초록 ▼

A symmetrical, balanced receptacle for storing, displaying or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals is suspended from a double-axis gimbal mounted on a framework. The receptacle is attached to the gimbal by adjustable bearings and a locking mechanism holds the receptacle in variou

A symmetrical, balanced receptacle for storing, displaying or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals is suspended from a double-axis gimbal mounted on a framework. The receptacle is attached to the gimbal by adjustable bearings and a locking mechanism holds the receptacle in various positions, tilted forward or back, and swiveled to one side or the other. When the receptacle is unlocked, gravity holds it level, which is especially useful when the device is used to hold or transport cargo on sloping ground, turbulent water or shifting air currents. The framework may be stationary or attached to a wheeled vehicle, water craft, aircraft or other means of transport.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A receptacle for holding or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals, comprised of a self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle suspended from a double-axis gimbal that is attached to a supporting framework, with a locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in v

1. A receptacle for holding or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals, comprised of a self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle suspended from a double-axis gimbal that is attached to a supporting framework, with a locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in various positions, or unlocked, so that gravity will level the receptacle; a front and a rear of the receptacle having fittings to attach to a curved, notched receptacle plate which is placed beneath the receptacle and is part of the locking mechanism; the receptacle plate having a convex curvature which matches an arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings forward and back on the gimbal and an edge having notches cut at radiating angles, at regular, closely spaced intervals; the receptacle plate being secured to a front and rear of the double-axis gimbal by two threaded bearings which are adjustable to regulate a swinging inertia of the receptacle; the gimbal being secured to the supporting framework by two threaded bearings which are adjustable to regulate the swinging inertia of the gimbal, the adjustable bearings being placed on raised arms located at the front, back and at each side of the gimbal; and the receptacle further including a curved frame plate having a concave curvature which matches the arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings from side to side on the gimbal and an edge of the frame plate having notches cut at radiating angles, at regular, closely spaced intervals. 2. The self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 1 wherein the frame plate is positioned beneath the receptacle plate so it intersects the receptacle plate at 90 degrees, and said frame plate is suspended from sides of the supporting framework by levers attached at each end of the plate. 3. The self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 2 wherein the levers attached to the frame plate are parallel to the receptacle plate and tangent to a center bottom point of the receptacle plate. 4. The self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 3 wherein an end of one of the levers from the frame plate is attached to a bearing on one side of the framework, while the lever on another side of the frame plate connects to another side of the framework with a bearing, then extends past that bearing and has a weighted handle at its terminus which acts as a counterweight to the frame plate. 5. The self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 4 wherein gravity pulls the weighted handle on the end of the lever downward, lifting the attached frame plate so it interlocks with the receptacle plate. 6. The self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 5 wherein the weighted handle of the lever is lifted to unlock the receptacle and frame plates; allowing the receptacle to swing freely. 7. The self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 6 wherein the weighted handle of the lever is operably attached to a remote trigger which controls the lever. 8. The self leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 7 wherein the device is used on a stationary base. 9. The self leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 7 wherein the device is used on a wheeled vehicle. 10. The self leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 7 wherein the device is used on a boat or other water craft. 11. The self leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 7 wherein the device is used on an aircraft. 12. The self leveling, balanced, independent receptacle of claim 7 wherein the device is used on a sled, skis, or other form of ground transport without wheels. 13. A receptacle for holding or transporting goods, materials, people, plants or animals, comprised of a self-leveling, balanced, independent receptacle suspended from a double-axis gimbal that is attached to a supporting framework and wherein the axes of the double axis gimbal extend transversely to one another, with a locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in various positions, or unlocked, so gravity will level the receptacle; said locking mechanism further including a receptacle plate having a convex curvature which matches an arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings forward and back on one axis of the gimbal, an edge of the receptacle plate having notches cut at radiating angles at regular, closely spaced intervals; the locking mechanism further including a curved frame plate having a concave curvature which matches the arc defined by the movement of the receptacle as it swings from side to side on the other axis of the gimbal, an edge of the frame plate having notches cut at radiating angles, at regular, closely spaced intervals, a selected notch of the receptacle plate being interlocked with a selected notch of the frame plate to hold the receptacle in a selected position. 14. An apparatus for supporting a receptacle such that the receptacle is self-leveling and selectively lockable in one of a plurality of angular orientations, said apparatus comprising: a supportive framework;a double axis gimbal attached to said supportive framework for pivoting about a first pivot axis;said gimbal for holding the receptacle such that said receptacle is pivotable relative to said gimbal about a second pivot axis that is transverse to said first pivot axis; anda locking mechanism which allows the receptacle to be held in various positions, or unlocked, so that gravity will level the receptacle, said locking mechanism including a curved receptacle plate for attaching to the receptacle and having a convex curvature which matches an arc defined by the movement of said gimbal as it pivots about said first pivot axis and a curved frame plate attached to said supportive framework and having a concave curvature which matches the are defined by the movement of the receptacle as it pivots about said second pivot axis, said frame plate being selectively extended to engage and lock with said receptacle plate and retracted to disengage and unlock from said receptacle plate. 15. The receptacle of claim 13 in which the transverse axes extend perpendicularly to one another. 16. The receptacle of claim 14 in which the first and second axes extend perpendicularly to one another.