Invertible structure with a track

• US 9,581,287 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US14/553,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 248/123.11, 248/124.2, 248/125.7, 248/129, 248/286.1, 248/292.14, 248/299.1, 269/87.2
• 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 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;

wherein the stand comprises a releasable mechanism for receiving the end portion of the longitudinal portion;

wherein the releasable mechanism comprises;

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

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; and

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.

2. 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;

wherein the stand comprises a releasable mechanism for receiving the end portion of the longitudinal portion;

wherein the releasable mechanism comprises;

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

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, and 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; and

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.

3. The invertible structure of claim 2, 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.