Patent Application
20100032541
The present invention generally relates to instrument or equipment stands, and more particularly to a telescopic support device for instrument or equipment stands.
The sleeves 21 and the collars 24 are costly items, adding significant cost to a stand especially when a large number of them are required. In addition, various sleeves 21 and collars 24 have to be prepared by a manufacturer so as to fit on tubular segments of different diameters. Furthermore, fastening by gripping is a difficult and not-so-reliable approach in securing the structure of a stand.
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel telescopic support device so as to obviate the foregoing shortcomings.
The telescopic support device contains a number of tubular segments cascaded together by a number of intermediate segments. Each tubular segment has an outward bulge formed along a top aperture. A nut is positioned either in front of or behind the bulge. A flat and rigid spacer is positioned in the bulge.
Each intermediate segment has a cylindrical body with a C-shaped cross section and a socket besides a top aperture of the body. A curved plastic piece is positioned between the socket and the body of the intermediate segment. When each intermediate segment has its body threaded into a tubular segment, the spacer, the bulge, and the nut are housed inside the socket.
As such, when another tubular segment is threaded into the intermediate segment, a bolt could be screwed through the socket, the bulge, and then against the spacer. The spacer in turn pushes the plastic piece so as to lock the inner tubular segment.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
As shown in
The telescopic support device further contains a number of intermediate segments 15, each having a cylindrical body with a C-shaped cross section and a socket besides a top aperture of the body. Please note that an arced plastic piece 16 conforming to the curvature of cylindrical body is positioned between the socket and the body of the intermediate segment 15. When each intermediate segment 15 has its body threaded into a tubular segment 10, the spacer 14, the bulge 11, and the nut 13 of the tubular segment 10 are housed inside the socket where they are behind a flat surface 151 of the socket and in front of the plastic piece 16. Please note that the flat surface 151 also has a through opening, which are aligned with a through opening of the nut 13 and the through opening 12.
As such, when another tubular segment 17 is threaded into the intermediate segment 15, a bolt 18 could be screwed through the flat surface 151, the nut 13, the bulge 11, and then against the spacer 14. The spacer 14 in turn pushes the plastic piece 16 so as to lock the tubular segment 17.
Please note that the entire intermediate segment 15 could be made of a plastic material by molding, which is quite inexpensive. The formation of the bulge 11 is also easy and requires only a low level of expertise. The use of the plastic piece 16 also prevents scratches to the surface of the tubular segment 17.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
