Abstract:
An apparatus and method for the magnetic-based, releasable and position adjustable attachment of an article to a support. The device is well suited for use with cameras, spotting scopes, navigational devices, distance finders, sensors, lights and other devices, but is not limited to use with these articles. Various embodiments are disclosed including several magnetic-based releasable attachment configurations, various positioning and position locking mechanisms, multiple ways to attach to an ancillary article, and anti-rotation mechanisms, among other aspects of the present invention.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/083,676, filed Mar. 16, 2005, and entitled Walking Staff having Tripod Base and Adaptable Mount. application Ser. No. 11/083,676 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/554,298, filed Mar. 17, 2004, entitled Walking Staff with Tripod Base and having a common inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the magnetic-based releasable attachment of an item to a mounting mechanism that affords adjustable positioning of the mounted item. The present invention is well suited for use with cameras, spotting scopes, navigational devices, distance finders, sensors, lights and other devices, but is not limited to use with these items.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various releasable attachment mechanisms are known in the art and they include screw-on, clip-on, magnetic-based and other attachment schemes. The known attachment mechanisms that are made to attach a camera, spotting scope, navigational device and/or other article may have a beneficial purpose, but are disadvantageous for one or more of the following reasons. They may be cumbersome to use, require an undesirable amount of time or effort to achieve attachment, they do not attach with sufficient security and/or they do not afford desired positioning.  
         [0004]     It is often desirable to position a camera, sensor or other device once it is mounted to a base structure. Various structures are known for positioning a mounted device. These include ball and socket mounts with a short or long handled set screw and mounts with multiple uniplanar adjustment mechanisms (for example, a pan and tilt head), permitting a user to adjust position in the vertical, horizontal and/or other plane.  
         [0005]     Though various devices are known, an unmet need exists for a mount mechanism that affords rapid and secure releasable attachment while also providing ready positioning of the mounted item in a significant range of positions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIGS. 1-2  is an exploded perspective view and a non-exploded side view of one embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the device (taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ) attached to a camera or another device.  
         [0008]      FIGS. 4-5  is an exploded perspective view and a non-exploded side elevation view of another embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 6-7  are perspective views of plate and disk of  FIG. 4-5 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a camera being mounted to walking staff via the patterned plate and disk of  FIGS. 6-7 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device.  
         [0012]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , an exploded perspective view and a non-exploded side view of one embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device  60  are respectively shown. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional side view of the device  60  (taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ) attached to a camera  15  or another device is shown.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates various components of device  60  configured to mount to a camera (not shown) or other ancillary article having an appropriate attachment mechanism. The term ancillary article may be used herein to refer to a camera, spotting scope, navigation device, including a distance or angle finder, sensor, light, and any other article to which mount  60  (or other mount embodiments  160 ,  260 ,  360 ) may be mounted.  
         [0015]     Body or housing  61  is configured with positioning member  69  to define the socket  62  that holds ball  63 . A set screw  64  releasably locks the position of ball  63  within socket  62 . Extender  66  protrudes from body  61  and couples to plate  67  in which magnet  68  is mounted. Security clip  75  may clip onto grooves  65  when not in use.  
         [0016]     A magnetically active disk  71  is preferably provided for releasable attachment to magnet  68 . Threaded member  73  is attached to disk  71  and permits releasable coupling of disk  71  into the threaded recess provided in most cameras, scopes and other items. A spacer washer  72  may be provided about threaded member  73  that is compliant to provide friction at the mount surface and suitably sized to act as a spacer for clip  75 .  
         [0017]     In  FIGS. 2-3 , magnetically active disk  71  is shown coupled by magnetic attraction to magnet  68 . Magnet  68  is obscured from view in  FIG. 2  by plate  67  and disk  71 , though visible in the cross-section of  FIG. 3 . It should be recognized that the position of magnet  68  and the magnetically active material of disk  71  may be reversed.  
         [0018]     In  FIG. 3 , threaded or otherwise fastening member  73  is mounted into a camera  15  or other article. Clamp  75  is moved from its storage position shown in  FIG. 2  to its device locking position shown in  FIG. 3 . In this locking position, clip  75  couples into grooves  74  of plate  67  and onto the top surface of disk  71  adjacent spacer washer  72 . While magnet  68  is sufficiently strong to hold a camera or other device without clip  75 , clip  75  may be utilized for added security.  
         [0019]     It should be recognized that the plate  67  in which the magnet  68  is affixed may be made of non-ferrous or ferrous material. If the plate includes ferrous material than the magnetic field radiating from magnet  68  is enhanced on the side opposite the ferrous material of plate  67 , thus the side towards disk  71 . This achieves a stronger magnetic connection of disk  71  than when plate  67  is formed of non-ferrous material (or permits use of a magnet of lesser strength).  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , an exploded perspective view and a non-exploded side elevation view of another embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device  160  are respectively shown.  FIG. 4  illustrates various components of mount  160  configured to mount to a camera or other ancillary article (not shown) having a standard or otherwise appropriate attachment mechanism  173 . Body  161  is configured with positioning member  169  to define the socket  162  that holds ball  163 . A set screw  164  releasably locks the position of ball  163  within socket  162 . Extender  166  protrudes from body  161  and couples to plate  167  in which magnet  168  is mounted. Security clip  175  may clip onto grooves  165  when not in use.  
         [0021]     A magnetically active disk  171  is preferably provided for releasable attachment to magnet  168 . Threaded member  173  is attached to disk  171  and permits releasable coupling of disk  171  into the threaded recess provided in most cameras, scopes and other articles. A spacer washer  172  may be provided about threaded member  173  that is compliant to provide friction at the mount surface and suitably sized to act as a spacer for clip  175 .  
         [0022]     In contrast to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3 , where the threaded member was formed integrally with the magnetically active disk, the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-5  illustrate a threaded member that is separate from the disk. The threaded member  173  may include a hex (Allen wrench) or other head that permits it to be screwed into an ancillary article with greater force than the integrated version. The integrated version experiences greater friction as compliant washer  172  is compressed between the disk and the ancillary article. The separate threaded member does not experience the same level of friction and can, therefore, be screwed more tightly.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , perspective views of plate  167  and disk  171  of  FIG. 4-5  are respectively shown. Plate  167  may include a ring or other structure  197  that has a surface patterned with alternating protrusions and recesses. Disk  171  preferably has a ring  198  with complementarily shaped protrusions and/or recesses. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-7 , the ring pattern has a sinusoidal shape, though it should be recognized that any suitable complementary pattern that permits indexing is suitable and within the present invention.  
         [0024]     The complementary index pattern of plate  167  and disk  171  is provided for multiple reasons that include the following. When used, for example, to support a camera, a user may wish to tilt the camera at 90 degrees or some other inclination. If the camera has a heavy lens, the weight of the lens may cause the camera to rotate downward, i.e., the strength of the magnet alone may not be sufficient to hold the camera and lens in the desired position. The index pattern provides sufficient resistance to hold a camera with a heavy lens, or other non-balanced load, in a desired position.  
         [0025]     In addition, the repeating patterns on the plate and disk permits a user to move a mounted camera (or other article) in fixed intervals. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-7 , the pattern repeats every 30 degrees, permitting a user  12  unique settings at which to position a mounted article.  
         [0026]     This indexed arrangement is also beneficial in permitting a photographer to take panorama or landscape photographs, for example, a user can mount a camera on a tripod and position it at regular intervals, enabling the photographer to take (or compile) a 360 degree wide-angle composite photograph.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a perspective view of a camera  115  being mounted to walking staff  110  via patterned plate  167  and disk  171  is shown. The disk  171  portion of the mount device  160  is preferably screwed into (via threaded member  173 ) or otherwise mounted to camera  115 . The disk may then be seated onto plate  167  and magnet  168 . The attraction between magnet  168  and disk  171  is sufficient to hold disk  171  and thereby securely mount camera  115  to the walking staff (with or without the patterned surfaces  197 , 198 ).  
         [0028]     To position the camera, a user releases set screw  164 , positions the camera or other article as desired, via movement of the ball and socket joint, and locks the camera/article into a desired position by resetting the screw.  
         [0029]     The complimentary anti-rotation patterning of the plate and disk prevent “slippage” or undesired movement of the camera/article once the position has been set.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device  260  is shown. Mount device  260  includes a magnetic active disk  271  that is glued or otherwise attached to a palm rest  211  or other article.  FIG. 9  illustrates attachment of disk  271  to an object other than through use of a threaded member ( 73 , 173 ). For example, disk  271  could be glued, welded, or held by other means to any ancillary article. Ancillary articles may include, but are not limited to, articles mentioned elsewhere herein and articles such as a light source or reflector for use in photography, a navigational/surveying device for use in calculating position, distance and/or angle, a sale sign or hook for use in a display rack of a retail store, or in any other situation in which ready releasable and position adjustable attachment of an article is desired.  
         [0031]     The ball and socket arrangement shown herein permits a camera or other device to be moved in three mutually orthogonal dimensions. It should be recognized that the present invention includes a magnetic-based releasable and secure attachment in a manner that supports movement of the mounted object in less than three mutually orthogonal dimensions, and other configurations for moving in three mutually orthogonal dimensions.  
         [0032]     Mount  260  may include a magnet  268 , plate  267 , extender  266 , security clip grooves  265 , set screw  264 , ball  263 , socket  262 , housing  261 , and positioning member  269  that include a cavity for releasable attachment of a standard threaded member of other mounting mechanism.  
         [0033]     It should be recognized that socket  162  and housing  161  (see  FIGS. 4-5 ) can be releasably or fixedly mounted to the walking staff or other substrate. For example, the socket and/or housing may be configured with a threaded recess that matches a standard tripod or camera mount threaded protrusion (or other complimentary coupling arrangement). Thus, mount device  160  (and  60 ,  260 ,  360  herein) may be provided as a stand alone item and mount where or as desired to a multitude of mounting substrates. Alternatively, mounts  60 ,  160 ,  260 ,  360  may be fixedly attached to their substrates by glue, welding or other fixed mechanism.  
         [0034]     In yet another embodiment, mounts  60 ,  160 ,  260 ,  360  may be coupled to a clip or other releasable mounting device that permits the mounts to be clipped to a window, a frame or rest structure or other appropriately shaped mount substrate (for example, as discussed below).  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a perspective view of another embodiment of a releasable, position-adjustable mount device  360  is shown. Mount  360  may incorporate a conventional pan and tilt head or the like  350  that provides movement in two substantially orthogonal planes. It may include a vertical shaft  322  that affords movement in a horizontal plane and a horizontal shaft  324  that affords movement in a vertical plane. While the terms “vertical” and “horizontal” are used with reference to  FIG. 10 , it should be recognized that they are for pedagogic purposes and the planes need not be vertical, horizontal or orthogonal. Locking handle  340  provides releasable locking of shaft  322 , while winged button  341  provides releasable locking of the position of shaft  324 .  
         [0036]     Mount  360  may include a base plate  352  that is coupled through legs  351  to shaft  324 . An adaptor or the like  356  may be mounted to base plate  352  and the legs, base plate and/or adaptor may effectively form an extension member (as do extenders  66 ,  166 ,  266 ).  
         [0037]     The adaptor is preferably configured for receiving a plate  367  that holds a magnet  368 . Plate  367  and magnet  368  may be configured in a similar manner as the plate and magnet in other embodiments herein and, in the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , are configured to receive a disk such as disk  71  of  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, plate  367  may have a patterned ring or the like such as ring  197  of  FIG. 6  to receive a complimentary shaped ring such as  198 , or be otherwise configured for releasable attachment.  
         [0038]     Mount  360  may also include releasable mounting mechanism  311  that receives and supports vertical shaft  322 . The mounting mechanism  311  may be releasably mounted to a car window or other structure  313 . Mounting mechanism  311  may include a slot  316  and set screw  317  for releasably mounting it to the given structure. Other releasable attachment mechanism configurations, for attachment to differently shaped mounting structures, may be used without departing from the present invention.  
         [0039]     The components of the present invention may by made of any suitable material, either now known or later invented. In one embodiment, the releaseable, position-adjustable mount device(s) may be made in part of an aluminum alloy, or otherwise configured including being combined in a forged assembly. The components may be made of metal, plastic or other materials that provide adequate strength, lightness and durability. Ferrous material may be used for the magnetically active material.  
         [0040]     While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.