Universal rail mounting system

Abstract

A mounting system enables modular accessories to be fastened to any flat surface. Multiple, parallel accessory rails are mounted in parallel to provide a mounting system over substantially all of the area of a flat surface. The rails are spaced apart by channels to allow inverted rails to be inserted between and fastened to the parallel rails to expand the mounting capabilities of the mounting system. Removable attachment devices are engagable with the channels and the rails of the enclosure to expand the interconnection capabilities of the enclosure.

1 . An enclosure for a camera system or other electronics system, comprising:
 a housing configured to contain at least a portion of the camera system or other electronics system, the enclosure having at least a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface;   a plurality of rails positioned on the surfaces of the enclosure, each rail configured to have an engagement portion having an outer flat surface, a first inner engagement surface and a second inner engagement surface, the first and second inner engagement surfaces spaced apart by a width determined by base portion of the rail, the outer flat surface, the first and second engagement surfaces and the base portion sized and positioned with respect to each other to conform to the STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail System specification; and   a plurality of channels positioned on the surfaces of the enclosure, each channel positioned between two adjacent rails, each channel having a first channel engagement surface defined by the first inner engagement surface of one of the two adjacent rails and having a second channel engagement surfaced defined by the second inner engagement surface of the other of the two adjacent rails, the first and second channel engagement surfaces spaced apart by a distance of at least the width of the base portion of each rail.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The enclosure as defined in 0, wherein each of the top surface and the bottom surface of the enclosure includes at least four rails and at least three channels. 
     
     
         4 . The enclosure as defined in 0, wherein each of the first side and the second side includes at least one rail and at least two channels. 
     
     
         5 . The enclosure as defined in 0, further comprising:
 an attachment rail, the attachment rail having at least one engagement portion sized to fit within one of the plurality of channels on the enclosure, the attachment rail further including a mounting channel, the engagement portion having first and second engagement surfaces sized and positioned to engage the first and second channel engagement surfaces of the channel of the enclosure;   a thrust plate positionable in the mounting channel of the attachment rail, the thrust plate extending over at least a portion of the outer flat surface of the respective engagement portion of each of the rails adjacent the channel of the enclosure; and   a securing device extending from the thrust plate to the attachment rail, the securing device adjustable to vary move the thrust plate toward the attachment rail to clamp the portions of the outer flat surfaces of the engagement portions of the rails between the thrust plate the attachment rail to thereby secure the attachment rail to the enclosure.   
     
     
         6 . The enclosure as defined in 0, wherein:
 the outer flat surface of each of the rails on the enclosure has an alternating pattern of ridges and notches formed therein;   the thrust plate has an engagement surface having at least one ridge formed thereon; and   the thrust plate is positioned on the rails of the enclosure such that the ridge fits within at least one of the notches of at one of the rails before adjusting the securing device to clamp the engagement portions of the rails.   
     
     
         7 . The enclosure as defined in 0, wherein:
 the attachment rail has an engagement portion having an the outer flat surface, the outer flat surface having an alternating pattern of ridges and notches formed therein, the attachment rail further including a bore positioned in one of the notches and extending through the attachment rail;   the enclosure further includes an orthogonal attachment rail having a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end and second end including at least first and second grooves that define an end ridge therebetween, the end ridge sized to fit within a notch of the attachment rail, the end ridge having a threaded bore formed therein, the orthogonal attachment rail positioned orthogonally to the attachment rail with the threaded bore aligned with the bore in the attachment rail and with the end ridge of the orthogonal rail positioned within the one of the notches; and   a threaded fastener that extends through the attachment rail and engages the threaded bore of the orthogonal rail to secure the orthogonal rail to the attachment rail.   
     
     
         8 . The enclosure as defined in 0, wherein the enclosure further includes a tripod clamp, the tripod clamp comprising:
 a channel formed in a first surface of the tripod clamp, the channel in the tripod clamp having a size and shape configured to receive the engagement portion of at least one rail on the lower surface of the enclosure therein, the channel in the tripod clamp having a first clamp channel engagement surface and a second clamp channel engagement surface positioned to be adjacent the first inner engagement surface and the second inner engagement surface of the at least one rail;   a compression plate positioned in the channel, the compression plate moveable with respect to the channel to engage the outer flat surface of the at least one rail and to force the first and second clamp channel engagement surfaces against the first and second inner engagement surfaces of the at least one rail to thereby secure the tripod clamp to the enclosure; and   an actuator to move the compression plate into and out of engagement with the outer flat surface of the at least one rail.   
     
     
         9 . The enclosure as defined in 0, wherein:
 the tripod clamp channel is sized to span across two adjacent rails of the enclosure and the channel between the two rails;   the first inner engagement surface is on the engagement portion of one of the two rails and the second inner engagement surface is on the engagement portion of the other of the two rails; and   the compression plate engages at least a portion of the outer flat surface of each of the two rails.   
     
     
         10 . A mounting plate, comprising:
 an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface configured to conform to a contour of a mounting location on a vehicle;   a plurality of rails positioned on the upper surface, each rail configured to have an engagement portion having an outer flat surface, a first inner engagement surface and a second inner engagement surface, the first and second inner engagement surfaces spaced apart by a width determined by base portion of the rail, the outer flat surface, the first and second engagement surfaces and the base portion sized and positioned with respect to each other to conform to the STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail System specification; and   a plurality of channels positioned on the upper surface, each channel positioned between two adjacent rails, each channel having a first channel engagement surface defined by the first inner engagement surface of one of the two adjacent rails and having a second channel engagement surfaced defined by the second inner engagement surface of the other of the two adjacent rails, the first and second channel engagement surfaces spaced apart by a distance of at least the width of the base portion of each rail.