Apparatus and methods for supporting an article

Abstract

A mount for supportably engaging an article. The mount includes a bulbous member that may include a convexly shaped surface area. The convexly shaped surface area may be supportively contactable with a first interconnect portion of a carrier member. An attachment member that is operatively associable with a device may be removably engageable with a second interconnect portion of the carrier member. The carrier member may be moved throughout a continuum of positions defined by the convexly curved surface area of the bulbous member. Additionally, the bulbous member may be supportably engaged by a variety of embodiments of support structures for supporting or mounting the mount.

1 .- 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . An apparatus for use in establishing electrical communication between a device and a power source when the device is supportably engaged with a mount, comprising:
 an attachment member attachably associable with the device and removably attachable to a carrier member having at least one electrical connector, wherein the device is supportably engageable by the carrier member when the attachment member is attached to the carrier member; and wherein the attachment member comprises at least one electrically conductive portion disposed for corresponding relation with the electrical connector upon supportive engagement of the attachment member to the carrier member such that the at least one electrically conducive portion is in contactable engagement with the at least one electrical connector when the attachment member is attached to the carrier member; and   an electrically conductive path in electrical communication with the electrically conductive portion, wherein the electrical communication path is in electrical communication with a port of the device;   wherein the attachment member and the carrier member comprise corresponding magnetic portions operable to produce magnetic interaction between the attachment member and the carrier member to establish the removable attachment of the attachment member to the carrier member.   
     
     
         55 . An apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein a plurality of electrically conducive portions are provided on the attachment member that are disposed in corresponding relation with a corresponding plurality of electrical connectors of the carrier member upon attachment of the attachment member to the carrier member. 
     
     
         56 . An apparatus according to  claim 55 , wherein the electrically conductive portion comprise a connector mateably engageable with the port. 
     
     
         57 . An apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the attachment member is attached to the device, and wherein the electrically conducive path extends along at least a portion of the device between the attachment member and the port. 
     
     
         58 . An apparatus according to  claim 57 , wherein the electrically conducive path extends from the attachment member in a direction corresponding to the port of the device. 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the attachment member, electrically conducive path, and connector are provided in relation to a case conformably engageable with the device. 
     
     
         60 . An apparatus according to  claim 59 , wherein the case, the connector, and the electrically conductive path are preconfigured for interaction with the device. 
     
     
         61 . A mount for supporting a device, comprising:
 a carrier member comprising a first interconnect portion;   a magnet disposed adjacent to the first interconnect portion having a concentrated magnetic field that is shaped to define the concentrated magnetic field adjacent to, and extending away from, the first interconnect portion; and   an attachment member operatively associable with a device, the attachment member comprising a magnetically interactive portion that is configured for magnetic engagement with the first interconnect portion to supportably engage the device at the carrier member.   
     
     
         62 . The mount of  claim 61 , wherein the magnet is disposed in a cup to shape the concentrated magnetic field. 
     
     
         63 . The mount of  claim 62 , wherein the magnet and the cup are disposed in an overmolded portion defining an enclosure in which the magnet and the cup are disposed. 
     
     
         64 . The mount of  claim 63 , wherein the concentrated magnetic field provides repeatable positional registration between the attachment member and the carrier member. 
     
     
         65 . The mount of  claim 64 , wherein the concentrated magnetic field acts to center the attachment member relative to the carrier member. 
     
     
         66 . The mount of  claim 65 , wherein the overmolded portion comprises a rim about the first interconnect portion sized relative to the attachment member, and the repeatable positional registration provided by the concentrated magnetic field disposes the attachment member in a centered location relative to the rim. 
     
     
         67 . The mount of  claim 66 , wherein the rim is beveled to assist in the centering of the attachment member relative to the carrier member. 
     
     
         68 . The mount of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 a bulbous member comprising a convexly curved surface area, wherein at least a portion of the convexly curved surface area is unobstructed; and   a second interface portion of the carrier member comprising a concave surface area for conformal adjacent engagement with the convexly curved surface area, and wherein at least a portion of the concave surface area is supportively contactable with the convexly curved surface area, and wherein the concave surface area is selectively positionable with respect to the convexly shaped surface area throughout a continuum of positions across the unobstructed portion of the convexly shaped surface area.   
     
     
         69 . The mount of  claim 68 , further comprising:
 a second magnet disposed adjacent to the second interface portion to establish magnetic interaction between the carrier member and the bulbous member.   
     
     
         70 . The mount of  claim 69 , wherein the first interconnect portion and the second interconnect portion are disposed on opposite ends of the carrier member. 
     
     
         71 . The mount of  claim 70 , wherein the first magnet and the second magnet produce magnetic fields with different properties at the first interconnect portion and the second interconnect portion. 
     
     
         72 . The mount of  claim 71 , wherein the strength of the magnetic field at the second interconnect portion is less than the strength of the concentrated magnetic field at the first interconnect portion. 
     
     
         73 . The mount of  claim 61 , wherein the magnetic engagement between the carrier member and the attachment member is the only means of engagement to support the device by the carrier member.