US20060102823A1

US20060102823A1 - Locking ratchet base

Info

Publication number: US20060102823A1
Application number: US10/990,896
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey Carnevali
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-16
Filing date: 2004-11-16
Publication date: 2006-05-18

Abstract

A ratcheting mounting device has a substantially rigid base that is formed with a receptor surface projected above a foot portion that is structured with one or more through holes for securing the base to an external surface such as a floor or wall; a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler that is formed with an insertion surface and an appendage coupler for securing an appendage thereto; a plurality of cooperating truncated pyramid-shaped teeth and sockets arranged between the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations; and a clamping mechanism that is structured for constraining the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler in different angular relationships.

Description

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. NPI-032) entitled, “LOCKING RATCHET BASE,” filed in the name of Jeffrey D. Carnevali on the same date herewith via USPS “Express Mail” Mailing Label Number: ED 259 545 621 US, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mechanical mounting device, and in particular to a secure ratcheting mounting device for supporting external objects relative to a fixed platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Universal mounting devices are known for providing a positionable mounting platform in different air, land and marine vehicles. These universally positionable mounting platforms are typically structured to support a wide variety of mobile devices, such as cellular telephones, portable global positioning system (GPS) receivers, notebook computers, Personal Digital Accessories (PDAs) and other mobile devices. However secure such known universally positionable mounting platforms are, to date these positionable mounting platforms have been known to be limited in load carrying capabilities.
FIG. 1, for example, illustrates one such universal mounting device 1 that provides positionable mounting platform 2. As shown here and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, universal mounting device 1 is founded on a base 3 that is secured to a fixed surface with a quantity of screws or other fasteners 4. A partial sphere 5 of resiliently compressible material is presented on a post 6 for access by a pair of clamping arms 7 that together form a socket that is positionally secured relative to the partial sphere 5 when a clamping mechanism 8 is tightened. The positionable mounting platform 2 is presented on a second sphere 9 of resiliently compressible material that is captured in a second socket formed at the opposite end of the clamping arms 7 and relatively positionally secured by increased tightening of the clamping mechanism 8. The positionable mounting platform 2 (shown without features) is optionally structured to support any of the above variety of mobile devices or another device or structure of the user's choice.
However, the universally positionable mounting platform shown here and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885 would have to be of ungainly size to support some very large loads, for example, loads applied at the end of a two or three foot lever arm. Therefore, a novel mechanical mounting device for supporting such extreme loads is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the manufacturing and load capacity limitations of the prior art by providing a ratcheting mounting device having a substantially rigid base that is formed with a first substantially planar receptor surface projected above a foot portion that is structured with one or more through holes for securing the base to an external surface such as a floor or wall; a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler that is formed with a second substantially planar insertion surface and an appendage coupler for securing an appendage thereto; a plurality of cooperating truncated pyramid-shaped teeth and sockets arranged between the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations, and a clamping mechanism that is structured for constraining the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler in different angular relationships.
According to one aspect of the invention, the clamping mechanism is structured as a threaded member for compressing the insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler against the receptor surface of the base. Optionally, a compression spring is positioned between the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler for biasing the insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler away from the receptor surface of the base.
According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of cooperating teeth and sockets are spaced at cooperating angular intervals in first and second matching substantially circular patterns. Optionally, the number of teeth is the same or less than as the number of sockets.
According to another aspect of the invention, the foot portion of the base optionally secures the receptor surface in an upright or perpendicular orientation relative to the external surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, the appendage coupler for securing an appendage to the ratcheting coupler includes a cinching mechanism that is structured for cinching an appendage in a parallel arrangement with the insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler.
According to another aspect of the invention, the ratcheting mounting device further includes an elongated appendage cinched by the cinching mechanism in a parallel arrangement with the insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler. According to another aspect of the invention including the appendage, a mounting platform is provided at an end of the appendage distal from the ratcheting coupler. Optionally, the mounting platform at the distal end of the appendage is structured as a partial sphere of resiliently compressible material.
Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 illustrates one known universal mounting device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view that illustrates the present invention by example and without limitation embodied as a ratcheting mounting device;
FIG. 3 is an end view of a base portion of the ratcheting mounting device according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an end view of a ratcheting coupler portion of the ratcheting mounting device according to one embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the embodiment of the ratcheting mounting device illustrated in FIG. 2 that illustrates mating of the ratcheting coupler portion with the base portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view that illustrates the present invention by example and without limitation embodied as a ratcheting mounting device 10 having a base 12 with a ratcheting coupler 14 secured thereto by a coupler clamping mechanism 16. The ratcheting coupler 14 includes an appendage coupler 18 that operates as a means for securing an elongated and substantially cylindrical appendage A in a ratcheting rotational relationship to the base 12. The appendage coupler 18 includes an appendage clamping mechanism 20 for securing the appendage A to the base 12 through the ratcheting coupler 14. A universal mounting device 1 of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 is optionally coupled to an end A_dof the appendage A distal from the ratcheting mounting device 10, while a proximal end A_Pof the appendage A is coupled to the ratcheting mounting device 10 through the appendage coupler 18. For example, the distal end A_dof the appendage A operates as the base 3, whereby the post 6 is mounted on the distal end A_dof the appendage A for presenting the partial sphere 5 of resiliently compressible material for access by the pair of clamping arms 7 of the universal mounting device 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an end view of the base 12 according to one embodiment of the invention. The base 12 is formed of a strong and substantially rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic, and according to one embodiment of the invention, is formed as an single integral unit, as by conventional machining, forging, casting or injection molding techniques. According to one embodiment of the invention, the base 12 includes a foot 22 structured with multiple apertures 24 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 5) pierced with fasteners 25 that operate as a means for securing the base 12 to a floor, wall or other external surface E for operation of the ratcheting mounting device 10 in for supporting external objects relative to a fixed platform. A female receptor 26 is projected from the foot 22 having a substantially planar upright receptor face 28 that is oriented crosswise to the floor or other external surface E by the foot 22. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, multiple gussets 30 operate as a means for supporting the receptor 26 relative to the foot 22 with the receptor face 28 oriented in an upright manner crosswise to the external surface E. The receptor 26 includes multiple female sockets 32 recessed relative to the receptor face 28 and substantially uniformly spaced by a selected angle α at regular angular intervals I in a substantially circular pattern P_S. According to one embodiment of the invention, the individual female sockets 32 are formed with interior wall surfaces 33 that are angularly inclined inwardly from the receptor face 28 in a truncated inverse pyramidal shape. A substantially cylindrical aperture 34 is formed completely through the receptor 26 at substantially the center of the circular pattern P_Sof the recessed sockets 32. The aperture 34 is aligned substantially perpendicular to the receptor face 28. The functions of the recessed sockets 32 and aperture 34 are described herein below.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the ratcheting coupler 14 according to one embodiment of the invention. The ratcheting coupler 14 is formed of a strong and substantially rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic, and according to one embodiment of the invention, is formed as an single integral unit, as by conventional machining, forging, casting or injection molding techniques. According to one embodiment of the invention, the ratcheting coupler 14 includes a hub 36 having a substantially planar insertion face 38 which includes multiple male teeth 40 projected therefrom. The multiple male teeth 40 are sized and shaped to be received into and mate with the female sockets 32 in the receptor face 28 of the female receptor 26. According to one embodiment of the invention, when the individual female sockets 32 of the female receptor 26 are formed with interior surfaces 33 that are angularly inclined inwardly from the receptor face 28 in a truncated inverse pyramidal shape, as described herein, the mating male teeth 40 are formed with exterior wall surfaces 41 that are angularly inclined outwardly from the insertion face 38 in a truncated pyramidal shape that is sized to mate with and substantially fill the inverse pyramidal shape of the female sockets 32. The multiple male teeth 40 are arranged in a substantially circular pattern P_Cthat is substantially matched to the circular pattern P_Sof the recessed sockets 32 in the receptor face 28 of the female receptor 26. The multiple male teeth 40 are optionally substantially uniformly spaced by the same selected angle α as the recessed sockets 32 at the same regular angular intervals I of the recessed sockets 32 about the circular pattern P_Cthat matches the circular pattern P_Sof the recessed sockets 32. Alternatively, as shown, the pattern P_Cof teeth 40 is broken at intervals such that the teeth 40 are arranged in multiple clusters 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, through 42 n in the circular pattern P_C, with each of the clusters 42 a through 42 n having as few as one or more than one of the male teeth 40. Adjacent clusters 42 a, 42 b are angularly spaced by an angle b that is an integer multiple of the angle α separating the individual sockets 32, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the individual male teeth 40 are angularly spaced on the circular pattern P_Cat the angle b that is a multiple of the angle α separating adjacent female sockets 32 on the receptor face 28.
Accordingly, the male teeth 40 are structured to enter different ones of the female sockets 32 in different angular rotations of the insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face 28 of the base 12. Stated differently, the matching circular arrangements P_Sand P_Cof female sockets 32 and male teeth 40 are structured such that the male teeth 40 fit into the female sockets 32 at any of many different angularly rotated steps at regular angular intervals I around the face 28 of the receptor 26. As such, the matching circular arrangements P_Sand P_Cof female sockets 32 and male teeth 40 cooperate to provide a means for orienting the insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face 28 in different prescribed angular orientations in stepwise fashion, wherein the steps between different angularly adjacent orientations is prescribed by the angle α of the intervals I between adjacent female sockets 32 on the receptor face 28.
Radially enlarging the circular patterns P_Sand P_Cspaces the sockets 32 and teeth 40 from the centers of the circular patterns P_Sand P_C, which increases the holding strength of the ratcheting mounting device 10 by increasing the lever arm at which the cooperating sockets 32 and teeth 40 operate. Radially enlarging the circular patterns P_Sand P_Cand spacing the sockets 32 and teeth 40 further from the circular centers also increases the number of intervals I at which the cooperating sockets 32 and teeth 40 can be placed by increasing the linear distance between adjacent angular positions. In other words, the sockets 32 can be positioned closer together without breaking into one another when their circular pattern P_Sis larger, and therefore, more of the sockets 32 can be emplaced, and the angle α of the angular intervals I between them made smaller. The size of the matching circular pattern P_Cof teeth 40 must also increase to a matching size with the circular pattern P_S, but the quantity of cooperating teeth 40 does not have to increase to take advantage of the larger quantity of sockets 32 at narrower angular intervals I for decreasing the proscribed angular intervals α between different angularly adjacent orientations of the insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face 28. Accordingly, the ratcheting coupler 14 can be rotated between the different prescribed angles α relative to the receptor 26 and to the floor or other external surface E through the receptor 26 and foot 22 of the base 12 by moving the teeth 40 to different ones of the sockets 32.
A substantially cylindrical aperture 43 is formed completely through the hub 36 at substantially the center of the circular pattern P_Cof the projected male teeth 40. The aperture 43 is aligned substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar insertion face 38. The substantially cylindrical aperture 43 functions in combination with the aperture 34 through the receptor 26 portion of the base 12 for clamping the planar insertion face 38 securely against the receptor face 28 with the male teeth 40 inserted into different ones of the recessed sockets 32 to constrain the ratcheting coupler 14 in a selected angular relationship with the base 12 by means of the coupler clamping mechanism 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical apertures 34 and 43 are matching clearance holes for a threaded fastener 66 (shown in FIG. 5) that operates as part of the coupler clamping mechanism 16 for clamping the ratcheting coupler 14 to the base 12.
The appendage coupler 18 of the ratcheting coupler 14 operates as a means for securing the appendage A (shown in FIG. 2) in a ratcheting rotational relationship to the base 12 through the male teeth 40 mating into the female sockets 32 in the face 28 of the receptor 26. The appendage coupler 18 extends from the hub 36 at any convenient angle, including substantially perpendicular, as shown. By example and without limitation, according to one embodiment of the invention, the appendage coupler 18 includes an optionally open-ended tubular female sleeve 44 structured to receive the substantially cylindrical appendage A structured as a rod or tube, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tubular sleeve 44 is bottomed by a seat 46 that operates as a stop for the appendage A. The appendage coupler 18 also includes the appendage clamping mechanism 20 for securing the appendage A. By example and without limitation, according to one embodiment of the invention, the appendage clamping mechanism 20 is a part-tubular extension 48 of the tubular sleeve 44 projected away from the hub 36. A part-tubular cincture 50 extends from a longitudinal edge surface 52 of the part-tubular extension 48 to substantially enclose the tubular space 54 defined by the part-tubular extension 48. A cinching mechanism or clasp 56 is provided as a means for cinching the part-tubular cincture 50 against the part-tubular extension 48 to secure the proximal end A_Pof the appendage A within the tubular space 54. For example, a pair of arms 58, 60 operate as the means for cinching the part-tubular cincture 50 against the part-tubular extension 48. The first arm 58 projects from the part-tubular cincture 50 slightly spaced away from the second arm 60 that projects from the part-tubular extension 48 peripheral to the tubular space 54. A fastener 61 (shown in FIG. 2) operates through matching apertures 62, 64 through the respective arms 58, 60 to cinch the arms 58, 60 toward one another across the small space there between. By cinching the arms 58, 60 toward one another, the fastener 61 reduces the inside diameter of the tubular space 54 to secure the proximal end A_Pof the cylindrical appendage A. According to one embodiment of the invention, one aperture 62 (or 64) of the first and second matching apertures 62, 64 is a clearance hole sized to pass the fastener 61, and the other aperture 64 (or 62) is an internally threaded aperture sized to threadedly engage the fastener 61. Alternatively, both the first and second matching apertures 62, 64 are structured as clearance holes sized to pass the fastener 61, and the fastener 61 is operated with a threaded nut.
FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the ratcheting mounting device 10 that illustrates mating of the ratcheting coupler 14 with the base 12. Accordingly, the upright receptor face 28 and insertion face 38 are mutually parallel with one another and oriented substantially perpendicular to a line of contact L_C. The multiple female sockets 32 and multiple male teeth 40 are directed opposite to one another along the line of contact L_C. As discussed herein, the circular pattern P_Cof teeth 40 is matched, i.e., substantially identical, to the circular pattern P_Sof the recessed sockets 32. Furthermore, the individual male teeth 40 are structured to be received into and mate snugly with each of the different female sockets 32. Accordingly, when the multiple teeth 40 on the insertion face 38 are introduced into the sockets 32 on the receptor face 28, the ratcheting coupler 14 is angularly fixed relative to the base 12. The coupler clamping mechanism 16 applies an axial load or force F_Calong the line of contact L_Cthat forces the insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against the receptor face 28 of the receptor 26. Because the pyramidal shape of the male teeth 40 matches and substantially fill the inverse pyramidal shape of the female sockets 32, when the male teeth 40 mated with the female sockets 32 under the axial force F_Capplied along the line of contact L_C, the ratcheting coupler 14 is secured in substantially fixed angular relationship with the receptor 26. Accordingly, the appendage A cannot be rotated relative to the base 12 and the external surface E to which the foot 22 of the base 12 is attached, without either breaking all the teeth 40 from the insertion face 38, or separating the ratcheting coupler 14 from the receptor 26. The first is next to impossible because the base 12 and ratcheting coupler 14 are both formed of strong and substantially rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic, and the second is also next to impossible because the base 12 and ratcheting coupler 14 are securely forced together under the load F_Capplied by the coupler clamping mechanism 16.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the coupler clamping mechanism 16 includes the threaded fastener 66 for clamping the ratcheting coupler 14 to the base 12. The threaded fastener 66 is, for example, a male threaded member, such as a bolt, stud or rod, that is projected perpendicularly from the insertion face 38 along the line of contact L_C. When the threaded fastener 66 is a stud, the aperture 34 through the receptor 26 is a threaded aperture structured to receive and retain the stud-type threaded fastener 66 with a threaded shaft 67 projected from the receptor face 28 along the line of contact L_C. Alternatively, the aperture 34 is eliminated, and the threaded shaft portion 67 of the stud-type threaded fastener 66 is projected out of the insertion surface 38, as by being originally formed as an integral part of the receptor 26, or as being welded or otherwise fixed to the insertion surface 38. When the threaded fastener 66 is a bolt, the threaded shaft 67 of the bolt-type threaded fastener 66 is sized to pass through the aperture 34, and the bolt-type threaded fastener 66 includes a head 68 that is oversize relative to the aperture 34 for being constrained thereby on an opposite side 70 of the receptor 26 from the receptor face 28.
The coupler clamping mechanism 16 also includes a knob 72 (shown in FIG. 2) having an internally threaded bore 74 structured for threadedly engaging the threaded shaft 67 of the threaded fastener 66. The knob 72 is turnable by hand for operating in combination with the threaded fastener 66 as a means for applying the axial force F_Cthat forces the insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against the receptor face 28 of the receptor 26 along the line of contact L_C. Under the axial force F_Ceach of the male teeth 40 is unable to move relative to the mating sockets 32, and in-turn the ratcheting coupler 14 is forcibly constrained against angular rotation relative to the receptor 26 and base 12 which is constrained relative to the floor or other external surface E by means of the fasteners 25 through the foot 22, as shown in FIG. 2.
Other means for applying the axial force F_C, such as a cam device, are also known and are considered to be equivalent to the coupler clamping mechanism 16 described herein for practicing the invention.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a coil or other compression spring 76 is provided between the ratcheting coupler 14 and the base 12 as a means for biasing the hub 36 away from the receptor 26, and thereby separating the insertion face 38 from the receptor face 28 and retrieving the teeth 40 from the sockets 32 when the coupler clamping mechanism 16 is operated in reverse to remove the axial force F_C. When the compression spring 76 is provided as a coil or other tubular spring device, it is optionally sized to fit over the shaft 67 of the threaded fastener 66 as a means for retaining the spring 76 within the assembly of the ratcheting mounting device 10 during manual rotation and reorientation of the ratcheting coupler 14 relative to the base 12.
Accordingly, the ratcheting mounting device 10 of the invention effectively supports remote external objects relative to a fixed platform at a significant distance from the fixed platform.
According to different embodiments of the invention, the base 12, ratcheting coupler 14, coupler clamping mechanism 16, and appendage coupler 18 are embodied with different structure to perform the same function to achieve the same result in substantially the same way. For example, the hub 36 portion of the ratcheting coupler 14 is formed with the receptor face 28 with the sockets 32 formed therein, and the receptor 26 portion of the base 12 is formed with the insertion face 38 which includes multiple male teeth 40 projected therefrom. In another example, the sockets 32 and teeth 40 are formed as cooperating truncated conical structures. According to another example, coupler clamping mechanism 16 is a cam mechanism having the knob 72 structured to operate in concert with the shaft 67 for applying the axial force F_Cthat compresses the insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against the receptor face 28 of the receptor 26 along the line of contact L_C. In still another example, the cinching mechanism 56 is replaced with a conventional set screw in a threaded aperture aligned with the tubular space 54. Alternatively, the appendage coupler 18 is formed as a plate having a plurality of apertures for mounting the appendage A thereto by means of fasteners operating through the apertures.
Accordingly, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the inventor makes the following claims.

Claims

1. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising:

a substantially rigid base formed with a first substantially planar surface projected above a foot portion structured with a means for securing the base to an external surface;

a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler formed with a second substantially planar surface and an appendage coupler for securing an appendage thereto;

a plurality of cooperating teeth and sockets arranged between the planar surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations; and

a clamping mechanism structured for constraining the planar surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler in different angular relationships.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the clamping mechanism further comprises a threaded member for compressing the surface of the ratcheting coupler against the surface of the base.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a spring positioned for biasing the surface of the ratcheting coupler away from the surface of the base.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cooperating teeth and sockets are further spaced at cooperating angular intervals in first and second matching substantially circular patterns.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of teeth is less than the plurality of sockets.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the base to an external surface further comprises a means for securing the first substantially planar surface in an upright orientation relative to the external surface.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the appendage coupler further comprises a cinching mechanism structured for cinching an appendage in a parallel arrangement with the substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising an elongated appendage cinched by the cinching mechanism in a parallel arrangement with the substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the elongated appendage further comprises a mounting platform at an end thereof distal from the ratcheting coupler.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the mounting platform further comprises a partial sphere of resiliently compressible material.

11. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising:

a base formed with a first substantially planar surface, and being further formed with a means for securing the base to an external surface;

a ratcheting coupler formed with a second substantially planar surface, and being further formed with a means for securing an appendage;

a means for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations; and

a means for constraining the ratcheting coupler in a selected angular relationship with the base.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for constraining the ratcheting coupler in a selected angular relationship with the base further comprises a means for compressing the surface of the ratcheting coupler against the surface of the base.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a means for biasing the surface of the ratcheting coupler away from the surface of the base.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations further comprises a plurality of cooperating sockets and teeth operating between the surface of the ratcheting coupler and the surface of the base with the sockets being spaced at first angular intervals in a first substantially circular pattern and the teeth being spaced at second angular intervals in a second substantially circular pattern that matches the first circular pattern.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the plurality of teeth is less than the plurality of sockets.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for securing the base to an external surface further comprises a means for securing the base in an upright orientation relative to the external surface.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for securing an appendage to the ratcheting coupler further comprises a means for cinching an appendage in a parallel arrangement with the substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprises an elongated appendage cinched in a parallel arrangement with the substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the elongated appendage further comprises a mounting platform at an end thereof distal from the ratcheting coupler.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the mounting platform further comprises a partial sphere of resiliently compressible material.

21. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising:

a base formed with a foot that is structured for securing the base to an external surface, and a receptor coupled to the foot and having a substantially planar receptor face formed with a plurality of sockets arranged in a first circular pattern at uniform first intervals;

a ratcheting coupler having a substantially planar insertion face formed with a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom and arranged in a second circular pattern that is substantially the same as the first circular pattern of sockets and at positions that correspond to the first intervals, and an appendage coupler for securing an appendage in a ratcheting rotational relationship to the base; and

a coupler clamping mechanism structured for securing the ratcheting coupler to the base with the teeth inserted into the sockets.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the plurality of teeth is less than the plurality of sockets.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein the coupler clamping mechanism is further structured for securing the ratcheting coupler to the base with the teeth inserted into the sockets in different angular orientations of the insertion face relative to the receptor face.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the coupler clamping mechanism is further structured for applying an axial force along a line of contact that forces the insertion face against the receptor face.

25. The device of claim 21, further comprising an appendage secured by the appendage coupler.