STAND FOR CLAMPING POST/ROD-SHAPED ITEMS WITH ELECTRICAL FILL LEVEL DISPLAY DEVICE

A stand for clamping post/rod-shaped items, comprising a housing, at least two holding elements adjoining a receiving space for receiving the pole- or rod-shaped part, a securing device, and a flexible force transmission device, wherein the holding elements are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis in the direction of a fixing position, wherein the force transmission device leads from the securing device to the holding elements, which are movably coupled with the securing device by the force transmission device, and wherein the force transmission device is pulled and/or loaded with force in a pulling direction to the securing device as a result of the movement of the securing device from a disengaged position toward an engaged position, so that the securing device counteracts or prevents a pivoting of the holding elements toward the release position by the force transmission device, wherein the stand has a fill level sensor for determining a liquid fill level in the receiving space that protrudes into the receiving space of the housing, the fill level sensor being electrically connected to an electrical display device that is arranged on an outer side of the housing, so that fill level information that can be displayed by the display device correlates with a liquid fill level determined by the fill level sensor.

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Description
FIELD

The present invention relates to a stand for post/rod-shaped items.

BACKGROUND

A Christmas tree stand of this generic type is described in DE 10 2013 009 486 B3. The stand described in DE 10 2013 009 486 B3 has a water level indicator comprising a buoyant body that is arranged in a guide channel, the guide channel protruding into a receiving space of the stand housing and being fluidly connected thereto. If there is little or no water in the housing of the Christmas tree stand, the buoyant body experiences no or only a small amount of buoyancy force, so that an upper side of the buoyant body extends flush with an outer surface of the housing. By filling water into the receiving space of the housing, the guide channel is also filled with water, so that the buoyant body experiences a buoyancy force that lifts the buoyant body and causes the top of the buoyant body to protrude from the outer surface of the housing. When the buoyant body protrudes from the outer surface of the housing, there is sufficient water in the receiving space of the housing of the stand to supply to a Christmas tree that is being held by the stand.

The water level indicator of the Christmas tree stand that is known from DE 10 2013 009 486 B3 has various drawbacks. For one, the water level indicator is not necessarily visible, since it can be hidden by a branch of the tree that is being held by the stand, for example. Furthermore, only a slight protrusion of the buoyant body from the outer surface of the housing is difficult to see, resulting in it being filled with water by a user of the Christmas tree stand even though the Christmas tree that is being held by the stand already has enough water. Furthermore, the water level indicator of the Christmas tree stand that is known from DE 10 2013 009 486 B3 has the disadvantage that the buoyant body can tilt in the guide channel, resulting in the user continuing to fill water into the Christmas tree stand despite the water level within the receiving space of the stand already being sufficient, which can cause water to overflow from the Christmas tree stand.

SUMMARY

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved stand for clamping post/rod-shaped items that does not have the drawbacks described above.

More specifically, the object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a stand for clamping post/rod-shaped items, particularly Christmas trees, the stand comprising a housing, at least two holding elements adjoining a receiving space for receiving the pole- or rod-shaped part, a securing device, and a flexible force transmission device. The holding elements are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis in the direction of a fixing position. The force transmission device leads from the securing device to the holding elements, which are movably coupled by means of the force transmission device with the securing device, the force transmission device being pulled and/or loaded with force in a pulling direction to the securing device as a result of the movement of the securing device from a disengaged position toward an engaged position, so that the securing device counteracts or prevents a pivoting of the holding elements toward the release position by means of the force transmission device. The stand according to the invention is wherein the stand has a fill level sensor for determining a liquid level in the receiving space that protrudes into the receiving space of the housing, the fill level sensor being electrically connected to an electrical display device that is arranged on an outer side of the housing, so that fill level information that can be displayed by means of the display device correlates with a liquid fill level determined by the fill level sensor.

The stand according to the invention has improved reliability in determining the fill level of its receiving space. Moreover, the stand according to the invention has improved accuracy in determining the water fill level. Also, the stand according to the invention offers improved visibility of the fill level of the stand, more particularly of its receiving space.

More preferably, the fill level sensor is embodied as a capacitive fill level sensor or as a conductive fill level sensor or as an ultrasonic fill level sensor. There are no restrictions with regard to the design of the fill level sensor, as long as fill level information determined by the fill level sensor can be transmitted electrically to the display device.

Preferably, the level sensor is data-coupled with the electrical display device.

More preferably, the pivot axes about which the holding elements can be pivoted between their release position and fixing position are embodied as horizontal pivot axes or pivot axes with a horizontal component to the central axis.

For example, the securing device can comprise a carriage that is guided in the base plate and is closer to the central axis of the stand in the engaged position than in its disengaged position. The force transmission device is thus pulled in the direction of the carriage when the carriage is moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

Instead of the carriage, however, a biased roll for rolling the force transmission device up and down can also be provided, for example. The securing device can thus be embodied as a tensioning ratchet. The securing device can also be denoted as a tensioning device for clamping the force transmission device. There are no restrictions on the design of the securing device according to the invention.

The force transmission device leads to all holding elements. Depending on the design, the force transmission device may, for example, comprise only one guy which, starting from the securing device, leads to all of the holding elements. In an embodiment of the force transmission device with two guys, one guy leads to one half of the holding elements, while the other guy leads to the other half of the holding elements. However, it is also conceivable for the force transmission device to have a number of holding elements corresponding to the number of force transmission elements, for example in the form of guys, in which case each guy leads to only a single holding element.

Preferably, the stand is designed such that the display device is embodied as a luminous display device and emits visible light.

The correspondingly designed stand has the advantage that the visibility of the fill level of the stand, more particularly of the receiving space of the stand, is improved even further, since the fill level information is easily visible to a user of the stand even in dark conditions.

Visible light is light with a wavelength in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm.

More preferably, the stand is designed such that the luminous display device has a plurality of luminous elements.

Further preferably, the stand is designed such that the respective luminous elements are embodied as light-emitting diodes.

The fill level sensor and the display device of the correspondingly embodied stand can be operated for a long period of time with a battery that is arranged in the housing of the stand, since light-emitting diodes have a lower energy consumption compared to other luminous elements (such as incandescent lamps).

More preferably, the stand is designed such that the luminous display device has a first number of first luminous elements for emitting light in a first wavelength range and a second number of second luminous elements for emitting light in a second wavelength range.

With the correspondingly designed stand, the information as to whether there is enough water in the receiving space is once again more easily visible. After all, the second luminous elements are only active and emit light when the level in the receiving space is below a predetermined desired fill level.

More preferably, the design of the stand is such that the luminous display device is embodied such that at least one first luminous element emits light when the liquid fill level in the receiving space is above a predetermined minimum level.

More preferably, the design of the stand is such that the luminous display device is embodied such that at least one second luminous element emits light when the liquid fill level in the receiving space is below a predetermined minimum level.

More preferably, the stand is designed such that the first wavelength range is between 490 nm and 560 nm and the second wavelength is range between 630 nm and 700 nm.

Light in the first wavelength range is perceived by humans as a green light and light in the second wavelength range is perceived by humans as a red light.

With the correspondingly designed stand, the information as to whether there is enough water in the receiving space is once again more easily visible, since red light can be distinguished very well from green light.

More preferably, the stand is designed such that the luminous display device is embedded in a recess of the housing.

More preferably, the stand is embodied such that it has a cover for covering the recess.

More preferably, the stand is embodied such that it has a transmitting device for wirelessly transmitting fill level information.

Through appropriate configuration, fill level information can be transmitted to an external display device, particularly to a mobile terminal (e.g., a mobile phone).

The object on which the present invention is based, is also achieved by a stand system with a stand and a terminal, the terminal being designed to receive and display the fill level information transmitted by the transmitter of the stand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, details, and features of the invention will become apparent from the illustrated exemplary embodiments. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a spatial representation of the stand according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of the stand shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed representation of the stand shown in FIG. 1 in the vicinity of its display device;

FIG. 4 shows the stand shown in FIG. 3 without a battery compartment cover;

FIG. 5 shows the stand shown in FIG. 4 without a display device cover;

FIG. 6 shows the stand shown in FIG. 5 along a sectional plane that extends along a longitudinal axis of the display device;

FIG. 7 shows the stand shown in FIG. 5 along a sectional plane that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the display device;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional representation of the stand shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of a fill level sensor and a display device of the stand according to the invention connected thereto.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference numerals designate like components and like features, so that a description that is provided for one figure with respect to a component also applies to the other figures, so that repetitive description is avoided.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic spatial representation of a stand according to the invention.

The stand 1 according to the invention, which can also be termed a Christmas tree stand 1, comprises a housing 10, which, in turn, comprises a housing base 11 or a base plate 11 and a housing cover 12. The housing cover 12 is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base plate 11, so that the housing 10 is suitable for receiving water, enabling a Christmas tree that is to be held by the stand 1 to be supplied with water. To control the water level within the housing 1, a water level indicator 70 having a buoyant body is provided in the housing cover 12.

The housing cover 12 has a central opening 13. As can already be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 as well, the stand 1 has holding elements 20 that protrude upward out of the housing cover 12 through the central opening 13. The holding elements 20 are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis 19′ and pivotable about a respective horizontal pivot axis, so that the holding elements 20 can be pivoted away from the central axis 19′ in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis 19′ in the direction of a fixing position shown in FIG. 1.

The stand 1 further comprises a securing device 30, which can also be referred to as a clamping device 30. The securing device 30 has a securing lever 31 or a tension lever 31 by means of which a tension roller (not visible in the figures) can be actuated. In the exemplary embodiment that is illustrated, the securing device 30 is embodied as a tensioning ratchet 30 known to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the stand 1 has a force transmission device 40, which, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, is embodied as a guy 40.

As already described above, the holding elements 20 are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis 19′ of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis 19′ in the direction of the release position and toward the central axis 19′ in the direction of the fixing position. The guy 40 leads from the securing device 30 to the respective holding elements 20, which, in turn, are movably coupled with the securing device 30 by means of the guy 40. For this purpose, the respective holding elements 20 have passage openings 21 through which the guy 40 is passed.

When the securing device 30 is moved from a disengaged position in the direction of an engaged position—which takes place in the illustrated exemplary embodiment by pump-like actuation of the tension lever 31—the guy 40 is pulled in a pulling direction toward the securing device 30, so that the securing device 30, by means of the guy 40, counteracts a pivoting of the holding elements 20 in the direction of a release position.

It can be seen particularly from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the stand 1 has a fill level sensor 50 protruding into the receiving space 19 of the housing 10 for determining a liquid fill level in the receiving space 19. The fill level sensor 50 can be embodied as a capacitive fill level sensor 50. Furthermore, it is also possible for the fill level sensor 50 to be embodied as a conductive fill level sensor 50 or as an ultrasonic fill level sensor 50. There are no restrictions on the design of the level sensor 50.

The stand 1 according to the invention also has an electrical display device 60. The fill level sensor 50 is electrically connected to the electrical display device 60 arranged on an outer side of the housing 10, so that fill level information displayed by means of the display device 60 correlates with a liquid fill level detected by the fill level sensor 50. Consequently, the display device 60 is data-coupled with the fill level sensor 50, so that fill level information determined by means of the fill level sensor 50 can be transmitted to the display device 60.

The display device 60 is embodied as a luminous display device 60 and has a plurality of luminous elements 61, 62, 63 that are arranged on a circuit board of the luminous display device 60. The luminous elements 61, 62, 63 are embodied as light-emitting diodes 61, 62, 63, first luminous elements 61 being configured to emit light in a first wavelength range between 490 nm and 560 nm, and second light-emitting elements 62 being configured to emit light in a second wavelength range between 630 nm and 700 nm. Consequently, the first light-emitting diodes 61 emit green light, while the second light-emitting diodes 62 emit red light.

The display device 60 is embodied such that when the housing 10 is completely filled with water, all of the luminous elements—i.e., both the first luminous elements 61 and the second luminous elements 62—emit light. When the fill level of the housing 10 decreases, individual first luminous elements 61 will no longer emit light. As soon as the fill level within the housing 10 has reached a lower threshold fill level, only the second lighting elements 62, which emit red-colored light in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, light up. It is thus easy for the user to see that the fill level within the housing 10 is no longer sufficient, so that the stand 1 can be filled with new water.

It can be seen particularly from FIGS. 5 to 8 that the illuminated display device 60 is embedded or recessed in a recess 14 or a depression 14 of the housing 10. In order to cover the luminous display device 60 and close the recess 14, a cover 15 is provided in which luminous openings 15a are arranged through which the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes 61, 62, 63 can be transmitted to the outside of the stand 1.

It can also be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6 that a battery well is arranged in the recess 14, in which two batteries 80 are arranged in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. An additional cover 17 for sealing the battery well is provided.

FIG. 9 shows the luminous display device 60 with the first light-emitting diodes 61 and the second light-emitting diodes 62 together with the fill level sensor 50. It can be seen that the fill level sensor 50 is perpendicular to the luminous display device 60, more specifically to a circuit board of the luminous display device 60.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

  • 1 stand
  • 10 housing
  • 11 base plates (of the housing)
  • 12 housing cover
  • 13 opening
  • 14 recess/depression of the housing
  • 15 cover/lid (for covering the recess)
  • 15a illuminated opening
  • 16 battery compartment
  • 17 cover/lid (for covering the battery compartment)
  • 18 central spike
  • 19 receiving space
  • 19′ central axis (of the receiving space)
  • 20 retaining element
  • 21 passage opening (of the holding element)
  • 22 securing device/clamping device
  • 30 safety latch/tensioning lever
  • 40 force transmission device, traction device, safety cord, guy
  • 50 fill level sensor
  • 60 display device/luminous display device
  • 61 first luminous element
  • 62 second luminous element
  • 63 luminous element/light-emitting diode
  • 70 water level indicator/buoyant body
  • 80 battery

Claims

1. A stand for clamping post/rod-shaped items, particularly Christmas trees, comprising a housing, at least two holding elements adjoining a receiving space for receiving the post/rod-shaped items, a securing device, and a flexible force transmission device, the stand comprising the following features:

the holding elements are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis in the direction of a fixing position;
the force transmission device leads from the securing device to the holding elements, which are movably coupled with the securing device by the force transmission device;
the force transmission device being pulled and/or loaded with force in a pulling direction to the securing device as a result of the movement of the securing device from a disengaged position toward an engaged position, so that the securing device counteracts or prevents a pivoting of the holding elements toward the release position by the force transmission device, comprising the following features:
the stand has a fill level sensor for determining a liquid fill level in the receiving space that protrudes into the receiving space of the housing; and
the fill level sensor being electrically connected to an electrical display device that is arranged on an outer side of the housing, so that fill level information that can be displayed by the display device correlates with a liquid fill level determined by the fill level sensor.

2. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display device is embodied as a luminous display device and configured to emit visible light.

3. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the luminous display device has a plurality of luminous elements.

4. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the respective lighting elements are embodied as light-emitting diodes.

5. The stand as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the luminous display device has a first number of first luminous elements for emitting light in a first wavelength range; and
the luminous display device has a second number of second luminous elements for emitting light in a second wavelength range.

6. The stand as set forth in claim 5, wherein the luminous display device is embodied such that at least one first luminous element emits light when the liquid fill level in the receiving space is above a predetermined minimum level.

7. The stand as set forth in claim 5, wherein the luminous display device is embodied such that at least one second luminous element emits light when the liquid fill level in the receiving space is below a predetermined minimum level.

8. The stand as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first wavelength range is between 490 nm and 560 nm and the second wavelength is range between 630 nm and 700 nm.

9. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the luminous display device is embedded in a recess of the housing.

10. The stand as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stand has a cover for covering the recess.

11. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stand has a transmitting device for wirelessly transmitting fill level information.

12. A stand system with a stand as set forth in claim 11 and a terminal device that is designed to receive and display the fill level information transmitted by the transmitting device of the stand.

Patent History
Publication number: 20210038009
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 9, 2019
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2021
Inventor: Hans-Walter BECKERS (Moenchengladbach)
Application Number: 16/536,820
Classifications
International Classification: A47G 33/12 (20060101);