Supports – Stand – Plural leg
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-04
2001-04-10
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Plural leg
C248S439000, C248S188200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to leveling platforms and more particularly to a backpacking table adapted to provide a stable and level or horizontal surface irrespective of the slope of the underlying ground surface.
2. Description of Related Art
Backpacking places various demands and constraints on equipment utilized because there is a limit as to what can be carried by an individual. Compactness and weight are two of the more important constraints. Thus, backpacking equipment is generally required to be lightweight and of a size that can be conveniently accommodated in a backpack.
Because the terrain to which backpackers are attracted is seldom level, there is a need to provide a stable and level platform for accommodating various needs. Such might be accomplished by a flat substrate with legs which are readily adjustable to provide a substantially horizontal or level supporting surface irrespective of the slope of the underlying ground surface. Such a surface could be utilized for a variety of purposes, e.g. cooking, eating, and effecting equipment repairs, but would not necessarily address the problem of size and weight.
Backpacking stoves are sometimes provided with adjustable legs which provide a small degree of leveling adjustment, but such legs do little for stability, particularly with respect to steep sloping surfaces. There are also products that improve the stability of some stoves, but do not provide a leveling capability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention overcomes the aforenoted deficiencies and provides a platform having a good leveling capability, coupled with increased stability, a supporting surface having a horizontal adjustability to fit many stoves and most important is small in size and light in weight and which can be conveniently folded into a compact carrying unit.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a platform which can be adjusted to provide a level supporting surface irrespective of the slope of the underlying ground surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight and compact table readily adapted for use by backpackers.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight compact collapsible table having a high ratio of compactability.
These objects and their attendant advantages are accomplished by the present invention by a three member adjustable-size triangular body and an integral slide, with independently vertically adjustable leg members adapted to be folded into the members to provide a compact unit less than 6 ounces in weight and adapted to be carried in a backpack.
In accordance with one feature of the invention there is provided a leveling platform having a fold down or compactability ratio of at least approximately 25 to 1. Compactability ratio is defined as the volume occupied by the platform within its maximum external dimensions when in use compared to the volume of the platform in its fold down or knock down condition ready for transport.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention a leveling platform comprises a three-member adjustable-size triangular body and an integral slide on one member, and three independently vertically adjustable legs extending from the corners of the triangular body adapted to set the height and level of the platform over various slopes and contours of the underlying ground surface.
In still another feature of the invention, the three legs fold into the body members to provide a compact unit which takes up only about 8% of the volume of the full body with legs extended.
In accordance with the present invention, the members of the triangular body include:
1. a front fixed member;
2. a left pivoting arm member; and
3. a right pivoting arm member.
The right arm member includes a slot that allows the left arm member to project through it. By rotating the arms and moving the left arm through the right arm, various size triangular shapes of the body can be obtained.
Each member is a right angle strut of lightweight metal, such as aluminum, having a flat surface and a vertical wall surface. Objects to be supported rest within the vertical surfaces of the triangular body formed by the three members. By changing the body size and triangular shape various objects of varying sizes can be supported and contained. To fold the members into a compact unit, the left arm member is slid all the way through a slot in a slide on the right arm member, thus bringing the front and right member into an abutting position. The left arm member is then pivoted into position adjacent the abutting members to active a nested or fold down state of the members. In the nested state, the open area within the walls of the three members is collapsed. The right arm member slides under the front member and when the left member is pivoted into its folded position. The vertical walls of the members form two channels into which the leg members are pivotally received.
A slide is disposed over a slot in the right arm and includes a slot complimentary to a slot in the right arm. The left arm protrudes through the slots and a lock mechanism, such as, for example a bolt is used to lock the left arm and the right arm together and to lock the selected triangular shape.
Two adjustable-length legs are slidably contained within two holes at opposite ends of the front member and a third leg is slidably contained in one hole in the slide. The legs are C-shaped with a front slit forming a channel. A threaded nut slides within the channel of each leg and a bolt extends through a hole in an end-tab located at an end of the associated member and is threaded into the nut within the leg. When the screw is tightened the leg is held against the associated member. When the screw is loosened the leg can be slipped through the hole and its height composition relative to the platform can be adjusted. At the desired height, the bolt is again tightened to maintain the desired length. Each leg is independently adjustable to a desired height.
As shown in
FIGS. 5A
,
5
B and
8
, the end-tabs
61
,
62
, and
71
are disposed on either end of the front member
14
and on a slide
38
arranged to operatively slide along the right member
16
.
FIG. 5B
shows end-tab
61
,
62
oriented perpendicular to the long length of the associated member
14
and has a hole for receiving the bolt.
FIG. 5A
shows an alternative embodiment in which end-tab
61
,
62
is oriented at an angle with respect to the long length of the associated member
14
so that a leg held by a bolt against the end-tab will lean at an angle relative to the body. In this way, the adjustable legs are mounted in the triangular body at slight outward angles to assume an even greater support area, thereby providing increased stability.
Stability of the object supported on the body is improved by having the legs located further out from the object than the object's own supporting mechanism. Additionally, the adjustable legs can be mounted in the triangular body at slight outward angles to assume a greater support area and thereby increased stability.
A leg is located in each member and can be rotated at 45° to the perpendicular walls at the ends of the each member and the slide. In this position, the front slit or channel of the leg faces the corner. When the bolt is tightened through the intersection of the perpendicular walls it forces the leg to be supported at its two edges on opposite sides of the slit by the entire height of the two adjacent perpendicular walls. A separate channel piece is included and adapted to press against the outside surfaces of the perpendicular walls through which the bolt projects. The separate channel piece adds additional strength to the walls when the bolt is tightened and provides an operational advantage in folding the leg into its fold position.
Two of the legs fold into the front fixed member, one above the other, and the third leg folds into the right arm. A slot extends from each bolt containing hole at the inters
Baxter Gwendolyn
Braun Leslie A.
Hembree Enterprises, Inc.
Kondracki Edward J.
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
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