Retractable support assembly
First Claim
1. A vertically retractable support assembly, comprising:
- mounting means;
a first set of three or more laterally spaced guide rods secured to and extending vertically from the mounting means;
first carrier means transverse to the first set of guide rods for vertically receiving the rods thereof to ride vertically thereon;
a second set of three or more guide rods secured to and extending vertically from the first carrier means to support and vertically guide a member for selective vertical positioning by the support assembly;
extension spring means secured to the mounting means and to the first carrier means for continuously urging the first carrier means upwardly toward a vertically retracted position with the second set of guide rods telescoped within the first set of guide rods;
releasable brake means for normally preventing extension and retraction of the spring means;
handle means for enabling an operator to exert vertical downward forces on the first carrier means in opposition to the spring means; and
operator controllable means for selectively releasing the brake means to permit downward movement of the first and carrier means in response to the downward forces exerted by the operator to selectively and exactly position the member upon release of the operator controllable means whereby the member is held in such exact position by the normal operation of the brake means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vertically retractable support assembly comprising a plurality of telescoping sets of three or more laterally spaced vertical guide rods, the rods of each set being laterally tied at their lowermost ends to impart lateral stability to the rods thereof. The first set of rods is secured at its upper end to a stationary mount to extend vertically therefrom and support a first carrier for vertical movement on the rods thereof. The second set of rods is secured at its upper end to the first carrier to extend vertically therefrom and support a second carrier for vertical movement on the rods thereof in a telescoping manner relative to the rods of the first set, and so on. A member to be selectively positioned is secured to the lateral tie for the lowermost set of guide rods. Each carrier is urged toward a vertical retracted position by an extendable spring mechanism secured to the mount. A brake normally locks the spring mechanism to hold the carriers in their vertically retracted position. A handle including a brake release is secured to the lowermost lateral tie to permit an operator to simultaneously release the brake and pull down the carriers to an exact stop position controlled by cooperative stops on the carriers and the lateral ties where the brake may be re-engaged to secure the member in the exact stop position.
125 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vertically retractable support assembly, comprising:
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mounting means; a first set of three or more laterally spaced guide rods secured to and extending vertically from the mounting means; first carrier means transverse to the first set of guide rods for vertically receiving the rods thereof to ride vertically thereon; a second set of three or more guide rods secured to and extending vertically from the first carrier means to support and vertically guide a member for selective vertical positioning by the support assembly; extension spring means secured to the mounting means and to the first carrier means for continuously urging the first carrier means upwardly toward a vertically retracted position with the second set of guide rods telescoped within the first set of guide rods; releasable brake means for normally preventing extension and retraction of the spring means; handle means for enabling an operator to exert vertical downward forces on the first carrier means in opposition to the spring means; and operator controllable means for selectively releasing the brake means to permit downward movement of the first and carrier means in response to the downward forces exerted by the operator to selectively and exactly position the member upon release of the operator controllable means whereby the member is held in such exact position by the normal operation of the brake means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vertically retractable support assembly, comprising:
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a plurality or laterally stabilized telescoping sets of three or more laterally spaced vertical guide rods each supporting a carrier for smooth low friction vertical movement on the rods thereof; an uppermost or first one of the sets of guide rods secured to a stationary mount to extend downward therefrom; a next uppermost or second one of the sets of guide rods secured to a first one of the carriers, that is the carrier supported on the first set of rods, to extend vertically downward therefrom and to telescope within the first set of of rods upon upward movement or retraction of the second set into the fist set; a second one of the carriers secured to the second set of guide rods to ride vertically thereon and for supporting a third one of the sets of guide rods to extend vertically downward therefrom and to telescope within the second set upon upward movement or retraction of the third set into the second set; a member to be precisely positioned carried by a lowermost one of the sets of guide rods; extension spring means secured to the mount and to the carriers for urging the carriers and the sets of guide rods toward a retracted position with the guide rods retracted; brake means for normally securing the spring means against extension and retraction; and operator controllable means for selectively releasing the brake means to allow the operator to smoothly lower the member to an exact vertical position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification