Pivot mount assembly

Abstract

A pivot mount assembly for mounting an electronic device (e.g., an Electronic Flight Bag—EFB) in the cockpit of an aircraft, and more specifically on the steering control (i.e., yoke) of the aircraft. The pivot mount assembly preferably includes an upper portion and a lower portion, where the upper portion is rotatable with respect to the lower portion. The upper portion includes a receiving slot for receiving a device to be mounted, and the lower portion includes a securing mechanism and a positioning flange. A receiving mount within the yoke receives the positioning flange to position the pivot mount assembly within the same, and the securing mechanism operates in conjunction with the receiving mount to secure the lower portion to the same, and thereby the entire pivot mount assembly within the receiving mount. Once mounted in the receiving mount, the upper portion of the assembly is rotatable with respect to the lower portion, thereby allowing the EFB to be mounted to be rotated from a portrait to a landscape orientation without removing the same from the mount. In one implementation, an indexing position system is integrated between the lower and upper portions of the mount assembly and provides predetermined rotation increments for the mounted device.

1 . An aircraft pivot mount assembly for mounting an electronic device to the steering control of the aircraft, the pivot mount assembly comprising:
 an upper portion having a top surface including a receiving slot configured to receive and secure the electronic device to be mounted thereon;   a lower portion connected to the upper portion such that the upper portion is rotatable with respect to the lower portion, the lower portion having positioning flange on an underside thereof and a securing mechanism disposed along a lower edge of the lower portion; and   a mounting receiver mounted on the steering control of the aircraft and configured to receive said positioning flange and said securing mechanism of said lower portion.   
     
     
         2 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an indexing position system integrated between said upper portion and said lower portion such that said upper portion rotates with respect to said lower portion in an predetermined indexed manner.   
     
     
         3 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein indexing position system comprises:
 at least one set screw having a spring loaded ball bearing tip positioned within said lower portion; and   at least one detent on an underside of said upper portion and rotatably aligned with said at ball bearing of said at least one set screw.   
     
     
         4 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiving slot is tapered such that the electronic device to be mounted therein slidably engages said receiving slot from one side thereof only. 
     
     
         5 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said receiving slot further comprises side walls having an angular configuration such that the electronic device to be mounted cannot be lifted out of the receiving slot once positioned therein. 
     
     
         6 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said slot further comprises at least one hole for receiving a locking mechanism of the electronic device to be mounted. 
     
     
         7 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a navigation device. 
     
     
         8 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the navigation device comprises an electronic flight bag (EFB). 
     
     
         9 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the steering control comprises an aircraft yoke. 
     
     
         10 . The pivot mount assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the aircraft is a GULFSTREAM® G4.