U.S. patent application number 11/069338 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-22 for mobile stand.
This patent application is currently assigned to Heiko Teske. Invention is credited to Nerger, Jurgen.
Application Number | 20050205727 11/069338 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34745990 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050205727 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nerger, Jurgen |
September 22, 2005 |
Mobile stand
Abstract
The present invention relates to a mobile stand in particular
shading umbrellas, comprising a foot (1) which may be
raised/lowered relative to the ground (4), furthermore a roller
fixture (2) having at least three rollers and a lifting device
connecting the foot (1) to the roller fixture (2) in a manner that
the foot (1) is displaceable relative to the roller fixture (2). In
order to optimize comfort of use and simultaneously to minimize
danger of injury, said stand's design furthermore provides that the
roller fixture (2) shall be configured above the foot (1). FIG. 1a
illustrates the abstract.
Inventors: |
Nerger, Jurgen;
(Neukirchen-Vluyn, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RANKIN, HILL, PORTER & CLARK LLP
4080 ERIE STREET
WILLOUGHBY
OH
44094-7836
US
|
Assignee: |
Heiko Teske
Neukirchen-Vluyn
DE
Jurgen Nerger
Neukirchen-Vluyn
DE
|
Family ID: |
34745990 |
Appl. No.: |
11/069338 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/24 20130101;
F16M 11/22 20130101; A45B 2023/0012 20130101; E04H 12/2238
20130101; A45B 23/00 20130101; F16M 11/42 20130101; F16M 2200/08
20130101; F16M 2200/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/128 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 3, 2004 |
EP |
04 004 952.0 |
Claims
1. A mobile stand, in particular for a shading umbrella,
comprising: a stand foot, hereafter foot, which can be
raised/lowered relative to the ground, a roller fixture which is
fitted with at least three rollers and which is configured above
the foot, a lifting device connecting the foot in such manner to
the roller fixture that the foot is displaceable relative to the
roller fixture, the weight of the foot being larger than that of
the roller fixture in a manner that the positional stability of the
stand is preponderantly assured by the weight of the foot.
2. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the roller
fixture is intrinsically rigid.
3. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the roller
fixture comprises a plate.
4. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the roller
fixture is a rack, in particular composed of rods, bars or shapes
such as U channels, T-bars and the like.
5. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the roller
fixture constitutes a plane support surface parallel to the
ground.
6. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the roller
fixture comprises a cover element in particular made of
plastic.
7. Stand as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the cover
element comprises a downward pointing collar at its external
periphery in a manner that the collar laterally encloses the foot
and the roller fixture.
8. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the roller
fixture comprises a downward-pointing collar at its outer periphery
in a manner that the collar laterally encloses the foot.
9. Stand as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the collar
comprises a preferably resilient soil-repelling element, in
particular made of rubber or bristles, that runs along its lower
edge.
10. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot
comprises a plate.
11. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot
comprises a rack in particular consisting of rods, bars or shapes
such as U-channels, T-bars and the like.
12. Stand as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the rack is
configured in a manner that several weight segments may be received
by it.
13. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot is
fitted at its underside with paws in particular made of
plastic.
14. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot
comprises at least at its underside a coating in particular made of
plastic.
15. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot is
configured within the zone enclosed by the rollers.
16. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot
laterally extends beyond the zone enclosed by the rollers,
clearances being optionally provided in the region of the
rollers.
17. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foot is
made of a metal, in particular steel or lead.
18. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the weight
of the foot is larger than that of the roller fixture.
19. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lifting
device is configured above the roller fixture.
20. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in order to
displace the foot relative to the roller fixture, the lifting
device comprises one or more of the following means: a lever, a
rocker element, a cable or chain drive, a gear unit.
21. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lifting
device comprises an adjustment motor, in particular an electric
motor which is preferably remote-controlled.
22. Stand as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a pushrod is
connected in preferably detachable manner to the stand.
23. Stand as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the pushrod
is a component of the lifting device.
24. (canceled)
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile stand, in
particular used with a shading umbrella and the like, comprising a
stand foot, hereafter abbreviated "foot", a roller fixture and a
lifting device which connects the foot to the roller fixture in a
manner that said foot is movable relative to the roller fixture.
The present invention also relates to a foot for a stand such as
defined above.
[0002] The stand above is applicable in a plurality of different
ways. Illustrative such a stand may be used for arbitrary kinds of
umbrellas such as patio umbrellas, rain umbrellas, exhibition
umbrellas etc. Moreover said stand may be used as a wash stand, a
wash drier stand, an exhibition or sales stand, in particular a
postcard and clothes stand, or as an information, traffic sign or
signalling stand, especially as regards a traffic marker stand.
Furthermore this stand may be used for sports equipment,
illustratively for a basketball basket or a volleyball net. Again
it may be used in conjunction with illustratively metallic
construction fences. Conceivably as well the said stand may be used
for catering tables, for instance folding tables. Again flower
buckets or radiant heaters may be set up on said stand.
[0003] The Swiss patent CH 682975 A5 discloses a movable shading
umbrella stand or the like fitted with a foot acting as a housing
and being displaceable up-and-down relative to the ground or floor.
The inside of the foot receives a roller fixture consisting of
pivotable arms each holding at its end a roller. The ends of the
arms to which the rollers are affixed can be pivoted vertically by
means of a lifting device. In this manner said device allows
lowering the rollers within the foot enclosing the roller fixture,
so that this foot comes to rest on the ground, or to be flipped out
of the foot which then is lifted off this ground.
[0004] Aside the complex designs of the lifting device and of the
roller fixture, in particular the pivoting arms, of this prior art,
it also entails the drawback of entailing a gap of varying sizes
between the underside of the stand housing constituted by the foot
and the ground. When the foot has been raised, said gap between the
housing underside and the ground is relatively large while almost
vanishing in the lowered condition. These conditions on one hand
entail substantial dangers of injury on account of the user
possibly being caught in said gap. Especially as regards large
shading umbrellas used in cafes or open-air markets for instance,
there is danger--when the foot is being lowered--that the umbrella
operator's extremities do enter said gap and painful injuries shall
be incurred.
[0005] Another drawback is incurred in that the lifting device's
mechanism situated underneath the housing as well as the mechanism
of the roller fixture will easily soil, especially when the stand
is put in place as the foot is raised, that is the housing being
open downward and the gap between the housing underside and the
ground being large. Rain water in particular, but also sand or
soiling material, may easily move thereby underneath and into the
housing and may cause damage, for instance corrosion.
[0006] Moreover the German patent document DE 199 04 473 A1
discloses a mobile support comprising a narrow foot which can be
raised and lowered with respect to the ground, also a roller
fixture with several rollers and mounted above the foot, and an
adjustment unit connecting the foot to the roller support in a
manner that this foot is displaceable relative to the roller
fixture. In order to make the stand positionally stable, the system
requires laborious extension of the upper support part between the
ceiling and the bottom of a space in order to be clamped in place,
since adequate stability and immobility of said support critically
depend on extending said support followed by a clamping action.
[0007] The objective of the present invention is to create a stand
allowing high immobility and positional stability in simple,
convenient manner.
[0008] The invention attains its solution to the above discussed
problem by means of a mobile stand applicable in particular to
large shading umbrellas and comprising a foot which may be
raised/lowered relative to the ground, a roller fixture having at
least three rollers and configured above the foot, and a lifting
device connecting the foot to the roller fixture in a manner that
said foot is displaceable relative to the roller fixture, the
weight of the foot exceeding that of the roller fixture in such a
way that positional stand stability is assured predominantly by the
foot's weight. As a result, the outer stand part constituting the
housing always shall be the same height above the ground or floor
while simultaneously the heaviest component, namely the foot, shall
be covered by the roller fixture and hence shall be less
accessible, as a result of which the danger of injury is
reduced.
[0009] In especially advantageous manner, the roller fixture is
fitted along its outer periphery with a downward collar in a manner
that this collar shall laterally enclose the foot. In this manner
the foot is enclosed upward and laterally by a protective housing
which is spatially fixed relative to the ground when said foot is
raised/lowered. the lateral and collar-shaped portion of the roller
fixture precludes the user from accidentally putting his/her hand
or foot underneath the heavy, descending foot. This feature
significantly reduces the danger of injury due to catching and
squeezing limbs. A roller fixture which, as described just above,
completely encloses the foot regardless of this foot being raised
or lowered, also offers ideal protection against soiling and
rainwater to the inner components because the gap between the lower
housing edge and the ground is not increased even when the foot is
raised.
[0010] It is understood that alternatively or in addition, the
roller fixture shall comprise a preferably plastic cover fitted
with a downward-pointing collar along its circumference in a manner
that the collar shall enclose both the roller fixture and the foot.
Accordingly the roller fixture does not mandatorily constitute the
foot-enclosing housing, instead such a feature also may be attained
by a cover that is an element of the roller fixture. Even such a
cover prevents the user from accidentally being caught underneath
the heavy foot, or water or dirt getting underneath or inside the
stand. This cover advantageously is detachable from the remaining
stand to allow easily exchanging it.
[0011] It is possible to further reduce the danger both of soiling
and of rainwater penetration into or underneath the stand in that
the collar--namely the collar-shaped portion of the cover and/or
the collar-shaped portion of the roller fixture--shall be fitted at
its underside with a circumferential and preferably resilient soil
repelling element, in particular made of rubber or of bristles.
Such a soil-repellant element extends the collar downward until it
touches the ground or floor without scratching or damaging the
surface. Such a feature nearly precludes squeezing human limbs and
the penetration of rain or contaminating water.
[0012] Advantageously the roller fixture--which constitutes the
upper stand portion--is intrinsically rigid, that is it is devoid
of expensive joints that may require repairs such as are used in
the state of the art. As a result the stand also can support heavy
objects such as flower buckets or gas bottles and remain
stable.
[0013] The roller fixture may be made in many designs.
Illustratively it may comprise a plate and/or a rack in particular
composed of pipes, bars or shapes such as U-channels, T-bars and
the like. Advantageously the roller fixture subtends a support
surface parallel to the ground, as a result of which objects
deposited on it shall rest on it securely and in stable
position.
[0014] For its own protection or to protect objects resting on it,
the roller fixture may be fitted with a preferably plastic cover
element. Preferably and as already discussed above, this cover
element comprises a circumferential, downward-pointing collar.
However the cover element also may be only partially provided, for
instance on the upper roller fixture position, in order to attain
especially rigorous protection from objects resting on said
fixture.
[0015] Again, the foot, which is mounted underneath and within the
roller fixture, may be designed in many different ways.
Illustratively the foot may be a plate or a rack made up of rods,
pipes or shapes such as U-channels, T-bars and the like. The foot
should be made of a heavy material, for instance a metal, in
particular steel or lead. Preferably the foot weight shall be
larger than the roller fixture weight. A heavier foot significantly
raises the positional stability of the stand of the invention. This
applies even more in that the foot is mounted below the roller
fixture and in this manner contributes to securing an especially
low center of gravity.
[0016] When the foot is a rack made up of rods, pipes or shapes
such as U-channels, T-bars or the like, this rack shall be
especially advantageously designed to receive weight segments. On
one hand these weight segments allow equipping the foot with one
individual weight matching the particular application and on the
other hand to remove all other weight segments from the foot and
thereby to match the foot weight and hence the total stand weight
in a manner that this stand can be stored in simple manner, in
particular by hanging it up.
[0017] For its own protection and that of the ground or floor, the
foot may be fitted at its underside with several paws in particular
made of plastic. Alternatively or additionally the foot's underside
also may be fitted with a preferably plastic coating.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment mode of the present invention, the
foot is configured within the zone enclosed by the rollers. However
the foot also may laterally project beyond the zone bounded by the
rollers, in which case clearances may be fitted into the roller
zones in the foot. The design of the present invention offers the
advantage the full space underneath the roller fixture--except that
to be saved for the rollers--may be used for the foot, whereby the
entire stand can be made shallow. For this reason the lifting
device shall be preferably configured above the roller fixture. The
space below the roller fixture should be provided solely for the
foot.
[0019] The lifting device to displace the foot relative to the
roller fixture and hence to raise and lower it relative to the
floor or ground also may be implemented in different designs.
Preferably the lifting device comprises one or more of the
following means: a lever, a rocking element, a cable or chain
drive, a gear unit. All these means allow the foot to rest on the
roller fixture, which is stationary, to the floor, in order to rise
off this floor. The raising/lowering motion also may be implemented
using an adjusting and in particular an electric motor, or at least
to support said motion. In especially advantageous manner, said
motor shall be remote-controlled. Alternatively and in very simple
manner, only a grip may be provided, which shall be connected to
the foot and projects upward out of the roller fixture. Using this
grip, the foot may be manually lifted somewhat and then, for
instance upon a slight rotation, be latched into the raised
position.
[0020] In order to roll the stand when the foot is raised in the
simplest possible manner, a pushrod may be advantageously used and
preferably shall be detachably connected to the stand. As needed,
that is when the stand must be moved, said push rod can be
connected to the stand and again be removed once the stand has been
moved into the desired position. Moreover the pushrod may be
designed as a component of the lifting device. In that case the
pushrod may be used to operate the lifting device.
[0021] The above consequential and discussed problem is solved in
the present invention by a stand's foot and in particular for a
stand as described above. Preferably the foot is fitted with
detachable weighting segments. The foot so designed can be loaded
with different weights depending on application. Also the weights
may be removed entirely, allowing easily storing the foot.
Accordingly this foot is convenient and presents but little risk of
injury.
[0022] A number of ways are available to design the stand, or the
foot of the stand of the present invention. These designs are
defined for instance in the claims following claim 1 and claim 24
and are discussed in the description below of an illustrative
embodiment of the invention and in relation to the appended
drawings.
[0023] FIGS. 1a and 1b schematically show a first embodiment mode
of the stand of the present invention,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment mode of the stand of the
invention,
[0025] FIGS. 3a and 3b show an embodiment mode of the lifting
device for a stand of the invention, and
[0026] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment mode of the foot of the
invention.
[0027] FIG. 1a shows an embodiment mode of a mobile stand of the
invention which in the present case is designed as a stand for a
shading umbrella and which comprises a foot 1, a roller fixture 2
fitted with several rollers 3 and an omitted lifting device
connecting the foot 1 to the roller fixture 2 in a way that the
foot 1 is displaceable relative to the roller fixture 2. In other
words, by resting against the roller fixture 2, the foot 1 can be
raised/lowered by the lifting device relative to the floor 4. The
raised state is shown in FIG. 1a and the lowered state is shown in
FIG. 1b.
[0028] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the roller fixture
2--which is mounted in the manner of the invention above the foot
1--is fitted along its outer periphery with a downward-pointing
collar 5. This collar-like component of the roller fixture 2 offers
the advantage of subtending a housing enclosing the inside of the
stand, in particular the foot 1 and thus protects the user from
being caught by the foot or hand underneath the movable and
typically very heavy foot 1. This protection is made available in
that the housing--consisting of the roller fixture 2 and the collar
5--always shall be at the same height regardless of the foot 1
having been raised or lowered. As a result the width of the gap
between the ground 4 and the lower edge of the roller fixture 2
will remain constant. At the same time the design of the invention
effectively protects against soiling and rain water that, even when
the foot 1 has been raised, cannot easily penetrate underneath the
stand.
[0029] In the shown embodiment, the foot 1 is fitted at its
underside with several plastic paws 6 to protect both the said foot
and the ground 4 against damage. As shown in FIG. 1b, the foot 1
when in its lowered position rests evenly on the paws 6.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment mode of a stand of the
invention which differs from the previously described embodiment
mode in that the roller fixture 2 is not designed like a collar on
the periphery of this fixture. Instead the roller fixture 2 is
fitted with a cover element 7 which in this particular design is
made of plastic and which comprises along its outer periphery a
downward-pointing collar 8 laterally enclosing the foot 1.
Accordingly the plastic cover element, and in particular its
collar-shaped rim, assumes the protection which in the embodiment
mode of FIG. 1 was provided by the collar-shaped rim of the roller
fixture 2.
[0031] The embodiment mode of FIG. 2 differs furthermore from that
of FIG. 1 by its foot 1 being different. In the case of FIG. 1, the
foot 1 is configured exclusively within zone enclosed by the
rollers 3. In FIG. 2, on the other hand, the foot 1 is somewhat
larger and projects laterally beyond the zone bounded by the
rollers 3. Clearances 9 are provided in the foot 1 to allow the
rollers 3 to run freely in all directions.
[0032] The operation of a representative lifting device is shown in
FIGS. 3a and 3b, said device allowing moving the foot 1 relative to
the roller fixture 2 and as a result allowing raising/lowering the
foot 1 relative to the ground.
[0033] In the present case the lifting device is a rocker element
10 pivotable connected in the vicinity of its pivot point 11 to an
angled iron 12 which in turn is rigidly joined to the foot 1. A
bracket 13 is welded at the underside of the rocker element 10, a
displacement roller 14 being affixed to the end of said bracket.
The foot 1 rests by means of said displacement roller 14 on the
roller fixture 2.
[0034] In FIG. 3a, the rocker element 10 is in its lower position
on its right-hand side, as a result of which the foot 1 is raised.
It is understood that the foot 1 in that position is self-latching.
Therefore the user need not himself/herself hold the foot 1 in the
raised state when displacing the stand. In FIG. 3b, the rocker
element 10 is in the lower position on its left side, and
consequently the foot 1 is in its lower position.
[0035] Illustratively, the rocker element 10 may be displaced
manually or using the human foot. To increase leverage, i.e. the
lever arm length, the present embodiment also provides a pushrod 15
detachably connected to the rocker element 10. Using the pushrod
15, and provided the foot 1 be in its raised position, allows
simultaneously moving the stand by means of the rollers 3.
[0036] Finally FIG. 4 shows an embodiment mode of the foot 1 that
is a rack comprising an outer, circular frame 16 and T-bars 17
configured radially, i.e. in star-like manner. The T-bars are
configured in a manner to subtend eight area segments of equal size
in the pedestal of the foot 1 that each may receive weight segments
18.
[0037] In the embodiment mode shown in FIG. 4, two weight segments
18 have been placed on the pedestal. These weight segments 18 may
be inserted in simple manner using a grip 19 and also be removed as
needed in order to individually match the weight of the foot 1 to
particular needs.
[0038] The shown foot 1 may be used separately for instance to
receive a large commercial umbrella. However the foot 1 also may be
a stand component as already shown above in relation to FIGS. 1
through 3.
* * * * *