[미국특허]
Geomatic support having hinged legs with hinge lock
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16M-011/38
F16M-011/20
출원번호
US-0418553
(2003-04-18)
발명자
/ 주소
Crain,Stephen B.
Moore,Christopher T.
Mize,Ralph C.
Williamson,Jerry L.
Essex,Larry W.
출원인 / 주소
Crain Enterprises, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Senniger Powers
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
74
초록▼
A support capable of supporting geomatic equipment has hinged legs which allow the legs to pivot about a horizontal axis to selected positions. A hinge lock associated with each of the legs allows the leg to be locked in the selected angular position. Locking of the legs in this manner facilitates s
A support capable of supporting geomatic equipment has hinged legs which allow the legs to pivot about a horizontal axis to selected positions. A hinge lock associated with each of the legs allows the leg to be locked in the selected angular position. Locking of the legs in this manner facilitates stability of the support. The locks are readily engaged and disengaged and can be used to hold the legs in a stowed position.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A support for use in supporting geomatic equipment, said support comprising a head, at least one leg for use in supporting the head above the ground, a hinge adapted to connect the leg to the head for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the head in directio
What is claimed is: 1. A support for use in supporting geomatic equipment, said support comprising a head, at least one leg for use in supporting the head above the ground, a hinge adapted to connect the leg to the head for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the head in directions outwardly from the head and inwardly toward the head, and a hinge lock adapted to lock the leg in a fixed position of pivoting relative to the head, said hinge lock including first detents associated with the head and second detents associated with the leg, said first and second detents being arranged in axially opposed relation to each other with respect to the pivot axis of the leg, the hinge lock further including at least one ramp and at least one tab adapted to slide along said ramp for selectively moving the first and second detents generally parallel to the pivot axis of the leg into and out of engagement with each other. 2. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hinge lock includes an actuator mounted on the head for rotation generally about the pivot axis of the leg, the actuator being rotatable between a locked position in which the first and second detente are held in locking engagement with each other, and an unlocked position in which the leg is free to pivot with respect to the head. 3. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein the actuator rotates no more than about 90째 between said locked and unlocked positions. 4. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein the hinge comprises a hinge pin attached to the head and a sleeve attached to the leg through which the hinge pin is received, the head including a first wall and a second wall, the sleeve being disposed between the first and second walls, the actuator being rotatably mounted on an end of the hinge pin and engageable with the second wall for changing the distance between the first and second walls upon rotation of the actuator. 5. A support as set forth in claim 2 wherein the head comprises a first wall and a second wall, at least one of the actuator and second wall including said ramp and the other of the actuator and second wall including said tab slidable along the ramp for moving the second wall relative to the first wall as the actuator is rotated. 6. A support as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first and second detents are arranged generally around the pivot axis of the leg. 7. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first detents include a first set of spaced apart ridges on at least one of the first and second walls of the head, and wherein the second detents include a first set of spaced apart ridges on the sleeve facing the first set of ridges on said one wall, the facing sets of ridges being intermeshed to lock the leg against pivoting relative to the head in the locked position of the actuator. 8. A support as set forth in claim 1 comprising at least two legs for use in supporting the head above the ground, each leg including a hinge adapted to connect the leg to the head for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the head in directions outwardly from the head and inwardly toward the head and a hinge lock adapted to lock the leg in a fixed position of pivoting relative to the head. 9. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leg further comprises a foot on a free end thereof, the foot being shaped to penetrate ground on which the support is resting to facilitate securement of the support, and each foot having a tip, the tip being disposed inwardly of the free end of the leg so that the tip is adapted for positioning generally under the leg upon penetration of the foot into the ground such that the foot resists withdrawal from the ground by a vertically upwardly directed force on the foot. 10. A support as set forth in claim 9 wherein the foot comprises a generally tapering ground penetration portion including the tip, said ground penetration portion being located inwardly of the leg. 11. A support as set forth in claim 10 wherein said ground penetration portion has barbs formed thereon adapted to resist withdrawal of the foot from the ground upon penetration of the ground. 12. A support as set forth in claim 11 wherein the barbs are arranged in generally parallel, spaced apart rows. 13. A support as set forth in claim 12 wherein said ground penetration portion comprises a first wall and a second wall intersecting the first wall at generally right angles therewith whereby the ground penetration portion is generally "T" shaped in cross section. 14. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leg comprises first and second sections, the first and second sections being telescopingly interconnected for extension and retraction of the first section relative to the second section to selectively lengthen or shorten the leg, the first and second sections being fixed relative to one another against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the leg whereby the foot is held in a fixed rotational position. 15. A support as set forth in claim 14 wherein the leg comprises a releasable locking device for locking the first and second sections of the leg in a selected position of extension. 16. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the head is adapted for releasable connection to a geomatic pole. 17. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hinge lock is adapted to lock the leg in a stowed position. 18. A support for use in supporting geomatic equipment, said support comprising a head, at least one leg for use in supporting the head above the ground, a hinge adapted to connect the leg to the head for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the head in directions outwardly from the head and inwardly toward the head, and a hinge lock adapted to lock the leg in a fixed position of pivoting relative to the head, the head comprises a first wall, a second wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the walls being connected together to form a box structure in which the hinge is received, the top and bottom walls having channels formed therein, edge portions of the first and second walls being received in the channels of the top and bottom walls, the channels permitting movement of the second wall transversely of the channel. 19. A geomatic pole comprising a support system attached to the pole for maintaining the pole in an upright position, the support system comprising at least one leg including a foot engageable with the ground for supporting the pole, a hinge connecting the leg to the pole for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the pole in directions outwardly from the pole and inwardly toward the pole, and wherein the pole further comprises a leg holder mounted on the pole above a lower end of the pole, the leg holder being sized and shaped to receive the foot of the leg to retain the foot in the holder when the leg is pivoted inward toward the pole, the leg holder comprising a ring mounted on the pole and extending laterally outwardly from the pole. 20. A geomatic pole as set forth in claim 19 wherein the support system comprises multiple legs, the leg holder being size and shaped to simultaneously receive and retain free ends of all of the legs. 21. A geomatic pole as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of the legs includes a foot shaped for penetrating a surface on which the pole is to be supported in an upright position, the leg holder being sized and shaped to receive distal ends of the feet. 22. A geomatic pole comprising a support system attached to the pole for maintaining the pole in an upright position, the support system comprising at least one leg including a foot engageable with the ground for supporting the pole, a hinge connecting the leg to the pole for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the pole in directions outwardly from the pole and inwardly toward the pole, and wherein the pole further comprises a leg holder mounted on the pole above a lower end of the pole, the leg holder being sized and shaped to receive the foot of the leg to retain the foot in the holder when the leg is pivoted inward toward the pole, the leg being extensible and retractable in length, the leg holder being constructed and arranged so that the foot is received therein by first retracting the leg so that the foot is located above the leg holder and then extension of the leg so that the foot moves into the leg holder. 23. A support for use in supporting geomatic equipment, said support comprising a head, at least one leg for use in supporting the head above the ground, a hinge adapted to connect the leg to the head for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the head in directions outwardly from the head and inwardly toward the head, a hinge lock adapted to lock the leg in a fixed position of pivoting relative to the head, and a hinge lock actuator rotatable between a locked position of the hinge lock in which the leg is held in the fixed position, and an unlocked position in which the leg is free to pivot with respect to the head, the actuator being constrained for rotation between a first position corresponding to said locked position and a second position corresponding to said unlocked position, said actuator being movable between said first position and said second position by rotating the actuator less than 180째, the hinge comprising a hinge pin attached to the head and a sleeve attached to the leg through which the hinge pin is received, the head including a first wall and a second wall, the sleeve being disposed between the first and second walls, the actuator being rotatably mounted on an end of the hinge pin and engageable with the second wall for changing the distance between the first and second walls upon rotation of the actuator. 24. A support as set forth in claim 23 wherein the actuator rotates no more than about 90째 between said first position and said second position. 25. A support as set forth in claim 23 wherein at least one of the actuator and second wall has a ramp engaging the other of the actuator and second wall for moving the second wall relative to the first wall as the actuator is rotated. 26. A support for use in supporting geomatic equipment, said support comprising a head, at least one leg for use in supporting the head above the ground, a hinge adapted to connect the leg to the head for pivoting movement of the leg about an axis relative to the head in directions outwardly from the head and inwardly toward the head, and a hinge lock adapted to lock the leg in a fixed position of pivoting relative to the head, the head comprising a first wall, a second wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the walls being connected together to form a box structure in which the hinge is received, said first and second walls being moveable with respect to the top and bottom walls.
Pletscher Oskar (Marthalen CHX), Apparatus for the releasable force-locking of two telescopic tubes, especially for clamping the steering housing tube in.
Shanks Darrell V. (1806 S. Fairlawn Evansville IN 47714) Shanks Sandra S. (1806 S. Fairlawn Evansville IN 47714), Combination golf and miscellaneous carrying device.
Browning James S. (19004 Groverdale Covina CA 91722) Pfeiler Peter F. (2241 Ardsheal Dr. La Habra Hts. CA 90631) Lowery Vernon (1731 E. Vermont Anaheim CA 92805), Surveying instrument.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.