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AssigneeCrain Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsStephen B. Crain, Ronnie D. Everly, Larry W. Essex, Ralph C. Mize, Jerry L. Williamson
Estimating the term…
A surveying equipment support leg used with a support for supporting surveying equipment and the like is capable of mounting alternate ground engaging structures without removal of an existing foot on the leg. Attachment of the alternate structure is made rigidly at two points of connection on the foot. Other accessories such as weights to hold down the support can be attached. In particular, a spike may be attached to deeply penetrate the ground for use in certain soil conditions. The foot is molded and accurately adhered to the leg. As used together with other legs in a support, the foot is capable of attaching the legs together in a collapsed position for storage and transport of the support. The leg is connected to a head of the support in a sealed hinge which prevents damage to the hinge resulting in loss of rigid stability to the support.
A leg for a portable support for use in supporting equipment above a surface, the leg comprising a fixed leg member, a telescoping leg member connected to the fixed leg member for sliding motion relative to the fixed leg member between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, a clamp having a locked position for selectively securing the telescoping leg member in a selected position relative to the fixed leg member, and an unlocked position in which the telescoping leg member is movable relative to the fixed leg member, a foot at a bottom end of the telescoping leg member for engaging the surface, the foot being adapted to mount at least one surface engaging accessory thereon, the foot having spaced apart mounting locations for simultaneously engaging said at least one surface engaging accessory to mount said at least one surface engaging accessory on the foot and the foot being pre-formed with mounting structure at the two spaced apart mounting locations, and wherein the foot comprises a pedal extending laterally outwardly from the foot for application of downward pressure applied on the leg by the foot of a user of the portable support, the pedal having an opening therein constituting one of the mounting locations for said at least one accessory.
A method of converting structure of a portable support which engages a surface above which the portable support holds equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
A leg for a portable support for use in supporting equipment above a surface, the leg comprising a fixed leg member, a telescoping leg member connected to the fixed leg member for sliding motion relative to the leg member between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, a clamp having a locked position for selectively securing the telescoping leg member in a selected position relative to the fixed leg member, and an unlocked position in which the telescoping leg member is movable relative to the fixed leg member, a foot at a bottom end of each telescoping leg for engaging the surface, the foot being connected to the telescoping leg member by an adhesive, the foot having a cavity receiving the telescoping leg member therein, the cavity taping generally toward the bottom end of the foot, the telescoping leg member being spaced within the cavity from the foot to the telescoping leg member to form a unit.
A method of forming a leg for a portable support used to support equipment above a surface, the method comprising the step of:
A leg for a portable support for use in supporting equipment above a surface, the leg comprising a fixed leg member, a telescoping leg member connected to the fixed leg member for sliding motion relative to the leg member between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, a clamp having a locked position for selectively securing the telescoping leg member in a selected position relative to the fixed leg member, and an unlocked position in which the telescoping leg member is movable relative to the fixed leg member, a foot at a bottom end of each telescoping leg for engaging the surface, the foot having a ring formed as one piece with the foot and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom.
A portable support for supporting equipment above a surface, the portable support comprising a head for holding the equipment, and legs connected to the head for supporting the head above the surface, each leg including a hinge pin projecting outward from the leg generally at an upper end thereof, the head including a hinge pin receptacle receiving the hinge pin and a gasket in contact with the hinge pin and hinge pin receptacle for sealing the hinge pin and hinge pin receptacle to inhibit debris from affecting the operation of the hinge pin to pivot the leg.
A portable support as set forth in claim 21 wherein the gasket constitutes a first gasket disposed around the hinge pin and abutting the head where the hinge pin enters the receptacle, the head including a plate mounted over the receptacle and the support further comprising a second gasket disposed between the head and the plate for sealing the receptacle.
A portable support for supporting equipment above a surface, the portable support comprising a head for holding the equipment, and legs connected to the head for supporting the head above the surface and for pivoting between a use position in which the legs are spread apart and a collapsed position in which the legs are closer together than in the use position for transportation and storage, the legs having connector elements which interengage and releasably lock the legs in the collapsed position upon pivoting of the legs to the collapsed position for holding the legs in the collapsed position such that collapsing of the legs and releasably locking the legs in the collapsed position may be achieved by the same pivoting motion of the legs.
A portable support for use in supporting equipment above a surface, the support comprising a head for holding the equipment, legs connected to the head for supporting the head above the surface, feet on the bottom end of each leg, the legs each being pre-formed with mounting structure at two spaced apart locations and including a point extending below the foot a first distance for penetrating the surface in normal use of the portable support and spikes adapted for connection to each of the legs, each spike being adapted for connection to a corresponding one of the legs at the two locations, the spikes as mounted on said one of the legs extending below the foot a second distance greater than the first distance, and wherein each leg comprises a foot including a pedal extending laterally outwardly from the foot for application of downward pressure applied on the leg by the foot of a user of the portable support, the pedal having an opening therein constituting one of the mounting locations for one of the spikes.
A portable support for use in supporting equipment above a surface, the support comprising a head for holding the equipment, legs connected to the head for supporting the head above the surface, feet on the bottom end of each leg, a weight adapted for fixedly mounting on the leg, the legs being constructed for mounting the weight, wherein the foot comprises a pedal projecting outwardly from the leg for application of downward force on the foot, the pedal having an opening therein, the weight comprising a block and a bolt adapted to pass through the pedal opening into the block for securing the block to the pedal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.