US-20260126147-A1 - Mounting System for Electronic Timing Devices

US20260126147A1US 20260126147 A1US20260126147 A1US 20260126147A1US-20260126147-A1

Abstract

A mounting system for electronic timing devices is a system that facilitates the mounting of an electronic timing device to a rodeo chute. The mounting system includes a rail device mount and a ground device mount. The rail device mount can be securely mounted onto a lateral rail of the rodeo chute. The rail device mount positions an electric eye of the electronic timing device high off the ground. The ground device mount can be securely mounted onto a lateral wall of the rodeo chute close to the ground. The ground device mount secures another electric eye of the electronic timing device close to the ground. The ground device mount and the rail device mount each further includes a length-adjustable rail and a mounting plate. The length-adjustable rail allows the length adjustment of the corresponding device mount. The mounting plate accommodates an electric eye of the electronic timing device.

Inventors

Steven Craig Jeffcoat

Assignees

Steven Craig Jeffcoat

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251104

Claims (20)

1 . A mounting system for electronic timing devices, the system comprising: a rail device mount; a ground device mount; the ground device mount and the rail device mount each comprising a length-adjustable rail and a mounting plate; the rail device mount comprising a plurality of rail clamps; the ground device mount comprising a plurality of ground supports and a plurality of wall supports; the length-adjustable rail being terminally connected to the mounting plate; the plurality of rail clamps being distributed along the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; each of the plurality of rail clamps being laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; the plurality of ground supports and the plurality of wall supports being distributed along the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; a specific ground support from the plurality of ground supports being positioned perpendicular and adjacent to a corresponding wall support from the plurality of wall supports; each of the plurality of ground supports being laterally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; and each of the plurality of wall supports being laterally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount.
2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: the length-adjustable rail comprising a first rail section, a second rail section, and a rail locking mechanism; the first rail section being telescopically engaged to the second rail section; the first rail section being terminally connected to the mounting plate, opposite the second rail section; and the rail locking mechanism being operatively integrated between the first rail section and the second rail section, wherein the rail locking mechanism is used to lock the first rail section in place along the second rail section.
3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: the plurality of rail clamps being distributed along the second rail section of the rail device mount; and each of the plurality of rail clamps being laterally mounted onto the second rail section of the rail device mount.
4 . The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: the plurality of ground supports and the plurality of wall supports being distributed along the second rail section of the ground device mount; each of the plurality of ground supports being laterally connected to the second rail section of the ground device mount; and each of the plurality of wall supports being laterally connected to the second rail section of the ground device mount.
5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: each of the plurality of rail clamps comprising a C-shaped clamp body, a male clamp fastener feature, and a female clamp fastener feature; the C-shaped clamp body being positioned perpendicular to the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; the female clamp fastener feature being integrated into the C-shaped clamp body, offset to the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; and the male clamp fastener feature being engaged into the female clamp fastener feature.
6 . The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising: the male clamp fastener feature being a male-threaded fastener; the female clamp fastener feature being a female-threaded hole; the female-threaded hole traversing through the C-shaped clamp body; and the male-threaded fastener being threadably engaged into the female-threaded hole.
7 . The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising: each of the plurality of rail clamps further comprising at least one clamp magnet; and the at least one clamp magnet being mounted within the C-shaped clamp body, offset to the female clamp fastener feature.
8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: each of the plurality of ground supports comprising a length-adjustable ground pole and a pole cap; the length-adjustable ground pole being oriented perpendicular to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; the length-adjustable ground pole being terminally connected to the pole cap; and the length-adjustable ground pole being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the pole cap.
9 . The system as claimed in claim 8 further comprising: the length-adjustable ground pole comprising a first ground pole section, a second ground pole section, and a first pole locking mechanism; the first ground pole section being telescopically engaged to the second ground pole section; the first ground pole section being terminally connected to the pole cap, opposite the second ground pole section; the second ground pole section being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the first ground pole section; and the first pole locking mechanism being operatively integrated between the first ground pole section and the second ground pole section, wherein the first pole locking mechanism is used to lock the first ground pole section in place along the second ground pole section.
10 . The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: each of the plurality of wall supports comprising a length-adjustable wall pole and a wall attachment device; the length-adjustable wall pole being oriented perpendicular to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; the length-adjustable wall pole being terminally connected to the wall attachment device; and the length-adjustable wall pole being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the wall attachment device.
11 . The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: the length-adjustable wall pole comprising a first wall pole section, a second wall pole section, and a second pole locking mechanism; the first wall pole section being telescopically engaged to the second wall pole section; the first wall pole section being terminally connected to the wall attachment device, opposite the second wall pole section; the second wall pole section being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the first wall pole section; and the second pole locking mechanism being operatively integrated between the first wall pole section and the second wall pole section, wherein the second pole locking mechanism is used to lock the first wall pole section in place along the second wall pole section.
12 . A mounting system for electronic timing devices, the system comprising: a rail device mount; a ground device mount; the ground device mount and the rail device mount each comprising a length-adjustable rail and a mounting plate; the rail device mount comprising a plurality of rail clamps; the ground device mount comprising a plurality of ground supports and a plurality of wall supports; the length-adjustable rail comprising a first rail section, a second rail section, and a rail locking mechanism; the first rail section being telescopically engaged to the second rail section; the first rail section being terminally connected to the mounting plate, opposite the second rail section; the rail locking mechanism being operatively integrated between the first rail section and the second rail section, wherein the rail locking mechanism is used to lock the first rail section in place along the second rail section; the plurality of rail clamps being distributed along the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; each of the plurality of rail clamps being laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; the plurality of ground supports and the plurality of wall supports being distributed along the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; a specific ground support from the plurality of ground supports being positioned perpendicular and adjacent to a corresponding wall support from the plurality of wall supports; each of the plurality of ground supports being laterally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; and each of the plurality of wall supports being laterally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount.
13 . The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: the plurality of rail clamps being distributed along the second rail section of the rail device mount; and each of the plurality of rail clamps being laterally mounted onto the second rail section of the rail device mount.
14 . The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: the plurality of ground supports and the plurality of wall supports being distributed along the second rail section of the ground device mount; each of the plurality of ground supports being laterally connected to the second rail section of the ground device mount; and each of the plurality of wall supports being laterally connected to the second rail section of the ground device mount.
15 . The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: each of the plurality of rail clamps comprising a C-shaped clamp body, a male clamp fastener feature, a female clamp fastener feature, and at least one clamp magnet; the C-shaped clamp body being positioned perpendicular to the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; the female clamp fastener feature being integrated into the C-shaped clamp body, offset to the length-adjustable rail of the rail device mount; the male clamp fastener feature being engaged into the female clamp fastener feature; and the at least one clamp magnet being mounted within the C-shaped clamp body, offset to the female clamp fastener feature.
16 . The system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising: the male clamp fastener feature being a male-threaded fastener; the female clamp fastener feature being a female-threaded hole; the female-threaded hole traversing through the C-shaped clamp body; and the male-threaded fastener being threadably engaged into the female-threaded hole.
17 . The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: each of the plurality of ground supports comprising a length-adjustable ground pole and a pole cap; the length-adjustable ground pole being oriented perpendicular to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; the length-adjustable ground pole being terminally connected to the pole cap; and the length-adjustable ground pole being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the pole cap.
18 . The system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising: the length-adjustable ground pole comprising a first ground pole section, a second ground pole section, and a first pole locking mechanism; the first ground pole section being telescopically engaged to the second ground pole section; the first ground pole section being terminally connected to the pole cap, opposite the second ground pole section; the second ground pole section being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the first ground pole section; and the first pole locking mechanism being operatively integrated between the first ground pole section and the second ground pole section, wherein the first pole locking mechanism is used to lock the first ground pole section in place along the second ground pole section.
19 . The system as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: each of the plurality of wall supports comprising a length-adjustable wall pole and a wall attachment device; the length-adjustable wall pole being oriented perpendicular to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount; the length-adjustable wall pole being terminally connected to the wall attachment device; and the length-adjustable wall pole being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the wall attachment device.
20 . The system as claimed in claim 19 further comprising: the length-adjustable wall pole comprising a first wall pole section, a second wall pole section, and a second pole locking mechanism; the first wall pole section being telescopically engaged to the second wall pole section; the first wall pole section being terminally connected to the wall attachment device, opposite the second wall pole section; the second wall pole section being terminally connected to the length-adjustable rail of the ground device mount, opposite the first wall pole section; and the second pole locking mechanism being operatively integrated between the first wall pole section and the second wall pole section, wherein the second pole locking mechanism is used to lock the first wall pole section in place along the second wall pole section.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to sports equipment and mounting devices for electronics. More specifically, the present invention provides a mounting system designed for a rodeo chute that facilitates the attachment of electronic timing devices to the rodeo chute. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Team roping is a rodeo event that generally features a steer and a pair of riders. The goal of the team roping event is to successfully rope the steer in the shortest time possible. During the event, one rider loops a rope around the steer's horns, and the other rider ropes the steer around the hind feet. This technique was created by cowboys to restrain animals that are too large to safely handle with a single rider. To keep track of the time, various timing methods have been utilized to accurately measure the riders' timing. Nowadays, electronic timing systems are available that utilize a sensor module, commonly known as electric eyes, to automatically start the timer when the steer leaves the rodeo chute. The electric eyes are installed adjacent to the gate of the rodeo chute to monitor when the steer leaves the chute. This way, the timing is performed fairly for all the riders by establishing standard starting conditions for the timer. The electric eyes generate a laser beam that is positioned on the way of the steer's head so that the steer's horns or head interrupts the laser beam as the steer leaves the rodeo chute. The laser beam interruption triggers the electronic timing system to start the timer for the riders. Various mounting devices are available to position the laser beam on the way of the steer's head, such as tripods. While the available mounting devices can be useful, the available mounting devices have various limitations. The uneven ground can make proper alignment of the electric eyes difficult, and the mounting devices may not elevate the electric eyes high enough to properly reach the steer's eyes. So, the present invention provides a mounting system for electronic timing devices that facilitates the proper mounting of the electric eyes of an electronic timing system to a rodeo chute. The present invention is designed to be secured to the rodeo chute instead of being placed on the ground to facilitate the proper alignment of the electric eyes. By using the rodeo chute for support, the positioning of the electric eyes is better secured to ensure that the generated laser beam stays in the path of the steer's head. Further, the mounting system of the present invention is adjustable to enable the user to adjust the positioning of the electric eyes as necessary. Additional features and benefits of the present invention are further discussed in the sections below. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a mounting system for electronic timing devices. The mounting system enables the mounting of electric eyes to the structure of a rodeo chute. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a rail device mount and a ground device mount. The rail device mount is designed to be mounted onto a rail of the rodeo chute to keep one of the electric eyes at an elevated position. The ground device mount is designed to be positioned close to the ground and to be secured to a lateral wall of the rodeo chute. The ground device mount keeps the other electric eye at a lower position. This way, the electric eyes are arranged in a diagonal position across the gate of the rodeo chute to detect when the steer exits the rodeo chute. Further, both the rail device mount and the ground device mount are designed to be length adjustable so that the mounting system can be used with rodeo chutes of different sizes. Both the rail device mount and the ground device mount can be extended or contracted as necessary without the use of specialized tools or external fasteners. The ground device mount can also be provided with means to help adjust the distance between the lateral wall of the rodeo chute and the ground device mount. In addition, the ground device mount can be provided with means to adjust the overall height of the ground device mount. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top-front-left perspective view of the mounting system of the present invention, wherein the rail device mount and the ground device mount are shown attached to a rodeo chute, and wherein electric eyes are shown mounted to the mounting plates of the rail device mount and the ground device mount. FIG. 2 is a top-front-right perspective view of the mounting system of the present invention thereof. FIG. 3 is a front view of the mounting system of the present invention thereof. FIG. 4 is a top view of the mounting system of the present invention thereof. FIG. 5 is a top-front-left perspective view of the rail device mount of the present invention thereof. FIG. 6 is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the rail device mount of the present invention thereof. FIG. 7 is a top-front-left explo