Patent Application
20080025138
The novel features believed characteristic of the present invention are set forth in appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference now to the figures, and particularly
Base 11 comprises an elongate, rectangular platform having a length approximating the height (long side) of bag 5 and bifurcated by longitudinal axis B. Base 11 preferably is fabricated from a weldment of schedule 80 aluminum channel having base back 12 sandwiched between base sides 14, the latter giving base 11 rigidity and a location on which to attach front legs 30. Preferably, sides 14 are disposed along back 12 such that they extend upward therefrom (away from resting surface 2) and flush with planar back 12 beneath base 11.
Base 11 further includes latch means 50 and apertures 13 which are both preferably disposed on back 12 along axis B and which are discussed in more detail below. As discussed above, shoe 17 couples to the front of base 11 symmetrically transverse axis B and comprises an interface having a partially curved shape substantially matching the outer curvature of mixing container 7. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that shoe 17 may comprise any number of configurations designed to secure a reliable interface means between base 11 and container 7, such as clamps, recesses for a portion of container 7 or the like (none shown), and that all such potential configurations are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Coupled to base 11 by hinge 19 adjacent shoe 17, elevator 20 preferably comprises a second weldment of aluminum channel having bottom 21 sandwiched between elevator walls 22 and disposed along and bifurcated by elevator axis E. Walls 22 extend generally upward from and perpendicular to bottom 21 and form a channel for embracing and confining bag 5 to prevent it from slipping sideways off of elevator 20 during use. Walls 22 also serve to confine any small quantities of dry mortar 3 which inadvertently escape bag 5 and to channel dry mortar 3 toward container 7. Walls 22 terminate near shoe 17 and taper or curve toward bottom 21 to form and define mouth 24 through which dry mortar 3 is directed toward container 7. Opposite mouth 24 and disposed transverse axis E between the rear ends of walls 22, handle 23 extends perpendicular to bottom 21 to surround and define a horizontal slot, or finger hole 23A. Handle 23 allows a user conveniently to grasp elevator 20 while raising it into one or another of a plurality of tilted positions (one shown in
Disposed beneath bottom 21, prop retention means for retaining elevator 20 in one or another of said tilted positions comprises prop rod 27 coupled by its end proximate bottom 21 to prop hinge 29 and extending downward toward base 11 to terminate at its distal end in nose 28A (see
Also disposed beneath elevator 20 bottom 21, gussett 26 aligns with retaining lug 16 affixed to the rear of base 11 (see
Turning now also to
Rear leg assembly 40 comprises single rear leg post 41 coupled to the rear end of base 11 by rear leg hinge 47 such that in its extended position perpendicular to base 11, post 41 is disposed adjacent the rear end of base 11. Post 41 preferably comprises a length of square aluminum tubing closed at its proximate end adjacent base 11 but open at its distal end to define and surround an opening for receiving latch 50, as discussed in more detail below. Rear legs 43 disposed on the distal end of post 41 extend therefrom at an oblique angle to terminate in rear leg footpads 33.
When post 41 is in its extended, vertical position, as depicted in
In its folded position, as depicted in
The lengths of front and rear leg assemblies 30, 40 are selected to elevate base 11 to any desired height. As depicted in the figures, front and rear leg assemblies 30, 40 elevate base 11 just high enough that elevator 20 extends over the top of mixing container 7. Thereby mouth 24 can channel dry mortar 3 and discharge it into container 7 when elevator 20 is tilted as shown in
In operation, a user prepares to conduct a mortaring job by first marshaling in the vicinity of stand 10 dry mortar bag 5, container 7, a water source (not shown) and means for stirring (not shown) admix 4. Next, the user unfolds rear leg assembly 40 by pulling forward (toward shoe 17) on plunger 51 to compress biasing spring 53 until nose 52 clears the distal end of post 41. This allows the user to pivot rear leg assembly 40 into its extended position. The user removes pin 18 from lug 16 and gusset 26, aligns pin hole 45 with lug 16 and re-inserts pin 18 through lug 16 and into pin hole 45 until it protrudes out the other side of post 41. A small aperture (not shown) in the end of pin 18 may be provided for a keeper (not shown) to be placed through pin 18 to prevent it from inadvertently backing out of engagement with post 41. The user then fully extends front leg assembly 30 and erects stand 10 upright with its footpads 33, 44 resting on surface 2 and shoe 17 nested against container 7.
Next, the user prepares bag 5 for use with stand 10 by first making sure there is sufficient space beneath the flaps on one end thereof to receive spine 25. This does not require, nor in fact is it desirable, that such end of bag 5 be opened to its interior, but merely that the user insure that narrow gap 9 (see
In all likelihood, at this juncture, some dry mortar 3 will have spilled out of the pouring port in bag 5 and onto elevator 20 between walls 22. This presents little or no problem for the user, because walls 22 confine dry mortar 3 and direct it toward mouth 24 where it is discharged into container 7. To varying degrees determined by the extent to which the flaps of bag 5 near the front of stand 10 are opened, dry mortar 3 cascades from bag 5 onto bottom 21 and out mouth 24 into container 7 without the user tilting elevator 20 at all. As such dry mortar 3 flow slows, the user then can raise elevator 20 as needed to increase and regulate such dry mortar 3 flow into container 7. The user then manipulates the water source and stirring means to create admix 4 within container 7, regulating the water and/or the flow of dry mortar 3 to create the proper viscosity for admix 4. At the beginning of the mixing operation, the water already have been introduced into container 7 in most cases. As the user desires, he may promote more of dry mortar 3 to cascade from bag 5 and into container 7 to increase the volume of admix 4, at first by simply squeezing or bumping bag 5, and then by grasping handle 23A to lift elevator 20 into one of a series of successively greater tilted position of increasing angular displacement above base 11, all the while stirring and adding water to admix 4.
By selectively positioning nose 28A into each aperture 13, the user can determine with accuracy the degree of tilt of elevator 20. As nose 28A is moved from aperture 13 nearest hinge 24 to apertures successively further from hinge 24, elevator 20 is tilted at successively greater angular displacements relative to base 11. The user grasps handle 23 and lifts until prop nose 28A clears one aperture 13 and slides along axis B until it drops into the next aperture 13. At this point, if sufficient tilt is achieved, the user relaxes his lift on handle 23 and lets crossbar 28 rest against back 12, thereby affixing elevator 20 in the new tilted position. As more dry mortar 3 is needed (e.g. when bag 5 begins to empty, or for a faster pour), the user again grasps handle 23 and increases the tilt of elevator 20. To impede or stop flow of dry mortar 3 from bag 5, the user lifts handle 23 slightly to disengage prop nose 28A from aperture 13 and lowers elevator 20 to a lower angular displacement, or all the way to its storage position parallel and adjacent base 11 while manually supporting rod 27 with his other hand. In elevator 20's fully folded, horizontal position adjacent base 11, rod 27 rests atop back 12 between sides 14 of base 11. Once the right amount of admix is prepared, the user ceases the pouring process, closes the pouring port in bag 5 temporarily until he desires to mix another batch of admix 4, and proceeds with his mortaring project
The present invention, described in either its preferred or alternate embodiment, thus serves to handle the weight of bag 5 during the pouring procedure to create admix 4. By relieving the user of this weight, which at first typically is as much as eighty pounds (for dry mortar), stand 10 permits the user to direct his attention to the quantity and quality of admix 4 without concern for injury, spillage or having to make too much admix for the project because of imprecise pouring of dry mortar 3. The invention also helps in preventing a user from having to inhale dry mortar 3 dust and to adjust the consistency and smoothness of admix 4.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to one or more embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, base 11 was described above as a length of aluminum channel formed by back 12 with sides 14 extending generally upward. Other configurations for base 11 could serve as well, such as an H-shaped length of aluminum bar, a solid block of aluminum, or by reversing the channel formed by back 12 and sides 14 such that the latter extend downward toward surface 2. In the latter two circumstances, means for providing a recess between back 11 and bottom 21 of elevator 20 must be provided if the elevator prop means described using prop rod 27 and apertures 13 is employed. However, alternate prop means could be employed, such as dual props pivotally coupled to each side of elevator 20 and adapted to engage notches in base 11 without requiring any recess between base 11 and elevator 20.
Further, elevator 20 has been described as adapted to be manually manipulated using handle 23A, with prop 27 serving to hold it into one of its plurality of tilted positions angularly displaced above base 11. Alternately, base 11 could be equipped with a worm gear (not shown) and elevator 20 with a traveler gear (not shown) to equip stand 10 with a crank-or motor-driven rack-and-pinion method for raising and lowering elevator 20. In such case, friction along in the rack-and-pinion mechanism may be sufficient to hold elevator 20 in its various tilted positions, or a small catch or chuck may be employed for safety. These alternate elevator 20 movement means may well become increasingly important as stand 10 is adapted for larger bags 5 and affixed to a large vat (not shown) or vehicle for mixing larger volumes of admix 4, as discussed above.
Finally, stand 10 has been described as fabricated entirely from aluminum stock, be it aluminum tubes for legs 32, 43 and post 41, and channel for elevator 20 and base 11. Stand 10 could, however, be fabricated from other materials, such as steel, wood or high grade extruded thermoset plastics, with concomitant variations in thicknesses and sizes of various elements to provide the required strength of materials.
