WO2019069106A1

WO2019069106A1 - Universal supporting structure

Info

Publication number: WO2019069106A1
Application number: PCT/HU2017/000052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sándor Molnár; Sándomé MOLNÁR
Original assignee: Molnar Sandor; Molnar Sandome
Priority date: 2017-10-03
Filing date: 2017-11-24
Publication date: 2019-04-11
Also published as: HU5043U

Abstract

The object of the present invention is an universal supporting structure. It has footing (1) and cross pieces (2) connected by hinge clamps (6). The structure allows free vertical movement. At least three footing (1) units are needed with complementary number of cross pieces (2). The structure enables the elevated placement of objects regardless of their diameter with connectable roll unit (5). It's material can be wood, metal, plastic or other composite materials. Roll units (5) placed in roll unit placeholder bores (7) at the surface of the footing (1) that touches the ground.

Description

Universal supporting structure

The utility model is a universal supporting structure that enables the elevated placement of objects regardless of their diameter. Apart from allowing elevated placement of fixed objects, the structure has rolls attached to its bottom side to enable the transport of objects without having to lift them.

Products on the market and among patented inventions are typically supporting structures that can be used for fixing cylindrical or near-cylindrical geometric shapes, or are restricted to a single size of a structure and are not adjustable standing storages. An example is the invention titled STAND WITH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING A ROD TO BE ARRANGED VERTICALLY, registered under No. DE3524588, which is specifically for supporting Christmas trees and other woody plants. The structure is rather simple, according to the description, wing nuts are used to assemble the construction and to anchor the stand. A similar but much more robust structure is the description titled CHRISTBAUMSTAENDER registered under No. DE517609, where the purpose is the same as in the previous case.

Our goal was to create a secure but simple stand that does not require elaborate adjustments, can be used for objects of various diameters, and can be easily moved on its rolling units and then locked again. It does not require reconstruction for holding smaller, common objects, however, the structure is suitable for storing unusual, larger objects as well, where separate supplementary mounts can be added to the structure. These can be positioned into the placeholders on the opposite side and will also be fixed by the weight of the supported structures, thereby no extra fixtures or binding is required.

The structure described in detail below is fully suitable for fulfilling these goals, as it can secure the objects placed inside it with adequate stability even without manual adjustments, makes it easier to transport those objects, and also offers supplementary parts for objects with extraordinary diameters that are not attached to the structure as a default, and are only applied when needed.

Our solution comes from recognizing that it is more convenient and sometimes more appealing to place certain objects in our surroundings on an elevated placeholder - the structure may serve as an ornament when created accordingly, and can hold flower pots or objects for decoration. The stability of the structure is ensured by the weight placed on its central supporting unit, which, due to its construction, locks the structure onto the object placed inside it, and creates a fixed anchoring with the footing that has at least three supporting points. A further advantage of the recommended utility model is that it ensures safe support for object placed inside it regardless of its diameter, as its supporting legs will fold over the sides of the object placed inside without any specific adjustments, and will fasten it with spikes or rubber fixtures, depending on its material. Furthermore, the structure is designed to increase the clamping force in its lateral grips proportionally to the weight placed on the central hinge of the cross pieces, creating even more stability. The recommended utility model has at least three supporting points, with fastening hinges connecting the supporting structure to the footing. The surface that holds the weight of the objects placed unto it is preferably created as a round shelf, but in case a sturdier support is needed, the supporting surface can also be created by leaving out the shelf unit and placing massive cross pieces with hinges adjusted to the number of legs. On the surface of the clamping units of the universal supporting structure that comes into contact with the object placed in it, easily removable clamping spikes may be placed, or soft rubber grips for flower pots and other fragile objects, which can be used interchangeably as preferred. The side of the footing that meets the ground can preferably have rolls that may be locked, therefore heavy objects placed on the stand will not require to be lifted by hand.

The recommended utility model can be adjusted to larger diameters, when supplementary units are placed into the placeholders on the upper side of the footing to support objects whose diameter is larger than that of the base unit. This creates another surface on top of the original stand that can be used as a shelf.

Consequently, our structure can have a variety of useful applications, and is suitable not only for the functions of its regular use, but also for safely supporting objects that so far have been considered oversized by its novel diameter-increasing adjustment. As seen, our goal has been to offer a solution that can be used for as many purposes as possible.

The fundamentals of our solution therefore is that in a simple structure with preferably small-sized adjustment units, using hinge movement, the foots of the structure automatically close upon the objects placed in the structure. Removing the object does not require any specific procedure: simply remove the object and replace it with a smaller or larger diameter object. Furthremore, it is suitable for holding various rods, pipes or round objects, and we wish to stress that it is perfectly suitable for holding trees for various purposes, the stability of which is increased by the installable gripping spikes. Due to the simple structure there is no need to chip the tree or for time-consuming winding with screws; instead, the trunk can be fastened with a single move with the supporting rods in the structure. Subsequent transportation is also not a problem with the lockable rolls on the bottom, with which the structure can be moved easily at will.

In its preferable construction it can be made from any material that is solid enough, for example wood, metal, plastic, and other composite materials. It can be implemented with bolted joints that can be screwed manually, or preferably in a more economical implementation, using slots and pin-joints that result in less separate parts.

Hereunder, we describe the elements of the structure of the utility model by using schematic diagrams.

Diagram 1 : Footing

Diagram 2: Shelf unit with hinge connections

Diagram 1 displays one of the foot structure making up the footing 1, of which at least three is necessary to assemble the either implementation of the structure. Diagram 1 also displays on of the roll units 5 on the underside of the architecture and the roll unit placeholder bolt 7, where the roll units 5 are preferably equipped with a fastening to increase stability. This enables moving large and heavy objects. The footing 1, the cross piece 2, and the shelf unit 8 are connected with a hinge joint 6 in the depicted installation. Instead of hinge joints 6, the structure may be assembled by using slots with pin-joints to guide installation and assembly. Another solution is a manually rotatable bolted joint providing a hinge-like movement. In another preferable construct, to ensure safe support for the objects placed inside the assembled structure, the end of the footing 1 that is farther from the ground, meaning the top end, can have manually removable and replaceable spike gripping jaws or flexible rubber brackets 3, depending on the material of the object placed inside, to prevent displacement. If required, objects that exceed the capability of the independent structure implementation, where each of the footing units 1 will take up a near- vertical position at maximum diameter, large supplementary support units 4 can be placed in the placeholders near the top end of each of the foots 1, where standard connection will cause the top sections of all footing structures 1 to close until they touch. Diagram 2 displays a schematic drawing of a the hinged shelf unit 8 that enables vertical movement, connecting the footing units 8 preferably by hinged clamps 6. This is suitable for storing lighter objects, while for larger load-bearing, a similarly hinged cross piece 2 is installed as described above, but without the hinged shelf unit 8. The implementation of the cross piece 2 also serves as a support for the weight of the object placed in the structure, where the gravitational force causes the closing and thereby fastening of the footing 1. The supplementary support 4 displayed in Diagram 3 is not a standard and indispensable part of the structure, its placeholders can be covered with plugs when not for bigger carrying capacity.

The recommended utility model is therefore a holding structure that can be used in a wide spectrum of diameters to provide simple support for objects placed above the ground. Proportional or disproportional increases and decreases in the size of the structure equally create a usable surface to hold practically an endless variety of applicable objects. The holding structure has at least three legs, but their number can be increased as preferred, proportionally increasing the holding capacity and stability. Moreover, depending on the weight of the object placed unto it, users can switch between the hinged shelf unit 8 and the two cross pieces that provide a larger carrying capacity as a surface. For easier transport, lockable rolling units can be attached to the bottom of the footing 1. The various supplementary options include soft rubber gripping jaws to enable even more stability in fixing an object, or a cruder solution for less fragile objects to be held by spikes in the gripping jaws 3. To increase the applicable diameter, supplementary holding units 4 can be attached to the footing 1.

List of reference signs - Footing

- Cross piece

- Gripping jaw

- Supplementary support

- Roll unit

- Hinged clamps

- Roll unit placeholder bore

- Hinged shelf unit

Claims

1. Universal supporting structure whose footing (1) and cross pieces (2) are connected by hinged clamps (6) to allow for free vertical movement, characterized by at least three footing units (1) with a complementary number of cross pieces (2); hinged clamps are applied to the midsection of the footing (1), connected to cross pieces (2), to which a gripping jaw unit (3) may also be connected, as well as a roll unit (5) and supplementary support (4) as footing (1) for objects with large diameters, as well as a hinged shelf unit (8) with cross pieces (2).

2. The structure specified in Claim 1, characterized by at least three footings (1) placed at identical angles to assemble the structure, but where the number of footings (1) can be increased according to need, and connected centrally at their midsection to allow vertical movement, preferably by applying hinged clamps (6) or bolt connections, or bolts that are placed in a slot port.

3. A footing structure (1) described in Claims 1 and 2, characterized by roll units (5) placed in roll unit placeholder bores (7) at the surface of the footing that touches the ground.

4. Universal supporting structure specified in Claim 1, characterized by gripping jaws (3) affixed at the top of the footing (1), at the midsection of the structure, with spikes or soft rubber grip shapes that can be replaced manually.

5. Universal supporting structure specified in Claim 1, characterized by a replaceable holding surface to support the weight of the object placed unto it: for smaller weights, the round shelf unit (8) is used, and for a need of larger carrying capacity, cross pieces (2) are applied that are adjusted to the footings (2) and fastened with hinged clamps (6), moreover, to increase the diameter, supplementary support units (4) can be placed into the placeholders on the upper end of the footing (1).

6. Universal supporting structure specified in Claim 1 and its supplementary elements, characterized by a base material that can be any material with ample rigidity, for example wood, metal, plastic or other composite materials.