GB2058557A - Adjustable tripod - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable tripod primarily for use as a fishing rod rest consisting of a head 10 carrying a fishing rod support 22 and with radial slots 11 communicating with channels 12 to pivotally receive T-bolts 14, 13, each bolt having a threaded portion receiving a threaded portion 19 of a leg 20, each slot having an external curved cam surface 21 engaged by the top of the leg to lock the leg in adjusted angular position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An adjustable tripod stand or support This invention relates to a tripod stand or support having a head portion and legs which can be set up in desired angular position with respect to the vertical, the head portion also carrying a support for e.g.

a fishing rod.

An object of this invention is to provide a stand in which the position of the legs can be adjusted easily.

Another object is to provide a support for a fishing rod having a head support for the rod which adjusts to support the rod in the desired direction. Another object too is to provide a support which can be collapsed for transportation.

According to the invention the stand or support comprises a head having outwardly extending radial slots at relative angles of 120 , each slot adapted to receive a bolt having a head portion at its one end to engage in a recess in the head so that each bolt shank can pivot in a vertical plane in its slot, the surface of the head at the outer surface of the head at each slot being curved to constitute an out of centre or cam surface with respect to the pivot axis of its bolt shank, each shank having a screw-threaded portion at its other end adapted to be engaged by a screw threaded portion at the upper end of a support leg, whereby each leg can be held in desired adjusted position by adjustment of the engaging screw threads so that the upper end of the leg bears on the head cam surface at each side of a slot.

With the above arrangement, each leg can be set in desired angular position by screwing same on its bolt end to engage the cam surface. The cam surface is off centre in the direction such that downward thrust on the head increases the locking or wedging action. The legs can be folded down to lie substantially parallel simply by drawing them together i.e. in a direction which moves the leg ends away from their cam surfaces.

An embodiment according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the head portion, Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A Figure 1, Figure 3 a side view ot the head with the rod support and Figure 4 a view of a detail.

The stand or support illustrated has a head 10 with radial equi-angularly spaced arms each with a vertical slot 11 therethrough from top to bottom. Each slot has a transverse semi-circular channel 12 at its root end, in which a cylindrical head 13 of a T-bolt is received its shank 14 being received in the slot. A cover plate 15 is provided, this being held by the head portion 16 of a bored bolt 17 (Figure 4) the shank being located in a central bore 18 of the head and held by a nut (not shown).

When the plate 15 is secured to the head each bolt can pivot by its head in its channel so that the angular position of the bolt shanks with respect to the vertical can be adjusted.

Each shank 14 extends beyond its slot and the projecting end is screw threaded so that a screw threaded socket 19 of a leg 20 can be engaged thereon.

The outer surface 21 of the body at each slot is curved, this curving being out of centre with respect to the pivot axis of the bolt in the slot so that the surface provides a cam such that when a leg is screwed on to a bolt, the leg can be tightened so that its end engages on said surface. The cam slope is such that the engagement grip increases if a leg is raised towards the horizontal i.e. with the stand or support set up, the greater the down load on the body, the firmed the engagement.

The bolt 17 carries a rod rest yoke 22 by screw thread engagement so that the rest yoke can rotate.

When a fishing rod is supported the yoke will turn to align the rod. The yoke is shaped to allow this.

Further should the yoke be struck by the rod the yoke will deflect without upsetting the stand.

A standard rod rest yoke can be used.

1. A tripod stand or support comprising a head having outwardly extending radial slots at relative angles of 120 , each slot being adapted to receive the end head portion of a bolt which engages a recess in the head so that each bolt shank can move in a vertical plane along a slot, the outer surface of the head in the region of each slot being curved to constitute an out of centre or cam surface with respect to the pivot axis of its bolt shank, each shank having a screw-threaded portion at its other end adapted to be engaged by a screw threaded portion at the upper end of a support leg, whereby each leg can be held in desired adjusted position by adjustment of the engaging screw threads so that the upper end of the leg bears on the head cam surface at each side of a slot.

2. Atripod stand or support in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the recesses are covered by a closure plate serving to retain the bolts.

3. Atripod stand orsupportwherein the head comprises radially extending arms each being provided with a slot 4. A tripod stand or support wherein the head has a central threaded socket engageable with a U-shape rest which is rotatably supported thereby.

5. Atripod stand or support substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An adjustable tripod stand or support This invention relates to a tripod stand or support having a head portion and legs which can be set up in desired angular position with respect to the vertical, the head portion also carrying a support for e.g. a fishing rod. An object of this invention is to provide a stand in which the position of the legs can be adjusted easily. Another object is to provide a support for a fishing rod having a head support for the rod which adjusts to support the rod in the desired direction. Another object too is to provide a support which can be collapsed for transportation. According to the invention the stand or support comprises a head having outwardly extending radial slots at relative angles of 120 , each slot adapted to receive a bolt having a head portion at its one end to engage in a recess in the head so that each bolt shank can pivot in a vertical plane in its slot, the surface of the head at the outer surface of the head at each slot being curved to constitute an out of centre or cam surface with respect to the pivot axis of its bolt shank, each shank having a screw-threaded portion at its other end adapted to be engaged by a screw threaded portion at the upper end of a support leg, whereby each leg can be held in desired adjusted position by adjustment of the engaging screw threads so that the upper end of the leg bears on the head cam surface at each side of a slot. With the above arrangement, each leg can be set in desired angular position by screwing same on its bolt end to engage the cam surface. The cam surface is off centre in the direction such that downward thrust on the head increases the locking or wedging action. The legs can be folded down to lie substantially parallel simply by drawing them together i.e. in a direction which moves the leg ends away from their cam surfaces. An embodiment according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the head portion, Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A Figure 1, Figure 3 a side view ot the head with the rod support and Figure 4 a view of a detail. The stand or support illustrated has a head 10 with radial equi-angularly spaced arms each with a vertical slot 11 therethrough from top to bottom. Each slot has a transverse semi-circular channel 12 at its root end, in which a cylindrical head 13 of a T-bolt is received its shank 14 being received in the slot. A cover plate 15 is provided, this being held by the head portion 16 of a bored bolt 17 (Figure 4) the shank being located in a central bore 18 of the head and held by a nut (not shown). When the plate 15 is secured to the head each bolt can pivot by its head in its channel so that the angular position of the bolt shanks with respect to the vertical can be adjusted. Each shank 14 extends beyond its slot and the projecting end is screw threaded so that a screw threaded socket 19 of a leg 20 can be engaged thereon. The outer surface 21 of the body at each slot is curved, this curving being out of centre with respect to the pivot axis of the bolt in the slot so that the surface provides a cam such that when a leg is screwed on to a bolt, the leg can be tightened so that its end engages on said surface. The cam slope is such that the engagement grip increases if a leg is raised towards the horizontal i.e. with the stand or support set up, the greater the down load on the body, the firmed the engagement. The bolt 17 carries a rod rest yoke 22 by screw thread engagement so that the rest yoke can rotate. When a fishing rod is supported the yoke will turn to align the rod. The yoke is shaped to allow this. Further should the yoke be struck by the rod the yoke will deflect without upsetting the stand. A standard rod rest yoke can be used. CLAIMS

1. A tripod stand or support comprising a head having outwardly extending radial slots at relative angles of 120 , each slot being adapted to receive the end head portion of a bolt which engages a recess in the head so that each bolt shank can move in a vertical plane along a slot, the outer surface of the head in the region of each slot being curved to constitute an out of centre or cam surface with respect to the pivot axis of its bolt shank, each shank having a screw-threaded portion at its other end adapted to be engaged by a screw threaded portion at the upper end of a support leg, whereby each leg can be held in desired adjusted position by adjustment of the engaging screw threads so that the upper end of the leg bears on the head cam surface at each side of a slot.

2. Atripod stand or support in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the recesses are covered by a closure plate serving to retain the bolts.

3. Atripod stand orsupportwherein the head comprises radially extending arms each being provided with a slot

4. A tripod stand or support wherein the head has a central threaded socket engageable with a U-shape rest which is rotatably supported thereby.

5. Atripod stand or support substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.