1999-01-06
2000-07-11
Ramirez, Ramon O
Supports
Stand
Plural leg
42 94, 211189, 248164, 248188, 2481886, F16M 1138
Patent
active
060860278
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention pertains to a support device for a weapon, a telescope, a telephoto lens, or similar object, with legs which are pivotably connected to each other and which create a cradle for the object.
To increase the aiming accuracy or to avoid wobbling while viewing an object, one-legged and two-legged supports as well as three-legged tripods are known for the support of weapons, binoculars, telescopes, telephoto lenses, etc. One-legged supports suffer from the disadvantage that they tend to tip over or slide to one side unless they are set up in a precisely upright position. Tripods must be equipped with a head part, which must be adjustable and lockable in both the horizontal and vertical directions, which increases the cost of the design.
The task of the invention is to create a support device of the general type described above which can be built and manipulated easily; which, in the expanded state, makes it possible to adjust the height of the support level above the ground in a continuously variable manner; and which, in the collapsed state, forms a sturdy walking stick.
This task is accomplished in accordance with the invention in that four rods are provided as legs, which are connected to each other in pairs by joints on two levels, where, in the collapsed state, the two joint axes on one level are parallel to each other but are offset by approximately 90.degree. to the two joint axes on the other level which are also parallel to each other. As a result of this design, a compact walking stick is obtained in the collapsed state, in which all four rods nest tightly together. Nevertheless, it is extremely easy to unfold the device, as a result of which a stable support is obtained. At the same time, the design of the support device is extremely simple and sturdy.
To create an especially sturdy cradle which holds the object in a form-locking manner, it is advantageous for the upper end sections of the rods to cooperate in pairs in the expanded state to form forks above the one level. Thus, two forks are formed, one behind the other, when the rods are unfolded, so that a telescope tube or a weapon can be well supported. It can also be advisable in this case for the upper end sections of the rods to have a length of 10-26 cm, preferably of 18 cm. These dimensions make it possible for standard weapons, binoculars, telescopes, telephoto lenses, or the like to be placed in position and supported extremely efficiently.
To ensure that the support device can be set up or anchored effectively on the ground, it has also proven to be favorable for the bottom ends of the rods to form two forks below the other level after the rods have been unfolded. It has been found to be advisable here for the bottom sections of the rods to have a length of 4-20 cm, and preferably of 12 cm.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is advantageous for the rods to be of equal length and to be, for example, 1.5-2 m long, and preferably 1.65-1.7 m long. As a result, it becomes possible to adjust the support height quickly and easily to the desired level for a standing, sitting, or lying user of the support device.
To ensure that the rods are held reliably together in the collapsed state, it has also been found favorable for the rods, in the collapsed state, to bend or twist about 180.degree. around the center longitudinal axis of the support device. As result of this intrinsic pretension, the rods nest tightly against each other, under pressure, when in the collapsed state.
In another preferred embodiment, it is advantageous for two of the rods to be shorter than the other two and for the other level to be, for example, approximately at the center point of the other two rods. These other two, longer, rods, furthermore, can consist of tubes which can be slid or pushed into each other in a telescoping manner. In this way, the structural height of the support device can be reduced by about half for transport.
It is advantageous for the joints to be formed simply by screw connections. If one of the rods is damaged and must be re
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Berger Hagen
Kueffner Friedrich
Le Tan
Ramirez Ramon O
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