GB2082055A

GB2082055A - Adjustable support device

Info

Publication number: GB2082055A
Application number: GB8123743A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PRAGER RICHARD WILLIAM
Current assignee: PRAGER RICHARD WILLIAM
Priority date: 1980-08-20
Filing date: 1981-08-03
Publication date: 1982-03-03

Abstract

An adjustable foldable support device for, e.g., a microphone light, music rack, comprises a cantilever support arm 3 pivoted at 7 to a support member 5. Member 5 has two legs 13, 15 and is pivoted at 21 to a support leg 19. A link 25 is connected between the arm 3 and the leg 19 such that if an object is fitted to the arm and raised, the legs splay out and the pivot 21 falls. As shown, link 25 is a chain under tension. It is permanently connected to the pivots 7, 21 but in use extends between the free ends of bent end portions 27, 29 of the arm 3 and leg 19. Alternatively, the link may be a rigid or elastic compression member and is connected to arm 3 between pivot 7 and its object supporting end and to leg 19 between pivot 21 and its foot 23. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A free standing support device The present invention relates to a free standing support device.

The device has particular application as an adjust able support device for holding an article, for exam ple a microphone, at a particular height.

One known support device comprises a base hav ing feet contacting the surface on which the device stands, and an upright column to which is secured the article to be held, for example a microphone. In the known arrangement to provide height adjust ment, the column has two or more parts which are telescopically inter-arranged. Such an arrangement requires a locking device by means of which the parts of the column may be locked at a required height. Such locking devices are expensive and have the disadvantage that repositioning of the mic rophone is hampered because of the need to unlock the parts before repositioning and then to lock them after repositioning. Such a stand also has the disad vantage that the microphone cannot be placed very close to the ground.

In an alternative device it has been proposed to pivotally secure a boom to the top of the column.

The article to be held being attached to an end of the boom. Such an arrangement enables greater free dom to the positioning of the microphone but suffers from the disadvantage of requiring an additional clamping device and this necessarily makes the sup port device more complicated and hence more expensive.

Another proposed stand comprises a cantilever arm which is pivotally attached to an angularly adjustable support which in turn pivotally connects with a bore. Springs disposed between the can tilever arm and the support, and between the sup port and the base provide a counter balance force to enable the article carried by the cantilever arm to be held in a number of positions. Whilst such an arrangement is readily adjustable it suffers from the disadvantage that the article is not rigidly held in position and thus may sag or lift during use.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a support device which is of simple inexpensive con struction, which has a wide range of adjustment and which will hold the article in the desired position without drooping.

According to the present invention there is pro vided a free standing support device which com prises a support member and a support leg having respective lower ends which constitute feet of the device, and a cantilever support arm which is con nected to the support leg by a reaction link, the cantilever support arm and the support leg being pivot ally secured to the support member.

The cantilever support arm has a location point at one end to which is secured the article to be sup ported. Conveniently, the reaction link is a link chain which is permanently attached to the support leg and the cantilever support arm at the points where they are pivotally secured to the support member.

When the device is in use, the reaction link is temporarily attached to an upper end of the support leg and to that end of the cantilever support arm remote from the location point. When it is desired to collapse the device these temporary connections may be undone and the cantilever support arm, support leg, and support member will lie substantially parallel. Alternatively, the reaction link may be permanently attached to an upper end of the support leg and that end of the cantilever support arm remote from the location point.In this configuration the reaction link may have to be longer than might otherwise be desired if the device is to collapse as above. Afirst pivotal connection interconnects the support member, the cantilever support arm, and optionally the reaction link, and is disposed at the upper end of the support member and intermediate the ends of the cantilever support arm. A second pivotal connection interconnects the support member, the support leg, and optionally the reaction link and is disposed intermediate the ends of the support member and the support leg.

The cantilever support arm may be partially bent in the region between the first pivotal connection and the end remote from the location point, in a direction towards the second pivotal connection.

This gives the device added stability when supporting things near the top of its range.

The support leg may be partially bent in the region between the second pivotal connection and the upper end, in a direction towards the first pivotal connection. This gives the device added stability when supporting things near the bottom of its range.

In a preferred embodiment the support member comprises two tubular members which are spaced apart and which are interconnected by first and second spindles which form part of the first and second pivotal connections. The cantilever support arm and the support leg are positioned between the two tubular members forming the support member and are carried by the first and second spindles.

The reaction link is interconnected with the first and second spindles inside the cantilever support arm and the support leg, and runs inside the optionally bent portions of these members. This forms the temporary connections of the reaction link with the end of the cantilever support arm remote from the location point and the upper end of the support leg.

The optionally bent portions of the cantilever support arm and the support leg are open on the sides which make the most oblique angles with the rest of the respective members, thus enabling the temporary connections of the reaction link to the ends of these members to be undone when the device is collapsed.

The invention has the advantage that the position of the article to be supported, for example a microphone, can be adjusted quickly because there are no locking devices to be unlocked and locked and in addition the microphone is held firmly because the weight of the microphone is fed by way of the cantilever support arm, reaction link and support leg to a foot of the support leg.

The invention has the advantage that it is of simple construction and that it is relatively inexpensive compared with the known support devices.

The present invention will now be described further by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing and which is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

The support device illustrated has a cantilever support arm 3 which is pivotally mounted to a support memberS. The support member 5 comprises two frame members 9, 11 which have square crosssection and are preferably tubular in order to reduce the weight. Each frame memberS, 11 has at the end remote from the cantilever support arm 3, a splayed end portion 13, 15 which constitutes a respective leg.

Each leg carries a rubber foot 17 at its free end which serves to provide an improved grip with the contacting surface and to prevent damage to that surface.

A first pivotal connection 7 comprises a spindle which passes through the reaction link, 25, a bore formed in the cantilever support arm 3 and bores formed in the frame members 9, 11. The reaction link, 25, is positioned inside the cantilever support arm, 3, which is positioned between the two frame members 9, 11, and is journelled for rotation on the spindle. The spindle has a non-rounded portion which engages non-rotatably with the frame member 9. The spindle has a threaded end portion which engages with a threaded nut which serves to retain the frame members and cantilever support arm on the spindle. Preferably, a friction member is provided between the nut and the frame member to impose a uniform loading on the connection. The first pivotal connection is disposed intermediate the ends of the cantilever support arm and at an upper end ofthe support member.

A support leg 19 which constitutes a third leg and which has a rubber foot 23 at its free end, is pivotally mounted on the support member 5, on a second pivotal connection 21. The second pivotal connection 21 is formed intermediate the ends of the support member 5 and intermediate the ends of the support leg 19, and comprises a spindle which passes through the reaction link, 25, the bores formed in the frame members 9, 11, and a bore formed in the support leg 19. The spindle is of similar construction to that of the first pivotal connection 7 and has a non-rounded portion which passes through a bore formed in the support leg and through bores in the frame members and which engages non-rotatably with one frame member.A nut is received on a threaded portion of the spindle and serves to maintain the parts in the assembled condition, preferably a friction washer is provided between the nut and the frame member to impose a uniform loading on the connection. The support leg 19 is partially bent towards the first pivotal connection in the region above the second pivotal connection and this portion has in it a slot, 29, on the outer edge in which the reaction link, 25, rests when the device is in use.

The cantilever support arm, 3, is partially bent towards the second pivotal connection in the region between the first pivotal connection and the end remote from the location point. This portion has in it a slot, 27, on the outer edge in which the reaction link rests when the device is in use.

The other end of the cantilever support arm is pro vided with a location point by means of which the article to be supported, for example a microphone, may be attached thereto. In the illustrated embodiment the reaction link, 25, is a link chain.

The first pivotal connection 7 is positioned toward that end of the cantilever support arm to which the reaction link is temporarily connected. Similarly thi second pivotal connection 21 is positioned toward that end of the support leg 19 to which the reaction.

link is temporarily connected.

It will be seen that movement of the cantilever support arm 3 gives rise to movement ofthe support leg 19 because they are interconnected by the reaction link 25. Thus the position of the article supported by the cantilever support arm can be easily adjusted. The load carried by the cantilever support arm is directed to the foot of the device and thus gives rise to a steadfast contact with the ground.

The device avoids the problem with known devices of callapse, when locking devices have been tightened insufficiently to withstand the forces imposed by the articles to be supported. The device is collapsible when not in use. This is achieved by lifting the object being supported and slipping the reaction link out of the slots 27 and 29. The cantilever support arm, the support leg and the support member will then lie substantially parallel.

Various alternative embodiments not illustrated are envisaged. For example the reaction link may be in the form of a rigid link rather than a chain as illustrated with reference to the preferred embodiment.

The support member may be a single tubular member having the spindles forming the first and second pivotal connections attached thereto and projecting from one side thereof. The leg of the support member may be a transverse tubular foot member secured to the end of the support member It is conceivable that the transverse foot member or the splayed end portions of the described embodiment be articulated such that they may be folded into a position substantially parallel with the axis of the support member so that the device occupies less room when not in use.

The device may be used for supporting such articles as microphones, lights, music racks. In an alternative embodiment it is envisaged that the iegs, or, preferably just the support leg 19, could be weighted toward the foot end, to permit a longer cantilever support arm to be utilised andlorto enable heavier articles to be supported at the end of the cantilever support arm. For example the legs when of tubular construction may be filled with lead. Alternatively the legs may be of solid construction.

In an altnerative embodiment the reaction link is in the form of a rigid compression link which extends between the cantilever support arm and the support leg. However, in this instance the link would be cob- nected to the cantilever support arm on the same side ofthe first pivotal connection as the location point, and to the support leg on the same side of the second pivotal connection as the foot 23.

Claims

1. A free standing support device which com prises a support member and a support leg having respective lower ends which constitute the feet of the device, and a cantilever support arm which is connected to the support leg by a reaction link, the cantilever support arm and the support leg being pivotally secured to the support member.

2. A free standing support device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the cantilever support arm has a location point at one end to which is secured the article to be supported.

3. Afree standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the reaction link takes the form of a flexible tension link.

4. A free standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the reaction link is permanently attached to that end of the cantilever support arm remote from the location point, and the upper end of the support leg.

5. Afree standing support device as claimed in Claims 1,2 and 3, in which the reaction link is permanently attached to the cantilever support arm and support leg at the respective points where they are pivotally attached to the support member, and temporarily attached to that end of the cantilever support arm remote from the location point and the upper end of the support leg.

6. Afree standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which a first pivotal connection interconnects the support member, the cantilever support arm, and optionally the reaction link if appropriate, and is disposed at the upper end of the support member and intermediate the ends of the cantilever support arm.

7. Afree standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which a second pivotal connection interconnects the support member, the support leg, and optionally the reaction link if appropriate, and is disposed intermediate the ends of the support member and the support leg.

8. A free standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the cantilever support arm is partially bent in the region between the first pivotal connection and the end remote from the location point, in a direction towards the second pivotal connection.

9. A free standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the support leg is partially bent in the region between the second pivotal connection and the upper end, in a direction towards the first pivotal connection.

10. A free standing support device as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 in which the reaction link takes the form of a rigid or elastic compression link, pivotally connected intermediate the ends of the cantilever support arm and intermediate the ends of the support leg either temporarily or permanently.

11. A free standing support device as claimed in Claims 1,2 and 10, in which a first pivotal connection interconnects the support member and the cantilever support arm and is disposed at the upper end of the support member and at the end of the cantilever support arm remote from the location point.

12. A free standing support device as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 10 and 11, in which a second pivotal connection interconnects the support member and the support leg and is disposed at the upper end of the support leg and intermediate the ends of the support member.

13. Afree standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the lower parts of the support member and support leg are made heavier than the rest of the device in order to give it stability.

14. A free standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the support member, support leg and cantilever support arm will collapse to being substantially parallel, if appropriate, by undoing any temporary connections of the reaction link.

15. A free standing support device as claimed in all previous claims in which the members are of any/various/irregular composition, cross section, and shape.