Abstract:
A triangular planar member defines, through its thickness, four screw generally circular holes. The four holes may be disposed in relative relation to one another so as to generally define the corners of a rectangle. At the corners of the triangular planar member are corner couplers such as suction cups. The suction cups attach the adapter to the smooth surface. The holes in the adapter are utilized to accept screws in order to adapt, via the triangular planar member, a screw-mounted device to the smooth surface onto which it is either not possible or not desirable to screw-mount the device directly. In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the triangular planar member defines one hole and three slots for greater adaptability in terms of the types of devices it may receive.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This non-provisional patent application is based on, and claims priority to, provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/133,307, filed May 10, 1999. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to temporarily mounted adapters for providing smooth surface mounting support to a wide variety of devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is often desirable to temporarily mount electronic or other devices to smooth vertical surfaces such as the windows or walls of a structure such as a dwelling or recreational vehicle. Among the devices commonly sought to be mounted are small satellite dishes (direct broadcast satellite, “DBS” in particular), stereo speakers, spotlights, weather monitoring devices, and the like. 
     Such devices are normally screwed directly into the structure or mounted on a bracket which has been screwed into the structure. Unfortunately, penetrating vinyl siding, shingles or sheet metal with screws compromises the weatherproofing characteristics of those materials. Furthermore, most rented or leased dwellings restrict the location or nature of allowed conventional mounting techniques. 
     Some devices, such as simple antennas, have been affixed to walls and windows by suction cups integral to the devices themselves. While suction cups are effective for easily and non-destructively mounting many devices, most devices are not commercially available with suction cups and suction cups are not easily adaptable to devices designed for screw mounting. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide an adapter apparatus to allow the secure and non-destructive mounting of screw-mounted devices to smooth surfaces. 
     There is another need to provide an adapter apparatus which can be easily adapted for use with a wide variety of devices sought to be mounted. 
     There is yet another need for an adapter apparatus which can be easily attached, then later detached from the smooth surface to which it was attached for re-mounting in a different location with a different device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a multifunction adapter for smooth surface mounting. In an exemplary embodiment, the adapter comprises a planar member made which may be shaped as a triangle and may be made of a material such as Plexiglas, fiberglass or the like. The triangular planar member defines, through its thickness, four generally circular holes. The four holes may be disposed in relative relation to one another so as to generally define the corners of a rectangle. 
     At the corners of the triangular planar member are corner couplers such as suction cups. The suction cups attach the adapter to the smooth surface. The holes in the adapter are utilized to accept screws in order to adapt a screw-mounted device to the smooth surface onto which it is either not possible or not desirable to screw-mount the device directly. 
     In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the adapter defines one hole and three slots for greater adaptability in terms of the types of devices it may receive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an exemplary operating environment. 
     FIGS. 2 a,    2   b,  and  2   c  depict exemplary arrangements for mounting holes (and slots) in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 depicts the “back” side of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  depict an additional aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an exemplary operating environment. More specifically, the installed embodiment  10  includes a multifunction adapter  20  attached to a window  30 . As depicted, the multifunction adapter  20  is carrying a Digital Satellite System (DSS) dish  40 . 
     Even more specifically, the multifunction adapter (hereafter “adapter”, also referred to as “triangular planar member”)  20  may be fabricated of a resilient polymer substance such as Plexiglas, fiberglass, or any similar substance. In the depicted embodiment, the adapter  20  is formed in the shape of a triangle to maximize the strength between the adapter  20  and the window  30  while reducing the weight of the adapter  20 . Another advantage of the triangular shape of the adapter  20  may be the decreased wind profile—that is to say that the less amount of the adapter  20  outside the attachment footprint of the adapter  20 , the less chance for wind to catch the adapter  20  and either remove it from the surface to which it is mounted or damage the surface to which it is attached. 
     The adapter  20  comprises a first side  22 , a second side  24  in generally parallel planar arrangement and thereby defining a thickness  23  therebetween. The adapter  20  is attached to the window  20  by a plurality of corner couplers such as suction cups  26 . The suction cups  26  may be permanently or removably attached to the first side  22  of the adapter  20  by any of a variety of well known means, including a screw  27  placed through a hole through the thickness  23  of the adapter  20  and secured into the suction cup  26 . In the preferred embodiment, in which the adapter  20  is triangular in shape, the suction cups  26  are placed one in each corner of the triangle for greatest stability. 
     In an optional embodiment, intermediate couplers  28  may be positioned in locations other than the three corners of the adapter  20  and attached in the same fashion as the suction cups  26 . 
     Finally, in the depicted exemplary embodiment, a DSS dish  40  is attached to the adapter  20 . Most DSS dishes, such as DSS dish  40 , have a mounting plate  42  which is machined or otherwise formed to allow screw mounting through screw holes  44  onto a generally planar surface. Rather than screw the DSS dish  40  onto a surface and thereby mar the surface, the DSS dish  40  may be screw mounted to the adapter  20  in a well known manner using receiving holes shown and described with reference to later figures. 
     FIGS. 2 a,    2   b,  and  2   c  depict exemplary arrangements for mounting holes (and slots) in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Each of FIGS. 2 a,    2   b,  and  2   c  depict the adapter  20  as viewed from its second side  24 . As previously described, the adapter  20  is generally triangular in shape and three corner couplers  26  have been attached to the first side of the adapter  20 . 
     FIG. 2 a  depicts the most versatile embodiment for mounting adaptation to a wide variety of screw-mounted devices. More specifically, a generally round hole  120  is defined through the thickness  23  of the adapter  20 . Importantly, positioned radially out from the center of the hole  120  is a first slot  130 . Still radiating outwardly from the center of the hole  120  is a second slot  140 , which second slot  140  is oriented at a position 90 degrees counter clockwise from the radial position of the first slot  130 . Finally, a third slot,  150  also extends radially from the center of the hole  120 , though at an orientation bisecting the 90 degree “spacing” between the first slot  130  and the second slot  140 . 
     The slotted arrangement of FIG. 2 a  allows mounting of a wide variety of devices intended for screw-mounting. For instance, most screw-mounted devices require either two, three or four screws to complete the attachment. This slotted configuration can easily accommodate either. More particularly, if the device requires two screws for mounting, one screw could be placed into hole  120  and the second screw could be placed in a position within either first slot  130 , second slot  140  or third slot  150 , depending on the spacing required between the two screws and the final orientation desired for the object. 
     Optionally, one screw could be mounted within second slot  140  and the other screw could be mounted within the third slot  150  at a location along third slot  150  corresponding to the required spacing between the screws. 
     For an object requiring three screws, one screw each could be located within the three slots (thereby allowing the “T” screw configuration likely used in such a set-up. Finally, if the object requires four screws, as depicted in FIG. 1, the first screw could be placed in hole  120 , then the three remaining screws placed in the three slots, easily accommodating a wide variety of spacing for the four screws. 
     FIG. 2 b  depicts another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, holes  160  are positioned in a predetermined position suitable for accommodating a variety of devices. It is well known that many devices, in particular different devices of a particular species (different types of DSS dishes, for instance) typically utilize a screw mounting configuration that is identical. Accordingly, this hole configuration could easily carry a wide variety of DSS dishes. Additionally, it is quite likely that a generic placement of holes  160  could accommodate other devices, as well. 
     FIG. 2 c  depicts yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which a larger number of holes  170  are placed through the thickness  23  of the adapter  20  to accommodate an even larger variety of devices that the configuration of FIG. 2 b  could accommodate. The holes  170  depicted in FIG. 2 b  are representative in nature and, in implementation, could be spaced in any sequence or any predetermined relative distance from each other, as particular anticipated needs or applications are determined. 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, the “back” side of the adapter  20  is shown. In particular, the first side  22  of the adapter  20  reveals the manner in which the DSS dish  40  is mounted to an adapter  20  implementing the hole/slot configuration previously depicted and described with reference to FIG. 2 a.    
     A first screw  220  is inserted through the hole  120  (not shown). The first screw  220  is then retained within the hole and snugged and secured appropriately via détente means such as a nut and washer. After the first screw  220  is positioned, the other holes  44  are aligned with the respective first slot  130 , second slot  140 , and third slot  150 . After alignment, respective screws  222 ,  224  and  226  are inserted through the holes  44  and through the corresponding slots  130 ,  140 , and  150  before being snugged and secured via détente means such as nuts and washers. 
     Finally, FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  depict only one of the endless variety of additional uses which may be found for the adapter  20 . As shown in FIG. 4 a,  the adapter  20  is easily adapted for mounting of a device such as a stereo speaker  310 , as may be temporarily desired for an outdoor party or the like. Referring to FIG. 4 b,  the stereo speaker  310 , powered by speaker wire  320 , contains a single “hitch” mount (not shown) on the back of the speaker. As is well known to audiophiles, a hitch mount is most commonly a bracket secured to the back of the speaker or, alternately, a cut-out in the back frame of the speaker box to allow a nail head, screw head or other headed post-type device to hold the speaker in place. Such mounts are commonly used for smaller, portable-type speakers, since heavier speakers would place too great a strain on a single load bearing point. 
     Nonetheless, the speaker  310  is mounted to the adapter  20  by insertion of a screw  330  through either the hole  120 , first slot  130 , second slot  140  or third slot  150 . For the sake of balance and proper distribution of weight, in the depicted embodiment, the screw is inserted and secured within the third slot  150 . After the screw  330  is inserted and secured, the adapter  20  is mounted to the smooth vertical surface desired, and the stereo speaker  310  is hitched thereto in a well known manner. 
     Thus, from the depicted exemplary embodiments, it can be seen that the mounting options afforded by the adapter  20  are virtually limitless. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the few exemplary embodiments described above, but only by the breadth of the claims articulated below.