Abstract:
A mounting device for computer peripheral equipment. Preferably included are two spring arms, friction boots mounted on the ends of the spring arms, a non-skid pad and a rotating platform. The rotating platform ensures that the non-skid pad can be positioned between a first position, where the pad and friction boots cooperate to grip computer display bezels over a first range of bezel thicknesses and a second position, where the pad and friction boots cooperated to grip computer display bezels over a second range of bezel thicknesses. Also, the pad and friction boots are preferably dimensioned so as to render the entire mounting device self-standing when desired.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to computer-mounted peripheral equipment, such as video cameras and other equipment, and to arrangements for affording the mounting of same to a computer or computer portion. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The are multiple types of peripheral computer devices, such as video cameras, that attach to the bezel, or upper edge or surface, of a stand-alone computer display or a notebook computer display. (The bezel, essentially, is the upper ridge or ledge of a frame element for a computer screen. In a notebook or laptop computer, the bezel will be in an upper position once the notebook or laptop computer is opened from its closed position and the screen is visible to the user in an operating capacity.) Many such peripheral devices can also stand freely on a work surface. In addition to video cameras (or USB cameras), such devices can include, but are by n means limited to, microphones and keyboard lights. 
         [0003]    Computer display bezels, of course, are formed in a great variety of dimensions and shapes. Since many peripheral devices are not custom-made for particular computers or display bezels, they often need to be sufficiently versatile as to be able to be mounted on a wide variety of computers or bezels. 
         [0004]    Normally, to afford such versatility, several known arrangements or accommodations come into play. Multiple stands or parts, included with the peripheral equipment, can well help “customize” the equipment to different computers or bezels, but this then has the great disadvantage of leaving the user with unused stands or parts that ship with the product to accommodate different display bezels and free-stand use but are wasted and merely add to the user&#39;s and manufacturer&#39;s costs. 
         [0005]    A gravity-based method is also conceivable such that the equipment merely rests on top of a display bezel. However, this often proves to be very unstable, especially in the case of notebooks/laptops. A subset of this is the “Velcro” method where bezel and peripheral equipment alike where adhesive Velcro portions are stuck to each and then mate when the equipment is mounted. Apart from the unsightliness of Velcro pieces, the adhesive often wears off and, furthermore, stability continues to be an issue here (especially in the case of larger peripheral equipment). 
         [0006]    Finally, attachment media involving one adjustable element (essentially, one degree of freedom in terms of the attachment capabilities afforded), such as a spring-based clip or the like, may serve a useful purpose in one context but not in others; in other words, such methods usually fail to adequately accommodate a wide range of bezel dimensions. 
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing, a compelling need has been recognized in connection with providing an attachment arrangement for computer peripheral equipment that is more versatile than conventional arrangements, to the point of even being “universal” in its capabilities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a mounting device that preferably includes two spring arms, friction boots mounted on the ends of the spring arms, a non-skid pad and a rotating platform. The rotating platform ensures that the non-skid pad can be positioned between a first position, where the pad and friction boots cooperate to grip computer display bezels over a first range of bezel thicknesses and a second position, where the pad and friction boots cooperated to grip computer display bezels over a second range of bezel thicknesses. Also, the pad and friction boots are preferably dimensioned so as to render the entire mounting device self-standing when desired. 
         [0009]    In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a computer peripheral equipment support comprising: a mounting region which provides a mount for computer peripheral equipment; a stabilizing arrangement which fixes a position of computer peripheral equipment; the stabilizing arrangement comprising: a first support arrangement; and a second support arrangement; the second support arrangement being biased towards the first support arrangement in a rest position of the second support arrangement; the first support arrangement being displaceable between at least: a first position, wherein a first clearance is provided with respect to the rest position of the second support arrangement; and a second position, wherein a second clearance is provided with respect to the rest position of the second support arrangement; the first clearance being greater than the second clearance. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, an additional aspect of the invention provides a computer peripheral equipment ensemble comprising: peripheral equipment for being mounted on a computer; a stabilizing arrangement which fixes a position of the computer peripheral equipment; the stabilizing arrangement comprising: a first support arrangement; and a second support arrangement; the second support arrangement being biased towards the first support arrangement in a rest position of the second support arrangement; the first support arrangement being displaceable between at least: a first position, wherein a first clearance is provided with respect to the rest position of the second support arrangement; and a second position, wherein a second clearance is provided with respect to the rest position of the second support arrangement; the first clearance being greater than the second clearance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mounting device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
         [0014]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention, as represented in  FIGS. 1 through 2 , is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. 
         [0015]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0016]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0017]    The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals or other labels throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the invention as claimed herein. 
         [0018]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mounting device  102  preferably includes two spring arms  104 , friction boots  106 , a non-skid pad  108  and a rotating platform  110 . Boots  106  are preferably formed from rubber or another material suitable for ensuring a high coefficient of friction between boots  106  and a computer portion (such as a display frame surface). Non-skid pad  108  may likewise be formed from rubber or another material similarly suitable for ensuring a tight friction fit against a computer display frame surface; alternatively, for instance, it could be formed from plastic with a rubber pad disposed thereupon. 
         [0019]    Spring arms  104  are preferably formed from steel or a similarly rigid material and are configured to be biased so as to hold friction boots  106  against a computer display frame surface. Any of a wide variety of spring mechanisms may be employed for this purpose, such as a conventional rotational spring. 
         [0020]    At an upper portion of mounting device  102 , there is preferably provided a tilt and pivot connection  112  that is integrable with a camera or other peripheral device ( 115 ). It should be understood that a camera or other peripheral device  115  could already include mounting device  102  integrated therewith. Alternatively, mounting device  102  could be a stand-alone component that a user can freely integrate with a camera or other peripheral device, whether the mounting device  102  is included as part of a “kit” with a camera or other peripheral device or is manufactured and/or sold separately therefrom. 
         [0021]    Preferably, rotating platform  110  is positionable between two different positions, to create two sets of overlapping ranges for accommodating a wide range of display bezel thicknesses. At the same time, spring arms  104  are preferably biased so as to help ensure this versatility while keeping the peripheral device in a stable position. 
         [0022]    Non-skid pad  108 , in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is shown in a position in which greater display bezel thicknesses can be accommodated. By virtue of rotating platform  110  or, more precisely, a provision for relative rotational movement between pad  108  and platform  110 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pad  108  can displace by 180 degrees with respect to the orientation shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and thus create a smaller average clearance between pad  108  and boots  106 . Accordingly, by selectively rotating pad  108  between these “greater clearance” and “lesser clearance” positions, there will be afforded at each such position a given range of display bezel thicknesses that can comfortably be accommodated by virtue of the variability provided by the spring arms  104 . 
         [0023]    Presumably, these different ranges of clearances can be exploited to permit boots  106  and pad  108  to grasp onto a display bezel therebetween. However, it should be understood that in the “greater clearance” position of pad  108  (as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), in accordance with a variant application of the embodiments of the present invention, the mounting device can actually be a “stand-alone” structure that can rest atop a particularly large computer monitor (with a large display bezel thickness) or even on a tabletop, providing that (essentially as shown) lower support surfaces of boots  106  and a lower support surface of pad  108  are coplanar or nearly coplanar with one another. Essentially, one will have three stable non-skid contact points to provide adequate support for mounting device  102  and for a peripheral device mounted thereupon. 
         [0024]    Though bezel thicknesses vary widely depending on the computer involved, and though the ranges of thicknesses that one may want to accommodate may similarly vary greatly, it is recognized that, by way of an illustrative and non-restrictive example, the range of bezel thicknesses accommodated in the “lesser clearance” position of pad  108  could be between about 10 and about 26 mm while that accommodated in the “greater clearance” position of pad  108  could between about 24 and about 49 mm. 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated that if boots  106  have an “hourglass” shape as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , then irregular bezel shapes can be accommodated. For instance, if there is a protrusive lip on a display bezel, the “hourglass” shape of boots  106  will help provide a secure grip about such a structural irregularity. In general, though boots  106  could essentially be of any size, including virtually any height dimension, that would help maintain a firm grip about a display bezel, preferably they will not be so large as to inordinately obstruct a typical computer display. 
         [0026]    The rotational connection between platform  110  and pad  108  may be manifested in essentially any suitable manner. Preferably, such a connection would be configured as to “click” or “lock” into place as soon as the platform  110  and pad  108  are in either of the two diametrically opposite relative positions (“lesser clearance” and “greater clearance”) described hereinabove. 
         [0027]    Several advantages associated with a mounting device in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention may now be even more readily appreciated. Generally, the device requires minimal user action and takes can take merely seconds to attach or detach from a computer display. Essentially, it affords a degree of “universality”, or applicability to a very wide range of computer displays of greatly varying dimension, that has hitherto been unseen, while is also easily adaptable to a “free-standing” orientation. The three major points of contact provided by the boots and the pad, as well as the biasing of the spring arms, helps keep the mounting device in a very stable orientation. Finally, a spatial compactness of the mounting device, whereby in a “rest” position the spring arms are relatively closer to the pad, allows for easy transport and storage. 
         [0028]    If not otherwise stated herein, it is to be assumed that all patents, patent applications, patent publications and other publications (including web-based publications) mentioned and cited herein are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
         [0029]    Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.