Slide with positionable chair and a repositioning attachment

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention may include a support assembly adapted to be connected to an object for moving the object along a track, including a sled base having a track defined along at least a portion of its length, and an attachment support for supporting an object having an upper region and a lower region, the upper region may be adapted to be coupled to the object, and wherein the lower region of the attachment support may be moveably coupled to the track such that the attachment support may be slidable along at least a portion of the length of said track. The support assembly may be adjusted by a user to adjust the distance between the object and a solid object either in front of or behind the object. Additionally, the support assembly may also include an automatic repositioning mechanism which may automatically return the object to its original position once the user vacates the object.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/002,485, filed Nov. 9, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to means for moving objects such as a rolling base support for generally larger objects such as, for example, the popular ergonomic type gaming chairs now in use with associated gaming machines in gaming casinos.

In recreation and other facilities and activities such as fishing boats and casinos, the movement of objects and chairs and providing means to make them more comfortable and easier to move, operate or use has received much attention.

In casinos it has become popular to use chairs with the gaming machines to make it more comfortable for patrons so they will not leave due to discomfort. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,641 an Adjustable Gaming Stool Assembly is disclosed in which the gaming stool is mounted on a column with a gas or a resilient member to enable the gaming stool to yield to the weight and movement of the user, and the seat has a mechanical or electro-mechanical sliding assembly to enable the gaming stool to be moved by the user towards and away from the gaming machine.

Moreover, in casinos in numerous states, public and/or fire safety laws require that a chair, usually placed in front of a gaming machine, be secured to the floor, or to the machine itself. These laws severely hinder the possibility of having chairs in the casino that are comfortable and easily maneuverable since it is required that they be secured in place. As a result, chairs in casinos which must abide by these laws are usually less comfortable and less maneuverable, which may adversely affect the business of the casino.

Furthermore, in casinos in states which do not have such public and/or fire safety laws, the chair is not required to be secured, and is thus free standing and easily movable. In this type of situation, the chairs may be moved in any direction and may thus cause the casino floor to appear cluttered and disorganized. A casino would then, likely, have to hire additional employees to maintain a sense of order among the chairs, which in larger casinos can number in the thousands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an objective of the present invention to allow for the attachment of an object, for example a casino chair, to the floor, or other such secure structure, while still allowing a specific amount of movement to provide a level of added comfort and utility to the object. As such, the present invention would satisfy the fire safety laws of numerous states, while still allowing for some limited movement of the object.

In the example of the casino chair or stool, the chair, in many states, must be securely attached to the floor or to a stationary object such as a gaming machine. However, it is also in the casino's interest that the chair be as comfortable as possible. Thus, the present invention satisfies both of these characteristics in that the chair is securely attached to the gaming machine while also allowing for a limited amount of movement. This movement, in one embodiment, allows the chair to slide to and away from the gaming machine, with a default, or start, position at a point, typically, closest to the gaming machine. On the other hand, the default position may also be at a point farthest from the gaming machine. A user may then adjust the chair to and away from the gaming machine to increase the user's level of comfort.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention may include a support assembly adapted to be connected to an object for moving the object along a track, including a sled base having a track defined along at least a portion of its length, and an attachment support for supporting an object having an upper region and a lower region, the upper region may be adapted to be coupled to the object, and wherein the lower region of the attachment support may be moveably coupled to the track such that the attachment support may be slidable along at least a portion of the length of said track.

In a further embodiment, a slide may be attached to the sled base, wherein the track may be a recess within the slide. Within this track, a lower region of the attachment support may contact the track and thus slide within the track. The adjustment mechanism is securely attached to a base support through the upper region.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention may include a support assembly connected to a chair for moving the chair along a track, including a sled base having a track defined along at least a portion of its length, an attachment support for a chair having an upper region and a lower region; and a chair which may be coupled to the upper region of the attachment support, wherein the lower region of the attachment support may be slideably coupled to the track such that the attachment support may be slidable along at least a portion of the length of the track.

In still another embodiment, the present invention may include a support assembly connected to an object for moving the object along a generally linear track, including an attachment support for an object, a sled base to which the attachment support may be moveably supported, an object coupled to the attachment support, and an automatic repositioning mechanism which may be coupled to the object and the sled base such that the automatic repositioning mechanism automatically returns the object to an original position along the sled base when moved therefrom.

In various embodiments, the support assembly for objects as above described may include an automatic repositioning mechanism which, upon the user ceasing contact with the object and attached base support, automatically return the object and attached base support to the original position along the sled base. The automatic repositioning mechanism may be securely mounted on the sled base and may engage the base support, object, chair, or the like. For example, the automatic repositioning mechanism may be a gas spring, as produced by International Gas Springs, Inc., Crest Hill, Ill., which may utilize compressed nitrogen gas to push the object back to its original position along the sled base.

Additionally, the support assembly may, in one embodiment, include an attachment point to which the sled base may be attached to a solid object, such as a gaming machine, wall, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming chair having a base support and a sled base in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the bottom of a portion of the support assembly, namely the sled base and base support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the sled base and base support in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the sled base in accordance with the present invention, with the base support removed to illustrate various components on the sled base.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a chair and base support undergoing unidirectional movement.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the slide and attachment support in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the sled base in accordance with the present invention, with the base support shown as being transparent to illustrate various components on the sled base.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a roller of the present invention.

FIGS. 9a-9b illustrate various embodiments of a bumper of the present invention.

FIGS. 10a-10b are top and front planar view of one embodiment of an adjustment mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a base support attachment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12a-12b illustrate a first embodiment of an attachment point, or locking mechanism, of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a first embodiment of an object attachment of the attachment point, or locking mechanism, of FIGS. 12a-12b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described and shown with respect to gaming chairs for gaming machines in casinos to which it is particularly adapted for use. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that this is only by way of illustration and not intended to so limit the invention. It will be understood that the present invention is applicable to the moving of all sorts, shapes and sizes of objects where the preferred movement is along a single line of directional movement for any given application or purpose.

Thus, referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a freely movable casino gaming chair generally designated 10 which is adapted for use with an associated gaming machine, not shown. The gaming chair illustrated is one type of ergonomic seating to which the present invention is particularly applicable because it enables the user to easily move such comfortable seating and adapts the gaming chair for movement in and along a single directional line of movement. Moreover, the chair, while able to move in the single directional line, also may have an attachment point 80 which may also be secured to a solid object. The solid object may be, for example, a gaming machine, a section of a floor, a table, etc. Attachment point 80 may be any mechanism capable of securing the chair to another object.

Ergonomic type gaming chairs, for example, are relatively large and comfortable chair members having a support 11 which may engage an upper surface 21 of base support 20. Since ergonomic chairs are known and available in the commercial marketplace, the gaming chair 10 will not be described in more detail. The support 11 may, for example, attach to upper surface 21 by any suitable means such as threaded bolts, not shown, as is well known in the art, or may pass through upper surface 21 and attach at a point below the upper surface 21. The attachment of support 11 to base support 20 must be strong since these ergonomic type chairs are of such a large size. Base support 20 is positioned atop a sled base 50 having a first track 55, or recessed channel, defined along at least a portion of its length. On either side of sled base 50, there may be, in most typical casinos and the like, carpeting 85. Generally, the sled base 50 and base support 20, in one embodiment, comprise a support assembly for chair 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, base support 20 may have an upper surface 21 and a lower surface 22. As will be discussed below, lower surface 22 may bear the entire weight of the gaming chair 10, and as such should be made of a suitably strong material, such as steel or other strong metal alloy. The thickness of lower surface 22 may be, in one embodiment, about ½″ to about 1½″. Although the lower surface 22 is shown in the form of a unitary plate, it is also possible to fabricate the lower surface 22 from thinner gauge materials which can be formed or fabricated into a strong box-like support assembly, not shown, when, for example, it is desired to enhance the artistic appearance of the base support 20 and or the gaming chair 10. Further, while the base support 20 is shown as substantially circular, those skilled in the art will recognize that the base member 20 can have any geometric shape, such as a square, hexagon, etc., without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The base support 20 may, in one embodiment, have rollers, illustrated in FIG. 2 as reference numbers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e, on which the base support 20 may be supported. Rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e are attached to the lower surface 22. Rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e may be identical in structure to facilitate fastening of these rollers into assembled position during manufacture and to reduce the cost of manufacture. Alternatively, in an additional embodiment, roller 25c may not be identical to the other rollers. For example, roller 25c may be slightly larger than the other rollers 25a, 25b, 25d and 25e because, when a user pushes the chair 10 in a reverse direction, such that roller 25c is the acting leading roller, the majority of the force on the base support 20 is on the leading edge, and thus roller 25c. As a result, a larger roller for roller 25c may be used to make the motion of pushing chair 10 in a reverse direction more stable and require less exertion by the user. In alternative embodiments, any of the rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e may be different sizes than any of the other rollers, and any roller may differ from the other rollers as being either larger or smaller than the other rollers.

In the illustrated form of the present invention, each of the rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e are affixed to the lower surface 22 of the base support 20 in alignment with each other and in circumferential spaced angular positioning so that the rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e rotate in the same direction to provide for and facilitate the improved unidirectional movement of the relatively larger gaming chairs when in use in the gaming casino or for objects to which the supporting assembly may be affixed for other applications and uses. In a preferred embodiment, the rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e may be arranged such that their rotational axes are parallel to one another.

While the illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes five rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e, the present invention may include more rollers or less rollers depending on the specific application and use of the base support 20. Moreover, rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e may be of various diameters depending upon the floor on which the base support 20 is being used. For example, in FIG. 1, carpet 85 may be of varying density and height. Rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e may be of a diameter such that they allow base support 20 to move freely along the carpet. Thus, for example, if the carpet 85 is of a taller height than a typical carpet, then larger rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e may be attached to base support 20 to ease the movement of the base support 20.

As will be clear from the drawings, one embodiment has the rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e mounted such that each of the rollers may be oriented and aligned in the same direction generally parallel to each other. Thus, with this base support 20, when the user is seated on the gaming chair 10, it can be easily moved to and fro along a unidirectional line of movement towards and away from an associated gaming machine, not shown, and substantially along the longitudinal axis of track 55. Rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e, in one embodiment, may be found in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0082202, filed as U.S. application Ser. No. 11/177,086, Objects Including Gaming Stools with an Easy Rolling Support Base, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

In a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, roller 125 may also be used for rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e. Roller 125 may include, in a preferred embodiment, sloped rolling surfaces 126a and 126b which slope upward towards the middle of roller 125 such that the diameter of roller 125 is larger in the middle of the roller than on the ends. Around the circumference, roller 125 may include, for example, a ridge 127 which may have a larger diameter than either sloping rolling surface 126a and 126b. The function of ridge 127 may be to enable roller 125 to have greater traction with floor 85 to better maintain the unidirectional movement, discussed above, and illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in FIG. 5.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-4, 6 and 7, in which one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated therein, a sled base 50 includes the attachment point 80 which may attach to a solid object.

Sled base 50, in one embodiment, may have a first track 55 and may further have a shape suitable for stability, such as a “gull-wing” shape 51, illustrated particularly in FIG. 4, which may provide additional stability to the support assembly and thus the chair 10. A gull-wing shape may, for example, be an extension protruding from a central body that has a curve or bend in its length which resembles a wing of a bird, such as a sea-gull. In the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the gull-wing shape 51 is a protrusion extending from at least a portion of the length of sled base 50 and which may curve downwards to meet the floor. However, the protrusion may be of any shape so long as sled base 50 remains sufficiently stable to support chair 10 and base support 20. FIG. 4, which removes the base support 20 to illustrate the mechanisms on the sled base 50, and FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrate a slide 60 which may be mounted within a recessed portion of sled base 50, such as first track 55 at sled attachment points 52 (illustrated in FIG. 2). Slide 60 may be attached to base 50 through any known means, but FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 illustrate the use of bolts or screws. Furthermore, slide 60 may be formed as an integral part of sled base 50, such that sled attachment points 52 are unnecessary.

Slide 60, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, in one embodiment, is of a generally rectangular shape and includes a second track 61 and grooves 62 on either side of second track 61. Second track 61 may be present along at least a portion of the length of slide 60, and thus may also be present along at least a portion of the length of sled base 50. Track 61 may, in one embodiment, be in the form of a recess within said slide 60, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. However, in a further embodiment, track 61 may also be directly integral with base 50 itself (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, the second track 61 may be positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis of first track 55, such that they share a common longitudinal axis.

In yet another embodiment, an attachment support 67, illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, may include a lower region 65, or adjustment mechanism 65, which may be positioned within second track 61, or alternatively first track 55, and may have a body having lateral edges adapted to fit within grooves 62, when slide 60 is present. The attachment support 67 may further include an upper region 66, or base support attachment 66, which may be attached to adjustment mechanism 65.

Adjustment mechanism 65 may include slides 63 which fit within grooves 62. Slides 63 may create a better sliding relationship between slide 60 and adjustment mechanism 65. Slides 63 may be formed of delrin, or the like, to form a durable, slidable surface. Grooves 62 may secure adjustment mechanism 65 to slide 60.

Base support attachment 66, which may include bolts, also shown in FIG. 11, may secure base support 20, and thus chair 10, to adjustment mechanisms 65, and thus to sled base 50. Base support attachment 66 may secure to base support 20 by any known means. In FIG. 6, for example, chair 10 is attached through the use of the bolts.

Adjustment mechanism 65 may be any type of mechanism which allows limited movement between sled base 50 and base support 20, such as adjustment mechanism 165 illustrated in FIGS. 10a-10b. For example, in a preferred embodiment, adjustment mechanism 165 may be a sled 165, which may slide along at least a portion of slide 60 within the track 61. Adjustment mechanism 165 may then provide for smooth adjustment of the distance between, for example, the chair 10 and the gaming machine. Adjustment mechanism 165 may be hidden under base support 20.

Additionally, in one embodiment, slide 60 may further include an automatic repositioning mechanism 70 which may engage both slide 60 and base support 20. The automatic repositioning mechanism 70 may include base support attachment 75 which is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7. The automatic repositioning mechanism 70 may be any mechanism that is known such as a gas cylinder, shock system, rubber band or slingshot device, or the like. FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate, for example, that a gas cylinder may be used. In the example of the gas cylinder, one end of the cylinder may engage slide 60. The gas cylinder may also include an extension rod which may be extendable from the interior of the cylinder, as is typical of gas cylinders. The gas cylinder may then hold slide 60 and support base 20 in spaced relation as to each other. Gas cylinder may attach to base support such that when base support is moved away from the gaming machine, the extension rod is pushed into the gas cylinder, thus compressing the gas inside the cylinder. The weight of the user of chair 10 is sufficient to hold base support 20 in this position. Once the user leaves the chair 10, or other object associated with base support 20, the gas cylinder has sufficient strength to push the extension rod from the interior of the cylinder, thus moving base support 20 closer to the gaming machine. Thus, the gas cylinder, or other automatic repositioning mechanism 70, automatically moves base support 20, and thus chair 10, back to its original position after a user leaves the chair 10. The automatic repositioning mechanism may further be designed to ensure that the return of the chair to its original position occurs at a slow, controlled, pace.

Further, slide 60 may include a bumper 64 which may attach to at least one end of the slide 60. Bumper 64 provides a positive stop for sled 65, to prevent sled 65 from stopping suddenly at the end of slide 60. Instead, bumper 64 may reduce the sudden stop of sled 65. Bumper 64 may reduce wear and tear on the gas spring, sled, sled base, etc. Bumper 64 may even further shield the interior of the sled from debris located on the carpet nearby the gaming machine.

FIGS. 9a-9b illustrate further embodiments of bumper 64, 164 and 264. Particularly as to FIG. 9b, bumper 264 may include archway 264a. Archway 264a may be used in conjunction with automatic repositioning mechanism 70 such that at least a portion of automatic repositioning mechanism 70 may pass through archway 264a during operation of the sled 65.

FIGS. 12a-13 illustrate one embodiment of attachment point 180. Attachment point 180 may connect sled base 50 with a solid object, such as, for example, a gaming machine (not shown) or the like. Attachment point 180 may include an attachment base 181 and a latch 182 which may be positioned within attachment base 181 and may protrude through base opening 189. Latch 182 may interact with at least one spring 183, wherein at least one spring 183 may exert a force against the latch such that the latch, for example, may extend through base opening 189 when the at least one spring 183 is in the noncompressed position. Thus, in this example, latch 182 may be depressed further into base opening 189 which may compress the at least one spring 183. Attachment point 180 may then be attached to sled base 50 using any known securing features known in the art, such as bolts 184.

Attachment point 180 may interact with object attachment 185, which may be attached to the aforementioned solid object. Object attachment 185 may include a latch receiving opening 186 within which latch 182 may be secured. Object attachment 185 may be secured to the solid object using any known means, such as bolts or the like, which may pass through bore holes 190a, 190b, 190c, and 190d.

In operation, in a preferred embodiment, the sled base 50 may be brought into alignment with the aforementioned solid object, such that the attachment point 180 and object attachment 185 are directly adjacent to one another. The sled base 50 may then be brought towards the solid object, such that an angled side 188 of latch 182 engages the latch receiving opening 186. The force on the angled side 188 may depress latch 182, such that latch 182 moves further into latch receiving opening 186. Once latch is within the latch receiving opening 186, whereby a flat side 187 moves to the interior of latch receiving opening, the force on latch 182 from the latch receiving opening is negated, and the at least one spring 183 expands to its original position, thereby forcing latch 182 back to its original position. In this manner, latch may not be secured within the latch receiving opening, and the sled base is secured to the solid object. To detach sled base 50 from the solid object, the latch 182 may be manually depressed, by a user, while the sled base is simultaneously pulled away from the solid object.

The above described present invention provides numerous benefits to the user. The support assembly, which may optionally include any or all of circular support base, gull-wing base 55 and rollers 25a-e, provides support to chair 10 to ensure stability of the chair 10 and the user. This is especially important when the support assembly is used with the larger ergonomic chairs which are popular in casinos, restaurants and the like.

Moreover, the attachment of support base 20 to slide 60, and thus sled base 50 in general, satisfies the requirements of fire codes and laws in numerous states because the sled base 50 is attached to a solid object, such as a gaming machine, through the attachment point 80. The fire codes of many states require the attachment of objects such as chairs to be secured either to the floor or to a solid object, such as the gaming machine.

Moreover, in the embodiment of the present invention including the automatic repositioning mechanism, the present invention would maintain a state of orderliness and cleanliness in the area where it is used. For example, in the illustration of a casino, which may have hundreds and even thousands of gaming machines, a casino would have to hire many employees to maintain the chairs, associated with the gaming machines, in order to maintain a proper appearance in the room. The present invention, where it includes the automatic repositioning mechanism, eliminates the need for the added manpower because the chairs return to an orderly position after a user leaves the chair.

Thus, the operative interrelation of the elements of the supporting assembly for enabling and adapting an ergonomic casino stool for easy rolling unidirectional movement towards and away from an associated gaming machine has been shown and described with respect to the important and desirable movement for the use of these chairs in this particular type of application. Other types of applications, purposes, objects and uses, for which the combination of supporting elements with all types of objects as above described, will become apparent from the nature of the disclosure as set forth herein.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a presently conceived preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all equivalent structures and devices to that as disclosed, described and claimed herein.

Claims

1. A support assembly adapted to be connected to an object for moving the object along a track, said assembly comprising:

a sled base having a track defined along at least a portion of its length; and

an attachment support for supporting an object having an upper region and a lower region, said upper region adapted to be coupled to said object,

wherein said lower region of said attachment support is moveably coupled to said track such that said attachment support is slidable along at least a portion of the length of said track.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a slide attached to said sled base, wherein said track comprises a recess within said slide.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said lower region of said attachment support comprises an adjustment mechanism which contacts said track, wherein said adjustment mechanism slides within said track.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said track is substantially linear.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an automatic repositioning mechanism, wherein said automatic repositioning mechanism automatically returns said object to an original position along said sled base when moved therefrom.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further including a base support coupled to said upper region of said attachment support, said base support having a lower surface and a plurality of roller members positioned on said lower surface.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said roller members have a rotational axis arranged parallel to each other, whereby said base support is movable along said track in a linear direction.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said sled base further comprises an attachment point at which said sled base attaches to a solid object.

9. A support assembly connected to a chair for moving the chair along a track, said assembly comprising:

a sled base having a track defined along at least a portion of its length;

an attachment support for a chair having an upper region and a lower region; and

a chair coupled to said upper region of said attachment support;

wherein said lower region of said attachment support is slideably coupled to said track such that said attachment support is slidable along at least a portion of the length of said track.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a slide attached to said sled base, wherein said track comprises a recess within said slide.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said lower region of said attachment support comprises an adjustment mechanism which contacts said track, wherein said adjustment mechanism slides within said track.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said track is substantially linear.

13. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising an automatic repositioning mechanism wherein said automatic repositioning mechanism automatically returns said chair to an original position along said sled base when moved therefrom.

14. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a base support coupled to said upper region of said attachment support, said base support having a lower surface and a plurality of roller members positioned on said lower surface.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein each of said roller members have a rotational axis arranged parallel to each other, whereby said base support is movable along said track in a linear direction.

16. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said sled base further comprises an attachment point at which said sled base attaches to a solid object.

17. A support assembly connected to an object for moving the object along a generally linear track, said assembly comprising,

an attachment support for an object;

a sled base to which said attachment support is moveably supported;

an object coupled to said attachment support; and

an automatic repositioning mechanism which is coupled to said object and said sled base such that said automatic repositioning mechanism automatically returns said object to an original position along said sled base when moved therefrom.

18. The support assembly of claim 17, wherein said automatic repositioning mechanism is a gas cylinder.

19. The support assembly of claim 17, wherein said sled base comprises a track defined along at least a portion of its length.

20. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a slide attached to said sled base, wherein said track comprises a recess within said slide.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said lower region of said attachment support comprises an adjustment mechanism which contacts said track, wherein said adjustment mechanism slides within said track, wherein said track is substantially linear.

22. The assembly of claim 17 further comprising a base support coupled to said upper region of said attachment support, said base support having a lower surface and a plurality of roller members positioned on said lower surface.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein each of said roller members have a rotational axis arranged parallel to each other, whereby said base support is movable along said track in a linear direction.

24. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said sled base further comprises an attachment point at which said sled base attaches to a solid object.