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:
 an intermediate surface configured to respond to magnetism; and   an engagement member disposed relative to the intermediate surface along a line of engagement,   wherein the engagement member is configured to respond to magnetism, and wherein at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface is configured to be moved between an extended state and a retracted state,   wherein, in the retracted state, the at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface that is movable is biased away from an object to be mounted,   wherein, in the extended state, the at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface that is movable is biased toward the object to be mounted, and   wherein proximity of the object to the engagement member produces an attraction force between the object and the engagement member that causes engagement of the object with the engagement member, and proximity of the object to the intermediate surface produces an attraction force between the object and the intermediate surface that causes engagement of the object with the intermediate surface, such that the apparatus is configured to engage the object to be mounted in stages via the respective engagement forces; and   wherein the respective attraction forces associated with the engagement member and the intermediate surface cooperate to engage the object and produce a total engagement force for mounting the object to the mounting surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that a disengaging force that is less than the total engagement force and that is applied to a mounted object successively overcomes the respective engagement forces associated with the intermediate surface and the engagement member to disengage the object. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a controlling component configured to bias the engagement member toward the retracted state. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is configured to be substantially flush with the intermediate surface when in a disengaged state. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one short-range wireless data transfer device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of engagement members arranged in close proximity to form a set. 
     
     
         7 . A method of mounting an object to a mounting surface, comprising:
 supporting a first mounting magnet in a first plane;   supporting a second mounting magnet in a second plane;   allowing at least one of the mounting magnets to move independently of the other mounting magnet along a line of engagement that intersects the first and second planes;   limiting movement of the at least one of the mounting magnets that is movable between a respective outer limit position and a respective base limit position;   configuring the mounting magnets to cooperate to engage an object to be mounted to produce a total engagement force; and   configuring the respective outer limit position of the at least one of the mounting magnets that is movable such that 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 first and second mounting magnets to disengage the object.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring at least one of the mounting magnets to receive a portion of the object to be mounted, wherein receiving the portion of the object to be mounted comprises structurally supporting the object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising supporting a plurality of second mounting magnets in a plurality of respective second planes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising arranging the second mounting magnets in a telescoping configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising supporting a third mounting magnet in a third plane, wherein the third mounting magnet is configured to be attached to the object to be mounted to adapt the object to agree with at least one of the first or second mounting magnets. 
     
     
         12 . A system for mounting an object to a mounting surface comprising:
 a mounting apparatus comprising:
 an intermediate surface configured to respond to magnetism, the intermediate surface defining a first plane; and 
 an engagement member configured to respond to magnetism, the engagement member defining a second plane and being configured to move along a line of engagement that intersects the first plane; and 
   an object interface configured to be attached to an object to be mounted and to the mounting apparatus, the object interface comprising:
 a central object surface configured to respond to magnetism and configured to agree with at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface, the central object surface defining a third plane; 
   wherein at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface of the mounting apparatus is configured to move between a respective outer limit position and a respective base limit position,   wherein, when the at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface that is movable is in the respective outer limit position, a distance between the first and second planes defines an apparatus engagement depth, and   wherein the mounting apparatus is configured to engage the object interface via respective engagement forces associated with the engagement member and the intermediate surface such that an overall engagement force increases by degrees until a total engagement force is produced for mounting the object to the mounting surface.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that a disengaging force that is less than the total engagement force and that is applied to a mounted object attached to the object interface is capable of disengaging the object interface from the mounting apparatus in stages by successively overcoming the respective engagement forces associated with the engagement member and the intermediate surface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the mounting apparatus further comprises an apparatus controlling component configured to apply an apparatus controlling force to the engagement member to bias the engagement member away from the object interface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the object interface is configured such that an attraction force produced between the engagement member and the object interface is greater than the apparatus controlling force. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the engagement member comprises a plurality of engagement member components arranged in a nested configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least the engagement member or the intermediate surface comprises at least one connection interface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the central object surface comprises at least one connection interface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one connection interface is configured to transmit at least data or electricity to the object when the object is engaged with the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the engagement member comprises an extension and a face joined to the extension, and wherein the extension is configured to bear at least a portion of a weight of the object. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the extension comprises a channel and the central object surface comprises a lip, and wherein a portion of the lip is seated within the channel when the object interface is fully engaged with the mounting apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the central object surface is configured to receive at least a portion of at least one of the engagement member or the intermediate surface. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the object interface is configured to substantially self-align with the mounting apparatus prior to engagement. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least the engagement member or the intermediate surface comprises at least one correlated magnet, and wherein the object interface comprises at least one correlated magnet.