Collapsible support structure
OwnerMark E. Miller, Joseph C. Millerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collapsible support structure has pairs of leg members (17) pivotally joined intermediate their length in crossed fashion by a connection member (18) that is capable of sliding longitudinally with the pivotal joint as the leg members extend in a scissors—like manner to support an object.
Claims12
A collapsible support structure comprising an upper frame and a lower frame spaced below the upper frame in substantially underlying relationship, the upper frame adapted to be collapsed onto the lower frame from a predetermined height above the lower frame,
- first and second pairs of leg members, each having inner and outer telescoping barrels with opposed ends that can be extended or contracted, said pairs of leg members spaced laterally apart and the opposed ends of each barrel being pivotally connected between the upper and lower frames in diagonally crossing relationship, and
- a connection member extending transversely between said pairs of leg members including means for pivotally joining each leg member intermediate its ends in said crossing relationship including means for sliding along the outer barrels during pivoting of the leg members, said sliding means extending a substantial longitudinal distance to provide support for the telescoping action of the barrels, and means for locking the sliding means and outer barrels, and the inner barrels to the outer barrels at the predetermined height of the upper frame, including means for releasing the locking means simultaneously from each pair of leg member rendering the sliding means, and inner and outer barrels unlocked relative to each other in unison so that each pair of laterally spaced leg members collapses in a congruent coordinated manner.
A collapsible support structure having a pair of elongated leg members in a crossed relationship to each other, each having inner and outer telescoping barrel sections with opposed ends, the leg members pivoting and extending between a collapsed and extended state in a scissors supporting action, the combination comprising,
- a frame member to which one opposed end of each barrel section is pivotally connected space a distance apart as determined by the crossed relationship of the leg members in the collapsed state,
- a pair of sleeve members pivoting adjacent each other, one slidable on each leg member in crossed relationship with the crossed leg members providing the pivotal location for the scissors supporting action of each leg member, each sleeve member having a relatively long body portion extending a sufficient length of the leg member to provide longitudinal tubular support during the telescoping action of the barrel sections, said scissors supporting and telescoping action occurring in a congruent manner coordinated so the pair of leg members act as a single operational unit with stability and strength, and
- a locking mechanism adapted to be engaged automatically between each sleeve member, and the inner and outer barrel sections, to prevent relative sliding and pivotal motion when extended, including a release mechanism actuated simultaneously unlocking each sleeve member and the barrel sections in a coordinated manner to permit collapsing the leg members in unison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.