GB2107578A

GB2107578A - Support device

Info

Publication number: GB2107578A
Application number: GB08229691A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Brian Mercer
Original assignee: Fisons Ltd
Current assignee: Fisons Ltd
Priority date: 1981-10-22
Filing date: 1982-10-18
Publication date: 1983-05-05
Also published as: GB2107578B

Abstract

A support device, e.g. for use in a laboratory with a Bunsen burner and drip tray, comprising a load bearing platform having legs dependent from the periphery thereof is characterised in that the device is formed from a series of at least three unitary members fixedly attached to one another; each unitary member comprising an elongated member 2 forming part of the load bearing platform and which has at one end thereof a first portion 3 extending therefrom with its longitudinal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and forming a leg for the device, and the other end of the elongated member having a second portion 4 extending at an angle therefrom with its longitudinal axis either generally parallel to, or generally normal to, the axis of the first portion; the unitary members being arranged in the series with the second portion 4 of one member being in edge to edge contact with the elongated member 2 or with the first portion 3 of an adjacent unitary member and fixedly attached thereto at the contact area, e.g., by spot welding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support device The present invention relates to a tripod-like support device.

For many years tripod stands for use in laboratories have been made by welding or otherwise fixing legs onto a cast, pressed or otherwise fabricated metal triangle or other shaped load bearing member. However, such stands are subjected to rough usage and the legs often snap off. Also, it is customary to give such stands a decorative finish to render them initially acceptable to the user. However, such a finish often gives off noxious fumes when the device is first used in close proximity to a Bunsen burner or other heat source.

We have now devised a form of tripod or other stand which reduces the above problems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a support device comprising a load bearing platform having legs dependant from the periphery thereof characterised in that the device is formed from a series of at least three unitary members fixedly attached to one another; each unitary member comprising an elongated member forming part of the load bearing platform and which has at one end thereof a first portion extending therefrom with its longitudinal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and forming a leg for the device, and the other end of the elongated member having a second portion extending at an angle therefrom with its longitudinal axis either generally parallel to, or normal to, the axis of the first portion; the unitary members being arranged in the series with the second portion of one member being in edge to edge contact with the elongated member or with the first portion of an adjacent unitary member and fixedly attached thereto at the contact area.

The device is preferably a tripod, ie comprised of three unitary members.

The invention also provides a untitary member as described above, notably one from a stainless steel.

The load bearing platform has three or more legs dependant therefrom and can be of any desired shape, e.g. triangular, rectangular, polygonal or circular. It is formed by linking together unitary members which themselves are formed from rods or bars of suitable material of any desired cross-section, notably circular, triangular or square cross-section. It is particularly preferred that the unitary members for present use are made from a stainless steel rod.

For convenience, the invention will be described hereinafter with respect to a particularly preferred form thereof shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings.

The tripod shown in Fig. 1 comprises three unitary members 1 made from metal rod, notably from a stainless steel. The rod is conveniently from 3 to 5 mms in diameter to form a tripod suitable for general use in a laboratory.

Each unitary member comprises, as is shown in Fig. 2, a straight middle portion 2 which forms one side of the triangular load bearing platform of the tripod. At one end of portion 2 the rod is bent generally at right angles to form one of the legs 3 for the tripod. The bend need not be at exactly 90 , but could be at, say, 95 to 105 to cause the leg to splay. Furthermore, the leg 3 need not depend directly below portion 2, but could be splayed radially outward by rotating portion 2, say 1-5", about its longitudinal axis. If desired, leg 3 can be formed with the end portion thereof bent outward, e.g. by putting a 5 to 10 bend in the leg as shown in leg 3' in Fig. 1, to further splay the legs and increase the stability of the tripod.If desired the feet of the legs may be fitted with covers of plastics or other material.

At the other end of portion 2, the rod is bent to form a comparatively short (say 0.5 to 2.5 cm long) affixing piece 4. Piece 4 extends in a direction generally parallel to portion 3 so that it will lie against the portion 3 of an adjacent unitary member as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Alternatively, portion 4 can be formed so that its longitudinal axis is generally normal to the axis of portion 2 and lies in the plane of the load bearing platform of the tripod, as shown in Fig. 3. In this case, portion 4 will lie against portion 2 of the adjacent unitary member. The angle between the longitudinal axes of portions 2 and 4 will depend upon the form of tripod being made. For a tripod with a triangular load bearing platform, three unitary members are used each with an angle of substantially 60 between portions 2 and 4; for a square platform, four unitary members with an angle of 90 are used; and so on.

The planes in which the axes of portions 2 and 3 and of portions i and 4 lie need not be exactly parallel or at right angles. The bend between portions 2 and 4 can be formed to achieve any desired angle between the planes, e.g. 5 to 15' or 95 to 105 , to cause the legs 3 to splay radially as described above.

The tripod is formed by fixedly attaching portion 4 of one unitary member to the leg 3 or portion 2 adjacent the bend between leg 3 and portion 2 of an adjacent unitary member.

The contact between portion 4 of one unitary member and the next unitary member is an edge to edge contact and the attaching of the unitary members is thus conveniently achieved by spot welding.

The present invention enables one to form tripod-like support devices from simple components which are themselves simple to fabricate. By using an edge to edge contact at the attaching points between the components, improved attachment can be achieved and the shape of the components assists alignment of the components, notably for spot welding.

Where the device is made from stainless steel rod, it is possible to achieve an acceptable finish to the article without the need for decorative coatings.

Whilst the invention has been described above in terms of a simple tripod, the design of the invention readily lends itself to the inclusion of accessories within the tripod structure. Thus, for example a drip tray and burner nozzle can be mounted beneath the load bearing platform to form a combined burner and stand.

Claims

1. A support device comprising a load bearing platform having legs dependent from the periphery thereof characterised in that the device is formed from a series of at least three unitary members fixedly attached to one another; each unitary member comprising an elongated member forming part of the load bearing platform and which has at one end thereof a first portion extending therefrom with the longitudinal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and forming a leg for the device and the other end of the elongated member having a second portion extending at an angle therefrom with the longitudinal axis either generally parallel to or normal to the axis of the first portion; the unitary members being arranged in series with the second portion of one member being in edge contact with the elongated member or with the first portion of an adjacent unitary member and fixedly attached thereto at the contact area.

2. A support device as claimed in Claim 1 comprising three unitary members.

3. A support device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the first portion of each unitary member forming a leg for the device is straight.

4. A support device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the first portion of each unitary member forming a leg for the device is formed with a bend such that the portion further from the load bearing platform is bent so that when the unitary members are arranged in series this portion is splayed outwards.

5. A support device as claimed in any of the preceding claims and made from a stainless steel.

6. A support device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the second portion of one unitary member is in edge to edge contact with the elongated member or with the first portion of an adjacent unitary member and is fixedly attached thereto at the contact area by means of spot welding.

7. A unitary member for use in a support device comprising an elongated member which has at one end thereof a first portion extending therefrom with its longitudinal axis of the elongated member and the other end of the elongated member having a second portion extending at an angle therefrom with its longitudinal axis either generally parallel to or normal to the axis of the first portion.

8. A unitary member as claimed in Claim 7 with a circular cross-section.

9. A unitary member as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 and made from a stainless steel.

1 0. A method of constructing a support device from at least three unitary members as claimed in Claim 7 which comprises arranging the unitary members in series with the second portion of one member in edge to edge contact with the elongated member or with the first portion of an adjacent unitary member and fixedly attaching the unitary members one to another at their areas of contact.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10 in which the attachment of the unitary members is by spot welding.

1 2. A tripod stand constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs. 1 or 3.

1 3. A unitary member substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Fig.

2.

CLAIMS (26 Jan 1983)

1. A support device comprising a load bearing platform having legs dependent from the periphery thereof characterised in that the device is formed from a series of at least three unitary members fixedly attached to one another; each unitary member comprising an elongated member forming part of the load bearing platform and which has at one end thereof a first portion extending therefrom with the longitudinal axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and forming a leg for the device and the other end of the elongated member having a second short portion extending at an angle therefrom with the longitudinal axis generally parallel to to the axis of the first portion, or the other end of the elongated member having a second portion extending at an angle therefrom with the longitudinal axis generally normal to the axis of the first portion; the unitary members being arranged in series with the second portion of one member being in edge to edge contact with the elongated member or with the first portion of an adjacent unitary member and fixedly attached thereto at the contact area.