WO2012153322A1

WO2012153322A1 - A stand

Info

Publication number: WO2012153322A1
Application number: PCT/IE2012/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seamus Anthony MEEGAN; Cian Desmond O'SULLIVAN
Original assignee: Meegan Seamus Anthony; O'sullivan Cian Desmond
Priority date: 2011-05-10
Filing date: 2012-05-09
Publication date: 2012-11-15
Also published as: GB201319592D0; GB2504422B; GB2504422A

Abstract

A multi-functional combined stand (1) and clamp for doors, panels, plasterboard, timber panels and planks, insulated plasterboard and the like comprising a base (2), at least one article engageable means on the base, the article engageable means being movable between a first article engaging position in which the stand is engageable with an article and a second article holding position in which the stand is adapted to hold the article and pedal operated control means for con¬ trolling movement of the article engageable means between the first and second positions to facilitate the easy fitting and manipulation of the articles.

Description

A Stand

Introduction This invention generally relates to a stand for a sheet or plank-type article and in particular to a combined stand and clamp for a sheet or plank-type article

(hereinafter referred to as a stand). More particularly, the invention relates to a combined stand and clamp for doors. Background of the Invention

The handling and manipulation of sheet and plank-type articles (hereinafter referred to generally as sheet-type articles) such as doors, boards, panels, plasterboard, timber panels and planks, insulated plasterboard and the like can prove

problematical for tradesmen - particularly where the sheet-type articles are large and the assistance of a second person is required to manipulate the sheet-type articles.

By way of example, the problem is particularly acute for joiners when working with doors. In general, when performing an operation on a door such as hanging a door in a doorframe, fitting a lock or door furniture to a door or planing a door, a joiner requires the assistance of a second person to hold or manoeuvre the door in position. Frequently, a second person is not available or, where a second person is available, increased labour costs arise. Accordingly, in order to avoid the need for a second person, joiners sometimes employ improvised supports in an attempt to hold doors in position. However, such improvised solutions are unreliable and prone to failure. Dedicated door stands are also known which can be used to hold doors in particular orientations to facilitate the performance of operations on the door e.g. to hold a door in a vertical plane to facilitate planing of the door edges. However, such door stands are of limited use when hanging doors or fitting locks and other door furniture to doors and, in any event, frequently fail to secure the door sufficiently well to perform operations such as planing on the door.

The aforementioned problems encountered by joiners when working with doors are replicated with other sheet-like articles.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a stand for sheet or plank-like articles comprising

a base;

at least one article engageable means on the base, the article engageable means being movable between a first article engaging position in which the stand is engageable with an article and a second article holding position in which the stand is adapted to hold the article; and

pedal operated control means for controlling movement of the article engageable means between the first and second positions. Preferably, the at least one article engageable means comprises a lifting platform insertable beneath an article in the first article engaging position and raiseable from the base in the second article holding position to lift the article. More preferably, the at least one article engageable means comprises gripping means for gripping an article, the gripping means being adapted to receive the article in the first article engageable position and to grip the article in the second article holding position. Suitably, the at least one article engageable means further comprises wedge means for wedging the stand against an article to secure the article. Advantageously, the wedge means comprises a forwardly projecting lead plate on the base.

Preferably, the stand comprises a housing mounted on the base, the at least one article engageable means being formed on the housing and the housing being pivotably mounted on the base to pivot between the first article engageable position and the second article holding position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lifting platform is mounted at a front end of the pivotable housing and the article gripping means comprises an article receiving opening defined by the housing and the base, the lifting platform being raisable from the first article engageable position to the article holding position and the article gripping means being moveable from the first article engaging position to the article holding position in response to actuation of the pedal. Preferably, the article gripping means comprises means for adjusting the article receiving opening. More preferably, the means for adjusting the article receiving opening comprises a size adjusting mechanism. Advantageously, the size adjusting mechanism comprises at least one insert mounted on the stand at the article receiving opening.

Suitably, the insert comprises a removable size-adjusting insert. Preferably, the insert comprises an adjustable insert.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjustable insert comprises a slidable insert moveable between a first position and a second position to adjust the size of the article receiving opening. Preferably, the pedal operated control means comprises a foot-releasable pawl and ratchet mechanism.

More preferably, the pawl is mounted on the housing and the ratchet is mounted on the base.

Suitably, the pawl is adapted to secure the housing in the second holding position so that operations can be performed on an article.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ratchet comprises a pair of oppositely disposed fingers upstanding from the base. Alternatively, the ratchet comprises a ratchet block upstanding from the base.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stand comprises a door stand.

The multi-functional stand of the invention combines the functionality of a wedge, a stand and a clamp to facilitate the easy fitting and manipulation of sheet and planklike articles such as doors, panels, plasterboard, timber panels and planks, insulated plasterboard and the like. The invention is particularly useful with doors where a joiner can manipulate a door without requiring the assistance of a second person. The stand is foot operated so that a tradesman or joiner can simply hold or manoeuvre an article or door whilst simultaneously operating the stand by foot. The simple pawl and ratchet control mechanism employed in the stand of the invention ensures secure and safe holding, lifting and gripping of articles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and one side of a first embodiment of a stand in accordance with the invention adapted for use as a door stand with the pedal and the door stand in the first door engageable position and the door receiving slot/opening at its maximum size; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the door stand of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from above and one side of the door stand of Figure 1 with the pedal and the door stand in the second door holding position, the pawl maximally extended along the ratchets and the door receiving opening at its minimum size;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the door stand of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view from above and one side of the door stand in the position described in Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a perspective view from above and the front end of a second embodiment of a stand in accordance with the invention with the pedal and the door stand in the first door engageable position in which the ratchet fingers are replaced by a solid ratchet block, the door receiving slot/opening is at its maximum size and the size adjusting mechanism of the door receiving slot/opening is a slidable insert;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the door stand of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view from above and the front end of the door stand of Figure 6 with the pedal and the door stand in the second door holding position, the pawl maximally extended along the ratchet block and the door receiving slot/opening at its minimum size; Figure 9 is a side elevation of the door stand of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a is a perspective view from above and the front end of the stand of Figure 6 with the size adjustment pin of the slidable insert removed and the direction of sliding the insert indicated by the arrow, and

Figure 1 1 is an exploded perspective view from above and one side of the door stand in the position described in Figure 6. Detailed Description of the Invention

As shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, a first embodiment of a door stand 1 in accordance with the invention is generally shoe-like in shape and is made up of a base plate 2 and an arcuate housing 3 pivotably mounted on the base plate 2 so that the door stand can raise and lower a door or clamp a door by pivoting the housing 3.

The base plate 2 is substantially rectangular in shape and has a base plate front end 4, a base plate rear end 5, a fist upwardly extending side wall 6 and a second upwardly extending side wall 7. The first side wall 6 is not continuous and is interrupted by a door receiving slot 8 approximately mid-way between the front end 4 and the rear end 5. At its front end 4, the base plate 2 is further provided with a forward projecting lead plate 9 while the side wall 6 and the side wall 7 are provided with first and second respective oppositely disposed pivot pin receiving holes 10, 1 adjacent the door-receiving slot 8 for supporting a pivot pin 12 on which the housing 3 can pivot as shall be explained more fully below. Towards the rear end 5 of the base plate 2, adjacent the door-receiving slot 8, the first and second side walls 6,7 are each provided with first and second oppositely disposed ratchet fingers 13,14 respectively which extend upwards in a substantially vertical direction from the base plate 2. The first and second ratchet fingers 13,14 are each provided with an outwardly curved or arcuate edge 15,16 oriented towards the base plate rear end 5. The outwardly curved edges 15,16 are each provided with a respective series of ratchet teeth 17,18 which engage with a complimentary pawl 27 on the pivotable housing 3 as outlined in more detail below.

The housing 3 is made up of a front end 19, a rearwardly extending pedal 25, an outwardly curved top face 20 which extends between the front end 19 and the pedal 25 and a first side wall 21 and a second side wall 22 which depend downwards from the top face 20 towards the base plate 2. As with the first side wall 6 of the base plate 2, the first side wall 21 of the housing 3 is interrupted to define a substantially U-shaped door receiving recess or opening 23 complimentary and contiguous with the door-receiving slot 8 in which a door can be clamped/supported. The door receiving opening 23 is further defined by the internal face of the first finger 13 of the base 2. The rearwardly extending pedal 25 has pedal grips 26 formed on its upper surface for improved grip of the pedal 25 by a user's foot in use.

The first and second dependant side walls 21 ,22 of the pivotable housing 3 are further provided with respective first and second oppositely disposed pivot pin receiving holes 46,47 aligned with the first and second pivot pin receiving holes 10,1 on the first and second side walls 6,7 of the base plate 2 to receive the pivot pin 12 on which the housing 3 can pivot. A pivot spring 24 is mounted on the pivot pin 12 and is biased between the base plate 2 and the housing 3 to urge the housing 3 against the base plate 2 to control the pivoting motion of the housing 3 about the pivot pin 12 in use.

As indicated above, the housing 3 is further provided with a foot-releasable pawl 27 for engaging the ratchet teeth 17,18 on the first and second fingers 13,14

respectively of the base plate 2 to fix the pivoted housing 3 in position and either grip a door in the door receiving opening 23 or lift the door as outlined further below.

The pawl 27 is formed from a pawl top plate 28 having a front edge 29 disposed towards the housing front end 9 and downwardly depending side members 30,31 having respective pawl pivot pin openings 32,33 for receiving a pawl pin 34 on which the pawl 27 can pivot to release and engage the ratchet teeth 17, 8. The first side wall 21 and the second side wall 22 of the housing 3 are also provided with respective pawl pivot pin first and second openings 35,36 (not shown) aligned with pawl pivot pin openings 32,33 on the pawl side members 30,31 for supporting the pawl pivot pin 34. A pawl pivot pin spring 37 is mounted between the pawl pivot pin 34 and a pawl pivot pin spring mounting 38 secured to the underside of the pawl top plate 28 to control movement of the pawl 27. The pawl pivot pin spring 37 extends between the pawl pivot pin 34 and the pivot pin spring mounting 38 through a spring aperture 39 defined in the arcuate top face 20 of the housing 3. At its front end 19, the housing 3 is further provided with a forwardly projecting lifting platform 40 secured between the housing 3 and the base plate 2. The lifting platform 40 has a sharp leading edge 41 for facilitating insertion of the lifting platform 40 beneath a door in use and lifting of the door into position upon actuation of the pawl 27 and ratchet teeth 17,18.

The door receiving opening 23 in the housing 3 is also provided with two removable size-adjusting inserts 42,43 formed from a resilient material to prevent damage to doors inserted in the door receiving opening 23 and to enhance the grip on doors held in the door receiving opening 23. The size-adjusting inserts function as a size adjusting mechanism i.e. the inserts 42,43 can be removed to increase the dimensions of the door receiving opening 23 if desired. The removable inserts 42,43 are shaped and contoured to abut the first side wall 21 of the housing 3 at the door receiving opening 23. In addition, the second insert 43 is provided with an elongate notch 44. The elongate notch 44 abuts a support member 45 shaped to fit the elongate notch 44 located on the internal face of the first finger 13 of the base plate 2.

In use, the door stand 1 is multi-functional. Figures 1 and 2 show the door stand 1 in its first door engageable or non-pivoted position with the door receiving opening 23 at its maximum size and the lifting platform 40 disposed downwards towards the lead plate 9 - i.e. the housing 3 is not pivoted on the pivot pin 12, is biased against the base plate 2 and the pawl 27 has not travelled along the ratchet teeth 17,18. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the door stand 1 can be employed by a user, typically a joiner, in a number of ways in the first position. For example, the door stand 1 can simply be placed on a floor adjacent a door so that the lead plate 9 at the base plate front end 4 (and the lifting platform 40) function as a wedge means when urged against the underside of the door to hold the door in position. The door stand 1 can be placed against the front, rear or side-edge of the door as required.

When placed against the front or side of a door as described above with the lifting platform 40 disposed beneath the door, the pedal 25 can be depressed by the joiner using his foot (whilst holding the door) so that the housing 3 pivots on the pivot pin 12 towards the base plate rear end 5, the lifting platform 40 is raised upwards to lift the door and the pawl 27 travels downwards on the ratchet teeth 17,18. When the joiner releases the pedal 25, the front edge 29 of the pawl top plate 28 and the ratchet teeth 17,18 secure the pawl 27 in position so that the door is held in the raised position. No assistance from a second person is required. The joiner is then free to perform various operations e.g. lock fitting, measuring and the like.

In order to lower the door, the joiner simply depresses the foot-releasable pawl 27 to swivel the pawl top plate 28 on the pawl pin 34 and separate the pawl top plate front edge 29 from the ratchet teeth 17,18. The tension in pivot pin spring 24 then causes the housing 3 to pivot on the pivot pin 12 towards the base plate 2 to lower the lifting platform 40 and the door. In other uses, a door edge can be placed in the door receiving opening 23 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The door edge can be inserted in the door receiving opening 23 either by placing the door stand 1 on a floor and lifting the door into position or, more conveniently, by placing the door stand 1 on the floor and sliding the door stand 1 into position against the door edge so that the door edge is received into the door receiving slot 8 and the contiguous door receiving opening 23. This operation does not require a second joiner.

Once the door edge is received in the door receiving opening 23, the joiner can depress the pedal 25 as previously described with his foot. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, pivoting of the housing 3 on the pivot pin 12 towards base plate rear end 5 causes the door receiving opening 23 to decrease in size so that the door is gripped by the first and second inserts 42,43. As previously described, pawl 27 and ratchet teeth 17, 18 securely hold the housing 3 in the second pivoted door holding position when the joiner ceases depressing the pedal 25. The door is therefore securely gripped or clamped in the door stand 1 so that the joiner can perform various operations on the door such as planing, lock fitting and the like without requiring additional clamps or the assistance of a second joiner. The door can be released from the door stand by releasing the pawl 27 as previously described.

Figures 6 to 1 1 show a second embodiment of a stand 1 in accordance with the invention in which, inter alia, the first and second ratchet fingers 13,14 are replaced by a single solid ratchet block 48 and the door receiving slot/opening 23 is provided with a size adjusting opening mechanism in the form of a removable and slidable size adjusting insert 49 in place of the second size adjusting insert 43 of Figures 1 to

5. The solid ratchet block 48 can be formed from a hardened metal and further increases the robustness of the stand 1 while the removable and slidable size adjusting insert 49 further enhances the size adjustability of the stand 1 . Like numerals indicate like parts.

As shown in the drawings, the stand 1 is broadly similar to the stand 1 of Figures 1 to

6. However, in the present embodiment, the ratchet finger 13 is replaced by the ratchet block 48 of increased thickness while the second ratchet finger 14 has been dispensed with. The ratchet block 48 has a substantially greater thickness than the ratchet finger 3 so that the ratchet teeth 50 of the ratchet block 48 have an increased contact area with the front edge 29 of the foot-releasable pawl 27 to increase the strength and robustness of the stand 1 in use. The ratchet block 48 has a side profile similar to the ratchet finger 13 so that the ratchet teeth 50 are located on an outwardly curved or arcuate face 51 oriented towards the base plate rear end 5.

The removable and slidable size adjusting insert 49 is attached to the ratchet block 48. More particularly, the size adjusting insert 49 is made up of a U-shaped form 52 dimensioned and adapted to slide over and receive the ratchet block 48 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 0. The U-shaped form 52 has an upright sheet supporting wall 53 and first and second side walls 54,55 respectively extending rearwardly from the sheet supporting wall 53 to define a channel 56 for receiving the ratchet block 48. The sheet supporting wall 53 is provided with a rubber or plastics strip 57 on its outer surface to protect articles in use.

The size adjusting insert 49 can slide on the base 2 plate 2 to adjust the dimensions of the door receiving opening 23. As shown particularly in Figures 10 and 11 , the ratchet block 48 is provided with a series of four parallel bores 58 located to be positioned contiguous with a pair of pin openings 59 on the first and second side walls 54,55. Accordingly, the size adjusting insert 49 can be slid over the ratchet block in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 10 to adjust the dimensions of the door receiving opening 23. The size required of the door receiving opening 23 is selected by selecting the appropriate bore 58 and the size adjusting insert 49 is secured in the desired position by inserting a removable securing pin 60 through the contiguous bore 58 and pin openings 59. Sliding movement of the size adjusting insert 49 is guided by guide means in the form of a pair of oppositely disposed guide slots 61 defined in the first and second side walls and 54,55 and a guide rod 62 extending between the guide slots 61 through a guide rod bore 63 defined in the ratchet block 48 beneath the four parallel bores 58.

The base plate 2 is provided with a series of four notches 64 in which a bottom lip 65 on the sheet supporting wall 53 sits when the size adjusting insert 49 is positioned at each of the four bores 58 to further secure the size adjusting insert 49 in position. In the present embodiment, the size adjusting insert 42 of Figures 1 to 6 is also replaced by a rotatable wheel 66. The rotatable wheel 66 is provided with a plastics or rubber surface 67 to protect articles inserted in the slot/opening 23. The rotatable wheel 66 is axially mounted in the housing 3 on an axle 67.

The stand 1 pivots or articulates about the pivot pin 12 as described in Figures 1 to 6. However, in the present embodiment, the pivot pin spring 24 is mounted on a separate spring pin 68 forwardly of the pivot pin 12. The spring pin 68 is supported between a pair of spring pin mounting holes 69 in the housing 3 while the pivot spring 24 is attached at its other end to a hook 70 on the base plate 2.

In use, the stand 1 of Figures 6 to 11 functions in an analogous manner to the stand 1 of Figures 1 to 5. However, the dimensions of the opening/slot 23 can be adjusted as previously described while the rotatable wheel 66 assists in guiding articles into the stand .

In alternative embodiments of the invention, the size adjusting inserts 42,43 and 49 and the rotatable wheel 66 can be replaced by mechanical, size adjusting means such as pivotable joints, ball and socket means and the like.

The stand of the invention can be formed from any suitable material or combinations of materials such as steel, hardened steel and the like. For example, those components of the stand 1 prone to wear and tear such as the ratchet teeth 17,18,50 Moreover, if desired, the ratchet block 48 and other components can be

manufactured as replaceable components if desired. The base plate 2 of the stand 1 can also be fitted with pads and the like to prevent damage to floor surfaces if desired.

Claims

1. A stand for sheet or plank-like articles comprising

a base;

pedal operated control means for controlling movement of the article engageable means between the first and second positions.

2. A stand as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the at least one article engageable means comprises a lifting platform insertable beneath an article in the first article engaging position and raiseable from the base in the second article holding position to lift the article.

3. A stand as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the at least one article engageable means comprises gripping means for gripping an article, the gripping means being adapted to receive the article in the first article engageable position and to grip the article in the second article holding position.

4. A stand as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the at least one article engageable means further comprises wedge means for wedging the stand against an article to secure the article.

5. A stand as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the wedge means comprises a forwardly projecting lead plate on the base.

6. A stand as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the stand comprises a housing mounted on the base, the at least one article engageable means being formed on the housing and the housing being pivotably mounted on the base to pivot between the first article engageable position and the second article holding position.

7. A stand as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the lifting platform is mounted at a front end of the pivotable housing and the article gripping means comprises an article receiving opening defined by the housing and the base, the lifting platform being raisable from the first article engageable position to the article holding position and the article gripping means being moveable from the first article engaging position to the article holding position in response to actuation of the pedal.

8. A stand as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the article gripping means comprises means for adjusting the article receiving opening.

9. A stand as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the means for adjusting the article receiving opening comprises a size adjusting mechanism.

10. A stand as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the size adjusting mechanism

comprises at least one insert mounted on the stand at the article receiving opening.

11. A stand as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the insert comprises a removable size-adjusting insert.

12. A stand as claimed in Claim 0 or Claim 1 wherein the insert comprises an adjustable insert.

13. A stand as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the adjustable insert comprises a slidable insert moveable between a first position and a second position to adjust the size of the article receiving opening.

14. A stand as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the pedal operated control means comprises a foot-releasable pawl and ratchet mechanism.

15. A stand as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the pawl is mounted on the housing and the ratchet is mounted on the base.

16. A stand as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15 wherein the pawl is adapted to secure the housing in the second holding position so that operations can be performed on an article.

17. A stand as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the ratchet comprises a pair of oppositely disposed fingers upstanding from the base.

18. A stand as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the ratchet comprises a ratchet block upstanding from the base.

19. A stand as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18 wherein the stand comprises a door stand.