EP2548621B1 - Balancing device with a supporting structure - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a Balanciervorrichtung with a support structure having two spaced apart via a spacer support elements and mounting elements, wherein a Balancierseil or band is stretched over the support elements.

State of the art

Known balancers often have the problem that they are exposed to high loads. On the one hand, a corresponding supporting structure must be strong enough to be able to absorb the tensile forces of the balancing rope or band and then additionally be able to carry the weight of the user. In order for the devices to meet these requirements, they are designed to be correspondingly large, making them both heavy and bulky on the one hand. In most cases, they can only be used in practice at fixed locations and can be easily stowed away or transported. Those wooden devices are particularly solid and have a continuous center bar as spacers of several meters, which already represents a logistical problem in the supply of such devices. Other metal devices are partially dismantled in the form of nestable hollow sections. So that the device still has the necessary stability in use, even the individual segments are too heavy and unwieldy for transport.

DE 20 2010 003 182 U1 describes a balancing device with at least one elongated Balancierelement in the form of Balancierseils and with a subframe having upwardly projecting support arms, over which runs in the tensioned state, the Balancierelement.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a balancing device which is easy and dismantled so that it is also suitable for private use, for example in the apartment and is easy to transport and store.

This is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The spacer comprises at least a first portion and at least two longitudinally adjacent second portions, wherein the first portion is formed by a beam and the second portions are each formed of two struts which laterally overlap longitudinally in their end portions with the end portions of the beam, and wherein in the overlap region of the first and second sections in each case at least two fastening means are provided, which can be arranged for the rigid connection between the sections. It is preferred to use layer-glued wood as the material. For example, a single section may be 1.2 m in length, whereby a device consisting of a first section and two second sections may still be well used in a private apartment, but only has a maximum size of 120 cm disassembled in its longest dimension. The weight of the device moves around 15 kg, which makes it easy to deliver as a package and can also be easily transported by the user. For special applications, it is also possible to connect a plurality of first and second sections in a chain-like manner and thus to produce larger devices for the outdoor sector, the production effort remaining practically the same due to the modular construction. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that even a device having a second portion as a middle portion and two adjacent first portions will be an equivalent solution. It goes without saying that, in this case, the support element can be embodied in accordance with the first section over the outside.

As a fastening means in each case a first bore in the overlap region between two sections a fixed mounted joint connecting means is arranged according to the invention, wherein in the respective second bore a securing pin is detachably arranged. This makes it possible to fold the device, whereby it is not only easy to transport, but also can be set up very quickly.

According to an alternative, which is not part of the invention, in the overlapping region between first and second portions respectively grooves are arranged, in which fasteners engage in the form of substantially U-shaped brackets, each with a clip to the central portion on top of a first section in FIG engages a groove and engages with its two end portions at the bottom in a respective groove on the struts of the second portion and the second bracket opposite to the first with its central portion at the bottom in a groove on the first portion and with the two end portions on top of the struts of the second portion , This embodiment allows a particularly quick and easy installation, in which the device only has to be plugged together and no screw connections are necessary. As an alternative to the brackets, cords or straps may be provided instead, which are attached to the second sections and engage around the first sections in the same manner as the brackets.

According to the invention, the support elements are formed by two beam elements, which are arranged inclined in the longitudinal direction of the device in the direction of the respective closer end and respectively between the two struts of a second portion of the spacer and between two retaining bolts, which project through the two struts transverse to the longitudinal direction, are inserted, wherein at least one groove disposed on the beam element groove with one of the retaining bolts is engageable to secure the beam member against slipping, and wherein the beam elements is fixed by tensioning the Balancierseils or bands in its position. By this feature, the device can be constructed very quickly, since the support elements are inserted without any screw or other fixings in the spacer and secured by tensioning the Balancierseils orbandes in your position.

Furthermore, it is a feature of the invention that the beam elements at least each have an oblique end face, which in the assembled state of the balancing approximately parallel to Aufstellfläche is arranged, and that the groove is provided on the assembled state in the upwardly facing longitudinal side of the beam element, wherein the normal distance between the groove-carrying longitudinal side and the opposite longitudinal side of the beam element in the portion between the oblique end face and groove is less than in the section between Groove and opposite end face, but not less than the normal distance between groove bottom and opposite longitudinal side. By this feature, the threading of the beam element in the construction of the device is facilitated. In addition, when inserting the beam element this can not be pushed over the retaining bolts so easily, since the retaining pin catches on the groove, whereby the beam element is guided to its end position. As an equivalent embodiment, a beam member is also considered, which carries the groove on the downwardly directed longitudinal side and cooperates with this with the corresponding retaining bolt.

Finally, it is a further feature of the invention that the Balancierseil or -band is attached with its ends on the spacer and rotates over the end faces of the spacer and the upper end side of the support members, and that between support member and the front end of the spacer, a clamping device in Form of a plate is provided, which is clamped with their end faces between a support on the Balanciervorrichtung and Balancierseil or band in the section between the support member and spacer, wherein the plate in the lowered state protrudes beyond the end face of the spacer, whereby the Balancierseil or band is tensioned, and that the plate further comprises a fixing device which allows a detachable connection to the spacer for securing the tensioning device in the cocked position. The balancing rope or strap is stretched relatively loosely over the device and tensioned by depressing the tensioning device formed by a plate. Thus, in use, the plate does not jump back up and the tension of Balancierseils or bands yields, the plate with a fixing device, for example in the form of a running through the plate belt, fixed to the spacer. In a particularly simple embodiment, the intersection between the support element and spacer forms the support for the plate. Instead of a plate and a U-shaped element would be conceivable as an equivalent, which is supported with its two legs on the supports. In that case, the supports could also be located more centrally on the spacer, wherein the U-shaped element then engages around the support element laterally.

Short description of the drawing figures

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Balanciervorrichtung zeigt,
• Fig. 2 eine Detailansicht eines Stützelements im montierten Zustand zeigt,
• Fig. 3 eine mögliche Spannvorrichtung sowie eine alternative Ausführungsform einer Balanciervorrichtung zeigt,
• Fig. 4 ein Stützelement in Form eines Balkenelements einer erfindungsgemäßen Balanciervorrichtung zeigt,
• und Fig. 5 eine Detailansicht der Verbindung zwischen erstem und zweitem Abschnitt gemäß der Ausführungsform aus Fig. 3 zeigt.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a balancing device according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of a support element in the mounted state,
• Fig. 3 shows a possible tensioning device and an alternative embodiment of a balancing device,
• Fig. 4 shows a support element in the form of a beam element of a balancing device according to the invention,
• and Fig. 5 a detailed view of the connection between the first and second section according to the embodiment of Fig. 3 shows.

Description of the embodiments

In the Fig. 1 Balanciervorrichtung shown has a spacer formed from a first section 1 and two second sections 2. The first section 1 is formed from a bar 7. Then, laterally in the longitudinal direction and partially overlapping are struts 8 of the second sections 2. The two sections 1,2 have in the overlap region in each case two holes transverse to the longitudinal direction, in which fastening means 5,6 are arranged. In a preferred embodiment, one of the fastening means 5, 6 is a fixedly mounted bolt which forms a joint axis, while the other fastening means 6, 5 is a securing pin. Near the end of the device support elements in the form of beam elements 4 are provided, which between the struts 8 and between two Retaining bolts 9 are inserted. The beam element is loosely in its receptacle and is fixed only by the tensioning of Balancierseils or bands 3 in its position. At the longitudinal ends of the device mounting elements 10 are also provided. A tensioning device 13 is used for tensioning the Balancierseils or bands. 3

Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of a support element of a balancing device according to the invention, wherein the loosely inserted beam element 4 has a groove 12 which forms a receptacle for one of the retaining bolts 9. In the embodiment shown here, the Balancierseil or -band 3 is tensioned by means of a rope or band attached to the tensioning device 13.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative tensioning device, which is formed by a board 14 which is clamped between the beam element 4 and the end portion of the spacer (here a second section 2). Since the board 14 is longer than the distance between the front side of the second section 2 and the connection point between the beam element 4 and the second section 2, the balancing cable 3 is tensioned when the board 14 is pressed down. To secure the board 14 in this position, a fixing device (not shown) in the form of a band is provided, which connects the board 14 with the second section 2. In this embodiment, which is not part of the invention, the first 1 and second sections 2 are connected to each other by means of brackets 19.

Fig. 4 finally shows a beam element 4 in disassembled state. On one side, the beam element on an oblique face 15, which is approximately parallel to the footprint in the erected state. For easier threading of the beam member 4 during assembly, the portion 16 between oblique end face 15 and groove 12 has a smaller normal distance to the opposite longitudinal side than the portion of the groove 12 to the other end face of the beam element 4. This is a step formed when assembling the Device prevents the beam member is pushed over the groove 12 away in the second section 2.

Fig. 5 shows the connection between the first 1 and second sections 2 according to the embodiment Fig. 3 in a detailed view. The connecting brackets 19 are substantially U-shaped and have a central portion 18 and two end portions 17. A bracket 19 engages with the central portion 18 above in a groove on the beam 7 and with its end portions 17 below in each case a groove on the struts 8 of the adjacent second portion 2. The second bracket 19 is arranged exactly the reverse and engages with its central portion 18 down in a groove on the beam 7 and with its two end portions 17 on top of the struts 8 of the second section 2. By the tension of Balancierseils or band, the connector is biased and thus forms a rigid connection. This embodiment is particularly easy to set up and disassemble, since no screw connections are needed.

Claims (3)

1. A balancing device having a support structure, which has two supporting elements and foot elements (10) that are spaced apart from one another by a spacer, a balancing cable or band (3) being stretched over the supporting elements, and the spacer comprising at least one first portion (1) and at least two second portions (2), flanking in the longitudinal direction, the first portion (1) being formed by a beam (7) and the second portions being formed by, in each case, two bars (8), which overlap at the side, in their end portions in the longitudinal direction, with the end portions of the beam, and, in the overlapping region of the first and second portions (1, 2), in each case, two fastening means (5, 6, 19) being provided, which can be arranged to establish a rigid connection between the portions (1, 2), and, as fastening means, a fixedly-mounted pivot connection means being disposed in each case in a first hole in the overlapping region between two portions (1, 2) and a locking pin being releasably located in each case in the second hole, characterized in that the supporting elements are formed by two bar elements (4), which are arranged at an angle in the direction of their respective nearer ends, in the longitudinal direction of the device, and are in each case slid in between the two bars (8) of a second portion (2) of the spacer and between two retaining bolts (9) that pass through the two bars transversely to the longitudinal direction, at least one groove (12) located on the bar element (4) being able to be brought into engagement in each case with one of the retaining bolts (9), in order to secure the bar element (4) against getting out of position, and the bar elements (4) being fixed in their position by the tension of the balancing cable or band (3).
2. A balancing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bar elements (4) have at least one sloping end face (15) in each case, which is disposed substantially parallel to the floor surface in the assembled condition of the balancing device, and in that the groove (12) is provided on the longitudinal face of the bar element (4) that faces upwards in the assembled condition, the normal spacing between the longitudinal face that carries the groove and the opposite longitudinal face of the bar element in the portion between the sloping end face (15) and the groove (12) being less than in the portion between the groove (12) and the opposite face, but not less that the normal spacing between the base of the groove and the opposite longitudinal face.
3. A balancing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the balancing wire or band (3) is secured on the spacer by its ends and runs around over the end faces of the spacer and over the upper faces of the supporting elements, and in that between the supporting element and the end face of the spacer, a tensioning device in the form of a plate (11) is provided, which is clamped in the region between the supporting element and the space by its end faces, between a support point on the balancing device and the balancing wire or band (3), the plate (11) in its lowered state projecting beyond the end face of the spacer, whereby the balancing wire or band is tensioned, and in that the plate furthermore comprises a fixing device, which enables a releasable connection to the spacer, in order to secure the tensioning device in the tensioned position.

Images