Support stand assembly and method

• US 20050167552A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas N. Tourtellotte
• Original Assignee: Thomas N. Tourtellotte
• Inventors: Alderete, Frank Sr., Tourtellotte, Mills C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,273,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/158
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/692 Portable base members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2238 to be placed on the ground Christmas tree stands A47G33/12

Abstract

One or more support stand assemblies are utilized for mounting functional equipment or creating a barrier on variable surfaces or a surface which may be sloped. Each support stand preferably includes a support post configured to be releaseably secured to a stabilizer member with the support post including a functional end adapted for attachment to a functional structure. The support stand further includes a base preferably including first and second legs being configurable in a set up operating configuration and alternately a collapsed stowed configuration. After use, the support post is removed from the stabilizer member and the locking faster is loosened to permit the first and second legs to be substantially aligned and stowed adjacent the support post in a compactable bundle for handling and shipping.

Claims

1. A support stand assembly for creating a barrier, comprising:

a support post having a functional end adapted for attachment to a functional structure;

a base comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotally attached with respect to each other, said first leg and said second leg being orientable at a given angle with respect to each other in an operating configuration for engaging said surface, and said legs being alternately orientable to a closed stowed configuration with said first leg and said second leg being oriented substantially parallel with respect to each other; and

a stabilizer member attachable to at least one of said first leg or said second leg, said stabilizer member being selectively located so as to limit a range of pivotal movement of said first leg with respect to said second leg, said first leg and said second leg forming a plane at least substantially orthogonal to said support post.

2. The support stand assembly of claim 1 wherein said support stand assembly is usable on a variable surface, further comprising:

at least one leveler foot attached to at least one of said first leg or second leg, said leveler foot comprising a housing and a movable structure which is extendable and retractable with respect to said housing, whereby said moveable structure is extendable so as to engage said variable surface to permit leveling of said base on said variable surface, said movable structure being retractable with respect to said housing.

3. The support stand assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a first leveler foot and a second leveler foot attached adjacent respectively opposing ends of said first leg, and a third leveler foot attached adjacent an end of said second leg, whereby said first, second and third feet cooperate to level said base on irregular, contoured, or flat surfaces.

4. The support stand assembly of claim 3, wherein said base is orientable in said closed stowed configuration with said first and second legs substantially aligned such that said attached first, second, and third leveler feet cooperate in conjunction with said stabilizer member to securely capture said support post adjacent said closed base.

5. The support stand assembly of claim 3, wherein said base is orientable in said closed stowed configuration with said first and second legs substantially aligned such that said attached first, second, and third leveler feet cooperate in conjunction with said stabilizer member to capture said support post in tension adjacent said closed base.

6. The support stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said support post is formed from a flexible material.

7. The support stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a first leg and a second leg being connected at a fixed pivot point so as to be rotatable with respect to each other, said base being constructed in a scissor-leg configuration.

8. The support stand assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary securing structure selectively attachable at a selectable position to said support post, said auxiliary securing structure providing a support for removable barrier equipment.

9. The support stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said functional structure comprises at least one of camera equipment, video equipment, surveying equipment, barrier equipment, a sign, a barrier line or a signal flag.

10. The support stand assembly of claim 1, and further comprising:

a support post extension comprising a coupling structure to connect said support post extension to said support post which permits said functional end of said support post to be selectively positioned at a desired distance from said base.

11. A support stand assembly comprising:

a support post having a functional end adapted for attachment to a functional structure;

a base comprising a first leg and a second leg pivotally connected with respect to each other, said first leg and said second leg being rotatable to an angle with respect to each other in an operating configuration, and said legs being alternately rotatable such that said first and said second legs are substantially aligned in a stowed configuration for storage and shipping; and

a stabilizer member attachable to at least one leg, said stabilizer member comprising a connector for releaseably securing said support post in a substantially upright orientation.

12. The support stand assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

an adapter sleeve configured to be alternately attached to said stabilizer member instead of said support post, said adapter sleeve comprising structure adapted to mount said sign post;

a sign post having a functional end, said adapter sleeve being mounted to said stabilizer member, said adapter sleeve comprising mating and connecting structure to releaseably secure said sign post in a substantially upright orientation, said functional end of said sign post being adapted to mount a sign frame.

13. The support stand assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a sign post having a functional end, said stabilizer member comprising mating and connecting structure for releaseably securing said sign post in a substantially upright orientation, said functional end of said sign post being adapted to mount a sign frame.

14. The support stand assembly of claim 13, wherein said sign frame is comprised of at least a plurality of frame members, said plurality of frame members being releaseably connectable with respect to each other to form an adjustable sized frame which may be selectively expanded or contracted to fit a desired display sign structure.

15. The support stand assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of structural member connections for quickly securing and unsecuring frame member connections wherein said frame members are in substantially orthogonal relationship with respect to each other.

16. The support stand combination of claim 13, and further comprising:

a sign post extension comprising coupling structure to connect said sign post extension to said sign post which permits said functional end of said sign post to be selectively positioned at a desired distance from said base.

17. The support stand assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one leveler foot attached to at least one of said first leg or second leg, said leveler foot comprising a housing and a movable structure which is extendable and retractable with respect to said housing, whereby said moveable structure is extendable so as to engage the ground or other surface to permit leveling of said base on said surface which may be sloped or flat, said movable structure being retractable with respect to said housing.

18. A method for setting up a barrier, said method comprising:

pivotally connecting a first leg and a second leg to form a base;

attaching a stabilizer member to said first leg adjacent a midpoint thereof;

orienting said second leg in a range of angles substantially around 90 degrees with respect to said first leg, such that said second leg positively contacts the outer surface of said stabilizer member to foster stability of said base in a set up configuration;

mounting said support post to said stabilizer member to secure said support post in a substantially upright orientation; and

attaching a barrier line to said support post.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detaching said barrier line from said support post;

detaching said support post from said stabilizer member;

orienting said second leg with respect to said first leg so as to substantially align said first and second legs in a stowed configuration;

stowing said support post in a substantially parallel configuration adjacent said first and second legs in said stowed configuration; and

securing a strap around said support post and said first and second legs in a compactable bundle for shipping and handling.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

selectively attaching an auxiliary securing member to said support post at a desired distance from said base; and

attaching a barrier line or signal flag to said auxiliary securing member.