Patent Publication Number: US-2023151924-A1

Title: Accessory mounting system and apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a mounting system and apparatus, and more particularly, to a mounting system and apparatus for mounting an accessory to structural framing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Stores, such as retail, convenience, and grocery stores, need to mount accessories, such as sensors and cameras throughout their stores. For example, sensors and cameras may be mounted in a number of locations in order to help curb theft or to create a contactless checkout system. Typically, these mounted accessories are installed directly into the ceilings, walls, or equipment, such as racks holding goods and checkout scanners, within the store. However, these typical mounts lack the ability to adjust where the accessory is mounted and provide limited degrees of freedom. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to an accessory mounting apparatus and system. The accessory mounting apparatus includes a first component, a second component, and a connector arm. The first component includes a first base, a first rail connector that extends from the first base, and one or more first connectors. Further, the first rail connector includes a first neck portion and a first head portion, and the first head portion includes a first flange and a second flange that extend from the first neck portion. The second component includes a second base and a second rail connector that extends from the second base. Furthermore, the second rail connector includes a second neck portion and a second head portion, and the second head portion includes a third flange and a fourth flange that extend from the second neck portion. Additionally, the connector arm includes a second connector and a mounting arm. The one or more first connectors of the first component are coupled to the second connector of the connector arm. Further, the first flange and the second flange of the first head portion of the first rail connector are configured to engage a first rail slot of a structural framing, and the third flange and the fourth flange of the second head portion of the second rail connector are configured to engage a second rail slot of the structural framing. 
     The accessory mounting system includes the accessory mounting apparatus, a structural framing, and an accessory. The structural framing includes a first rail slot having a first opening and a second rail slot having a second opening. The first flange and the second flange of the first head portion of the first rail connector are configured to engage the first rail slot, and the first neck portion of the first rail connector is disposed through the first opening of the first rail slot. Further, the third flange and the fourth flange of the second rail connector are configured to engage the second opening of the second rail slot, and the second neck portion of the second rail connector is disposed through the second opening of the second rail slot. Furthermore, the accessory is coupled to the mounting arm of the connector arm of the accessory mounting apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  are perspective views of an accessory mounting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of an accessory mounting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are cross-sectional views of an accessory mounting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure 
     
    
    
     While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , an accessory mounting apparatus  101  according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The accessory mounting apparatus  101  may include a first component  110  and a second component  120 . The first component  110  and the second component  120  may be coupled together by way of an adhesive or by one or more fasteners. By way of example, fasteners for coupling the first component  110  and the second component  120  may include screws, nails, or bolts and nuts. While in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the first component  110  and the second component  120  are depicted as separate parts that are coupled together, the first component  110  and the second component  120  may be formed as a single part (see  FIG.  2   ). Further, the first component  110  and the second component  120  may be formed as a single part by way of injection moulding, extrusion, or additive manufacturing such as 3D printing. The terms “couple” or “couples,” as used herein, are intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, by way of example, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct physical connection or through an indirect connection by way of straps, chains, or other elements of the container. 
     The first component  110  may include a base  112  and a rail connector  114  that extends from the base  112 . The rail connector  114  may include a neck portion  115  and a head portion  116 . Further, the head portion  116  may include a first flange  116   a  and a second flange  116   b . Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the first flange  116   a  and the second flange  116   b  may extend substantially perpendicular to the neck portion. While the rail connector  114  of the first component  110  is depicted as including a neck portion  115  and a head portion  116  with a first flange  116   a  and a second flange  116   b , the rail connector  114  may include a head portion  116  having a single flange  116   a  or  116   b  or any one or more extensions shaped to fit a slot formed in a structural framing. 
     Further, the first component  110  may include a first hole  118  and one or more first connectors  119  (see  FIG.  1 B ). The first hole  118  may be formed through the base  112  and the rail connector  114  of the first component  110 . Further, in one or more embodiments, the first hole  118  may be threaded. The first connectors  119  may extend from the base  112  in the opposite direction of the rail connector  114 . Further, each of the first connectors  119  may include a first connector hole  113 . The one or more first connectors  119  may be disposed anywhere on the base  110 , and, if there are at least two first connectors  119 , the first connectors  119  are disposed such that they are parallel to each other and such that the first connector hole  113  through each first connector  119  is aligned with the first connector holes  113  of the other first connectors  119 . 
     Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the second component  120  may include a base  122  and a rail connector  124  that extends from the base  122 . The rail connector  124  may include a neck portion  125  and a head portion  126 . Further, the head portion  126  may include a first flange  126   a  and a second flange  126   b . Furthermore, the first flange  126   a  and the second flange  126   b  may be substantially perpendicular to the neck portion  125 . While the rail connector  124  of the second component  120  is depicted as including a neck portion  125  and a head portion  126  with a first flange  126   a  and a second flange  126   b , in one or more embodiments, the rail connector  124  may include a head portion  126  having a single flange  126   a  or  126   b  or any one or more extensions shaped to fit a slot formed in a structural framing. Further, while the rail connector  114  of the first component  110  is depicted as being the same as the rail connector  124  of the second component  120 , the first rail connector  114  may differ from the second rail connector  124  such that the rail connector  114  fits within a first slot formed in a structural framing having a first shape while the rail connector  124  fits within a second slot formed in the structural framing having a second shape that may be the same or different from the first shape. 
     Additionally, the second component  120  may include a second hole  128 . The second hole  128  may be formed through the base  122  and the rail connector  124  of the second component  120 . Further, in one or more embodiments, the second hole  128  may be threaded. 
     In one or more embodiments, the base  112  of the first component  110  may be coupled to the base  122  of the second component  120  such that the base  112  is substantially perpendicular to the base  122 . However, the base  112  of the first component  110  may be coupled to the base  122  of the second component such that the base  112  and the base  122  form an angle between 45 degrees and 135 degrees. Further, in other embodiments, the base  112  of the first component  110  and the base  122  of the second component  120  may be coupled such that they form any angle so long as the rail connector  114  of the first component  110  fits within a first slot formed in a structural framing while the rail connector  124  of the second component  120  fits within a second slot formed in the structural framing. 
     Furthermore, the accessory mounting apparatus  101  may include a connector arm  130 , which is configured to be coupled to the first component  110 . The connector arm  130  may include a second connector  132  (see  FIG.  1 B ), which includes a second connector hole  133 , and a mounting arm  134 , which includes a third connector hole  135 . In one or more embodiments, the connector arm  130  may be coupled to the first component  110  by way of the one or more first connectors  119  of the first component  110  and the second connector  132  of the connector arm  130 . The second connector hole  133  of the second connector  132  may be aligned with the first connector holes  113  of the one or more first connectors  119  such that a first fastener  171  may be disposed through the first connector holes  113  and the second connector hole  133  to couple the connector arm  130  to the first component  110 . In one or more embodiments, the first fastener  171  may be a bolt, and a nut may be threaded onto the bolt and tightened to hold the connector arm  130  in place in relation to the first component  110 . The connector arm  130  may be rotatable about an axis  175  of the first fastener  171 , and coupling the connector arm  130  to the first component  110  by way of the first connectors  119  and the second connector  132  allows for the connector arm  130  to be angled relative to the base  112  of the first component  110  by an angle anywhere between -90 degrees to +90 degrees. Further, the third connector hole  135  of the mounting arm  134  may be configured such that a second fastener  172  may be disposed through the third connector hole  135  and coupled to an accessory, such as a sensor or camera (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the second fastener  172  disposed through the third connector hole  135  may be a screw or bolt configured to screw into the accessory, which couples the accessory to the connector arm  130 . The second fastener  172  may be threaded or screwed into the accessory such that the accessory may be disposed at any angle between 0 degrees and 360 degrees relative to the mounting arm  134  of the connector arm  130 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , an accessory mounting system  200  according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The accessory mounting system  200  may include an accessory mounting apparatus  101 , a structural framing  250 , and an accessory  260 . The accessory mounting apparatus  101  may be configured to engage and be coupled to the structural framing  250  at a desired location along the structural framing  250 . In one or more embodiments, the structural framing  250  may be aluminum extrusion framing or any structural framing having one or more slots for coupling an accessory to. The structural framing  250  may include at least a first rail slot  251   a  and a second rail slot  251   b . The first rail slot  251   a  and the second rail slot  251   b  may each have an opening  252   a ,b, respectively. The opening  252   a ,b of each of the first rail slot  251   a  and the second rail slot  251   b  may be narrower than a width of a head portion  116  of a first component  110  of the accessory mounting apparatus  101  and of a head portion  126  of a second component  120  of the accessory mounting apparatus  101 , respectively. Further, in one or more embodiments, the accessory mounting apparatus  101  may be configured to engage the first rail slot  251   a , the second rail slot  251   b , or both and may be coupled to the structural framing  250 . 
     The accessory mounting apparatus  101  may be the accessory mounting apparatus as described above with regard to  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . The first flange  116   a  and the second flange  116   b  of the head portion  116  of the rail connector  114  of the first component  110  may be disposed within and engage the first rail slot  251   a  of the structural framing  250 . Further, the first flange  126   a  and the second flange  126   b  of the head portion  126  of the rail connector  124  of the second component  120  may be disposed within and engage the second rail slot  251   b  of the structural framing  250 . Furthermore, the neck portion  115  of the first component  110  and the neck portion  125  of the second component  120  may be disposed through the openings  252   a ,b of the first rail slot  251   a  and the second rail slot  251   b , respectively. 
     The accessory  260  may be coupled to the accessory mounting apparatus  101  by way of the second fastener  172 , which is disposed through the third connector hole (not shown) of the mounting arm  134 . By way of example, in one or more embodiments, the fastener  172  disposed through the third connector hole may be a screw or bolt configured to screw into the accessory  260 , which couples the accessory  260  to the connector arm  130 . The second fastener  172  may be threaded or screwed into the accessory  260  such that the accessory  260  may be disposed at an any angle between 0 degrees and 360 degrees relative to the mounting arm  134  of the connector arm  130 . Further, by way of example only, the accessory  260  in one or more embodiments may be a camera or a sensor. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , an accessory mounting system  200  according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. When the accessory mounting apparatus  101  is disposed within structural framing  250 , the accessory mounting apparatus  101  may be free to shift along the structural framing  250 . Further, in one or more embodiments, a third fastener  177  may be disposed through the second hole  128  so as to fasten the accessory mounting apparatus  101  in place along the structural framing  250 . 
     In one or more embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3 A , when the accessory mounting apparatus  101  engages the structural framing  250 , a gap may exist between the first flange  126   a  and the second flange  126   b  of the head portion  126  of the rail connector  124  and the rail slot  251   b  of the structural connector  250 . The gap between the rail connector  124  and the rail slot  251   b  may allow the accessory mounting apparatus  101  to freely slide along a length of the structural framing  250 . Once a location is chosen along the length of the structural framing  250  at which a user wishes to fasten the accessory mounting apparatus  101 , a third fastener  177  may be threaded through the second hole  128 , which is disposed through the neck portion  125  and the head portion  126  of the rail connector  124 . The third fastener  177  may be threaded through the second hole  128  until it bears against a back  253   b  of the rail slot  251   b , and then the third fastener  177  may be rotated further such that the neck portion  125  and the head portion  126  of the rail connector  124  compresses due to the interaction between the threads of the second hole  128  and the threads of the third fastener  177 . Compression of the neck portion  125  and the head portion  126  of the rail connector  124  may eliminate the gap between the first flange  126   a  and the second flange  126   b  of the head portion  126  of the rail connector  124  and the rail slot  251   b  of the structural connector  250 . Thus, a tension fit may be created between the second component  120  of the mounting apparatus  101  and the rail slot  251   b  of the structural framing  250 . More specifically, in one or more embodiments, the compression creates a tension fit between the first flange  126   a  and the base  122  of the second component  120  about the rail slot  251   b  and between the second flange  126   b  and the base  122  of the second component  120  about the rail slot  251   b . Thus, the accessory mounting apparatus  101  may be positionally locked to the structural framing  250 . 
     Thus, in one or more embodiments, a position of the accessory  260  along the structural framing  250  may be adjusted, the accessory mounting apparatus  101  may be mounted to the structural framing  250 , an angle of the accessory  260  relative to the base  112  of the first component  110  may be adjusted, the accessory  260  may be mounted to the accessory mounting apparatus  101 , an angle of the accessory  260  relative to the mounting arm  134  may be adjusted, and the accessory  260  may be mounted to the mounting arm  134  of the accessory mounting apparatus  101 . Therefore, the disclosed accessory mounting apparatus  101  and system  200  provide the ability to adjust the position and angle accessories as desired. 
     While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted or not implemented. 
     In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein. 
     To aid the Patent Office, and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants note that they do not intend any of the appended claims to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) as it exists on the date of filing hereof unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.