FOLDABLE SUPPORT DEVICE
A support device includes a bearing unit, and a supporting frame. The bearing unit includes two bearing members. The supporting frame includes a supporting mechanism combined with the bearing unit, and a stand unit connected with the supporting mechanism and supporting a bottom of the bearing unit. When the support device is disposed at an expanded position, the bearing members are parallel and juxtaposed to each other, and the supporting mechanism bridges and supports the bottom of the bearing members. When the support device is switched to a collapsed position, the bearing members are arranged in an upright manner and are located at two opposite side of the supporting frame. Thus, the support device has a largely reduced volume and has an enhanced strength to withstand a larger force or weight.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support device and, more particularly, to a foldable support device that can be collapsed and expanded.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional support device 1 in accordance with the prior art shown in
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a support device comprising a bearing unit, and a supporting frame. The bearing unit includes two bearing members. Each of the bearing members has an abutting side. The supporting frame includes a supporting mechanism combined with the bearing members of the bearing unit, and a stand unit connected with the supporting mechanism and supporting a bottom of the bearing unit. The supporting mechanism includes a mounting bracket mounted on the bottom of the bearing unit. The mounting bracket includes two connecting plates each mounted on a bottom of one of the bearing members, and a supporting plate disposed between the connecting plates and pivotally connected with the connecting plates. When the support device is disposed at an expanded position, the abutting sides of the bearing members are parallel and juxtaposed to each other, and the supporting plate of the supporting mechanism bridges and supports the bottom of the abutting sides of the bearing members. When the support device is switched to a collapsed position, the bearing members are arranged in an upright manner and are located at two opposite side of the supporting frame.
According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the support device has a largely reduced volume and has an enhanced strength to withstand a larger force or weight.
According to another advantage of the present invention, when the support device is switched to the collapsed position, the supporting frame is folded, and the bearing members are located at two opposite side of the supporting frame, so that the volume of the support device is reduced largely.
According to a further advantage of the present invention, the supporting frame enhances the structural strength of the bearing unit so that the support device can withstand a larger force or weight.
According to a further advantage of the present invention, the support device is available for a table, a chair, a shelf, a podium and the like, thereby enhancing the versatility of the support device.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The bearing unit 3 includes two bearing members 31, and two hinge members 32 each bridging and pivotally connected with the bearing members 31. The bearing members 31 are disposed between a first position as shown in
The supporting frame 2 is located under the bearing unit 3 and includes a supporting mechanism 21 mounted on the bottom of the bearing unit 3 and located at a geometric center of the bearing unit 3, and a stand unit 22 pivotally connected with the supporting mechanism 21. The supporting mechanism 21 bridges the bearing members 31 and is located between and in line with the hinge members 32. The supporting mechanism 21 includes an upright central post 211, and a mounting bracket 212 mounted on an upper end of the central post 211. Preferably, the central post 211 and the mounting bracket 212 are combined securely by fixing members, such as screws, rivets or the like. Alternatively, the central post 211 and the mounting bracket 212 are combined securely by soldering or rivet pressing. The mounting bracket 212 includes two substantially L-shaped connecting plates 213 each mounted on a bottom of one of the bearing members 31 by a plurality fixing members, and a substantially U-shaped supporting plate 214 disposed between the connecting plates 213. Each of the connecting plates 213 is pivotally connected with the supporting plate 214 by a first pivot shaft 215 and has an abutting wall 216. The supporting plate 214 has an abutting wall 217. Thus, when the support device is disposed at the expanded position, the abutting wall 216 of each of the connecting plates 213 is juxtaposed to and in line with the abutting wall 217 of the supporting plate 214.
The stand unit 22 includes two stands 220. Each of the stands 220 includes two upright modules 221 each supporting the bottom of each of the bearing members 31 when the support device is disposed at the expanded position, and at least one transverse module 222 connected with the upright modules 221 and pivotally connected with the central post 211. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the stands 220 includes two spaced transverse modules 222 each of which is connected with the upright modules 221 and pivotally connected with the central post 211. Each of the upright modules 221 of each of the stands 220 includes an upright outer sleeve 224 having a positioning hole 223, an inner sleeve 225 retractably mounted in the outer sleeve 224, and a positioning member 226 mounted on the inner sleeve 225 and releasably locked in the positioning hole 223 of the outer sleeve 224. Each of the upright modules 221 of each of the stands 220 of the supporting frame 2 has an upper end provided with a locking protrusion 227. Preferably, the locking protrusion 227 of each of the upright modules 221 of each of the stands 220 is formed on the outer sleeve 224. The transverse module 222 of each of the stands 220 includes a rotation sleeve 228 pivotally mounted on the central post 211, and two extensions 229 each connected between the rotation sleeve 228 and the outer sleeve 224 of one of the upright modules 221.
Referring to
The locking unit 5 is mounted on the supporting mechanism 21 to prevent the stands 220 from being pivoted. The locking unit 5 is pivotally mounted on the central post 211 and includes a stop piece 51 located between the transverse modules 222 of the stands 220, and a clamping wall 54 connected with the stop piece 51 and defining a locking recess 53 snapped onto the central post 211. The locking recess 53 has an inner diameter corresponding to a diameter of the central post 211. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking unit 5 is pivotally connected with the central post 211 of the supporting frame 2 by a second pivot shaft 50.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In conclusion, the supporting plate 214 of the supporting mechanism 21 bridges the abutting sides 311 of the bearing members 31, and co-operates with the hinge members 32 of the bearing unit 3 to support the bearing members 31, so that when the support device is disposed at the expanded position, the bearing members 31 are supported solidly and stably by the supporting mechanism 21 and the upright modules 221 of each of the stands 220.
Accordingly, when the support device is switched to the collapsed position, the supporting frame 2 is folded, and the bearing members 31 are located at two opposite side of the supporting frame 2, so that the volume of the support device is reduced largely. In addition, the supporting frame 2 enhances the structural strength of the bearing unit 3 so that the support device can withstand a larger force or weight. Further, the support device is available for a table, a chair, a shelf, a podium and the like, thereby enhancing the versatility of the support device.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A support device comprising:
- a bearing unit and a supporting frame, wherein:
- the bearing unit includes two bearing members;
- each of the two bearing members has an abutting side;
- the supporting frame includes: a supporting mechanism combined with the two bearing members of the bearing unit; and a stand unit connected with the supporting mechanism and supporting a bottom of the bearing unit;
- the supporting mechanism includes a mounting bracket mounted on the bottom of the bearing unit;
- the mounting bracket includes: two connecting plates each mounted on a bottom of one of the two bearing members; and a supporting plate disposed between the connecting plates and pivotally connected with the two connecting plates;
- when the support device is disposed at an expanded position, the abutting sides of the two bearing members are parallel and juxtaposed to each other, and the supporting plate of the supporting mechanism bridges and supports the bottom of the abutting sides of the two bearing members;
- when the support device is switched to a collapsed position, the two bearing members are arranged in an upright manner and are located at two opposite side of the supporting frame
- the supporting mechanism includes an upright central post having an upper end combined with the mounting bracket;
- the stand unit includes two stands each pivotally connected with the upright central post of the supporting mechanism;
- each of the two stands includes: two upright modules each supporting the bottom of each of the two bearing members when the support device is disposed at the expanded position; and at least one transverse module connected with the two upright modules and pivotally connected with the upright central post;
- each of the two upright modules of each of the two stands includes: an upright outer sleeve; an inner sleeve retractably mounted in the upright outer sleeve; and a positioning member mounted on the inner sleeve and locked onto the upright outer sleeve to position a connecting length of the inner sleeve and the upright outer sleeve;
- the at least one transverse module of each of the two stands includes: a rotation sleeve pivotally mounted on the upright central post; and two extensions each connected between the rotation sleeve and one of the two upright modules;
- the bearing unit further includes two hinge members each pivotally connected with the two bearing members; and
- the supporting mechanism is located between and in line with the two hinge members.
3. The support device of claim 2, wherein:
- the support device further comprises a positioning mechanism including a plurality of positioning seats respectively mounted on the bottom of each of the two bearing members;
- each of the plurality of positioning seats includes: a main body provided with a positioning recess for locking one of the two upright modules; and a guide portion connected with the main body; and
- each of the two upright modules of each of the two stands of the supporting frame has an upper end provided with a locking protrusion that is guided by the guide portion of one of the plurality of positioning seats into the positioning recess.
4. A support device of claim 2, wherein:
- the support device further comprises a locking unit mounted on the supporting mechanism to prevent the two stands from being pivoted; and
- the locking unit is pivotally mounted on the upright central post and includes: a stop piece located between the at least one transverse modules of the two stands; and a clamping wall connected with the stop piece and defining a locking recess snapped onto the upright central post.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 4, 2015
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2016
Inventor: Te-Lung Chen (Tainan City)
Application Number: 14/613,436