Patent Abstract:
The present invention is directed to mounting devices, and in particular to a universal tool-less cam lock mount for releasably mounting an object on a structure, including structures of the type commonly referred to as a “slatwall”. The present mount comprises a mount housing, first and second engagement members, and a cam lock assembly. The cam lock assembly comprises a cam mechanism having a cam for moving at least one of the engagement members between at least a locked position and an unlocked position as the cam is rotated.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to mounting devices, and in particular to a universal mount comprising a cam lock for releasably mounting an accessory on a structure, including structures of the type commonly referred to as a “slatwall”. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Slatwalls and slatwall systems are known in the art. A slatwall is adapted to removably support one or more objects, and typically comprises a surface having a plurality of substantially parallel and regularly spaced tracks or grooves therein. The grooves are adapted to receive and retain support members, such as hooks, brackets, or other engagement members. The parallel grooves can run in any desired direction, but it is common for them to run in a horizontal direction. One advantage of a slatwall system is its versatility. It allows a user to position one or more objects or accessories on the slatwall in any desired arrangement. 
         [0003]    A mount, accessory or other object that is to be supported on a slatwall can be specially built to engage a slatwall. Alternatively, the object can be connected to a mount or bracket that is adapted to engage the slatwall. 
         [0004]    Slatwalls are used in a multitude of different fields and applications for a variety of purposes. For example, slatwalls are used in retail store shelving and display units. They are also employed in commercial and personal storage systems, wherein any number of hangers, brackets or storage containers can be mounted on a slatwall. Slatwall systems are also used for mounting equipment and accessories in offices, homes, laboratories, workshops and vehicles. Examples of such equipment include but are not limited to electronics such as computers, displays, input devices, laboratory equipment and other accessories such as lamps, shelves and containers. 
         [0005]    Mounts for mounting objects and accessories on a slatwall are also known in the art. One type of slatwall mount is a simple mount comprising a hook or a flange extending from a base member. Such a mount is installed on a slatwall by inserting the hook or flange into a groove in the slatwall and rotating the mount towards the slatwall until the base bears against the front surface of the slatwall. The mount is removed by pulling the base member away from the slatwall and withdrawing the hook or flange from the groove. Such mounts are generally simple in construction and are typically easy to install and remove from the slatwall. However, these simple mounts are generally not suitable where a more secure engagement between the mount and the slatwall is desired. 
         [0006]    In certain applications it is desirable that the mount be securely connected to the slatwall or other surface to prevent any movement of the mount relative to the slatwall or surface, or to prevent partial or complete disengagement of the mount. For example, a secure engagement may be desirable where the slatwall system is installed in or on a vehicle, or is installed in any other environment that is exposed to vibrations or other movements. A secure engagement may also be desirable where there is a concern that the object could be inadvertently disengaged from the slatwall. For example, this could be the case where the object to be mounted is large, heavy, fragile or expensive. In such situations, a secure or “locking” mount can be employed. A locking mount can comprise two or more hooks, flanges, or other engagement members for engagement with one or more grooves in the slatwall. The two or more engagement members typically cooperate to secure the mount to the slatwall. In the instance of a mount having two engagement members, a first engagement member is usually moveable relative to a second engagement member. During the installation of such a mount on a slatwall, the first and second members are inserted into the groove(s). The second member is then moved relative the first member until both members have firmly engaged the groove(s), thereby securely engaging the mount to the slatwall. 
         [0007]    A locking type of mount is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,435 to Oddsen, Jr. et al. This mount comprises a main body and a pair of clip assemblies for connecting the mount to a slatwall. First and second clips are inserted into two different grooves in the slatwall. The second clip is then moved relative to the first clip by way of a threaded bolt. The head of the bolt preferably includes a slot or a socket so that the bolt can be turned with a screwdriver or wrench. 
         [0008]    The mount disclosed by Oddsen and other existing mounts suffer from the drawback of requiring a tool for engagement and disengagement with the slatwall. A tool-less locking mount, on the other hand, can reduce the amount of effort and time required to engage and disengage the mount with a slatwall. Furthermore, with a tool-less mount there is no concern over locating and storing the tool(s). 
         [0009]    For the foregoing reasons, it can be appreciated that a need exists for tool-less locking mount adapted to engage a surface or structure, including a slatwall-type structure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present disclosure provides a universal mount comprising a cam lock for releasably mounting an object on a structure, including structures of the type commonly referred to as a “slatwall”. 
         [0011]    According to the present invention then, there is provided a cam lock mount for mounting an object on a structure having at least a first surface and a second surface, the cam lock mount comprising a mount housing; a first engagement member coupled to the mount housing for engaging the first surface of the structure; a second engagement member for engaging the second surface of the structure, the second engagement member coupled to the mount housing at a spaced apart location from the first engagement member; a cam lock assembly supported by the mount housing and comprising a rotatable cam mechanism having cam means for moving at least one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member between at least a locked position connecting said mount to the structure and an unlocked position in which the mount is not connected to the structure, as the cam means are rotates. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the present cam lock mount in a locked state; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  with the back plate removed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1C  is a rear perspective view of the mount housing of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  in a locked state; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  in an unlocked state; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  engaged with a slatwall; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the present cam lock mount with an integrally formed mounting assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of an accessory; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5D  is a side sectional view of the mount of  FIG. 1A  connected to the accessory shown in  FIG. 5C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The present cam lock mount is described in one embodiment in the following disclosure with reference to the Figures. While this embodiment is described in the context of a cam lock mount adapted for use with a slatwall, the scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to mounts for slatwalls. The present cam lock mount can be used to mount accessories or other objects to other structures and surfaces, including but not limited to racks, rails, poles, and frames. 
         [0025]    The various features and components of the present cam lock mount are now described with reference to the Figures. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1A  shows one embodiment of the cam lock mount  1 , which generally comprises a mount housing  10 , a first fixed position engagement member  40 , a second movable engagement member  42 , and a cam lock assembly  100  to move engagement member  42  between an unlocked position shown in  FIG. 2B  and a locked position shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 A, as will be described in greater detail below. For a better understanding of how mount  1  securely engages a structure or surface, such as a slatwall,  FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of mount  1  engaged with a slatwall  300 . 
         [0027]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , in at least one embodiment of the mount, mount housing  10  comprises a front wall  12 , upper and lower walls  14  and  20  respectively, side walls  16  and  18 , and a removable rear plate  22 . The front, side, and upper and lower walls can be separate pieces connected to one another at their edges. Alternatively, these walls can be integrally formed from one or more pieces of material or materials (e.g. cast or form moulded, machined, etc.). Mount housing  10  can be made of metal, such as aluminum, or plastic, or of any other suitable material known in the art. Rear plate  22  can be connected to mount housing  10  by way of one or more fasteners  34 , which can be received through fastener holes  32  in rear plate  22 . As best shown in  FIGS. 1B ,  1 C and  3 , mount housing  10  includes shoulder members  26  disposed in the interior of housing  10  and positioned so as to not interfere with the movement of second engagement member  42  or any components of cam lock assembly  100 , as will be described below. Each shoulder member  26  includes a hole  28  for receiving a respective one of fasteners  34 . 
         [0028]    Engagement members  40  and  42  are adapted to engage first and second surfaces of a structure. In at least one embodiment, engagement members  40  and  42  are adapted to engage a slatwall. First engagement member  40  can be disposed in the upper region of mount housing  10 , and can be connected to the inner surfaces of front wall  12  and upper wall  14  of housing  10 . First engagement member  40  comprises a base plate  44  and a brace  43  comprising vertical sides  43   a  and a connecting back plate  43   b . The outward facing edge of base plate  44  comprises a curved or angled portion  46 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , when mount  1  is installed on a slatwall, base plate  44  can extend towards and possibly into a groove or slot  302  of slatwall  300 . Angled portion  46  hooks onto or around one of the lips  304  in slatwall  300 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , base plate  44  can also comprise one or more holes  50  therethrough for attachment to mount housing  10  by way of one or more fasteners  35 . Base plate  44  may also have a hole  48  to allow for the passage of a linkage member  120  of the cam lock assembly  100 , both of which are described below. Furthermore, as best shown in  FIGS. 1B and 3 , brace  43  extends from and reinforces base plate  44 . Back plate  43   b  of brace  43  can be formed with a rectangular locating slot  45 , which cooperates with a locating tab  13  on the inner surface of front wall  12  of mount housing  10  to properly align and locate brace  43  within mount housing  10 . Brace  43  also has holes  47  therethrough, which are aligned with holes  21  in front wall  12  of mount housing  10  for attachment of brace  43  to front wall  12  by way of one or more fasteners  66 . 
         [0029]    Second engagement member  42  is disposed at a spaced apart location from first engagement member  40 . In at least one embodiment, second engagement member  42  is disposed in the lower region of the mount housing  10  opposite first engagement member  40 . Like first engagement member  40 , the purpose of second member  42  is also to engage or “hook” into a slot  302  in slatwall  300 . To achieve this purpose, second engagement member  42  can be substantially “S”-shaped and can comprise a base plate  52 , a flange  54  extending from the upper edge of base plate  52 , and a lower angled portion  56  extending from the lower edge of base plate  52 . Upper flange  54  can have a hole  64  to receive the lower end of linkage member  120  of cam lock assembly  100 . Furthermore, angled portion  56  extends from the lower edge of base plate  52  at an angle for hooking onto or around one of the lips  304  in slatwall  300 . As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in at least one embodiment, the proximal side of angled portion  56  can extend substantially orthogonally from base plate  52 . The distal side of angled portion  56  can then extend upwardly at an angle or curve from the proximal side. 
         [0030]    Second engagement member  42  can be connected or fastened to the lower end of linkage member  120 . In one embodiment, linkage member  120  is a rod, the lower end of which can be threaded to receive a nut  124  to secure second engagement member  42  to rod  120  (see  FIG. 3 ). It will be appreciated however that linkage member  120  can take any other suitable form, including a bolt, arm, or bar. In at least one embodiment, the position on linkage member  120  at which second engagement member  42  is secured can be adjustable. This would allow mount  1  to be adjusted for cooperation with structures having different dimensions, including slatwalls having differently spaced or sized grooves. It is also to be appreciated that in at least one embodiment, linkage member  120  can be integrally formed with or otherwise connected to second engagement member  42 , thereby eliminating the need for a separate rod. 
         [0031]    Second engagement member  42  is moveable in a vertical direction relative to mount housing  10 .  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A and  4  show second engagement member  42  in a locked or engaged position, whereas  FIGS. 2B ,  5 B and  5 D show engagement member  42  in an unlocked or disengaged position. With reference now to  FIG. 3 , rod  120  of cam lock assembly  100  is disposed between a cam  104  and second engagement member  42  for transmitting movement of cam  104  to second engagement member  42  as cam  104  is rotated. As previously mentioned, the distance spanned between cam  104  and second engagement member  42  can be adjustable to allow mount  1  to be adjusted for cooperation with structures having different dimensions. In at least one embodiment, the movement of second engagement member  42  is guided by mount housing  10 , and in particular by the inner surfaces of housing  10 . As shown best in  FIG. 10 , the movement of second engagement member  42  can be guided by one or more engagement member guides  30  disposed in the lower region of mount housing  10 . In the embodiment shown in the Figures, cam lock mount  1  comprises a pair of guides  30  disposed in the interior of mount housing  10  on opposite sides of housing  10  at side walls  16  and  18  respectively. In addition, second engagement member  42  is retained in position substantially within the mount housing  10  and against guides  30  by rear plate  22 . Guides  30  can be formed integrally with housing  10  or they can be inserts. If they are inserts, they can be made of the same material as housing  10 , or some other material such as a low friction plastic or nylon. 
         [0032]    Angled portions  46  and  56  of engagement members  40  and  42  can be of lengths that are near to or even greater than the width of mount housing  10 . Increasing the lengths of angled portions  46  and  56  would spread the mount load over a larger area on the slatwall, and could therefore increase the maximum load capacity of the mount  1  and slatwall system. Engagement members  40  and  42  can be made of any suitable material of sufficient strength known in the art, including metal or plastic. 
         [0033]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , cam lock mount  1  further comprises cam lock assembly  100  for selectively locking and unlocking mount  1  to a structure such as a slatwall. Cam lock assembly  100  comprises a cam mechanism  102  having cam  104  for moving at least one of engagement members  40  or  42  as cam  104  is rotated. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, cam  104  moves second engagement member  42  as cam  104  rotates. 
         [0034]    Cam lock assembly  100  can also comprise linkage member  120  disposed between cam mechanism  102  and second engagement member  42  for moving second engagement member  42  as cam  104  is rotated. As mentioned above, in at least one embodiment linkage member  120  is a rod. 
         [0035]    In at least one embodiment, cam mechanism  102  has a handle  106  connected to or integrally formed with cam  104 . Cam mechanism  102  can also comprise a pivot member  110  for pivotally connecting cam  104  to rod  120 . In at least one embodiment, cam mechanism  102  is substantially U-shaped and cam  104  is in the form of a pair of substantially similar spaced apart cam members  105 . Pivot member  110  can be disposed between the two cam members  105  and can be supported by a pair of bushings  113 , each of which is fixedly seated in a hole  108  in one of the cam members  105 . Pivot member  110  is rotatably connected to the cam members  105  by bushings  113 , and is therefore free to rotate in relation to cam  104 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , pivot  110  is sized and shaped such that its ends are receivable into a hole of one of bushings  113 . Pivot member  110  can be connected to the upper end of rod  120  by any suitable means. In one embodiment, the upper end of rod  120  is threaded and is received into a correspondingly threaded bore  111  in pivot member  110 , the axis of bore  111  being substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of pivot member  110 . Other means of connection pivot member  110  to rod  120  will occur to those skilled in the art, including a keyed connection or by use of a set screw  114 , which may be screwed into an aperture  112  in pivot member  110 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , set screw  114  is used to bear against the end of rod  120  in pivot  110  to prevent the rod from inadvertently backing off or unscrewing. 
         [0036]    Cam mechanism  102  can be positioned in relation to the outer surface of upper wall  14  of the mount housing  10 . Cam lock mount  1  can also have a cam guide  130  disposed between cam mechanism  102  and mount housing  10  to retain cam  104  in position relative to mount housing  10 . In at least one embodiment, cam guide  130  has at least one guide slot  132  for receiving and guiding cam  104 . In the embodiment shown in the Figures, cam guide  130  has a pair of guide slots  132  for receiving the pair of cam members  105 . Cam guide  130  can further comprise a hole  134  to allow for the passage of rod  120  therethrough. Cam guide  130  can be fastened to mount housing  10  by one or more fasteners  138 , which can be accommodated by mounting holes  136  in cam guide  130 . 
         [0037]    Cam lock assembly  100  can further comprise means to bias second engagement member  42  relative to first engagement member  40 . In one embodiment, the biasing means normally biases second engagement member  42  away from first engagement member  40 . The biasing means can facilitate the installation of mount  1  onto a slatwall by preventing second engagement member  42  from inadvertently moving in an upwardly direction towards first engagement member  40 . As shown in the Figures, in at least one embodiment the biasing means can be in the form of a coil spring  126 . Ideally, guide slots  132  in the cam guide are well polished or the guide itself is made of some durable but low friction material that reduces friction between cam members  105  and guide slots  132 . This will reduce the amount of force required to move handle  106 , which in turn should lessen the likelihood of damage to cam mechanism  102  and upper wall  14 . 
         [0038]    Mount housing  10  serves to support other components of the cam lock mount  1 , such as cam lock assembly  100  and engagement members  40  and  42 . Mount housing  10  can also have a mounting surface  36  on or against which one or more accessories, accessory mounts, or other objects can be connected. As shown in  FIG. 5A , in at least one embodiment the outer surface of front wall  12  of mount housing  10  serves as a mounting surface  36 . Furthermore, mounting surface  36  can have one or more mounting holes  38  to receive one or more fasteners for fastening one or more accessories or accessory mounts to mount  1 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5C  shows one example of an accessory  202 , and  FIG. 5D  illustrates one way in which an accessory can be connected to mount  1 . Accessory  202  is coupled to mounting surface  36  of front wall  12  by way of one or more fasteners  210 . It is to be understood that an accessory, accessory mount or other object can be connected to mount  1  by any other suitable means, including but not limited to adhesive, welding, or one or more clips or hooks. In at least one embodiment of cam lock mount  1 , one or more accessories or accessory mounts can be formed integrally with mount  1 . For example,  FIG. 5B  shows one embodiment of the mount  1  in which a mounting assembly  400  comprising a mounting bore  402  is integrally formed with mount housing  10 . Mounting bore  402  can be adapted to receive an end of a support arm for supporting a lamp, monitor, or any other device, accessory or object. 
         [0040]    The installation and locking of mount  1  on a slatwall will now be described. To prepare mount  1  for installation, cam mechanism  102  is rotated in the direction that moves second engagement member  42  away from first engagement member  40 .  FIGS. 2B ,  5 B and  5 D show one embodiment of mount  1  in this “unlocked” state. Mount  1  can then be positioned on a slatwall such that first and second engagement members  40  and  42  are substantially aligned with two different grooves or slots in the slatwall. Cam mechanism  102  is then rotated in the opposite direction to the direction described above, meaning in a direction that moves second engagement member  42  towards first engagement member  40 , until second engagement member  42  compressively engages an opposing lip  304  of the respective slot  302  in the slatwall.  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A and  4  show one embodiment of mount  1  in this “locked” state. Cam mechanism  102  is maintained in the locked state by, for example, locating holes  108  in cam members  105  eccentrically relative to the central pivot axis of cam  104  in that the action of spring  126  pushing against engagement member  42  results in rod  120  pulling downwardly on handle or lever  106  to bias it into the locked position. To rotate cam mechanism  102  into the unlocked position, an increased force is necessary to initially compress spring  126  until holes  108  align with and then move past the center pivot axis of cam  104 . 
         [0041]    It will occur to those skilled in the art that other means exist of selectively locking cam mechanism  102  in place when the second engagement member is in the locked position. For example, one or more locking mechanisms can be employed. These locking mechanisms include spring clips, a hook that can connect to handle  106  to lock the handle in place, and any other locking mechanisms known in the art. 
         [0042]    The embodiments of cam lock mount  1  described herein and illustrated in the Figures engages and locks onto a slatwall by moving one of the engagement members towards a second engagement member, in effect “clamping” onto the slatwall. In these embodiments, angled portions  46  and  56  of engagement members  40  and  42  extend inwardly. More specifically, angled portion  46  of first engagement member  40  extends at a downwardly angle from base plate  44 , while angled portion  56  of second engagement member  42  extends at an upwardly angle from base plate  52 . 
         [0043]    It will be appreciated that in at least one alternative embodiment of mount  1 , mount  1  can engage and lock onto a slatwall by moving one of the engagement members away from the other engagement member. In such an alternative embodiment, angled portions  46  and  56  of engagement members  40  and  42  will extend in the opposite directions (i.e. outwardly). 
         [0044]    This difference can be more clearly described with reference to  FIG. 4 . In the embodiment shown in the Figures, angled portion  46  of first engagement member  40  extends at a downwardly angle to “hook” onto a lower lip  304  of a slatwall groove  302 . Angled portion  56  of second engagement member  42  extends at an upwardly angle. In contrast, in the at least one alternative mount, angled portion  46  of first engagement member would extend upwardly to engage an upper lip  304  or side of a groove  302 . Angled portion  56  of second engagement member  42  would extend downwardly to engage a lower lip  304  of a second groove  302 . 
         [0045]    It will be further appreciated that in at least one embodiment first engagement member  40  will be movable relative second engagement member  42  rather than the second  42  being moveable relative to the first  40 . In addition, in at least one other embodiment, both first and second engagement members  40  and  42  will be moveable relative to mount housing  10 . 
         [0046]    It will also be appreciated that in at least one embodiment of the mount  1 , cam lock assembly  100  need not have a linkage member  120  to move one engagement member relative to the other engagement member. Rather, cam  104  could act directly on one of the engagement members (e.g. first engagement member  40 ) to move the engagement member into a locked position. Or there might be a separate cam for each of members  40  and  42 . Members  40  and  42  might themselves be unitary pieces as shown or they might be split into segments. 
         [0047]    The previous detailed description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention described herein. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5