GB2127279A

GB2127279A - Improvements in or relating to support devices

Info

Publication number: GB2127279A
Application number: GB08325423A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Larsen
Original assignee: STILEXO IND AB
Current assignee: STILEXO IND AB
Priority date: 1982-09-24
Filing date: 1983-09-22
Publication date: 1984-04-11
Also published as: GB8325423D0; DK434483A; FI833332A; SE8205487D0; FI76482B; SE8205487L; SE434907B; DK434483D0; GB2127279B; FI833332A0; NO833406L; FI76482C

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supporting a video set on a so-called T.V. stand, which stand comprises two spaced upright standards and a horizontal bar (3) extending therebetween; and which device includes two support members (only one shown in Figure 3) mounted transversely on the bar (3) for supporting the video set, the support members having, for their cooperation with the bar, upwardly closed recesses (8) and support surfaces for abutment against lower portions of the side surfaces of the bar. In the example shown in Figure 3 the support members have substantially rigid end portions which are connected by the intermediary of a slightly flexible connecting portion (12) and the support surfaces are rigidly connected to the end portions, whereby the support surfaces may be urged into abutment against the side surfaces of the bar (3), when the end portions are placed under load by the video set (4) and bent slightly downwardly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to support devices The present invention relates to a support device which is particularly designed to support a video set, in other words a video tape recorder, on an extant T.V. stand, so that the video set will be located beneath the television proper.

Today, the market abounds in so-called video consoles which are designed so as to serve for carrying the video set and also the T.V. to which the video set is connected. As a rule, these video consoles are of special manufacture and are often provided with withdrawable leaves or the like in order to render the video set more readily accessible, since these are generally operated from the top.

In such situations when an extant T.V. set is to be supplemented with a video set, it has been generally necessary to replace the T.V. stand by a video console, orto place the video set in some provisional manner close to the T.V. Thus, it has not hitherto been possible to supplement an extant T.V. stand so that the video set can also be placed thereon.

A normal type of T.V. stand comprises two end units on whose upper ends the T.V. set rests and whose lower ends are provided with feet, castors, or the like. Furthermore, the end units are interconnected by the intermediary of a transverse stay which, as a rule, is placed so far beneath the T.V. set that there is ample room between the stay and the set for placing a video set, in particular if this is front-loaded.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to realise a support device for supporting a video set in an extant T.V. stand which is provided with a transverse stay, the support device being designed in such a manner that it may be mounted on the T.V.

stand without the need to dismantle or modify the stand.

This object is attained according to the present invention if the support device is characterised by two support members mounted on the stay and transversely directed in relation thereto, for supporting a video set, the supporting members being, for their cooperation with the stay, provided with upwardly closed recesses and support surfaces for abutment against lower portions of the side surfaces of the stay.

In order to eliminate play and realise a reliable retention of the support member, the subject matter of the present invention is further suitably characterised in that the support members have substantially rigid end portions which are connected by the intermediary of a slightly flexible connection portion, and that the support surfaces are rigidly united to the end portions, whereby the support surfaces may be urged into abutment against the side surfaces of the stay when the end portions are placed under load by the video set and bent slightly downwards.

A particularly simple embodiment of the present invention is characterised in that the support members have two vertical, downwardly directed side sections and an upper portion interconnecting these two, that the upwardly closed recesses extend throughout substantially the entire height of the side sections, so that the upper portion, in this region, forms the flexible connecting portion.

In such cases where the transverse stay of the T.V.

stand is of rectangular cross-section, it is further appropriate in the simpler embodiment of the present invention that the upwardly closed recesses are substantially rectangular and are of a width which but slightly exceeds the thickness of the bar or stay, and that the support surfaces consist of lower edge portions of the surfaces on the side sections defining the recesses.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is suitably characterised in that the upwardly closed recesses are substantially of a width which exceeds the thickness of the stay and that the support surfaces are disposed on adjustment screws directed towards the stay and rigidly connected to lower portions of the side sections, the recesses having upper, narrower portions whose width and configuration are adapted to the design of the upper portion of the stay.

The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto. In the accompanying Drawings, Figure lisa front elevation of a T.V. stand of normal type, a support device according to the present invention, intended for a video set, being disposed in the T.V. stand.

Figure 2 is a partial cross-section taken along the indication A-A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention in a view corresponding to that of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a further modified embodiment of the invention in a view corresponding to that according to Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section taken approximately along the indication B-B in Figure, 4.

Figure 6 shows a blank for manufacture of an adaptor piece included in the embodiment according to Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the adaptor piece.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a normal type of T.V.

stand and a T.V. set 1 placed thereon. The T.V. stand has end units 2 and an interconnecting transverse stay 3. Stability of the T.V. stand is further reinforced in that the T.V. set 1 is, as a rule, screwed onto the upper ends of the end units. Furthermore, it should be mentioned concerning the T.V. stand, that the transverse stay 3 is often designed as a square tube.

According to the invention, there are disposed, on the transverse stay 3, and without any dismantling whatever of the T.V. stand per se or dismounting the T.V. set from the stand, two support members 5 which may be likened to brackets and are placed at such mutual spaced apart relationship that they may support and cooperate with feet disposed on the video set.

Since video sets of different types and manufacture have their feet placed differently, the support members are freely fixable along the entire length of the transverse stay. Furthermore, the support mem bers 5 may suitably be provided, on their upper faces, with a friction coating such as hard sponge rubber, there being also suitably provided vertically upwardly projecting protective edges which cooperate with the feet of the video set and thereby prevent it from sliding off the support members if the set is struck or jolted.

It is further apparent from Figure, 1 that the support members 5 are of U-shaped cross-section with two downwardly directed, parallel side sections 6. The side sections 6 are connected to an upper portion 7, which is horizontal in Figure 1 and which serves, at the ends of the support members 5, as a bearing support surface for the video set 4. With the above-described design of the support members, these may be manufactured from extruded, Ushaped aluminium profiles. Naturally, pressure diecasting of a suitable metal alloy, injection moulding in plastics or manufacture from sheet metal material may also come into question.

In the most simple embodiment of the invention, the support members are provided, in their central region, with recesses 8 disposed in register with one another in both side sections 6.

The recesses 8 are of such height as to extend throughout the entire height of the side sections so that both portions of the support member on either side of the recesses are merely connected by means of the remaining portion of the upper portion 7.

Furthermore, the recesses 8 are designed in such a manner as to conform, as closely as possible, to the width of the transverse stay 3 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is rectangular.

Since the transverse stay 3 is designed as a tubular profile, it may be considered as essentially rigid in the torsional direction. On the other hand, it would be extremely difficult to design the recess 8 with such precision in relation to the transverse stay 3 that vibration or play, or even relatively large oscillations in the direction indicated by the double arrows C in Figure 2 could be completely avoided.

This problem is further aggravated by the fact that the transverse stay 3 is, as a rule, manufactured by extrusion, for which reason tolerances cannot be made too strict.

In order to ensure reliable connection between the support members 5 and the transverse stay 3, it is necessary, according to the invention, that that portion of the upper portion 7 which is located in the region of the recess 8 should be slightly flexible, which is attained, as a rule, in that the material thickness of the upper portion 7 is not carried to extremes. As a result of this limited flexibility in the support members, there will be realised, on loading of their free ends, a slight downward bending which essentially is effected by means of a deformation of the upper portion in the region at the recess, from which it follows that the lower portions of side sections 6 will be urged into abutment against the side surfaces of the transverse stay.

Thus, in general terms, the support member may be viewed as a pincer which grips about the transverse stay 3 and which may be conceived of as comprising two knee levers which are pivotal or pivotally retained in a connecting portion. The knee levers have long horizontal arms which consists of the outer, and substantially rigid portions, of the support members 5, and short vertical arms which clamp about the stay 3 and which comprise the vertical extent of the material of the support member adjacent the recess 8.

As a result of this above-described clamping action between the side sections 6 and the transverse stay, the support members 5 need be manufactured with but a relatively low degree of precision without giving rise to any disquieting pivotal tendencies in the direction of the arrows C. Furthermore, the support members may be optionally placed along the entire length of the transverse stay in order thereafterto be positionallyfixed in relation thereto on being placed under load by the video set 4.

In such situations when further improved resistance to pivotal motion and play in the direction of the arrows C is desired, the recesses 8 may suitably.

in their upper portions, be designed slightly tapering in an upward direction towards the upper portion 7.

Hereby, considerably greater tolerances may be acceptable as regards the dimensions of the transverse stay 3 without the risk of any instability needing to arise.

The above-described embodiment of the invention may be considered as designed for cooperation with a particular T.V. stand, since acceptable function depends upon the dimensioning of the transverse stay. Thus dimensional deviations in the stay amounting to several mm cannot be tolerated, but quite easily such tolerances as normally occur in extrusion.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention which has been designed in such a manner that the dimensions of the transverse stay 3 are not particularly critical. Thus, in this embodiment, the recess 8 is of considerably greater width, whereas the upper portion of the recess is provided with defining edges 9 inclined towards one another.

Furthermore, the side sections 6 are, in the region adjacent the lower portions of the recesses, interconnected by the intermediary of cross members 10 which are provided with threaded bores for accommodating adjustment screws 11.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 may function perfectly together with transverse stays of rectangular or square cross-section, in which the cross-sectional width may vary within a relatively wide range, perhaps amounting to from 1 to7mm.

On mounting of the support member according to Figure 3, the adjustment screws 11 are set in such a manner that the support members may easily be passed along the transverse stay 3, in other words a certain amount of play be may tolerated between the ends of the adjustment screws and the transverse stay. When the upper corner regions of the transverse stay subsequently come into contact with the inclined defining edges 9 and the support members are placed under load, the adjustment screws 11 will be forcibly urged against the side surfaces of the transverse stay, whereby the support members are effectively clamped in place.As a result of this clamping action, relative movement between the upper corner region of the transverse stay and the inclined defining edges 9 will be prevented, at the same time as the adjustment screws 11 prevent relative movement of the lower portion of side setions 6. Furthermore, since the support members are placed under load in a vertical direction and the adjustment screws 11 exercise a great frictional force against the side surfaces of the transverse stay 3, neither is it possible for any relative shifting to take place in a vertical direction so that possibly one or the other of the upper corner regions of the transverse stay could release engagement with the proximally located, inclined defining edges 9.

Also in the embodiment according to Figure 3, the recesses 8 pass up to the immediate proximity of the underface of the upper portion 7. As a result, that part of the upper portion 7 located at the recesses 8 will serve as a pivotal portion 12.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment which is extremely well-suited to cooperate with transverse stays of greatly varying width and where, moreover, the cross-sectional configuration may be allowed to vary and deviate from the rectangular form. In this embodiment, the recess 8 is of further increased width and is, correspondingly to that disclosed under reference to Figure 2, passed right up to the underface of the upper portion 7 with full width.

Thus, as a result, the recesses 8 will be of rectangular form and will be defined upwardly by the undersurface of the upper portion 7. As in the case of the embodiment according to Figure 3, the side sections 6 are interconnected by means of cross members 10 which are also provided with adjustment screws 11.

As regards cooperation between the support members 5 and the lower portions of the transverse stay 3, the same conditions apply in the embodiment according to Figures 4 and 5 as in the embodiment according to Figure 3. On the other hand, the upper portion of the transverse stay 3 is positionally fixed in relation to the support members by means of a loose insert 13 which is designed so as particularly to fit a certain cross-sectional configuration and certain dimensioning of the transverse stay. The insert 13 may be quite simply manufactured by punching from a sheet metal material, preferably of the same material type as that from which the rest of the support members is manufactured.

The insert 13 has an upper plate 14 which abuts against the the undersurface of the upper portion 7.

At its ends, the plate is provided with projecting lugs 15 whose width is so dimensioned that they fit in, without play, between the side sections 6. Furthermore, the plate 14 is provided, at its edge regions, with four downwardly directed projections 16 which, mutually therebetween, form recesses 17 receiving the upper portion of the transverse stay 3. Here, the distance between the edges of the projections turned to face away from one another is substantially equal to the distance between the defining edges on the side section 6 for the recess 8, so that the projections 16 may be placed in the recess 8 and in abutment against its defining edges, whereby the entire insert 13 is prevented from shifting in the longitudinal direction of the support members 5.

By employing the insert 13, it is possible for one and the same support member to be used for a great number of different designs of transverse stay 3, as good as irrespective of their width and their crosssectional configuration. For example, in order, in one alternative consisting of a rectangular crosssectional configuration of the transverse stay, furthear to improve its retention, the recesses 17 may suitably be very slightly tapered upwardly so that a certain wedge effect is realised when the transverse stay 3 is urged up into to the recess.

In certain cases, one and the same insert may also be designed for cooperation with two, or possibly three, different widths of the transverse stay, in such an event the recess 17 having stepped side-defining surfaces on the projections 16.

The insert 13 may easily also designed for cooperation with a transverse stay 3 of, for example, elliptical cross-section, in which instance the recess 17 is merely given a configuration which conforms to the upper portion of the elliptical transverse stay.

Correspondingly, the recess 17 may readily be adapted so as to cooperate with as good as any polygonal cross-sectional configuration of the transverse stay.

Naturally, in the embodiment according to Figure 2, the recess 8 may also be given the same varying configuration as the recess 17 in the insert 13, the advantage also being gained that the support members may cooperate with transverse stays of greatly varying dimensions and configurations.

In such cases when the support members 5 are provided with upwardly projecting edges so as to prevent the feed of the video set 4 from sliding off the upper portion 7 on being struck or jolted, these upwardly projecting edges may not be of such vertical extent in the region of the recess 8 that the requisite deformability of the pivotal portion 12 is lost. Thus, if the protective edges on the support members are of such height that the support members may be considered as H-shaped in crosssection, and, hence, in which the protective edges constitute an upward extension of one or both side sections 6, these protective edges must, in the region of the pivotal portion, either by removed wholesale, greatly reduced in vertical extent, or be provided with one or more vertical recesses in the region of the pivoted portion 12.

In order to ensure pivotability between the two outer portions of the support members, the support members may also be manufactured in three separate parts in which there are appropriate pivotal connections between the two outer portions and the central portion which cooperates with the transverse stay. However, in such an alternative, the edge surfaces or the adjustment screws 11 which clamp against the lower portion of the transverse stay must be rigidly connected to the outer, pivotal portions of the support members. Finally, the recess 8 may also be of the stepped configuration as was disclosed above for the recess 17.

The invention should not be considered as restricted to that described above and shown in the Drawings, many modifications being possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for supporting a video set in a so-called T.V. stand which at least comprises two end units and a horizontal bar extending therebetween, in which there are provided two support members mounted on the bar and directed transversely in relation thereto, for supporting the video set, the support members having, for their cooperation with the bar, upwardly closed recesses and support surfaces for abutment against lower portions of the side surfaces of the bar.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the support members have substantially rigid end portions which are connected by the intermediary of a slightly flexible connecting portion; and the support surfaces are rigidly connected to the end portions, whereby the support surfaces may be urged into abutment against the side surfaces of the bar, when the end portions are placed under load by the video set and bent slightly downwardly.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the support members have two vertical, downwardly directed side sections and an upper portion interconnecting them; and the upwardly closed recesses extend throughout substantially the entire height of the side sections so that the upper portion, in this region, forms the flexible connection portion.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the horizontal bar is of substantially rectangular crosssection, in which the upwardly closed recesses are substantially rectangular and are of a width which but slightly exceeds the thickness of the bar; and in which the support surfaces consist of the lower edge portion of the surfaces of the side sections defining the recesses.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the upwardly closed recesses substantially have a width which exceeds the thickness of the bar, and the support surfaces are disposed on adjusment screws directed towards the bar and rigidly connected to lower portions of the side sections, the recesses having upper, narrower portions, whose width and configuration are adapted to the design of the upper portion of the bar.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which upper portions of the recesses are defined by projections which are disposed on inserts which are positionally fixed in, but replaceably arranged, on the support members.

7. A device for supporting a video set in a so-called T.V. stand, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.

8. A device for supporting a video set in a so-called T.V. stand, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings.

9. A device for supporting a video set in a so-called T.V. stand, constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figures 4-7 of the accompanying Drawings.