US3382356A - Portable stand with adjustable lamp suspending arm - Google Patents

Description

G. F. EYTH May 7, 1968 PORTABLE STAND WITH ADJUSTABLE LAMP SUSPENDING ARM Filed June 28, 1966 R. w mm M yW o A Em. R 3 e 9 r w 6 ma United States Patent Ofi ice 3,382,356 PORTABLE STAND WITH ADJUSTABLE LAMP SUSPENDING ARM George F. Eyth, RD. 2, Chicora, Pa. 16025 Filed June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,214 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The lamp-equipped stand disclosed is versatile in capability. It lends itself to practical usage wherever a variable but properly directed beam of light is needed to assist a user in effectually taking care of work needs that call for or necessitate adequate illumination. It provides a controllably aimed beam of light at a night barbecue, while washing ones car, attending to needs of livestock, painting indoors or outdoors, and for purposes too numerous to mention. It comprises a tripodal base, vertically adjustable standard, dual purpose handgrip, and a multipurpose lamp supporting arm adjustable atop the standard.

serve the manufacturing economies of manufacturers, as-

sures profitable handling by wholesalers and retailers, and satisfies the diversified needs in many and various categories of use. It is such in construction and adaptability that it can be effectively used in ever changing situations, for example, when a controllably aimed source and beam of light is needed at a night barbecue, while Washing or polishing ones car, while working around farm machinery or equipment, attending to the numerous needs of livestock, while painting indoors or outdoors, resorting to otherwise hampered building requirements, or anywhere a well focused beam of light is needed to assist a person or persons taking care of work requirements that call for extra illumination.

One aspect of the concept has to do with the upright part of the stand; namely, a tripodal base supporting a vertically extensible and retractible standard. The base comprises outwardly downwardly sloping circumferentially spaced legs with vertical terminal feet tipped or capped with cushion anti-skid pads. The lower component comprises a tubular member which provides a socket member and is fixed to upper converging ends of the legs. The companion vertical member comprises a rod or shaft slidable and turnable in the socket, the same being held in a given or set position by a lever operated clamping cam or equivalent fastening means carried by the tubular member.

Another improvement is directed to a simple stand lifter and carrier, more particularly, a handgrip fixed to the tubular member in a balanced position and having upper and lower offset hooks on which the electric cord can be reeled or coiled and thus stored in an out-of-theway position.

The arm is provided at an outer end with a reflectorequipped bulb or lamp. Many types of bulbs can be accommod-atingly used such as, for instance, heat lamps, floodlight lamps, standard bulbs of differing wattages and styles and so on. Then, too, hoods and reflectors varying 3,382,356 Patented May 7, 1968 in design and construction can be and are used in coordinating relation with the arm-end and source of illumination.

More specifically, this invention is characterized by selfstanding base means, a vertically adjustable standard attached to and rising perpendicularly from said base means, an elongated arm designed and adapted to suspend and focus a lamp bulb or the like and disposed in a plane at an angle to the verticality of said standard, said arm being capable of assuming a horizontal position at right angles to the vertical axis of said standard and, alternatively, being tiltable in a vertical plane to assume a plurality of predetermined angular positions such as, for example, 65-45l5 slanting downward or l40-165 angled and slanting upwardly, and means adjustably mounting a median portion of said arm atop said standard, said mounting means embodying a first component part fixed atop said standard and provided with a spring-loaded latch pin and also a journaling shaft, and a second component part carried by the median portion of said arm and embodying bearing means journaled for free rotation on said shaft, said bearing means provided with a fixed member having selectively usable keeper holes for reception and temporary retention of said latch, whereby to facilitate adjusting and retaining said arm in its diversified adjustable and usable positions relative to said standard.

Construed somewhat more explicity, the invention has to do with a base-equipped self-standing standard, a U- shaped bracket embodying a horizontal bight portion fixed atop said standard and provided with a pair of opposed upstanding arms having aligned holes, an axle bridging the space between said arms with ends thereof fitting removably in said holes, said axle constituting and providing a journaling shaft, a U-shaped clip fixed on and projecting laterally from one of said arms and having a bight portion with a hole lined up with a companion hole in said one arm, an L-shaped latch having a fingergrip at an outer end and a detent at the inner end, said detent being spring-loaded, slidingly mounted in the holes provided therefor and having a tip end projecting into the space between said arms, an elongated tubular arm having a lamp bulb and cooperable reflector operatively mounted for use on an outer end of said arm, an arm mounting and adjusting lug fixed on and projecting laterally from a median portion of said arm, said lug having a bearing hole encircling and oscillatable on said journaling shaft, a spacing sleeve fixed to said lug in line with said bearing hole, said sleeve located between said bracket arms and encircling and being rockable on said shaft, and a semicircular arm positioning and returning plate situated in the space between said bracket arms and fixed to and movable with said sleeve, the semicircular marginal edge portion of said plate being swingable in an arcuate path relative to said bight portion and having a row of longitudinally spaced keeper holes concentric with the axis of said sleeve and selectively registrable with and for reception and retention of said detent.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the improved portable stand showing the same set up for use and showing the construction of the arm and the lamp and reflector mounted on the distal or outer end thereof for adjustable light beam focusing needs;-

FIGURE 2 is a view on an enlarged scale and which is fragmentarily shown and which functions to detail the eccentric or cam fastener, the novel coupling or joint and how the arm (fragmentarily shown) is cooperable therewith; and

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged view with parts in section and elevation taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

With reference now to FIG. 1 and broadly speaking it will be seen that the base means, which is tripodal in form, is denoted at 6, the complemental vertically adjustable standard at 8, the cross arm at and the hinging joint between the arm and standard at 12.

The standard 8 comprises a vertically elongated straight tubular member 14 which provides a socket for reception, retention and adjustment of the axially turnable and vertically adjustable rod member 16 whose lower portion 18 is shown projecting downwardly through and beyond the bottom of the tubular member 14. The lower portion 20 of the tubular member is fixedly joined to and rises perpendicularly from the tripodal base means 6. The latter means comprises several duplicate rigid legs 22 which incline outwardly and downwardly, said legs being circumferentially spaced and equal distances apart to provide the desired self-standing result. The outer or lower end portions of the legs are vertically bent as at 24 to define feet and the terminal ends of the feet are provided with rubber or equivalent tips or caps 26 which provide the desired cushioning and antislipping result when the base means is positioned on a foundation or other support surface. The upper converging ends 28 of the legs surround and are welded at 30 to the tubular member.

It follows that the stand comprises a base supportedstandard with the rod portion 16 vertically adjustable and also axially turnable. A slot 32 is provided in one side adjacent the top of the tubular member and, in addition, outstanding spaced parallel ears are provided at 34 and are lined up with the slot and serve to accommodate the eccentric or friction clamping cam 36 which is provided with an offset handle or lever 38 and which is pivotally mounted at 40 between the ears. The manner in which this clamping or locking device is employed is self-evident. The stand also embodies a fixedly attached carrier unit 42 made from a length of suitable wire stock and which is bent upon itself between its ends to provide a substantially U-shaped handle 44. The handle is secured by soldering or welding as at 46 to the tubular member. The end portions are fashioned into laterally offset upper and lower hooks 48 which in practice are used for winding or reeling the current supply cord 50 which is located at and connected with the handle or handgrip 52 on the lefthand end of the aforementioned utility suspending arm 10. Taking up now the cross arm 10 it will be seen that it is made of hollow axially aligned component parts 54 and 56 which permit passage of the cord 50 therethrough (not detailed). The distal or outer end portion of the section 54 of the arm is screw-threaded or otherwise constructed as at 58 to accommodate an attaching collar 60 on the truncated end portion of a truncated conical or an equivalent canopy or reflector 62. A suitable socket 64 is provided on the end of the arm to accommodate the lamp bulb 66. Various types of lamps and shields or reflectors can be used. Adjacent the ends of the sections or components 54 and 56 are united by a simple sleeve-type coupling 68 which provides a junction box. In practice this box is provided with an off and on switch 70 and on one side with a receptacle 72. This part is not detailed but it is understood that it is interiorly constructed so that the receptacle 72 can be used to accommodate a plug on an extension cord (not shown) to supply current to an electric drill or equivalent tool or appliance.

The joint or coupling 12 between the median portion of the overall arm 10 and upper end of the rod 16 is unique. This is to say, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the joint comprises an upstanding U-shaped bracket 74 having a bight portion 76 fixed atop the rod 16. The upstanding arms for the bracket are denoted at 78 and 80 in FIG. 3. These arms are provided with oppositely disposed and aligned holes to accommodate a journaling shaft 82 one end of which is provided with a head 84 abutting the arm 78 and the other end of which is held removably in place by a cotter pin 86. The arm 78 is provided on one side with an outstanding fixedly mounted relatively small U-shaped adapter clip 88 which is lined up with a hole provided therefor in the arm 78 as best shown in FIG. 3. The bight portion of this clip is also apertured to accommodate the horizontal detent 90 of an L-shaped latch 92, the depending portion 94 providing a suitable fingergrip.

In addition to the component parts carried by the upper end of the rod 16 the joint embodies a depending lug 96 carried by the median portion of the arm as shown in FIG. 3, said lug having a bearing hole 98 therein which embraces and is oscillatable on the journaling shaft 82. A spacing sleeve is provided at 100 and is fixed at one end to the lug in line with the bearing hole 98 and the sleeve in turn encircles and is adjustable on the journaling shaft. The sleeve carries a depending substantially semicircular retainer plate 102 the upper straight edge of which is secured to the periphery of the sleeve. This plate 102 depends in the space between the arms 78 and 80. The lower curvate or arcuate edge 104 swings in an arcuate path relative to the bight portion 76 and it is provided with circumferentially spaced keeper holes 106 (FIG. 2) which are arranged in an arcuate row and are therefore concentric to the turning axis about the journaling shaft 82. The inner end 108 of the aforementioned detent projects into the space between the arms 78 and 80 and can be selectively registered with any one of the keeper holes 106. The latch is held yieldingly in place by the encircling and actuating coil spring 110 and is therefore referred to as a spring loaded latch. There is a stop collar provided at 112 for the obvious purpose shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It is permissible to remove the cotter pin 86, withdraw the headed journaling pin 82 and thus detach the entire lamp-equipped arm 10. It is also evident that when the device is set up for use as shown the arm 10 can be adjusted 65, 40, and 15 downward or 115, or upward and can also be maintained in the horizontal position shown by properly utilizing the latch and retaining means.

The lamp-equipped arm, and novel arm hingeing joint comprehends a construction that should and doubtless will meet with widespread adoption and practical use. The outer or distal end of the arm can be nicely adjusted up or down with the aid of the handle-grip on the inner or proximal end. The hinge-equipped joint or coupling between the arm and standard is uniquely constructed and well serves its intended purpose. The simple spring-loaded L-type latch plus the U-bracket and hinged lug ensures graduated or step-by-step adjustment and once the user acquires the knack of use, the desired arm and lamp adjustment can be quickly made, even in the dark. Experience will show that the invention makes for highly efficient illumination for many .and various household repairs, for unhampered ironing and sewing, is usable in service stations, for display areas in stores and so on. Further, the junction box built into the hollow wire sheathing arm makes available an outlet for an extension cord which can be relied upon for remote power takeoff needs, where, of course, a source of electricity is available.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A self-contained lamp stand comprising a portable self-standing base-supported vertically adjustable standard, a U-shaped bracket embodying a horizontal bight portion fixed atop said standard and provided with a pair of opposed upstanding arms having .aligned holes, a readily applicable and removable axle bridging the space between said arms and having ends thereof fitting removably in said holes, said axle constituting a journa'ling shaft, a U- shaped clip fixed on and projecting laterally and accessibly from one of said arms and having a bight portion with a first hole lined up with a companion second hole in said one arm, an L-shaped latch having a fingergrip at an outer end and a detent at the inner end, said detent being springloaded, slidingly mounted in said first and second holes and having .a tip end projecting into the space between said arms, an elongated tubular arm having a lamp bulb and coopera'ble retflector operatively mounted on an outer end of said arm, an arm mounting and adjusting lug fixed on and projecting laterally from a median portion of said arm into the space between said upstanding arms, said lug having a bearing hole encirling and oscillatable on said journ'aling shaft, a spacing sleeve fixed to and projecting laterally from said lug in line with said bearing hole, said sleeve locate-d and confined between said bracket arms and encircling and being rockable on said shaft, and a semicircular arm positioning and retaining plate situated in the space between said bracket arms and fixed to and movable with said sleeve, the semicircular marginal edge portion of said plate being swingable in an arcuate path relative to said bight portion and having a row of longitudinally spaced keeper holes concentric with the axis of said sleeve and selectively registrable with and for reception and retention of said detent.

2. A portable multipurpose self-contained stand comprising, in combination, self-standing base means, a vertically extensible and retractable standard attached to and rising perpendicularly from said base means, an elongate-d arm designed and adapted to suspend and aim a lamp bulb, said arm being capable of assuming a horizontal position at right angles to the vertical axis of said standard and, alternatively, being tiltable in a vertical plane to assume a plurality of predetermined angular positions, means adjustably mounting a median portion of said arm atop said standard, said mounting means emboding a first component part fixed atop said standard and provided with a spring loaded latch pin and also a journaling shaft, a second component part carried by the median portion of said arm and embodying bearing means journaled for free rotation on said shaft, said bearing means provided with a fixed member having selectively usable keeper holes for reception and temporary retention of said latch, said base means com-prising a tripod embodying legs having lower outward ends deipending vertically and terminating in cushioned bumper-type surface contacting and anti-skid feet, said standard comprising a vertically elongated tubular member providing a socket, said legs having upper ends fixed to a lower end portion of said tubular member, a complemental vertically elongated rod member telscoping slidingly into said socket, manually regulatable retaining means mounted on said tubular member and clampingly but releasab-ly engageable with said rod member, and, in combination, a rod bent upon itself to define and provide a manually grip-pable stand carrier, the intermediate portion of said rod being bent and fashioned into and providing a handgri p, said handgrip being fixed on said tubular member, and having free end portions bent and fashioned into and providing spaced hooks on which a current supply cord can be compactly and conveniently reeled and temporarily stored for ready use.

3. A self-contained lamp stand comprising a portable self-standing base-supported vertically adjustable standard,

a U-sha-ped bracket embodying a horizontal bight portion fixed atop said standard and provided with a pair of 0pposed upstanding arms having aligned holes, an axle bridging the space between said arms with ends thereof fitting removab'ly in said holes, said axle constituting a journaling shaft, a U-shaped clip fixed on and projecting laterally from one of said arms and having a bight portion with a first hole lined up with a companion second hole in said one arm, an L-shaped latch having a finger grip at an outer end and a detent at the inner end, said detent being spring-loaded, slidingly mounted in said first and'second holes and having a tip end projecting into the space between said arms, an elongated tubular arm having a lamp bulb and cooperable reflector operatively mounted on an outer end of said arm, an arm mounting and adjusting lug fixed on and projecting laterally from a median portion of said arm, said lug having a bearing hole encircling and oscillatable on said journaling shaft, a spacing sleeve fixed to said lug in line with said bearing hole, said sleeve located between said bracket arms and encircling and being rockable on said shaft, and a semicircular arm positioning and retaining plate situated in the space between said bracket arms and fixed to and movable with said sleeve, the semi-circu lar marginal edge portion of said plate being swingable in an arcuate path relative to said bight portion and having a row longitudinally spaced keeper holes concentric with the axis of said sleeve and selectively registrable with and for reception and retention of said detent, and, in combination, a rod bent upon itself to define and provide a manually grippable stand carrier, the intermediate portion of said rod being bent and fashioned into and providing a handgrip, said handgrip being fixed on said standard, and having free end portions bent and fashioned into and providing spaced books on which a current supply cord can be compactly and conveniently reeled and temporarily stored for ready use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 124,971 2/1941 Hood.

2,267,653 12/ 1941 Hawkins 240-81 2,697,776 12/1954 W'ale 240-81 3,160,755 1 2/ 1964 Wolfe 24081 NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner. J. W. PRICE, Assistant Examiner.

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