Supports – Staff type – Stand or base
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2001-10-09
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Staff type
Stand or base
C248S523000, C248S527000, C248S910000, C047S023100, C047S082000, C047S083000, C047S029500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299124
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to outdoor lighting and, more particularly, to a stackable light post holder having removable ballast.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Temporary lighting is often desirable for outdoor events. Lights placed strategically throughout the lawn, patio, and sidewalk areas provide both an ambience as well as a level of safety. Tiki lamps provide a unique style of temporary lighting in that the lamps can be used for ambience, safety, and to help keep flying insects away. The lamps consist of a wick that, when lit, draws fuel from a replenishable cannister. The cannister is typically secured to a post capable of holding the lamp at a height that allows for safe operation.
A problem with post mounted lamps is that the post must be secured to the ground or a fixed object for safe operation. If the post is not firmly secured, the lamp could fall. This would expose both the fuel and a lit wick to surrounding objects and surfaces. The most common way of securing a post is jamming the post into the ground. Unfortunately, ground mounting a post in the ground is not practical in all situations.
Inserting the post in the ground could be difficult due to certain characteristics associated with soiled surfaces. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, dense soil caused by dryness or the presence of clays, extremely loose soils caused by sands or organic content, the presence of aggregates such as rocks or stones, the existence of tree roots, debris buried beneath the surface, pipes associated with plumbing and sprinkler systems as well as in ground utility lines. Additionally, it is impractical to insert post mounted lamps in docks, patios, and pool decks or other similar surfaces.
To accommodate difficult post mounting conditions, various types of portable bases may be employed. For example, a metal frame such as that used for a Christmas tree stand can be employed to hold such posts. However, such stands are not generally suited for exterior use and are not aesthetically pleasing due to their size. Additionally, these type stands are not capable of withstanding wind gusts that could easily topple a top heavy post mounted lamp. Alternatively, a concrete form may be used wherein the weight of the form prevents movement of the post. Should an attempt be made to move or transport the weighted form, the weight of such concrete forms provides for an unwieldy structure. In either event, storage of multiple stands/forms can be impractical due to the amount of space consumed and the difficulty of storing heavy objects. For instance, the stacking or multiple concrete forms on top of one another could be a dangerous proposition should the stands topple.
Thus, the prior art does not address the need for a stackable, portable stand that can be placed on any surface, the need for stability in wind gusts, and the necessity of storage in a relatively small area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Pat. No. 1,240,376 discloses a base with a center hollow shaft for receiving a Christmas tree and a hollow cavity for insertion of sand or water. However, it is composed of metal and is not stackable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,262 discloses a plastic base for supporting an umbrella stand with a central hollow shaft for receiving the umbrella and a hollow cavity for a ballast material. However, it is also not stackable and is also larger than this invention.
In summary, the prior art fails to teach or suggest, when viewed singularly or in any combination, an apparatus for temporary placement of post mounted lamps that, when empty, is easily stackable, transportable, and storable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a pyramidal shaped apparatus having a receptacle opening for receiving and securely holding a tubular structure such as a post for a Tiki lamp. The apparatus, constructed of a suitable rigid material, has a hollow core with an opening for ingress and egress of ballast material on the bottom, and a squared off top. The apparatus is unique in that it has a stackable design for purposes of compact storage. When desired, the hollow core is filled with water, sand, or similar material capable of insertion into the structure.
The receptacle portion of the apparatus includes a shaft type opening sized to accommodate a post or a like tubular structure. Placement of a shaft or post into the receptacle is secured by use of a mechanical fastener, such as a threaded bolt.
In the preferred embodiment, the base structure is made of a lightweight plastic material having at least one internal cavity for placement of ballast material such as water or sand. The opening of the cavity is preferably located along a bottom edge of the structure wherein a filling cap is secured and concealed from view. Alternatively, a filling cap can be located in any accessible position for ease of ballast filling and removal.
Without the ballast material, the apparatus weighs very little and the hollow core design allows for storage stacking providing a unit that can be easily manufactured, packaged, transported, and stored. In this manner, the end consumer is not burdened with the cost of shipping a heavy or large structure and can employ a type of ballast determined by the conditions at the time of use. For instance, the ballast may consist of water or sand depending on the amount of desired weight. If higher winds are expected, the end user could decide to use a heavier ballast material.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a portable holding apparatus for top heavy post mounted lamp type structures, wherein the weight can be easily added for ballast and, if desired, removed for ease of storage.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a portable holding apparatus that is stackable for storage having an inter-nesting shape to provide stable, compact stacking. Additionally, if a ballast material such as sand is used, the ballast need not be removed for the stacking feature to apply. That is, the units are stackable even if they are full of sand.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a portable holding apparatus that is inexpensive to manufacture, easily packaged, economically transported, and allows the end consumer to determine the type and amount of ballast required for a particular installation.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following description and drawings set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1240376 (1917-09-01), Saucier
patent: 1631227 (1927-06-01), See
patent: 1846891 (1932-02-01), Miller
patent: 2044192 (1936-06-01), Templin, Jr.
patent: 2613899 (1952-10-01), Wagner et al.
patent: 2913202 (1959-11-01), Meldrum
patent: 4596262 (1986-06-01), Tegze
patent: 4884363 (1989-12-01), Sofy
patent: 4976411 (1990-12-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 5086583 (1992-02-01), Breen
patent: 5509229 (1996-04-01), Thomasson et al.
Kish Michael
Reback David G.
McHale & Slavin
Ramirez Ramon O.
Wood Kimberly
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