초록 ▼

A mounting apparatus for mounting a product to a structure is provided. The apparatus secures the product to the structure to prevent damage of the product during shipping. The mounting apparatus includes a base plate, two pin members, two pin engaging members, and a mounting device. The base plate

A mounting apparatus for mounting a product to a structure is provided. The apparatus secures the product to the structure to prevent damage of the product during shipping. The mounting apparatus includes a base plate, two pin members, two pin engaging members, and a mounting device. The base plate has two apertures therethrough and is positioned against the structure. Each pin member has an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom. In use, the stem portion of each pin member extends through the structure, through the associated aperture of the base plate, and is engaged with a respective pin engaging member. The head portion is positioned against the structure. Each pin engaging member is capable of releaseably holding the associated pin member. The mounting device allows for the connection of the product to the base plate. The mounting device is positioned between the apertures of the base plate.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having first and second opposite surfaces and at least one aperture which extends through said base plate from said first surface to said second surface, said at least one aperture def

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having first and second opposite surfaces and at least one aperture which extends through said base plate from said first surface to said second surface, said at least one aperture defining an aperture wall, said second surface of said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against a second surface of the structure, said pin member interengaging said aperture wall of said base plate to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said base plate; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member being attached to and extending from said first surface of said base plate and away from said second surface of said base plate, said pin engaging member being configured to releaseably hold said associated pin member; and means for mounting the product to said base plate. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said base plate has two apertures provided therethrough, said two apertures being provided on opposite sides of said mounting means. 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said stem portion of said pin member includes a piercing portion for piercing through the structure to allow the stem portion to extend through the structure. 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin member has a plurality of pin walls extending radially outwardly from said stem portion of said pin member. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one aperture through said base plate has a plurality of slots for accepting said pin walls of said pin member and for orientating said base plate relative to said pin member upon engagement thereof, said pin walls of said pin member configured to interengage with said aperture wall of said base plate. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the product is a bicycle and the structure is a shipping container, and wherein said mounting means is configured to mount a fork of the bicycle to the shipping container. 7. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having at least one aperture therethrough, said at least one aperture defining an aperture wall, said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against the structure, said pin member interengaging said aperture wall of said base plate to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said base plate; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member being configured to releaseably hold said associated pin member, said pin engaging member includes a lever and a stop, said lever and said stop capable of engaging said stem portion of said pin member to releaseably hold said pin member; and means for mounting the product to said base plate. 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said lever is hand-manipulated. 9. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having at least one aperture therethrough, said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against the structure; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member capable of releaseably holding said associated pin member, said pin engaging member includes a lever and a stop, said lever and said stop capable of engaging said stem portion of said pin member to releaseably hold said pin member, said lever has first and second arms with a fulcrum provided therebetween, said second arm of said lever capable of being rotated downwardly relative to said fulcrum upon an application of force thereto such that said first arm of said lever rotates upwardly relative to said fulcrum to release said stem portion of said pin member from engagement with said lever; and means for mounting the product to said base plate. 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said first arm of said lever has a slot therein for receiving said stem portion and a cover positioned above said slot of said pin member for holding said stem portion of said pin member. 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said stem portion of said pin member has at least one flange extending therefrom, said first arm of said lever being positioned below said at least one flange to retain said pin member within said pin engaging member. 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said at least one flange extending from said stem portion has a sloped upper surface and a flat lower surface. 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for locking said lever in a position which prevents said stem portion of said pin member from re-engaging with said lever. 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said lever is capable of being manipulated to override said locking means such that said lever can be repositioned to re-engage with said stem portion of said pin member. 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said locking means is a flange extending from said base plate. 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said base plate has a flange extending therefrom, said flange of said base plate and said second arm of said lever initially being connected by a webbed bridge, wherein if said webbed bridge is broken, which occurs when said lever is depressed, the breakage of the webbed bridge indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. 17. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having at least one aperture therethrough, said at least one aperture defining an aperture wall, said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against the structure, said pin member interengaging said aperture wall of said base plate to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said base plate; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member being configured to releaseably hold said associated pin member, said pin engaging member includes a lever which is capable of engaging said stem portion of said pin member to releasably hold said pin member; and means for mounting the product to said base plate. 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said lever is hand-manipulated. 19. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having at least one aperture therethrough, said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against the structure; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member capable of releaseably holding said associated pin member, said pin engaging member includes a lever which is capable of engaging said stem portion of said pin member to releaseably hold said pin member, said lever has first and second arms with a fulcrum provided therebetween, said second arm of said lever capable of being rotated downwardly relative to said fulcrum upon an application of force thereto such that said first arm of said lever rotates upwardly relative to said fulcrum to release said stem portion of said pin member from engagement with said lever; and means for mounting the product to said base plate. 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said first arm of said lever has a slot therein for receiving said stem portion, said first arm of said lever capable of holding said stem portion of said pin member. 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said stem portion of said pin member has at least one flange extending therefrom, said first arm of said lever being positioned below said at least one flange to retain said pin member within said pin engaging member. 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said at least one flange extending from said stem portion has a sloped upper surface and a flat lower surface. 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said stem portion of said pin member has a plurality of flanges extending therefrom. 24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said plurality of flanges extending from said stem portion have a sloped upper surface and a flat lower surface. 25. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said base plate has a flange extending therefrom said flange of said base plate and said second arm of said lever initially being connected by a webbed bridge, wherein if said webbed bridge is broken, which occurs when said lever is depressed, the breakage of said webbed bridge indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. 26. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, further comprising means for locking said lever in a position which prevents said stem portion of said pin member from re-engaging with said lever. 27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said lever is capable of being manipulated to override said locking means such that said lever can be repositioned to re-engage with said stem portion of said pin member. 28. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said locking means is a flange extending from said base plate. 29. An apparatus for mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having at least one aperture therethrough, said at last one aperture defining an aperture wall, said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against the structure, said pin member interengaging said aperture wall of said base plate to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said base plate, said pin member having a plurality of pin walls extending radially outwardly from said stem portion of said pin member; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member being configured to releaseably hold said associated pin member, wherein said at least one aperture through said base plate has a plurality of slots for accepting said pin walls of said pin member and for orientating said base plate relative to said pin member upon engagement thereof, said pin walls of said pin member configured to interengage with said aperture wall of said base plate; means for mounting the product to said base plate; and at least one guide member having a slot therein for accepting and holding at least one of said plurality of pin walls of said pin member. 30. An apparatus for releasably mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having first and second opposite surfaces and at least one aperture which extends through said base plate from said first surface to said second surface, said at least one aperture defining an aperture wall, said second surface of said base plate capable of being positioned against a first surface of the structure; a pin member associated with said at least one aperture of said base plate, said pin member having an enlarged head portion and a stem portion extending therefrom, said stem portion capable of extending through the structure and said at least one associated aperture of said base plate, said head portion capable of being positioned against a second surface of the structure, said pin member interengaging said aperture wall of said base plate to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said base plate; a pin engaging member associated with said pin member, said pin engaging member being attached to and extending from said first surface of said base plate and away from said second surface of said base plate, said pin engaging member being configured to hold said associated pin member; and means for releasably mounting the product to said base plate. 31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein said base plate has two apertures provided therethrough, said two apertures being provided on opposite sides of said mounting means. 32. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein said pin engaging member includes a stop, said stop capable of engaging said stem portion of said pin member to hold said pin member. 33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein said stem portion of said pin member has at least one flange extending therefrom, said stop being positioned below said at least one flange to retain said pin member within said pin engaging member. 34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said stem portion of said pin member has a plurality of flanges extending therefrom. 35. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said at least one flange extending from said stem portion has a sloped upper surface and a flat lower surface. 36. An apparatus comprising: a pin engaging member having a wall defining an aperture, said aperture having a first central portion and a second portion which extends outwardly from said first central portion, said pin engaging member further having a wall portion, said wall portion overlies said second portion of said aperture to at least partially close off an end thereof; and a pin member having a stem portion of a predetermined length, at least one pin wall extending outwardly from said stem portion along a predetermined portion of said predetermined length, at least one flange extending from said stem portion generally perpendicular to said predetermined length, wherein said pin member is configured such that said at least one pin wall can be inserted into said second portion of said pin engaging member to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said pin engaging member, and such that said wall portion is positioned generally between said at least one flange and at least a portion of said at least one pin wall. 37. An apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said stem portion has four pin walls which extend outwardly from said stem portion. 38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein each said pin wall is separated from an adjacent pin wall by ninety degrees. 39. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said at least one flange has a sloped upper surface and a flat lower surface. 40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said flat lower surface is configured to be positioned against said wall portion of said pin engaging member. 41. An apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said stem portion has a plurality of flanges extending therefrom. 42. An apparatus comprising: a pin engaging member having a wall defining an aperture, said aperture having a first central portion and a second portion which extends outwardly from said first central portion, said pin engaging member further having a wall portion, said wall portion overlies said second portion of said aperture to at least partially close off an end thereof; and a pin member having a stem portion of a predetermined length, at least one pin wall extending outwardly from said stem portion along a predetermined portion of said predetermined length, at least one flange extending from said stem portion generally perpendicular to said axis of said pin member, wherein said pin member is configured such that said at least one pin wall can be inserted into said second portion of said pin engaging member to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said pin engaging member, said wall portion and said at least one flange being configured to substantially prevent movement of said pin member relative to said pin engaging member in at least one direction along said predetermined length of said pin member. 43. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said stem portion has four pin walls which extend outwardly from said stem portion. 44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein each said pin wall is separated from an adjacent pin wall by ninety degrees. 45. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said at least one flange has a sloped upper surface and a flat lower surface. 46. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said stem portion has a plurality of flanges extending therefrom. 47. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, further including means for moving said wall portion of said pin engaging member, said moving means being configured to allow movement of said pin member relative to said pin engaging member in said at least one direction along said predetermined length of said pin member. 48. An apparatus for releasably mounting a product to a structure, said apparatus comprising: a base plate having an aperture which extends through said base plate, said aperture defining an aperture wall, said base plate capable of being positioned against the structure; a pin member capable of extending through the structure and said aperture of said base plate in order to secure said base plate to the structure, said pin member interengaging said aperture wall of said base plate to prevent rotation of said pin member relative to said base plate; a pin engaging member including a lever which is capable of engaging said pin member to releasably hold said pin member within said aperture of said base plate, said lever having first and second arms with a fulcrum provided therebetween, said second arm of said lever capable of being rotated downwardly relative to said fulcrum upon an application of force thereto such that said first arm of said lever rotates upwardly relative to said fulcrum to release said pin member from engagement with said lever; means for locking said lever in a position which prevents said pin member from re-engaging with said lever; and means for releasably mounting the product to said base plate. 49. An apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein said base plate has a flange extending therefrom, said flange of said base plate and said second arm of said lever initially being connected by a webbed bridge, wherein if said webbed bridge is broken, which occurs when said lever is depressed, the breakage of the webbed bridge indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. 50. An apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein said lever is capable of being manipulated to override said locking means such that said lever can be repositioned to re-engage with said pin member. 51. An apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein said locking means is a flange extending from said base plate.