated to tighten the collars  30 ,  40  and clamp the object contained therein. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mounting assembly  10  and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly  10 . These figures illustrate the components making up the assembly. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an elongate shaft  12  is disposed at the center of the mounting assembly, and first and second seats  13 ,  14  are fixed at ends of the shaft  12 . Each of the first and second seats  13 ,  14  includes a generally concave surface  16 , the respective concave surfaces  16  generally being disposed to face away from each other. Known fasteners, such as screws  18 , preferably are used to secure the seats  13 ,  14  to the ends of the elongate shaft  12 . Alternatively, the shaft  12  and the seats  13 ,  14  may be formed as a unitary piece. 
     The first and second collars  30 ,  40  are arranged proximate the seats  13 ,  14 , respectively. The first collar  30  generally includes a base  31  and a receiving portion  32  joined thereto. The base  31  and the receiving portion  32  may be formed as separate pieces, as depicted in the drawings, or they may comprise a single piece. The base  31  has a threaded portion  34  on an external surface. The function of the threaded portion  34  will be described in more detail below. 
     The illustrated receiving portion  32  consists of two halves  33   a ,  33   b , which preferably are joined to form a substantially unitary piece. (The two halves generally are used for ease of manufacturing ad ease of assembly, but the receiving portion alternatively may be formed as a unitary piece.) Each of the halves  33   a ,  33   b  has an inner surface that is generally frusto-spherical or frusto-spheroidal. When the two halves  33   a ,  33   b  are joined, the receiving portion  32  has an internal, generally frusto-spherical surface  35  substantially symmetrical about an equator. The surface  35  defines an opening  37 . A bore  39  preferably is formed in the surface proximate the base  31  for receiving the seat  13 , as will be described in more detail below. An aperture  36  preferably is formed through the receiving portion  32 , and more specifically, through the base  31  of the receiving portion  32 . The aperture  36  is sized and shaped to create a sliding engagement of the receiving portion  32  on the shaft  12 . In this manner, the collar  30  is movable on the shaft  12 . 
     The second collar  40  is substantially identical to the first collar  30 . Specifically, the second collar  40  includes a base  41  and a receiving portion  42  having two halves  43   a ,  43   b . An inner, curved surface  45  of the receiving portion  42  defines an opening  47 , and a bore  49  is formed in the surface  45  proximate the base  41 . The base  41  has a threaded area or portion  44 . An aperture  46  is formed through the base  41  and allows the collar  40  to move along the shaft  12 . Preferably, the only difference between the first and second collars  30 ,  40  is that the threads comprising the threaded area  34 ,  44  are opposite, i.e., one of the threads is right-handed and the other of the threads is left-handed. 
     Thus, the preferred collars  30 ,  40  include apertures  36 ,  46  that form a clearance fit with the outer surface of the shaft, thereby allowing the collars to slide along an exterior of the shaft. In the preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the shaft taken transverse to the axial length of the shaft is non-circular (hexagonal in the figures) and the apertures  36 ,  46  have complementary shapes. When configured in this manner, rotation of the collars  30 ,  40  is substantially impeded, but the collars are free to traverse along the length of the shaft  12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the threaded areas  34 ,  44  of the collars  30 ,  40  cooperate with first and second threaded portions  24   a ,  24   b  of the adjustment mechanism  20 . The adjustment mechanism  20  is made up of a substantially cylindrical wall  22  having an aperture  23  axially therethrough. The aperture  23  is sized to allow passage of the shaft  12  through the adjustment mechanism  20 . The threaded portions  24   a ,  24   b  are formed on an inside of the cylindrical wall  22 , proximate ends thereof. As indicated above, the first threaded portion  24   a  engages the threaded area of the first collar  30  and the second threaded portion  24   b  engages the threaded area of the second collar  40 . Because the threads on the respective collars  30 ,  40  preferably are opposite threads, the threaded portions  24   a ,  24   b  of the adjustment mechanism  20  also has opposite threads in the preferred embodiment. 
     The adjustment mechanism also may include a gripping surface  26  and/or indicia  28 . The gripping surface  26  preferably promotes actuation of the adjustment mechanism  20  by a user. The gripping surface may be raised or indented with respect to the outer surface of the cylindrical wall  22 , and/or it may be patterned, knurled, or the like. The indicia  28  preferably provides instruction to the user, for example, instruction regarding actuation directions or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the indicia may be ornate and for aesthetic purposes only. 
     To construct the adjustable mounting assembly, the shaft  12  is first passed through the aperture  23  of the adjustment mechanism  20 . The base portions  31 ,  41  of the first and second collars  30 ,  40  are then respectively passed over opposite ends of the shaft  12  on opposite ends of the adjustment mechanism The bases  31 ,  41  are oriented such that the threaded areas  34 ,  44  are adjacent the adjustment mechanism  20 . The receiving portions  32 ,  42  then are placed on the bases  31 ,  41  and the seats  13 ,  14  are secured to the ends of the shaft with their concave surfaces  16  directed away from each other, i.e., outwardly along an axis of the shaft. Moreover, the seats  13 ,  14  maintain the collars  30 ,  40  on the shaft  12 . The seats  13 ,  14  are received in the bores  39 ,  49  of the receiving portions  32 ,  42 , and the concave surfaces  16  of the seats  13 ,  14  generally align with the inner surfaces  35 ,  45  of the receiving portions  32 ,  42  to form the receptacles  50 . 
     As described above, the collars  30 ,  40  preferably are engaged with the adjustment mechanism  20  via the threads. Actuation, i.e., rotation, of the adjustment mechanism about the shaft  12  in a first direction causes the collars to move along the shaft either in a direction closer to each other or in a direction away from each other, while actuation of the adjustment mechanism in the second direction opposite the first direction causes the collars to move in the opposite directions. As should be appreciated, when the adjustment mechanism is actuated to move the collars respectively away from each other, the receiving portions are moved relatively outwardly, with a bottom of the bore  39 ,  49  approaching a side of the seat  13 ,  14  opposite the concave surface  16 , effectively widening the receptacle  50 , or loosening the mounting assembly  10 . Conversely, when the adjustment mechanism is actuated to move the collars respectively closer to each other, the portion of the surfaces  35 ,  45  of the receiving portions  32 ,  42  facing the concave surface  16  of the respective seat  13 ,  14  is moved relatively closer to that concave surface (i.e., the bottom of the bore is distanced from the side of the seat opposite the concave surface), thereby effectively narrowing the receptacle  50 , or tightening the mounting assembly  10 . When tightened, the collars  30 ,  40  are moved such that the seats  13 ,  14  and the curved surfaces  35 ,  45  clamp an article in the receptacle. Put another way, movement of collars  30 ,  40  causes relative movement of the seats  13 ,  14  within the bores  39 ,  49  of the respective collar to effectively enlarge or reduce an internal dimension of the receptacle  50  between the concave surface  16  of the seat  13 ,  14  and an opposing portion of the curved surfaces  35 ,  45 . 
     The receptacle preferably receives a ball joint formed on an article to be mounted, such as the ball joint  82  formed on a mount  80 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . With the ball joint  82  received in the receptacle, the adjustment mechanism  20  preferably is actuated to loosen the mounting assembly  10 , as described above. When the mounting assembly  10  is loosened, the ball is movable within the receptacle, but preferably is maintained within the receptacle  50 . In this manner, the ball may be manipulated within the receptacle to a desired position. Once in the desired location, the adjustment mechanism preferably is actuated to tighten the mounting assembly  10 , thereby maintaining the ball (and attached device) in the desired position, i.e., by clamping the ball between the curved inner surface of the receiving portion and the concave surface of the seat. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the preferred adjustable mounting assembly is particularly useful for mounting a personal video display device  70  to goggles, a helmet, or other devices (not shown) worn on, about, or proximate one&#39;s head. More specifically, the first collar  30  of the mounting assembly  10  retains a display device  70  and the second collar retains a coupler  80 . The display device  70  generally includes a viewing pane through which images or other information is viewed, a cable  74  for sending/receiving information to/from a source (not shown), a connector  76  for interfacing with the source, and a ball mount  78  received in the receptacle  50  of the first collar  30 . The coupler  80  may be of any construction for attaching the assembly to headgear, such as goggles, a helmet, or the like, and includes a ball mount  82  received in the receptacle  50  of the second collar  40 . When the display device  70  and the coupler  80  are retained in the respective receptacles, the coupler  80  is coupled to a user&#39;s headgear, thereby mounting the display device  70 . The user then actuates the adjustment mechanism, as described above, to loosen the mounting assembly  10 , positions the display device  70  in a desired viewing position, and tightens the mounting assembly  10  to retain the display device  70  in the desired viewing position. 
     In the preferred embodiments, the ball mounts  78 ,  82  are movable within the receptacle over a relatively large range of motion. As will be appreciated, however, this range of motion is limited both by the width of the receiving portion  32 ,  42  and the size of any attachments extending radially from the ball mount  78 ,  82  proximate the receiving portion. For example, when the cable  74  is passed through the ball mount  78  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , movement of the display device within the receptacle will be impeded when the cable  74  contacts the receiving portion  32 . This may be cured by routing the cable  74  outside the assembly  10  altogether, although such an arrangement is less compact. Protrusions  84  used in the operation of the coupler  80  pose motion impediment problems similar to those resulting from the cable  74 . Namely, as the coupler  80  is moved within the collar, the protrusions  84  eventually will contact the receiving portion  42 , disallowing further movement of the coupler  80  in a direction. Limiting the diameter of the cable  74  and any protrusions  84  will increase the range of motion of the respective devices. 
     As also illustrated in the figures, the adjustable mounting assembly may include one or more shrouds  60 . The shrouds  60  preferably are disposed over the receptacles  50 . The shrouds preferably aid in retaining the ball joints within the receptacle and/or they may help to prevent dust, moisture or any other foreign matter from entering the receptacle  50 . Preferably, an aperture  62  is formed in each shroud  60  through which features, e.g., the cable  74  and the protrusions  84 , of the device to be mounted is passed. The shrouds  60  preferably are pliable, and thus impart only limited resistance to adjustment of the mounted devices. 
     Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with mounting display devices on head gear, the invention is not limited to this use. It is contemplated that the device may be used in any number of applications in which a relatively large degree of adjustability is desirable between two articles. 
     Modifications to the described invention also are contemplated. For instance, while the preferred embodiment of the invention features two collars, or clamping assemblies, it may be desirable only to provide a single clamping assembly. In such an embodiment, only one clamp may be used, or one of the clamps may be fixed, and thereby unaffected by actuation of the adjustment mechanism. 
     In the preferred embodiment illustrated, internal threads are formed on the adjustment mechanism and external threads are formed on the collars  30 ,  40 . Alternatively, the threads on the adjustment mechanism could be external with the threads on the collars being internal, i.e., formed on an inner wall of a bore or the like. 
     Also in the preferred embodiment, the receptacles  50  generally are frusto-spherical for receiving a ball joint, such that the device acts generally like a ball-and-socket joint. However, the surface and the received joint may be any number of geometrical shapes or surfaces providing relative movement. For example, it is contemplated that movement in only a single plane may be desirable in which case the interface between the receptacle and the joint may include a slot or movement may be otherwise constrained. 
     The foregoing embodiments of the invention are representative embodiments, and are provided for illustrative purposes. The embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Variations and modifications are apparent from a reading of the preceding description and are included within the scope of the invention. The invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the accompanying claims.