Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJUSTABLE EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY AND BASE THEREFOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment, and is more particularly concerned
immersible and adjustable equipment and a therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Immersible and adjustable equipment, such as furniture or sporting equipment,
as well as kits and assemblies providing such, are well known in the art. For
example, US Patent Application 09/748,899, filed by Shinn on December 27,
2000 and published on June 5, 2003, teaches an adjustable equipment
assembly for table furniture which provides a table furniture, or equipment,
top
telescopically mounted on an equipment base, the equipment top essentially
providing a table top. The base is set on a support surface and supports the
equipment top thereabove. As the equipment top is telescopically mounted on
the equipment base, height of the table, and notably the equipment top, may be
readily adjusted. However, the furniture equipment taught by Shinn does not
appear to be readily immersible and usable in water or another liquid.
Further,
the furniture disclosed by Shinn does not appear to provide any mechanism for
leveling the equipment top when the base is rested on an uneven support
surface. Additionally, the pneumatic mechanism for adjusting the height of the
equipment top is unnecessarily complex.
US Patent No. 5,644,873, issued to Bourgault on July 8, 1997, discloses
immersible equipment, namely stairs, for use in an environment, such as a
swimming pool, wherein the support surface upon which the equipment rests is
below a liquid surface of a body of liquid, such as water. While the equipment
taught by Bourgault is readily immersed and maintained on the surface by a
weighting or ballast element, such as sand bags, it is not readily adjustable
in
height above the support surface and does not appear to have any means for
easily leveling the equipment when the equipment surface is uneven.
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Accordingly, there is a need for an improved equipment assembly and
equipment base therefor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide improved
an
improved equipment assembly for providing equipment and an equipment base
therefore for supporting the equipment assembly on a surface.
An advantage of the present invention is that the equipment provided thereby
is
easily adjustable in height relative a support surface upon which the
equipment
base rests.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the equipment base and
equipment top of the assembly connected thereto can easily be leveled, even
when the equipment base is situated on an uneven support surface.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the equipment assembly
can
be easily immersed and used in a liquid environment, with the support surface
on which the assembly rests situated below a liquid surface of the liquid.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that the equipment top is
removably attachable to the equipment base and may be changed from one
type of equipment top, such as a stool seat or table top, to an another type
of
equipment top, such as a sport equipment top to provide, for example, sporting
equipment such a net pole, basketball net, or the like.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the equipment top may be
raised and lowered on the equipment base to adjust the height of the equipment
top relative a support base of the equipment base and a support surface upon
which the support base is situated.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
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In one aspect, the present invention provides an equipment base for supporting
an equipment top connectable thereto, the equipment top having an equipment
portion adapted for use as equipment by a user connectable thereto, above a
surface upon which the equipment top is placed, the equipment base
comprising:
- a support base having a top side to which the equipment top is
connectable and a generally opposed bottom side;
- a plurality of channels extending through the support base from the top
side to the bottom side and substantially equally spaced apart relative
one another proximal a perimeter defined by the support base of the
base, and a respective leg adjustably mounted in each channel, each leg
having a first end proximal the top side and a second end proximal the
bottom side, wherein each the leg is adjustably raisable and lowerable in
the respective channel for raising and lowering the base relative the
support by extension and retraction of the leg in contact with the support
surface for adjusting tilt of the support base relative thereto and leveling
of the equipment portion relative thereto, when the equipment top is
connected to the equipment base and the support base is set on the
support surface.
In another aspect, there is provided an equipment assembly comprising:
- an equipment top having an equipment portion adapted for use as
equipment by a user and a circular threaded top socket disposed
substantially normal to the equipment portion and having two generally
opposed socket apertures extending longitudinally on an internally
threaded portion of a socket wall thereof; and
- an equipment base for placement on a support surface and connectable
to the equipment top for supporting the equipment top on the support
surface, the equipment base comprising:
- a support base having a top side with a base member extending
substantially normally therefrom and rotatingly insertable in the
top socket to connect the equipment top and the support base, a
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bottom side, a plurality of channels extending therethrough from
the top side to the bottom side and substantially equally spaced
apart relative one another proximal a perimeter of the support
base, and a respective leg adjustably mounted in each channel,
each leg having a first end proximal the top side and a second
end proximal the bottom side; and
- a retainer assembly for retaining the base member in the top
socket, wherein each the leg is adjustably raisable and lowerable
in the respective channel for raising and lowering the base
relative the support surface by extension and retraction of the leg
in contact with the support surface for adjusting tilt of the support
base relative thereto and leveling of the equipment portion when
the equipment top is connected to the base and the support base
is set on the support surface.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better
understood with reference to the description in association with the following
Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar
components, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an equipment assembly
and equipment base therefor in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 1a is a perspective view of an embodiment an equipment assembly in
accordance with the present invention showing an alternative equipment base
therefore;
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Figure 2 is a sectional view of the equipment assembly taken along line 2-2 of
Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of an equipment assembly in accordance
with an altemative embodiment of the present invention.
5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no
means as of limitation.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, therein is shown an equipment assembly,
shown generally as 10. The equipment assembly 10 includes an equipment
base therefor, shown generally as 30, as well as a equipment top 12, which has
a equipment portion 14 adapted for use as equipment, such as furniture or
sports equipment, and a preferably circular and threaded top socket 18,
disposed, preferably substantially normally, i.e. at approximately 90 degrees,
therebelow. The top socket 18 connects the equipment top 12 either directly or
indirectly to the equipment base 30. For example, and as shown, the top socket
18 may be disposed within, and defined by, circularly shaped socket walls 24
extending substantially normally from the equipment portion 14 and having two
generally opposed and aligned longitudinal socket apertures 26, preferably of
identical dimension. However, the top socket 18 may be any socket, and have
any orientation relative the equipment portion 14, by which the equipment top
12 may be connected to the equipment base 18 and raised and lowered in
relation thereto. The retaining means or assembly, shown generally as 28,
retains the equipment top 12 and equipment base 30 connected to one another.
The equipment portion 14 may, for example and as shown, include a flat user
surface 16 suitable for use as a table, shelf, or stool. However, the
equipment
portion 14 may be or include any structure suitable for use as equipment
mounted and supported on a support surface 20 by the equipment base 30, and
which is connectable either directly or indirectly thereto. For example, the
equipment portion could be a structure suitable for use as sports equipment,
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such as a pole for holding a net, a basketball net, or the like. The equipment
portion 14 may also be detachable from the top socket 18. Accordingly, the
equipment base 30 and equipment top 12 may be provided together or
separately from one another. Alternatively, the entire equipment assembly 10,
including the equipment base 30 and the equipment top 12, could be provided
together, for example as a kit.
To aid the reader in better understanding the specific features of the
invention,
the equipment base 30 is now described in greater detail. The equipment base
30 has a support base 32 having a generally opposed base top side 34 and
base bottom side 36. The base bottom side 36 is preferably flat and faces a
support surface 20 upon which the equipment base 30 is placed, for example
set or seated by a user, to support the equipment top 12 when connected
thereto. A preferably hollow base member 38, preferably elongate and
cylindrical in shape, of the equipment base 30 is disposed substantially
normal
to the support base 32, and extends, preferably substantially normally,
upwardly
therefrom, notably from the base top side 34. In order to provide sufficient
mass
to the equipment base 30 to anchor the equipment base 30, with the equipment
top 12 connected thereto, resting on the support surface 20, the base member
30 is preferably configured 44 for receiving and housing at least one ballast
or
weighting element 50, which may include, for example, bags of sand, metal
weights, or any other material suitable for use in the environment in which
the
equipment base 30 and equipment top 12 are to be used. The support base 32,
and in particular the base bottom thereof 36, is preferably sized and shaped
to
provide sufficient distribution and balance of the mass of the equipment top
12
and the weighting elements 50 to impede accidental upset of the equipment
assembly 10 in the environment in which it is deployed.
A plurality of, preferably cylindrical and preferably internally threaded,
channels
40 extend through the support base 32 from the base top side 34 to the base
bottom side 36. The channels 40 are spaced apart, preferably at substantially
equal distance relative one another, around the support base 32, preferably in
proximity to a perimeter 42 thereof. For each channel 40, there is a,
preferably
cylindrical and threaded, channel member or leg 44. The leg 44 is adjustably
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disposed, for example rotatingly screwed into or mounted, in the channel 40
therein such that a first end 46 of the leg 44 is situated generally proximal
the
base top side 34 and a generally opposed second end 48 of the leg 44 is
proximal the base bottom side 36, preferably extending outwardly thereof. By
using an adjustment means 52, adapted along with the first end 46 for rotating
the leg 44 in the channel 40, each leg 44 may be adjustably raised and lowered
therein such that the second end 48 extends out of the base bottom side 36 to
rest on the support surface 20 and support a portion of the support base 32 at
an adjustable distance thereabove. By raising and lowering one or more of the
legs 44 in this fashion, the tilt of the support base 32 relative the support
surface
46 when set thereon and supported by at least one of the legs 44 can be
adjusted to level the equipment top 12 when connected to the equipment base
30 seated on the support surface 20. Thus, the equipment top 12 can,
advantageously, be leveled when connected to the equipment base 30, even
when the support surface 20 upon which the equipment base 30 rests is not
itself level.
The adjustment means 12 is preferably an adjustment member 52 having an
adjustment end 56 sized and shaped for mating engagement in an adjustment
socket 54 disposed on the first end 46 thereof. A curved end 76 of the
adjustment member 52, generally opposed the adjustment end 56 and curved
or otherwise disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative the
rest
of the member 52, facilitates turning of the member 52 when the adjustment end
56 is engaged in the adjustment socket 54 for rotating the member 52 in the
channel 40 to raise and lower the member 52 to effect leveling of the
equipment
assembly 10. For example, and as shown, the adjustment member 52 could be
a conventional Allen key 52, with the adjustment socket 54 and adjustment end
56 being hexagonal in shape.
The base member 30 and equipment top 12 are adjustably and removably
connected together, for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, by mating
insertion and engagement of the base member 38 into the top socket 18. More
specifically, the top socket 18 is placed on the base member 38 such that a
base member threaded portion 70, generally opposite the support base 32 is
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engaged with, i.e. introduced into, an internal threaded portion 72 of the top
socket 18. The equipment top 12 and base member 38 can then be rotated, or
screwed, relative one another about a base member axis 78 defined by the
base member 38 to move the equipment top 12 up and down on the base
member 38. Accordingly, the position of the equipment top 12, and specifically
the equipment portion 14, relative the support base 32, and the support
surface
20 when the equipment base 30 is placed thereon, may be readily adjusted.
To retain the equipment top 12 on the base member 12 in a desired position
relative the support base 32, or proximal to such a desired position, to
equipment top 12 is rotated slightly to align the side apertures with two
generally
opposed retaining apertures 66 disposed on the base member threaded portion
70 with the socket apertures 26. A retaining means or assembly 28 is then
engaged in the apertures 28, 66 to retain the equipment top 12 connected to
the
equipment base 30 in the desired position. For example, and as shown, the
retaining assembly may be a retaining bolt or member 60 sized and shaped for
extension through the apertures 26, 66 by insertion of a threaded retaining
member portion 74 of the member therethrough until the threaded retaining
member portion 74 extends out of one of the socket apertures 26 with the head
62 of the member 60 extending out of the opposing socket aperture 26. The
retaining member cap or nut 64 is then screwed onto the threaded retaining
member portion 74. To change the position of the equipment top 12 or to
remove the equipment top 12 from the equipment base, the nut 64 is simply
unscrewed from the bolt 60 and the bolt 60 withdrawn from the apertures 26,
66, allowing the equipment top to be rotated to a new position or removed. If
desired the retaining apertures 26 may also be threaded. It should be noted
that any other means or mechanism capable of retaining the equipment top 12
and the equipment base 30 connected together with the equipment top 12 at a
desired position may be deployed as the retaining means or assembly.
Advantageously, weighting elements 50 can be added or removed prior to
connecting the equipment top 12 to the equipment base 30, or by simply
removing the equipment top 12 as just described, and reconnecting the top 12.
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Depending on the material of which the equipment base 30, equipment top 16,
and weighting elements 50 are constructed, as well as the size of the
equipment
base 30 and equipment top 12, the equipment assembly 10 may be used for a
variety of applications in a variety of environments. For example, the
equipment
assembly 10 could be used in a standard outdoor environment, such as on a
lawn or a patio, or an indoor environment, such as in a room, where the
equipment assembly 10 is not immersed. In such cases, the assembly 10 could
be constructed of a variety of materials, such as metal, plastics, or a
combination thereof.
Additionally, the equipment assembly 10 could be deployed in an immersed
environment, such as a swimming pool, beach, or bath tub. In such
environments, the support surface 20 would typically be situated below a
liquid
surface 68 of a liquid, such as water, in which equipment assembly 10, set on
the support surface 20 would be at least partially immersed in the liquid. For
liquid environments, the equipment base 30, equipment top 12, and retaining
member 62 and nut 64 are preferably made of a sturdy lightweight plastic,
which
may be buoyant in the liquid. By placing of the weighting elements 50 in the
base member 38, for example a plurality of bags of sand, the equipment base
30 can be solidly anchored by the mass thereof, on the support surface 20,
with
the equipment top 12 connected thereto. Thus the weighting elements 50 can
act as ballast in the liquid environment to overcome buoyancy of assembly 10.
As an example of the use of the equipment assembly 10 in a liquid environment,
the equipment assembly 10 could be deployed in a shallow pool of
approximately three feet in depth, i.e. between the support surface 20 and the
liquid surface 68. The equipment base 30 could be approximately 23 inches in
height with the support base 32 being 14 inches in diameter, and the base
member threaded portion 70 10 inches in height. The internal threaded portion
72 of the equipment top 12 would, preferably, be about 11 inches in height,
with
the base member 38 and socket 24 being between 8 and 8.5 inches in
diameter. Given these dimensions, and notably the height of portions 70, 72,
the equipment base can easily be set on the support surface 20, the weighting
elements 50 placed therein, and the equipment top 12 subsequently connected
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thereto such that the equipment portion 14, notably the user surface 16 is
situated above the liquid surface 68.
Advantageously, regardless of the environment in which the equipment
assembly 10 is deployed, use of the adjustment means 52 allows for adjustment
5 of the legs 44 to adjust the tilt and level the equipment top 12, as
previously
described, with a minimum of effort. At the same time, the height or position
of
the equipment top 12 can be easily adjusted by rotation thereof relative the
base member 38, without resorting to complex pneumatic devices or, depending
on the height of the equipment assembly, excessive bending or leaning over of
10 a person adjusting the position of the equipment top 12.
Optionally, and as shown, the second end 48 of each leg may have a leg base
or foot 90 extending radially therearound, with each foot providing a
substantially flat foot surface 92. When such feet 90 are present, it is the
foot
surface 92 that rests on the support surface 20. The foot 90 is preferably
constructed of a soft rubber or soft rubberized polymer, for minimizing risk
of
damage to the support surface 20, and which is adapted to prevent slippage on
the support surface 20. Accordingly, such feet 20 are particularly useful in
liquid
environments, such as swimming pools, which may have linings or the like for
which tears must be avoided. Similarly, to reduce risk of damage to walls or
the
like that may extend upwardly from the support surface 20 when the support
base 32 is situated proximal thereto, each foot may have an upwardly curving
lip 94 curving upwardly away from the foot surface 92. Further, the circular
shape of the support base 32, having no corners, also minimized risk of damage
to the support surface 20, walls extending upwardly therefrom, or other
structures situated proximal the support base 32.
It is important to note that other shapes are possible for the support base 32
of
the equipment base 30. For example, and as shown in Figure 1 a, the
equipment base 30' could have a support base 32' that consists of a plurality,
and preferably at least three, support arms 200 having top and bottom sides,
respectively 34 and 36, and from which the base member 38 extends
substantially normally therefrom, with the base member 38 interconnecting the
arms 200. The support arms 200 are preferably substantially equally spaced
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apart relative one another and extend radially from the base member 38. As
with support base 32 shown in Figure 1, the alternative support base 32' has
channels 40 with channel members or legs 44 disposed therein for adjusting
tilt
of the support base 32', with the channels also being preferably equally
spaced
apart relative one another in proximity to a perimeter defined by the outer
ends
202 of the legs. Besides the difference in form, the support base 32' shown in
Figure 1 a maintains all of the features and functionality of the support base
332
shown in Figure 1.
It should be noted that the equipment base 30 and equipment top 12 shown are
for purposes of example only. In particular, the equipment top 12, and in
particular the equipment portion 14 thereof, may be modified from that shown
to
provide any number of structures commonly used as furniture. Further, and
referring now to another embodiment of the equipment assembly 10' shown in
Figure 3, an intermediate member 100 having a threaded intermediate member
socket 102 and an intermediate member threaded portion 104 may be
deployed, along with retaining assembly 28 and apertures 26, 66 to connect the
equipment top 12 to the equipment base 30. Finally, it should also be noted
that the assembly 10', 10, or the equipment base 30 alone could be provided as
a kit, including the adjustment means 28, if desired. Additionally, the top
socket
18 and base member 38 could also be removably connectable to, respectively,
the equipment portion 14 and the support base 32, 32'. For example, the top
socket 18 and base member 38 could be removably screwed into, respectively,
the equipment portion 14 and the support base 32, 32'.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way
of
example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of
the
embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and
modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
