# US 10,119,291 B2 · Free-standing load support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,291 B2 - Document ID: US10119291B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/436,530 - Filed: 2017-02-17 - Published: 2018-08-23 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-17 - Applicants: James McKinion - Inventors: James McKinion - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119291B2 ## CPC - E04H 12/2223: {by screwing} - E04H 12/2238: {to be placed on the ground (Christmas tree stands A47G33/12)} - F24S 25/12: using posts in combination with upper profiles - F24S 25/617: Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces - F24S 30/452: Vertical primary axis - H01Q 1/1242: {Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial} - H01Q 1/1264: {Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit} - H02S 20/10: Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground (H02S20/30 takes precedence) - F24S 2030/14: {Movement guiding means} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A load support system includes an elongate support member that includes, toward a first end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, toward a second end, a second portion to which the load can be coupled. A lateral support, mounted about the first portion has a diameter greater than the elongate support member and a length less than the first portion. At least one first helix is formed about the first portion. The load support system may have a load positioning system including a housing that supports attachment of the load. The housing is sized to receive therein a second helix formed about the second portion and includes a follower assembly configured to contact the second helix to impart rotation as the housing is raised and lowered. The load positioning system further includes an actuator configured to telescopically raise and lower the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load support system, comprising: an elongate support member having a first diameter, a first end, and a second end, wherein the elongate support member includes, closer to the first end than the second end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, closer to the second end than the first end, a second portion to which a load can be coupled, wherein the first portion has a first length, and wherein the elongate support member further includes: an interior cavity that is within the elongate support member and that extends from the first portion to the second portion; a sidewall having an exterior surface, wherein the sidewall has a through hole in the first portion that communicates between the exterior surface and the interior cavity and that is spaced from the second portion by at least 18 inches; a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than the first length, wherein the lateral support is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member between the through hole and the first end, wherein the lateral support includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall defining an interior volume, and wherein each of the first and second ends of the lateral support has a respective opening therein configured to permit passage of spoils between the interior volume of the lateral support and an exterior of the lateral support; and a helix that is formed about the first portion of the elongate support member and that couples the lateral support to the elongate support member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein the lateral support is substantially concentric with the elongate support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein each of the elongate support member and the lateral support is tubular and has a substantially circular cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The load support system of claim 3, wherein a ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter is in a range of 0.1 to 0.7. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate support member includes at least one earth-engaging feature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein: the helix is a first helix; and the load support system further comprises a second helix coupled to the first portion of the elongate support member intermediate the lateral support and the first end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, and further comprising a wiring harness disposed in the interior cavity of the elongate support member and extending between the through hole and second portion. ### Claim 8 A load support system, comprising: an elongate support member having a first diameter, a first end, and a second end, wherein the elongate support member includes, closer to the first end than the second end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, closer to the second end than the first end, a second portion to which a load can be coupled, wherein the first portion has a first length; a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than the first length, wherein the lateral support is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member; a first helix that is formed about the first portion of the elongate support member and that couples the lateral support to the elongate support member; a load positioning system coupled to the second portion of the elongate support member, wherein the load positioning system includes: a second helix formed about the second portion of the elongate support member; a housing that surrounds the second portion of the elongate support member and that is configured for attachment of the load thereto, the housing including a follower assembly that contacts the second helix to impart rotation to the housing as the housing is raised and lowered; and an actuator coupled to the elongate support member and to the housing and configured to telescopically raise and lower the housing relative to the elongate support member. ### Claim 9 A load positioning system, comprising: a housing configured for attachment of a load thereto, wherein the housing has an axis and an interior volume sized to receive therein a helix formed about a co-axial elongate support member, and wherein the housing includes a follower assembly configured to contact the helix to impart rotation about the axis to the housing as the housing is raised and lowered along the axis with respect to the elongate support member; and an actuator having a first end coupled to the housing by a first coupling and a second end configured to be coupled to the elongate support member by a second coupling, wherein the actuator is configured to telescopically raise and lower the housing along the axis relative to the elongate support member, and wherein: one of the first and second couplings is a rotatable mechanical coupling that is rotatable about the axis; the first coupling fixes the first end of the actuator with respect to the housing such that the first end of the actuator and the housing move in tandem along the axis; and the second coupling is configured to fix the second end of the actuator along the axis with respect to the elongate support member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, and further comprising the elongate support member and the helix. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The load positioning system of claim 10, wherein the helix has at least 180 degrees of rotation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The load positioning system of claim 11, wherein the helix has at least 360 degrees of rotation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, wherein: the housing is a pivotally coupled to the load; the actuator is a first actuator; and the load positioning system further includes a second actuator operable independently from the first actuator, wherein the second actuator is coupled to the housing and configured to be coupled to the load such that the load is selectively pivoted with respect to the housing when power is applied to the second actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, wherein the housing has an access port formed therein through which the second coupling can be accessed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, and further comprising a control unit that selectively applies power to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the housing relative to the elongate support member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, and further comprising a fixture configured to mechanically connect the load to the housing, wherein the fixture includes multiple symmetrically arranged mounting points for the load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, and further comprising the load mechanically attached to the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, wherein: the housing has a first end and a second end; the first coupling couples the first end of the actuator to the first end of the housing; and the second coupling is the rotatable coupling. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The load positioning system of claim 18, and further comprising: the elongate support member and the helix; wherein: the elongate support member is received in the housing; and the second coupling is disposed within the elongate member between the first and second ends of the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The load positioning system of claim 19, wherein the housing has an access port formed therein through which the second coupling can be accessed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) The load positioning system of claim 9, and further comprising: a plurality of roller bearings disposed within the interior volume of the housing to maintain spacing between the housing and the elongate support member by exerting force orthogonal to the axis. ### Claim 22 A load positioning system, comprising: a housing configured for attachment of a load thereto, wherein the housing has an axis and an interior volume sized to receive therein a helix formed about a co-axial elongate support member having an exterior surface, and wherein the housing includes: a follower assembly configured to contact the helix to impart rotation to the housing as the housing is raised and lowered; a plurality of roller bearings disposed within the interior volume and configured to make rolling contact with the exterior surface of the elongate support member along the axis to maintain spacing between the housing and the elongate support member; and an actuator coupled to the housing and configured to be coupled to the elongate support member, wherein the actuator is configured to telescopically raise and lower the housing relative to the elongate support member. ### Claim 23 A load support system, comprising: an elongate support member having a first diameter and a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support member includes, closer to the first end than the second end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, closer to the second end than the first end, a second portion to which a load can be coupled, wherein the first portion has a first length; a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than the first length, wherein the lateral support is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member; a first helix formed about the first portion of the elongate support member; a second helix formed about the second portion of the elongate support member; a load positioning system, including: a housing configured for attachment of the load thereto, wherein the housing has an interior volume sized to receive therein the second helix formed about the second portion of the elongate support member, and wherein the housing includes a follower assembly configured to contact the second helix to impart rotation to the housing as the housing is raised and lowered; and an actuator coupled to the housing and to elongate support member, wherein the actuator is configured to telescopically raise and lower the housing relative to the elongate support member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The load support system of claim 23, and further comprising a control unit that selectively applies power to the actuator.