Patent ID: 6163906
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
A load supporting apparatus, comprising:an elongated guide member having an upper side, a lower side, and two opposite end portions adapted to be supported with said lower side facing downward,said guide member having wall structure forming an elongated cavity between said two opposite ends with an elongated slot, having a given length, formed through said wall structure located on said lower side leading to said cavity,support means coupled to said guide member which supports said guide member with said lower side and said slot facing downward,said slot having a plurality of spaced apart enlarged openings, located along its length,a plunger having a first portion located in said cavity and a second portion extending through said slot,said plunger having a size and a shape sufficient for allowing said first portion and said second portion to move along the length of said cavity and slot respectively,biasing means normally urging said first portion of said plunger toward said upper side to normally maintain said first portion in said cavity,said first portion of said plunger comprising an end portion and an intermediate portion coupled between said end portion and said second portion,said end portion having a size greater than that of said enlarged openings which prevents said end portion from passing through said enlarged openings,gripping means coupled to said second portion of said plunger and extending downward for allowing a person below said guide member to move said plunger along said cavity and slot,said enlarged openings of said slot having sizes sufficient to allow said intermediate portion of said plunger to partially enter said enlarged openings when aligned therewith when a downward force is applied to said plunger by way of said gripping means to prevent movement of said plunger along said cavity with said end portion preventing said plunger from being removed from said slot by way of said enlarged openings,when said downward force is released, said biasing means moves said intermediate portion of said plunger out of any of said enlarged openings in which said intermediate portion of said plunger is located.