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US 10,123,612 B2Granted
Retractable support member
OwnerJames Daniel Grappeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support member that is retractable and then can be extended and locked into place in order to support such item. The locking mechanisms for the support member include at least two push button assemblies. In order to retract the support member, a user pushes in the first push button and slides a first telescoping portion of the support member over a second telescoping portion of the support member, which then automatically pushes in the second push button to complete the retraction of the support member.
Claims20
A retractable support member, comprising:
- an upper elongated portion of the retractable support member;
- a lower elongated portion of the retractable support member, wherein the upper and lower elongated portions are configured so that the upper elongated portion telescopically slides within the lower elongated portion;
- a first button assembly rigidly attached to a lower interior of the upper elongated portion, wherein the first button assembly includes a first push button;
- a second button assembly slideably engaged with an interior of the upper elongated portion of the retractable support member, wherein the second button assembly includes a second push button;
- and
- a supporting arm having a first end hingeably coupled to the second button assembly, wherein the lower elongated portion has a first hole formed therethrough that is configured to permit the first push button to protrude into the first hole, and wherein the upper elongated portion has a second hole formed therethrough that is configured to permit the second push button to protrude into the second hole.
3 more elements
A method for moving a retractable support member from an extended configuration to a retracted configuration, wherein the retractable support member comprises:
- an upper elongated portion of the retractable support member;
- a lower elongated portion of the retractable support member, wherein the upper and lower elongated portions are configured so that the upper elongated portion telescopically slides within the lower elongated portion;
- a first button assembly rigidly attached to a lower interior of the upper elongated portion, wherein the first button assembly includes a first push button;
- a second button assembly slideably engaged with an interior of the upper elongated portion of the retractable support member, wherein the second button assembly includes a second push button;
- a supporting arm having a first end hingeably coupled to the second button assembly, wherein the lower elongated portion has a first hole formed therethrough that is configured to permit the first push button to protrude into the first hole, and wherein the upper elongated portion has a second hole formed therethrough that is configured to permit the second push button to protrude into the second hole;
- a first bracket hingeably coupled to a second end of the supporting arm;
- and
- a second bracket hingeably coupled to a first end of the upper elongated portion, wherein when the retractable support member is in an extended configuration, the upper and lower elongated portions are telescopically and rigidly engaged with each other by the first push button protruding into the first hole and the second push button protruding into the second hole, the method comprising:
- manually pushing the second push button inward a sufficient distance so that the second button assembly is no longer rigidly engaged with the lower elongated portion;
- when the second button assembly is no longer rigidly engaged with the lower elongated portion, manually sliding the upper and lower elongated portions towards each other in a telescopic manner so that a top edge of the lower elongated portion engages with a side of the second push button to thereby automatically push in the second push button a sufficient distance out of the second hole so that the second button assembly is no longer rigidly engaged with the upper elongated portion;
- and
- pivoting the retractable support member about the second bracket towards the retracted configuration thereby causing the second button assembly to slide within the upper elongated portion.
9 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a retractable support member comprising:
- an upper elongated portion of the retractable support member;
- a lower elongated portion of the retractable support member, wherein the upper and lower elongated portions are configured so that the upper elongated portion telescopically slides within the lower elongated portion;
- a first button assembly rigidly attached to a lower interior of the upper elongated portion, wherein the first button assembly includes a first push button;
- a second button assembly slideably engaged with an interior of the upper elongated portion of the retractable support member, wherein the second button assembly includes a second push button;
- a supporting arm having a first end hingeably coupled to the second button assembly, wherein the lower elongated portion has a first hole formed therethrough that is configured to permit the first push button to protrude into the first hole, wherein the upper elongated portion has a second hole formed therethrough that is configured to permit the second push button to protrude into the second hole,
- a first bracket hingeably coupled to a second end of the supporting arm;
- and
- a second bracket hingeably coupled to a first end of the upper elongated portion, wherein the retractable support member is configured to have an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein when the retractable support member is in the extended configuration, the upper and lower elongated portions are telescopically and rigidly engaged with each other by the first push button protruding into the first hole and the second push button protruding into the second hole, wherein when the retractable support member is in the retracted configuration, the upper and lower elongated portions are telescopically engaged with each other so that the first push button is not protruding into the first hole and the second push button is not protruding into the second hole;
- and
- a surface, wherein the first and second brackets are attached to the surface.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.