Abstract:
A mounting and support bracket which is designed to support and make available to an individual a piece of electronic equipment, such as a small computer and monitor combination. The mounting of the support bracket is to be fixable onto an exterior structure. The mounting and support bracket is to be manually activated to occupy either a fixed position or a movement position. The movement position will permit locating of the computer/monitor in a readily observable position. The fixed position will then fix the bracket in the position that has been established by the movement position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of this invention relates to mounting and support brackets and more particularly to a mounting and support bracket for a piece of electronic equipment that will permit that piece of electronic equipment to be moved to a readily observable and operating position and also movable to a conveniently accessible stowage position. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the past, there have been constructed numerous different types of mounting and support brackets for mounting pieces of equipment. However, in some mounting locations, there may be a minimal amount of space available for the mounting bracket. A typical situation would be within the cockpit of an airplane. Pilots have need for electronic equipment that is used in the flying of an aircraft. One such piece of electronic equipment is known as an electronic flight bag. This electronic flight bag is basically in the form of a computer which has a monitor. Typical such flight bags comprise a rectangular shape approximately ten to twelve inches in length and six to eight inches in height with the thickness of about one inch. These flight bags are commonly mounted within a leather or plastic case. These flight bags are used by the pilot in ascertaining certain flight information. These flight bags are commonly carried by the pilot and copilot when flying of an aircraft. 
     Typically, these flight bags are just placed on the floor of the cockpit and are picked up when it is required that such is to be used. This requires that the pilot or copilot to look around when flying of the aircraft to find the flight bag in order to pick it up and then to open the harness of the flight bag, turn on the flight bag and then use it. After it is used, the pilot or copilot has to then return it to its stowage position. 
     It would be far more convenient if there were some way that the flight bag could be mounted in the cramped area of the cockpit so that the flight bag could be quickly and easily maneuvered to a readily visible and readily operable position relative to the pilot and copilot while still permitting the pilot and copilot to keep his or her eyes on the task of flying the airplane. Also, when the flight bag is no longer needed, it would be desirable to quickly and easily maneuver the flight bag to a stowage position but yet where the stowage position is readily accessible when it is desired to reuse the flight bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first basic embodiment of a mounting and support bracket for a piece of electronic equipment which utilizes a base adapted to be fixed to an exterior structure. The base has a socket and within that socket is to be mounted a bifurcated ball unit which has a ball from which extends a pair of legs which are separated by a gap. A fulcrum is mounted to the ball unit and located within the gap. Each leg has a through hole that are in alignment. The fulcrum is spaced from the through holes and also spaced from the ball. A female threaded collar is mounted on mounting plate with the mounting plate being designed to support the piece of electronic equipment. An actuator rod assembly which has an actuator which is threadably connected to the female threaded collar. The actuator passes through the through holes in a loose fitting arrangement. Turning of the actuator in one direction results in moving of the pair of legs closer together and pressing of the collar which will fix the mounting plate relative to the bifurcated ball unit and also fix the ball relative to the base. Opposite rotation of the actuator will permit three hundred and sixty degree movement of the mounting plate relative to the base and also permit pivoting of the mounting about a lineal axis. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the ball being constructed of two parts. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the through holes being defined as being circular. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the including of a guide collar on the mounting plate with this guide collar being spaced from the female threaded collar and the actuator passing through this guide collar. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the mounting of a handle on a free outer end of the actuator. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the ball having attached to its exterior surface a rubber coating. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the including of a low frictional coating on the actuator eliminating the need for separate bearings and permitting unrestricted easy movement of the bracket to different positions. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the actuator rod assembly being adjustable relative to the mounting plate in order to vary the spacing of an outer free end of the actuator rod assembly relative to the mounting plate. 
     A second basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a mounting and support bracket which includes a mounting plate with there being a female threaded collar mounted on the mounting plate. An actuator rod is threadably connected to the collar with the actuating rod having formed thereon a shoulder. There is a ball mounted on the base with the ball being constructed of two separate parts. A pair of leg members are attached to the ball and extend therefrom with the leg members being spaced apart forming a gap. The leg members have a pair of aligned holes with there being a single hole formed within each leg member. The actuator rod passes through these holes with there being a loosely mounted arrangement between the actuator rod and the holes. The leg members are located between the shoulder and the collar. A fulcrum is mounted on the leg members. Rotating of the actuator rod in one direction causes pressing of the leg members between the shoulder and the collar causing pivoting to occur about the fulcrum and decreasing the width of the gap in the area of the holes and also causing the leg members to be tightly pressed against the collar fixing in position the mounting plate relative to the leg members, and also simultaneously widening of the spacing between the parts of the ball which tightly fixes the ball to the base. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the holes that are formed within the leg members which are cylindrical. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the including of a guide collar being also mounted on the mounting plate with the actuator rod being conductible through this guide collar. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the mounting of a handle on the free outer end of the actuator rod. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the forming of a rubber coating on the exterior surface of the ball and also forming of a low frictional coating on the actuator rod. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the actuator rod being adjustable relative to the mounting plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the mounting and support bracket of the present invention mounted in conjunction with the cockpit of an aircraft; 
     FIG. 2 is a back view of the mounting and support bracket of the present invention showing its relation to the piece of electronic equipment to which it is connected; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mounting and support bracket of the present invention depicting the three hundred and sixty degree movement that the bracket could be moved; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the mounting and support bracket of the present invention showing the pivoting movement that is available to the bracket; and 
     FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the mounting and support bracket of the present invention taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cockpit  10  of an aircraft. The cockpit  10  has a pilot or copilot  12  seated therein. The cockpit  10  includes a window  14  and a window ledge  16 . The mounting and support bracket  18  of this invention is to be fixedly mounted onto the window ledge  16 . However, it is to be understood that numerous other mountings for the mounting and support bracket  18  of this invention could be utilized other than on a window ledge  16 . For example, the mounting and support bracket could be mounted on the console between the pilot and the copilot. Additionally, the mounting and support bracket  18  of this invention could be mounted in conjunction with environments other than having to do with aircraft. 
     A piece of an electronic equipment, such as a electronic flight bag  20 , is to be attached, usually with bolt or screw fasteners, to a mounting plate  22 . Fasteners  24 , four in number, are what is used to secure the mounting plate  22  to the electronic flight bag  20 . The fasteners  24  each individually connect with a hole  26  which is formed within the mounting plate  22  with there being a hole located directly adjacent each corner of the rectangularly shaped mounting plate  22 . Typically, the mounting plate  22  will be constructed of sheet aluminum, however any rigid material could be utilized. Fixedly mounted on the back side of the mounting plate  22  is a threaded collar  28 . The threaded collar  28  is also secured by typical fasteners  30 , such as screws or bolts, to the mounting plate  22 . The fasteners  30  engage with the holes  32  formed within the collar  28 . The threaded collar  28  includes a through hole the wall of which includes a series of screw threads  34 . A typical diameter for the female threads  34  would be about three-quarters of an inch. 
     An actuator, in the form of actuator rod  36 , has an externally threaded rod  38  which is threadingly received within a center hole  40  of an actuator guide  42 . A portion of the center hole  40  includes a series of female threads  44 . The threaded rod  38  is in continuous engagement with the threads  44 . Also threadably mounted on the threaded rod  38  is a nut  46 . The nut  46  is to be located in an abutting engagement with one end of the actuator guide  42 . The opposite end of the actuator guide  42  that is opposite the nut  46  includes a series of male threads  48 . The male threads  48  are to be in continuous engagement with the female threads  34  of the threaded collar  28 . Formed on the exterior surface of the actuator guide  42  is a shoulder  50 . The exterior surface of the actuator guide  42  is to be coated with a low frictional coating  52 . The desirable form of such a coating would include a material which is known under the trade name of Teflon. 
     The end of the actuator guide  42  that is located directly adjacent the nut  46  is conducted through through opening  54  of the guide collar  56 . The guide collar  56  is fixedly mounted by fasteners  58 , such as bolt fasteners or screw fasteners, to the mounting plate  22 . The longitudinal center axis  60  of the through opening  54  is in alignment with the longitudinal center axis of the threads  34 . Also, the longitudinal center axis of the threaded rod  38  coincides with the axis  60 . The actuator guide  42  forms a close fit within the through opening  54  yet pivoting movement of the actuator guide  42  is permitted relative to the guide collar  56 . 
     Located between the shoulder  50  and threaded collar  28  is a decreased diameter section  62 . The decreased diameter section  62  passes through a through hole  64  of a leg member  66 . Also, the decreased diameter section  62  passes through a through hole  68  of a leg member  70 . It is to be noted that the through holes  64  and  68  are significantly larger in diameter than the diameter of section  62 . Therefore, a loose fit is established between the section  62  and each of the leg members  66  and  70 . The reason for this is that leg member  66  will be shown to tilt slightly relative to the decreased diameter section  62 . In order to accommodate that tilting, the through hole  64  has to be over sized relative to the decreased diameter  62 . 
     The outer end of the leg members  66  is mounted to a semispherical member  72 . The outer end of the leg member  70  is also mounted to a similar semispherical member  74 . These semispherical members  72  and  74  are mounted in a reverse spacing relationship relative to each other with the result that the members  72  and  74 , in essence, form a ball. The exterior surface of this ball is to be coated with a rubber layer  76 . Typically, the thickness of the rubber layer  76  will be about 0.05 of an inch. Mounted within the leg member  70  is a steel pin  78 . Also mounted within the leg member  66  is a rounded head pin  80 . The rounded head  80  abuts against the steel pin  78  at all times. In actual practice, there may be utilized two in number of the rounded head pins  80  and two in number of the steel pins  78  located in a spaced apart manner. The rounded head pin  80  in conjunction with the steel pin  78  produces a fulcrum. This fulcrum is for pivoting to occur of a leg member  66  relative to the decreased diameter section  62 . 
     The ball composed of semispherical members  72  and  74  is mounted within a socket  82  which is formed within a base  84 . Base  84  is actually composed of two separate parts that are secured together by conventional bolt fasteners  86 . The base  84  includes a pair of elongated slots  88 . These slots  88  are to be utilized to secure with fasteners, which are not shown, the base  84  to a mounting location, such as the window ledge  16 . The ball composed of members  72  and  74  assumes a close fit with the socket  82 . However, pivoting movement of the ball members  72  and  74  is permitted within the socket  82 . 
     The outer free end of the threaded rod  38  is threadably secured to a handle  90 . The threaded rod  38  is fixedly mounted to the handle  90  by means of a conventional nut  92 . The handle  90  will, in all probability, be capable of being adjusted in position relative to the threaded rod  38 . The reason for this is that in it&#39;s normal at-rest position, one usually will want the handle  90  to assume an aligned position with the electronic flight bag  20  and not stick upwardly. 
     Because the mounting and support bracket  18  of this invention is designed to be utilized in conjunction with different sizes of electronic flight bags  20 , it is desirable to have the handle  90  to be adjustable. The handle  90  is designed to be located just exteriorly a side edge of the electronic flight bag  20 . If a larger electronic flight bag  20  is used, then the threaded rod  38  is to be unscrewed so as to cause the handle  90  to be extended further outwardly so that it will be free of the side edge of the electronic flight bag  20  but located directly adjacent thereto. When the desired position is achieved, the nut  46  is tightened which then now fixes the threaded rod  38  in position with the actuator guide  42 . If a smaller in width electronic flight bag  20  is used, the nut  46  can be loosened and unthreaded some distance and then the threaded rod  38  threadingly turned relative to the female threads  44  until again the handle  90  is located directly adjacent the side edge of the electronic flight bag  20  but again just spaced therefrom. At that particular time, the nut  46  will then be tightened. 
     The operation of the mounting and support bracket  18  of this invention is as follows: Let it be assumed that the electronic flight bag  20  is in the stowage position, which is shown in FIG.  1 . In this position, the handle  90  has torque applied thereto which has threadingly moved the threads  48  relative to the threads  34  which has resulted in shoulder  50  pushing against the leg member  66  which has also caused a force to be applied through the pins  80  and  78  to the leg member  70  which presses leg member  70  tightly against the threaded collar  28 . This means that the mounting plate  22  is not capable of pivoting movement about the axis  60 . Also, because the shoulder  50  has pressed against the leg member  66 , there has been a slight tilting of leg member  66  relative to leg member  70 . This tilting has caused a slight spreading apart of the semispherical members  72  and  74  (pivoting about the fulcrum of pins  78  and  80 ) which has caused these members to tightly bind within the socket  82 . This tight binding is facilitated by the rubber layer  76 . The result is no movement is permitted between the leg members  66  and  70  relative to the base  84 . 
     Let it now be assumed that the pilot  12  wishes to maneuver the flight bag  20  to a usable position which might be alongside the pilot  12  and just forward of the pilot  12 . In order to accomplish this, the pilot  12  places his or her hand  94  on the handle  90  and pivots the handle  90  between ninety to one hundred eighty degrees. This pivoting motion will be such to cause the threaded rod  38  to be moved to the right, in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The pressure that has been applied to the leg member  66  is now released and the semispherical members  72  and  74  tend to move toward each other making the gap  96  not as wide in the area of the ball. The reason for this is that pivoting occurs about the fulcrum composed of the pair of rounded head pins  80  that engage with a pair of steel pins  78 . The gap  96  in the area of the through holes  64  and  68  becomes wider with the result that the pressing of the leg members  70  against the threaded collar  28  has been substantially decreased. Therefore, pivoting of the mounting plate  22  about the pivot axis  60  on the actuator guide  42  is permitted with this pivoting action being facilitated by the low frictional coating  52 . Also, three hundred and sixty degree movement is permitted of the mounting plate  22  by the ball being pivotable within the socket  82 . Once the desired location for the flight bag  20  has been manually obtained, the pilot  12  only needs to move the handle  90  back to its previous position which will, in turn, lock up the leg members  66  and  70  relative to the base  84  and the leg members  70  relative to the mounting plate  22  with the result that the flight bag  20  will remain in its established position. This is the usage position. Movement back to the stowage position is to be achieved by again moving of handle  90  which will loosen the locked arrangement and permit the flight bag  20  to be moved back to the position, shown in FIG.  1 . The handle  90  in that position will again be moved ninety to one hundred and eighty degrees at which time it will be then locked in position.