Floor stand support and bracing system

[57] ABSTRACT

A floor stand support and bracing system in the form of an elongate arm extending effectively horizontally from a vertical support element and having at one end a load carrying means suspended therefrom for supporting and bracing a load and consisting of a frame with upper and lower elements, an intermediate element and wherein the lower end of the vertical support element is connected to a U-shaped base member with first and second leg members.

Claims, 9 Drawing Figures

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FIG. 1 FIG. 3

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PATENTED JUN 171975

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FIG.

PATENTEDJUN 17 ws

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DOUBLE BED CONFIGURATION

TWIN SINGLE BED CONFIGURATION

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

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FIG. 8

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FIG. 9

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FLOOR STAND SUPPORT AND BRACING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a floor stand support and bracing system which is a device intended for adjustable displacement and suspension of a substantially constant load in a boom-type arrangement and without the necessity of counter-weight or cantilever arrangements or complex and complicated elongate arm structures, but retaining the ability of balancing substantial movements created by the load orientation.

In the past a variety of support and brace arrangements have been employed for the suspension of a load at a remote distance. These past endeavors have included the familiar pole and clamp arrangements as well as the known adjustable arm structures. However, it has been necessary to include a heavy counterbalance to overcome the substantial movement produced by a large constant weight held in suspension from an extended arm. In the alternative, only small loads were suspended or the extended arm was formed of a complex and complicated mechanical arrangement to offset the suspended weight and which usually included spring and linkage elements connecting the sections of the segmented extension arm.

A particular need for a device of the kind represented by the present inventor has arisen with relation to hospitals, convalescent homes and sick rooms where such conveniences as a television are provided for the pleasure, need and enjoyment of the patient who is often in a reclining or semi-reclining position. However, the present arrangements for supporting and suspending a television or other object under such circumstances have been primarily portable stands on wheels or wall supports. Neither of these alternatives has proved completely successful or satisfactory since they both are relatively fixed in position and thus require the patient to adjust his position relative to the television instead of the reverse and thus discomfort and inconvenience have occurred.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device which overcomes the problems and deficiencies associated with past support and bracing structures and to produce a device of such a structural arrangement that large and substantially constant loads can be supported and suspended at a remote position without the necessity of counter-weights, cantilever arrangements or complicated and complex extension arm structures.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a floor stand support and bracing system which is simple and inexpensive in construction and operation and which is self-balancing and supporting.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a floor support stand and bracing system which is adaptable to and capable of use for a variety of purposes and which consists of one continuous support element with a suspension frame extending therefrom and where the frame is adjustable in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the class indicated which is capable of the functions referred to and which is based upon scientific principles of load suspension and support.

A further particular object of my invention is to provide a device to support a television set in a freestand ing position so mounted as to allow its picture to face in a variety of directions but primarily down wherein the specific continuous structural arrangement is of the boom-type and where said structure requires no anchoring or attaching to any other structure but is independent in character and to particularly permit the mounting of a television above a bed or similar structure so as to permit a person in a prone position to view the television.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention generally a device in the form of a floor stand support and bracing system is provided wherein the system consists of certain components including an elongate arm generally horizontally orientated and from which is suspended a frame with the arm connected in a continuous and uninterrupted manner to a vertical support element which is stationed upon and connected in continuous fashion to a base member of a modified U-shape and composed of first and second leg members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a general side view of the device.

FIG. 2 is another general side view of the device but in relation to a bed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device with the frame orientated in relation to a bed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of the frame suspended from the elongated arm.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the device showing a variety of accessory devices employable in relation thereto.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of the device.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged side views of the frame showing adjustability in the vertical and horizontal planes respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIG. 1 and to the details of the construction and operation of my invention, numeral 1 represents the elongated arm component of the device which extends essentially in a horizontal direction from the vertical support element 2 and the structural relationship of these two elements is such that they are continuous in structural character to form a long element of curved configuration. It is also contemplated that elongate arm 1 and vertical support element 2 could be two separate elements connected in some fashion to form a sturdy joint. Vertical support element 2 is connected at connection location 5 to the support legs 3 and 4 comprised of first support leg 3 and second support leg 4 which are generally parallel in structural relationship but connected to form a U-shaped base. Also, legs 3 and 4 can be parallel elements of a single, continuous structure to which vertical support element 2 is joined at mid-point 5 of the closed end of the U-shape. Such joining may be in any known fashion, such as welding.

A load carrying means is connected near the free end of the elongated arm 1 by any suitable connection means 27 such as a pin or bolt. FIG. 4 gives an enlarged view of the load carrying means in which a frame consisting of upper element 7 with vertical component 15 extending downward therefrom at one end and a com3,889,910 parable vertical element (not shown) at the opposite end and parallel to the first element 15. Angle iron element 10 extends essentially parallel to upper element 7 and having vertical component 6 extending upward therefrom at one end and a comparable vertical element (not shown) at the opposite end and extending essentially parallel to vertical component 6. The respective vertical components of the upper element and the angle iron element are joined at these free extremities to form the outline of the frame. Interposed between the upper and angle iron elements is intermediate element 8 with vertical component 16 extending downward therefrom at one end and a comparable vertical element (not shown) at the opposite end and parallel to component 16. A slot 28 is contained in each of the intermediate element vertical components and said vertical components are joined in overlapping arrangement with the extremities of the upper and angle iron element vertical components to complete the frame.

The slots 28 in the vertical components of the intermediate element permit varying the distance between that element and the angle iron element 10 in order to accomodate objects of varying sizes and particularly a variety of television sizes. As is shown in FIG. 4, a television 9 is so placed in the frame that the lower front thereof is supported by angle iron element 10 and the upper rear thereof is supported or contained by intermediate element 3. The connecting or attaching means 27 extends from and through elogate arm 1 and to upper frame component 7. It should be noted that particularly excellent support strength is derived from angle iron element 10 and its structurally angular position relative to the object to be contained in the frame, such as television 9.

FIG. 2 readily demonstrates the relation of the device to a person in a reclining position on a couch or bed. Support legs 3 and 4 extend under and along the longitudinal direction of the bed 28 while vertical support element 2 extends perpendicular to said bed and gradually extends into elongate arm 1 which is horizontally suspended over the bed 23 with the load carrying means suspended therefrom at the free end. It should be particularly noted that legs 3 and 4 extend at their free end beyond the furthermost point of elongate arm 1 and parallel thereto. This specific structural feature contributes significantly to the support strength and balance characteristics of the device.

FIGS. 8 and 9 demonstrate the adjustability of the load carrying so that the object being suspended can be manipulated to a variety of positions in both the horizontal and vertical planes.

FIGS. 6 and 7 demonstrate the application of the device to a double bed and a twin single bed arrangement with the embodiment of FIG. 7 indicating a modification in the leg orientation to the extent that the free ends are flared to permit adjustability of the device under proper balance conditions to either of the twin single beds.

FIGS. 2, 3 and particularly FIG. 5 demonstrate a variety of convenience objects which can be attached to the device including reading lamps 11, 11' with extension 12, 12, shelf 13, support bar 26, backrest 21 and table 22 attached to arms 23, 24, exercise bar 20, treatment lamp 19 and monitoring device 18. Further, an extension element 17 can be affixed to the free end of elongate arm 1 for such purposes as traction support, 5 etc.

The device in its totality is structurally sound, simple of structure and capable of supporting sizeable and constant loads without the necessity of counterweights, cantilevers or complex and complicated arm 10 structure.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that I have provided a useful device for supporting constant loads in a boom-type structural relationship and particularly a television such that a bedridden individual in a reclin15 ing or semi-reclining position may view the same with ease and convenience.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed em²⁰ bodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of 2³ the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.