Quick release pin marine mount system for quick release accessories
Apparatus and corresponding and/or associated methodology for a surface mounted base/pin system that allows a user to release an accessory by actuating the pin system which releases the unit from the base. The subject base/pin system uses a plurality of grooves in a base component and a plurality of balls in a pin component for providing rotational locking positions.
1 . A quick release mounting system for interchangeable marine accessories configured to be mounted along a supporting railing area of a water craft, comprising:
a receiving base configured for being mounted along a supporting railing area of an associated water craft, with at least a portion of the base configured to extend below an upper surface of the railing area, the base defining a plurality of longitudinal grooves along a portion of the length thereof, and defining an elongated recess adjacent the grooves and configured for receiving an insert;
a pin insert configured for selective insertion by a user into the base elongated recess, wherein the insert includes a contoured plunger axially movable within the recess, and a plurality of partially captured balls radially movable relative to the insert; and
a pivoting toggle mounted on the insert for selectively moving the mounting system into a locked position whereby the plurality of balls are forced radially outward by the contoured plunger into contact with the plurality of longitudinal grooves to provide rotational locking positions, and for selectively moving the mounting system into an unlocked position whereby the plurality of balls are freed by the contoured plunger to move radially inward out of contact with the plurality of longitudinal grooves.
2 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 1 , further including either of an annular stop or a peripheral spherical groove for interaction with the plurality of balls for capturing the insert from being withdrawn whenever the mounting system is selectively moved into its locked position.
3 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 2 , further including a spring for biasing the contoured plunger into a locked position for the mounting system, and wherein movement of the pivoting toggle moves the plunger against the spring bias for moving the mounting system into an unlocked position.
4 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 2 , wherein the receiving base is configured to be flush mounted to the supporting railing area, with one of said plurality of balls aligned for being received in a respective one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves whenever the insert is received in the base.
5 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the pin insert includes a number of rows of said plurality of balls along a portion of the length of the insert.
6 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 5 , wherein the pin insert includes up to four rows of said plurality of balls along a portion of the length of the insert, and the plurality of longitudinal grooves of the receiving base includes up to eight longitudinal grooves spaced equidistantly about the base.
7 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the receiving base, the pin insert, and the plurality of balls comprise reinforced materials.
8 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the pin insert is configured to be associated with one of a number of interchangeable marine accessories, for being selectively mounted onto an associated water craft.
9 . The quick release mounting system according to claim 8 , wherein:
the associated water craft comprises one of a kayak, a boat, and a pontoon; and
the interchangeable marine accessory configured to be selectively mounted on the water craft comprises one of a rod holder, a pivoting rod holder, a multi-rod holder, a docking cleat, a bumper cleat, a downrigger configuration, a ladder, a canopy, a fish cleaning table, a grill, and a quick connect mount for a depth finder, a fish finder, and a GPS device.
10 . A methodology for a quick release mounting system for using interchangeable marine accessories on a supporting railing area of a water craft, comprising:
mounting a receiving base along a supporting railing area of an associated water craft, with at least a portion of the base extending below the upper surface of the railing area, the base defining a plurality of longitudinal grooves along a portion of the length thereof, and defining an elongated recess adjacent the grooves and configured for receiving an insert; and
selectively inserting a pin insert into the base elongated recess, wherein the insert includes a contoured plunger axially movable within the recess, and a plurality of partially captured balls radially movable relative to the insert, and with a pivoting toggle mounted on the insert for selectively moving the mounting system into a locked position whereby the plurality of balls are forced radially outward by the contoured plunger into contact with the plurality of longitudinal grooves to provide rotational locking positions, and for selectively moving the mounting system into an unlocked position whereby the plurality of balls are freed by the contoured plunger to move radially inward out of contact with the plurality of longitudinal grooves.
11 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 10 , further including an annular stop or a peripheral spherical groove for interaction with the plurality of balls for capturing the insert from being withdrawn whenever the mounting system is selectively moved into its locked position.
12 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 11 , further including a spring for biasing the contoured plunger into a locked position for the mounting system, and with the pivoting toggle configured to move the plunger against the spring bias for moving the mounting system into an unlocked position.
13 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 11 , wherein the receiving base is flush mounted to the supporting railing area, with one of said plurality of balls aligned for being received in a respective one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves whenever the insert is received in the base.
14 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 13 , wherein the pin insert includes a number of rows of said plurality of balls along a portion of the length of the insert.
15 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 14 , wherein the pin insert includes up to four rows of said plurality of balls along a portion of the length of the insert, and the plurality of longitudinal grooves of the receiving base includes up to eight longitudinal grooves spaced equidistantly about the base.
16 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 13 , wherein the receiving base, the pin insert, and the plurality of balls comprise reinforced materials.
17 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 10 , wherein the pin insert is configured to be associated with one of a number of interchangeable marine accessories, for being selectively mounted onto an associated water craft.
18 . The methodology for a quick release mounting system according to claim 17 , wherein:
the associated water craft comprises one of a kayak, a boat, and a pontoon; and
the interchangeable marine accessory configured to be selectively mounted on the water craft comprises one of a rod holder, a pivoting rod holder, a multi-rod holder, a docking cleat, a bumper cleat, a downrigger configuration, a ladder, a canopy, a fish cleaning table, a grill, and a quick connect mount for a depth finder, a fish finder, and a GPS device.
19 . A quick release base/pin mounting system that allows a user to quickly relocate or remove a selected interchangeable marine accessory from one location to another along a supporting railing area of a water craft by actuating the pin to release it from the base, comprising:
a receiving base configured for being flush mounted along a supporting railing area of an associated water craft, with the base configured to extend below an upper surface of the railing area, the base defining a plurality of longitudinal grooves along a portion of the length thereof, and defining an elongated recess adjacent the grooves and configured for receiving an insert;
a pin insert configured for selective insertion by a user into the base elongated recess, wherein the insert includes a contoured plunger axially movable within the recess, and at least one partially captured ball for each respective longitudinal groove of the plurality of longitudinal grooves, and radially movable relative to the insert;
a pivoting toggle mounted on the insert for selectively moving the mounting system into a locked position whereby the at least one ball for each respective longitudinal groove is forced radially outward by the contoured plunger into contact with the plurality of longitudinal grooves to provide rotational locking positions, and for selectively moving the mounting system into an unlocked position whereby the at least one ball for each respective longitudinal groove is freed by the contoured plunger to move radially inward out of contact with the plurality of longitudinal grooves; and
at least one of an annular stop or a peripheral spherical groove for interaction with the balls for capturing the insert from being withdrawn whenever the mounting system is selectively moved into its locked position.
20 . The quick release base/pin mounting system according to claim 19 , further including a spring for biasing the contoured plunger into a locked position for the mounting system, and wherein movement of the pivoting toggle moves the plunger against the spring bias for moving the mounting system into an unlocked position.
21 . The quick release base/pin mounting system according to claim 19 , wherein:
the pin insert includes up to four rows of said balls along a portion of the length of the insert; the receiving base includes up to eight longitudinal grooves spaced equidistantly about the base; and
the interchangeable marine accessory configured to be selectively mounted on the water craft comprises one of a rod holder, a pivoting rod holder, a multi-rod holder, a docking cleat, a bumper cleat, a downrigger configuration, a ladder, a canopy, a fish cleaning table, a grill, and a quick connect mount for a depth finder, a fish finder, and a GPS device.