Chain-Link Camera Mount With Toggle-Latch Fence Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fence mounts for cameras are not securely attached to chain link fences and can easily fall off due to jostling or fence movement, lacking effective locking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A device with a main body, hooks, and a 4001-style toggle latch that securely attaches to a chain link fence using angled hooks and a locking mechanism, ensuring stability even under force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gravity-based hooks or simple attachments are used to mount a camera on a fence, then the device is easy to install and remove, but the mount can easily fall off when jostled or the fence is under duress
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle latch is opened in advance to allow easy insertion of the hooks onto the fence links. The hooks are pre-positioned on the fence before the latch is engaged, enabling quick installation without complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle latch mechanism transitions from an open state (allowing hook insertion) to a closed locked state (securing the hooks). This dynamic transformation enables the mount to be easily installed and removed while maintaining security when engaged.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism like a toggle latch is used to securely attach the mount to the fence, then the mount stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle latch is designed to be self-latching once engaged. The user simply opens the latch, positions the hooks on the fence, and closes the latch which then automatically maintains the locked position without requiring additional tools or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle latch integrates multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both the locking mechanism and the structural element that connects the two hooks together. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts needed while maintaining secure attachment.
3Strength
If hooks are used at a distance apart to create a grab-and-hold attachment, then the mount can be secured to the fence, but the mount can still be displaced via jostling or movement of the fence
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle latch acts as an intermediary element that connects the two hooks together and to the mount body. This intermediary component distributes and equalizes the forces applied to the mount, preventing displacement even when external forces are applied to the fence or mount.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle latch pre-loads the hooks against the fence links by drawing them together when closed. This preliminary action creates a pre-tensioned connection that resists displacement forces before they are applied, ensuring the mount remains stable under jostling or fence movement.
Data Source
AI summary
Camera fence mounts allow for easy video recording of activities such as sporting events. Mounting a camera on a fence allows for hands-free recording without the hassle of a tripod. Herein we describe a device used to mount a camera upon a fence. Typically, the device has a main body with additional attachments containing a fixed hook and a movable hook and a 4001-style toggle latch to fix the movable hook into place and attach the device to a fence. A camera is attached to the device via a ¼″-20 photography attachment that is connected to the movable hook.