Multi-legged equipment support having leg angle adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12146608-B2
Application number	US-202318535130-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2023
Priority date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

A multi-legged equipment support, components thereof, and associated methods. The equipment support comprises a stand and an equipment holder. The stand includes a hub and multiple legs pivotable with respect to the hub. The legs are pivotable outward from stowed positions to preset operational pivoted positions. The user can select a preset operational pivoted position in which outward pivoting of a leg will stop based on moving an actuator between preset locations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An equipment support comprising:
a hub;
a first leg having a length and a width and being pivotably connected to the hub for pivoting about a first pivot axis, the first leg being pivotable with respect to the hub about the first pivot axis outward from a stowed position to a first preset operational pivoted position and a second preset operational pivoted position, the first leg being pivotable outward a greater degree from the stowed position to the second preset operational pivoted position than from the stowed position to the first preset operational pivoted position; and
a first adjuster movable widthwise of the first leg in opposite first and second directions to move the first adjuster between a first location and a second location to change a position to which the first leg is pivotable away from the stowed position, the first leg being pivotable away from the stowed position to the first preset operational pivoted position and not to the second preset operational pivoted position when the first adjuster is in the first location, the first leg being pivotable away from the stowed position beyond the first preset operational pivoted position and to the second preset operational pivoted position when the first adjuster is in the second location.

2. The equipment support of claim 1 , wherein the first and second directions are generally perpendicular to the length of the first leg.

3. The equipment support of claim 1 , wherein the first and second directions are generally parallel to the first pivot axis about which the first leg pivots.

4. The equipment support of claim 1 , wherein the first adjuster is moveable in the first direction to move the first adjuster from the first location to the second location and is moveable in the second direction to move the first adjuster from the second location to the first location.

5. The equipment support of claim 1 , wherein the first adjuster is free of a bias biasing the first adjuster in the first direction and free of a bias biasing the first adjuster in the second direction.

6. The equipment support of claim 1 , wherein the first adjuster includes opposite first and second finger engagement surfaces forming respective first and second ends of the first adjuster, the first adjuster being moveable between the first and second locations along a travel axis that intersects the first and second finger engagement surfaces.

7. The equipment support of claim 6 , wherein the first adjuster is configured to slide linearly along the travel axis.

8. The equipment support of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer configured to maintain the first adjuster in the first location and in the second location.

9. The equipment support of claim 8 , wherein the retainer is configured to maintain the first adjuster in the first and second locations irrespective of the first leg being in the first preset operational pivoted position or the second preset operational pivoted position.

10. The equipment support of claim 9 , wherein the first adjuster includes a first stop, the first stop being arranged to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at the first preset operational pivoted position when the first adjuster is in the first location and being arranged to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at the second preset operational pivoted position when the first adjuster is in the second location.

11. The equipment support of claim 10 , further comprising a first blocker and a second blocker, the first stop being arranged to engage the first blocker to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at the first preset operational pivoted position when the first stop is in the first location, and the first stop being arranged to engage the second blocker to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at the second preset operational pivoted position when the first stop is in the second location.

12. The equipment support of claim 11 , wherein the hub includes the first and second blockers, and the first leg includes the first adjuster.

13. The equipment support of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second leg having a length and a width and being pivotably connected to the hub for pivoting about a second pivot axis, the second leg being pivotable with respect to the hub about the second pivot axis outward from a stowed position to a first preset operational pivoted position and a second preset operational pivoted position, the second leg being pivotable outward a greater degree from the stowed position of the second leg to the second preset operational pivoted position of the second leg than from the stowed position of the second leg to the first preset operational pivoted position of the second leg; and
a second adjuster movable widthwise of the second leg in opposite first and second directions to move the second adjuster between a first location and a second location to change a position to which the second leg is pivotable away from the stowed position of the second leg, the second leg being pivotable away from the stowed position of the second leg to the first preset operational pivoted position of the second leg and not to the second preset operational pivoted position of the second leg when the second adjuster is in the first location of the second adjuster, the second leg being pivotable away from the stowed position of the second leg beyond the first preset operational pivoted position of the second leg and to the second preset operational pivoted position of the second leg when the second adjuster is in the second location of the second adjuster.

14. The equipment support of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third leg having a length and a width and being pivotably connected to the hub for pivoting about a third pivot axis, the third leg being pivotable with respect to the hub about the third pivot axis outward from a stowed position to a first preset operational pivoted position and a second preset operational pivoted position, the third leg being pivotable outward a greater degree from the stowed position of the third leg to the second preset operational pivoted position of the third leg than from the stowed position of the third leg to the first preset operational pivoted position of the third leg; and
a third adjuster movable widthwise of the third leg in opposite first and second directions to move the third adjuster between a first location and a second location to change a position to which the third leg is pivotable away from the stowed position of the third leg, the third leg being pivotable away from the stowed position of the third leg to the first preset operational pivoted position of the third leg and not to the second preset operational pivoted position of the third leg when the third adjuster is in the first location of the third adjuster, the third leg being pivotable away from the stowed position of the third leg beyond the first preset operational pivoted position of the third leg and to the second preset operational pivoted position of the third leg when the third adjuster is in the second location of the third adjuster.

15. An equipment support comprising:
a hub;
a first leg pivotably connected to the hub for pivoting about a first pivot axis, the first leg being pivotable with respect to the hub about the first pivot axis outward from a stowed position to a first preset operational pivoted position and a second preset operational pivoted position, the first leg being pivotable outward a greater degree from the stowed position to the second preset operational pivoted position than from the stowed position to the first preset operational pivoted position; and
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Assignees

• Aob Products Company

Inventors

• Steere Brian
• Cottrell Michael
• Kinney Timothy S
• Tayon James
• Nickerson Jason
• Burke Justin
• Vesich Anthony
• Cauley Jr Dennis W
• Dalton Mark
• Smith Kyle

Classifications

• F16M11/34

  Members limiting spreading of legs {, e.g. "umbrella legs"} · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M11/32

  Undercarriages for supports with three or more telescoping legs · CPC title

• F16M11/16 Primary

  Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof · CPC title