Apparatus for securing an electronic device to a support structure and electronic device incorporating same

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting an electronic device to a support structure includes a coupling member, a clamp member, and a latch mechanism. The coupling member has a device support portion and a clamp support portion. The clamp support portion extends from one end of the device support portion at substantially a right angle. The clamp member includes a base, first and second clamp portions, and a hinge. The base is coupled to the coupling member’s clamp support portion. The first clamp portion is attached to the base. The hinge pivotally couples the first ends of the two clamp portions. The latch mechanism is anchored at a hinge joint at the second end of the first clamp portion, movable about the hinge joint between unlatched and latched positions, and configured to latch the second ends of the clamp portions together after the clamp portions are positioned about the support structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for mounting an electronic device to a support structure, the apparatus comprising:
 a coupling member having a top portion having a first end and a second end and a top surface, and further having a clamp support portion that extends from the top portion at the second end of the top portion opposite the top surface at substantially a right angle with respect to the top portion;   a clamp member having a base that is slidably coupled to the clamp support portion, and having an first clamp portion having a first end that is fixed to the base and a second end that is closer to the top portion of the coupling member than the first end of the first clamp portion is to the top portion, and wherein the first clamp portion has a semi-circular inner face between the first and second ends of the first clamp portion, the clamp member further having a second clamp portion having a first end that is connected to the first end of the first clamp portion at a hinge, the second clamp portion being movable about the hinge joint between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position a second end of the second clamp portion is against the second end of the first clamp portion, and wherein the second clamp portion has a semi-circular inner face between the first and second ends of the second clamp portion; and   a latch member having a first end anchored at a hinge joint at the second end of the first clamp portion and is movable about the hinge joint between an unlatched position and a latched position, and is configured to latch the second end of the second clamp portion against the second end of the first clamp portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the first clamp portion are positioned such that a line between the first and second ends of the first clamp portion is at a forty-five degree angle to an elongated direction of the top portion of the coupling member, and an elongated direction of the clamp support portion of the coupling member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp support portion includes a vertical channel, the base of the clamp member includes an interlocking extension that fits into the channel, and wherein one or more threaded fasteners pass through the channel and into the base from an opposite side of the clamp support portion to secure the base to the clamp support portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the latch member includes a threaded rod having a latch nut disposed on the threaded rod and wherein a first end of the threaded rod is threaded into an opening in a transverse cylinder held in a boss at the second end of the first clamp portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first bushing component attached to the inner face of the first clamp portion; and   a second bushing component attached to the inner face of the second clamp portion.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first bushing component and the second bushing component each have at least one flat facet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the coupling member further includes:
 a first shuttle positioned proximate the top surface of the top portion at the first end of the top portion; and   a second shuttle positioned proximate the top surface of the top portion at the second end of the top portion, wherein the first shuttle and the second shuttle are configured to engage in respective tracks formed in a housing of the electronic device.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion of the coupling member further includes:
 a non-conductive spacer positioned between the first and second shuttles and the top surface of the top portion.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for mounting an electronic device to a support structure, the apparatus comprising:
 a coupling member having an electronic device support portion and a clamp support portion, the clamp support portion extending from one end of the electronic device support portion at substantially a right angle with respect to the electronic device support portion;   a clamp member including a base, a first clamp portion, a second clamp portion, and a hinge, the base being slidably coupled to the clamp support portion of the coupling member, the first clamp portion being attached to the base, the hinge pivotally coupling a first end of the second clamp portion to a first end of the first clamp portion such that the second clamp portion is movable about the hinge between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position a second end of the second clamp portion is positioned against a second end of the first clamp portion; and   a latch mechanism anchored at a hinge joint at the second end of the first clamp portion, the latch mechanism being movable about the hinge joint between an unlatched position and a latched position, and configured to latch the second end of the second clamp portion against the second end of the first clamp portion after the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are positioned about the support structure.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the first clamp portion of the clamp member is closer to the electronic device support portion of the coupling member than is the first end of the first clamp portion. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the clamp support portion of the coupling member includes a vertical channel, the base of the clamp member includes an interlocking extension that fits into the channel, and wherein one or more threaded fasteners pass through the channel and into the base from an opposite side of the clamp support portion to secure the base to the clamp support portion. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a threaded rod having a latch nut disposed thereon and wherein a first end of the threaded rod is threaded into an opening in a transverse cylinder held in a boss at the second end of the first clamp portion of the clamp member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the clamp member further includes:
 a first bushing component attached to an inner face of the first clamp portion; and   a second bushing component attached to an inner face of the second clamp portion.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second clamp portion has an outward radial extension at the second end thereof, the outward radial extension defining a slot, and wherein the latch mechanism includes:
 a threaded rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of the threaded rod being coupled to the second end of the first clamp portion at the hinge j oint; and   a latch nut disposed on the threaded rod so as to be on an outer side of the outward radial extension when the threaded rod is rotated about the hinge joint and positioned in the slot of the outward radial extension to permit tightening of the latch nut against the outer side of the outward radial extension.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device support portion of the coupling member further includes:
 a first shuttle positioned proximate a top surface of the electronic device support portion proximate a first end of the electronic device support portion; and   a second shuttle positioned proximate the top surface of the electronic device support portion proximate a second end of the electronic device support portion, wherein the first shuttle and the second shuttle are configured to engage in respective tracks formed in a housing of the electronic device.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic device support portion of the coupling member further includes:
 a non-conductive spacer positioned between the first and second shuttles and the top surface of the electronic device support portion.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for mounting an electronic device to a support structure, the apparatus comprising:
 a coupling member having an electronic device support portion and a clamp support portion, the clamp support portion extending from one end of the electronic device support portion at substantially a right angle with respect to the electronic device support portion and defining a channel along a length thereof;   a clamp member including a base, a first clamp portion, a second clamp portion, and a hinge, the base being slidably coupled to the clamp support portion of the coupling member and including an interlocking extension that fits into the channel of the clamp support portion, the first clamp portion being attached to the base, the hinge pivotally coupling a first end of the second clamp portion to a first end of the first clamp portion such that the second clamp portion is movable about the hinge between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position a second end of the second clamp portion is positioned against a second end of the first clamp portion; and   a latch mechanism anchored at a hinge joint at the second end of the first clamp portion, the latch mechanism being movable about the hinge joint between an unlatched position and a latched position, and configured to latch the second end of the second clamp portion against the second end of the first clamp portion after the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion are positioned about the support structure.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second end of the first clamp portion is closer to the electronic device support portion of the coupling member than is the first end of the first clamp portion. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a threaded rod having a latch nut disposed thereon and wherein a first end of the threaded rod is threaded into an opening in a transverse cylinder held in a boss at the second end of the first clamp portion of the clamp member. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic device support portion of the coupling member further includes:
 a first shuttle positioned proximate a top surface of the electronic device support portion proximate a first end of the electronic device support portion;   a second shuttle positioned proximate the top surface of the electronic device support portion proximate a second end of the electronic device support portion, wherein the first shuttle and the second shuttle are configured to engage in respective tracks formed in a housing of the electronic device; and   a non-conductive spacer positioned between the first and second shuttles and the top surface of the electronic device support portion.