Patent Publication Number: US-2020300408-A1

Title: Mount For an Input Device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     This disclosure relates to a mount for input devices such as those used in vehicles by disabled drivers; however, the device described herein need not be used exclusively in vehicles or with input devices, but can be used anywhere an item needs to be mounted such that repositioning is desirable. 
     (b) Background Art 
     According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there are more than 3.5 million people in the United States who never leave their homes. Of those, about 1.9 million of those people are disabled and about 528,000 disabled Americans never leave their homes at least in part due to transportation difficulties. Consequently, the ability to drive drastically improves the lives of many disabled Americans. 
     Over the years, a number of steering systems that have been designed for disabled people including everything from hand held sticks that can be used to control pedals to electronic joysticks. These latter options combine electronics with mechanics and allow the vehicle&#39;s operator to be completely controlled with one or more joysticks. The advantages of these devices are rather obvious; especially when you consider the population at issue has limited mobility—not necessarily just in their lower extremities. The joy stick solution allows disabled people with very limited mobility to independently operate a motor vehicle using their hands. Much like some wheelchairs, a disabled person with severely limited mobility can still operate a motor vehicle with one or more of these devices. However, the presence of this device in a vehicle presents other challenges that need to be addressed. 
     More specifically, the joystick, or other input device, needs to be mounted somewhere in the vehicle such that the disabled driver can easily access it and such that it stays in position while the vehicle is moving and/or the input device is being operated. Naturally, there are a variety of mounts that can be used to serve this purpose. However, typically, these mounts suffer from a couple of predictable problems. Namely, they tend to be (1) hard to reposition, (2) flimsy and poorly supported and/or (3) bulky and intrusive, such that the disabled driver has difficulty using the input device. Typically, making the mount with enough moving parts that it can easily be repositioned with respect to the driver makes the mount less stable. The mount needs to be able to do more than just support the input device stably while the vehicle is in motion. It also needs to support some of the disabled driver&#39;s weight as some drivers will need to rest a portion of the weight of their hand and/or arm on the mount and/or input device when using the same. Of course making the mount more stable by removing moving parts makes the mount hard to position relative to the driver, a key feature needed by those with limited mobility. As a result, the inventor has devised a novel input device mount that solves these difficulties. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a novel mount for an input device that is capable of moving or being adjusted in several different axes or directions, but is still stable and sturdy enough to support the necessary weight placed on it when an input device is being operated. More specifically, the mount is made of a number of sleeves, shafts and pivot joints that allow the position of the input device to be moved relative to the vehicle and/or user in several different directions making the mount accessible for almost any disabled driver. 
     The device uses a combination of sleeves and shafts to customize the position of the input device. In particular, shafts and sleeves are joined together such that the length of a shaft, or relative distance between opposite ends of the shaft, can be shortened by inserting part of or the entire shaft into a sleeve. In addition, the sleeves are positioned to permit components on the mount to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the sleeves and other components of the mount. Moreover, one or more pivot joints allows for positioning of components at various angles to other components. 
     More specifically, in preferred embodiments, there is a first sleeve that is fixed to the vehicle door or some other stationary surface inside the vehicle. This first sleeve, or “stationary sleeve”, is attached to said surface in a fixed position—in preferred embodiments, the sleeve is attached to a stationary plate that can be removably attached to the stationary surface such as the inside of the vehicle door. In other embodiments, the first sleeve is attached to the inside of the vehicle such that it can rotate around its longitudinal axis. Complementary threading featured by a structure, such as a cavity, on the stationary plate and a surface of the first sleeve can be used to achieve this end. Other preferred embodiments involve the first sleeve being inserted into an opening in the stationary surface, such as the door. This first sleeve is positioned such that it protrudes from the stationary surface in a plane that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plate itself allowing the sleeve to extend away from the stationary surface. Substantially perpendicular means that it is within 10 degrees of 90.0 degrees. 
     In preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the invention, a first shaft is connected to the stationary sleeve such that the shaft and/or the sleeve can rotate about a longitudinal axis, i.e. the first shaft is attached to the sleeve such that the first shaft and the rest of the mount attached to the first shaft, can rotate around the first shaft&#39;s longitudinal axis allowing the user to reposition the input device. In the anticipated best mode of this device, the first shaft is connected to the sleeve by inserting a bolt through the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that it engages a wedge-shaped structure inside of the sleeve. The wedge-shaped structure is then inserted into the first sleeve. Tightening the bolt draws the wedge shaped structure towards the head of the bolt, i.e. towards the first shaft and away from the first sleeve. As the bolt is turned, the wedge-shaped structure moves out of alignment with the first shaft while both are inside the first sleeve. This misalignment causes the structure produced by the combined wedge-shaped structure and the first shaft to become stuck, i.e. securely retained, inside the first sleeve. 
     Regardless of how the first sleeve and first shaft are connected, they are positioned such that the first shaft can move towards and away from the first sleeve and thus the portion of the inside of the vehicle to which the device is attached. Those structures thereby allow the user to increase or decrease the amount of space between the mount and the stationary surface by moving the first shaft towards or away from the first sleeve. As discussed above, the first sleeve is sized and shaped to accommodate or accept the first shaft in its interior. The user need only position the first shaft inside the stationary sleeve, then tighten the bolt running through the first sleeve to lock it in place. 
     In preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device, the first shaft is not linear, but rather it has two arms protruding in directions that are substantially perpendicular to each other, i.e. it is L-shaped. In preferred embodiments, and the anticipated best mode of the mount, the two arms of the shaft are welded together to eliminate any movement between the two arms. In other embodiments, the same structure can be formed from two different shafts joined together—a first shaft and a second shaft. For simplicity&#39;s sake, the second arm of the first shaft will be henceforth referred to as a second shaft. Just as the first shaft can be moved closer to or away from the stationary surface by engaging with the first sleeve, the second shaft, and the rest of the mount, can be lengthened or shortened. More specifically, the second shaft is connected to a second sleeve such that the second sleeve can be moved over a portion or all of the second shaft, thereby decreasing the length of the mount. In addition, the second sleeve is capable of rotating around its longitudinal axis to create motion in yet another direction. The second sleeve can be attached to the second shaft using any conventional fasteners including nuts and bolts, screws and any other fastener, but in preferred embodiments, the second sleeve is a compression sleeve that fits over the second shaft and is tightened such that the second sleeve squeezes the exterior of the second shaft. 
     Again in preferred embodiments and the inventor&#39;s anticipated best mode, the second sleeve is joined to a third shaft. In preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode, the second sleeve is attached to the third shaft using a pivoting ear joint fastened with a conventional fastener like a nut and bolt. This configuration allows the third shaft to move up and down relative to the second sleeve, i.e. the third shaft can move in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second sleeve. 
     Finally, a platform is mounted to the third shaft via a third sleeve. The third sleeve wraps around the exterior of the third shaft such that it can pivot or rotate around the longitudinal axis of the third shaft. In addition, the position of the platform relative to the rest of the device can be adjusted by sliding the sleeve to which it is attached along the length of the third shaft. Moreover, the platform can be tipped up and down such that one side of the platform is closer to the rest of the mount than the other side of the platform, i.e. an edge of the platform can be moved toward or away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft to which it is connected. In preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of this device, the platform features a pivoting ear joint, i.e. a flattened structure protruding from its underside. Said ear joint features a hole through which a fastener such as a bolt or screw can be placed. This flattened structure is attached to the third sleeve by inserting a fastener through the hole in the flattened device as well as holes in the sleeve. 
     As a result of the above structures, the inventor has created a novel mount for an input device that is capable of moving or being adjusted in up to nine different axes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side plan view of the clamping or second sleeve of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a bottom plan view of the clamping or second sleeve of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the first shaft inserted into the first sleeve. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail,  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment and the best mode of the device. There is a mounting bracket  11  that is fixed to a stationary surface (not shown) inside the vehicle. A skilled artisan could appreciate that the mounting bracket  11  could be attached to other surfaces in the vehicle. In addition, the device need not be used in a vehicle and can be used in other contexts including in the home or office. Specifically, in this embodiment, the mounting bracket  11  is attached to the inside of the vehicle&#39;s driver side door. This is an optimal place for a mount for an input device that would be operated by a driver that is seated in a wheelchair. The mounting bracket  11  in this embodiment features a first sleeve  12  protruding from its surface. The angle from which the first sleeve  12  protrudes from the mounting bracket  11  can be any desired angle, but in preferred embodiments, the angle is substantially perpendicular to the mounting bracket  11 . Substantially perpendicular means that it is within 10 degrees of 90 degrees. 
       FIG. 1  also shows the first shaft  13 . The first shaft  13  is sized and shaped such that it can be inserted into the first sleeve  12 . Since the rest of the device is mounted to the first shaft  13 , moving the first shaft  13  into and out of the first sleeve  12  brings the rest of the mount  10  closer or farther away from the stationary surface and thus, the driver of the vehicle (also not shown). In some embodiments, the first shaft  13  has a threaded bore  14  running through its body along its longitudinal axis. The threaded bore  14  accommodates and engages a bolt  15  that is inserted through the bore  14 . However, in preferred embodiments, the first and second shaft  13 ,  16  are hollow tubes and the first shaft  13  has a hole to accommodate a conventional fastener, such as a bolt  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the mount  10 , the bolt  15  screws into a bore  14  located in either the first sleeve  12  or in the mounting bracket  11  thereby allowing the user to move the first shaft  13  into and out of the first sleeve  12  by turning the bolt and screwing it further into the mounting bracket  11  or first sleeve  12 .  FIG. 4  shows how other embodiments of the mount  10  fix the first shaft  13  into the first sleeve  12 . In these embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device, the bolt  15  engages a wedge-shaped structure  17  featuring a bore  14 , which is threaded in preferred embodiments. Said wedge-shaped structure  17  is inserted into the first sleeve  12 . Tightening the bolt  15  draws the wedge-shaped structure  17  towards the head of the bolt  15 , i.e. towards the first shaft  13  and away from the first sleeve  12 . As the bolt  15  is turned, the wedge-shaped structure  17  moves out of alignment with the first shaft  13  while both are inserted into the first sleeve  12 . This misalignment causes the structure produced by the combined wedge-shaped structure  17  and the first shaft  13  to become stuck or retained inside the first sleeve  12  thereby retaining the first shaft  13  within the first sleeve  12 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , this configuration allows the user to rotate the entire mount  10  in a second direction or axis, by rotating the mount around the longitudinal axis of the first shaft  13  and/or the longitudinal axis of the first sleeve  12 . 
     In preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device, the second shaft  16  is generally positioned at an angle to the first shaft  13 . More specifically, the second shaft  16  is connected to the first shaft  13  such that the second shaft  16  is substantially perpendicular to the first shaft  13 . However, as can be appreciated by a skilled artisan, this angle can vary significantly to alter the position of the mount  10  and input device (not shown). This second shaft  16  is sized, shaped and positioned, i.e. configured, to fit into the interior of a second sleeve  18  located adjacent to the second shaft  16 . In preferred embodiments of the mount  10 , this second sleeve  18  is a clamping sleeve that is fitted over the outer surface of the second shaft  16  and tightened over the second shaft  16  by inserting a bolt, screw or other fastener through the clamping ears  20  on the second sleeve  18 . A bolt  15  inserted into the clamping ear  20  constricts the area inside the second sleeve  18  as the bolt  15  is tightened and essentially squeezes the second sleeve  18  around the second shaft  16  enough to hold the two pieces together and prevent sliding of the second shaft  16  into or out of the second sleeve  18 . By loosening the bolt  15  that squeezes the two clamping ears  20  of the second sleeve  18  together, the second sleeve  18  can be moved along the longitudinal length of the second shaft  16  to create movement in a third direction or axis and thereby shorten or reposition the input device (not shown). This configuration is more stable than joining the pieces end to end because there are fewer joints between parts that can produce unwanted movement. 
     The clamping sleeve is shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows that the second sleeve  18  has an open end  19  which allows the second sleeve  18  to accommodate all or a portion of the second shaft  16  as the second sleeve  18  is moved over the second shaft  16 . In addition, the other end of the second sleeve  18  features a pivoting ear joint  22  allows the second sleeve  18  to attach to a third shaft  21  (see  FIG. 1 ) also featuring a pivoting ear joint  22 . While preferred embodiments use the pivoting ear joints  22  to connect the second sleeve  18  and the third shaft  21 , any conventional means of attaching the two pieces could be used. 
     In addition, the second sleeve  18  can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to further reposition the rest of the mount  10  and the input device thereby creating a fourth axis or direction of movement or adjustment for the mount  10 . Ideally, the same size bolt  15  is used throughout the mount  10  thereby decreasing the number of tools required to adjust the position of the mount  10 . 
     As mentioned above and shown in  FIG. 1 , a third shaft  21  is connected by a pivoting ear joint  22  to the second sleeve  18  at one end. In preferred embodiments, the third shaft  21  is actually an extension sleeve, i.e. a shaft with a hollow interior. A skilled artisan would readily appreciate that the third shaft  21  could be used as another sleeve if the user desired to elongate the mount  10  even further. The pivoting ear joint  22  allows the third shaft  21  to move in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second sleeve  18  allowing the user to adjust the mount  10  in a fifth direction or axis. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , there is a third sleeve  23  attached to platform ## that accommodates or holds an input device that allows the user to operate the vehicle. The third sleeve  23  is connected to and wraps around the exterior of the third shaft  21 . The platform ## is attached to the third sleeve  23 . The third sleeve  23  can be moved in two different directions, planes or axes. Specifically, the third sleeve  23  can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the third shaft  21  and it can be moved along the length or longitudinal axis of the third shaft  21  creating movement in a sixth and seventh direction. 
     In addition, the platform  24  is connected to the third sleeve by another pivoting ear joint that allows the platform  24  to move at an angle to the longitudinal axis  25  passing through the center of the platform allowing the platform to “tip” one side towards the third sleeve  23  such that the opposing side is positioned further away from the same third sleeve  23  and vice versa thereby allowing movement in an eighth axis. 
     Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
     It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.