Universal mounting kit and method of using same

Abstract

A universal mounting kit includes a support apparatus, a set of tie straps, a set of mounting pads and a sheet of instructions directed to providing a user with a step by step procedure for securing the support apparatus removably to first and second tubular surfaces, where the first tubular surface is a desired object such as a bicycle handlebar or gun barrel and where the second tubular surface is another desired object such as a flashlight housing or laser pen housing.

1 . A universal mounting kit, comprising: 
 a tube engaging member having an elongated U-shaped channel, said channel being dimensioned to snugly engage a tubular member;    another tube engaging member having another elongated U-shaped channel, said another channel being dimensioned to snugly engage another tubular member;    a rivet for securing said tube engaging member and said another tube engaging member in a back to back configuration for free rotational movement relative to one another and for partially spacing them one from the another along a least a portion of their respective longitudinal axes;    a plurality of straps for removably securing said tube engaging member to said tubular member; and    another plurality of straps for removably securing said another tubular member to said another tube engaging member.    
   
   
       2 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member is a handlebar.  
   
   
       3 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member is a gun barrel.  
   
   
       4 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 1 , wherein said another tubular member is a flashlight housing.  
   
   
       5 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 1 , wherein said another tubular member is a laser pen housing.  
   
   
       6 . A universal mounting kit, comprising: 
 a support apparatus having a upper support member with an expandable opening having a width dimension of d and a lower support member with another expandable opening having another width dimension of D;    wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are secured together for free rotational movement relative to one another;    wherein said width dimension d corresponds to the radius dimension of a tubular member; wherein said width dimension D corresponds to the radius dimension of another tubular member; and    wherein said support apparatus is adapted to be secured to said tubular member.    
   
   
       7 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are secured together by a rivet.  
   
   
       8 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of devices for securing said support apparatus to a tubular member.    
   
   
       9 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of devices is a plurality of tie straps.  
   
   
       10 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of devices is a plurality of pads including at least one pad with a plurality of hooks and at least another pad with a plurality of piles.  
   
   
       11 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 another plurality of devices for securing said support apparatus to another tubular member.    
   
   
       12 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 11 , wherein said another plurality of devices is another plurality of tie straps.  
   
   
       13 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 1 , wherein said another plurality of devices is another plurality of pads including at least one pad with a plurality of hooks and at least another pad with a plurality of piles.  
   
   
       14 . A universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein a rivet secures said lower support member to said upper support member in a back to back configuration for free rotational movement relative to one another and for partially spacing them one from the another along a least a portion of their respective longitudinal axes.  
   
   
       15 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said support apparatus is further adapted to be secured to said another tubular member.  
   
   
       16 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said tubular member is a handlebar.  
   
   
       17 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said tubular member is a gun barrel.  
   
   
       18 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said another tubular member is a flashlight housing.  
   
   
       19 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 6 , wherein said another tubular member is a laser pen housing.  
   
   
       20 . A method of mounting a tubular member to another tubular member, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mounting kit having a support apparatus, said support apparatus including an upper support member and a lower support member;    attaching said lower support member to the another tubular member; and    attaching said upper support member to the tubular member.    
   
   
       21 . The method of mounting according to  claim 20 , wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are each elongated U-shaped channel members and are pivotally mounted to one another at about their geometric centers for rotational movement relative to one another.  
   
   
       22 . The method of mounting according to  claim 21 , wherein said step of attaching said lower support member to the another tubular member includes wrapping an elongated tie strap having a tail end portion and a cinch end portion around the another tubular member and said lower support member; and 
 cinching said tail end portion through said cinch end portion to secure them together mounting said lower support member to the tubular member.    
   
   
       23 . The method of mounting according to  claim 22 , wherein said step of attaching said upper support member to the tubular member includes wrapping another elongated tie strap having another tail end portion and another cinch end portion around the tubular member and said upper support member; and 
 cinching said another tail end portion through said another cinch end portion to secure them together mounting said upper support member to the another tubular member.    
   
   
       24 . The method of mounting according to  claim 23 , wherein the tubular member is a flashlight housing.  
   
   
       25 . The method of mounting according to  claim 24 , wherein the another tubular member is a handlebar.  
   
   
       26 . A method of mounting a lantern to a tubular member, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mounting kit having a support apparatus, said support apparatus including an upper support member with a opening having a width dimension of d and a lower support member with another opening having another width dimension of D and wherein said upper support member and said lower support member are secured together for free rotational movement relative to one another;    pressing the opening of the lower support member onto the tubular member with sufficient force to cause said lower support member to wrap partially around the tubular member in a snug friction tight fix; and    pressing the opening of the upper support member onto the lantern with sufficient force to cause said upper support member to wrap partially around the lantern in a snug friction tight fix.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein said width dimension d and said width dimension D are equal.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein said width dimension d and said width dimension D are unequal.  
   
   
       29 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an elongated cushion for mounting within said elongated U-shaped channel to facilitate friction engagement with said tubular member.    
   
   
       30 . The universal mounting kit according to  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of hook and pile members for helping to mount said another tubular member within said another elongated U-shaped channel.