초록 ▼

A telescoping mount includes an outer member, an inner member at least partially received in the outer member such that one member is movable relative to the other member between an extended position and a retracted position, a platform coupled to one of the outer and inner members for supporting a

A telescoping mount includes an outer member, an inner member at least partially received in the outer member such that one member is movable relative to the other member between an extended position and a retracted position, a platform coupled to one of the outer and inner members for supporting a device, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operable to substantially lock the position of the outer and inner members relative to one another in a plurality of non-predefined positions between the extended position and the retracted position. The locking mechanism is movable manually by a user to an unlocked position allowing adjustment of the mount between the extended and retracted positions, and the locking mechanism is movable automatically, upon release of the locking mechanism by the user, to a locked position in which the outer and inner members are substantially prevented from moving relative to one another.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A telescoping mount comprising: an outer member;an inner member at least partially received in the outer member such that one of the outer member and the inner member is movable relative to the other of the outer member and the inner member between two positions;a mounting platform coupled to one

1. A telescoping mount comprising: an outer member;an inner member at least partially received in the outer member such that one of the outer member and the inner member is movable relative to the other of the outer member and the inner member between two positions;a mounting platform coupled to one of the outer and inner members for supporting a device;a locking mechanism operable to lock the position of the outer and inner members relative to one another in a plurality of non-predefined positions between the two positions, the locking mechanism including an axle rotatable about an axis of rotation that extends transverse to a direction of movement of the inner and outer members between the two positions;an extension member coupled to the outer member;a cover member coupled to the axle for rotation therewith as the axle moves either away from or towards the inner member; anda biasing element coupled at one end to the extension member and at another end to the cover member for rotation therewith, wherein the cover member is rotatable adjustable relative to the axle to adjust a rotational biasing force of the biasing element, and wherein the locking mechanism is movable manually by a user to an unlocked position allowing adjustment of the mount between the two positions, and the locking mechanism is movable automatically as a result of the rotational biasing force of the biasing element, upon release of the locking mechanism by the user from the unlocked position, to a locked position in which the outer and inner members are prevented from moving relative to one another. 2. The telescoping mount of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled between the outer and inner members to resist movement of the outer and inner members toward a first position. 3. The telescoping mount of claim 2, wherein the biasing member is selected so that upon movement of the locking mechanism to the unlocked position, the outer and inner members will not automatically move toward either of the two positions, but will remain static until moved by a user. 4. The telescoping mount of claim 1, wherein rotation of the axle in a first, unlocking direction of rotation causes translation of the axle along the axis in a direction away from the inner member to move the locking mechanism to the unlocked position, and wherein rotation of the axle in a second, locking direction of rotation causes translation of the axle along the axis in a direction toward the inner member to move the locking mechanism to the locked position. 5. The telescoping mount of claim 4, wherein the biasing element is coupled with the axle to bias the axle rotationally in the second, locking direction. 6. The telescoping mount of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is a torsion spring. 7. The telescoping mount of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a handle fixed to the axle for rotation therewith such that turning of the handle by the user in the first, unlocking direction of rotation overcomes the bias of the biasing element and stores energy in the biasing element, and such that release of the handle by the user results in the stored energy in the biasing element automatically rotating the axle in the second, locking direction. 8. The telescoping mount of claim 1, wherein the cover member at least partially surrounds the biasing element and the axle. 9. The telescoping mount of claim 4, wherein the outer member includes an opening and wherein the axle extends through the opening in the outer member. 10. The telescoping mount of claim 9, wherein the outer member and the inner member are generally rectangular in cross section and wherein the axle is aligned with a corner of the inner member. 11. The telescoping mount of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a clamp pad coupled with an end of the axle, the clamp pad configured to selectively engage the corner of the inner member to achieve the locked position of the locking mechanism. 12. The telescoping mount of claim 11, wherein the clamp pad is coupled to the axle such that the clamp pad can translate along the axis with the axle. 13. A telescoping mount comprising: an outer member;an inner member at least partially received in the outer member such that one of the outer member and the inner member is movable relative to the other of the outer member and the inner member between two positions;a mounting platform coupled to one of the outer and inner members for supporting a device; anda locking mechanism operable to lock the position of the outer and inner members relative to one another in a plurality of positions between the two positions, the locking mechanism including an extension member coupled to the outer member;an axle at least partially supported by the extension member, the axle being rotatable about an axis of rotation that extends transverse to a direction of movement of the inner and outer members between the two positions, wherein rotation of the axle in a first, unlocking direction of rotation causes translation of the axle along the axis in a direction away from the inner member to move the locking mechanism to an unlocked position allowing adjustment of the mount between the two positions, and wherein rotation of the axle in a second, locking direction of rotation causes translation of the axle along the axis in a direction toward the inner member to move the locking mechanism to a locked position in which the outer and inner members are prevented from moving relative to one another;a cover member coupled to the axle for rotation therewith as the axle moves either away from or towards the inner member, the cover member at least partially surrounding the axle;a biasing element coupled between the extension member and the cover member to bias the axle rotationally in the second, locking direction, wherein the cover member is rotatably adjustable relative to the axle to adjust a rotational biasing force of the biasing element; anda handle fixed to the axle for rotation therewith such that turning of the handle by the user in the first, unlocking direction of rotation overcomes the bias of the biasing element and stores rotational energy in the biasing element, and such that release of the handle by the user from the unlocked position results in the stored rotational energy in the biasing element automatically rotating the axle in the second, locking direction. 14. The telescoping mount of claim 13, further comprising a biasing member coupled between the outer and inner members to resist movement of the outer and inner members toward a first position. 15. The telescoping mount of claim 14, wherein the biasing member is selected so that upon movement of the locking mechanism to the unlocked position, the outer and inner members will not automatically move toward either of the two positions, but will remain static until moved by a user. 16. The telescoping mount of claim 13, wherein the biasing element is a torsion spring having a first end secured to the cover member and a second end secured to the extension member, the cover member and the extension member substantially surrounding the torsion spring. 17. The telescoping mount of claim 13, wherein the outer member includes an opening and wherein the axle extends through the opening in the outer member. 18. The telescoping mount of claim 13, wherein the outer member and the inner member are generally rectangular in cross section and wherein the axle is aligned with a corner of the inner member. 19. The telescoping mount of claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism further includes a clamp pad coupled with an end of the axle, the clamp pad configured to selectively engage the corner of the inner member to achieve the locked position of the locking mechanism. 20. The telescoping mount of claim 19, wherein the clamp pad is coupled to the axle such that the clamp pad can translate along the axis with the axle. 21. The telescoping mount of claim 13, wherein threads on the axle engage threads on the extension member to cause translation of the axle upon rotation of the axle. 22. A telescoping mount comprising: an outer member;an inner member operatively coupled to the outer member, the outer member and the inner member configured to move relative to one another between two positions;a mounting platform coupled to one of the outer and inner members for supporting a device;a locking mechanism operable to lock the position of the outer and inner members relative to one another between the two positions, the locking mechanism including an axle rotatable about an axis of rotation that extends transverse to a direction of the relative movement between the inner and outer members;a first member fixedly coupled to the outer member;a second member removably coupled to the axle for rotation therewith as the axle moves either away from or towards the inner member; anda biasing element coupled at one end to the first member and at another end to the second member for rotation therewith, wherein the second member is rotatably adjustable relative to the axle to adjust a rotational biasing force of the biasing element such that the locking mechanism is movable automatically as a result of the rotational biasing force of the biasing element from an unlocked position to a locked position in which the outer and inner members are prevented from moving relative to one another.