Multi-legged equipment support having leg angle adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025035257-A1
Application number	US-202418915512-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2024
Priority date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

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 . A multi-legged equipment support comprising:
a hub; a set of legs including at least first and second legs, each leg of the set of legs including a head, each head being pivotably connected to the hub for pivoting about a respective pivot axis, each leg being pivotable with respect to the hub about the respective pivot axis outward from a stowed position to at least one operational pivoted position; and leg angle stop structure including a first stop and a corresponding first set of blockers, at least one of the first leg or the hub including the first stop, the other of the at least one of the first leg or the hub including the first set of blockers, the first set of blockers comprising a first first leg blocker and a second first leg blocker, at least one of the first stop or the first set of blockers being movable with respect to the hub to selectively arrange the first stop in registration with at least one of the first first leg blocker or second first leg blocker, the first first leg blocker arranged to engage the first stop when the first stop is in registration with the first first leg blocker to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at a first preset operational pivoted positon of the first leg, the second first leg blocker arranged to engage the first stop when the first stop is in registration with the second first leg blocker to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at a second preset operational pivoted position of the first leg, 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 to the first preset operational pivoted position.

2 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a first actuator, the first actuator being movable to preset locations to move the at least one of the first stop or the first set of blockers to selectively arrange the first stop with respect to the first set of blockers, a first preset location of the first actuator corresponding to the first stop being in registration with the first first leg blocker, and a second preset location of the actuator corresponding to the first stop being in registration with the second first leg blocker.

3 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the actuator is movable in a first direction from the first preset location to the second preset location and movable in a second direction opposite the first direction from the second preset location to the first preset location, the actuator being free of a bias biasing the actuator in the first direction and free of a bias biasing the actuator in the second direction.

4 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a retainer arranged to maintain the first actuator in at least one of the first preset location or the second preset location irrespective of engagement of the first stop with the first set of blockers.

5 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the retainer is arranged to maintain the first actuator in the first preset location and the second preset location.

6 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the retainer comprises a detent.

7 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the detent is biased toward a retaining position.

8 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the first actuator is movable in a first direction to change registration of the stop with the first first leg blocker to registration of the stop with the second first leg blocker, and movable in a second direction opposite the first direction to change registration of the stop with the second first leg blocker to registration of the stop with the first first leg blocker.

9 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the detent is arranged to be displaced from the retaining position to permit movement of the first actuator in the first direction responsive to force on the actuator tending to move the actuator in the first direction.

10 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the first actuator includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the first and second end portions being located to be pushed by a finger of a user to move the first actuator between the first and second preset locations.

11 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the first actuator comprises a slide, the slide having an intermediate portion housed in the head of the first leg, the first and second end portions being exposed outside the head of the first leg.

12 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a first indicator, the first indicator corresponding to the first preset location of the first actuator, the first indicator being arranged to be exposed for view by a user when the first actuator is in the first preset location and to be hidden from view by the user when the first actuator is not in the first preset location.

13 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises a second indicator, the second indicator corresponding to the second preset location of the first indicator, the second indicator being arranged to be exposed for view by the user when the first actuator is in the second preset location and to be hidden from view by the user when the first actuator is not in the second preset location.

14 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising an opening in at least one of the hub or the head of the first leg, the first indicator being exposed at the opening when the first actuator is in the first preset location, and the second indicator being exposed at the opening when the first actuator is in the second preset location.

15 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a first indicator, the first indicator corresponding to the first preset location of the first actuator, the first indicator being arranged to be exposed for view by a user when the first actuator is in the first preset location and to be hidden from view by the user when the first actuator is not in the first preset location.

16 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first set of blockers comprises a third first leg blocker, the first stop being movable with respect to the first set of blockers to selectively arrange the first stop in registration with the third first leg blocker, the third first leg blocker arranged to engage the first stop when the first stop is in registration with the third first leg blocker to stop outward pivoting of the first leg at a third preset operational pivoted position of the first leg, the first leg being pivotable outward a greater degree from the stowed position to the third preset operational position than from the stowed position to the second preset operational pivoted position.

17 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first leg includes the first stop, and the hub includes the first set of blockers, the stop being movable with respect to the head of the leg to selectively arrange the first stop with respect to the set of blockers.

18 . A multi-legged equipment support as set forth in claim 1 , wherein leg angle stop structure includes a second stop and a corres

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