Multi-axes adjustable support

Abstract

An adjustable support device for a utility device such as an umbrella, camera, light fixture or the like. The support device comprises a telescopic extension having a telescopic housing, an extension tube slidably received in the telescopic housing which can be extended or retracted relative to said telescopic housing an end clevis on the proximal end of the telescopic extension, and a hinge for tilting a utility device provided on the distal end of the extension tube. A sliding bracket is slidably coupled to the telescopic extension and the sliding bracket also has a clevis. The end clevis is rotatably attached to an upper hinge device of a swivel device which also has a lower hinge device. The lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to a proximal end of a lift arm. The distal end of the lift arm is rotatably coupled to the clevis of the sliding bracket.

Description

This is a continuation-in-part of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/551,760, filed Mar. 9, 2004. The contents of the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Priority to the aforementioned application is hereby expressly claimed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120 and 365 and any other applicable statutes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention generally relates to supports and stands for a utility device such as an umbrella, camera or the like, and more particularly to a support which is adjustable on multiple axes and throughout a wide range of adjustments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different supports and stands for devices such as umbrellas, cameras, light fixtures and the like are known. For example, a common tripod is one such stand or a base and pole used to support a lamp is another. A typical camera tripod usually allows adjustment to raise or lower the camera platform and the platform is also usually rotatable about the vertical axis of the tripod. A simple lamp pole may allow a light fixture to be lowered or raised.

More sophisticated supports have been devised for the support of patio umbrellas. For example, some known umbrella stands allow the umbrella to be raised and lowered by a telescoping pole, tilted relative to the pole and rotated about the axis of the pole. However, supports of this type do not allow for a wide range of adjustment. For instance, the umbrella cannot be tilted a full 90° in both directions such that the umbrella is completely sideways. In addition, the support does not allow the umbrella to be adjusted radially toward or away from the axis of the pole. Also, the pole cannot be rotated laterally to adjust the position of the umbrella, for example, where the pole is not vertical but is position at an angle. Such adjustments may be desirable rather than having to move the entire support, including its base, to adjust the location of the umbrella. This type of support is also designed to be held in a base which sits on the ground. There is no arrangement for removably attaching this support to a wall or other supporting structure.

Therefore, there is a need for a support with improved adjustability, which is sturdy and easily adjustable, and can be mounted to a variety of supporting structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The support device of the present invention comprises six main sub-assemblies, namely, (i) a tiltable, telescopic extension having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a utility device, (ii) a slidable, lockable support bracket having a clevis, (iii) first and second hinge devices each having a clevis, (iv) a swivel assembly, and (v) a lift arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the tiltable, telescopic extension has an end clevis which is rotatably coupled to the clevis of the first hinge device such that the extension may be rotated in a substantially vertical plane about the clevis. The telescopic extension has a lockable hinge which allows a distal portion of the extension to be tilted relative to the rest of the extension.

The slidable, lockable support bracket is coupled to the telescopic extension such that it can slide proximally and distally along the axis of the extension. The support bracket may be disposed about the perimeter of the extension or it may be disposed inside of the extension. The support bracket has a locking mechanism so that it can be locked in place relative to the telescopic extension. The clevis of the support bracket is rotatably coupled to the distal end of the lift arm.

The first and second hinge devices are rotatably coupled to the swivel assembly such that the first and second hinge devices may be rotated about a vertical axis. The clevis of the second hinge device is rotatably coupled to a proximal end of the lift arm. The swivel assembly and hinge devices allow the telescopic extension and utility device to be rotated about a vertical axis at least 170°.

In another aspect of the present invention, a mounting fixture bracket may be provided. The mounting fixture bracket may be removably coupled to the swivel assembly. The mounting fixture bracket has a pattern of holes or other means for attaching the mounting fixture bracket to a wall, pole or other mounting fixture.

In an alternative aspect, the swivel assembly may include a pole which can be inserted into a base or other fixture for supporting support device with utility device.

The use of the support device is straightforward. For example, the telescopic extension may be extended or retracted to adjust the height and/or location of the utility device. In addition, the elevation of the telescopic extension can be adjusted by releasing the locking mechanism of the support bracket and the telecopic extension can be raised or lowered by rotating the extension about the end clevis. The telescopic extension can also be rotated laterally about the vertical axis of the swivel device, thereby adjusting the location of the utility device. Finally, the utility device can also be tilted about the lockable hinge to tilt the distal portion of the extension relative to the rest of the extension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side view of a support device with an umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the support device with an umbrella of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view a portion of the support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a bracket utilized as the sliding bracket with clevis and hinged brackets with clevis of the support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a swivel device assembly of the support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a mounting fixture bracket of the support device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the support device of FIG. 1 in use with the freestanding support pole.

FIG. 8 is another side perspective view of the support device of FIG. 1 in use with the freestanding support pole.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the support device of FIG. 1 in some various possible positions.

FIG. 10 is a partial view of an alternative embodiment of the support device of FIG. 1 in which the utility device is a platform.

FIG. 11 is a side view of another embodiment of support device with an umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the support device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a mounting fixture for the support device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the support device of FIG. 11 with a trailer hitch mounting fixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIG. 1, a support device 10 according to the present invention is shown. The support device 10 is shown with a utility device 12 which is shown as an umbrella, but it is understood that the utility device 12 could be a light fixture, light reflector for a camera flash, a camera platform or other useful device. For example, as shown in the partial view of FIG. 10, the utility device 12 is shown as a platform.

As better shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the support device 10 comprises six main sub sub-assemblies, including, (i) a tiltable, telescopic extension 15 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16, the distal end 16 having the utility device 12 attached thereto, (ii) a sliding bracket 20 having a clevis 22, (iii) a first hinge device 24 having a clevis 26 and a second hinge device 28 having a clevis 30, (iv) a swivel assembly 32, (v) a mounting fixture bracket 35, and (vi) a lift arm 34 having a proximal end 36 and a distal end 38.

The telescopic extension 15 comprises a telescopic housing 40 which is preferably tube shaped. An extension tube 42 is slidably received in the distal end of the telescopic housing 40. The extension tube 42 may be slid axially relative to the telescopic housing 40 to extend or retract the telescopic extension 15. A locking device 43 is provided on the extension tube 42 which locks the extension tube 42 in place relative to the telescopic housing 40. The locking device 43 may comprise a spring-loaded retractable pin which extends to lock into on of a plurality of holes spaced axially along the telescopic housing 40. To unlock the extension tube 42, the pin is simply pushed in. One side of a lockable hinge 44 is attached to the distal end of the extension tube 42. The other side of the lockable hinge 44 is attached to a second extension tube 46 of the utility device 12.

The lockable hinge 44 preferably has at least seven positions which are lockable by a ratcheting mechanism, or other suitable retaining means, in the lockable hinge 44. The seven positions, measured clockwise with 0° being the position with the extension tube 42 and second extension tube 46 being aligned, are 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, −30°, −60° and −90°. Of course, more or less positions can be utilized if desired.

A telescopic lock 48 is provided on the telescopic housing 40 for locking the extension tube 42 in axially in place. An end clevis 50 is attached to the proximal end of the telescopic extension 40.

The sliding bracket 20 with clevis 26 is slidably coupled to the telescopic housing 40. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the sliding bracket 20 comprises a bracket housing 52, a clevis bolt 54 inserted through holes in the bracket housing and a locking device 56. The locking device 56 may comprise a cam surface which tightens or loosens the bracket housing 52 when the locking device 56 is actuated to lock or unlock the bracket 20 in place relative to the telescopic housing 40. Alternatively, the locking device 56 could be a knurled knob which can be rotated to tighten or loosen the bracket housing 52 (see for example FIG. 11, element 57). The clevis 26 is rotatably coupled to the distal end 38 of the lift arm 34 by inserting the clevis bolt 54 through the distal hole of the lift arm 34.

The first hinge device 24 with clevis 26 and second hinge device 28 with clevis 30 are identical in structure to the sliding bracket 20 described above.

Turning to FIGS. 3 and 5, the swivel device 32 comprises a backing plate 60 to which two swivel device supports 62 and 64 are attached. Each swivel device support 62 and 64 includes a pair of swivel brackets 66 and a swivel tube 68. The swivel tubes 68 are locked in place by locking screws 70 or other means.

The first hinge device 24 is coupled to the swivel device 62 by slipping the hinge device 24 over the swivel tube 68 of the upper swivel device support 62. The second hinge device 28 is coupled to the lower swivel device 64 by slipping the hinge device 24 over the swivel tube 68. The hinge devices 24 and 28 can be rotated about the respective swivel tubes 68 when the locking devices 56 are loosened. And the hinge devices 24 and 28 can be locked to prevent rotation by tightening the locking devices 56.

The end clevis 50 of the telescopic housing 40 is rotatably coupled to the first hinge device 24 by inserting the clevis bolt 54 through the end clevis 50. This attaches the telescopic extension 15 to the hinge device 24 and thereby also to the swivel device 32, such that the extension 15 may be rotated in a substantially vertical plane about the clevis 26.

The proximal end 36 of the lift arm 34 is rotatably coupled to the second hinge device 28 by inserting the clevis bolt 54 through the proximal hole of the lift arm 34. The lift arm 34 and sliding bracket 20 act as a strut to support the telescopic extension 15 and to lock it in the desired position.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the mounting fixture bracket 35 comprises a mounting plate 72, a top support bracket 74 and a bottom support bracket 76. The top support bracket 74 and bottom support bracket 76 are attached to the mounting plate 72 by any suitable means. The bottom support bracket 76 and mounting plate 72 form a slot for receiving the bottom portion of the backing plate 60 of the swivel device 32. Similarly, the top support bracket 74 and mounting plate 72 form a slot for receiving the top portion of the backing plate 60 of the swivel device 32. The bracket 35 also has a locking mechanism 78 for releasably locking the swivel device 32 into the bracket 35.

The use of the support device 10 is fairly straightforward. For example, turning to FIGS. 7-9, various configurations of the support device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting fixture bracket 35 may be attached to a freestanding pole 80. The support device 10 is then easily attached to the bracket 35 by inserting the swivel device 32 into the bracket 35 as shown in FIG. 8.

Turning to FIG. 9, some of the numerous adjustable positions of the support device 10 are shown. For example, by loosening the telescopic lock 48, the extension tube 42 may be extended or retracted to adjust the length of the telescopic extension 15. In order to adjust the elevation of the support device 10, the locking device 56 of the sliding bracket 20 is released and the telescopic extension 15 may be raised or lowered as desired. In addition, by releasing the locking devices 56 of the first hinge device 24 and second hinge device 28, the telescopic extension 15 may be rotated about the vertical axis of the swivel device 32. In fact, the telescopic extension 15 and utility device 12 can be rotated over 170°. Finally, as described above, the utility device 12 can be tilted about the lockable hinge 44 through a range of motion of 180°. By combining all of the potential tilting, rotating, extending and telescoping adjustments, the location of the utility device 12 can be adjusted to any position within a half-sphere of its reach.

Another embodiment of a support device 100 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The support device 100 is very similar to the support device 10 described above except that the swivel device 32 of the support device 10 is replaced by a pole 102 and two swivel supports 104 and 106. Another minor difference is that the brackets 20, 24 and 28 utilize a knurled knob 57 instead of a handle with cam as used in the same brackets described above (see FIG. 4). Accordingly, like reference numerals used in FIGS. 1-11 refer to like elements and the description for such elements provided elsewhere applies equally.

The lower swivel support 104 and upper swivel support 106 comprise a pair of ring supports 108 which are attached to the pole 102. The respective swivel hinges 24 and 28 are thereby retained on the pole 102 between the ring supports 108.

The pole 102 may be attached to an extension pole 110 which can then be inserted into or attached to a freestanding support. Turning to FIG. 12, a mounting fixture 112 may be used to attach the support device 100 to a stand or other fixture. The pole 102 of the support device 100 is simply inserted through the two brackets 114 of the mounting fixture 112 and held in place by a locking device such as the locking pin 116. Alternatively, the brackets 114 may be replaced by a support tube (not shown) which couples to the pole 102.

Turning to FIG. 13, the support device can also be used with a trailer hitch fixture 130. The trailer hitch fixture 130 comprises an extension pole support 132 and a trailer hitch bracket 134. The trailer hitch bracket 134 is configured to attach to a standard trailer hitch.

The operation of the support device 100 is identical to that described above for the support device 10, except that now the support device 100 can be rotated about the vertical axis of the swivel supports 104 and 106 a full 360°.

All of the parts and structure of the support devices of the present invention may be made of any material having suitable strength and rigidity, including metal, plastic, wood or other material. In addition, where parts are attached to each other, they may be attached by any suitable method including welding, adhesive, press fitting or other method.

While the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

1. An adjustable support device comprising:

a telescopic extension having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a utility device, the telescopic extension having a hinge for tilting the utility device, said proximal end having an end clevis;

a sliding bracket slidably coupled to said telescopic extension, said sliding bracket having a clevis;

a swivel device having an upper hinge device and a lower hinge device, said end clevis rotatably coupled to said upper hinge device; and

a lift arm having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said lift arm rotatably coupled to said clevis of said sliding bracket, and said proximal end of said lift arm rotatably coupled to said lower hinge device;

wherein said swivel device is configured to allow said telescopic extension to be rotated about a vertical axis of said swivel device by at least 170°.

2. The support device of claim 1 wherein said sliding bracket has a locking mechanism so that said sliding bracket can be locked in place relative to the telescopic extension.

3. The support device of claim 1 wherein said upper hinge device and said lower hinge device each have a locking device for locking the hinges in place.

4. The support device of claim 1 wherein said swivel device comprises a backing plate and an upper swivel support and a lower swivel support each attached to said backing plate, and said upper hinge device is rotatably coupled to said upper swivel support and said lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to said lower swivel support.

5. The support device of claim 1 wherein said swivel device comprises a pole and an upper swivel support and a lower swivel support each attached to said pole, and said upper hinge device is rotatably coupled to said upper swivel support and said lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to said lower swivel support.

6. The support device of claim 1 wherein said telescopic extension comprises a telescopic housing, an extension tube slidably received in said telescopic housing which can be extended or retracted relative to said telescopic housing and a telescopic lock for locking the extension tube in place relative to said telescopic housing.

7. The support device of claim 6 wherein said swivel device comprises a backing plate and an upper swivel support and a lower swivel support each attached to said backing plate, and said upper hinge device is rotatably coupled to said upper swivel support and said lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to said lower swivel support.

8. The support device of claim 6 wherein said swivel device comprises a pole and an upper swivel support and a lower swivel support each attached to said pole, and said upper hinge device is rotatably coupled to said upper swivel support and said lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to said lower swivel support.

9. The support device of claim 1 wherein said hinge for tilting said utility device has a ratcheting adjustment and can be tilted through a range of adjustments of at least 180°.

10. The support device of claim 7 wherein said hinge for tilting said utility device has a locking device to retain the hinge in a certain position and the hinge can be tilted through a range of adjustments of at least 180°.

11. The support device of claim 8 wherein said hinge for tilting said utility device has a ratcheting adjustment and can be tilted through a range of adjustments of at least 180°.

12. An adjustable support device comprising:

a telescopic extension having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a utility device, said telescopic extension having a telescopic housing, an extension tube slidably received in said telescopic housing which can be extended or retracted relative to said telescopic housing and a telescopic lock for locking the extension tube in place relative to said telescopic housing, the telescopic extension having a hinge for tilting the utility device, said proximal end having an end clevis;

a sliding bracket slidably coupled to said telescopic extension, said sliding bracket having a clevis;

a swivel device having an upper hinge device and a lower hinge device, said end clevis rotatably coupled to said upper hinge device;

a lift arm having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said lift arm rotatably coupled to said clevis of said sliding bracket and said proximal end of said lift arm rotatably coupled to said lower hinge device.

13. The support device of claim 12 wherein said swivel device comprises a backing plate and an upper swivel support and a lower swivel support each attached to said backing plate, and said upper hinge device is rotatably coupled to said upper swivel support and said lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to said lower swivel support.

14. The support device of claim 12 wherein said swivel device comprises a pole and an upper swivel support and a lower swivel support each attached to said pole, and said upper hinge device is rotatably coupled to said upper swivel support and said lower hinge device is rotatably coupled to said lower swivel support.

15. The support device of claim 12 further comprising a mounting fixture having one or more brackets for removably attaching to the swivel device.

16. The support device of claim 12 wherein said hinge for tilting said utility device has a ratcheting adjustment and can be tilted through a range of adjustments of at least 180°.

17. The support device of claim 16 wherein said hinge for tilting said utility device has at least seven ratcheted positions.

18. The support device of claim 12 further comprising a trailer hitch fixture, said trailer hitch fixture having a attachment device for attaching the support device to the trailer hitch fixture and a trailer hitch bracket for attaching the trailer hitch fixture to a standard trailer hitch.

19. The support device of claim 1 wherein said telescopic extention can be rotated about a vertical axis of said swivel device a full 360°.