WO2009019107A2

WO2009019107A2 - Column stand, particularly for supporting lighting equipment and acoustic equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2009019107A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/059018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Igor Piccoli; Stefano Guidolin
Original assignee: Lino Manfrotto + Co. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2007-08-03
Filing date: 2008-07-10
Publication date: 2009-02-12
Also published as: ITPD20070268A1; WO2009019107A3

Abstract

A stand (1) with a column (2) comprises at least one leg (10) movable with respect to the column between an operative position, in which the leg extends from the column to support the stand, and a non-operative position, in which the leg is folded substantially close to the column. The leg is articulated at a first of its ends (11) on a collar (12) axially slidable along the column and is articulated, at its opposite end (14), on a support member (15) for supporting the stand by means of a pair of rods (30) parallel to each other and articulated at the opposed ends on the collar and on the support member so as to form an articulated parallelogram. In addition, resilient means (40) act on the leg or on the collar to facilitate the sliding of the collar along the column towards the non-operative position of the leg.

Description

Column stand, particularly for supporting lighting equipment and acoustic equipment

Description Technical field The present invention relates to a column stand having the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of the main claim. Technological background

The stand of the present invention finds a preferred, but not exclusive, application in the field of show performances, where there is a need to support lighting or acoustic equipment on column supports which are adjustable in height, are easily transportable from one place to another, in a folded configuration as compact as possible, and which can be easily unfolded in the desired position.

Column stands are required to withstand heavy loads, of the order of several hundred kilograms, and their effective and stable support on the ground is provided by a plurality of legs extending from the column. In order to provide minimum overall dimensions for the transport and storage of the stand, provision is also made for the legs to be articulated at one of their ends on the column, in such a way that they can be folded close to the column when necessary.

In an example of a stand produced according to the prior art, mounted at the free end of each leg there is a bracket on which a wheel is carried. The bracket is mounted in such a way that, with the leg unfolded, it can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the bearing surface, so that each wheel is freely orientable and the displacement of the stand by rolling on the wheels is allowed.

These stands have some drawbacks, however, including the fact that, during the closure of the legs and with the legs folded, the facility for free orientation of the wheels is reduced. Another drawback lies in the fact that the operation of folding the legs is particularly troublesome.

This is due to the fact that, extending between each leg and the column, there are respective support arms, articulated at one of their ends on the column, so that the folding of the legs involves the need to lift the entire stand, which may be very heavy.

A solution which attempts to remedy the first of the above-mentioned drawbacks is known from Italian Patent 1235379 in the name of the present

Applicant. In the column stand described therein, the free orientation of the wheels in the step of closure and in the folded configuration is obtained by providing gearing interposed between the bracket for mounting the wheel and the end of the leg on which it is mounted. This solution, however, is rather complicated and in addition the gearing mechanism is subject to relatively frequent jams and breakages.

Disclosure of the invention The problem underlying the present invention is that of providing a column stand, structurally and functionally designed to remedy the limitations mentioned above with reference to the cited prior art.

This problem is solved by the present invention by means of a column stand produced in accordance with the following claims. Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which :

- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a column stand in an operative position, produced according to the present invention,

- Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the stand of Figure 1, in a non-operative position. Preferred embodiment of the invention

In the drawings, the reference 1 indicates as a whole a column stand, produced according to the present invention.

The stand 1 comprises a column 2, preferably of the telescopic type, having a number of extensible members, all indicated by 3, slidably received one inside the other along a predominant longitudinal axis X. The extensible members 3 can be extended by means of a lifting mechanism that can be actuated by a pair of handles 4.

The stand 1 is maintained in the upright position by three legs, all indicated by 10, disposed at an angle and at a pitch about the column 2. Each leg 10 is articulated at a first of its ends 11 on a collar 12 axially slidable along the column 2. The sliding of the collar 12 on the column 2 is obtained, for example, by the coupling engagement of a runner of the collar

12 on the outer wall of the column 2 and may be locked in the desired position by a stop pin 13. At a second, opposed end 14 of the leg 10, a support member 15 is mounted, intended to abut a bearing surface of the stand 1. Each support member comprises an articulation body 16, articulated at the end 14 of the leg 10, a bracket 17 mounted on the articulation body 16 that can rotate about an axis Z, and also a wheel 18 idle mounted on a pin 19 fixed to the bracket 17. The rotation of the bracket 17 about the axis Z serves to orient the wheel 18, so that the axis is substantially parallel to the axis X of the column 2 so as to be substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the stand 1.

In order to lock the rotation of the wheel 18 with respect to the bracket 17, on the latter is mounted a brake 20, conventional per se, that can be actuated by means of a lever 21.

The rotation of the bracket 17 about the axis Z can also be locked, and for this purpose locking means are provided, comprising a pin 22 mounted on the articulation body 16 which is displaceable into engagement in a hole 23 provided in the bracket 17. Preferably, provision is made for a plurality of holes 23 to be obtained on the bracket 17 so that the direction in which the bracket 17 is to be locked, and consequently the direction in which the wheel 18 rolls, is selected.

According to a first aspect of the invention, each leg 10 comprises a pair of rods 30 extending parallel to one another on a plane parallel to the plane defined by the axes X and Z, which rods are hinged, at the respective opposed ends, to the collar 12 and to the articulation body 16 in such a way as to form a rigid articulated parallelogram.

In other words, the points of articulation of the rods 30 on the collar 12 define a straight line substantially parallel to the straight line defined by the points of articulation of the rods 30 on the articulation body 16. In Figure 2, the points of articulation of the rods 30 on the articulation body 16 are more clearly visible and are indicated by 31a and 31b.

In this way, by exploiting the particular features of the articulated parallelogram configuration, the result advantageously obtained is that the articulation body 16 is maintained always in the same orientation, independently of the extended or folded position of the leg 10. In particular, the axis Z of rotation of the bracket 17 is therefore always maintained in the same orientation, so that the wheel 18 can be freely oriented both when the leg 10 is in the extended position (as in Figure 1), and when it is in the partially or completely folded position (as in the detail on an enlarged scale of

Figure 2).

Between the articulation bodies 16 of the legs 10 and the column 2 extend respective support arms 32, the length of which is adjustable by rotating a sleeve 33 screwed onto two portions of the support arm 32.

The support arms 32 are all articulated on a spider 35, configured in much the same way as the collar 12, but anchored in a fixed position on the collar 2 and not able to slide with respect to the latter. The position of the spider 35 is such that the support arms 32 are incident with respect to the legs 10 when the latter are extended in the operative position, in order better to discharge the weight of the stand 1 (and of any load supported thereby) directly onto the support members 15.

According to another aspect of the invention, resilient means 40 are provided on the stand 1 which act on the legs 10, or on the collar 12, to facilitate the sliding of the collar 12 along the column 2 towards the spider 35, in such a way as to fold the legs 10 into the non-operative position.

In a preferred embodiment, shown in the appended drawings, the resilient means 40 extend between each leg 10 and the respective support members 15, in particular between the connecting body 16 and the nearest rod 30.

In further embodiments, not shown, the resilient means may extend between the collar 12 and the spider 35, or between the collar 12 and the base of the column 2.

The embodiment represented herein has the advantage of maintaining the resilient means in a protected and hidden position.

Preferably, the resilient means are of the gas type, however, provision is also made for them to be of the mechanical type, for example in the form of helical springs.

In order to displace the legs 10 from the operative position to the non- operative position, it is necessary to lift the collar 12 towards the spider 35, sliding along the column 2. In order to facilitate this operation, the collar 12 is provided with a pair of grips 36 (only one being partially visible in Figure 1).

The movement of the collar 12 involves the approach of the support members 15 to the column 2 and the folding of the legs 10. This also involves the lifting of the column 2, effected by the presence of the support arms 32 which impart to the support members 15 a rotating movement about the spider 35.

This lifting action is however advantageously facilitated by the presence of the resilient means 40 which urge the legs 10 upwards. it should be noted that, owing to the configuration of the legs 10 as an articulated parallelogram, the axis Z of rotation of the bracket 17 remains always parallel to the axis X of the column 2 and therefore perpendicular to the bearing surface of the stand 1, permitting free orientation of the wheels 18, even during this operation of lifting the collar 12. This advantageous feature persists even when the non-operative position is reached with the legs 10 all set against the column 2, so that the stand 1 may be displaced by rolling on the wheels 18, in any direction.

In order to lock the wheel in a direction it is sufficient to act on the pins 22 and insert them into one of the holes 23 provided in the bracket 17, while in order to lock the rotation of the wheel 18 it is possible to actuate the brake 20 by acting on the lever 21.

In order to bring the legs 10 of the stand 1 back into the operative position, the collar 12 is lowered along the column 2 towards its base, and the legs 10 are extended away from the column 2. Naturally, even during these displacements the wheels 18 are freely orientable.

The present invention therefore solves the problem mentioned above, without incurring the drawbacks encountered in the prior art cited.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A stand (1) with a column (2) comprising at least one leg (10) movable with respect to said column between an operative position, in which said leg extends from the column to support said stand, and a non-operative position, in which said leg is folded substantially close to the column, said leg being articulated at a first of its ends (11) on a collar (12) axially slidable along said column and being articulated, at its opposite end (14), on a support member (15) for supporting the stand, characterized in that said leg comprises a pair of rods (30) parallel to each other and articulated at the opposed ends on said collar and on said support member so as to form an articulated parallelogram.

2. Stand according to claim 1, wherein said support member comprises an articulation body (16) articulated on said leg, a bracket (17) mounted with the ability to rotate with respect to said articulation body, and also a wheel (18) idle mounted on said bracket.

3. Stand according to claim 2, wherein, on said articulation body, locking means (22) are provided which are capable of locking the rotation of said bracket with respect to said articulation body.

4. Stand according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said bracket has mounted on it a brake (20) for said wheel.

5. Stand according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein, between said support member and said column a support arm (32) extends which has an incident direction with respect to said leg when said leg extends in said non-operative position.

6. Stand according to claim 5, wherein the length of said support arm is adjustable.

7. Stand according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said support arm is articulated, at the opposite end from the articulation body, on a spider (35) fixedly mounted on said column.

8. Stand according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein resilient means (40) are provided which act on said leg or said collar to facilitate the sliding of said collar along said column towards said non-operative position of said leg.

9. Stand according to claim 8, wherein said resilient means extend between said leg and said articulation body.

10. Stand according to claim 8, wherein said resilient means extend between a base of said column and said collar.

11. Stand according to claim 8, wherein said resilient means extend between said collar and said spider.

12. Stand according to any one or more of claims 8 to 11, wherein said resilient means are of the gas type.

13. Stand according to any one or more of claims 8 to 11, wherein said resilient means are of the mechanical type.

14. A stand (1) with a column (2) comprising at least one leg (10) movable with respect to said column between an operative position, in which said leg extends from the column to support said stand, and a non-operative position, in which said leg is folded substantially close to the column, said leg being articulated at a first of its ends (11) on a collar (12) axially slidable along said column, characterized in that resilient means (40) act on said leg or said collar to facilitate the sliding of said collar along said column towards said non-operative position of said leg.

15. Stand according to claim 14, wherein said resilient means extend between said leg and a support member (15) for supporting said stand, mounted at an end (14) of said leg opposed to said first end.

16. Stand according to claim 14, wherein said resilient means extend between a base of said column and said collar.

17. Stand according to claim 14, wherein said resilient means extend between said collar and a spider (35) on which is articulated a support arm (32) extending between said column and an end (14) of said leg opposed to said first end.

18. Stand according to one or more of claims 14 to 17, wherein said resilient means are of the gas type.

19. Stand according to one or more of claims 14 to 17, wherein said resilient means are of the mechanical type.