US 5,395,086 AGranted

Tripod stand for elevation of can bottoms

OwnerEric Goldsteininventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

The tripod stand is used to elevate the bottom of a can. Three legs protrude outward from a support platform intersection. The intersection is located below the can bottom. The legs in the intersection establish and lie within a singular support plane beneath the can. Each leg has a foot formed at its remote end. The foot is a compact structure having a lower body protruding below the support plane and having a raised lip protruding above the support plane. The raised lip has a substantially vertical face with an inwardly directed tab near its uppermost periphery. Upon placement of the can bottom on the support plane, the tab locks over the edge of the can bottom. In one embodiment, each foot is generally spherically shaped and the lip is formed as a cut-out from the sphere. In another embodiment, each foot forms a tiered structure defining multiple levels of support surfaces for predetermined can bottom diameters.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A short, snap-on tripod stand to elevate the bottom of a can comprising:

three legs projecting outward from a support platform intersection, said intersection located below said can bottom during use, said legs and said intersection establishing and lying in a singular support plane beneath said can bottom;
a foot formed at the remote end of each leg, each foot having a compact lower body portion protruding below said support plane and having a raised lip protruding above said support plane, said raised lip having a substantially vertical face adapted to co-act with said can bottom such that upon placement of said can bottom on said support plane, a respective vertical face of each corresponding lip lies adjacent and rises above said can bottom, each said vertical face including an inwardly protruding gripping element inboardly offset with respect to said vertical face, said gripping element locking said legs onto said can bottom upon placement of said can bottom on said support plane wherein said gripping elements of each leg removably lock said tripod on said can bottom, said legs being made of resilient material to facilitate the removal from said can bottom.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/102,418Filed 5 Aug 1993
Granted: 7 Mar 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16M 13/00
Frames, casings or beds of engines, machines or apparatus, not specific to
A47G 23/03
Other table equipment: underlays for glasses or drinking-vessels
F16M 11/041
Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand: allowing quick release of the apparatus
F16M 11/22
Undercarriages with or without wheels: with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs