Swivel support structure

A device for supporting a cover, said device comprising:

• a dome comprising a dome portion and a depending shaft portion wherein the axial center of said dome portion is the upper most portion an wherein the outer surface curves in a downward direction extending away from said axial center a predefined distance thereby defining a dome-outer-perimeter that is one of (a) a generally circular perimeter, and (b) a polygonal perimeter, and wherein the said depending shaft portion extends downwardly from said axial center and further defines a first dome-attachment-interface;
• a first-cover-interface comprising a disc-portion, a lower-band-portion, and a first clamping-ring extending radially and outwardly therefrom, wherein:
• said disc-portion defines a disc-hole in the approximate center thereof, wherein the outer diameter of said disc-portion is shorter than said dome-outer-perimeter and wherein the diameter of said disc-hole is larger than the diameter of said depending shaft portion, and wherein at least part of the surface of the disc-portion defining the outer boundary of said disc-hole further defines a disc-attachment-point;
• said lower-band-portion extends downwardly from said disc-portion and wherein the inner diameter of said lower-band-portion is greater than the diameter of said disc-hole and wherein the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion is less than the outer diameter of said clamping-ring and wherein a surface of said lower-band-portion defines a lower-band-attachment-point;
• and
• said clamping-ring comprises an upper surface and lower surface connected by a peripheral edge wherein a clamping-region is defined along said lower surface between the outer diameter of said clamping-ring and the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion wherein said clamping-region is configured for being associated with a cover to be supported;
• a second-cover-interface comprising a second clamping-ring wherein the inner diameter of said second clamping-ring is longer than the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion and shorter than the outer diameter of said first clamping-ring so that said lower-band-portion can slide through said second-clamping ring;
• and
• a fastener configured for adjustably associating with said lower-band-attachment-point so that the first clamping-region and the second clamping-region define a clamping force there between when said fastener is adjusted;
• and
• wherein said dome further defines at least one of (a) a suspension interface defined at said axial center, (b) a dome-to-swivel interface defined at the free end of said depending shaft portion, and (c) a pole interface defined at the free end of said depending shaft.

A method of supporting and venting a cover, said method comprising the steps of:

• supply a dome comprising a dome portion and a depending shaft portion wherein the axial center of said dome portion is the upper most portion an wherein the outer surface curves in a downward direction extending away from said axial center a predefined distance thereby defining a dome-outer-perimeter that is one of (a) a generally circular perimeter, and (b) a polygonal perimeter, and wherein the said depending shaft portion extends downwardly from said axial center and further defines shaft-threads;
• associating a first-cover-interface comprising a disc-portion, a lower-band-section, and a first clamping-ring extending radially and outwardly therefrom with said dome so that said depending shaft portion extends through a hole defined at the center of said disc-portion and wherein the outer diameter of said disc-portion is shorter than said dome-outer-perimeter;
• configuring a surface of the disc-portion defining the outer boundary of said disc-hole to further define threads configured for being associated with said shaft-threads thereby securing said depending shaft portion with said disc-portion;
• configuring the lower-band-portion to extend downwardly from said disc-portion wherein the inner diameter of said lower-band-portion is greater than the diameter of said disc-hole and wherein the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion is less than the outer diameter of said clamping-ring;
• configuring a surface of said lower-band-portion with lower-band-portion-threads;
• configuring said clamping-ring so that the outer diameter of said clamping-ring is longer than the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion thereby defining clamping-ring-upper surface and opposing clamping-ring-lower surface connected by a peripheral edge thereby defining a clamping-region along at least part of said lower surface between the outer diameter of said clamping-ring and the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion;
• providing a second clamping-ring wherein the inner diameter of said second clamping-ring is longer than the outer diameter of said lower-band-portion and substantially equal to the outer diameter of said first clamping-ring so that said lower-band-portion can slide through said second-clamping ring thereby allowing the second clamping-ring to be positioned adjacent to said first clamping-ring;
• providing a fastener configured for adjustably associating with said lower-band-portion-threads so that the first clamping-ring and the second clamping-ring press together as the fastener is tightened thereby generating a clamping force there between;
• and
• configuring said dome to further define at least one of (a) a suspension interface defined at said axial center, (b) a dome-to-swivel interface defined at the free end of said depending shaft portion, and (c) a support pole interface defined at the free end of said depending shaft portion.