Patent Description:
Electronic units or devices are widely utilized in vehicles, vessels, planes, etc., to convey information to the operator. In the case of boats, various electronic units are typically mounted to the console of the boat to provide navigation or other information to the driver. Such units may include chartplotters, sonar units, fish finders, weather display units, radar display units, etc. Moreover, other electronic devices such as VHF radios, stereos, etc., may also similarly be mounted to boat consoles.

In the case of many marine electronic units such as chartplotters, these devices are typically mounted to the console in one of two ways. For units twelve inches (<NUM>) or under, an adjustable gimbal mounting bracket is affixed to the console with screws or suction cups, and screw knobs attach the unit to the gimbal mounting bracket. For units nine inches (<NUM>)or larger, it is very common to cut a hole in the console and flush mount the electronics display to the front or outer surface of the console. However, smaller units may also be flush mounted to a console as well.

Despite the existence of such mounting configurations, additional positional flexibility for improved ergonomics, visibility, and functionality in electronic unit mounting, such as for boats or vessels, is desirable in some applications. To date this has been unachievable, particularly so with respect to flush mounted devices. <CIT> relates to an electronics pedestal for boats. More particularly, it relates to a telescopic pedestal system that enables selective positioning of boat electronics relative to the deck, with further enhancements and aesthetics provided by a well for locating the pedestal svstem.

A mounting system for mounting a marine electronics unit to a boat console panel include a base to be connected to the boat console panel and aligned with a mounting hole in the boat console panel, an actuator connected to the base, a mounting plate connected to the actuator, and at least one pivot mount connected to the mounting plate to be connected to the marine electronics unit. The actuator is configured to move the mounting plate between a first position where the marine electronics unit is flush with a front side of the boat console panel, and a second position in which the marine electronics unit is spaced apart from the front side of the boat console panel and pivotable using the at least one pivot mount.

In an example embodiment, the base may comprise an enclosure including a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the bottom to be connected to a back side of the boat console panel around the mounting hole. In accordance with another example embodiment, the base may comprise a bearing plate, and the mounting system may further include a plurality of standoffs configured to connect the bearing plate to the back side of the boat console panel around the mounting hole.

By way of example, the at least one pivot mount may comprise a pair of spaced apart gimbal arms. In another example embodiment, the at least one pivot mount may comprise a VESA mount. In an example implementation, the actuator may comprise at least one lead screw connected between the base and a lead screw nut carried by the mounting plate, and a motor carried by the mounting plate and configured to rotate the at least one lead screw. Moreover, in some example implementations the at least one lead screw may comprise a plurality of spaced apart lead screws connected between the base and respective lead screw nuts carried by the mounting plate, and the mounting system may further include a belt connected between the motor and the lead screws. More particularly, the motor may be configured to turn the belt to simultaneously rotate the lead screws. In accordance with another example, the actuator may comprise a scissor lift connected between the base and the mounting plate. In some embodiments, a sealing gasket is carried by the mounting plate and configured to seal the mounting plate with the back side of the boat console panel when the mounting plate is in the second position.

A related method for mounting a marine electronics unit to a boat console panel may include connecting a base of a mounting bracket to the boat console panel and aligned with a mounting hole in the boat console panel. The mounting bracket may include an actuator connected to the base, a mounting plate connected to the actuator, and at least one pivot mount connected to the mounting plate. The method may further include connecting the marine electronics unit to the at least one pivot mount. The actuator may be configured to move the mounting plate between a first position where the marine electronics unit is flush with a front side of the boat console panel, and a second position in which the marine electronics unit is spaced apart from the front side of the boat console panel and pivotable using the at least one pivot mount.

The present disclosure is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments are shown. However, other embodiments in many different forms may be used, and the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the claim scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.

Generally speaking, the present disclosure relates to motorized electronic mounting platforms for vehicle consoles, such as for marine electronic units to be mounted on boating consoles. It should be noted, however, that while the following examples are shown and described with gear motor actuators, in some embodiments other actuators may be used, such as a linear actuator, a hand actuator (e.g., hand crank), etc., to achieve a similar function.

Referring now to <FIG>, in accordance with a first embodiment of the adjustable electronics mounting platform <NUM>, a lead-screw/rail lift configuration is shown which advantageously provides for lifting of an attached electronic device <NUM> from a flush or stowed position (<FIG>), relative to a front side of a boat console panel <NUM>, to an extended position (<FIG> and <FIG>) where it is spaced apart from the front side of the boat console panel and can be rotated or pivoted as shown. In the illustrated example, the attached electronics unit <NUM> is a chartplotter, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various mounting platforms set forth herein may be used with numerous different types of electronic devices, including chartplotters, sonar/fish finder units, radar units, radios, etc. Moreover, it should be noted that while the mounting platforms described herein are particularly advantageous for marine (boat) applications, they may also be used in other applications as well (aircraft, automobiles, etc.) where electronic devices are to be mounted to a console or dashboard panel. However, for the following examples, a marine (boat) application with a chartplotter installation will be used for convenience of reference.

As seen in <FIG>, in the present example an enclosure or box <NUM> surrounds the mounting platform <NUM> on the inside/back side of the boat console panel <NUM>. The enclosure <NUM> illustratively includes a bottom <NUM> and a plurality of sidewalls <NUM> extending from the bottom which are connected to the back side of the boat console panel <NUM> surrounding a mounting hole <NUM> therein. The enclosure <NUM> advantageously acts as a protective cover and as a mounting frame for the lead screw nut <NUM> and the guide bushings <NUM> carried on rails <NUM> as shown. By way of example, the enclosure <NUM> may be made of metal, or in some embodiments this could be a plastic (e.g., injection molded) piece that drops into the boat console panel <NUM> and is attached to the front side of the console panel.

The illustrated lead-screw/rail lift configuration operates as follows. An electric gear motor <NUM> rotates a lead screw <NUM> that is threaded through the lead screw nut <NUM>. As the motor <NUM> rotates, the lead screw <NUM> exerts a force against the bottom or floor <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is connected to a back side of a mounting plate <NUM>, and a pair of adjustable gimbal mounting brackets or arms <NUM> are connected to a front side of the mounting plate. The chartplotter <NUM> is pivotally mounted to the gimbal arms <NUM> with knobs <NUM>. As the lead screw <NUM> exerts force against the bottom <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM>, the mount plate <NUM> and, accordingly, the gimbal arms <NUM>, are then pushed outward, resulting in the chartplotter <NUM> travelling away from the boat console panel <NUM> to the extended position. The gear motor <NUM> may then be reversed to return the chartplotter <NUM> to its stowed, flush position. The gear motor <NUM> may be actuated by a button or other type of switch, which may be mounted to the console or can be wireless (e.g., on a fob). In some embodiments, the mounting plate <NUM> may be automatically moved between the flush mount and extended positions, or it may be manually stopped at intermediate positions between the flush mount and extended positions.

The gimbal arms <NUM> are attached to the front side of the mount plate <NUM>, and the chartplotter <NUM> is constrained to the gimbal arms using adjustment knobs <NUM>. The adjustment knobs <NUM> can be loosened to allow the chartplotter <NUM> to be rotationally or pivotally adjusted to a desired viewing angle as shown. The gimbal arms <NUM> are slotted at their base and are side-to-side adjustable. The gimbal arms <NUM> are free to move side-to-side until the screws at their base on the mounting plate <NUM> are securely tightened. This may advantageously accommodate various chartplotters <NUM> of different widths. The gimbal arms <NUM> may also be adjustable along the direction of lift in some embodiments.

As an option, a gasket or seal strips <NUM>, etc., can be used under the console or carried by the mounting plate <NUM> so that when the mounting plate is fully lifted the gasket is pressed to form both a water-tight interface and a more solid, stiff mounting surface for the gimbal arms <NUM>. The chartplotter <NUM> may also optionally have a seal/gasket under its interface surface to form a seal with the front surface the boat console panel <NUM> when the chartplotter is in the stowed/flush position.

<FIG> shows the mounting platform <NUM> with the enclosure/frame <NUM> in place. Sidewalls <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM> mount to the back side (underside) of the console <NUM> using screws or other suitable attachment device(s). In the illustrated view, the chartplotter <NUM> is shown in its stowed, flush position. The lead screw <NUM> and rails <NUM> protrude from the bottom <NUM> of the enclosure <NUM> in this position. An appropriate clearance may be provided below/behind the enclosure for these components when the chartplotter <NUM> is stowed position. Moreover, it should also be noted that different sizes of enclosures <NUM> (as well as other components of the mounting platform <NUM>) may be used to accommodate different sizes of chartplotters <NUM>, as larger units will need to travel a longer distance between the flush and fully extended positions than smaller units. That is, larger units will need to be further away from the front surface of the boat console panel <NUM> for pivoting than a smaller unit, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Turning to <FIG> and <FIG>, another example embodiment of a belt-driven, four-lead-screw lift mounting platform <NUM> configuration is now described. As similarly discussed above, the mounting platform <NUM> also is configured to lift a chartplotter <NUM> (or other electronic devices) from a flush position (<FIG>), relative to the front surface of the boat console panel <NUM>, to an extended position (<FIG>) where it can be rotated or pivoted as shown. Although not shown, an enclosure similar to the one shown in <FIG> may be used on the back side of the mounting platform <NUM> (i.e., inside the boat console) to surround the mounting platform. Again, the enclosure would act as a protective cover and as a mounting frame for the gear motor <NUM>, upper bearings <NUM> and lower bearings <NUM> carried by the base <NUM> of the enclosure.

The belt-driven, four-lead-screw lift configuration operates as follows. The gear motor <NUM> rotates a pulley <NUM>. The pulley <NUM> moves a belt <NUM> that interfaces with four other pulleys <NUM> that are each fastened to a respective lead screw <NUM>. As the motor <NUM> rotates, the four lead screws rotate in four lead screw nuts <NUM> and exert a force on the mount plate <NUM> lifting it or lowering it, depending on direction of rotation of the gear motor. Gimbal arms <NUM> are attached to the mount plate <NUM>, and the chartplotter <NUM> is constrained to the gimbal arms using adjustment knobs <NUM>. Once the chartplotter <NUM> is extended, the adjustment knobs <NUM> can be loosened to allow the chartplotter to be rotationally adjusted or pivoted to a desired viewing angle as shown.

The gimbal arms <NUM> are slotted at their base and are side-to-side adjustable. That is, the gimbal arms <NUM> are free to move side-to-side until the screws are securely tightened at their base. Again, this accommodates various chartplotter <NUM> brands or configurations with different shapes and widths. The gimbal arms <NUM> may also be adjustable along the direction of lift, if desired. Although not shown, seals or gaskets may be incorporated between the mounting plate <NUM> and the back of the boat console panel <NUM>, and/or between the chartplotter <NUM> and the front of the boat console panel as described above, if desired.

Referring now to <FIG>, still another example electronics mounting platform <NUM> having a scissor lift <NUM> is now described. Again, the scissor lift mounting platform <NUM> lifts the chartplotter <NUM> from a flush position (see <FIG>), relative to the front surface of the boat console panel <NUM>, to an extended position (see <FIG>) where it can be rotated or pivoted as shown. Here again, an enclosure <NUM> (which includes a base <NUM> and sidewalls <NUM>) may surround the mounting platform <NUM> within the console, as shown in <FIG>. The enclosure <NUM> acts as a protective cover, and the sidewalls <NUM> act as a mounting frame for the gear motor <NUM> and the base <NUM> and frame members <NUM> of the scissor lift <NUM>.

The scissor-lift configuration operates as follows. The gear motor <NUM> rotates a threaded rod <NUM> (also known as a lead screw) that is threaded through the cross bar <NUM> as shown. As the motor <NUM> rotates, the threaded rod <NUM> exerts a pulling force on the cross bar <NUM>. The cross bar <NUM> is then pulled along a slot <NUM> on each side of the scissor lift <NUM>, resulting in an expansion of the frame members <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the underside perspective of the scissor lift mechanism <NUM> (as it would be seen inside the console). A mount plate <NUM> is attached to the upper frame members <NUM> of the mechanism <NUM> and is lifted during operation. Gimbal arms <NUM> are attached to the mount plate <NUM>, and the chartplotter <NUM> is constrained to the gimbal arms using adjustment knobs <NUM>. The adjustment knobs <NUM> can be loosened to allow the chartplotter to be rotationally adjusted or pivoted up or down to a desired viewing angle as shown in <FIG>. As discussed above, the gimbal arms <NUM> are side-to-side adjustable, and slotted at the point of attachment to the mount plate. Screws are used to attach the gimbal arms <NUM> to the mount plate <NUM>. The gimbal arms <NUM> are free to move side-to-side until the screws are securely tightened. This may advantageously accommodate various chartplotter <NUM> brands or configurations with varying widths. The gimbal arms <NUM> may also be adjustable along the direction of lift, if desired, as noted above.

Seal strips <NUM> (see <FIG>) or a gasket may optionally be used under the boat console panel <NUM> (or carried on the mounting plate <NUM>) so that when the mounting plate is fully lifted the seals are compressed to form both a water-tight interface and a more solid, stiff mounting surface for the gimbal arms <NUM>. Seal strips <NUM> may also be positioned on the front surface of the boat console panel <NUM> under the interface of the chartplotter <NUM> (or on the back side of the chartplotter) to form a seal between the boat console panel and chartplotter when the chartplotter is in the stowed/flush position.

The enclosure/frame <NUM> mounts to the underside of the boat console panel <NUM> using screws or other suitable attachment device(s). It should be noted that the location of the threaded rod <NUM> shown in <FIG> allows the gear motor <NUM> to remain stationary relative to the lift <NUM>. In an alternative embodiment of the scissor lift <NUM>', the threaded rod <NUM>' may be oriented along the direction of travel of the scissor lift. In this case the gear motor <NUM>' would move rather than remain stationary in order to maintain its alignment with the scissor lift mechanism <NUM>'. The threaded rod <NUM>' incorporates both a left-hand and right-hand thread in order to pull together (lifting mode) or push apart (lowering mode) the two cross bars <NUM>' as shown. In such a configuration, the motor <NUM>' may travel in a well-lubricated slide bearing (not shown), which may be mounted to the exterior of the enclosure, for example.

Turning to <FIG> and <FIG>, an alternative implementation of the belt-driven mounting platform <NUM> discussed above is now described. The illustrated mounting platform <NUM> also is similarly configured to lift a chartplotter <NUM> (or other electronic devices) from a flush position, relative to the front of the boat console panel <NUM>', to an extended position where it can be rotated or pivoted as shown. A plurality of standoffs or struts <NUM> connect a lower bearing plate <NUM> to an upper bearing plate <NUM>, which is connected to the boat console panel <NUM> with screws <NUM> and surrounds the opening <NUM> therein. In some embodiments, an enclosure similar to the one shown in <FIG> may be used to cover the mounting platform <NUM> within the boat console, if desired.

The present belt-driven, four-lead-screw lift configuration operates as follows. The gear motor <NUM> rotates a pulley <NUM>. The pulley <NUM> moves a belt <NUM> that interfaces with four other pulleys <NUM> that are each fastened to a respective lead screw <NUM>. As the gear motor <NUM> rotates, the four lead screws <NUM> rotate in four lead screw nuts <NUM> and exert a force on the mount or lift plate <NUM> lifting it or lowering it, depending on the direction of rotation of the gear motor. Gimbal arms <NUM> are attached to the mounting plate <NUM>, and the chartplotter <NUM> is constrained to the gimbal arms in the example configuration by folding wing screws <NUM> (although adjustment knobs may also be used in some embodiments as discussed above). Once the chartplotter <NUM> is extended, the folding wing screws <NUM> can be loosened to allow the chartplotter to be rotationally adjusted or pivoted to a desired viewing angle as shown.

The gimbal arms <NUM> are slotted at their base and are side-to-side adjustable. That is, the gimbal arms <NUM> are free to move side-to-side until the screws are securely tightened at their base. Again, this accommodates for various chartplotter <NUM> brands or configurations with different shapes and widths. The gimbal arms <NUM> may also be adjustable along the direction of lift, if desired. Although not shown, seals or gaskets may be incorporated between the mounting plate <NUM> and the upper bearing plate <NUM>, and/or between the chartplotter <NUM> and the front side of the boat console panel <NUM> as described above, if desired.

In the illustrated example, the lower bearing plate <NUM> also illustratively includes an opening <NUM> for one or more cables, e.g., sonar cables, power cables, network cables (e.g., NMEA <NUM>), etc., etc. The lower bearing plate <NUM> also illustratively includes a drain nozzle <NUM> for draining any accumulated moisture. Furthermore, the mounting or lift plate <NUM> also illustratively includes a slot <NUM> for the cables to pass through to the back of the chartplotter <NUM>.

Referring additionally to <FIG>, a universal or VESA mounting bracket <NUM> for a chartplotter <NUM> is now described. An articulating arm <NUM> is carried by a mounting plate (not shown), similar to the gimbal arms described above. However, the arm <NUM> terminates in a swivel mount <NUM> which carries the VESA mounting bracket <NUM>. Other mounts are also possible, such as a ball mount, for example. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the VESA mounting bracket <NUM> has holes positioned at standardized distances or positions, and the manufacturers of various types of monitors locate corresponding mounting holes at the same positions to provide universal interoperability between different types of monitors and VESA mounts. Generally speaking, with respect to marine electronic devices, smaller units (e.g., less than sixteen inches) typically are configured to be mounted on gimbal arms, whereas larger units (e.g., greater than or equal to sixteen inches (<NUM>)) are configured to work with VESA mounts, so the type of bracket to be used in a given installation may advantageously be selected based upon the unit being installed. It should be noted that gimbal and VESA mounts are but two examples of mounts that could be used with the mounting brackets set forth herein, and that other suitable brackets may be used in different embodiments.

Claim 1:
A mounting system for mounting a marine electronics unit (<NUM>) having a screen (<NUM>) to a boat console panel (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and comprising:
a base (<NUM>, <NUM>) to be connected to the boat console panel and aligned with a mounting hole (<NUM>) in the boat console panel;
an actuator connected to the base;
a mounting plate (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the actuator; and
at least one pivot mount connected to the mounting plate to be connected to the marine electronics unit;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the mounting plate between a stowed position where the marine electronics unit is flush with a front side of the boat console panel with the screen viewable at a fixed viewing angle, and an extended position in which the marine electronics unit is spaced apart from the front side of the boat console panel and pivotable using the at least one pivot mount to orient the screen at different viewing angles; and
a sealing gasket (<NUM>, <NUM>) carried by the mounting plate and configured to seal the mounting plate with a back side of the boat console panel when the mounting plate is in the extended position.