Mount For an Input Device

Abstract

A mount for an input device that is capable of moving or being adjusted in up to nine different axes or directions, but is still stable and sturdy enough to support the necessary weight while the input device is being operated. The mount is made of a number of sleeves, shafts and pivot joints that allow the position of the input device to be moved relative to the vehicle and/or user in up to nine different directions making the mount accessible for almost any disabled driver. Shafts and sleeves are joined together such that the length of a shaft can essentially be shortened by inserting part or the entire shaft into a sleeve. In addition, the sleeves are positioned such that parts of the mount can rotate around the other parts of the mount. Moreover, one or more pivot joints allows for additional mobility.

Claims

1. A mount for an input device that comprises means to adjust said mount in up to 8 different axes.

2. The mount of claim 1 wherein the means to adjust said mount comprises: a first shaft capable of rotating around its longitudinal axis, a first sleeve, a second shaft, a second sleeve being configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the second sleeve or second shaft; a third shaft, a third sleeve configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the third shaft; and a platform configured to move in a plane that is at an angle to a vertical axis.

3. The mount of claim 2 wherein the first shaft is sized and positioned such that it can be inserted into and removed from the first sleeve.

4. The mount of claim 3 wherein the second shaft is sized and positioned such that it can inserted into and removed from the second sleeve.

5. The mount of claim 4 wherein one of the sleeves is connected to one of the shafts by a pivoting ear joint.

6. The mount of claim 1 wherein one of the sleeves is connected to one of the shafts by a pivoting ear joint.

7. The mount of claim 5 wherein the platform is attached to the third sleeve and the third sleeve is positioned to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the third shaft.

8. The mount of claim 7 wherein the platform is attached to the third sleeve by an ear joint thereby allowing it to tilt in a plane that is at an angle to the vertical axis of such that the platform can tilt in a horizontal plane.

9. The mount of claim 1 wherein the second sleeve is a clamping sleeve.

10. The mount of claim 4 wherein the second sleeve is a clamping sleeve.

11. The mount of claim 5 wherein the second sleeve is a clamping sleeve.

12. The mount of claim 3 further comprising: a wedge-shaped piece featuring a bore, said bore featuring threads on an inner surface, said threads being complementary to threads on an outer surface of a bolt; and a bore in the first shaft featuring a hole; wherein the bolt is inserted into and through the bore featured by the first shaft and the bore featured by the wedge-shaped piece; and wherein the wedge-shaped piece is drawn toward the first shaft by tightening the bolt thereby causing the wedge shaped piece to incompletely align with the first shaft.

13. The mount of claim 5 further comprising: a wedge-shaped piece featuring a bore, said bore featuring threads on an inner surface, said threads being complementary to threads on an outer surface of a bolt; and a bore in the first shaft featuring a hole; wherein the bolt is inserted into and through the bore featured by the first shaft and the bore featured by the wedge-shaped piece; and wherein the wedge-shaped piece is drawn toward the first shaft by tightening the bolt thereby causing the wedge shaped piece to incompletely align with the first shaft.

12. The mount of claim 5 wherein the second sleeve is a clamping sleeve.

13. The mount of claim 12 wherein the second sleeve is a clamping sleeve.

14. A mount for an input device capable of being adjusted in several different axes comprising: a first sleeve attached to a stationary surface at a first end and attached to a first shaft at a second end; wherein the first sleeve is sized to accommodate the first shaft such that the first shaft can be manually moved in and out of the first sleeve; and wherein the first sleeve can be rotated in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft; a second shaft with a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the second shaft is connected to the second end of the first shaft and wherein the second end of the second shaft is connected to a first end of a second sleeve; and wherein said second sleeve can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the second shaft or the second sleeve and the second sleeve is connected to the third shaft by a pivot joint allowing the third shaft to move in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second sleeve; and a third sleeve attached to the third shaft such that it can rotate around the longitudinal axis of the third shaft; a platform attached to the third shaft by the third sleeve.

15. The mount of claim 14 wherein the platform is attached to the third sleeve by an ear joint thereby allowing it to tilt in a horizontal plane.

16. The mount of claim 14 wherein the second sleeve is a clamping sleeve.

17. The mount of claim 14 further comprising: a wedge-shaped piece featuring a bore, said bore featuring threads on an inner surface, said threads being complementary to threads on an outer surface of a bolt; and a bore in the first shaft featuring a hole; wherein the bolt is inserted into and through the bore featured by the first shaft and the bore featured by the wedge-shaped piece; and wherein the wedge-shaped piece is drawn toward the first shaft by tightening the bolt thereby causing the wedge shaped piece to incompletely align with the first shaft.

18. The mount of claim 15 further comprising: a wedge-shaped piece featuring a bore, said bore featuring threads on an inner surface, said threads being complementary to threads on an outer surface of a bolt; and a bore in the first shaft featuring a hole; wherein the bolt is inserted into and through the bore featured by the first shaft and the bore featured by the wedge-shaped piece; and wherein the wedge-shaped piece is drawn toward the first shaft by tightening the bolt thereby causing the wedge shaped piece to incompletely align with the first shaft.

19. The mount of claim 16 further comprising: a wedge-shaped piece featuring a bore, said bore featuring threads on an inner surface, said threads being complementary to threads on an outer surface of a bolt; and a bore in the first shaft featuring a hole; wherein the bolt is inserted into and through the bore featured by the first shaft and the bore featured by the wedge-shaped piece; and wherein the wedge-shaped piece is drawn toward the first shaft by tightening the bolt thereby causing the wedge shaped piece to incompletely align with the first shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2A is a side plan view of the clamping or second sleeve of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2B is a bottom plan view of the clamping or second sleeve of the present invention; and

[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the first shaft inserted into the first sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring now to the invention in more detail, FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment and the best mode of the device. There is a mounting bracket 11 that is fixed to a stationary surface (not shown) inside the vehicle. A skilled artisan could appreciate that the mounting bracket 11 could be attached to other surfaces in the vehicle. In addition, the device need not be used in a vehicle and can be used in other contexts including in the home or office. Specifically, in this embodiment, the mounting bracket 11 is attached to the inside of the vehicle's driver side door. This is an optimal place for a mount for an input device that would be operated by a driver that is seated in a wheelchair. The mounting bracket 11 in this embodiment features a first sleeve 12 protruding from its surface. The angle from which the first sleeve 12 protrudes from the mounting bracket 11 can be any desired angle, but in preferred embodiments, the angle is substantially perpendicular to the mounting bracket 11. Substantially perpendicular means that it is within 10 degrees of 90 degrees.

[0019] FIG. 1 also shows the first shaft 13. The first shaft 13 is sized and shaped such that it can be inserted into the first sleeve 12. Since the rest of the device is mounted to the first shaft 13, moving the first shaft 13 into and out of the first sleeve 12 brings the rest of the mount 10 closer or farther away from the stationary surface and thus, the driver of the vehicle (also not shown). In some embodiments, the first shaft 13 has a threaded bore 14 running through its body along its longitudinal axis. The threaded bore 14 accommodates and engages a bolt 15 that is inserted through the bore 14. However, in preferred embodiments, the first and second shaft 13, 16 are hollow tubes and the first shaft 13 has a hole to accommodate a conventional fastener, such as a bolt 15.

[0020] In some embodiments of the mount 10, the bolt 15 screws into a bore 14 located in either the first sleeve 12 or in the mounting bracket 11 thereby allowing the user to move the first shaft 13 into and out of the first sleeve 12 by turning the bolt and screwing it further into the mounting bracket 11 or first sleeve 12. FIG. 4 shows how other embodiments of the mount 10 fix the first shaft 13 into the first sleeve 12. In these embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device, the bolt 15 engages a wedge-shaped structure 17 featuring a bore 14, which is threaded in preferred embodiments. Said wedge-shaped structure 17 is inserted into the first sleeve 12. Tightening the bolt 15 draws the wedge-shaped structure 17 towards the head of the bolt 15, i.e. towards the first shaft 13 and away from the first sleeve 12. As the bolt 15 is turned, the wedge-shaped structure 17 moves out of alignment with the first shaft 13 while both are inserted into the first sleeve 12. This misalignment causes the structure produced by the combined wedge-shaped structure 17 and the first shaft 13 to become stuck or retained inside the first sleeve 12 thereby retaining the first shaft 13 within the first sleeve 12.

[0021] Referring back to FIG. 1, this configuration allows the user to rotate the entire mount 10 in a second direction or axis, by rotating the mount around the longitudinal axis of the first shaft 13 and/or the longitudinal axis of the first sleeve 12.

[0022] In preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device, the second shaft 16 is generally positioned at an angle to the first shaft 13. More specifically, the second shaft 16 is connected to the first shaft 13 such that the second shaft 16 is substantially perpendicular to the first shaft 13. However, as can be appreciated by a skilled artisan, this angle can vary significantly to alter the position of the mount 10 and input device (not shown). This second shaft 16 is sized, shaped and positioned, i.e. configured, to fit into the interior of a second sleeve 18 located adjacent to the second shaft 16. In preferred embodiments of the mount 10, this second sleeve 18 is a clamping sleeve that is fitted over the outer surface of the second shaft 16 and tightened over the second shaft 16 by inserting a bolt, screw or other fastener through the clamping ears 20 on the second sleeve 18. A bolt 15 inserted into the clamping ear 20 constricts the area inside the second sleeve 18 as the bolt 15 is tightened and essentially squeezes the second sleeve 18 around the second shaft 16 enough to hold the two pieces together and prevent sliding of the second shaft 16 into or out of the second sleeve 18. By loosening the bolt 15 that squeezes the two clamping ears 20 of the second sleeve 18 together, the second sleeve 18 can be moved along the longitudinal length of the second shaft 16 to create movement in a third direction or axis and thereby shorten or reposition the input device (not shown). This configuration is more stable than joining the pieces end to end because there are fewer joints between parts that can produce unwanted movement.

[0023] The clamping sleeve is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows that the second sleeve 18 has an open end 19 which allows the second sleeve 18 to accommodate all or a portion of the second shaft 16 as the second sleeve 18 is moved over the second shaft 16. In addition, the other end of the second sleeve 18 features a pivoting ear joint 22 allows the second sleeve 18 to attach to a third shaft 21 (see FIG. 1) also featuring a pivoting ear joint 22. While preferred embodiments use the pivoting ear joints 22 to connect the second sleeve 18 and the third shaft 21, any conventional means of attaching the two pieces could be used.

[0024] In addition, the second sleeve 18 can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to further reposition the rest of the mount 10 and the input device thereby creating a fourth axis or direction of movement or adjustment for the mount 10. Ideally, the same size bolt 15 is used throughout the mount 10 thereby decreasing the number of tools required to adjust the position of the mount 10.

[0025] As mentioned above and shown in FIG. 1, a third shaft 21 is connected by a pivoting ear joint 22 to the second sleeve 18 at one end. In preferred embodiments, the third shaft 21 is actually an extension sleeve, i.e. a shaft with a hollow interior. A skilled artisan would readily appreciate that the third shaft 21 could be used as another sleeve if the user desired to elongate the mount 10 even further. The pivoting ear joint 22 allows the third shaft 21 to move in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second sleeve 18 allowing the user to adjust the mount 10 in a fifth direction or axis.

[0026] Referring back to FIG. 1, there is a third sleeve 23 attached to platform ## that accommodates or holds an input device that allows the user to operate the vehicle. The third sleeve 23 is connected to and wraps around the exterior of the third shaft 21. The platform ## is attached to the third sleeve 23. The third sleeve 23 can be moved in two different directions, planes or axes. Specifically, the third sleeve 23 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the third shaft 21 and it can be moved along the length or longitudinal axis of the third shaft 21 creating movement in a sixth and seventh direction.

[0027] In addition, the platform 24 is connected to the third sleeve by another pivoting ear joint that allows the platform 24 to move at an angle to the longitudinal axis 25 passing through the center of the platform allowing the platform to tip one side towards the third sleeve 23 such that the opposing side is positioned further away from the same third sleeve 23 and vice versa thereby allowing movement in an eighth axis.

[0028] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0029] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0030] It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0031] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.