IP Library › Granted Patent US 12709236

Granted Patent B2

US 12709236 · App. 18/477,285 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

High reliability, high precision, releasable mounting systems and methods

Inventors: Vineet Aggarwal (Richmond, TX); Alan Kenneth Stratton (Milford, NH); Kevin Bendele (Seabrook, TX); Jeffrey Parker (La Grange, TX); Christopher Gretencord (Friendswood, TX); Leo Belval (Clear Lake, TX); Steve Chancey (Houston, TX); Haining Dong (Houston, TX); Marshall Bronfin (Bedford, NH)

Assignee: Heath Consultants Incorporated

B60R11/0258 F16B47/00 G01D11/30 G01D21/02 B60R2011/004 B60R2011/0056 B60R2011/0057 F16B1/00 F16B2200/83

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12709236
App. No.: 18/477,285
Granted: Aug 18, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A releasable mounting system and method for semi-permanently attaching to a ferrous material surface, comprising a base assembly having a plurality of magnetic-assisted suction cup (MASC) mounting assemblies connected to a base plate for semi-permanently attaching to the ferrous material surface. Each MASC mounting assembly has a suction cup and at least one magnet providing additional fixturing of the base assembly to the ferrous material surface. The system may include a rooftop assembly comprising a shell and a pivotally mounted mast assembly biased in an upright position. The rooftop assembly on a vehicle rooftop may include sensors providing information to a computer inside the vehicle, including information with respect to the orientation of the mast on top of the vehicle during a mobile survey. All of the data gathered from the rooftop assembly may be wirelessly communicated to the computer inside the vehicle.

Claims (73)

1 . A releasable mounting system for semi-permanently attaching to a surface of a vehicle, comprising:

a rooftop assembly ( 40 ) comprising:

a mast assembly ( 80 ) comprising a mast support ( 42 ), a tubular member ( 82 , 84 ), and an upper housing assembly ( 90 ) comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna ( 92 ) and an anemometer ( 96 ), the GNSS antenna ( 92 ) mounted above the anemometer ( 96 ) at the highest point of the mast assembly ( 80 );

a shell ( 44 ) having a pair of upright stanchions ( 50 ) aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shell ( 44 ), the pair of upright stanchions ( 50 ) spaced from one another by a distance allowing the mast support ( 42 ) to be positioned therebetween and pivotally mounted to the pair of upright stanchions ( 50 ),

wherein the mast assembly ( 80 ) is biased in an upright position and allowed to pivot in forward and rearward directions from the upright position, and

at least one sensor ( 69 ) for detecting the orientation of the mast assembly ( 80 ).

2 . The releasable mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor ( 69 ) is a Hall effect sensor.

3 . The releasable mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor ( 69 ) comprises first and second Hall effect sensors, the first Hall effect sensor positioned at a location forward of the mast support ( 42 ) and the second Hall effect sensor positioned at a location rearward of the mast support ( 42 ).

4 . The releasable mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a repulsive forward-facing magnet ( 64 ) on the mast support ( 42 );

a repulsive rearward-facing magnet ( 64 ) on the mast support ( 42 );

a front repulsive magnet ( 60 ) on the shell ( 44 ); and

a rear repulsive magnet ( 62 ) on the shell ( 44 ),

wherein as the mast assembly ( 80 ) pivots from the biased upright position towards the forward direction, the repulsive forward-facing magnet ( 64 ) moves closer to the front repulsive magnet ( 60 ) and a repulsion force is created when the repulsive forward-facing magnet ( 64 ) and the front repulsive magnet ( 60 ) are in proximity to one another, the repulsion force serving to dampen the fall of the mast assembly ( 80 ) in the forward direction, and

wherein as the mast assembly ( 80 ) pivots from the biased upright position towards the rearward direction, the repulsive rearward-facing magnet ( 64 ) moves closer to the rear repulsive magnet ( 62 ) and a repulsion force is created when the repulsive rearward-facing magnet ( 64 ) and the rear repulsive magnet ( 62 ) are in proximity to one another, the repulsion force serving to dampen the fall of the mast assembly ( 80 ) in the rearward direction.

5 . The releasable mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a portable computer (T) inside the vehicle; and

the rooftop assembly ( 40 ) further comprises:

a microcontroller ( 71 ) arranged and designed to receive signals or data from the GNSS antenna ( 92 ), the anemometer ( 96 ), and the at least one sensor ( 69 ); and

a second antenna ( 70 ) arranged and designed to receive and send signals from the microcontroller ( 71 ),

wherein the portable computer (T) is arranged and designed to receive signals wirelessly from the second antenna ( 70 ).

6 . The releasable mounting system of claim 5 , wherein the microcontroller ( 71 ) is a Bluetooth microcontroller and the second antenna ( 70 ) is a Bluetooth antenna.

7 . The releasable mounting system of claim 5 , wherein the rooftop assembly ( 40 ) further comprises an electronic receiver ( 74 ) adapted to receive signals from the GNSS antenna ( 92 ) and provide signals to the microcontroller ( 71 ).

8 . The releasable mounting system of claim 5 , wherein the rooftop assembly ( 40 ) further comprises:

a pressure sensor ( 76 ) for detecting the ambient pressure and providing a pressure signal to the microcontroller ( 71 ); and

a temperature sensor ( 77 ) for detecting the ambient temperature and providing a temperature signal to the microcontroller ( 71 ),

wherein the pressure and temperature signals are transmitted wirelessly from the second antenna ( 70 ) to the computer (T) inside the vehicle.

9 . The releasable mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a base assembly ( 22 , 222 ) having a plurality of magnetic-assisted suction cup mounting assemblies ( 100 ) for semi-permanently attaching to a ferrous material surface of the vehicle,

wherein the rooftop assembly ( 40 , 240 ) releasably connects to the base assembly ( 22 , 222 ).

10 . The releasable mounting system of claim 9 , wherein the base assembly ( 22 , 222 ) further comprises:

a base plate ( 24 , 224 ), the plurality of magnetic-assisted suction cup mounting assemblies ( 100 ) adjustably connected to the base plate ( 24 , 224 );

each magnetic-assisted suction cup mounting assembly ( 100 ) comprising:

a suction cup ( 108 ); and

at least one magnet ( 107 ) providing additional fixturing of the base assembly ( 22 , 222 ) to the ferrous material surface.

11 . The releasable mounting system of claim 10 , wherein the base assembly further comprises:

a crossbar ( 230 ) connected to a pair of support towers ( 231 ), the support towers ( 231 ) adapted to be releasably secured to a pair of roof rails on the vehicle rooftop; and

the base plate ( 224 ) is connected to the crossbar ( 230 ).

12 . The releasable mounting system of claim 11 , wherein the crossbar ( 230 ) includes an upper T-slot ( 230 t ) extending along the length of the crossbar ( 230 ) and an endcap ( 233 ) removably enclosing an end of the crossbar ( 230 ); and

the base assembly ( 22 ) further comprises:

a pair of threaded fasteners ( 224 f ) extending from a bottom of the base plate ( 224 );

a pair of T-nut knobs ( 225 ), one T-nut knob ( 225 ) threaded onto each threaded fastener ( 224 f ); and

a pair of T-nuts ( 227 ), one T-nut ( 227 ) connected to an end of each threaded fastener ( 224 f ),

wherein each T-nut knob ( 225 ) is allowed to travel up and down the threaded fastener ( 224 f ) between the base plate ( 224 ) and the T-nut ( 227 ), the pair of T-nuts ( 227 ) are slidably received within the upper T-slot ( 230 t ) of the crossbar ( 230 ) and the T-nut knobs ( 225 ) are tightened securely onto the crossbar ( 230 ) when the base plate ( 224 ) is properly positioned on the vehicle rooftop.

13 . The releasable mounting system of claim 12 , wherein the roof rails are parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the crossbar ( 230 ) is mounted transverse to the pair of roof rails.

14 . The releasable mounting system of claim 11 , wherein the crossbar ( 230 ) comprises:

a passageway extending to an end of the crossbar ( 230 );

an extension member ( 235 ) slidingly received within the passageway; and

an endcap ( 233 ) attached to the crossbar ( 230 ), the endcap ( 233 ) adapted to close off the end of the crossbar ( 230 ).

15 . A releasable mounting system for semi-permanently attaching to a surface of a vehicle, comprising:

a rooftop assembly ( 40 ) comprising:

the mast support ( 42 ) including at least one mounted support magnet ( 58 ),

wherein an attraction force exists between the stanchion magnet ( 56 ) and the support magnet ( 58 ) when the mast support ( 42 ) is in an upright position, the magnetic attraction force biasing the mast assembly ( 80 ) in the upright position, and wherein the mast assembly ( 80 ) is allowed to pivot in at least one direction from the upright position; and

at least one sensor ( 69 ) for detecting the orientation of the mast assembly ( 80 ).

16 . The releasable mounting system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a first repulsive magnet ( 64 ) on the mast support ( 42 );

a second repulsive magnet ( 62 ) on the shell ( 44 );

wherein as the mast assembly ( 80 ) pivots in the at least one direction from the biased upright position, the first repulsive magnet ( 64 ) moves closer to the second repulsive magnet ( 62 ) and a repulsion force is created when the first and second repulsive magnets magnet ( 64 , 62 ) are in proximity to one another, the repulsion force serving to dampen the fall of the mast assembly ( 80 ) in the at least one direction.

17 . The releasable mounting system of claim 15 , further comprising: