# US 7,744,048 B1 · Tripod apparatus

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- Number: US 7,744,048 B1
- Document ID: US7744048B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 12/263,776
- Filed: 2008-11-03
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2008-11-03
- Inventors: Mahlon McKellery; Ray A. Lawson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744048B1

## CPC

- F16M 11/28: Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
- F16M 11/041: {Allowing quick release of the apparatus}
- F16M 11/046: {adapted to upward-downward translation movement}
- F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)}
- F16M 11/242: {by spreading of the legs (F16M11/32 takes precedence)}
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS

## Abstract

The tripod apparatus provides a tripod stand with player tray for removably holding a variety of media player sizes and shapes. The media players may be any of a variety of such including but not limited to CD players, DVD players, and laptop computers. The adjustability of the player tray provides for players of a variety of widths and depths and also provides elongated eyelets for any players that allow securement through various forms of fasteners. The angled handle of the player tray receiver allows a user to easily adjust direction as chosen. The telescopic stalk of the tripod allows height adjustment. Further, the tray receiver may be pivoted with height angle with the easily-used 45 degree angled handle. The clip on media holder provides holder slots for convenience in storing various media. The apparatus is lightweight, significantly collapsible, and highly portable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tripod apparatus, comprising, in combination:
a player tray having a first side spaced apart from a second side, a third side spaced apart from a fourth side, a top, and a bottom, the tray further comprising:
a pair of slideably adjustable L-brackets, the L-brackets having outwardly and upwardly disposed vertical planes, the L-brackets and tray bottom in removable receipt of an existing media player;
an embedded bolt extended downwardly from a center of the tray bottom;
a tripod comprising:
a plurality of foldout legs;
a telescopic stalk affixed atop the legs;
a stalk flare disposed atop the telescopic stalk via a horizontally disposed flare bolt with wing nut;
a tray receiver pivotally and removably affixed to the stalk flare, the tray receiver having a receiver front side spaced apart from a receiver back side, a receiver left side spaced apart from a receiver right side, a receiver top spaced apart from a receiver bottom;
a 45 degree angled handle extended downwardly from the receiver back;
a female thread disposed in the receiver top, the female thread in removable receipt of the embedded bolt of the player tray.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a media holder is removably affixed to the telescopic stalk.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the media holder is further affixed via a pair of spaced apart c-clips disposed on the back side of the media holder.

### Claim 4

A tripod apparatus, comprising, in combination:
a player tray having a first side spaced apart from a second side, a third side spaced apart from a fourth side, a top, and a bottom, the tray further comprising:
a pair of slideably adjustable L-brackets, the L-brackets and tray bottom in removable receipt of an existing media player;
an embedded bolt extended downwardly from a center of the tray bottom;
a tripod comprising:
a plurality of foldout legs;
a telescopic stalk affixed atop the legs;
a stalk flare atop the telescopic stalk;
a tray receiver pivotally and removably affixed to the stalk flare, the tray receiver having a receiver front side spaced apart from a receiver back side, a receiver left side spaced apart from a receiver right side, a receiver top spaced apart from a receiver bottom;
a 45 degree angled handle extended downwardly from the receiver back;
a female thread disposed in the receiver top, the female thread in removable receipt of the embedded bolt of the player tray;
a media holder removably affixed to the telescopic stalk, the media holder having a front side spaced apart from a back side, a height, a width, and a depth;
a plurality if horizontally disposed divided holder slots within the media holder depth, the holder slots open to the media holder front side.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the media holder is further affixed via a pair of vertically spaced apart c-clips disposed on the back side of the media holder.

### Claim 6

A tripod apparatus, comprising, in combination:
a player tray having a first side spaced apart from a second side, a third side spaced apart from a fourth side, a top, and a bottom, the tray further comprising:
a quartet of spaced apart elongated slots, each slot parallel with the tray's first side and second side, the slots comprising a first elongated slot and second elongated slot disposed most proximal to the tray third side, a third elongated slot and fourth elongated slot most proximal to the tray's fourth side;
a pair of spaced apart L-brackets comprising a first L-bracket and a second L-bracket, each L-bracket comprising a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, the horizontal planes removably fitted to the tray top, each vertical plane having an elongated eyelet, the first L-bracket fitted to the first elongated slot and second elongated slot via a pair of identical sunken fasteners, the second L-bracket fitted to the third elongated slot and the fourth elongated slot via a pair of identical sunken fasteners;
a wing nut for each sunken fastener, each wing nut removably fitted to each fastener on the bottom of the player tray;
an embedded bolt extended downwardly from a center of the tray bottom;
a tripod comprising:
a plurality of foldout legs;
a telescopic stalk affixed atop the legs;
a stalk flare atop the telescopic stalk;
a tray receiver removably affixed to the stalk flare, the tray receiver having a receiver front side spaced apart from a receiver back side, a receiver left side spaced apart from a receiver right side, a receiver top spaced apart from a receiver bottom;
a female thread disposed in the receiver top;
a bottom cavity disposed in the receiver bottom;
a 45 degree angled handle affixed downwardly to the receiver back side;
a horizontally disposed flare bolt removably and horizontally fitted through the bottom cavity and the telescopic stalk flare, the bolt securing the tray receiver to the stalk flare;
a wing nut securing the flare bolt;
the female thread in removable receipt of the embedded bolt of the player tray;
a media holder having a front side spaced apart from a back side, a height, a width, and a depth;
a plurality if divided horizontally disposed holder slots within the media holder depth, the holder slots open to the media holder front side;
a pair of spaced apart vertically disposed c-clips affixed to the media holder back side, the c-clips removably affixed to the telescopic stalk of the tripod.