Quick-release mounting system for removably attaching a component to a structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017343150-A1
Application number	US-201715639770-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	May 25, 2016
Publication date	Nov 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A quick-release mounting system for mounting a panel instrument, such as a video monitor, to a mounting surface or support, such as a seatback or other structure. The mounting system comprises one or more mounting mechanisms configured to be mounted to the mounting surface or support. Each mounting mechanism has a locking member coupled to a first main body. The locking member is movable between a locked position in which the locking bolt engages a retaining stud mounted to the back surface of the panel instrument thereby locking the mounting mechanism to the first retaining stud and an unlocked position in which the locking member is disengaged from the first retaining stud. The mounting mechanism also has a cam shaft having a cam fixed in rotation with the cam shaft. The cam is operably coupled to the locking member such that rotation of the cam shaft moves the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A mechanism for attaching a component to a supporting structure, comprising:
a first mounting mechanism comprising;
a first main body configured to be mounted to the supporting structure, the first main body having a first top surface configured to bear against the supporting structure and an opposing first bottom surface which faces the back surface of the component, the first main body having a first retainer hole extending from the first bottom surface and configured to receive a first retaining stud mounted to the back surface of the component, and a first cam shaft hole extending through a second side of the first main body;
a first locking member coupled to the first main body, the first locking member configured to be movable from a locked position in which the first locking member engages the first retaining stud received in the first retainer hole thereby locking the first retaining stud to the first mounting mechanism and an unlocked position in which the first locking member is disengaged from the first retaining stud such that the first retaining stud can be removed from the first retainer hole;
a first biasing spring coupled to the locking member and configured to bias the first locking member toward the locked position; and
a cam shaft extending through the first cam shaft hole, the cam shaft having a first cam fixed in rotation with the cam shaft, the first cam coupled to the first locking member, wherein rotation of the cam shaft in a first rotational direction causes the first cam to move the first locking member toward the unlocked position, and rotation of the cam shaft in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction causes the first cam to allow the first biasing spring to move the first locking member toward the locked position.

22 . The mechanism of claim 21 , further comprising:
a second mounting mechanism spaced apart from the first locking member, the second mounting mechanism comprising:
a second main body configured to be mounted to the supporting structure, the second main body having a second top surface configured to bear against the supporting structure and an opposing second bottom surface which faces the back surface of the component, the second main body having a second retainer hole extending from the second bottom surface and configured to receive a second retaining stud mounted to the supporting structure, and a second cam shaft hole extending through a second side of the second main body;
a second locking member coupled to the second main body, the second locking member configured to be movable from a locked position in which the second locking member engages the second retaining stud received in the second retainer hole thereby locking the second retaining stud to the second mounting mechanism and an unlocked position in which the second locking member is disengaged from the second retaining stud such that the second retaining stud can be removed from the second retainer hole;
a second biasing spring coupled to the second locking member and configured to bias the second locking member toward the locked position; and
wherein the cam shaft extends through the second cam shaft hole, the cam shaft having a second cam fixed in rotation with the cam shaft, the second cam coupled to the second locking member, wherein rotation of the cam shaft in the first rotational direction causes the second cam to move the first locking member to the unlocked position, and rotation of the cam shaft in the second rotational causes the first cam to allow the second biasing spring to move the second locking member to the locked position.

23 . The mechanism of claim 22 , wherein:
the first main body further comprises a cylindrical first locking bolt hole extending along a longitudinal first axis from a first side of the first main body into the first main body; the first retainer hole intersects the first locking bolt hole and extends substantially transverse to the first axis; the first locking member comprises a first locking bolt slidably received in the locking bolt hole, the first locking bolt comprising a substantially cylindrical first shaft having a longitudinal first shaft axis, the first locking bolt having a conical first tip portion at a distal end of the first locking bolt, a first cylindrical portion at a proximal end of the first locking bolt and a first cam portion between the distal end and the proximal end of the first locking bolt, the first cam portion comprising a first notch in the first shaft which provides a first cam surface oriented substantially transverse to the first shaft axis, the first locking bolt configured to be slidable from the locked position in which the first tip portion is advanced into the first retainer hole such that the first tip portion engages the first retaining stud received in the first retainer hole and the unlocked position in which the first locking bolt is retracted from the first retainer hole such that the first locking bolt is disengaged from the first retaining stud received in the first retainer hole; the first cam is disposed within the first notch such that rotation of the cam shaft in the first rotational direction causes the first cam to push the first cam surface thereby moving the first locking bolt to the unlocked position, and rotation of the cam shaft in the second rotational direction causes the first cam to release the first cam surface thereby allowing the first biasing spring to move the first locking bolt to the locked position; the second main body further comprises a cylindrical second locking bolt hole extending along a longitudinal second axis from a first side of the second main body into the second main body; the second retainer hole intersects the second locking bolt hole and extends substantially transverse to the second axis; the second locking member comprises a second locking bolt slidably received in the locking bolt hole, the second locking bolt comprising a substantially cylindrical second shaft having a longitudinal second shaft axis, the second locking bolt having a conical second tip portion at a distal end of the second locking bolt, a second cylindrical portion at a proximal end of the second locking bolt and a second cam portion between the distal end and the proximal end of the second locking bolt, the second cam portion comprising a second notch in the second shaft which provides a second cam surface oriented substantially transverse to the second shaft axis, the second locking bolt configured to be slidable from the locked position in which the second tip portion is advanced into the second retainer hole such that the second tip portion engages the second retaining stud received in the second retainer hole and the unlocked position in which the second locking bolt is retracted from the second retainer hole such that the second locking bolt is disengaged from the second retaining stud received in the second retainer hole; and the second cam is disposed within the second notch such that rotation of the cam shaft in the second rotational direction causes the second cam to push the second cam surface thereby moving the second locking bolt to the unlocked position, and rotation of the cam shaft in the second rotational direction causes the second cam to release the second cam surface thereby allowing the second biasing spring to move the second locking bolt to the locked position.

24 . The mechanism of claim 22 , wherein:
the cam shaft extends through at least one of the first main body or the second main body such that a first end of the cam shaft extends beyond the outer edge of the component when the component is mounted to the supporting structure using the mechanism, and the cam shaft further comprises a tool hole proximate the first end of the cam shaft and co

Assignees

• Panasonic Avionics Corp

Inventors

• Jiang Feng
• Shah Shrenik

Classifications

• F16M11/041 Primary

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• H05K5/0204

  Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings · CPC title

• H05K5/0221

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title