Mounting apparatus

Abstract

A mounting apparatus and system and method for making the same are provided. The mounting apparatus allows an object to be mounted to a mounting surface via magnetic attractions between different planes of engagement. Through the movement of planes of magnets, an object that is brought in proximity to the mounting apparatus may engage one of the magnetic planes and then be moved further to engage the other magnetic plane, with the combined magnetic force being configured to support the particular object for which the mounting apparatus is designed. The engagement and/or disengagement of the object from the mounting apparatus can thus occur in stages, by degrees, and/or in a tiered manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for mounting an object to a mounting surface, comprising:
 a bay configured to receive a plurality of modular apparatus components;   a modular first mounting magnet configured to define a first plane; and   a modular engagement member comprising a plurality of engagement member components, wherein at least one of the engagement member components is configured to respond to magnetism;   wherein, when the plurality of modular apparatus components is received by the bay, the modular engagement member is disposed relative to the modular first mounting magnet along a line of engagement that intersects the first plane;   wherein the bay is configured to substantially prevent movement of the plurality of modular apparatus components along the line of engagement;   wherein the modular engagement member is configured so that at least one of the plurality of engagement member components is movable between an extended state and a retracted state along the line of engagement;   wherein the modular first mounting magnet and the modular engagement member are configured to cooperate to engage the object to be mounted to produce a total engagement force, and   wherein a disengaging force that is less than the total engagement force and that is applied to a mounted object overcomes the total engagement force in stages by successively overcoming the respective engagement forces associated with the modular first mounting magnet and the modular engagement member to disengage the object.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bay comprises an apparatus transmission path that is configured to provide an electrical connection to any of the plurality of modular apparatus components received by the bay. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular apparatus components is a modular charger support that is configured to support a plurality of interface connectors, wherein the modular engagement member is configured to support a plurality of apparatus connectors, and wherein the mounting apparatus is configured to support the passthrough of electricity and data relative to the USB  3 . 1  specification. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first mounting magnet comprises a plurality of electromagnets supported by a modular holding plate, and wherein the modular holding plate is configured to electrically engage the apparatus transmission path. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the modular engagement member is configured so that a charging relationship may be established with an object to be mounted. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting apparatus is configured so that the charging relationship is maintained between the mounting apparatus and the object when at least one of the object or the mounting apparatus is rotated relative to the other of the at least one of the object or the mounting apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality modular apparatus components is configured to support at least one electrical connection interface, and wherein an apparatus transmission path is defined in stages as each successive one of each of the plurality of modular apparatus components is received by the bay. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bay is configured to support each of a substantially male modular engagement member and a substantially female modular engagement member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bay is configured to structurally engage a plurality of modular base surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the bay is configured to receive a plurality of interchangeable modular components. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interchangeable modular components is a modular card. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interchangeable modular components is a modular power source. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular apparatus components comprises a push-button switch. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular apparatus components is a modular engagement member comprising an apparatus engagement latch. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular apparatus components is a modular housing. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the modular housing is configured so that the total engagement force associated with the mounting apparatus is substantially changed when the modular housing is attached to the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of modular apparatus components is a modular card, and wherein the modular card is configured to electrically engage the apparatus transmission path. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the mounting apparatus further comprising a modular plug adapter, wherein the modular plug adapter is configured to adapt mains power to the apparatus transmission path. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the mounting apparatus further comprising a modular Edison screw, wherein the modular Edison screw is configured to attach to the bay and is configured to adapt mains power to the apparatus transmission path. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , the mounting apparatus further comprising a modular housing configured to diffuse heat associated with the mounting apparatus.