Mounts for tracking devices

Abstract

Mounts (10) for securing devices (12) to articles (14) comprise means for holding a device (12), means for attaching the means for holding to an article (14), and means for maintaining a center of gravity of a mount (10) in close proximity to the article (14).

1 . A mount ( 10 ) for securing a device ( 12 ) to an article ( 14 ), the mount ( 10 ) comprising:
 means for holding the device ( 12 );   means for attaching the means for holding to the article ( 14 ); and   means for maintaining a center of gravity of the mount ( 10 ) in close proximity to the article ( 14 ).   
     
     
         2 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding comprises a housing ( 16 ) that defines an envelope ( 26 ), wherein the means for attaching comprises a pin ( 18 ), and wherein an entirety of the pin ( 18 ) is positioned within the envelope ( 26 ) when the pin ( 18 ) is in a closed position ( 24 ). 
     
     
         3 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding comprises a body ( 28 ) and a cover ( 30 ), and wherein the body ( 28 ) and the cover ( 30 ) collectively define a volume ( 32 ) configured to receive the device ( 12 ). 
     
     
         4 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the cover ( 30 ) is removably coupled to the body ( 28 ). 
     
     
         5 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the cover ( 30 ) is flexible and has a stretch-fit with the body ( 28 ). 
     
     
         6 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the cover ( 30 ) comprises a lip ( 34 ), and wherein the body ( 28 ) comprises a ledge ( 36 ) configured to mate with the lip ( 34 ) to operatively retain the cover ( 30 ) on the body ( 28 ). 
     
     
         7 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the body ( 28 ) comprises a plurality of ledge ribs ( 38 ) spaced around the body ( 28 ), wherein the plurality of ledge ribs ( 38 ) define the ledge ( 36 ), and wherein each ledge rib ( 38 ) of the plurality of ledge ribs ( 38 ) comprises a ramped surface ( 40 ) opposite the ledge ( 36 ). 
     
     
         8 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the body ( 28 ) has a body perimeter ( 42 ), wherein the cover ( 30 ) has a cover perimeter ( 44 ), wherein the body ( 28 ) defines a recess ( 46 ), and wherein the body perimeter ( 42 ) and the cover perimeter ( 44 ) are coextensive other than at the recess ( 46 ). 
     
     
         9 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the cover ( 30 ) defines a window ( 48 ), through which the device ( 12 ) is visible when the device ( 12 ) is operatively received by the means for holding, and wherein the window ( 48 ) is sized to restrict passage of the device ( 12 ) through the window ( 48 ). 
     
     
         10 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for attaching comprises a pin ( 18 ) and a plurality of pin ribs ( 58 ) extending toward the pin ( 18 ) when the pin ( 18 ) is in a closed position ( 24 ), and wherein each pin rib ( 58 ) of the plurality of pin ribs ( 58 ) extends within 1 millimeter (mm) of the pin ( 18 ) when the pin ( 18 ) is in the closed position ( 24 ). 
     
     
         11 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding comprises a body ( 28 ), wherein the means for attaching comprises a pin ( 18 ), and wherein the body ( 28 ) defines a pin-installation cavity ( 60 ) configured to receive the pin ( 18 ). 
     
     
         12 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 11 , wherein the pin ( 18 ) comprises a torsion spring ( 62 ) that biases the pin ( 18 ) toward an open position ( 22 ), and wherein the torsion spring ( 62 ) is positioned within the pin-installation cavity ( 60 ). 
     
     
         13 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the pin ( 18 ) further comprises a piercing-end portion ( 64 ) extending from the torsion spring ( 62 ) and a grounded portion ( 66 ) extending from the torsion spring ( 62 ), wherein the means for holding defines a grounding slot ( 68 ), wherein the grounded portion ( 66 ) of the pin ( 18 ) extends into the grounding slot ( 68 ), wherein the grounding slot ( 68 ) retains the pin ( 18 ), and wherein the pin-installation cavity ( 60 ) is open to the grounding slot ( 68 ). 
     
     
         14 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for attaching comprises a plurality of pins ( 18 ). 
     
     
         15 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of pins ( 18 ) consists of two pins ( 18 ). 
     
     
         16 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the means for holding comprises a body ( 28 ), wherein the body ( 28 ) has a body width ( 78 ) and a body perimeter ( 42 ), and wherein each pin ( 18 ) of the plurality of pins ( 18 ) is positioned within 15% of the body width ( 78 ) from the body perimeter ( 42 ). 
     
     
         17 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding is configured to receive the device ( 12 ) in a snap-fit arrangement or a friction-fit arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the means for holding defines an opening ( 80 ), wherein the opening ( 80 ) is sized to restrict passage of the device ( 12 ) through the opening ( 80 ) and is sized to permit a user's finger to extend through the opening ( 80 ) to engage the device ( 12 ) and urge the device ( 12 ) out of the means for holding. 
     
     
         19 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising the device ( 12 ) held within the means for holding. 
     
     
         20 . The mount ( 10 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the mount ( 10 ) is attached to the article ( 14 ).