ARTICULATED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

• US 20080251662A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anton/Bauer Inc. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Anton/Bauer Inc. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Inventors: DESORBO, ALEXANDER P., HULTMAN, CARL, MARKLAND, JAMES
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/178.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/022 by friction

Abstract

An articulating support assembly includes a first segment and a second segment. The first and second segments are disposed adjacent to one another. A first mating surface is defined on the first segment and a second mating surface is defined on the second segment. A tensioning assembly is operatively connected to the first and second segments such that the tensioning may be selectively operable to bias the first mating surface and the second mating surface into contact with one another thereby holding the first segment in a predetermined static orientation with respect to the second segment.

Claims

1. An articulated support assembly, comprising:

a first segment;

a second segment, said first and said second segments being disposed adjacent to one another;

a first mating surface defined on said first segment;

a second mating surface defined on said second segment; and

a tensioning means operatively connected to said first and said second segments, such that said tensioning means is selectively operable to increasingly bias said first mating surface and said second mating surface into contact with one another thereby holding said first segment in a predetermined static orientation with respect to said second segment.

2. The articulated support assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said tensioning means includes a wire, wherein a first distal end of said wire is secured to one of said first and said second engaging members; and

a second distal end of said tensioning wire is operably connected to a locking lever for selective tensioning of said tensioning wire.

3. The articulated support assembly of claim 2, wherein:

said tensioning wire is threaded through an aperture formed in said first and said second segments.

4. The articulated support assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first and said second mating surfaces define a series of matching lands and grooves.

5. The articulated support assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first and said second mating surfaces define matching convex and concave surfaces.

6. The articulated support assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first and said second segments are formed from a compressible material, such that said first and said second segments deform one another when said first mating surface is biased into contact with said second mating surface.

7. The articulated support assembly of claim 1, wherein:

one of said first mating surface and said second mating surface is formed from a compressible material, such that such one of said first and said second segments deform by interference with the other when said mating surfaces are axially biased into contact one another.

8. The articulated support assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a compressible pad is interposed between said first and second mating surfaces.

9. The support assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a support platform disposed adjacent to one of said first and said second segments.

11. The support assembly according to claim 9, wherein:

said mounting means comprises a platform.

10. A support assembly, comprising:

a plurality of adjacent members, each of said members having a profile capable of releasably engaging said adjacent members;

a tensioning means operatively connected to said adjacent members, said tensioning means being selectively operable to tension said adjacent members into engagement with respect to one another; and

a mounting means formed adjacent one of said engaging members.

12. A method for supporting an accessory at a distal end of an articulating support arm assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

forming said articulated support arm assembly from a plurality of adjacent segments;

forming a mounting means adjacent said distal end of said articulated support arm assembly, said mounting means adapted to support said accessory thereon;

operably connecting a tensioning means through said plurality of adjacent segments;

axially tensioning said plurality of adjacent segments into contact with one another by selectively actuating said tensioning means such that said plurality of adjacent segments are held in a predetermined static orientation with respect to one another; and

increasing a maximum weight of said accessory that said articulated support arm assembly can support without destroying said predetermined static orientation by increasing a force of said axial tensioning.

13. The method for supporting an accessory at a distal end of an articulated support arm assembly according to claim 12, said method further comprising the steps of:

forming said plurality of adjacent segments from a compressible material.

14. The method for supporting an accessory at a distal end of an articulated support arm assembly according to claim 12, said method further comprising the steps of:

forming a pad of compressible material; and

mounting said pad to said mating surfaces of said segments.

15. The method for supporting an accessory at a distal end of an articulated support arm assembly according to claim 12, said method further comprising the steps of:

forming a pad of compressible material; and

interposing said pad between opposing ends of said adjacent segments.

16. The method for supporting an accessory at a distal end of an articulating support arm assembly according to claim 12, said method further comprising the steps of:

defining a series of matching lands and grooves on said plurality of adjacent segments.

17. The method for supporting an accessory at a distal end of an articulating support arm assembly according to claim 12, said method further comprising the steps of:

defining a mating topography on the convex and concave mating surfaces on said plurality of adjacent segments.