Adjustable rotation base

• US 20080296463A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Wanda Ying Li
• Inventors: Li, Wanda Ying
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/519
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2025/003 Accessories not covered by groups A45B25/24 - A45B25/30
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2238 to be placed on the ground Christmas tree stands A47G33/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/91 Weighted base

Abstract

An adjustable rotation base includes a base housing and a transportation arrangement. The base housing has a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with the supporting post to support the outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on the bottom side of the base housing, wherein the base housing includes a stationary unit provided at the bottom side for sitting on the ground surface in a stationary manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at the bottom side of the base housing. The transportation arrangement is provided at the base housing to operate the base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode in which the stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow the transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that the base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via the transferring wheels.

Claims

1-2. -2. (canceled)

3. An adjustable rotation base for supporting an outdoor umbrella having a supporting post on a ground surface, wherein said adjustable rotation base comprises:

a base housing having a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with said supporting post to support said outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on said bottom side of said base housing, wherein said base housing comprises a stationary unit provided at said bottom side for stationary sitting on the ground surface and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at said bottom side of said base housing; and

an transportation arrangement provided at said base housing to operate said base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode, wherein in said idle mode, said transferring wheels are suspenedly lifted up to define a clearance between said transferring wheels and the ground surface such said base housing is stationary sat on the ground surface via said stationary unit, and in said transportation mode, said stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow said transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that said base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via said transferring wheels,

wherein said transportation arrangement comprises a plurality of driving units each of which comprises an adjustment assembly mounted in said receiving cavity and a manual actuation unit extended from said adjustment assembly out of said base housing in such a manner that said manual actuation unit is adapted to be manually and selectively operated for driving said adjustment assembly to lift up and lower down said transferring wheels with respect to said base housing,

wherein said base housing further comprises a partitioning wall, and has a plurality of seat portions formed as four corner portions of said base housing, wherein said transferring wheels and said driving units are coupled at said corresponding seat portions for selectively operating said base housing between said idle mode and said transportation mode, each of said seat portions being divided into a driving compartment and a control compartment by said partitioning wall, wherein said adjustment assembly and said manual actuation unit are mounted in said driving compartment and said control compartment respectively and communicate with each other through said communication slot of said partitioning wall.

4. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 3, wherein said base housing further comprises a base panel transversely extended between an inner side of said partitioning wall and an inner side of said opposed sidewall of said driving compartment so as to further divide said driving compartment into an upper compartment chamber for receiving said adjustment assembly, and a lower compartment chamber for receiving said transferring wheels.

5. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 4, wherein for each of said driving units, said adjustment assembly comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion connected with said corresponding transferring wheel, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, a biasing member outwardly extended from said connecting shaft within said upper compartment chamber at a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of said base panel, and a resilient element disposed between said base panel and said biasing member to normally exert an upward urging force toward said connecting shaft so as to normally retain said corresponding transferring wheel within said lower compartment chamber.

6. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said adjustment assemblies further comprises a plurality of locking teeth formed an outer side of said connecting shaft for engaging with said corresponding manual actuation unit, wherein each of said manual actuation units comprises an actuation pedal, having a driving end portion and an actuation end portion, extended from said adjustment assembly to said control compartment, a first and a second locking members pivotally and downwardly extended from said actuation end portion of said actuation pedal for selectively engaging with said locking teeth so as to selectively retain said corresponding transferring wheel for said idle mode and said transportation mode.

7. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 6, wherein said manual actuation unit further comprises a plurality of retention springs mounted within said upper compartment chamber of said driving compartment to normally bias against said locking members respectively so as to ensure said locking members normally engaging with said locking teeth for restricting a lateral movement between said connecting shaft and said actuation pedal.

8. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said manual actuation units further comprises a resilient member mounted in said control compartment of said corresponding seat portion of said base housing to normally exert an upward urging force toward said actuation end portion of said actuation pedal, which is adapted for being stepped on by a user to actuate said corresponding adjustment assembly.

9. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 4, wherein for each of said driving units, said adjustment assembly comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion communicating with said corresponding transferring wheel, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, a biasing member outwardly extended from said connecting shaft within said upper compartment chamber at a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of said base panel, a resilient element disposed between said base panel and said biasing member to normally exert an upward urging force toward said connecting shaft so as to normally retain said corresponding transferring wheel within said lower compartment chamber.

10. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 9, each of said adjustment assemblies further comprises a rotary member movably provided within said driving compartment to engage with said lower end portion of said connecting shaft, wherein said rotary member has a circular, ring-shaped cross section, and a threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of screwing teeth thereon, wherein said connecting shaft further has a plurality of teeth formed thereon to engage with said threaded inner surface of said rotary member, in such a manner that when said connecting shaft is driven to rotate, said rotary member is also driven to rotate so as to initiate a linear movement within said driving compartment of said base housing for selectively uplifting and lowering said corresponding transferring wheel.

11. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said manual activation units comprises a handle member extended out of said base housing in a rotatably movable manner, and an actuation rod extended from an upper end portion of said connecting shaft to said handling member, in such a manner that when said handle member is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, said connecting shaft is also driven to rotate for lowering said corresponding transferring wheel to allow said transportation arrangement to be in said transportation mode, and when said handle member is driven to rotate in an opposed direction when said transportation arrangement is in said transportation mode, said rotary member is also driven to rotate to displace upwardly along said connecting shaft for receiving into said base housing and restore said transportation arrangement at said idle mode.

12. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 4, wherein for each of said driving units, said adjustment assembly comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion directly connecting with said corresponding transferring wheel, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, and a rotary member securely provided within said driving compartment to engage with said lower end portion of said connecting shaft, wherein said rotary member has a circular, ring-shaped cross section, and a threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of screwing teeth thereon, wherein said connecting shaft further has a plurality of teeth formed thereon to engage with said threaded inner surface of said rotary member, in such a manner that when said connecting shaft is driven to rotate, said connecting shaft also displaces longitudinally along said driving compartment to initiate a linear movement of said transferring wheel.

13. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said manual activation units comprises a handle member extended out of said base housing in a rotatably movable manner, and an actuation rod extended from an upper end portion of said connecting shaft to said handling member, in such a manner that when said handle member is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, said connecting shaft is also driven to rotate for lowering said corresponding transferring wheel to allow said transportation arrangement to be in said transportation mode, and when said handle member is driven to rotate in an opposed direction when said transportation arrangement is in said transportation mode, said connecting shaft is also driven to rotate to displace upwardly so as to receive said corresponding transferring wheel into said base housing and restore said transportation arrangement at said idle mode.

25. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said manual activation units comprises a handle member extended out of said base housing in a rotatably movable manner, and an actuation rod extended from an upper end portion of said connecting shaft to said handling member, in such a manner that when said handle member is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, said connecting shaft is also driven to rotate for lowering said corresponding stationary unit to allow said transportation arrangement to be in said idle mode, and when said handle member is driven to rotate in an opposed direction when said transportation arrangement is in said idle mode, said connecting shaft is also driven to rotate to displace upwardly so as to receive said corresponding stationary unit into said base housing and drive said transportation arrangement to be at said transportation mode.

30. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 4, wherein said each of said adjustment assemblies comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion directly connecting with said corresponding transferring wheels, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, and a rotary member securely provided within said driving compartment to engage with said connecting shaft, in such a manner that when said connecting shaft is driven to rotate, said connecting shaft is adapted to displace longitudinally along said driving compartment to initiate a linear movement of said respective transferring wheel.

31. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 30, wherein said transportation arrangement further comprises a main actuation handle movably extended from said base housing, and a plurality of actuating members operatively connected between said main actuation handle and said driving units in such a manner that when said main actuation handle is driven to rotate, said actuating members are also driven to operate said driving units for operating said main housing between said idle mode and said transportation mode by said main actuating handle.

32. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said adjustment assemblies comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion directly connecting with said corresponding transferring wheels, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, and a rotary member securely provided within said driving compartment to engage with said connecting shaft, wherein each of said manual actuation units comprises an actuation member, which is embodied as a driving chain, movably mounted on said base housing to engage with said rotary member, such that when said actuation member is driven to move, said connecting shaft is also driven to displace linearly along said driving compartment for lowering said corresponding transferring wheel.

33. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 32, wherein said transportation arrangement further comprises a main actuation handle movably extended from said base housing, and a plurality of actuating chains operatively connected between said main actuation handle and said four driving units in such a manner that when said main actuation handle is driven to rotate, said actuating chains are also driven to operate said driving units for operating said main housing between said idle mode and said transportation mode.

14. (canceled)

15. An adjustable rotation base for supporting an outdoor umbrella having a supporting post on a ground surface, wherein said adjustable rotation base comprises:

a base housing having a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with said supporting post to support said outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on said bottom side of said base housing, wherein said base housing comprises a stationary unit provided at said bottom side for stationary sitting on the ground surface and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at said bottom side of said base housing; and

an transportation arrangement provided at said base housing to operate said base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode, wherein in said idle mode, said transferring wheels are suspenedly lifted up to define a clearance between said transferring wheels and the ground surface such said base housing is stationary sat on the ground surface via said stationary unit, and in said transportation mode, said stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow said transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that said base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via said transferring wheels,

wherein said transportation arrangement comprises a plurality of driving units operatively and spacedly provided in said base housing to mechanically communicate with said stationary units respectively, wherein said driving units are adapted to be selectively activated to operate said base housing between said idle mode and said transportation mode, wherein each of said stationary units comprises a supporting member movably extended from a bottom portion of said base housing.

wherein said base housing further comprises a partitioning wall, and has a plurality of seat portions formed as four corner portions of said base housing, wherein said stationary units and said driving units are coupled at said corresponding seat portions for selectively operating said base housing between said idle mode and said transportation mode, each of said seat portions being divided into a driving compartment and a control compartment by said partitioning wall, wherein said adjustment assembly and said manual actuation unit are mounted in said driving compartment and said control compartment respectively and communicate with each other through said communication slot of said partitioning wall.

16. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 15, wherein said base housing further comprises a base panel transversely extended between an inner side of said partitioning wall and an inner side of said opposed sidewall of said driving compartment so as to further divide said driving compartment into an upper compartment chamber for receiving said adjustment assembly, and a lower compartment chamber for receiving said stationary unit.

17. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 16, wherein for each of said driving units, said adjustment assembly comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion connected with said corresponding stationary unit, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, a biasing member outwardly extended from said connecting shaft within said upper compartment chamber at a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of said base panel, and a resilient element disposed between said base panel and said biasing member to normally exert an upward urging force toward said connecting shaft so as to normally retain said corresponding stationary unit within said lower compartment chamber for retaining transportation arrangement in said transportation mode.

18. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 17, wherein each of said adjustment assemblies further comprises a plurality of locking teeth formed an outer side of said connecting shaft for engaging with said corresponding manual actuation unit, wherein each of said manual actuation units comprises an actuation pedal, having a driving end portion and an actuation end portion, extended from said adjustment assembly to said control compartment, a first and a second locking members pivotally and downwardly extended from said actuation end portion of said actuation pedal for selectively engaging with said locking teeth so as to selectively retain said corresponding stationary unit for said idle mode and said transportation mode.

19. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 18, wherein said manual actuation unit further comprises a plurality of retention springs mounted within said upper compartment chamber of said driving compartment to normally bias against said locking members respectively so as to ensure said locking members normally engaging with said locking teeth for restricting a lateral movement between said connecting shaft and said actuation pedal.

20. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 19, wherein each of said manual actuation units further comprises a resilient member mounted in said control compartment of said corresponding seat portion of said base housing to normally exert an upward urging force toward said actuation end portion of said actuation pedal, which is adapted for being stepped on by a user to actuate said corresponding adjustment assembly.

21. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 16, wherein for each of said driving units, said adjustment assembly comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion communicating with said corresponding stationary unit, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, a biasing member outwardly extended from said connecting shaft within said upper compartment chamber at a position which is spacedly apart from an upper surface of said base panel, a resilient element disposed between said base panel and said biasing member to normally exert an upward urging force toward said connecting shaft so as to normally retain said corresponding stationary unit within said lower compartment chamber.

22. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 21, each of said adjustment assemblies further comprises a rotary member movably provided within said driving compartment to engage with said lower end portion of said connecting shaft, wherein said rotary member has a circular, ring-shaped cross section, and a threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of screwing teeth thereon, wherein said connecting shaft further has a plurality of teeth formed thereon to engage with said threaded inner surface of said rotary member, in such a manner that when said connecting shaft is driven to rotate, said rotary member is also driven to rotate so as to initiate a linear movement within said driving compartment of said base housing for selectively uplifting and lowering said corresponding stationary unit.

23. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 22, wherein each of said manual activation units comprises a handle member extended out of said base housing in a rotatably movable manner, and an actuation rod extended from an upper end portion of said connecting shaft to said handling member, in such a manner that when said handle member is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, said connecting shaft is also driven to rotate for lowering said corresponding stationary unit to allow said transportation arrangement to be in said idle mode, and when said handle member is driven to rotate in an opposed direction when said transportation arrangement is in said idle mode, said rotary member is also driven to rotate to displace upwardly along said connecting shaft for receiving into said base housing and restore said transportation arrangement at said transportation mode.

24. The adjustable rotation base, as recited in claim 16, wherein for each of said driving units, said adjustment assembly comprises a connecting shaft, having a lower end portion directly connecting with said corresponding stationary unit, longitudinally extended within said driving compartment of said base housing, and a rotary member securely provided within said driving compartment to engage with said lower end portion of said connecting shaft, wherein said rotary member has a circular, ring-shaped cross section, and a threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of screwing teeth thereon, wherein said connecting shaft further has a plurality of teeth formed thereon to engage with said threaded inner surface of said rotary member, in such a manner that when said connecting shaft is driven to rotate, said connecting shaft also displaces longitudinally along said driving compartment to initiate a linear movement of said stationary unit.

26-28. -28. (canceled)

29. An adjustable rotation base for supporting an outdoor umbrella having a supporting post on a ground surface, wherein said adjustable rotation base comprises:

a base housing having a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with said supporting post to support said outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on said bottom side of said base housing, wherein said base housing comprises a stationary unit provided at said bottom side for stationary sitting on the ground surface and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at said bottom side of said base housing; and

an transportation arrangement provided at said base housing to operate said base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode, wherein in said idle mode, said transferring wheels are suspenedly lifted up to define a clearance between said transferring wheels and the ground surface such said base housing is stationary sat on the ground surface via said stationary unit, and in said transportation mode, said stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow said transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that said base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via said transferring wheels,

wherein said stationary units are integrally connected with each other and extend to form a supporting frame provided within said base housing in such a manner that said stationary unit is adapted to be selectively lifted up for allowing said transportation mode to be in said transportation mode and said idle mode,

wherein said transportation arrangement comprises a plurality of driving units each of which comprises an adjustment assembly mounted in said receiving cavity and a manual actuation unit extended from said adjustment assembly out of said base housing in such a manner that said manual actuation unit is adapted to be manually and selectively operated for driving said adjustment assembly to lift up and lower down said stationary units with respect to said base housing so as to selectively drive said transportation arrangement to said transportation mode and said idle mode respectively,

wherein each of said adjustment assemblies comprises a connecting shaft communicating with said base housing and longitudinally extending within said driving compartment of said base housing, and a plurality of rotary members securely provided within said driving compartment to engage with said connecting shaft, wherein each of said rotary members has a circular, ring-shaped cross section, and a threaded inner surface for forming a plurality of screwing teeth thereon, wherein said connecting shaft further has a plurality of teeth formed thereon to engage with said threaded inner surface of said rotary member, in such a manner that when said rotary members are driven to rotate, said connecting shaft displaces longitudinally along said driving compartment to initiate a linear movement of said stationary unit,

wherein each of said manual actuation units comprises a handle member extended out of said base housing in a rotatably movable manner, an actuation rod extended from said connecting shaft to said handling member, and an actuation rotor coupling with said actuation rod and said rotary members in such a manner that when said actuation rod is driven to rotate about a principal axis, said actuation rotor is arranged to be driven to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said connecting shaft, in such a manner that when said handle member is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, said actuation rod is also driven to rotate about said principal axis which then drives said rotary members to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said connecting shaft for switching said transportation arrangement to said transportation mode, and when said handle member is rotated at an opposed direction, said actuation rod is also driven to rotate correspondingly to drive said rotary members to rotate in a corresponding direction to lower said connecting shaft with respect to said base housing, which then release an upward urging force towards the supporting frame as said stationary unit for restoring said transportation arrangement to said idle mode.