GB2064087A - A mount for attaching an article to a supporting surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A mount for attaching an article such as a battery-powered torch to a surface incorporates a ball-and-socket joint. The article is connected to one part 1 of the joint. The other part 5 includes a magnet 11 by means of which the mount can be attached to a surface. The socket 3 of the joint may be tightened around the ball 7 by means of a screw 4 to clamp the joint. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mount This invention relates to a mount, particularly but not exclusively for a light source, such as a battery-powered torch.

According to the invention, there is provided a mount, the mount comprising a support for receiving an object to be mounted, a base for attachment to a surface, a ball-and-socket joint connecting the support and the base, and a magnet in the base for attaching the base to a magnetic surface.

The magnet in the base means that the mount can be easily and quickly attached to any metallic surface, and the ball-and-socket joint makes it possible for the direction of, for example, a light beam to be easily angled in any desired direction.

Preferably, the socket part of the ball-andsocket joint can be tightened around the ball so as to clamp the joint.

The base may be provided with a screw-in receptacle for the magnet. The magnet may be a disc magnet contained within the receptacle and enclosed by a soft-iron dish member which projects out through the base of the mount and attracts an attachment surface. The dish member may have a plurality of arcuate, circumferentially spaced projections projecting through the base.

Instead of a single disc magnet mounted centrally within the base, there may be three disc magnets, each with a soft-iron dish member regularly spaced around the base.

All the components apart from the magnet and soft-iron dish member may be made of plastics.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a mount according to the invention; Figure 2 is an underneath view of the assembled mount; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the assembled mount.

In Figure 1, a support 1 for a battery-powered torch has apertures 2 by means of which the torch can be fixed to the support. The surface of the support 1 is curved, to match the curvature of the torch body. On the underside of the support 1, a socket 3 for ball-and-socket joint is provided. The socket 3 has an interruption at one point around its circumference, and the two sides of the interruption are joined by a screw 4 which can be tightened to reduce the internal dimension of the socket 3.

The base of the mount is made up of an upper part 5 and a lower part 6. At the top of the upper part 5, there is a ball 7 which fits inside the socket 3. The ball may be fitted into the socket when the screw 4 has been removed, and progressive tightening of the screw 4 reduces the clearance between the ball 7 and the socket 3. If the screw 4 is tightened for enough, the socket 3 can be clamped against the ball 7. The upper part 5 is hollow and has a circumferential wall 8. Inside the wall 8, a screw thread 9 is formed. A lower part 5 has an external screw thread 10 which screws into the thread 9. Inside the lower part 6, a disc magnet 11 is positioned, and a soft iron dish member 12 surrounds the magnet. The member 12 has downwardly extending, arcuate projections 13 which extend out through slots 14 in the base.

The ends of the projection 13 are in contact with a magnetic surface when the base is attached to such a surface. The projections 1 3 may concentrate the magnetic flux of the magnet 11.

Apart from the magnet 1 the dish member 12 and the screw 4, all the components shown are made of plastics.

Bar magnets could be used in place of the disc magnet 11 shown, for particular applications, such as supporting heavy loads. Several discshaped magnets will be used where the mount is to be attached to an uneven surface.

The mount may be used for supporting objects other than light sources.

1. A mount comprising a support for receiving an object to be mounted, a base for attachment to a surface, a ball-and-socket joint connecting the support and the base, and a magnet in the base for attaching the base to a magnetic surface.

2. A mount as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket part of the ball-and-socket joint can be tightened around the ball so as to clamp the joint.

3. A mount as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base is provided with a screw-in receptacle for the magnet.

4. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnet is a disc magnet enclosed by a soft-iron dish member which projects out through the base of the mount.

5. A mount as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dish member has a plurality of arcuate, circumferentially spaced projections projecting through the base.

6. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim, having a plurality of disc magnets regularly spaced around the base.

7. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein all the components with the exception of the magnet and, where appropriate, the dish member, are made of plastics material.

8. A mount substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A mount This invention relates to a mount, particularly but not exclusively for a light source, such as a battery-powered torch. According to the invention, there is provided a mount, the mount comprising a support for receiving an object to be mounted, a base for attachment to a surface, a ball-and-socket joint connecting the support and the base, and a magnet in the base for attaching the base to a magnetic surface. The magnet in the base means that the mount can be easily and quickly attached to any metallic surface, and the ball-and-socket joint makes it possible for the direction of, for example, a light beam to be easily angled in any desired direction. Preferably, the socket part of the ball-andsocket joint can be tightened around the ball so as to clamp the joint. The base may be provided with a screw-in receptacle for the magnet. The magnet may be a disc magnet contained within the receptacle and enclosed by a soft-iron dish member which projects out through the base of the mount and attracts an attachment surface. The dish member may have a plurality of arcuate, circumferentially spaced projections projecting through the base. Instead of a single disc magnet mounted centrally within the base, there may be three disc magnets, each with a soft-iron dish member regularly spaced around the base. All the components apart from the magnet and soft-iron dish member may be made of plastics. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a mount according to the invention; Figure 2 is an underneath view of the assembled mount; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the assembled mount. In Figure 1, a support 1 for a battery-powered torch has apertures 2 by means of which the torch can be fixed to the support. The surface of the support 1 is curved, to match the curvature of the torch body. On the underside of the support 1, a socket 3 for ball-and-socket joint is provided. The socket 3 has an interruption at one point around its circumference, and the two sides of the interruption are joined by a screw 4 which can be tightened to reduce the internal dimension of the socket 3. The base of the mount is made up of an upper part 5 and a lower part 6. At the top of the upper part 5, there is a ball 7 which fits inside the socket 3. The ball may be fitted into the socket when the screw 4 has been removed, and progressive tightening of the screw 4 reduces the clearance between the ball 7 and the socket 3. If the screw 4 is tightened for enough, the socket 3 can be clamped against the ball 7. The upper part 5 is hollow and has a circumferential wall 8. Inside the wall 8, a screw thread 9 is formed. A lower part 5 has an external screw thread 10 which screws into the thread 9. Inside the lower part 6, a disc magnet 11 is positioned, and a soft iron dish member 12 surrounds the magnet. The member 12 has downwardly extending, arcuate projections 13 which extend out through slots 14 in the base. The ends of the projection 13 are in contact with a magnetic surface when the base is attached to such a surface. The projections 1 3 may concentrate the magnetic flux of the magnet 11. Apart from the magnet 1 the dish member 12 and the screw 4, all the components shown are made of plastics. Bar magnets could be used in place of the disc magnet 11 shown, for particular applications, such as supporting heavy loads. Several discshaped magnets will be used where the mount is to be attached to an uneven surface. The mount may be used for supporting objects other than light sources. CLAIMS

1. A mount comprising a support for receiving an object to be mounted, a base for attachment to a surface, a ball-and-socket joint connecting the support and the base, and a magnet in the base for attaching the base to a magnetic surface.

2. A mount as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket part of the ball-and-socket joint can be tightened around the ball so as to clamp the joint.

3. A mount as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base is provided with a screw-in receptacle for the magnet.

4. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnet is a disc magnet enclosed by a soft-iron dish member which projects out through the base of the mount.

5. A mount as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dish member has a plurality of arcuate, circumferentially spaced projections projecting through the base.

6. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim, having a plurality of disc magnets regularly spaced around the base.

7. A mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein all the components with the exception of the magnet and, where appropriate, the dish member, are made of plastics material.

8. A mount substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.