IL225777A - Lightweight flexible stand - Google Patents

Description

30828/13 A LIGHTWEIGHT FLEXIBLE STAND 30828/mi c/13 1 A LIGHTWEIGHT FLEXIBLE STAND Field of the Invention The invention relates to the field of mechanical engineering. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure that is used as a stand and allows stability and fixation for different objects. One convenient use of said structure is to serve as a bicycles stand, and it can obviously serve as a stand for any other object geometrically suitable to be supported thereby.

Background of the Invention When different object are not in use, they need to be placed in a suitable holder, to keep them from possible damage. A stand is one way of keeping an object stable and fixated, so it would not move, fall, hit something or break.

Bicycles are one example of an object that needs supporting when not in use. Due to their instability, they require a device that will give them the proper support when stored at home, outdoors, on a vehicle or in any other desired location.

Bicycles stands in public places are usually suitable for a large number of bicycles. For that reason, the stand is normally heavy and therefore fixed in one place. Many bicycle stands are located at a fixed location, without the ability to move them to another place, mostly because they are massive and too heavy to carry, but yet another reason for the lack of 30828/mi c/13 2 mobility is the fact that the stand needs to be modular, or at least have modular parts, in order to be suitable for many different types of fixations, depending on the location of the stand. The fixations can be effected using connections that can be between the bicycles and the ground, a wall, a piece of furniture or any other object, while each object requires a different type of connection, according to its shape and other features.

Many stands are made of hard materials, like different kinds of metal, in order to provide a strong base on which the object is leaning, to allow the securing and locking of said object, by using the stand as a supporting structure. Naturally, a strong supporting structure needs to be rigid, hard and firm, all of which implies a lack of flexibility.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, particularly with respect to mobility, flexibility and lightweight of its components.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summarv of the Invention The invention relates to a stand structure comprising a plurality of flexible tubular elements which are connected to lightweight beams at the edges, wherein adjustable tightening means are provided on said tubular elements.

The term "stand", as used herein, is meant to indicate any type of supporting structure that can be used to hold a product, device, sheet or 30828/mic/13 - 3 - other element(s) in a desired positioned relationship with the structure and/or with another product, device or the like.

The flexible tubular elements can be made of plastic materials, elastomer, or any other material that allows flexibility. The lightweight beams can be made of wood, plastic materials or any other material that doesn’t limit the mobility of the structure.

Adjustable tightening means are engageably connected separately on some of the plurality of tubular elements, for example, they can be connected to each pair of tubular elements. The adjustable tightening means are free to move along the tubular elements and are tightened at a desired location along the tubular elements to avoid further movement thereof. The tightening of the adjustable tightening means at a desired location can be achieved by using friction, pressure or different mechanical objects.

When connecting two stand structures to one another, a combined structure is formed. A combined structure comprises two edge beams which are placed on the ground. In order to stabilize a structure comprising two edge beams that are placed on the ground, in a combined or in a singular structure, a wire, suitable to maintain a tension, is provided between the beams.

If there is only a horizontal surface at the desired location where the stand needs to be placed, a further support is required. In order to provide additional support, the structure can be provided with one or more supporting legs that will sustain the weight load.

Another option for an additional supporting part for the structure is a base. The base is connected to the lower beam and can be made of a 30828/mi c/13 - 4 - tubular element or can be a full surface of any shape. When using a base, the center of mass of the whole structure is closer to the ground, and it is less likely for the structure to tumble.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings: Fig. 1A is s perspective view of the structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, provided with a single middle beam; Figures IB and 1C show the same structure as in Fig. 1A; Fig. IB is a top view and Fig. 1C is a side view; Fig. 2A is s perspective view of the structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, provided with several middle beams, wherein each middle beam is in contact with two tubular elements or pipes; Figures 2B and 2C describe the same structure as in Fig. 2A, wherein Fig. 2B is a top view and Fig. 2C is a side view; Fig. 3A is s perspective view of the structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein two structures as described in Figures 1A, IB and 1C are connected to each other at the upper beams; Figures 3B and 3C describe the same structure as in Fig. 3A, wherein Fig. 3B is a top view and Fig. 3 C is a side view; Fig. 4A is s perspective view of the structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein two structures as described in Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are connected to each other at the upper beams; Figures 4B and 4C describe the same structure as in Fig. 4A, wherein Fig. 4B is a top view and Fig. 4C is a side view; 30828/mi c/13 - 5 - Fig. 5 A is a perspective view of the structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the tubular elements are connected to two lower beams; Figures 5B and 5C describe the same structure as in Fig. 5A, wherein Fig. 5B is a top view and Fig. 5C is a side view; Fig. 6A shows a structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, which is held by a supporting leg; Fig. 6B is a side view of the structure of Fig 6 A; Fig. 7A shows a structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, which is supported by a base suitable to be placed on a surface; Fig. 7B is a side view of the structure of Fig. 7A; Fig. 8A shows a structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein two lower beams are connected by a wire; Fig. 8B is an enlarge view of the bottom portion of Fig. 8A; and Fig. 9B is an enlarged view of the circled section of Fig 9A, which is the same structure as in Fig. 1A, which illustrates one alternative design of the tubular element, including an outer sheath and an inner chain, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention relates to a structure that can be used as a stand for a variety of objects, but is not limited to a particular use, and which allows stability and fixation for different objects, such as bicycles for example. The structure comprises flexible tubular elements, beams and adjustable tightening means. As the description proceeds, the purpose and the way of function of every component will become apparent. 30828/mic/13 6 Fig. 1A shows a structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein each tubular element 101 is connected at the bottom to a lower beam 102 and at the top to an upper beam 103. The lower beam 102 can be placed on the ground or on any surface, and the upper beam 103 can lean against a wall or other surface, even on the same surface as the lower beam 102. When necessary, a force, such as weight for example, can be applied on the beams 102 and 103 for better stability. The beams 102 and 103 can be screwed, glued, tied or otherwise attached to the surfaces. Fig. IB is a top view and Fig. 1C is a side view of the structure, as illustrated in Fig. 1A.

Every gap between two adjacent tubular elements is suitable for the width of the desired object, allowing the object to enter the gap and be held between said tubular elements 101. In order to ensure a satisfying grasp of the object, a middle beam 104 is slidably connected to the tubular elements 101 and has the ability to move along the tubular elements 101 for height adjustment, until there is contact or suficient closeness between the middle beam 104 and the object held between the two tubular elements 101. The middle beam 104 can be provided with tightening means to reduce the gap between the tubular elements 101 and tighten the grasp on the object.

The structure can be provided with several middle beams 104 when necessary, for example, two middle beams 104 can be used when the object is held between the tubular elements 101 and is not touching the lower beam 102 or the upper beam 103. The positioning of said object is important for storage space reasons, for instance, when lacking floor space, the structure can be held vertically on the stand.

Figs. 2A-C show a structure, according to another embodiment of the invention, in a perspective, top and side views, wherein the tubular 30828/mic/13 - 7 - elements 101, the lower beam 102 and. the upper beam 103 form a similar structure as the one in Figs. 1A-C. In this embodiment, the middle beam 104 of Figs. 1A-C does not exist and small middle beams 201 are provided, each section for every couple of adjacent tubular elements 101. The small middle beams 201 are useful when objects of different heights are supported by the same stand. Each small middle beam 201 can be height adjusted for every object separately.

Another option for the placement of the stand, when a wall or a vertical supporting surface is unavailable, is the use of two stands as illustrated in Figs. 1A-C, connected by the upper beams 103. Such stand can be placed on the ground and sits on two lower beams 102, as illustrated in Figs. 3A-C, in a perspective, top and side views.

Fig. 4A is another example of the use of two stands, as illustrated in Figs. 2A-C, connected by the upper beams 103. This is also suitable for the placement on the ground, like the stand shown in Figs. 3A-C.

In Fig. 5A the stand consists of tubular elements 101, two lower beams 102 and small middle beams 201, wherein both lower beams 102 are placed on the ground. In this case there are no upper beams 103 connected to each other at the top. Fig. 5B is a top view and Fig. 5C is a side view of the structure of Fig. 5A.

The type of structure, as illustrated in Figs. 3A-C, 4A-C and 5A-C, has a great advantage because it uses the same pair of tubular elements 101 for two different objects, one on each opposite sides of the stand, in the same gap between the tubular elements 101.

As previously stated, the structure can be supported by the ground or by a wall or the like. In addition it can also be connected to surrounding 30828/mic/13 8 objects, such as furniture, by any mechanical means. Another form of stability provider is a supporting leg, as illustrated in Fig. 6A. The supporting leg 601 is suitable for weight endurance in order to support the structure and the objects supported thereby. It is possible to use more than one supporting leg 601 for a single structure, according to the predicted weight load. Fig. 6B is a side view of the structure of Fig. 6A.

Yet another form of stability provider is a base, as illustrated in Fig. 7A. The base 701 is connected to the lower beam 102 and can be made, e.g., of a tubular element as shown in the figure, or can be a full surface of any shape. When using a base, the center of mass of the whole structure is closer to the ground, and it is less likely for the structure to tumble.

Fig. 8A is a perspective view of the structure of Figs. 4A-C, with a wire 801 connected to each lower beam 102. The tension in the wire 801 keeps the permanent distance between the lower beams 102 and prevents them from slipping away from one another. Fig 8B is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of beam 102, showing the attachment of the wire 801 to beam 102, according to one embodiment of the invention.

In order to give the tubular elements 101 some strength and stiffness, it is possible to use strong parts, such as metal, inside, outside or in combination with the tubular elements 101. Fig. 9B is an example of a tubular element 101 which uses metal parts in combination with a sheath 901. Fig. 9B is an exposed enlarged view of the circled section in Fig. 9A, showing a chain 902 inside the sheath 901. The chain 902 is made of a strong material, preferably, but not obligatory, metal. If the tubular element 101 is ruptured the chain 902 can still support it without releasing the grasp on the object. The chain 902 can be replaced with a cable, a spring, a wire, or any other element suitable to be placed inside

Claims (11)

30828/mi c/13 10 Claims

1. A stand structure comprising at least two flexible tubular elements which are connected to lightweight beams at the edges, wherein adjustable tightening means are provided on said tubular elements.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tubular elements are made of plastic materials.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tubular elements are made of an elastomer.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the lightweight beams are made of wood.

5. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the lightweight beams are made of plastic materials.

6. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable tightening means are engageably connected separately to some of the plurality of tubular elements.

7. A structure according to claim 6, wherein the adjustable tightening means are engageably connected separately to each pair of tubular elements.

8. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable tightening means are free to move along the tubular elements and are tightened at a desired location along the tubular elements to avoid further movement thereof.

9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein the tightening at a desired location is achieved by using friction.

10. A structure according to claim 8, wherein the tightening at a desired location is achieved by pressure.

11. A combined structure, comprising two stand structures, according to claim 1, which are connected to one another and form a larger structure.