Invertible Structure with a Track

• US 20150211674A1
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balsam International Unlimited Company (Balsam Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ucp International Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jalbert, David, Simonelli, David, Eaker, Diane, Maloney, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,581,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/00 Artificial flowers, fruit, leaves, or trees artificial Christmas trees A47G33/06; Garlands
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/045 adapted to left-right translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms

Abstract

The disclosed invertible structures rely on combinations of translational movements to effect inversion. An exemplary invertible structure includes a track operable to be slidably coupled to at least two connectors of a longitudinal structure. The track may have a slot having a plurality of translational axes for translational movements of the connectors of the longitudinal structure that would effect the inversion of the longitudinal structure.

Claims

1. An invertible structure, comprising:

a stand;

a support portion connected to the stand and extending upwardly from the stand;

a track connected to the support portion, the track having a body and a slot defined therein, the slot having a plurality of translational axes; and

a longitudinal portion comprising at least two connectors, the at least two connectors being disposed at least partially in the slot;

wherein the connectors of the longitudinal portion are operable to be translated along the translational axes of the slot such that the longitudinal portion is re-orientated from a substantially upright orientation to a substantially inverted orientation or from a substantially inverted orientation to a substantially upright orientation.

2. The invertible structure of claim 1, wherein the slot of the track has a first translational axis defined by a first portion of the slot.

3. The invertible structure of claim 2, wherein the connectors of the longitudinal portion are operable to translate along the first translational axis while the longitudinal portion is in a substantially upright orientation.

4. The invertible structure of claim 2, wherein the slot of the track has a second translational axis defined by a second portion of the slot.

5. The invertible structure of claim 4, wherein the first and second translational axes are substantially parallel.

6. The invertible structure of the claim 4, wherein the connectors of the longitudinal portion are operable to substantially align along the second translational axis while the longitudinal portion is in a substantially inverted orientation.

7. The invertible structure of claim 2, wherein the slot of the track has third and fourth translational axes defined by third and fourth portions of the slot, the third and fourth translational axes being oblique to each other and being oblique to the first and second translational axes of the slot.

8. The invertible structure of claim 2, wherein the slot of the track has third, fourth, and fifth translational axes defined by third, fourth, and fifth portions of the slot, the third, fourth, and fifth translational axes being oblique to each other, the fourth translational axis being substantially perpendicular to the first and second translational axes of the slot.

9. The invertible structure of claim 8, wherein the connectors of the longitudinal portion are operable to rest along different translational axes when only gravitational force is applied on the longitudinal portion thereby resulting in the longitudinal portion being rested in an oblique orientation.

10. The invertible structure of claim 8, wherein the connectors of the longitudinal portion are operable to rest along different translational axes when only gravitational force is applied on the longitudinal portion thereby resulting in the longitudinal portion being rested in a substantially perpendicular orientation.

11. A track operable to be slidably coupled to at least two connectors of a longitudinal structure, the track comprising:

a body; and

a slot defined in the body, the slot having a plurality of translational axes, including a first translational axis defined by a first portion of the slot; and

a spring device connected to the body;

wherein a first end coil portion of the spring device is connected to the body and a second end coil portion of the spring device is operable to exert a force, either directly or indirectly, on the longitudinal structure, and wherein the force is in a direction substantially along the first translational axis.

12. The track of claim 11, wherein the spring device is seated in a cavity adjacent to the first portion of the slot, and when the at least two connectors are in the first portion of the slot, the spring device is operable to apply a translational force on one of the at least two connectors, thereby contributing to a translational movement of the at the least two connectors along the first translation axis.

13. The track of claim 11, wherein the spring device comprises an end plate connected to the second end coil portion of the spring device, the end plate having an extender extending from the cavity into the first portion of the slot, the extender being configured to exert the translational force on the one of the at least two connectors.

14. An invertible structure, comprising:

a stand;

a support portion connected to the stand and extending upwardly from the stand;

a track connected to the first longitudinal portion, the track having a body and a slot defined therein, the slot having a plurality of translational axes; and

a longitudinal portion comprising at least two connectors, the at least two connectors being disposed at least partially in the slot;

wherein the connectors of the longitudinal portion are operable to be translated along the translational axes of the slot such that the longitudinal portion is re-orientated from a substantially upright orientation to a substantially inverted orientation or from a substantially inverted orientation to a substantially upright orientation; and

wherein when the longitudinal portion is in the substantially upright position, an end portion of the longitudinal portion is received in the stand.

15. The invertible structure of claim 14, wherein the stand comprises a releasable mechanism for receiving the end portion of the longitudinal portion.

16. The invertible structure of claim 15, wherein the releasable mechanism comprises:

a stand slot defined in the stand for receiving the end portion of the longitudinal portion; and

a spring device seated in a cavity adjacent to the stand slot;

wherein the spring device is operable to exert an upward force, either directly or indirectly, on the end portion of the longitudinal portion when received in the stand slot.

17. The invertible structure of claim 16, wherein the spring device comprises a spring and an end plate connected to an end coil portion of the spring, the end plate being disposed in the cavity adjacent to the stand slot and operable to be driven upwardly by the spring to exert the upward force on the end portion of the longitudinal portion when received in the stand slot.

18. The invertible structure of claim 17, wherein the releasable mechanism further comprises a latch moveable between a lock position and an unlock position, and when the latch is in the lock position, a portion of the latch is disposed in an upward path of the end plate of the spring device, thereby preventing the end plate from being driven upwardly the spring to exert the upward force on the end portion of the longitudinal portion.

19. The invertible structure of claim 18, wherein the releasable mechanism further comprises a lever pivoted to the stand, the lever having a first end that is depressible and a second end that is operable to provide an additional upward force on the end plate when the first end of the lever is depressed.

20. The invertible structure of claim 16, wherein the releasable mechanism further comprises a lever pivoted to the stand, the lever having a first end that is depressible and a second end that is operable to provide an additional upward force, either directly or indirectly, on the end portion of the longitudinal portion when received in the stand slot when the first end of the lever is depressed.