GB2395116A

GB2395116A - Support devices and leisure stands

Info

Publication number: GB2395116A
Application number: GB0226477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Walling; Simon Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-14
Filing date: 2002-11-14
Publication date: 2004-05-19
Also published as: GB0226477D0

Abstract

A support device has a base 11 in the form of a multiplicity of longitudinally extensive members 13 radiating from a common axial position, and a longitudinally extensive member 17 upstanding from base 11 at the juncture of the base members 13. Means are provided to counter tendencies of the device to be displaced along the ground and in rotation about the extremities of the base members under applied loads. The support device may be employed together with a second similar device for different leisure purposes, one being in the support of a hammock slung between the two support devices with the hammock end-strings secured to the upstanding members adjacent to their tops. Alternatively, two support devices may be employed for casual sporting purposes, a net being hung between the devices, the net cord being secured to the upstanding members.

Description

23951 1 6

SUPPORT DEVICES AND LEISURE STANDS INCORPORATING THE SAME

This invention relates to support devices, and is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with support devices to serve as leisure stands, as hereinafter described. According to the invention a support device by itself or in association with other elements referred to, hereinafter, in the claiming clauses, or some of them, accompanying this Application, is to have features as stated in said claiming clauses and, accordingly, the content of said claiming clauses and the inter-

relationships therebetween are to be regarded, notionally, as being, mutatis mutandis, here set forth, also.

In the claims, references to "the ground" are, according to the context, to be construed to include basal parts, such, for example, as a rigid platform, to which the support devices or any of them may be affixed, whether or not temporarily.

Support devices and leisure stand arrangements embodying the same are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a pictorial diagram of a support device, being a leisure stand to be affixed to the earth; and, Fig.2 depicts a leisure stand support device for fixing to a rigid platform to rest on the earth.

Fig.3 is a diagram depicting a pair of support devices

-2- as shown in Fig.1 in situ with a hammock slung therebetween; Fig.4 is a diagram depicting a pair of support devices as shown in Fig.1 with a sporting net suspended from its net cord therebetween; and, Fig.5 shows a detail Referring to Fig.1, the support device there depicted comprises: a base structure 11, being a multiplicity of rigid elongate tubular members 13 extending at intervals radially around a central generally vertical axis Y---Y with bottom surface portions 15 of said radially extensive base members 13 contained in a substantially common plane; an elongate tubular member 17 upstanding from the base structure 11 with a longitudinal axis thereof coincident with the central vertical axis Y---Y; a multiplicity of means 19 respectively associated with the base members 13, being means operative such as with said bottom surface portions 15 of the several said elongate members 13 in contact with the ground, to engage the earth beneath in such manner as to impede translational movement of the base structure with respect to the ground.

The rigid elongate members 13 may (Figs.1 or 2) be of rectangular crosssection, or they may be of circular cross-section (Figs.3 or 4).

In the example, the several translation impeding means 19 each comprise at least one spike portion 21 projecting downwardly with respect to the relevant elongate member.

-3- In addition to the translation impeding means 19, there are a multiplicity of means 23 respectively associated with said elongate members 13, being means operable to engage the ground beneath in such manner as to impede angular displacement of the base structure 11 about the free extremities of said elongate members 13, or any of them.

To achieve the last-mentioned effect, at least certain ones, 22a, 22b, of the radially extensive elongate members 13 are formed at or adjacent to the free extremities 25 thereof each with a passage 27, and the angular displacement impeding means 23 each comprise an helical screw device 29 which passes through the relevant passage 27 screwedly to engage the ground beneath. As may be seen, the helical screw device 29 comprises an element having the form of a cork-screw.

Alternatively, or additionally, the angular displacement impeding means 23, may comprise at least one U-form member 31 adapted, in use, to bridge a radially extensive elongate member 13 with the free ends of the U-form member penetrating the earth beneath.

In a variant arrangement, the helical screw device 29 and the U-form member 31 are incorporated (Fig.5) such as to constitute a unitary member.

The helical screw device 29, may, however, comprise an ground penetrating augur, whether or not combined with a U-form member 31 to constitute a unitary part.

In the example, there are three radially extensive elongate members 13, two 13a, lab, of the members extending

generally transversely to the third 13c, the third member 13c having a length substantially greater than the other two, the two radially extensive members 13, lab, being, in the example, half lengths of a unitary elongate straight member with the third radially extensive elongate member 13c, the upstanding member 17 being united with said unitary elongate straight member at its mid-length position. In the support device shown in Fig.2, the elongate members 13a, lab, and 13c have perforated lugs 31. The device of Fig.2 is adapted to be secured by screw elements 33 extending through holes 33 through the lugs 31 to engage a platform member (not shown), which, in use, is to lie in contact with the earth beneath. The screw elements 35, in their engagement with the platform, and the size and frictional or other engagement between the platform and the earth beneath, provide impedance in both translational and angular displacement of the support device.

The upstanding members 17 are each provided at corresponding positions along their lengths with threaded apertures, each to receive the threaded shank of an individual eyelet 35. The upstanding members 17 may additionally be provided at corresponding positions each with an individual cleat 39.

The support device may find a variety of possible uses.

In Fig.3, two support devices as depicted in Fig.1 are in engagement with the ground at spaced apart locations, and between the devices is hung a hammock 41, end-strings 43 of

the hammock being formed with loops trapped within latching clips 45, themselves trapped in the eyelets 35 or, perhaps, with the end strings passing, respectively, through the eyelets, to extend downwardly of the upstanding members 17, to be held trapped by the cleats 39.

Whilst in Fig.3, the hammock 39 is shown slung between two support devices, where a permanent stout support, a tree or a fencepost, for examples, is available, a single support device, as described with reference to Fig.1 or Fig.2, only need be employed, the end-strings at one end of the hammock being secured to the permanent support device in a suitable manner.

In Fig.4, two spaced support devices, each as depicted in Fig.1 constitute part of the static environment for a sporting game, such for example as lawn tennis or badminton, two spaced support devices, as depicted in Fig.1. The spaced devices support a net 47 by its net cord 49, ends of which extend through eyelets 35 to be secured at the cleat devices 39.

Claims

-6- CLAIMS

1. A support device which comprises: a base structure, being a multiplicity of rigid elongate members extending at intervals radially around a central generally vertical axis with bottom surface portions of said radially extensive members contained in a substantially common plane; an elongate member upstanding from said base structure with a longitudinal axis thereof coincident with said central vertical axis; and, a multiplicity of means respectively associated with said elongate members, being means operative such as with said bottom surface portions of the several said elongate members in contact with the ground, to engage the ground in such manner as to impede translational movement of the base structure with respect to the ground.

2. A support device as claimed in claim 1 in which the several said translation impeding means each comprise at least one spike portion projecting downwardly with respect to the relevant elongate member.

3. A support device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and which comprises a multiplicity of means respectively associated with said elongate members, being means operable to engage the ground beneath in such manner as to impede angular displacement of the base structure about the free extremities of said elongate members, or any of them.

-7-

4. A support device as claimed in claim 3 in which at least certain of said radially extensive elongate members are formed at or adjacent to the free extremities thereof each with a passage, and said angular displacement impeding means each comprise an helical screw device which passes through the relevant said passage screwedly to engage the ground beneath.

5. A support device as claimed in claim 4 in which said helical screw device comprises an element having the form of a cork-screw.

6. A support device as claimed in claim 4 in which said helical screw device comprises an augur.

7. A support device as claimed in claims 3 to 6 in which said angular displacement impeding means comprises at least one U-form member adapted, in use, to bridge a radially extensive elongate member with the free ends thereof penetrating the ground beneath.

8. A support device as claimed in any preceding claim in which said radially extensive elongate members are three in number, two of said members extending generally transversely to the third.

9. A support device as claimed in claim 7 in which the third member has a length substantially greater than the other two.

10. A support device as claimed in claim 9 in which said two

-8- members are of equal length, being half lengths of a unitary elongate straight member, said third member and said upstanding member being united with said the unitary straight member at the midway position therealong.

11. A support device as claimed in any preceding claim in which said upstanding member has an eyelet outstanding therefrom at at least one location along the length thereof.

12. A kit of parts which comprises two support devices each as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, and a net having a net cord such as, with the support devices in engagement with the ground, and the net cord secured to the upstanding members of the support devices.

13. A kit of parts which comprises two support devices each as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, and a hammock adapted, with the support devices in engagement with the ground, to be supported between the support devices, with the hammock strings secured to the upstanding members thereof.

14. A support device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.