Self-leveling receptacle with a positioning lock
OwnerAlfred Thomas Newmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A symmetrical, balanced receptacle for storing, displaying or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals is suspended from a double-axis gimbal mounted on a framework. The receptacle is attached to the gimbal by adjustable bearings and a locking mechanism holds the receptacle in various positions, tilted forward or back, and swiveled to one side or the other. When the receptacle is unlocked, gravity holds it level, which is especially useful when the device is used to hold or transport cargo on sloping ground, turbulent water or shifting air currents. The framework may be stationary or attached to a wheeled vehicle, water craft, aircraft or other means of transport.
Claims16
A receptacle for holding or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals, comprised of a self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle suspended from a double-axis gimbal that is attached to a supporting framework, with a locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in various positions, or unlocked, so that gravity will level the receptacle;
- a front and a rear of the receptacle having fittings to attach to a curved, notched receptacle plate which is placed beneath the receptacle and is part of the locking mechanism;
- the receptacle plate having a convex curvature which matches an arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings forward and back on the gimbal and an edge having notches cut at radiating angles, at regular, closely spaced intervals;
- the receptacle plate being secured to a front and rear of the double-axis gimbal by two threaded bearings which are adjustable to regulate a swinging inertia of the receptacle;
- the gimbal being secured to the supporting framework by two threaded bearings which are adjustable to regulate the swinging inertia of the gimbal, the adjustable bearings being placed on raised arms located at the front, back and at each side of the gimbal;
- and the receptacle further including a curved frame plate having a concave curvature which matches the arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings from side to side on the gimbal and an edge of the frame plate having notches cut at radiating angles, at regular, closely spaced intervals.
A receptacle for holding or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals, comprised of a self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle suspended from a double-axis gimbal that is attached to a supporting framework and wherein the axes of the double axis gimbal extend transversely to one another, with a locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in various positions, or unlocked, so gravity will level the receptacle;
- said locking mechanism further including a receptacle plate having a convex curvature which matches an arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings forward and back on one axis of the gimbal, an edge of the receptacle plate having notches cut at radiating angles at regular, closely spaced intervals;
- the locking mechanism further including a curved frame plate having a concave curvature which matches the arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings from side to side on the other axis of the gimbal, an edge of the frame plate having notches cut at radiating angles, at regular, closely spaced intervals, a selected notch of the receptacle plate being interlocked with a selected notch of the frame plate to hold the receptacle in a selected position.
An apparatus for supporting a receptacle such that the receptacle is self-leveling and selectively lockable in one of a plurality of angular orientations, said apparatus comprising:
- a supportive framework;
- a double axis gimbal attached to said supportive framework for pivoting about a first pivot axis;
- said gimbal for holding the receptacle such that said receptacle is pivotable relative to said gimbal about a second pivot axis that is transverse to said first pivot axis;
- and
- a locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in various positions, or unlocked, so that gravity will level the receptacle, said locking mechanism including a curved receptacle plate for attaching to the receptacle and having a convex curvature which matches an arc defined by the movement of said gimbal as it pivots about said first pivot axis and a curved frame plate attached to said supportive framework and having a concave curvature which matches the are defined by the movement of the receptacle as it pivots about said second pivot axis, said frame plate being selectively extended to engage and lock with said receptacle plate and retracted to disengage and unlock from said receptacle plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.