DK179763B1

DK179763B1 - Stabilizing support stand

Info

Publication number: DK179763B1
Application number: DKPA201771025A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Christiansen Claus
Original assignee: Viper-Flex Aps
Priority date: 2017-12-27
Filing date: 2017-12-27
Publication date: 2019-05-13
Also published as: WO2019129336A1; DK201771025A1

Abstract

A support stand for a portable aiming device having a first and a second pair of legs and a first and a second support member, wherein the first and second support members are configured to support a front part or rear part of said portable aiming device, respectively, and wherein each pair of legs has aleft leg and a right leg, wherein a pivoting movement of one of the legs of the first pair of legs relative to a first hinge axis of the first hinge device in a first direction causes the first hinge device to pivot the other leg of the first pair of legs relative to a second hinge axis of the first hinge device in a second, opposite direction.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a support stand for a portable aiming device having a first and a second pair of legs and a first and a second support member, wherein the first and second support members are configured to support a front part or rear part of said portable aiming device, respectively, and wherein each pair of legs has a left leg and a right leg.

Background

When taking aim on a target with an aiming device, e.g. a firearm, a hunting rifle, optics, a telescope, binoculars, or a camera, a support stand may be used to reduce accidental movements that reduce the targeting accuracy. This is especially useful when the distance to the target is large and when taking and holding aim while standing. For this purpose, a support stand which has a first and a second pair of legs and a first and a second support member, wherein the first and second support member are configured to support a front part or rear part of said portable aiming device, respectively, and wherein each pair of legs has a left leg and a right leg, has been developed. Such a four-legged support stand may also be known as a set of quad sticks or a quadpod. When supporting a firearm, such a support stand may also be known as a quad pod shooting stick.

Such a support stand usually has a deployed position, wherein the legs are spread out to increase the stability of the support stand. In this position, the support stand is particularly useful for aiming while standing due to having two support members for supporting the aiming device at two distanced portions thereof, so as to form a stable support for the aiming device. When aiming at targets at large distances even miniscule accidental movements can cause the aim to go off target. So in order to reliably aim, it is a desire to provide a support stand which reduces the risk of accidental movements. When aiming at a target, which may be in motion, in uneven terrain, it is a desire to adjust the height of the support members to allow greater range in vertical aim adjustment. While some prior art support stand allows telescopic length adjustment of the legs to adjust the height of the support members, this is not applicable when using the support stand in the field, due to the fact that the target may be lost while adjusting the length of the legs. Thus it is a desire to allow quick adjustments of the height of the support members.

Document US 5,930,933 discloses a support stand which supports a rifle at each end - under the barrel and under the stock. The support stand is made of two vertical supports for a rifle. The rear or stock support is a hinged tripod and the front or barrel support is a hinged bipod.

Summary of invention

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a support stand with increased mechanical stability of the support members so that the user can hold and adjust the aim with increased targeting accuracy by reducing the risk of accidental movements. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a support stand which allows quick deployment and further allows quick adjustment of the height of the support members when deployed.

The present invention is based on the inventive concept that the stability of the support members may be increased by synchronising the pivoting movement of a pair of legs of the support stand in relation to the respective support member.

These objectives have in accordance with a first aspect of the invention been at least partially achieved by a support stand for supporting a portable aiming device, being able to be set to a non-deployed position and to a first deployed position, the support stand comprising:

a first pair of legs and a second pair of legs; and a first support member and a second support member;

wherein each pair of legs has a left leg and a right leg, and each leg has a lower portion and an upper portion, the first pair of legs supports the first support member, the second pair of legs supports the second support member, and wherein the first support member is configured to support a front part or rear part of said portable aiming device, and the second support member is configured to support the other part of the front and rear part of said portable aiming device, wherein the upper portions of the first pair of legs are interconnected at upper ends thereof by a first hinge device, so that the left leg of the first pair of legs can pivot relative to the right leg of the first pair of legs, and the upper portions of the second pair of legs being interconnected at upper ends thereof by a second hinge device, so that the left leg of the second pair of legs can pivot relative to the right leg of the second pair of legs, wherein the left legs are hingedly connected at a distance from said upper ends thereof, preferably at the lower half thereof, more preferably at the lower ends thereof, by a left hinge device, the right legs being hingedly connected at a distance from said upper ends thereof, preferably at the lower half thereof, more preferably at the lower ends thereof, by a right hinge device, so that the second pair of legs can pivot relative to the first pair of legs, thereby moving the first support member relative to the second support member, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a pivoting movement of one of the legs of the first pair of legs relative to a first hinge axis of the first hinge device in a first direction causes the first hinge device to pivot the other leg of the first pair of legs relative to a second hinge axis of the first hinge device in a second, opposite direction.

By configuring the support stand in such a way, provides the advantage that when the support stand is deployed on the ground, movement of one leg causes the other leg to dig into the ground so that the support members are kept in a level position and accidental pivoting movement of one leg causes the other leg of the same pair to prevent the pivoting movement by digging into the ground. This provides a more mechanically stable support for the aiming device, reducing the risk of accidental movements causing the aiming device to lose accuracy.

It may alternatively or additionally be said that the support stand is characterized in that the first hinge device comprises a hinge mechanism linking the upper portion of each leg of the first pair of legs and being configured so that a pivoting movement of one of the legs of the first pair of legs relative to a hinge axis of the first hinge device in a first direction causes the first hinge device to pivot the other leg of the first pair of legs relative to a hinge axis of the first hinge device in a second, opposite direction.

It may alternatively or additionally be said that the support stand is characterized in that the pivoting movement of one of the legs of the first pair of legs relative to a first hinge axis of the first hinge device in a first direction causes the first hinge device to correspondingly pivot the other leg of the first pair of legs relative to a second hinge axis of the first hinge device in a second, opposite direction. The angular distance covered by the pivoting movement of one of the legs of the first pair of legs may be substantially equal to the angular distance covered by the pivoting movement of the other leg of the first pair of legs.

The first hinge axis of the first hinge device may be fixed in relation to the first support member, and/or the second hinge axis of the first hinge device may be fixed in relation to the first support member.

It may be said that the aiming device is any portable device having the purpose of aiming at a target, e.g. a firearm, a gun, a hunting rifle, a telescope, binoculars, a monocular, or a camera potentially with a telephoto lens. It may further be said that the portable aiming device has a size and a weight, so that a single person can handle and operate said portable aiming device.

The first hinge axis of the first hinge device may be different than the second hinge axis of the first hinge device or it may be the same.

A pivoting movement of one of the legs of the second pair of legs relative to a first hinge axis of the second hinge device in a first direction may cause the second hinge device to pivot the other leg of the second pair of legs relative to a second hinge axis of the second hinge device in a second, opposite direction. The second hinge device may be configured in a corresponding way as the first hinge device.

At least one, preferably both, of the first and second hinge device may comprise a gearing in the form of the upper portion of one leg of the respective pair of legs having teeth which engage with teeth of the upper portion of the other leg of the same pair of legs to link the movement of the respective pair of legs.

It may be said that, when the support stand is in the first deployed position, the left leg and the right leg of the first pair of legs are arranged at an angle, and the left leg and the right leg of the second pair of legs are arranged at an angle, and the first support member and second support member are arranged at a distance, so that each leg of the first pair of legs and second pair of legs are non-parallel, e.g. arranged in different directions. The distance between the first support member and the second support member may be adapted to allow supporting a front part of an aiming device and a rear part of an aiming device so that the aiming device can rest upon the first and second support member. The distance between the first and the second support member may be at least 10 cm, preferably at least 20 cm, more preferably at least 30 cm.

It may be said that in the first deployed position, the height of the first support member and the second support member is adapted for standing operation of the aiming device.

At least one, preferably both, of the left hinge device and the right hinge device may comprise a mechanical stop limiting the angle between the respective legs of the left legs and the right legs, so that when the support stand is set in the first deployed position, the left legs are arranged at an angle limited by the mechanical stop of the left hinge device, and/or the right legs are arranged at an angle limited by the mechanical stop of the right hinge device. The mechanical stop may limit said angle less than 90 degrees, preferably less than 60 degrees, more preferably less than 45 degrees, even more preferably less than 35 degrees. This provides the advantage that the legs are maintained at said angle due to gravity, and that the support members are maintained at a certain distance.

It may be said that, when the support stand is in the non-deployed position, the legs of the first and second pair of legs are substantially parallel. In the non-deployed position, the first support member and the second support member may be arranged adjacently. In the non-deployed position, the support stand is compact providing the advantage of easy transportation. In addition, in the non-deployed position the support stand may be used as a single support stand, wherein the legs act as a single support column for supporting the portable aiming device. This provides the advantage of quick supporting of the aiming device when great support stability is not required.

In the non-deployed position, the support stand may be configured so that the first support member is located at a higher altitude relative to the second support member. This provides the advantage that the aiming device is only supported by one support member allowing a more versatile adjustment of the aim.

The support stand may comprise a clip configured to secure the first pair of legs to the second pair of legs, when the support stand is in the nondeployed position. This provides the advantage that rattling while transporting the support stand may be reduced.

The first support member may accommodate the first hinge device, and the second support member may accommodate the second hinge device. This provides protection for the respective hinge device. Each of the first support member and second support member may be separate parts from their respective legs.

The first support member may comprise a first surface section configured to support a front or rear part of the aiming device, and the second support member may comprise a second surface section configured to support the other of the front or rear part of the aiming device. The shape of the first surface section may be constant during the pivoting movement of the first pair of legs, and the shape of the second surface section may be constant during the pivoting movement of the second pair of legs. This provides the advantage a fine adjustment of the height of the support stand does not influence the shape of the surface sections of the support stand, which reduces the risk of accidental movements of the aiming device. Furthermore, the shape of each of the support members may be constant during the pivoting movement of each of the pairs of legs. This provides the advantage that the user may hold onto a support member while adjusting the angle between the legs.

The first support member and/or the second support member may comprise a surface section configured to support a front or rear part of the aiming device and to allow said part of the aiming device to be moved laterally along the surface section. This allows fine lateral adjustment of the aim of the aiming device, which is especially an advantage when aiming at a target in motion. The surface section may be configured to be substantially horizontal in a deployed position. This provides the advantage that the aiming device is supported from gravity, so that the user may focus on aiming on the target. The surface section may have a lateral distance larger than 5 cm, preferably larger than 8 cm, more preferably larger than 10 cm, even more preferably larger than a width of an aiming device, e.g. a hunting rifle. The surface section may allow the aiming device to be moved laterally on the surface section relative to an aiming axis of the aiming device. This allows the user to adjust the aim of the aiming device sufficiently. The lateral distance may at least be twice the width of the aiming device. The lateral distance is in a direction which may be normal to an aiming axis extending between the first support member and the second support member, and which may also be normal to a longitudinal direction of the support stand when in the nondeployed position, and which may also be substantially horizontal when the support stand is in the first deployed position. The surface section may comprise a material with a greater static friction coefficient than the material of the first support member. This allows the aiming device to stably rest on the surface section with reduced risk of accidental lateral movement.

The second support member may comprise a cradle configured to support the other part of a front part and rear part of the aiming device relative to the first support member. The second support member may prevent said part of the aiming device from being moved laterally. This keeps said part of the aiming device fixed such that lateral adjustments may be made with the other part of the aiming device. This ensures a simple and effective adjustment with reduced risk of accidental movements.

While the aiming device may be positioned either with the front part supported by the first support member or the rear part supported by the first support member, it is currently preferred that the first support member supports the front part of the aiming device.

The support stand may further be able to be set to a second deployed position, wherein the angle between the legs of the first pair of legs is greater, when the support stand is in the second deployed position, than the angle between the legs of the first pair of legs, when the support stand is in the first deployed position, so that the height of the first support member is lower, when the support stand is in the second deployed position, than the height of the first support member, when the support stand is in the first deployed position. The angle between the legs of the second pair of legs may be greater, when the support stand is in the second deployed position, than the angle between the legs of the second pair of legs, when the support stand is in the first deployed position, so that the height of the second support member is lower, when the support stand is in the second deployed position, than the height of the second support member, when the support stand is in the first deployed position.

The height of the support members, when the support stand is in the second deployed position, may be at most 80%, preferably at most 70%, more preferably at most 60%, even more preferably at most 50% relative to the height of the support members, when the support stand is in the first deployed position.

The angle between the first pair of legs may be substantially equal to the angle between the second pair of legs when the support stand is in the second deployed position.

It may be said that in the second deployed position, the height of the first support member and the second support member is adapted for sitting or kneeling operation of the aiming device.

A pivoting movement, between the non-deployed position and the first deployed position, of one of the legs of the first pair of legs relative to the hinge axis of the first hinge device may be subject to a first friction force caused by the first hinge device and a pivoting movement between a first deployed position and a second deployed position may be subject to a second friction force caused by the first hinge device, wherein the second friction force is greater than the first friction force.

Each leg of the first pair of legs may be accommodated in an arcshaped slot of the first hinge device, the slot may have a length along the arcshape and a width perpendicular to the length, the slot may have a first width along a length of the slot corresponding to the position of one of the legs of the first pair of legs between the non-deployed position and the first deployed position, the first width being smaller than a width of one of the legs of the first pair of legs causing a first friction force; and a second width along a length of the slot corresponding to the position of one of the legs of the first pair of legs between the first deployed position and the second deployed position, the second width being smaller than the first width causing a second friction force, which is greater than the first friction force. The width may be measured in the direction of the respective hinge axis.

Additionally or alternatively, the second friction force may be caused by a resilient member, in particular a spring.

The transition between the first friction force and the second friction force may comprise a jump in magnitude so that a substantially greater force is required to pivot the pair of legs from the first deployed position towards the second deployed position.

This provides the advantage of seamless transition between deployment positions. It also provides a tactile feedback to the user, enabling him/her to distinguish between the deployment positions.

At least one, preferably both, of the first hinge device and the second hinge device may comprise a mechanical stop limiting the angle between the respective legs of the first and second pair of legs, so that the support stand is set in the second deployed position when the first pair of legs and the second pair of legs are arranged at an angle limited by the mechanical stop and when the left and right legs are arranged with an angle between the left legs and an angle between the right legs.

At least one of the left legs may form a left foot at a lower end thereof, said left foot being configured to connect the support stand with the ground when the support stand is in an applicable position, and at least one of the right legs may form a right foot at a lower end thereof, said right foot being configured to connect the ground and the support stand when the support stand is in an applicable position. The applicable position may be the non-deployed position, the first deployed position, or the second deployed position.

The first pair of legs and the second pair of legs may preferably only be connected to the ground through the left foot and the right foot. By only having two feet, the support stand is allowed to be tilted around an axis between the left and right foot, which allows a user to adjust the aim of the aiming device around this axis.

At least one of the left foot and right foot may include a friction shoe, potentially an elastomer stud, configured to increase the friction between the respective foot and the ground.

Each leg of the first and second pair of legs may be telescopically extendable. This provides the advantage that the support stand may be adjusted to suit users of different height. Each telescopically extendable leg may comprise at least two adjustment holes and a push button, the push button being configured to be accommodated in an adjustment hole, wherein the respective leg is configured so that when the push button is pushed in, said leg may be telescopically extended or contracted, and the push button is accommodated in another adjustment hole. This arrangement is a simple and mechanically stable way of allowing telescopic adjustment. Each leg may further comprise a rotatable sleeve adapted to cover the adjustment holes. This provides the advantage that wind noise caused by the adjustment holes is reduced.

The support stand may further comprise a support leg which clips on to one of the first pair of legs and second pair of legs, the support leg being detachably attached and configured to form a connection between the ground and the support stand when the support stand is in a deployed position. The support leg allows the support stand to be self-standing which increases the stability of the support stand.

At least one of the support members may further comprise an opening bar attached to said support member and arranged at a distance to a leg of the associated support member, when the support stand is in the nondeployed position, wherein the opening bar is adapted to abut said leg of the associated support member, when said leg is pivoted away from the nondeployed position. The opening bar may be adapted to abut said leg of the associated support member, when said leg is in the first deployed position, the second deployed position, or another position not being the non-deployed position. The opening bar may extend outwardly and downwardly from the support member. The distance between the opening bar and the leg of the associated support member may be approximately the size of the palm of an adult man to allow one-hand operation of the opening bar and leg.

The opening bar may be attached to the support member by a fastening device. The fastening device may be detachable, so that the opening bar is detachably attached to said support member. This provides increased flexibility as the user can choose to use the opening bar or not.

The opening bar may allow rotational adjustment thereof, so that the opening bar is adapted to abut the said leg of the associated support member when angle between the legs are at a certain value. This allows the user to adjust a maximum opening angle of the legs of the associated support member, so that the support stand can be set in a user-configured position. Additionally or alternatively, the opening lever may comprise a mechanical stop so that the opening lever can be adjusted to a minimum angle of the legs, the minimum angle may be greater than zero. The opening lever may comprise a resilient member urging the opening member towards the minimum angle, and the opening lever may allow a pivoting movement of the legs to open the legs further than the minimum angle while the resilient member may urge the opening lever to abut the one of the legs during the pivoting movement. The resilient member may resist the pivoting movement. The resilient member may be a spring.

The opening bar may be attached by a quick release mechanism or by a bolt and nut, screw or other like fastener.

The opening bar provides the advantage of rapid deployment of the support stand with one hand. By gripping the opening bar and the nearby leg, with the support stand in a non-deployed position, the support stand may be rapidly deployed to a deployed position by squeezing the nearby leg towards the opening bar. The position of the opening bar may be adjusted to adapt the angle of the deployed position to which the support stand deploys. The opening bar may be curved or chamfered for better handling. The opening bar may have a length of at least 4 cm, preferably at least 5 cm, more preferably at least 6 cm, and a width of at least 1 cm.

The opening bar may be made from a material selected from the following list: polymers, aluminium, steel, stainless steel, other metals, carbon fibre and composites thereof, wood, as well as combinations of the listed materials.

The above disclosure relating to the opening bar may be a separate invention in its own right and form the basis of a separate disclosure. The opening bar may be used in a support stand that is not characterized in that a pivoting movement of one of the legs of the first pair of legs relative to a first hinge axis of the first hinge device in a first direction causes the first hinge device to pivot the other leg of the first pair of legs relative to a second hinge axis of the first hinge device in a second, opposite direction.

The support stand may further comprise a clip, hook or other attachment device for attaching accessories.

At least one leg may comprise a securing clip for securing the first pair of legs to the second pair of legs during transport. This reduces rattling and secures the support stand in the non-deployed position. The securing clip may be made from polymer, metal, wood, carbon fibre and composites thereof, as well as combinations of the listed materials. The securing clip may be attached to the leg by bolts, rivets and other like fasteners.

One or more of the above features relating to either a first or a second hinge device may be included in the other one of the first and second hinge device. Addtionally or alternatively, the second hinge device may be configured in a corresponding way as the first hinge device.Both hinge devices may be configured in substantially the same way.

When the term “a deployed position” is used, the deployed position may refer to the first deployed position or the second deployed position.

The left leg of the first pair of legs and the left leg of the second pair of legs may be described as the “left legs”, and mutatis mutandis for “right legs”.

A height of an object is generally measured perpendicularly from the ground and to the object.

An angle between a first and a second object, e.g. a first and a second leg, is generally measured between a longitudinal axis of the first object, e.g. a first leg, and a longitudinal axis of the second object, e.g. a second leg.

This disclosure further relates to a kit of parts comprising:

a support stand according to the first aspect of the invention, a portable aiming device having a front part and a rear part, wherein the front part and rear part of the aiming device is located at a distance, wherein the first support member is configured to support the front part or the rear part of the aiming device, and the second support member is configured to support the other part of the front part and rear part of the aiming device.

The portable aiming device may be in the form of a firearm, preferably a rifle, even more preferably a hunting rifle, wherein the front part of the aiming device is a barrel supporting portion of the firearm, preferably a forestock or fore end or forearm of the firearm and the rear part of the aiming device is a portion near a grip of the firearm, preferably a rear stock or a pistol grip of the firearm.

Detailed description

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the schematic drawings: in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the support stand in a deployed position,

Fig. 2 is a view of the support stand in a non-deployed position with the legs extended,

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the support stand in a non-deployed position with the legs retracted,

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the support members and first and second hinge device in a non-deployed position with hidden lines of the second support member and second pair of legs shown,

Fig. 5 is the same view in Fig. 4, but where the support stand is in a first deployed position,

Fig. 6 is the same view as in Fig. 4, but where the support stand is in a second deployed position,

Fig. 7 is a view of the gear-toothed upper portions of the legs in the second deployed position.

An embodiment of the support stand, comprising two support members 10, 11, a first pair of legs 12, 13, a second pair of legs 14, 15 and two feet 16, 17, in a first deployed position is shown in Fig. 1. The first pair of legs has a left leg 12 and a right leg, and the second pair of legs has a left leg 14 and a right leg 15. The upper portions of the first pair of legs 12, 13 are interconnected by a first hinge device 101 and attached to the first support member 10. The upper portions of the second pair of legs 14, 15, are interconnected by a second hinge device 111 and attached to the second support member 11. The two left legs 12, 14 are hingedly connected by a left hinge device (not shown) above a left foot 16 and the two right legs 13, 15 are hingedly connected by a right hinge device (not shown) above a right foot 17. The left and right hinge devices allow the second pair of legs 14, 15 to pivot relative to the first pair of legs 12, 13. The left and right hinge devices are each in the form of a barrel hinge and each include a mechanical stop that limits the maximum angle the first and second pair of legs 14, 15 can pivot from each other. The two feet 16, 17 are adapted for maintaining a secure connection with the ground surface and has friction studs made from rubber or another material with a high coefficient friction.

In the first deployed position, the legs of the first pair of legs 12, 13 are distanced from each other by a first angle α1 from a common axis and the legs of the second pair of legs 14, 15 are distanced from each other by a second angle α2 from a common axis. Furthermore, the left legs 12, 14 are distanced from each other by a fixed angle and the right legs 13, 15 are distanced from each other by a fixed angle, resulting in the first and second support members 10, 11 being separated from each other by a corresponding distance. In this position, the support stand can support an aiming device on the support members. The aiming device has an aiming axis β which is defined by the direction of which the aiming device aims. For instance, when the aiming device is a firearm, the aiming axis coincides with the direction of travel of a bullet fired from said firearm, or, when the aiming device is a camera, the aiming axis is defined by the lens or optical axis of the camera. The aiming axis β is shown in Fig. 1.

The support stand can further be set to a second deployed position where the angle between the first pair of legs 12, 13 and the angle between the second pair of legs 14, 15 is greater than the corresponding angle in the first deployed position, by pivoting a left or right leg. It is also clearly visible that the first support member 10 comprises a substantially horizontal surface section 102 and the second support member 11 a cradle-like section 112, each for supporting a front or rear part of an aiming device placed in the support stand. The substantially horizontal surface section 102 is wider than the width of the part of the intended aiming device to be supported and thus allows the aiming device to be moved laterally on the first support member 10. The surface section 102 comprises a material, such as rubber, with a high coefficient of friction to ensure the aiming device does not move accidentally or unexpectedly. The surface section 112 of the second support member 11 is shaped as a cradle and prevents the supported part of the aiming device from moving laterally and has a similar material with a high coefficient of friction. This provides a setup, where two points on the aiming device are supported, that still allows for precise and efficient adjustments of the aim.

The height of the support mounts 10, 11, relative to the surface on which the support stand is placed, is lower in the second deployed position than in the first deployed position. This is a result of the different angle between the first pair of legs 12, 13 respectively and the second pair of legs 14, 15 respectively in the different deployed positions. The first deployed position can be adapted for supporting an aiming device whilst taking aim from a standing stance, and the second deployed position can be adapted for supporting an aiming device whilst taking aim from a sitting or kneeling stance.

Furthermore, a fifth leg can be attached to one of the support stands legs 12, 13, 14 ,15 to allow it to stand on its own. The fifth leg can be attached using a clip, snap-on mechanism or other detachably attachable fastener. The legs 12, 13, 14 ,15 of the support stand may be made from a material chosen from the following list: aluminium, steel, stainless steel, carbon fibre and composites thereof, polymers, as well as combinations thereof, as well as combinations of the listed materials.

Adjusting the height to match the requirements of a given user is achieved by the telescopically adjustable legs 12, 13, 14, 15. Each upper portion 121, 131, 141, 151 and lower portion 122, 132, 142, 152 of each leg 12, 13, 14, 15 comprises a pushbutton 18 adapted for engaging with matching holes in an adjustment sleeve 123, 133, 143, 153. With the upper portions 121, 131, 141, 152 and lower portions 122, 132, 142, 152 of each leg secured in an adjustment sleeve 123, 133, 143, 153, the height of support mounts relative to the ground, and relative to each other, can be quickly and efficiently adjusted. Fig. 3 shows the support stand being adjusted to a lower height. The adjustment sleeve 123, 133, 143, 153 may be made from a material similar to the legs 12, 13, 14, 15 of the support stand.

A cover sleeve (not shown) may further be attached around the adjustment sleeve 123, 133, 143, 153 to cover the adjustment holes and so reduce noise generated by wind blowing past the adjustment holes. The cover sleeve may be made from a material chosen from the following list: aluminium, steel, stainless steel, carbon fibre and composites thereof, polymers, as well as combinations of the listed materials.

In the non-deployed position, the legs 12, 13, 14 ,15 of the support stand are substantially parallel as seen in Fig. 2. This provides a more convenient, compact form-factor for carrying or transporting the support stand. As the shape of the support members 10, 11 remain constant throughout the different deployed positions, the support stand can be used as a single column support stand with the aiming device resting on a support member 10, 11, for moments when the speed of taking aim is more important than having the highest level of support. It is, however, also possible to imagine embodiments where the shapes of the support mounts 10, 11 change in relation to the deployment position.

One of the legs 12, 13, 14 ,15 has a securing clip (not shown) for securing the first pair of legs 12, 13 to the second pair of legs 14, 15 during transport. This reduces rattling and secures the support stand in the nondeployed position. The securing clip is be made from polymer. The securing clip may be attached to a leg by bolts, rivets and other like fasteners.

The mechanism in the first and/or second hinge device 101, 111 is more clearly seen in Figures 4, 5 and 6, where, in the embodiment shown, the second hinge device 111 of the second support member 11 has a first hinge axis 40a and second hinge axis 40b. The second hinge device 111 comprises the upper portions 141, 151 of the left and right leg of the second pair of legs 14, 15, which each include gear teeth 71 that engage with the gear teeth 71 of the other leg of the second pair respectively as best seen in Fig. 7, with the result that the pivoting movement of one of the legs of the second pair causes the other leg of the second pair to pivot correspondingly, in an opposite direction. It should be noted that the hinge device need not have two separate hinge axes, but instead may have just one. In that case, the second pair of legs 14, 15 would share the common hinge axis of the hinge device. It is also possible that just the first support member 10, or both support members 10, 11, include a hinge device as described above.

Deploying the support stand from the non-deployed position, as seen in Fig. 4, to the first deployed position, as seen in Fig. 5, the gear teeth 71 of the two upper portions 141, 151 of the second pair of legs engage with each other as described above until the upper portions 141, 151 of the legs reach a position corresponding to the first deployed position. When trying to pivot the legs further from the first deployed position towards the second deployed position, a narrower section (not shown) in the second support member causes the resistance to movement to increase sharply, and thus the second pair of legs will remain in the first deployed position unless a greater force is applied. Accordingly, the first support member 10 include a narrower section as described above. When pivoting the legs from the first deployed position to the second deployed position, the movement is met with an increased resistive force, due to the narrower section in the second support member 11, until a mechanical stop, in the form of two flat sectioned teeth 72 of the upper portions 141, 151 of the legs come into contact as can be seen in Fig. 6, prevent any further movement in the pivoting direction, so that the support stand is brought in the second deployed position. The first support member 10 comprises a corresponding mechanism as described above, while this is an advantage is it not required that both support members has such a mechanism.

Interconnecting the legs in the way described above has the effect that, pivoting any of the legs, except for the clip on leg, results in a synchronized pivoting of all the legs. That is, pivoting a left leg 12, 14 a certain angle in a first direction results in the other left leg 12, 14 pivoting an angle of the same magnitude in the same direction, and the two right legs 13, 15 pivoting an angle of the same magnitude in the direction opposite to the first direction, so that all legs pivot by the same magnitude and in a direction corresponding to the location of the leg.

Each leg comprises a gear-toothed upper portion 70a, 70b and a leg tube. Each leg is assembled by plugging a gear-toothed upper portion into an end of the leg tube. The gear-toothed upper portions 70a, 70b are made as identical parts. This reduces manufacturing complexity. However, the geartoothed upper portions 70a, 70b may also be made as a left and a right part. The gear-toothed upper portions 70a, 70b are made of a rigid polymer material, but may be made from a material selected from the following list: aluminium, steel, stainless steel, carbon fibre and composites thereof, as well as combinations of the listed materials.

In the present embodiment, the support members 10, 11 are assembled by inserting a bolt through two, hinge axis defining, holes in a rear or front part of a support member, then aligning a gear-toothed upper portion of a leg 70a, 70b on each bolt, aligning and fitting the remaining rear or front part of said support member to the upper portion of a leg 121, 131, 141, 151 and support member part assembly, and securing the assembly by fastening a nut on each bolt. The support member 10, 11 is then optionally additionally secured by a further pair of fasteners on the extremities of the support member 10, 11. The support member assembly may be assembled and secured in a variety of ways including; rivets, screws, snap-locking, press fitting and the like as well as a different order of assembly.

The support members 10, 11 is made from a rigid polymer material.

The opening bar 20 depicted in the figures is attached to a support member 10, 11. The opening bar 20 enables a rapid deployment of the support stand with one hand. By gripping the opening bar 20 and the nearby leg, with the support stand in a non-deployed position, the support stand may be rapidly deployed to a deployed position by squeezing the nearby leg towards the lever. The position of the opening bar 20 can be adjusted to adapt the angle of the deployed position to which the support stand deploys. The opening bar 20 has a length of 7 cm and a width of 1 cm. It is detachably attached to a support member by a bolt and nut. The opening bar 20 is made of stainless steel.

The support stand may also be part of a kit containing the different parts described above and the aiming device.

Dashed lines on the figures should, where applicable, be understood as hidden lines.

List of reference numerals

102

First support member

Surface section

First hinge device

Second support member

Cradle-like section

Second hinge device

Left leg of first pair of legs

Upper portion of left leg of first pair

Lower portion of left leg of first pair Adjustment sleeve of left leg of first pair Right leg of first pair of legs

Upper portion of right leg of first pair

Lower portion of right leg of first pair Adjustment sleeve of right leg of first pair Left leg of second pair of legs

Upper portion of left leg of second pair Lower portion of left leg of second pair Adjustment sleeve of left leg of second pair Right leg of second pair of legs

Upper portion of right leg of second pair Lower portion of right leg of second pair Adjustment sleeve of right leg of second pair Left foot

Right foot

Pushbutton adjustment hole

Opening bar

First hinge axis of second hinge device Second hinge axis of second hinge device Gear-toothed Upper portion of leg Gear-toothed Upper portion of leg Gear teeth on upper portion of leg

Flat tooth section on upper portion of leg

First angle

Second angle

Aiming axis

Claims

PATENT REQUIREMENTS

A support frame for supporting a portable screening device which can be placed in a non-erected position and in a first erected position, the support frame comprising:

a first pair of legs (12, 13) and a second pair of legs (14, 15); and a first support member (10) and a second support member (11);

each pair of legs comprising a left leg and a right leg, each leg having a lower part and an upper part, the first pair of legs (12, 13) supporting the first support member (10) and the second pair of legs (14 , 15) supports the second support member (11), and wherein the first support member (10) is adapted to support a front portion or rear portion of the portable screening device, and the second support member (11) is adapted to support the second member. of the front and rear portions of the portable screening device, the upper portions of the first pair of legs (12, 13) being interconnected at upper ends thereof by means of a first hinge device (101) so that the left leg (12) in the first pair of legs (12, 13) may pivot relative to the right leg (13) of the first pair of legs (12, 13), and the upper portions of the second pair of legs (14, 15) are interconnected at the upper ends. thereof by means of another hinge device (111) so as to left leg nets (14) of the second pair of legs (14, 15) may pivot relative to the right leg (15) of the second pair of legs (14, 15) where the left legs (12, 14) are rotatably connected at a distance from the upper ends thereof by means of a left hinge device, and the right legs (13, 15) are rotatably connected at a distance from the upper ends thereof by means of a right hinge device, so that the second pair of legs (14, 15) can rotate relative to the first pair of legs (12, 13), thereby moving the first support member (10) relative to the second support member (11), characterized in that a pivotal movement of one of the legs in the first pair of legs (12, 13) relative to a first hinge axis of the first hinge device in a first direction causes the first

22 hinge device (101) pivots the second leg of the first pair of legs (12, 13) relative to a second hinge axis of the first hinge device in a second, opposite direction.

A support frame according to claim 1, wherein a pivoting movement of one of the legs of the second pair of legs (14, 15) relative to a first hinge axis (40a) of the second hinge device (111) in a first direction causes the second hinge device (111) pivots the second leg of the second pair of legs (14, 15) relative to a second hinge axis (40b) of the second hinge device (111) in a different, opposite direction.

A support frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of, preferably both of, the first and second hinge devices (101, 102) comprises a gear transmission in the form that the upper part of one of the legs of the respective pair of legs have teeth that engage the teeth of the upper part of the other leg of the same pair of legs to couple the movement of the respective pair of legs.

A support frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one, preferably both, of the left hinge device and the right hinge device comprises a mechanical stop which limits the angle between the respective legs of the left legs (12, 14) and the right legs (13, 15) so that when the support frame is placed in the first set-up position, the left legs (12, 14) are arranged at an angle limited by the mechanical stop of the left hinge device, and / or the right legs (13, 15) are arranged at an angle limited by the mechanical stop of the right hinge device.

A support frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the legs of the first and second pairs of legs are substantially parallel when the support frame is in the non-positioned position.

A support frame according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support member (10) has a surface portion (102) adapted to support a front or rear portion of the screening device and to allow that portion of the screening device to move sideways along the surface section (102).

A support frame according to any one of the preceding claims, further having a second positioned position, wherein the angle between the legs of the first pair of legs is greater when the support frame is in the second positioned position than the angle between the legs of the first pair of legs. , when the support stand is in the first position set up.

A support frame according to claim 7, wherein a pivoting movement between the non-positioned position and the first positioned position of one of the legs of the first pair of legs (12, 13) relative to a hinge axis of the first hinge device (101) is actuated. first frictional force caused by the first hinge device (101), and a pivoting movement between the first positioned position and the second positioned position is influenced by a second frictional force caused by the first hinge device (101), the second frictional force being greater than the first frictional force.

A support frame according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein at least one, preferably both, of the first hinge device (101) and the second hinge device (102) comprises a mechanical stop which limits the angle between the respective legs of the first and the second pair of legs so that the support frame is placed in the second positioned position when the first pair of legs (12, 13) and the second pair of legs (14, 15) are arranged at an angle limited by the mechanical stop and when they left and right legs are placed at an angle between the left legs (12, 14) and an angle between the right legs (13, 15).

Set of parts, comprising:

a support support frame according to any one of the preceding claims, a portable screening device having a front part and a rear part, the front part and the rear part of the screening device being arranged at a distance, the first support element (10) being arranged for supporting the front part or the rear part of the screening device, and the second support element (11) is arranged to support the second part of the front part and the rear part of the screening device.