Patent ID: 7770625
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: E04F,E06B,G03B

Abstract:
1. A roller tube and support assembly, said roller tube being adapted to support a sheet material wound therearound, said support assembly comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end opposite said first end; a first mount at said first end of the housing; a second mount at said second end of the housing; said mounts configured to rotatably support said roller tube horizontally therebetween; said roller tube having a longitudinal axis extending from said first mount to said second mount; said first mount comprising a pivot arm rotatably supporting an end of said roller tube; said second mount comprising at least one slot and a sliding block movably positioned in said at least one slot; at least one support cradle disposed between said first and second mounts, said support cradle being positioned underneath and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said roller tube and configured to carry said roller tube and sheet material wound therearound on a surface of the support cradle to support a weight of said roller tube and sheet material along a length of the roller tube; and a spring assembly having a first end coupled to said housing and a second end coupled to said pivot arm to bias said roller tube upwardly in a direction away from said support cradle, thereby reducing the effective weight of said roller tube and sheet material supported by said support cradle.