EP1559853A1 - Supporting structure for uprights - Google Patents

Supporting structure for uprights Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1559853A1
EP1559853A1 EP04021537A EP04021537A EP1559853A1 EP 1559853 A1 EP1559853 A1 EP 1559853A1 EP 04021537 A EP04021537 A EP 04021537A EP 04021537 A EP04021537 A EP 04021537A EP 1559853 A1 EP1559853 A1 EP 1559853A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
structure according
bag
base
upright
filled
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04021537A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fiorindo Stroppiana
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mondo SpA
Original Assignee
Mondo SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mondo SpA filed Critical Mondo SpA
Publication of EP1559853A1 publication Critical patent/EP1559853A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
    • E04H12/22—Sockets or holders for poles or posts
    • E04H12/2238—Sockets or holders for poles or posts to be placed on the ground
    • E04H12/2246—Sockets or holders for poles or posts to be placed on the ground filled with water, sand or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to supporting structures for uprights.
  • the term "upright” is herein used to designate in general any element having the configuration of a rod or bar (whether hollow or full) with a cross section of various shapes (circular, polygonal, mixtilinear, etc.), designed to be used in a position that is prevalently erect: it may, for example, be a supporting shaft for a beach-umbrella or sunshade, a pole or upright for supporting a net for sports such as volleyball or beach volley or else for supporting the basket in basketball, etc.
  • the main functional drawback linked to the use of said known solutions is represented by the weight (which often renders displacement of the supporting structure inconvenient when it is not in use) and/or by the overall dimensions (which can be somewhat troublesome both in the case where the structure is left in place after the upright has been removed and in the case where it is desirable to stow it away somewhere).
  • the weight and/or overall dimensions render transportation of the structure inconvenient.
  • collapsible structures provided with legs.
  • the chief drawback of these structures is, however, represented by the fact that, if they are of small dimensions, they exert an insufficient supporting action, whereas, if they are made with dimensions sufficient to ensure a proper supporting action, they end up having legs of considerable length, such as to render difficult or, at the very least inconvenient, use of or access to the area surrounding the base of the upright.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved solution which will enable the drawbacks linked to known solutions to be overcome.
  • the purpose of the present invention is hence to provide a supporting structure for uprights which can be readily displaced and/or set in conditions of reduced encumbrance. Added to this is the capability of providing a really effective supporting action without this involving excessive dimensions.
  • the present invention hence enables a supporting structure for uprights to be provided which can be readily displaced and/or set in conditions of reduced encumbrance.
  • the solution according to the invention is able to provide an effective supporting action, without this involving excessive dimensions.
  • one or two structures according to the invention which are able to support one or both of the side uprights of the net, can be readily inserted in a kit comprising other accessories (such as the net, one or more balls, etc.), it being possible for the kit to be contained in a small rigid case, having for example the shape of a small suitcase, which facilitates transportation and storage thereof.
  • the case itself can serve as supporting base for one of the uprights, the case being provided for this purpose with a hole for insertion of the upright, said case being able to receive within it an amount of ballast such as gravel, sand, water, etc.
  • ballast such as gravel, sand, water, etc.
  • the two side uprights that support the net are designed to be supported one by the case and the other by a structure according to the invention, which is originally contained inside the case and is then opened out and filled with ballast.
  • the structure according to the invention designated as a whole by the reference number 1, is designed to be used for supporting, in a vertical or substantially vertical position, an upright M.
  • an upright M constituted, for example, by a tubular upright made of a light metal material or of plastic, which can be used for example as upright for supporting at one of its ends a net for volleyball or beach volley.
  • the solution according to the invention can be used for uprights of any type, nature, structure, and function.
  • the structure according to the invention is basically made up of two parts, namely, a base 2 and a bag 3, which can be filled with material functioning as ballast.
  • the base 2 essentially consists of a plate having a generally plane shape and made, for example, of moulded plastic material.
  • the base 2 is generally disk-shaped, i.e., circular, and has a diameter of, for instance, about 30 cm.
  • said base 2 may be of any shape and size.
  • the base 2 can have a general square, polygonal, or mixtilinear configuration (for example, a general cross-shaped or lobed configuration).
  • the reference number 4 designates an attachment formation provided, usually in a central or substantially central position with respect to the base 2, for enabling it to be coupled to the upright M and in particular to the bottom end thereof.
  • the attachment formation 4 is made in the form of a sort of tenon provided on the outside with axial ribbings so as to enable penetration with a certain degree of interference in the bottom end, which is hollow, of the upright M.
  • the formation 4 may have the shape of a cylindrical collar, inserted in which is the bottom end of the upright M, or else may comprise a prismatic structure, which can be connected in a relationship of shape fit to the bottom end of the upright M. Without any loss of effectiveness in the function pursued, the person skilled in the branch will hence be able to devise, also according to the specific requirements of use, quite a high number of equivalent solutions.
  • the bag part 3 is made, in the example of embodiment illustrated, of a structure of laminar plastic material (for example polyethylene).
  • the bag can thus be kept in a "deflated" condition, in which the bag 3 is in practice a sheet which can be folded and rolled up, as illustrated schematically in Figure 2.
  • the aim of the above solution is to enable ease of transportation and/or storage together with the base 2, for example inside the case referred to in the introductory part of the present description.
  • the bag 3 can then be unrolled and unfolded, and hence brought into an extended position, in order to enable it to be filled with an amount of ballast.
  • the choices are multiple.
  • the currently preferred solution is to make the bag in such a way that it can be filled (in practice, "inflated") with water, or else filled with a "flowable” material, such as, typically, sand, using two filler pipes 5, 6 of the type commonly provided in air mattresses, life-belts, inflatable balls, etc.
  • the fillers 5, 6 When the fillers 5, 6 are opened for filling the bag 3 with water or some other liquid, they are designed to carry out, respectively, the function of filler for introduction of the ballast liquid and the function of vent pipe.
  • ballast material hereinafter, constant reference will be made to water, even though - it is once again emphasized - this is just one of the possible choices
  • the fillers 5 and 6 can be conveniently closed so as to prevent outflow of the water.
  • the bag 3 is made in such a way that, when it is opened out for filling, it assumes a shape that is as a whole pyramidal, with a side approximately 30 cm long and with approximately the same height.
  • the bag 3 is traversed by a through cavity 7, which defines, when the bag 3 is unfolded, a vertical hole for passage of the upright M and which extends from the centre of the base to the vertex of the pyramid.
  • the upright M can thus be fitted into the cavity 7 (made in the bag 3 so as to preserve the characteristics of tightness of the bag itself) to be coupled to the formation 4 of the base 3.
  • the base 2 can rest firmly on the ground S, at the same time keeping the bottom end of the upright M in a firm position of anchorage - without any risk of lateral slipping - on account of the coupling with the formation 4.
  • the bag 3 "presses" the base 2 against the ground S, on account of its weight, which can be considerable even for a bag 3 that is not particularly big.
  • the base 2 (and the upright M connected thereto) are hence withheld firmly against the ground, with the added advantage of benefiting from a general pendulum effect, which, when the upright M is displaced from its vertical position, causes the upright itself to be recalled to said position owing to the force of gravity exerted by the bag 3 on the base 2.
  • the pyramidal shape illustrated (or a pyramidal shape with a number of different faces) is currently considered preferential, both on account of the effectiveness in the supporting action that can be achieved and on account of the possibility of applying, on the faces of the pyramid, decorative patterns or wordings.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Greenhouses (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
EP04021537A 2004-01-29 2004-09-10 Supporting structure for uprights Withdrawn EP1559853A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20040006 2004-01-29
ITTO20040006 ITTO20040006U1 (it) 2004-01-29 2004-01-29 Struttura di sostegno per montanti

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1559853A1 true EP1559853A1 (en) 2005-08-03

Family

ID=39938074

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04021537A Withdrawn EP1559853A1 (en) 2004-01-29 2004-09-10 Supporting structure for uprights

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1559853A1 (it)
IT (1) ITTO20040006U1 (it)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1925763A2 (en) * 2006-11-16 2008-05-28 Simon George Barron A collapsible support stand
GB2494430A (en) * 2011-09-07 2013-03-13 Ian Dickson Portable screen with weighted base
US20160311506A1 (en) * 2015-04-22 2016-10-27 William Hervey Temporary post brace for water activities
WO2017100093A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-15 Linxx Global Solutions, Inc. Portable, multi-roomed system and method
WO2020244707A1 (de) * 2019-06-03 2020-12-10 Michael Glowacki EXPANDIERBARER STANDFUß

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3794279A (en) * 1972-04-24 1974-02-26 Hy Kramer Enterprise Inc Portable pedestal for lawn umbrellas, stanchions, and the like
US4486016A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-12-04 New York Toy Corporation Toy punching bag support construction
EP0818594A1 (en) * 1996-07-03 1998-01-14 Ronald Stefanus Heldens Parasol base, and method for its manufacture
US5779215A (en) * 1996-02-12 1998-07-14 Demasi; Douglas D. Christmas tree stand
DE10020988A1 (de) * 2000-04-28 2001-01-11 Konrad Bergmann Sonnenschirmhalter

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3794279A (en) * 1972-04-24 1974-02-26 Hy Kramer Enterprise Inc Portable pedestal for lawn umbrellas, stanchions, and the like
US4486016A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-12-04 New York Toy Corporation Toy punching bag support construction
US5779215A (en) * 1996-02-12 1998-07-14 Demasi; Douglas D. Christmas tree stand
EP0818594A1 (en) * 1996-07-03 1998-01-14 Ronald Stefanus Heldens Parasol base, and method for its manufacture
DE10020988A1 (de) * 2000-04-28 2001-01-11 Konrad Bergmann Sonnenschirmhalter

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1925763A2 (en) * 2006-11-16 2008-05-28 Simon George Barron A collapsible support stand
EP1925763A3 (en) * 2006-11-16 2010-06-09 Simon George Barron A collapsible support stand
GB2494430A (en) * 2011-09-07 2013-03-13 Ian Dickson Portable screen with weighted base
US20160311506A1 (en) * 2015-04-22 2016-10-27 William Hervey Temporary post brace for water activities
WO2017100093A1 (en) * 2015-12-07 2017-06-15 Linxx Global Solutions, Inc. Portable, multi-roomed system and method
US10011985B2 (en) 2015-12-07 2018-07-03 Linxx Global Solutions, Inc. Portable, multi-roomed system and method
WO2020244707A1 (de) * 2019-06-03 2020-12-10 Michael Glowacki EXPANDIERBARER STANDFUß
CN113906250A (zh) * 2019-06-03 2022-01-07 迈克尔·格洛瓦基 可膨胀的基座
US12044024B2 (en) 2019-06-03 2024-07-23 Michael Glowacki Expandable base

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO20040006U1 (it) 2004-04-29

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Effective date: 20051117