Mounting Mechanism for Outdoor Power Converter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018013271-A1
Application number	US-201615209744-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2016
Priority date	Jul 7, 2016
Publication date	Jan 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

This application is directed to a mounting plate for attaching an electronic device to a mounting surface. The mounting plate includes an opening configured to receive a mounting fastener for securing the mounting plate to the mounting surface, and a first polygonal fastener structure configured to mate with a complementary second polygonal fastener structure of the electronic device. When the first and second fastener structures are mechanically mated to each other, the electronic device is fixed to the mounting plate. When the mounting fastener is secured to the mounting surface through the opening, the mounting plate is rotatable such that when the electronic device is fixed onto the mounting plate and the mounting plate is secured to the mounting surface by the mounting fastener, the electronic device and the mounting plate have an unlimited range of rotation with respect to the mounting surface and substantially consistent resistance.

First claim

1 . A mounting system for attaching an electronic device to a mounting surface, comprising:
a mounting plate for receiving the electronic device, comprising:
an opening in a center of the mounting plate; and
a first polygonal fastener structure configured to mate with a complementary second polygonal fastener structure of the electronic device, the first polygonal fastener including a plurality of sides and a plurality of snapping members, each side having a snapping member; and
a mounting fastener for securing the mounting plate to the mounting surface, the mounting fastener being arranged in the opening of the mounting plate; wherein: when the first and second fastener structures are mechanically mated to each other, the electronic device is fixed to the mounting plate; and when the mounting fastener is secured to the mounting surface through the opening of the mounting plate, the mounting plate is rotatable with respect to the mounting surface.

2 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first polygonal fastener structure is arranged at and protrudes from a first surface of the mounting plate.

3 . The mounting system of claim 2 , wherein the second polygonal fastener structure is arranged at and recessed into a first surface of the electronic device, and when mated to each other, the first and second polygonal fastener structures are entirely concealed by the electronic device.

4 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first polygonal fastening structure includes a recess, and a size of the opening is substantially smaller than a size of the recess such that a bottom surface of the recess is configured to block and be pushed against a fastener head of the mounting fastener.

5 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein each snapping member of the plurality of snapping members is flexibly integrated to the first polygonal fastener structure.

6 . The mounting system of claim 5 , wherein the first polygonal fastener structure further comprises:
for each snapping member, spacing arranged on the first polygonal fastener structure between the snapping member and the opening, wherein the snapping member is configured to flex along the first surface of the mounting plate into the spacing in accordance with a force applied to the snapping member in a direction toward the opening.

7 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second polygonal fastener structure includes a plurality of retaining members, each of which is complementary to and configured to mate with a snapping member of the plurality of snapping member.

8 . The mounting system of claim 4 , wherein N is equal to four.

9 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second polygonal fastener structures have respective complementary cross-sections that are substantially rectangular, square, or rhombus shaped.

10 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate includes a second surface opposite of the first surface of the mounting plate, the second surface of the mounting plate is configured to touch the mounting surface when the mounting plate is secured to the mounting surface, and the second surface of the mounting plate includes a pattern of grooves to render the substantially consistent resistance through the unlimited range of rotation between the mounting plate and the mounting surface.

11 . The mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the pattern of grooves follows a concentric pattern.

12 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is coated with a textural material that is substantially resistant to ultraviolet radiation and configured to protect one or more surfaces of the mounting plate from ultraviolet light incident thereon, and to avoid a change of color of a surface of the mounting plate.

13 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein when the first and second polygonal fastener structures are mechanically mated to each other, the electronic device is configured to be detached from the mounting plate by mechanical force that is larger than 50 newtons.

14 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sides have a substantially equal length.

15 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein when the electronic device is fixed onto the mounting plate and the mounting plate is secured to the mounting surface by the mounting fastener, the electronic device and the mounting plate have an unlimited range of rotation with respect to the mounting surface and substantially consistent resistance through the unlimited range of rotation.

16 . The mounting system of claim 4 , wherein the recess includes a well.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Goulden Jason Evans
• Dong William Raeming
• Germe Gregory Daniel Louis

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M11/06

  allowing pivoting · CPC title