Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~QS~
SUPPORT STAND FOR POLE-LIKE OBJECTS
BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a support
stand, and it particularly relates to stands which are
adapted for releasea~ly retaining pole-l;ke objects in a
supported upright position on a support surface. Thus,
the present invention contemplates a support stand for
such o~jects as banner poles, flag poles, real and
artificial Christmas trees, rally markers and the like.
It is particularly useful in cooperation with a support
structure for ~anners.
The use of pole-like supports fGr message
displays, advertising displays for the support of
national and regional flags, and as a support for
banners and flags that represent groups, such as sport
teams, delegations and the like are becoming
; 15 increasingly more popular. Use of such structures is
highly desired for both indoor and outdoor functions.
Where a support pole requires a temporary mount rather
than a permanent mount, it is desira~le to ha~e a sturdy
yet compact support stand which may readily be assembled
and disassembled as use o~ the support pole requires.
This need is felt both where the support pole is a
single integral unit and where it is a collapsi~le pole
structure.
,
~"
'
- ,
~;~QS46~
Prior art support stands for pole-like objects
have included stands of a perm~nent nature as weLl as
some porta~le stands. Permanently affixed stands
include tubular pipes which are embedded in the ground
or which are implanted in concrete hases that are either
embedded in the ground or permanently affixed to another
support surface. Other stands may, for all practical
purposes, be considered permanent due to their physical
mass since they are not readily mov~a~le; again, these
include, for example, cast concrete blocks. Other
permanent stands include risid metallic brackets that
may be bolted to a support surface, such as a sidewalk,
plaza and the like.
On the other hand, temporary stands for portable
pole-like objects found in the prior art include the
traditional Christmas tree stand wherein a plurality of
radially outwardly projecting legs may be attached by
screws to a cup-like container adapted to receive the
stump of a Christmas tree. Artificial Christmas trees
have a smaller hase which may be telescopically received
in a tubular base support. Also, temporary support
stands include those having a plurality of folding legs
attached to slide brackets with these legs being scissor
actuated to move from a stored position to a support
position. There is a a new and improved stand with a
~;~ support pad abuts the support sur~ace and a plurality of
~: ~ leqs pivot downwardly to terminate in staked ends thatengage the ground or in support pads located at an
offset relationship with respect to the central pad.
. 2
~, .. . . .
~ ~ .
~ .
5~
Despite these prior axt supports, -there remains a
need for a support stand that may be disassembled into
a stored position which readily and ea ily be assembled
in a support coniguration to positively support a pole-
like object on a support surface. There is a further
need for such a support stand which may readily be used
in indoor and outdoor applications and which may be
adjustable to compensate for slight irregularities in
the flatness of the support surface. There i~ a further
need or a support stand which may be stored in a mini-
mum amount of space and which may be used repeatedly
over a course of time. There is a Eurther need for a
support stand o simplified structure that requires
minimum assembly time without the need for assembly
tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a new and useful support stand or pole-like
objects which sturdily supports such objects upright on
a support surface.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a portable support stand for pole-like objects
,
which stand may easily be erected for use and
subsequently disassembled without the need for assemb1y
tools.
It is a further object o the present invention to
provide an inexpensive support stand ~or pole-like
objects such as banner poles, flag poles, displays,
.~ . . . .
:' ~ , , .
-
5~63
and the .like which support stands may be positioned on avarie-ty of generally horlzontal support surface~.
A still fur-ther object of -the present inven-tion is to
provide a support stand for pole-like objects which is
relatively adjustahle to accommodate ~ligh-tly uneven
terrains so that the object is held in a vertically upright
position.
Accorclingly, -the present invention provides a support
stand adapted to receive and support a pole-like object in
1~ an uprigh-t position on a horizontal support surface,
comprising:
a base member having an open in-terior and an upper
opening sized to receive a lower portion of said pole like
object;
a primary leg rigidly attached to said base;
a plurality of mounting sleeves telescopically slidable
onto said base member to define an assembled condition;
a plurality of first legs each attached to a respective
mounting sleeve such that, when said mounting sleeves are in
the assembled condition, said first legs support said base
member in an upright position on said support surface with a
: longitudinal axis of the base member oriented in a vertical
~: : direction with said opening oriented parallel to said
support surface; and
alignment means for aligning said legs at selected
angularly spaced locations abou-t the longitudinal axis of
the base member, said alignment means becoming operative as
,
~ 4
r ~ ~ :
: . :
~ ' :
~ : ~
: .
..
~3~ 3
saicl first legs are slideably mounted on the base member to
preven-t relative angular movement of each o:E said fi~st legs
with respect to said base member.
In a further aspec-t, the present invention provides a
support stancl adapted to receive and support a pole-like
objec-t in an upright orien-tation on a support surface,
compxising:
a base member having an outer surface and an upper
opening sized to receive a lower por-tion of said pole-like
object;
a primary leg rigidly attached to said hase member;
a plurality of rigid mounting sleeves each having an
inner sleeve surface and an outer sleeve surface, said
mounting sleeves sized to be slideably and mateably received
on said base member in close-fitted engagement therewith in
an engaged position;
a plurality of se~ondary legs each of which beiny
rigidly atta~hed to a respec-tive one of said mounting
sleeves so that said respective ones of said mounting
sleeves are operative to releaseably secure said secondary
legs to said base member, each of said primary leg and said
secondary legs having main leg portions projecting la-terally
: away from said base member and terminating at a free end
whereby said legs each have an end portion for engaging said
support surface; and
alignment means for aligning said secondary legs
angularly around said base member whereby said primary leg
and said secondary legs are equiangularly spaced with one
:
,~
~3V~63
another .
: :
:~
:
~:
Sa
:::
3L3~S~63
These and other objects of the present invention
will become more readily appreciated and understood from
a consideration of the following detailed description of
the pre~erred embodiment when taken together with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is A perspective view of the support
stand according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention shown supportir.g a pole in a vertical
position;
Figure 2 i5 an exploded view in perspective of the
support stand shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the base
support and primary leg portions of the support stand
shown in E'igures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a perspectlve view showing an end
portion of one of the legs oE the support ~tand for use
with an attachment stake;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an end portion
of the leg shown in Fi~ure 4 having an adjustment pad;
Figure 6 i~ a perspective view of the invention
shown in Figure 1 showing a leg extension and mounting
modification thereto;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the preferred
~ embodiment o the present invention shown with an
; 25 adapter base;
Figure 8 is a side view in cross-section of the
adapter base shown in Figure 7;
'~
~3~ 3
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a first
alternate embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 10 is an exploded view in perspective of a
second alternate em~odiment of the present invention;
and
Figure 11 is a top plan view of a third embodiment
of the present invention.
DFTAILED DFSCRIPTION OF THE PREEERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention is directed to support
stands i~ general and speci~ically to a support stand
for pole-like objects. The support stand according to
the preferred embodiment oE the present inve~tion i5
particularly adapted as a stand which may be easily
erected for use and disassembled for storage ~ithout the
need for tools. As such, the present invention is
constructed to be particularly useful as a support stand
for supporting pole like objects on a generally horizon-
tal support surface. Such objects include flag poles,
banner poles, artificial and real Christmas trees, and
other pole-like objects. Thus, it should be understood
that the scope of this invention contemplates the
supporting of any object that has a lower shank portion
that may be mounted in a stand so that the object is
held in an upright position.
Turning to the Figures, the preferred embodiment
of the present invention is best shown in Figures
through 3. ~ere, support stand 10 includes a base
assem~ly 12 and intermediate leg assembly 14 and an
upper leg a~sembly 16. Support atand 10 is used to
,, v
~ 7
~3~59~63
support a pole-like object, as represented by pole 18 on
a support su.rface such as surface 20. As is shown in
Figures 1-3, base assernbly 1~. is formed by a base mem~er
22 in the form of a tube ha~ing an upwardly open mouth
24 having a surrounding upper rim 27. Mouth 24 is
adapted to receive a lower shank portion 19 of pole 18
so that shank portion 19 is supported in the interior
cavity 23 of base member 22. A lower portion of base
member 22 is enlarged, and this is accomplished by
having a lower portion o~ tube 26 telescopically
received in and rigidly affixed to a base sleeve 28.
Thu~, it should be appreciated that base member 22 is
formed by tube 26 and base sleeve 28 which are rigidly
affixed to one another. A primary leg 30 is rigidly
secured to base member 22. To this end, leg 30 has an
upper leg portion 32 which is affixed to ~ase sleeve 28
such as by welding or other attachment means at location
34. Upper leg portion 32 is oriented longitudinally of
the base member in spaced parallel relation to the outer
surface thereof, as is ~est shown in Figure 3.
Accordingly, a gap 36 is formed between outer portion
and the surface of tube 22~ with gap 36 having a radial
width slightly greater than the radial thickness of the
base sleeve 28 and mounting sleeves 42 and 56, discussed
below. Leg 30 extends downwardly from upper leg portion
32 and is outwardly divergent to form a main leg portion
38 which projects laterally away from the ~ase member
and terminates at ~ree end 40 which is adapted to rest
on sur~ace 20, as is shown in Figure 3. As noted above,
.
:~3~5~;3
leg 30 is rigidly secured to sleeve 28 and to tube 26
which form base member 22. However, it i5 within the
scope of this invention that leg 30 and sleeve 28 be
affixed to one another as a leg assembly, similar to leg
assemblies 14 and 16, and that this leg assem~ly be
slideably mounted on the base assembly.
Intermediate leg assembly 14 is best shown in
Figure 2 and includes a mounting sleeve 42 which has an
inner sleeve surface 44 and an outer sleeve surface 46.
Sleeve 42 is sized to ~e slideably and mateably received
on tube 26 of ba3e member 22 so that it is in close-
fitted engagement therewith to define an enga~ed
position. A second~ry leg 48 is rigidly mounted onto
mounting sleeve 42 ~uch as ~y welding or other
attachment means known in the art. Leg 4~ is identical
in con~truction with leg 30 so that it has an upper leg
portion 50 and a main leg portion 52 which extends
downwardly from and projects laterally away from base
member 22 ln the nested position. Leg 48 terminates at
a free end 54 which will engage the support surface 20.
Likewise, upper le~ assembly 16 includes a mounting
sleeve 56 having an inner sleeve surface 58 and an outer
sleeve surface 60. A secondary leg 62 has an upper leg
portion 64 which is rigidly secured to mounting sleeve
56, again by welding or other attachment technique.
Sleeve 56 is sized to be slideably and mataably received
on tube 26 of base member 22 in the engaged position.
Leg 62 includes a main leg portion 66 which extends
downwardly and laterally outwardly of base member 22 in
g
,, ,~ ~ .
,
63
the engaged position so that it terminates in a free end
68 that engage~ mounting surface 20.
It should be apprecia~ed from the foregoing that
the construction of leg assem~lies 14 and 16 are
substantially the same and, indeed, are quite compara~le
to the con~truction o~ ~ase assem~ly 12. As may be seen
in Figure 2, base sleeve ?.8 of base mem~er 22 is
identical with each of sleeves 42 ~nd 56 and receives
smaller diameter tu~e 26 therein. Since each of upper
leg portions 32, 50 and 64 are oriented longitudinally
at the base mem~er in the nested position, sleeves 42
and 56 slide onto tu~e 26 ~o that they are completely
nested on base member 22 between tu~e 26 and upper leg
portion 32 of leg 30. In order to present a uniEorm
appearance, sleeve 56 is mounted on the uppermost end of
upper leg portion 64 of leg 62. Sleeve 42 is then
mounted downwardly on upper portion 50 of leg 48 a
distar.ce e~ual to the longitudinal length of sleeve 56.
Similarly, sleeve 28 is mounted onto upper portion 32 or
leg 30 a distance e~ual to the com~ined longitudinal
lengths o~ sleeves 56 and 42. Thus, when in the engaged
position shown in Figure 1, the upper ends of legs 30,
48 and 62 are in a com~on plane trans~er~e to the longi
;~ tudinal axis of tube 26. Each of sleeves 42 and 56 are
then nested within ~ap 36 between tube 26 and upper leg
portion 32 of leg 30.
In order to prevent relative angular rotation of
sleeves 42 and 56 and, correspondingly, legs 48 and 62,
angular registration and retaining structure is
.
::
.
;
~3~PS~3
provided. As is best shown in E'igure 2, sleeve 28 of
base member 22 is provided with radiAlly outwardly pro-
jectin~ nubs 70 and 72 which are spaced with respect to
each other and to upper leg portion 32 eq~iangularly
about sleeve 28. Each of legs 30, 48 and 62 are formed
as bent U-shaped channel pieces so th~t upper leg
portions 32, 50 and 64, respectively, are formed as
radially inwardly opening channel pieces. Thus, for
example, as sleeve 42 i5 slid onto tube 46, upper leg
portion 50 is oriented so that the inwardly opening
channel of upper leg portion 50 slidingly engages nub
70. Similarly, as mounting sleeve 56 is slid onto tu~e
26, thè inwardly openi~g channel o~ upper leg portion 64
slideably engages nub 72. The engagement of nu~s 70 and
72, respectively, with the channels in upper leg
portions 50 and 64 prevent rotation of base assem~ly 12,
intermediate leg assembly 14 and upper leg assembly 15
about a longitudinal axis.
: It can further be appreciated from the foregoing
that tube 26 is si~ed so that it has an upper rim 27
which is in a ~ommon plane with upper ends 33, 51 and 65
of leg portions 32, 50 and 64, respectively. Thus, when
in the nested position, mouth 24 is in the common plane
of the upper ends of each of the support legs. The
common internal radius and external radius of each of
the mounting sleeves 42 and 56 as well as base sleeve 28
thus pre 5 ent a uniform cylindrical appearance for base
member 22, as best shown in Figure 1.
As noted above, pole 18 has a lower shank portion
19 that is received throu~h mouth 24 into the interior
11
,
~3~S~63
of tube 26. To further positîon pole l8 on support
stand 10, a positioning sleeve 21 is telescopically
received onco pole 18 and is affixed thereto. I,ower
shank portion 19 thus comprises a smaller diameter tu~e
that is telescopically received in tu~e 18 and affixed
thereto. Since tube 19 is sized to be telescopically
received on the interior of tube 26, tube 26 has a
similar diameter with pole 18. Sleeve 21 thus has a
common diameter with sleeves 28, 42 and 56 so that pole
18 may be telescapically received into mounting stand
10. Thus, it should be appreciated that tubular pole 18
can he used as an adapter to receive a flagstaff or
other elongated pole-like mem~er.
As is seen in Figures 1 through 3, and also in
Figure 4, each of legs 30, 48 and 62 are provided with
holes at their respective free ends. Specifically, free
end 40 of leg 30 is provided with an upwardly opening
hole 41, free end 54 of leg 48 is provided with upwardly
opening hole 55, and free end 68 of leg 62 is provided
~ith upwardly opening hole 69. Each of these holes is
provided to either receive a mounting stake or adjustin~
pad. By way of example, in Figure 4, leg 62 is shown
adapted to receive a stake 80 which may ~e pl~ced
through hole 69 and driven into the support surface.
This is especially useful for outdoor use where it is
desired to ~urther secure mounting stand 10 to the
ground. Where the stand 10 is used on a floor, pole 69
could receive a nail, bolt or other mounting element to
secure leg 62 onto the 100r. Such mounting structure
would be then used for each o~ holes 41, 55, and 6~.
12
,, ~. , ~ .
:
~ .
~3(~Sa~63
Alternately, an adjustable pad structure may be
providecl. As is shown in Figure 5, ~y way of example
and not limitation, a threade~ bolt 82 may be provided
and positioned upwardly into hole 69. Bolt 82 nas a
lower support pad 84, a threaded shank 86 which extends
through hol~ 62 to terminate at a threaded upper end 88
which threada~ly receives a nut 90 thereon. Leg 62 is
connected to bolt and nut assem~ly 8~,90 so that, as nut
90 i5 rotated, free end 68 of leg 62 moves upw~rdly and
downwardly. Thus, this assembly provides a position
adjust~ent between the free ends o~ each of the legs in
the support surface so as to compensate for a sli~htly
irregular support surface 20.
In operation, then, a user assembles support stand
1~ 10 by first mounting intermediate leg assembly 14 on
~ase assembly 12 by telescopically engaging tube 26 with
sleeve 42 with nub 70 engaging the channel on upper leg
portion 50 of leg 48. When this engagemant i5 com-
pleted, the user next takes upper leg assem~ly 16 and
slideably mounts sleeve 56 in telescopic relation onto
tube 26 with the channel of upper leg portion 64
engaging nub 72, This assembly may then be placed on
support surface 20 and pole 18 may be mounted therein by
placins tube 19 through mouth 24 so that lower leg
portion 19 engages the interior of tube 26. Each of
legs 30, 48 and 6~. are slightly flexible and are curved
at a large radius from its respective free end to a mid-
portion thereof. Thusj as is shown in Figure 3, leg 3a
~; extends at a gently sloping curve at a large radius from
13
.
3i4~
free end 4G to a location adjacent its attachmen-t point
34. Thus, a mid-portion of leg 30 is oriented at acute
angle 0 with respect to support surface 20 that is
engaged by free end 40. Sinc~ leg 30 is slightly
flexible, the weight of any pole-like object pla~ed in
support stand 10 will allow support stand 10 to flex and
therefore automatically accommodate slight irregulari-
ties in the support sur~ace. Further, it should be
appreciated that the use of three legs for the support
assembly is desired since Eree ends 40, 54 and 68 deEine
a plane for suppoxt stand 10 as the three engaged
points. However, any number of leg assemblies are
contemplated within the scope of this invention. Since
the free ends of each le~ engage the support surface at
a laterally offset location, the weight of the base
member and the supported object create a bending moment
on each leg that helps bind each mounting sleeve against
longitudinal movement.
Turning to the modifications oE the present
invention, ~urther mountin~ structure is shown in Figure
6. Here, support stand 110 is constructed almost
identically with support stand 10, described above.
However, as is shown in Figure 6, each upper leg portion
132, 150 and 164 o~ legs 130, 148 and 162 terminate at
upper ends 133, 151 and 165, respectively. Again these
upper en~s are in a common plane. Howe~er, the trans-
,
verse plane of upper ends 133, 151 and 165 is spaced
above rim 127 50 that each upper leg portion 132, lS0
and 164 extends above the open mouth 124 o~ base
assembly 112. Each o~ these upper leg portions is then
~ 14
:~ :
,
'
~3~S~;3
provided with a threaded hole that receives adjusting
wingheaded ~olts 180 which may be advanced in the
threaded hole in a radial direction. Thus, when a pole-
like object is inserted into support stand 10, threaded
~olts 180 may be operated to positively engage the pole
assembly to Eu~ther retain the pole assembly in release--
able connection to the support stand llO. This
embodiment is particularly usef~l as a support stand for
an artificial Christmas -tree.
As is shown in Figures 7 and $, base assembly 10
may be employed with an adapted base 100. Base 100
includes a lower shank 102 which is sized to telescopi-
cally fit through mouth 24 of base mem~er 20. A CUp-
shaped receptacle 104 has an interior cavity 106 which
has an enlarged diameter and which is sealed by plate
108 at its lower portion. A plurality of threaded bolts
109 extend through holes such as threaded hole 107 so
that bolts 109 are radially advanced into and out of
cavity 106. It should be appreciated that when adapter
base 110 is mounted on support stand 10 a pole-like
ob~ect having an enlarged base portion may be mounted
onto the stand. This adapter is particularly useful for
live Christmas trees so that, af~er the trunk of the
tree is placed within ca-~ity 106, bolts 109 are
ti~htened to secure the tree therein. Water may then be
added into receptacle 104 as is known in the art.
Naturally, virtually any adapter base having a lower
shank portion is within the scope o~ this invention.
An alternate embodiment of the support stand
according to the present invention is shown in Fi~ure 9.
~L3~ Ei3
Here, a support stand 210 is shown having a base
assembly 212 that is s~uare-shaped in cross-~ection so
that a hollow square twbe 226 replaces tube 26 of base
assembly 12. Square-shaped sleeves 228, 230, 232 and
234 extend around tube 226 with square sleeve 228
pre~erably being rigidly ~ecured thereto in a manner
similar to sleeve 28 oE the preferred emhodiment
described above. Four tubular legs 236, 233, 240 and
242 have lo,ngitudinal leg portions such that the longi-
tudinal le~ portions of legs 238, 240 and 242 are
respectively attached to sleeves 230, 232 and 234. The
mid-portion of legs 236, 238, 240 and 242 extend
upwardly and downwardly to terminate, respectively, at
free ends 256, 258, 260 and 262 that engage the support
surface by pads 266, 268, 270 and 272. Each of the legs
are fairly rigid ~ut flex slightly to again allow for
modestly uneven support surfaces. The square
confi~uration of tube 226 and sleeves 228, 230, 232 and
234 provide the angular alignment of the legs in an
equiangular position. Other polygonal shapes ~or the
' hase member could be readily empl~yed.
Alternate embodiments of the equiangular alignment
means are shown in Figure 10 and 11. In Figure 10,
base assembly 312 includes a tube 326 that has a base
sleeve 328 to which a leg 330 is attached. Intermediate
leg assembly 314 includes a leg 348 that is attached to
mounting sleeve 342, and upper leg assembly 316 has a
leg 362 that i5 rigidly secured to a sleeve 356. As is
shown in Figure 10, sleeve 328 i~ provided with a slot
16
~: .
.
: i .
~5463
329 and sleeve 342 is provided with a mating tab 341
that is si~ed to engage slot 3290 Thus, when sleeve 342
is positioned in telescopic nest~d position on tube 326,
sleeve 342 may be rotated so that tab 341 engages slot
~29 to properly align intermediate leg a~sembly 314 with
respect to rotational ansle. Si.milarly, then, sleeve
342 is provided with a ~lot 343, and sleeve 356 is
provided with a tab 355 sized to engage slot 342. When
sleeve 356 is nested onto 326, upper leg assem~ly 316
may be rotated 50 that tab 355 engages slot 342, thus
aligning each of legs 330, 348 and 362 and eqlliangular
positions about the longitudinal axis of the support
stand 310.
In Figure 11, support stand 410 is provided with a
~ase member including a tube 426. Tube 426 has a
plurality of equiangularly spaced ribs 428, and each
sleeve, such as sleeve 456 is provided with a plurality
of channels, such as channels 458, again at
equiangularly spaced intervals around the inner surface
of the mounting sleeve. Thus, when leg assemblies 414
and 416 are rotated with respect to base assembly 412,
these channels and ribs mate to equian~ularly align the
leg assemblies with respect to the base assembly a~out
the longitudinal axis.
Accordin~ly, the present invention has ~een
described with some degreP of particularity directed to
the preferred embodiment of the preSQnt invention. It
should be appreciated, though, that the present inven-
tion is deined by the following claims cons~rued in
light of the prior art so that modifications or chan~es
17
.
.
'
.
~3~3~i463
may ~e made to the preferred em~odiment of the present
invention without departing from the inventive concept~
contained herein.
:
: ~ .
' '-' . :
