Reducible support structures having off-axis engagement

Abstract

A reducible support system for supporting various items is presented in various embodiments. A reducible support structure, may comprise an operation element which may be attached to an orthogonal element. Limbs, such as a tripod, may be attached to the operation element and a plug element may provide a slide so that the limbs or tripod may open and collapse easily.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 342,668 filed Jan. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,772.FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to the field of reducible support structures. Specifically, it relates to reducible support structures used with various stands which may be especially applicable to bicycle items, music items, illumination items, and particularly, to microphone stands. More specifically, the invention may relate to a reducible tripod base that may be easily collapsed and expanded using an off-axis relationship. BACKGROUND [0003] Collapsible stand devices have historically taken many forms dependent upon, generally, the user having to place their hand on the device where the user's hand may get trapped or pinched as the device may be being collapsed or opened. Traditional forms of collapsible stands and support systems may have incorporated many fields, such as tripods and easels, or the like. [0004] One particular field i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention may provide for reducible support systems that may address the inadequacies of previous techniques. The invention may comprise, according to particular embodiments, a reducible support structure and methods of supporting an item whereby the transporting and storing of the structure in different applications may be more easily accomplished. The invention may comprise, in preferred embodiments, a reducible support structure and methods of supporting an item whereby the structure may be opened and collapsed simplistically and with ease, while remaining sufficiently low profile and compact. Further the invention may even provide a user-friendly structure that shields the user from any pinching during the reduction or expansion of a reducible support structure. In addition, the present invention may comprise embodiments particularly directed at applications such as bicycle stands, bicycle items, music items, illumination items, music instrument stands, work light stands, and microphone stands, among other applications. Embodiments of the present invention, therefore, may even be considered as a development away from previous efforts of reducible support systems, both generally and as more particularly described below.

[0011] It is accordingly one of the goals of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for shielding a reducible support structure where a user may not be pinched and thus provide a shielded slide that allows easy simple movement when reducing the support structure.

[0013] In addition, a goal of the present invention may be to provide a user-friendly structure in which a reducible support structure may be quickly set up and quickly reduced or collapsed.

Problems solved by technology

As such, the user may have their fingers and hands caught in the device causing them to be pinched.

The user carrying such stand may be inconvenienced by the moving parts and when stored, the device may be bulky and take up more space than needed.

These systems, however, may be directed to reducible support systems which when collapsed or closed may not change the height or length of the structure or do not provide the user appropriate safety in operation.

The reducible support structures referenced above may lack a desired quickness and simplicity in its operation.

From one perspective, these support systems may fail, generally, to provide appropriately simplistic assembly of the support structures.

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