US3662981A - Articulated carrying frame - Google Patents

Abstract

This carrying frame includes upper and lower pivotally interconnected U-shaped members. The lower member is adapted to mount an article thereon and the upper member is adapted to be connected by a swivel member to an adjustable bracket or similar support. The axis of rotation of the pivotal connection between the upper and lower members is so chosen as to pass through or near the center of gravity of the carried article so that a minimum of effort is required to relocate the carried object and so that the article will maintain its relocated position.

Description

United States Patent Hogrebe 1 May 16, 1972 1 ARTICULATED CARRYING FRAME [72] Inventor: Herbert C. Hogrebe, St. Louis, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Dazor Mfg. C0rp., St. Louis, Mo. 63110 [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1969 [21} Appl.No.: 869,004

[52] U.S. Cl..... ....248/278, 248/325 [51] Int. Cl ..A47g 29/00 [58] Field of Search ..248/324, 325, 326, 278, 279, 248/280, 281, 285, 16, 309

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,953,336 9/1960 Etchells ..248/9 3,052,312 9/1962 Cadiou ...248/9 X 2,004,536 6/1935 Olson et al ..248/16 X 2,621,882 12/1952 Fletcher ..248/280 X 3,409,261 11/1968 Leporati 248/326 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 909,254 5/1946 France ..248/284 Primary Examiner.|. Franklin Foss Att0rneyCohn and Powell ABSTRACT This carrying frame includes upper and lower pivotally interconnected U-shaped members. The lower member is adapted to mount an article thereon and the upper member is adapted to be connected by a swivel member to an adjustable bracket or similar support. The axis of rotation of the pivotal connection between the upper and lower members is so chosen as to pass through or near the center of gravity of the carried article so that a minimum of effort is required to relocate the carried object and so that the article will maintain its relocated position.

1 Claim 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 16, 1972 60% M Powm BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to an articulated carrying frame suitable for maintaining a carried article in a selected position, and in particular, to a carrying frame adapted to be attached to the end of a bracket member.

An article such as a television set which is to be suspended from a bracket arm some distance from the user, is, in general, limited to such relocation capability as is permitted by the bracket itself, and whatever additional rotation the connection between the article and the bracket allows, the latter being usually about the vertical axis of the article. If a carrying frame is provided for the article, then the versatility of the article with respect to its movement capability is controlled by the connection of the carrying frame to the bracket.

There are many applications in which it is highly desirable that the article should possess such movement capability as to enable it to be rotated easily, not only about a vertical axis, but also about its own horizontal axis so that it may be relocated to a desired angular position and be capable of maintaining that position. This is particularly true in the case of an article having a specific portion which is to be examined in such a manner as to suit the convenience of an operator or viewer who is located in a relatively stationary position.

A television set in a hospital provides an example of such usage, and a carrying frame which is suspended at theend of an articulated arm for movement toward andaway from the viewer and which can also be oriented relative to its own principal axes, can easily be set for perfect viewing.

Of course, it is highly desirable that such orientation should be accomplished with a minimum amount of effort and it is equally desirable that the carrying frame should be of simple construction and easily operated. A carrying frame meeting these exacting specifications does not appear to be available in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This articulated carrying frame has the capability of rotating an article mounted upon it about the horizontal and vertical axes of the article. The arrangement of parts is such as to permit articulation of the frame and article with a minimum amount of effort. Once oriented, the balancing of the frame is such that re-orientation is easily achieved. The structure of the frame is of utmost simplicity and it may be adapted to a variety of uses.

The carrying frame includes first and second U-shaped members, each including opposed arms and pivot means interconnects associated arms of the first and second frame members.

Mounting means mounts the article to the first frame member and support means, attached to the second frame member, mounts the frame to a bracket arm or similar structure.

The axes of rotation of the pivot means are substantially aligned and pass substantially through the combined center of gravity of the first frame member, including the mounting means, and the article. The pivot means includes friction means selectively controlling the pivotal rotation between the first and second frame members.

A pair of bent straps, disposed in inverted nested relation, provide the U-shaped members. The mounting means includes a pair of plates attached to and transversely disposed of the bight portion of the first U-shaped member. A depending handle interconnects associated ends of the plates.

The support means includes a swivel adaptor attached to the bight portion of the second U-shaped member, and the adaptor includes a projecting lug. The bight portion of the second U-shaped member also includes a projecting lug and the lugs are engageable to provide a stop means limiting the swivel action of the swivel adaptor relative to the second U- shaped frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the carrying frame mounted at the end of an adjustable bracket;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying frame;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view partly in cross section illustrating the vertical swivel adaptor, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in cross section illustrating the horizontal pivot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the carrying frame, generally indicated bynumeral 10, is adapted to be attached to the outer end 11 of anadjustable bracket 12 which is mounted to a wall or similar structure by means of apedestal 13. In the embodiment described, thecarrying frame 10 is adapted for use with aportable television set 14.

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of thecarrying frame 10 in greater detail. The carryingframe 10 includes a lower U- shaped strap member 15 constituting a first frame member, and havingopposed arm portions 16 and a bight portion 17. Anupper U-shaped strap 20, constituting a second frame member having opposed arm portions21 and abight portion 22, is pivotally connected to the lower U-shaped strap 15 to provide the articulated carryingframe 10 having relatively movable upper and lower portions.

' The pivot means provided between associatedarms 16 and 21 is illustrated in enlarged detail in FIG. 4 and includes acylindrical socket member 23, riveted into an elliptical hole or otherwise non-rotatively secured to thearm 21. The threadedsocket 24 receives alocking screw 25, and a spring washer, such as thebelleville washer 26, provides a light frictional resistance between thearm 16 and thesocket member 23. By this arrangement, thearm 16 can move with a selected degree of freedom relative to thearm 21 without rotating thelock screw 25.

In order to facilitate mounting of the article in thecarrying frame 10, a pair ofplates 30 is provided. Eachplate 30 is transversely disposed to the bight portion 17 of the lower U- shaped strap 15 and welded, or otherwise rigidly attached to the bight 17. An inclined U-shapedhandle member 31 is connected by itsleg portions 32 to associatedplates 30 as by welding. In the preferred embodiment, the handle is inclined to facilitate gripping without interference with the article mounted on thecarrying frame 10. Eachplate portion 30 includes a plurality ofmounting apertures 33 by which thetelevision set 14 is mounted to saidplate portions 30 as by screws (not shown). Thelarger apertures 34 are representative of cut-out portions which may be necessary to accommodate specific protuberances existing on the underside of the article to ensure a firm seating of the article on theplate portions 30. A

Aswivel adapter 35, constituting a support means, is attached to thebight member 22 of the upper U-shapedstrap 20. As indicated in FIG. 3, the end of the bracket arm 11 has a channel configuration which embracingly receives the adaptor post 36. Abolt 37 interconnects the arm 11 and the adaptor post 36. Thebolt 37 includes asquare neck 38 to prevent rela tive rotation of thebolt 37 and awing nut 40, provided with a built-in, relatively rotatable washer having a serrated underface, ensures a tight connection between the arm 11 and thecarrying frame 10, yet permits thecarrying frame 10 to be oriented to a desired position. This orientation is usually vertical in the case of atelevision set 14, and is attained under selfweight of this article. It will be understood that the arm 11 is adjustable to several different positions and thus, relative movement between the arm 11 and theadaptor 35 is importam.

The adaptor post 36 is pivotally attached to thebight portion 22 of theupper U-framed strap 20 by aswivel bolt 42. Theswivel bolt 42 is locked in place by means of a set screw 43. Aspring washer 44 of the belleville type creates the requisite degree of friction between the post 36 and thebight portion 22 to ensure that the swivel action is controlled and not entirely free.

In order to prevent the carrying frame from rotating a full 360, stop means is provided between the adaptor post 36 and theupper U-shaped strap 20. In the preferred embodiment, this stop means is provided by an ell-shaped lug 45 mounted to the underside of thebight portion 22 by means of theswivel bolt 42, and the set screw 43 which is chosen to have sufficient length so that it projects beyond the adaptor face to provide another lug engaging the ell-shapedlug 45. With this arrangement, the engagement of the lugs precludes rotation of thecarrying frame 10 in one direction of more than 360. Hence, any danger of twisting of thepower cable 18 is eliminated.

It is thought that the structural features of this articulated carrying frame have become apparent from the description of parts, particularly with regard to the pivotal relationships between the various elements. A specific and important feature of this carrying frame which renders it particularly useful lies in the positioning of the pivot means between the upper and lowerU-shaped straps 20 and 15 to provide for optimum control of the carried article. This feature will now be discussed. I

All articles, including the television set, indicated bynumeral 14, have an ascertainable center of gravity. In the preferred embodiment, the length of thearms 16 of the lower U-shaped strap 15 is so chosen that the pivot axis 27 between the aligned lock screws passes through or below the point within the article, representing the center of gravity of the carried article, in this case, thetelevision set 14. It will be understood that in consideration of the axis of the center of gravity of thetelevision set 14, the location of the axis is required fore and aft, as well as vertically, and that the intersection of the horizontal plane on which the center of gravity lies and the fore and aft plane on which the center of gravity lies, defines the axis of the center of gravity in the preferred embodiment. It will also be understood that in order to achieve perfect balance, the weight consideration should include, not only the television set itself, but also the lower portion of the carryingframe 10 which is attached to thetelevision set 14. Thetelevision set 14 of the preferred embodiment can be expected to weigh up to 20 pounds and therefore, the weight of the lower portion of the carrying frame is not too significant. However, perfect balance can be achieved by consideration of the center of gravity of the combined mass of the television set and said lower portion including the mountingplates 30 and thehandle 31. With substantially perfect balance, thetelevision set 14 may be rotated to any desired position with virtually no effort and it will maintain that position. The light friction means provided in the pivot by thespring washers 26 serve to compensate for an alignment which is somewhat less than perfect.

An operator or viewer, wishing to re-orient thetelevision set 14, simply grasps thehandle 31 and with virtually no effort, can turn the set about a vertical or a horizontal axis, the weight of the set and the specific connection between theadaptor 35 and the bracket arm 11 ensures that the set will not be tilted out of the vertical unless this is desirable, which might occur if the carrying frame were used for an article other than a television set. It will be understood that the center of gravity of the carried article in each of its three dimensions, particularly vertically and fore and aft, may be easily determined in a variety of conventional ways, perhaps the best being by testing. The location of an axis passing through the center of gravity may be lightly scribed on each side of thetelevision set 14. Given the location of this axis, and knowing the center of gravity of the lower portion of the frame which is easily determined by conventional means, the location of the combined center of gravity axis and the pivot axis 27 may be found and the length of thearms 16 determined accordingly.

I claim as my invention:

1. An articulated carrying frame for an article, comprising: a. a first U-shaped frame member including a strap, providing a bight portion, and opposed arm portions,

b. a second U-shaped frame member including a strap,

providing a bight portion, and opposed arm portions adjacently disposed to associated arm portions of the first frame member, said U-shaped members being disposed in inverse nested relation,

c. pivot means interconnecting associated arms of the first and second frame members to suspend the first frame member below the second frame member,

d. mounting means attached to the first U-shaped frame member adapted to mount the article, and including a pair of plate portions attached to and transversely disposed of the bight portion of said first U-shaped member,

e. the axes of rotation of the pivot means being substantially aligned and passing substantially through the combined center of gravity of the suspended portion of the carrying frame and the article,

f. a handle interconnecting associated ends of the plate portions,

g. support means attached to the second U-shaped frame member,

h. the support means including an adaptor means having a pin attached to the bight portion of the second U-shaped member to provide rotation of the article about an axis transversely related to the axis of rotation of the pivot means,

i. the adaptor means including a set screw precluding rotation of the pin and providing a projecting lug, and

j. the bight portion of the second U-shaped frame member including a projecting lug, said lugs engaging to provide stop means limiting swivel of the adaptor means relative to the second U-shaped frame.

Claims (1)

1. An articulated carrying frame for an article, comprising: a. a first U-shaped frame member including a strap, providing a bight portion, and opposed arm portions, b. a second U-shaped frame member including a strap, providing a bight portion, and opposed arm portions adjacently disposed to associated arm portions of the first frame member, said Ushaped members being disposed in inverse nested relation, c. pivot means interconnecting associated arms of the first and second frame members to suspend the first frame member below the second frame member, d. mounting means attached to the first U-shaped frame member adapted to mount the article, and including a pair of plate portions attached to and transversely disposed of the bight portion of said first U-shaped member, e. the axes of rotation of the pivot means being substantially aligned and passing substantially through the combined center of gravity of the suspended portion of the carrying frame and the article, f. a handle interconnecting associated ends of the plate portions, g. support means attached to the second U-shaped frame member, h. the support means including an adaptor means having a pin attached to the bight portion of the second U-shaped member to provide rotation of the article about an axis transversely related to the axis of rotation of the pivot means, i. the adaptor means including a set screw precluding rotation of the pin and providing a projecting lug, and j. the bight portion of the second U-shaped frame member including a projecting lug, said lugs engaging to provide stop means limiting swivel of the adaptor means relative to the second U-shaped frame.

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