Concentric ring gimbal support system

• US 8,827,216 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett W. Brown
• Original Assignee: Garrett W. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Garrett W., Sacksteder, Anthony D., Black, Micah, Asmann, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKinnon, Terrell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garft, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/677,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 248/124.1, 248/128.1, 248/219.1, 248/227.3, 248/229.1, 248/540, 248/62, 248/74.1, 248/229.23, 248/229.313, 248/229.13, 248/315, 248/313, 248/583, 81/572.4, 81/573.5, 81/574, 74/53.4
• US Class Current: 248/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0021 Stands, supports or guiding devices for positioning portable tools or for securing them to the work B23B41/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• 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 2200/068 being part of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A tool support system is disclose having a yoke; a plurality of concentric rings having at least one ring pivotally connected to the yoke; a tool fastening mechanism to secure a tool in the support system; and one or more rotation components to permit the tool to rotate within a ring of the support structure. One or more of the concentric rings can be added to the system or can replace one or more concentric rings to accommodate tools of different sizes. The invention includes a method of configuring a support apparatus and a support apparatus kit with various interchangeable parts, and parts that can be built out to varying degrees to permit the support structure to be used on numerous types of tools.

Claims

1. A support system comprising:

a yoke;

three or more concentric rings capable of being simultaneously attached and having at least one ring pivotally connected to the yoke to form a gimbal;

a tool fastening mechanism interchangeably affixed to at least one ring to secure the tool within the at least one ring;

one or more rotation components functionally disposed adjacent to at least one ring thereby allowing the tool to rotate within at least one of the concentric rings;

wherein one or more of the concentric rings are capable of being added to the system or removed from the system to accommodate tools of different sizes.

2. The support system of claim 1 wherein the ring adjacent to the rotation component has a circumferential surface and wherein the rotation component comprises:

a cylindrical portion having a flange at a first end, wherein the cylindrical portion is longitudinally disposed adjacent to the circumferential surface.

3. The support system of claim 2 wherein the rotation component further comprises a flange at a second end of the cylindrical portion.

4. The support system of claim 3 wherein the rotational component has a first position and a second position with respect to the adjacent ring, wherein the first position is an operational position allowing the tool to remain supported by the system and wherein the second position allows the tool to be removed from the support system.

5. The support system of claim 1 wherein;

the tool fastening mechanism comprises one or more brackets configured to be connected to a tool; and

the rotation component comprises a plurality of rollers, each roller rotationally connected to one of the one or more brackets;

wherein the rollers are disposed adjacent to an inner circumferential surface of a ring.

6. The support system of claim 1 wherein;

the brackets are attached to the tool with a strap; and

wherein the brackets are moveable along the strap around at least a portion of the tool, thereby increasing the space between the tool and an adjacent ring allowing the tool to be removed from the ring.

7. The support system of claim 1 wherein the tool fastening mechanism comprises;

one or more brackets configured to be connected to the tool and to one of the concentric rings; and

wherein the concentric ring to which the brackets are attached is rotatable within another concentric ring.

8. The support system of claim 1 wherein the tool fastening mechanism comprises;

one or more brackets configured to be connected to the tool and to one of the concentric rings; and

wherein the rotation component is rotationally connected to the at least one ring.

9. The support system of claim 1 wherein the yoke has two arms and one concentric ring is pivotally attached to each of the two arms.

10. The support system of claim 1 wherein the yoke has a single arm and one concentric ring is pivotally attached to the single arm.

11. The support system of claim 1 wherein the rotation component comprises:

a roller having a flange on at least one end;

a bearing disposed within the flanged end of the roller; and

a roller axle sleeve disposed within the roller and longitudinally extending beyond the flange.

12. The support system of claim 1 comprising three concentric rings.

13. The support system of claim 1 wherein the yoke comprises:

two or more arm sections having different arm shapes.

14. The support system of claim 1 further comprising:

an articulated support arm attached to the yoke.

15. The support system of claim 1 wherein the yoke structure is pivotally attached to an articulating arm.

16. The support structure of claim 1 further comprising a tool.

17. The support system of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional shape of the rings is square.

18. The support system of claim 1 wherein the rotation component is disposed radially with respect to at least one of the rings.

19. The support system of claim 1 wherein the rotation component is disposed axially with respect to at least one of the rings.

20. The support system of claim 1 comprising five concentric rings having a total diameter of about 8 inches to about 9 inches.

21. The support system of claim 1 wherein the rings are offset perpendicularly from the central axis of rotation.

22. A method of configuring a support system comprising:

providing a support system as recited in claim 1;

selecting one or more tool fastening components and affixing the tool fastening components to the tool;

selecting one or more rings;

selecting one or more rotation components;

configuring the support system with the one or more rings, one or more rotation components and the tool, to rotationally secure the tool in the system.

23. A support system kit comprising:

a yoke;

three or more concentric rings capable of being simultaneously supported by the yoke to form a gimbal;

a tool fastening mechanism interchangeably affixed to two or more of the concentric rings;

a plurality of rotation components interchangeably engagable with the plurality of rings to allow a tool to rotate within concentric rings;

wherein one or more of the plurality of concentric rings are capable of being added to or removed from the system to accommodate tools of different sizes.

24. The support system kit of claim 23 wherein the yoke is modular and wherein the modules include:

a plurality of arms pieces; and

one or more offset components.

25. The support system kit of claim 23 wherein the rotation components comprise:

a cylindrical portion having one or more flanges.

26. The support system kit of claim 23 wherein;

the tool fastening mechanism comprises one or more brackets configured to be connected to a tool.

27. The support system kit of claim 26 further comprising;

a strap configured to engage with the brackets, to hold the tool to a ring.

28. The support system kit of claim 23 comprising five concentric rings.

29. The support system kit of claim 23 further comprising:

an articulated support arm attachable to the yoke.