초록 ▼

Embodiments of the present invention provide a mounting assembly (100) for mounting an electronic device (D) to a surface (S). The mounting assembly (100) generally includes a base (102) including a mounting ball (110) and a socket assembly (104) operable to frictionally engage the ball (110) to rem

Embodiments of the present invention provide a mounting assembly (100) for mounting an electronic device (D) to a surface (S). The mounting assembly (100) generally includes a base (102) including a mounting ball (110) and a socket assembly (104) operable to frictionally engage the ball (110) to removably couple the socket assembly (104) to the base (102). The base (102) may be removably coupled with the surface (S) and the socket assembly (104) may be removably coupled with the electronic device (D). Such a configuration enables the electronic device (D) to be easily positioned in confined environments by first attaching the base (102) to the surface (S), then attaching the socket assembly (104) to the base (102) and positioning the socket assembly (104) in a desired orientation, and finally attaching the electronic device (D) to the socket assembly (104).

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a base including a mounting ball and operable to removably couple with the surface, the base including a lever operable to facilitate coupling the base to the surface;

The invention claimed is: 1. A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a base including a mounting ball and operable to removably couple with the surface, the base including a lever operable to facilitate coupling the base to the surface; and a socket assembly operable to removably couple with the electronic device and receive and frictionally engage the ball to removably couple the socket assembly to the base. 2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the socket assembly is operable to rotate with respect to the base to position the electronic device. 3. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes an arm having the ball positioned thereon, the arm being operable to rotate with respect to the base. 4. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the base is operable to mount to the surface utilizing suction. 5. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the socket assembly includes a seat formed of a flexible, friction-producing material operable to be biased against the ball to product sufficient friction between the friction-producing material and the ball to prevent the socket assembly from moving relative to the base in the absence of user-applied force. 6. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the seat includes a plurality of arms that form a cage substantially surrounding the ball. 7. The mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the arms are curved to substantially conform to an outer surface to the ball and to engage a hemisphere of the ball to retain the ball in the seat. 8. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the socket assembly includes an arcuate clip to removably couple with the electronic device. 9. A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a base including circular platform operable to removably mount to the surface utilizing suction, an arm extending from the platform, a mounting ball positioned on a distal end of the arm, and a lever operable to facilitate coupling the platform to the surface; and a socket assembly operable to removably couple with the electronic device, the socket assembly including a seat having a plurality of curved arms that are operable to receive and frictionally engage the ball to removably and rotatably couple the socket assembly to the base. 10. The mounting assembly of claim 9, wherein the arm is operable to rotate with respect to the platform. 11. The mounting assembly of claim 9, wherein the curved arms frictionally engage the ball to product sufficient friction between the curved arms and the ball to prevent the socket assembly from moving relative to the base in the absence of user-applied force. 12. The mounting assembly of claim 9, wherein the curved arms substantially conform to an outer surface to the ball and are operable to engage a hemisphere of the ball to retain the ball in the seat. 13. The mounting assembly of claim 9, wherein the socket assembly includes an arcuate clip to removably couple with the electronic device. 14. The mounting assembly of claim 9, wherein the arms form a cage smaller in diameter than the ball when the arms are in a relaxed state. 15. A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a base including--a circular platform operable to removably mount to the surface utilizing suction, a lever coupled with the platform and operable to facilitate coupling the platform to the surface, an arm extending from the platform and operable to rotate with respect to the platform, and a mounting ball positioned on a distal end of the arm; and a socket assembly including--an arcuate clip operable to removably couple with the electronic device, and a seat coupled with the clip and having a plurality of curved and interconnected arms that substantially conform to an outer surface of the ball and that are operable to contact the outer surface of the ball to receive the ball to removably and rotatably couple the socket assembly to the base and to frictionally resist rotation of the ball relative to the seat. 16. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the socket assembly further includes a spring element, the spring element operable to substantially encircle the curved arms, allow the curved arms to flex outward to receive the ball, and bias the curved arms inwardly to contact the ball when the ball is seated within the seat. 17. The mounting assembly of claim 16, wherein the spring element comprises a spring ring. 18. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the curved arms are flexible and are operable to form a cage smaller in diameter than the ball when the curved arms are in a relaxed state. 19. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the curved arms frictionally engage the ball to product sufficient friction between the curved arms and the ball to prevent the socket assembly from moving relative to the base in the absence of user-applied force. 20. A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a base including a mounting ball and operable to removably couple with the surface, wherein the base includes an arm having the ball positioned thereon, the arm being operable to rotate with respect to the base; and a socket assembly operable to removably couple with the electronic device and receive and frictionally engage the ball to removably couple the socket assembly to the base. 21. The mounting assembly of claim 20, wherein the socket assembly is operable to rotate with respect to the base to position the electronic device. 22. The mounting assembly of claim 20, wherein the base is operable to mount to the surface utilizing suction. 23. The mounting assembly of claim 20, wherein the socket assembly includes a seat formed of a flexible, friction-producing material operable to be biased against the ball to product sufficient friction between the friction-producing material and the ball to prevent the socket assembly from moving relative to the base in the absence of user-applied force. 24. The mounting assembly of claim 23, wherein the seat includes a plurality of arms that form a cage substantially surrounding the ball. 25. The mounting assembly of claim 24, wherein the arms are curved to substantially conform to an outer surface to the ball and to engage a hemisphere of the ball to retain the ball in the seat. 26. The mounting assembly of claim 20, wherein the base a lever operable to facilitate coupling the platform to the surface. 27. A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface, the mounting assembly comprising: a base including a mounting ball and operable to removably couple with the surface; and a socket assembly operable to removably couple with the electronic device and receive and frictionally engage the ball to removably couple the socket assembly to the base, wherein the socket assembly includes an arcuate clip to removably couple with the electronic device. 28. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein the socket assembly is operable to rotate with respect to the base to position the electronic device. 29. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein the base includes an arm having the ball positioned thereon, the arm being operable to rotate with respect to the base. 30. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein the base is operable to mount to the surface utilizing suction. 31. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein the socket assembly includes a seat formed of a flexible, friction-producing material operable to be biased against the ball to product sufficient friction between the friction-producing material and the ball to prevent the socket assembly from moving relative to the base in the absence of user-applied force. 32. The mounting assembly of claim 31, wherein the seat includes a plurality of arms that form a cage substantially surrounding the ball. 33. The mounting assembly of claim 32, wherein the arms are curved to substantially conform to an outer surface to the ball and to engage a hemisphere of the ball to retain the ball in the seat. 34. The mounting assembly of claim 27, wherein the base a lever operable to facilitate coupling the platform to the surface.