Supports – Supporting base
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-08-21
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Supporting base
C248S346030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276649
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to temporarily mounted adapters for providing smooth surface mounting support to a wide variety of devices.
BACKGROUND
It is often desirable to temporarily mount electronic or other devices to smooth vertical surfaces such as the windows or walls of a structure such as a dwelling or recreational vehicle. Among the devices commonly sought to be mounted are small satellite dishes (direct broadcast satellite, “DBS” in particular), stereo speakers, spotlights, weather monitoring devices, and the like.
Such devices are normally screwed directly into the structure or mounted on a bracket which has been screwed into the structure. Unfortunately, penetrating vinyl siding, shingles or sheet metal with screws compromises the weatherproofing characteristics of those materials. Furthermore, most rented or leased dwellings restrict the location or nature of allowed conventional mounting techniques.
Some devices, such as simple antennas, have been affixed to walls and windows by suction cups integral to the devices themselves. While suction cups are effective for easily and non-destructively mounting many devices, most devices are not commercially available with suction cups and suction cups are not easily adaptable to devices designed for screw mounting.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an adapter apparatus to allow the secure and non-destructive mounting of screw-mounted devices to smooth surfaces.
There is another need to provide an adapter apparatus which can be easily adapted for use with a wide variety of devices sought to be mounted.
There is yet another need for an adapter apparatus which can be easily attached, then later detached from the smooth surface to which it was attached for re-mounting in a different location with a different device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multifunction adapter for smooth surface mounting. In an exemplary embodiment, the adapter comprises a planar member made which may be shaped as a triangle and may be made of a material such as Plexiglas, fiberglass or the like. The triangular planar member defines, through its thickness, four generally circular holes. The four holes may be disposed in relative relation to one another so as to generally define the corners of a rectangle.
At the corners of the triangular planar member are corner couplers such as suction cups. The suction cups attach the adapter to the smooth surface. The holes in the adapter are utilized to accept screws in order to adapt a screw-mounted device to the smooth surface onto which it is either not possible or not desirable to screw-mount the device directly.
In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the adapter defines one hole and three slots for greater adaptability in terms of the types of devices it may receive.
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King Anita
Sy Holly N.
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