Abstract:
A multipurpose quick release mounting system for portable equipment and electronic devices and associated method of use is disclosed. The system includes a quick release device, a connector piece and clamping plates that can securely affix a portable equipment or electronic device by a frontal gesture to different surfaces and elements allowing its locking and release through a quick release actuator located in the quick release device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 61/867,119 filed Aug. 18, 2013. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to a multipurpose quick release mounting system and methods of use for quickly and safely mounting portable equipment and electronic devices. In particular, the present application relates to a quick release device and methods for attaching portable equipment and electronic devices to stands equipment, soft and hard equipment such straps, belts and other surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Portable devices including but not limited to cameras, video cameras, navigation instruments, weather instruments, accessories for cameras, binoculars, etc. need to be immediately accessible as well as adequately secured during manipulation and transporting to avoid damages or loss of items. 
         [0004]    Because of the wide availability of gadgets, users owns and use in combination more than one type of device in many different arrangements, also devices are carried in different ways, leaving a gap in the effort to connect them together in an efficient, multipurpose and easy way using only one mounting system with wide compatibility, easy access release function and secure fixing method. Existing products in the market does not cover all those necessities at once; some of them limitations are listed as follows. 
         [0005]    Those offering “side or slide in” connection motion result in a difficult movement to perform while not looking directly at the connection slot. 
         [0006]    Those using a “shoe” attachment piece are only compatible with one or two types of supporting systems like tripods, monopods, etc. or one or two product brands and those cannot use the same connecting piece for multiple supporting devices in an economical and simple way, compatibility is very limited. 
         [0007]    Those using a “shoe” as connector piece can only position the attached device, such as cameras, in four different directions, as the so called “shoe” and its housing plate called “chassis” has a square geometry with only four corresponding sides. 
         [0008]    Those using a plate called “chassis” are fixed by means of screws affixed to the “chassis” which limits its mobility to perform different purpose or those are not easy to insert through tight or reduce connecting points, slots or straps, also the risk of bending the fixing screws while trying to insert the “chassis” into a tight gap is high. 
         [0009]    Those using a plate called “chassis”, comprises a release actuator integrated to the “chassis” which is not easy to operate with one hand while simultaneously holding the device to be attached. This quick release system does not work without the said chassis as it comprises the release actuator. Also the release actuator change position in relation to the camera when the “chassis” is fixed in different way. 
         [0010]    Some quick release devices using round base connectors allows free rotation of the portable device due to, for example, the circumferential geometry of the connector piece, lack of tightness, wear off of the implicated contact parts or not enough retention force of the system. 
         [0011]    Other release actuators called “quick release devices” are operated with two fingers therefore a second hand is needed to hold the device. 
         [0012]    Therefore a system that offers a wide range of compatibility, multipurpose functionality, immediately and easy access to the release actuator is required, for these and other reasons, improvements are desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    In accordance with the following disclosure, the above and other issues are addressed by the following: 
         [0014]    In first place a quick release mounting system is disclosed. The quick release mounting system comprises a quick release device having a fastener element such as screw that directly attaches to portable devices or electronic equipment. The quick release device also includes anchor loops to be used for tethering. The quick release device also comprises a quick release actuator that liberates the connector piece when actioned, this separates the quick release device from the connector piece by the operator. Additionally comprises a safety lock that fix the connector securely and firmly to the quick release device as a redundant safety element. The device also comprises a connector piece having a polygonal and conical configuration in such way that it could be easily inserted in the quick release device in different directions, once it is fixed and secure, it does not freely rotates or detaches from the quick release device by itself. 
         [0015]    The device also comprises multipurpose supporting or clamping plates having rear and front plates with holes, slots, hollows, humps and cavities with the purpose of attaching or fixing the said supporting plates to different surfaces or elements by means of different kind of fasteners. The plates also comprises swivel or fixed fasteners, for example, a screw—lug nut arrangement. The screw, in this mentioned case, is attached to one of the plates by fastener elements, such as pins, pintles or bolts, in a manner that the swivel tensioner element is free to rotate or swing, the second plate receives the tensioner and fixes the lug nut. Additionally. the mentioned plates comprises friction bits on the surface in contact with the fixing element. 
         [0016]    In a second aspect, a method of attaching the quick release device to the connector piece is disclosed. The method includes affixing the connector piece to any suitable surface or element by means of fasteners associated with the connector piece. The method also includes affixing the quick release device to the portable equipment or electronic device using fasteners associated with the device. The connector piece is inserted into the connector piece location in the quick release device to affix, for example a camera, to the quick release device, the connector piece and the surface or element where the connector piece is mounted. 
         [0017]    In a further aspect, a method of attaching the connector piece to the multipurpose supporting or clamping plates is disclosed. The method includes affixing the connector piece to one of the said plates using fasteners associated with the connector piece. The method also includes affixing the said clamping plates to any suitable surface or element by means of fasteners associated with the said clamping plates. The method also includes affixing the said clamping plates to any suitable element compressing the chosen element between the clamping plates by tighten the fasteners associated with the said clamping plates. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an upper right isometric view of the multipurpose quick release mounting system in conjunction with a portable device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an upper right isometric view of the quick release device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a bottom isometric view of the quick release device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a lower isometric view of the connector piece. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an upper right isometric view of the front multipurpose supporting plate. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a lower isometric view of the front multipurpose supporting plate. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is an upper right isometric view of the rear multipurpose supporting plate. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is an upper right isometric view corresponding to the method of attaching the quick release device to the connector piece. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an upper right isometric view corresponding to the method of attaching the connector piece to the multipurpose supporting or clamping plates. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein numerals are presented as reference of parts, components and assemblies. The presented reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which comprises the scope of the claims listed hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention. 
         [0028]    In general terms, the present disclosure relates to a multipurpose quick release mounting system for portable equipment and electronic devices and its methods of use. Various embodiments of the multipurpose quick release mounting system can include a number of components including a quick release device affix to portable devices, such as camera, navigation instruments, etc., the quick release device receives and secures a connector piece, which can be affix to a support or stand base devices, such as tripods, monopods, dollies, etc. It also includes a multipurpose supporting or clamping plates that in conjunction or separated could be used to attached the portable device, quick release device and connector piece to different elements and bodies, such as straps, belts, belt loops, person&#39;s body, personal protection equipment. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is an upper right isometric view of the multipurpose quick release mounting system in conjunction with a portable device  100 . The multipurpose quick release mounting system includes a quick release device  101 , a connector piece  102 , a multipurpose supporting or clamping front plate  104 , a multipurpose supporting or clamping rear plate  105  and fastener elements  103 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is an upper right isometric view of the quick release device  101 . The quick release mounting device comprises a fastener element  204  which allows the quick release device  101  to be attached to portable devices  101 , a cushion and friction pad  203  to protect the portable devices  100  and avoid rotation when mounted. It also comprises anchor loops  205  tethering, for example, straps, cords, leashes, wires, etc. A quick release actuator  202  which easily secures or release the connector piece  102 . It also comprises a safety lock  201  that fixes securely and firmly the connector piece  102  to the quick release device  101  as a redundant safety element. 
         [0031]    In further aspects the quick release device  101  shown in  FIG. 3  comprises a housing hollow  301  to receive the connector piece  102  when connected. It also comprises a cover plate at the bottom of the mounting device with a polygonal configuration  302  such as the connector piece  102  cannot freely rotate once it is on its place. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the connector piece  102  from a lower isometric view. The connector piece  102  can be fixed by fasteners, such as screw, tighten in the hollow  401  in order to affix the connector piece  102  to diverse devices, for example, tripods, monopods, dollies, etc. The connector piece  102  have a polygonal and conical shape  402  that easily allows it to be inserted in the quick release device housing  301 . It also comprises a groove  404  that allows the insertion of the quick release actuator  202  which secures or detaches the said connector piece with the action of the operator. Furthermore comprises a polygonal shape  403  that allows the quick release device  101  be inserted in many different direction and once it is fixed and secure by the quick release actuator  202 , it restrings its free rotation. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows an upper right isometric view of the front multipurpose supporting or clamping plate  104 . The supporting plate  104  comprises a plate with hollows, holes, humps and cavities  502  with the purpose of attaching and fixing the front supporting plate  104  to any suitable surface or element by means of fasteners, such as, screws or other elements such as straps, bands, cords, webbings, wire, ropes, etc. It also comprises a hollow  503  to fix the connector piece  102  by means of the associated fastener to the front supporting plate  104 . Furthermore comprises hollows  501  to be attached to the rear multipurpose or clamping plate  105  by means of fasteners  103 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric bottom view of the front multipurpose supporting or clamping plate  104  and friction bits  601  on the contact surface. 
         [0035]    Illustrated in  FIG. 7  is the rear multipurpose supporting or clamping plate  105  comprising a plate with hollows, holes, humps and cavities  502  with the purpose of attaching and fixing the rear plate  105  to, for example, person&#39;s body, cylindrical or rectangular object among others by means of fasteners, such as, screws, straps, bands, cords, webbings, wire, ropes, etc. The said plate also comprises a hollow  703  to receive a fastener, such as screw to affix the rear clamping plate  105  to other supporting devices, such as tripods, monopods, dollies, the connector piece  102  or the portable device  100  directly to the rear plate  105 . It also comprises fasteners, for example, a screw-lug nut arrangement  103  fixed by fastener element, such as pins, pintles, bolts, etc. in a manner that the tensioner is free to rotate. The multipurpose rear plate  105  also comprises friction bits  601  on its surface. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  shows the method of attaching the quick release device  101  to the connector piece  102 . The portable equipment or electronic device  100  is attached to the quick release device  101  by means of the associated fastener  204  in the direction of the arrows  801 . The connector piece  102  is attached to the suitable surface  804  or element  803  by means of the associated fastener  802  in the direction of the arrows  801 . Finally the quick release device  101  is attached to the connector piece  102  in the direction of the arrow  801 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows the method of attaching the connector piece  102  to the clamping plates  104  and  105 . The portable equipment or electronic device  100  is attached to the quick release device  101  by means of the associated fastener  204  in the direction of the arrows  801 . The connector piece  102  is attached to the front clamping plate  104  by means of the associated fastener  901 . The front damping plate  104  compress the element  902  against the rear clamping plate  105  by tightening the fasteners  103  associated with the clamping plates  104  and  105 . Finally the quick release device  101  is attached to the connector piece  102  in the direction of the arrow  801 . 
         [0038]    Since many different embodiments of the present quick release mounting system can be performed without the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.