Interchangeable snap-in device mounting apparatus

A quick connect and disconnect device mounting apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of different interchangeable male adapter bases, each adapter base having both a symmetrically-shaped base plate, and a different one of a plurality of different connector structures each structured for having secured thereto a mounting structure of an external device to be releasably mounted by the device mounting apparatus;
• (b) a female receiver having a cooperating symmetrically-shaped receptacle being structured for receiving thereinto and releasably retaining therein the base plate of any one of the plurality of different interchangeable male adapter bases, the symmetrically-shaped receptacle having:
• (1) a partial peripheral lip having an retaining lip portion thereof overhanging a first peripheral portion of the receptacle;
• and
• (2) a clamping mechanism comprising a resiliently movable retaining lip overhanging a second peripheral portion of the receptacle;
• and
• (3) an integral connector structure formed as part of an exterior connector surface opposite from receptacle;
• (c) a precision registration mechanism between the base plate of the male adapter base and the receptacle of the female receiver;
• and
• (d) wherein one of the interchangeable male adapter bases is assembled with the female receiver with the base plate inserted in the receptacle having the precision registration mechanism engaged therebetween, the retaining lip portion of the receptacle partial peripheral lip and the resiliently movable retaining lip portion of the clamping mechanism overhanging different portions of the base plate body.

A quick connect and disconnect device mounting apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of different interchangeable male adapter bases, each adapter base, comprising:
• (1) a substantially rigid diamond-shaped base plate having:
• (i) a substantially rigid diamond-shaped body between an exterior bottom surface and a spaced-apart exterior connector surface,
• (ii) partial side wall installation surface peripheral of the rigid body and contiguous with the exterior bottom surface,
• (iii) partial side wall positioning surfaces peripheral of the rigid body and contiguous with both the exterior connector surface and the partial side wall installation surface, and
• (iv) first and second integral lip portions each adjacent to opposite side edge intersections between respective pairs of substantially straight edges peripheral of the diamond-shaped rigid body;
• and
• (2) a different one of a plurality of different connector structures each structured for having secured thereto a mounting structure of an external device to be releasably mounted by the device mounting apparatus, the connector structure being integrally formed with the exterior connector surface between the first and second lip portions;
• and
• (b) a female receiver, comprising:
• (1) a substantially rigid diamond-shaped receptacle being sized and shaped to cooperatingly receive the diamond-shaped base plate of any one of the plurality of different interchangeable male adapter bases, the diamond-shaped receptacle having:
• (i) a substantially rigid diamond-shaped floor between an interior bottom surface and a spaced-apart exterior connector surface, and
• (ii) a partial peripheral lip extending from the diamond-shaped floor and partially surrounding the interior bottom surface, the partial peripheral lip including:
• (a) an interior nesting surface structured for cooperating with the side wall installation surface peripheral of the adapter base plate, the interior nesting surface being contiguous with the interior bottom surface of the receptacle floor,
• (b) an interior side wall positioning surface structured for cooperating with the partial side wall positioning surfaces peripheral of the adapter base plate, the interior side wall positioning surface being spaced above the interior bottom surface of the receptacle floor by the receptacle interior nesting surface and contiguous therewith,
• (c) an retaining lip portion thereof overhanging a first peripheral portion of the receptacle floor adjacent to a first edge of the interior bottom surface and spaced away therefrom at about the net thickness of adapter base plate, and
• (d) a break in the partial peripheral lip exposing a second peripheral portion of the receptacle floor adjacent to a second edge of the interior bottom surface opposite from the first portion thereof;
• (2) a clamping mechanism integral with the receptacle floor, the clamping mechanism comprising a resiliently movable retaining lip positioned within the break in the partial peripheral of receptacle and spaced away from the interior bottom surface at about the net thickness of adapter base plate;
• and
• (3) an integral connector structure formed as part of an exterior connector surface opposite from receptacle;
• (c) a precision registration mechanism positioned between the exterior bottom surface of the base plate of the male adapter base and the interior bottom surface of the receptacle;
• and
• (d) wherein the base plate of the male adapter base is installed in the receptacle with the precision registration mechanism engaged between the exterior bottom surface of the base plate of the male adapter base and the interior bottom surface of the receptacle with the retaining lip portion of the receptacle peripheral lip of the female receiver overhanging the first integral lip portion of the diamond-shaped base plate body, and the resiliently movable retaining lip portion of the clamping mechanism overhanging the second integral lip portion of the diamond-shaped base plate body.