Configurable mounting bracket

Abstract

A multiply configurable bracket formed of a substantially rigid elongated body having a groove oriented crosswise of the elongated body and formed partway therethrough, and a pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body straddling the groove and oriented crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove. A first part-spherical ball mount is coupled to one end of the elongated body and is aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof. A second part-spherical ball mount is coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis thereof. Both the first and second part-spherical ball mounts are formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.

1 . A multiply configurable bracket comprising: 
 a substantially rigid elongated body having an arcuate groove formed in one longitudinal surface thereof and a pair of elongated passages formed through the body straddling the groove;    an integral part-spherical ball mount integrally formed with the body and projected from one end thereof, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface;    a discrete part-spherical ball mount coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the body, the discrete part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.    
   
   
       2 . The bracket of  claim 1  wherein the arcuate groove is further oriented crosswise of the elongated body.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising a pair of spacers each structured with an elongated passage formed therethrough.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising an integral stem projected from the end of the elongated body and aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof and having the resiliently deformable material of the first part-spherical ball mount molded thereon.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket of  claim 2  wherein the pair of elongated passages formed through the body straddling the groove further comprise a pair of elongated passages each aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated body.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket of  claim 2  wherein the discrete second part-spherical ball mount is threadedly secured to the body.  
   
   
       7 . The bracket of  claim 6  wherein: 
 the body is formed with a passage therethrough between the arcuate groove and a surface of the body opposite from the groove;    the discrete part-spherical ball mount further comprises a threaded bore formed therein; and    further comprising a threaded fastener resident in the passage formed through the body between the arcuate groove and a surface of the body opposite from the groove, the threaded fastener being threadedly engaged with the threaded bore formed in the discrete part-spherical ball mount.    
   
   
       8 . The bracket of  claim 6 , further comprising a discrete frame interposed between the discrete part-spherical ball mount and the body.  
   
   
       9 . The bracket of  claim 8  wherein the discrete part-spherical ball mount is threadedly coupled to the discrete frame.  
   
   
       10 . A multiply configurable bracket comprising: 
 a substantially rigid elongated body having a groove oriented crosswise of the elongated body and formed partway therethrough, and a pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body straddling the groove and oriented crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove;    a first part-spherical ball mount coupled to one end of the elongated body and aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis thereof, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface;    a second part-spherical ball mount coupled to the body opposite from the groove and oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis thereof, the second part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface; and    a pair of spacers each structured with a fastener clearance passage formed therethrough.    
   
   
       11 . The bracket of  claim 10  wherein the first part-spherical ball mount is integrally formed with the body and is projected from the end thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The bracket of  claim 11  wherein the second part-spherical ball mount is discrete from the body.  
   
   
       13 . The bracket of  claim 12  wherein the discrete second part-spherical ball mount is threadedly secured to the body.  
   
   
       14 . The bracket of  claim 13  wherein the discrete second part-spherical ball mount further comprises a stem formed with a female thread; 
 the body further comprises a fastener clearance passage therethrough between the groove and a portion of the body opposite from the groove; and    further comprising a threaded fastener within the fastener clearance passage through the body between the groove and a portion of the body opposite from the groove and being threadedly engaged with the female thread within the stem of the discrete second part-spherical ball mount.    
   
   
       15 . The bracket of  claim 11 , further comprising a frame having the second part-spherical ball mount secured thereto, the frame being coupled to the body opposite from the groove with the second part-spherical ball mount oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the body.  
   
   
       16 . A multiply configurable bracket comprising: 
 a substantially rigid elongated body formed of: 
 a substantially rectangular body formed with substantially orthogonal side faces and opposing end faces oriented substantially orthogonal to the side faces,  
 an arcuate groove formed partway through the body and oriented substantially crosswise of the elongated body with an opening in a first side face of the body, and  
 a pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body straddling the groove and oriented substantially crosswise of both the elongated body and the groove;  
   a first part-spherical ball mount projected from one end face of the elongated body and aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis of the body, the first part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface; and    a second part-spherical ball mount projected from a second side face of the body opposite from the first side face having the groove opening formed therein and oriented substantially crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the body, the second part-spherical ball mount being formed of a resiliently deformable material with a substantially smooth outer surface.    
   
   
       17 . The bracket of  claim 16  wherein the first part-spherical ball mount further comprises a stem integrally formed with the elongated body and projected from the end face thereof, and the resiliently deformable material being coupled to an end portion of the stem distal from the end face of the body.  
   
   
       18 . The bracket of  claim 16 , further comprising a threaded joint between the end face of the elongated body and the first part-spherical ball mount projected therefrom.  
   
   
       19 . The bracket of  claim 16 , further comprising a threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount projected therefrom.  
   
   
       20 . The bracket of  claim 19  wherein the threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount further comprises: 
 a fastener clearance passage formed through the body between the arcuate groove and the second side face of the elongated body,    a rigid stem having the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount molded on a first end thereof and a female thread formed in. a second end opposite from the resiliently deformable material, and    a threaded fastener passing through the fastener clearance passage and being threadedly coupled to the female thread formed in the stem.    
   
   
       21 . The bracket of  claim 19  wherein the threaded joint between the second side face of the elongated body and the second part-spherical ball mount further comprises a frame member interposed between the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount and the elongated body, the frame comprising a pair of fastener clearance passages formed therethrough symmetrically straddling the resiliently deformable material of the second part-spherical ball mount and being substantially aligned with the pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body.  
   
   
       22 . The bracket of  claim 19 , further comprising a pair of spacers each structured with a fastener clearance passage formed therethrough.  
   
   
       23 . The bracket of  claim 22 , further comprising a pair of bolts sized to pass through the pair of fastener clearance passages formed through the body and the fastener clearance passage formed the pair of spacers and extend at least a short distance therebeyond.