Abstract:
A system for attaching, positioning and repositioning accessories and/or devices to vertical or horizontal surfaces such that the attached accessories or devices can be positioned and repositioned as desired. The system is comprised of a system base which interlocks with accessory mounts, which in turn engage and secure the fittings of accessories or devices. The system allows the accessories or devices retained in the mounts to be fixed along the base at a desired location and released and moved to another position along the base as desired. Further the system allows the accessories to be removed from the mounts and replaced as needed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION NUMBER 
       [0001]    61/948,756 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    No 
       FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to a system for attaching, positioning and repositioning accessories and/or devices to a surface, and in particular to surfaces of medical, industrial and home storage cabinets, carts, work tables, work benches and desks such that little of the available work surface area is impeded and the attached accessories or devices can be positioned and repositioned for convenience as desired. 
         [0004]    Available counter space in can be very limited in some work environments and in those environments it is important to minimize the counter space consumed by accessories or devices sometimes required to perform work tasks. In those circumstances it would be beneficial to keep accessories or devices close at hand without them consuming scarce counter space. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    I invented a system for attaching, positioning and repositioning accessories and/or devices to a surface, and in particular to surfaces of medical, industrial and home storage cabinets, carts, work tables, work benches and desks such that little of the available work surface area is impeded and the attached accessories or devices can be positioned and repositioned for convenience as desired. The system is comprised of a system base that can be attached to the surface of a host structure through a variety of means and in a variety of orientations and that interlocks with system accessory mounts and system accessory mounts that interlock with and can be positioned along the base as desired. The position of the accessory mounts can be fixed along the base at a desired location and released and moved to another position along the base as desired. The system accessory mounts have a socket for an accessory or device fitting that allows an accessory or device to be fixed in the mount and released and moved or removed as desired. 
         [0006]    Although others have invented systems for attaching accessories to surfaces, various aspects of my system for attaching and variably positioning accessories or devices on a surface are superior because it:
       is more versatile   is easier to use   is less difficult to attach   can be removable   can be used on a variety of surfaces   offers many attachment options   can be easily scaled to a wide range of surface and accessory or device sizes ranging from very small to very large   can be used with either vertical or horizontal orientations of the system base   offers the user a significant amount of flexibility in the positioning of accessories or devices   makes repositioning of accessories or devices by the user easy   preserves available work surface and can keep mounted accessories or devices off or away from the work surface   allows more accessories or devices to be attached to a surface simultaneously with each being able to be positioned and repositioned independently as desired       
 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a wheeled cart with the system for attaching and repositioning accessories or devices on a surface attached to a side wall in a vertical orientation with one system vertical accessory mount and an accessory in place. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective of a wheeled cart with the system attached to the top in a horizontal orientation with two system horizontal accessory mounts and accessories in place. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the system with a system vertical accessory mount interlocked with a vertically oriented system base with the accessory mount having manual position-fixing and retaining and accessory retaining methods. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the system with a system vertical accessory mount interlocked with a vertically oriented system base with the accessory mount having manual position-fixing and retaining and accessory retaining methods. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the system with a system vertical accessory mount interlocked with a vertically oriented system base with the accessory mount having manual position-fixing and retaining and accessory retaining methods. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a system vertical accessory mount with a single accessory socket. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a system vertical single socket accessory mount with a single accessory socket. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a system vertical single accessory mount with a single accessory socket. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9 . is a side view of a system with a system horizontal single accessory mount interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base with the accessory mount having manual position-fixing and retaining and accessory retaining methods. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the system with a system horizontal single accessory mount interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base with the accessory mount having manual position-fixing and retaining and accessory retaining methods. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the system with a system horizontal single accessory mount interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base with the accessory mount having manual position-fixing and retaining and accessory retaining methods. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the system horizontal accessory mount with a single socket. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the system horizontal accessory mount with a single accessory socket. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is an end view of the system horizontal single accessory mount with a single accessory socket. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       [0000]    
       
           2 . System base with 1 or more accessory mount interlock features 
           4 . System vertical accessory mount 
           6 . Accessory or device mounted in an accessory or device mount 
           8 . Host structure 
           10 . Host structure top 
           12 . Host structure side 
           14 . Host structure back 
           16 . Host structure front 
           18 . System horizontal accessory mount 
           20 . Accessory mount base interlock feature 
           22 . Accessory fitting socket (partially threaded by example) 
           23 . Socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method 
           24 . Alternate socket access channel for accessory fitting retaining method 
           26 . Access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method 
           30 . Base accessory mount interlock feature 
           32 . Accessory fitting retaining method 
           34 . Accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method 
           38 . Base attachment method 
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0051]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a wheeled cart as a host structure  8  with a system base with an accessory mount interlock feature  2  attached to the side of the cart  12  in a vertical orientation. A system vertical accessory mount  4  is interlocked with the base  2 , shown in more detail in FIGS.  3 , 4  and  5 , and fixed in its position along the long axis of the base  2 . The fitting of an accessory  6  is seated in and retained in the mount  4 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 2  is a perspective of a wheeled cart as a host structure  8  with a system base with an accessory mount interlock feature  2  attached to the top of the cart  10  in a horizontal orientation. Two system horizontal accessory mounts  18  are interlocked with the base  2 , shown in more detail in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  and fixed in their position along the long axis of the base  2 . The fittings of accessories  6  are seated in and retained in the mount  18 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a system vertical accessory mount  4  with a single accessory fitting socket  22  with the accessory mount  4  interlocked with a vertically oriented system base  2  with its associated base attachment method  38 , with the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  engaged with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , the accessory fitting retaining method  32  (removed) which passes through a socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method  23  (with alternate channel locations  24  indicated) and adjustably engages the accessory fitting to reversibly retain it in the socket  22 , and the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  (removed) which passes through the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26  and adjustably engages the structure of the base  2  to reversibly fix the mount  4  in the desired position in the base  2 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a system vertical accessory mount  4  with a single accessory fitting socket  22  with the accessory mount  4  interlocked with a vertically oriented system base  2  with its associated base attachment method  38  (not visible in this view), with the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  engaged with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , the accessory fitting retaining method  32  (removed and superimposed) which passes through a socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method  23  (with alternate channel locations  24  indicated) and adjustably engages the accessory fitting to reversibly retain it in the socket  22 , and the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  (removed and superimposed) which passes through the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26  and adjustably engages the structure of the base  2  to reversibly fix the mount  4  in the desired position in the base  2 .  FIG. 5  is a top view of a system vertical accessory mount  4  with a single accessory fitting socket  22  with the accessory mount  4  interlocked with a vertically oriented system base  2  with its associated base attachment method  38 , with the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  engaged with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , the accessory fitting retaining method  32  (removed) which passes through a socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method  23  (with alternate channel locations  24  indicated) and adjustably engages the accessory fitting to reversibly retain it in the socket  22 , and the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  (removed) which passes through the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26  and adjustably engages the structure of the base  2  to reversibly fix the mount  4  in the desired position in the base  2 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a system vertical accessory mount  4  with a single accessory fitting socket  22 , an accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , a socket access channel  23  (with alternate channel locations identified  24 ) for the accessory fitting retaining method and the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a system vertical accessory mount  4  with a single accessory fitting socket  22 , an accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , a socket access channel  23  (with alternate channel locations identified  24 ) for the accessory fitting retaining method and the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a system vertical accessory mount  4  with a single accessory fitting socket  22 , an accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , a socket access channel  23  (with alternate channel locations identified  24 ) for the accessory fitting retaining method and the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a system horizontal accessory mount  18  with a single accessory fitting socket  22  with the accessory mount  18  interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base  2  with its associated base attachment method  38 , with the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  engaged with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , the accessory fitting retaining method  32  (removed and superimposed) which passes through a socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method  23  (with alternate channel locations  24  indicated) and adjustably engages the accessory fitting to reversibly retain it in the socket  22 , and the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  (removed) which passes through the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26  and adjustably engages the structure of the base  2  to reversibly fix the mount  18  in the desired position in the base  2 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a system horizontal accessory mount  18  with a single accessory fitting socket  22  with the accessory mount  18  interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base  2  with its associated base attachment method  38  (not visible in this view), with the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  engaged with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , the accessory fitting retaining method  32  (removed) which passes through a socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method  23  (with alternate channel locations  24  indicated) and adjustably engages the accessory fitting to reversibly retain it in the socket  22 , and the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  (removed and superimposed) which passes through the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26  and adjustably engages the structure of the base  2  to reversibly fix the mount  18  in the desired position in the base  2 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  is an end view of a system horizontal accessory mount  18  with a single accessory fitting socket  22  with the accessory mount  18  interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base  2  with its associated base attachment method  38 , with the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  engaged with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , the accessory fitting retaining method  32  (removed) which passes through a socket access channel for the accessory fitting retaining method  23  (with alternate channel locations  24  indicated) and adjustably engages the accessory fitting to reversibly retain it in the socket  22 , and the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  (removed) which passes through the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26  and adjustably engages the structure of the base  2  to reversibly fix the mount  18  in the desired position in the base  2 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a system horizontal accessory mount  18  with a single accessory fitting socket  22 , an accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , a socket access channel  23  (with alternate channel locations identified  24 ) for the accessory fitting retaining method and the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 13  is a top view of a system horizontal accessory mount  18  with a single accessory fitting socket  22 , an accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , a socket access channel  23  (with alternate channel locations identified  24 ) for the accessory fitting retaining method and the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 14  is an end view of a system horizontal accessory mount  18  with a single accessory fitting socket  22 , an accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , a socket access channel  23  (with alternate channel locations identified  24 ) for the accessory fitting retaining method and the access channel for the base position fixing and retaining method  26 . 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0064]    In the preferred embodiment, the system base  2  is composed of a suitable aluminum alloy for weight, strength and durability, is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped or right rectangular prism, is of a length desired or required to meet the need and is attached to a vertical or horizontal surface by means of a suitable adhesive. The attached base  2  has a minimum of 1 accessible system base accessory mount interlock feature  30  that extends the length of its long axis with the feature  30  being a channel of such design that it interlocks with and retains the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  of 1 or more system accessory mounts  4 , 18  while allowing the mount(s)  4 , 18  to travel freely along its long axis to a desired position. 
         [0065]    The system vertical accessory mount  4  is composed of a suitable aluminum alloy for weight, strength and durability and is interlocked with a vertically oriented system base  2  using the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  such that it is retained by the base interlock feature  30  but can be moved freely along the long axis of the base  2 . The accessory mount base interlock feature is a single raised element of the surface of the mount structure that extends along its length and is of such design that it interlocks with and is retained by a correspondingly shaped interlock feature  30  of the base  2 . The position of the accessory mount  4  can be fixed in the base  2  by the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  such that the accessory  6  is conveniently located for the user. The accessory mount base position fixing/retaining method  34  is a manually adjustable knob with an integrated set screw passing reversibly through a threaded access channel  26  in the mount  4  with the access channel  26  located such that it does not intersect with the mount&#39;s accessory fitting socket  22 . Having been manually advanced through the access channel  26  in the mount  4 , the set screw engages the structure of the base accessory mount interlock feature  30  such that it fixes the mount  4  in the desired position along the base  2 . The mount&#39;s accessory fitting socket  22  is cut or formed into the body of the system accessory mount  4  and is of such as shape and size as to accommodate the fitting of a desired accessory or device. The accessory or device fitting is plugged into the fitting socket  22  and retained in the socket  22  by the accessory fitting retaining method  32 . The accessory fitting retaining method  32  is a manually adjustable knob with an integrated set screw passing reversibly through a threaded access channel  23 , 24  in the mount  4  with the access channel  23 , 24  located such that passes through the wall of the mount  4  and intersects with the mount&#39;s accessory fitting socket  22 . Having been manually and reversibly advanced through the access channel  23 , 24  in the mount  4 , the set screw engages the accessory fitting such that it retains the fitting in the socket  22 . 
         [0066]    The system horizontal accessory mount  18  is composed of a suitable aluminum alloy for weight strength and durability and is interlocked with a horizontally oriented system base  2  using the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  such that it is retained by the base interlock feature  30  but can be moved freely along the long axis of the base  2 . The accessory mount base interlock feature is a single raised element of the surface of mount structure that extends along its length and is of such design that it interlocks with and is retained by a correspondingly shaped interlock feature  30  of the base  2 . The position of the accessory mount  18  can be fixed in the base  2  by the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34  such that the mounted accessory  6  is conveniently located for the user. The accessory mount base position fixing/retaining method  34  is a manually adjustable knob with an integrated set screw passing reversibly through a threaded access channel  26  in the mount  18  with the access channel  26  located such that it does not intersect with the mount&#39;s accessory fitting socket  22 . Having been manually advanced through the access channel  26  in the mount  18 , the set screw engages the structure of the base accessory mount, interlock feature  30  such that it fixes the mount  18  in the desired position along the base  2 . The mount&#39;s accessory fitting socket  22  is cut or formed into the body of the system accessory mount  18  and is of such as shape and size as to accommodate the fitting of a desired accessory or device. The accessory or device fitting is plugged into the fitting socket  22  and retained in the socket  22  by the accessory fitting retaining method  32 . The accessory fitting retaining method  32  is a manually adjustable knob with an integrated set screw passing reversibly through a threaded access channel  23 , 24  in the mount  18  with the access channel  23 , 24  located such that passes through the wall of the mount  18  and intersects with the mount&#39;s accessory fitting socket  22 . Having been manually and reversibly advanced through the access channel  23 , 24  in the mount  18 , the set screw engages the accessory fitting such that it retains the fitting in the socket  22 . Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
       Operation: 
       [0067]    A system base  2  is attached to a surface using a suitable adhesive  38  in an orientation that meets the needs of the user (ex. horizontally on the top of a medication dispensing cabinet). One or a plurality of accessory mounts  4 , 18  is/are interlocked  20 , 30  with the base  2 , moved along the base to the desired location(s) and fixed in position by tightening a knob/set screw combination  34  integrated into the mount. The fitting(s) of a desired accessory or device  6  (ex. a lighted magnifier) is put into the accessory fitting socket  22  of the accessory mount  4 , 18  and a knob/set screw combination  32  integrated with the mount is tightened retaining the accessory or device  6  fitting in the socket  22 . If desired, the mount  4 , 18  and its mounted accessory or device  6  can be repositioned along the base  2  by loosening the set screw  34  that is fixing the mount&#39;s position in the base  2 , moving the mount  4 , 18  and mounted accessory or device  6  to a more desirable position along the base  2  and re-tightening the set screw  34 . The accessory or device  6  can be moved in the mount  4 , 18 , removed or replaced as needed by loosening the accessory retaining set screw  32  and moving the accessory or device  6 , removing its fitting from the socket  22  or and replacing it with the fitting of another accessory or device  6 . Additional system mounts  4 , 18  and accessories or devices  6  may be added to the base  2  as desired. 
       ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0068]    There many envisioned alternate embodiments of the system base  2 . These include but are not limited to alternate shapes including cuboidal, cylindrical and various geometric prisms (ex. pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, heptagonal prism, octagonal prism and so on), alternate structural shapes including circular and curvilinear, alternate designs including with rounded edges and/or both practical and artistic surface modifications, and alternate compositions including other metal alloys, nylons, plastics and polymers whose physical and performance characteristics would be structurally suitable to retain and support the desired number of accessory mounts and their associated accessories, and bearings or materials with a low coefficient of friction integrated with the base  2  such that they facilitate movement of the accessory or device mounts  4 , 18  and their envisioned alternate embodiments along the base  2 . 
         [0069]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the system base attachment method  38 . These include but are not limited to clamping brackets that integrate with the base and clamp to the host structure such that the base is attached in a desired orientation, screws and bolts that pass through channels cut through or are formed into the base and magnets which are integrated into the base allowing it to be attached magnetically to a metallic surface of a host structure  8 . 
         [0070]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the system base interlock feature  30 . These include but are not limited to one or more channels in the base of various simple or complex geometric shapes which would be complementary to the shape of the accessory mount base interlock feature  20 , one or more fixed or moveable raised elements that interlock with and are retained by complimentarily shaped interlock channels in alternate embodiments of the accessory mount base interlock feature  20  and magnets which are integrated into the structure of the base  2  that retain the accessory mount  4 , 18  and their envisioned alternate embodiments through cooperative magnetic attachment. 
         [0071]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the accessory mount base position fixing and retaining method  34 . These include but are not limited to bolts that pass through the mount  4 , 18  and engage nuts which both interlock with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30  and fix the mount in its position along the base  2  when tightened, cam locks which interlock with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30  and fix the mount in its position along the base when rotated, spring-tensioned elements that interlock with the base interlock feature  30  and can be compressed or lifted to allow the mount  4 , 18  to be positioned along the base  2  and released to fix the mount  4 , 18  in position, one or more channels in the mount  4 , 18  that interlock with a raised interlocking feature of the base  30  and cooperative magnetic attachment. 
         [0072]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the system vertical accessory mount  4 . These include but are not limited to simple and complex alternate shapes including cuboidal, cylindrical and various geometric prisms (ex. pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, heptagonal prism, octagonal prism and so on), variations of the angle of its accessory socket(s)  20 , methods for modifying the angle of the accessory socket(s)  20  as needed, alternate practical and artistic designs and surface modifications, alternate compositions including other metal alloys nylon, plastics and polymers whose physical and performance characteristics would be structurally suitable to retain and support the desired accessories with or without the inclusion of additional structural components, and alternate configurations including multiple powered and/or unpowered accessory sockets  20  of various embodiments, sockets that include a data connection, and bearings or materials with a low coefficient of friction integrated with the mount body such that they facilitate movement along the base  2 . 
         [0073]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the shape of the system horizontal accessory mount  18 . These include but are not limited to simple and complex alternate shapes that include cuboid, cylindrical and various geometric prisms (ex. pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, heptagonal prism, octagonal prism and so on), variations of the angle of its accessory socket(s)  20 , methods for modifying the angle of the accessory socket(s)  20  as needed, alternate practical and artistic designs and surface modifications, alternate compositions including other metal alloys, nylons, plastics and polymers whose physical and performance characteristics would be structurally suitable to retain and support the desired accessories with or without the inclusion of additional structural components and alternate configurations including multiple powered and unpowered accessory sockets  20  of various embodiments, sockets that include a data connection, and bearings or materials with a low coefficient of friction integrated with the mount body such that they facilitate movement along the base  2 . 
         [0074]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the accessory mount base interlock feature  20 . These include but are not limited to bolts that pass through the mount  4 , 18  and engage nuts which interlock with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , cam locks which interlock with the base accessory mount interlock feature  30 , spring-tensioned elements that interlock with the base interlock feature  30  and can be compressed or lifted to allow the mount  4 , 18  to be positioned along the base  2  and released to fix the mount  4 , 18  in position, one or more channels in the mount  4 , 18  that interlock with a raised interlocking feature of the base  30  and cooperative magnetic attachment. There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the accessory fitting socket  22 . These include but are not limited to alternate shapes including cuboidal, cylindrical and various geonietric prisms (ex. pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, heptagonal prism, octagonal prism and so on), threaded and partially threaded cylinders into which a complementarily threaded accessory fitting could be screwed, alternate physical, structural and surface designs as may be required by an accessory or desired for artistic/aesthetic reasons, and separate interchangeable components of the accessory mount  4 , 18 . Other envisioned alternate embodiments include sockets with interchangeable inserts of varying designs designed to allow a common socket shape to accept a variety of accessory or device fitting configurations, electrically powered sockets of various designs to transfer electrical energy to mounted accessories or devices  6 , motorized sockets of various designs to transfer kinetic energy to mounted accessories or devices  6 , and sockets that include a data connection. 
         [0075]    There are many envisioned alternate embodiments of the accessory fitting retaining method  32 . These include but are not limited to friction between the socket  22  or an interchangeable socket insert and the accessory fitting, a threaded insert into which a threaded accessory fitting is screwed, a spring and bearing integrated into the wall of the socket  22  or interchangeable socket insert that exerts pressure against the accessory fitting, a magnet or magnets integrated into one or more walls or the base of the socket or interchangeable socket insert.