MULTI-SURFACE STAND FOR MOUNTING DEVICES

A mufti-surface stand is disclosed. The stand may comprise a main body, a rotation body connected to the main body and configured to rotate in a horizontal plane, an arm shaft connected to the rotation body, a main arm connected the arm shaft and configured to tilt in a vertical direction, a v-clamp connected to the main arm, a pan knob inserted into the main body and configured to be tightened to cause the rotation body to be prevented from rotating, a leg rotatably connected to the main body, the leg including a hollow portion configured to store therein a stake or auger having a base portion, and an integrated rotatable foot, configured to rotate between a folded position and a ground mount position.

BACKGROUND

Portable stands are often helpful for positioning optical, photographic, scientific or solar equipment. The performance of the stand is largely dependent upon the way each leg of a stand rests on or connects to a ground surface on which the stand is placed.

SUMMARY

One embodiment provides a multi-surface stand comprising a main body, a rotation body connected to the main body and configured to rotate in a horizontal plane, an arm shaft connected to the rotation body, a main arm connected the arm shaft and configured to tilt in a vertical direction, a v-clamp connected to the main arm, a pan knob inserted into the main body and configured to be tightened to cause the rotation body to be prevented from rotating, a leg rotatably connected to the main body, the leg including a hollow portion configured to store therein a spike or auger having a base portion, and an integrated rotatable foot, configured to rotate between a folded position and a ground mount position.

One embodiment provides a leg for a device mounting stand comprising a hollow portion configured to store therein a spike or auger having a base portion, and an integrated rotatable foot, configured to rotate between a folded position and a ground mount position, wherein the leg is configured to connect to a leg rotation bushing of the device mounting stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. As used within this document, the word “or” may mean inclusive or. As a non-limiting example, if examples in this document state that “item Z may comprise element A or B,” this may be interpreted to disclose an item Z comprising only element A, an item Z comprising only element B, as well as an item Z comprising elements A and B.

Ground surface types vary widely, and it is therefore difficult to ensure a stable mechanical engagement between a stand's legs and feet and every ground surface on which the stand is placed. One solution to this problem is called ground mounting, wherein a stake or auger is driven into the ground near a stand, and then a rope or some type of tension cord connects the stand to the stake or auger. Ground mount solutions tend to require additional materials beyond the stand itself. These extra materials may get misplaced, and in some cases are aesthetically unpleasing and unpolished. Another solution of providing stability of a mounted device has been physically screwing or bolting the stand to a table or floor. However, this method is limiting as it makes moving the device difficult and may require structural changes to the table or floor on which the stand is mounted.

An integrated solution disclosed herein provides reliably sturdy connection points for stand legs on both hard surfaces and ground soil and does so without any external parts. The solution provides a non-scratch, non-slip foot for use with hard surfaces, and provides stakes configured to be stored in the legs of the stand and designed for staking the stand to the ground in rugged terrain or soil. The integrated solution disclosed herein may provide a stable platform on which to mount complementary devices, such as cameras, scientific measurement devices, solar panels, and solar trackers.

The integrated solution disclosed herein may be used to provide a wide and stable base with a device mount-point which is low to the ground. The integrated solution may be used reliably over long periods of time where the stand and mounted equipment may be unattended and hit by gusts of wind. The integrated solution disclosed herein may also be configured to provide a stable mounding base for a portable solar tracker and a solar panel. Accordingly, the integrated solution disclosed herein may be placed in an wide configuration and provide a stable anchoring system, able to withstand high-wind conditions.

The integrated solution disclosed herein may be portable and deployed by hand, without the use of power tools. The integrated solution may also be lightweight and configured to fold into a small form factor. The integrated solution may be a portable stand and may include an integrated “foot” mounted on the base of at least one of the stand legs. The integrated solution may include at least one leg and may include a plurality of legs configured to provide a stable base for mounting a device thereupon.

InFIG.1, a stand100including an integrated foot102connected to a leg104is shown. The integrated foot102may be rotatable between a folded position and ground mount position and held in place by a disc spring103, In the embodiment shown, the integrated foot102is extended into a ground mount position, making the position of the foot suitable for placement on rugged terrain or ground soil. A twist lock106configured to enable the stand legs104to transition between the folded position fully retracted) and a plurality of leg lengths (e.g., fully extended). The twist lock106may be twisted in a first direction to disengage a length locking mechanism and allow the leg to be extended or retracted to a desired length. The twist lock106may then be twisted in a second direction to reengage the length locking mechanism to secure the leg at the selected length. A leg rotation bushing108may include a rotational locking mechanism (e.g., a pawl or ratchet system). When pressed, the leg button may release the rotational locking mechanism (not shown), enabling the leg104to be rotated into a plurality of positions in order to provide a wide and stable base fora mounted device (not shown).

FIG.2shows a single leg104connected to the main body110of the stand100. In the embodiment shown, the leg button112, when pressed down, is configured to release the rotational locking mechanism, thereby releasing the leg104from a rotationally locked configuration so that the leg104may be rotated outward and locked into a plurality of positions. As the leg104is rotated outward, it may provide a progressively wider base and lower the main body of the stand100closer to the ground, A pan knob114inserted into the main body110may be used to release and tighten a rotation body116of the stand100, The rotation body116may be configured to enable a mounted device (e.g., a solar panel mounted to the stand100) to be rotated into a suitable position along the horizontal plane (e.g., panned). A main arm118inserts into an arm shaft120and provides a connection point for a V-clamp132configured to secure a mounted device to the stand100. A lever knob122connected to the main arm118may be configured to release and tighten the main arm118so that it may be rotated into a level position parallel to the ground.

FIG.3shows a side view of many of the same elements asFIG.2from a sectional view, An integrated stake, spike or auger124is shown stored in a hollow portion126inside the leg104, configured to store the spike or auger124. A spring128may work in conjunction with the leg button112to rotate the leg104outward from the main body assembly. A leg rotation bushing108, connected to the main body110, may be used to attach the leg104to the main body. A pan cam130, connected to the pan knob114, may be configured to work in conjunction with the pan knob114to tighten and release the rotation body116.

FIG.4shows a top view of the stand100, and illustrates how the legs104may form a stable base for the main body110and the V-clamp132. In the embodiment shown the V-clamp132has a center hole used to attach it to the main arm118. The V-clamp132may also include U-shaped slots and holes surrounding the center hole of the V-clamp132for aligning a mounted device on the V-clamp132. In some embodiments a bubble level, which may aid the user in leveling a mounted device, is disposed on the main body110or rotation body116.

FIG.5shows a perspective view of the main body110and rotation body116. These parts may form the basis for pan and tilt capabilities of the stand100, whereby a mounted device may be repositioned along the horizontal and vertical axes. The leg rotation bushing108may provide a connection point for the legs104.

FIG.6shows a perspective view of the arm shaft120and main arm118portions of the stand. These parts may provide a means by which the V-clamp132is attached to the rotation body116and tilted into a desirable position.

FIG.7shows a V-clamp132configured to be used as a vise-like component to secure a mounted device to the stand100. The V-clamp132connects to the main arm118with a fastener134such as a bolt, allen screw or similar piece of connection hardware. Once the fastener124is inserted into the V-clamp132, a V-clamp knob136is tightened to secure the device.

FIG.8shows a perspective view of the leg button112configured to release the stand leg104so that it may be moved outward from the main body110of the stand100in order to form a stable, wide base. The leg button insert138may be positioned inside a spring128on the interior of the leg104. A leg button stop140is used to lock the leg into a plurality of positions using notches on the main body110.

FIG.9shows a close-up view of an embodiment of the foot102, extended into a ground mount position. The foot102may be rotatably connected to the leg104using a swivel point146such as a bolt or set screw. As shown inFIG.9, the leg104is supported by the foot102. The foot102may include an opening148in the interior of the foot102, configured to enable a stake, spike, auger124or similar anchoring mechanism to be inserted into the ground, thus securing the stand. The integrated foot102may also comprise a series of V-grooves142on the bottom of the foot, so as to increase the surface area coverage of the foot102.

FIG.10shows a close-up view of the foot102, rotated on a swivel point146, such as a bolt or set screw, up into the folded position. An integrated stake, spike or auger124may be inserted into the base of the leg104. The base piece144of the stake or auger124may be made from hard rubber, plastic or similar non-scratch, non-slip material, suitable for placement on a hard surface. In the embodiment shown, the interior of the foot102contains an opening configured to allow the auger or spike124to be stored therein.

FIG.11shows a base piece144with an integrated stake, spike or auger124, In the stored position, the integrated stake124is inserted into the base of the leg104, and attached by screwing the base piece144into the leg104. Clips, snaps, friction fit or any other suitable attachment mechanism may be used to secure the base piece144into the leg104. The base piece144may be constructed from rubber, hard plastic or similar non-scratch, non-slip material, suitable for placement on a hard surface. In the embodiment shown, the integrated stake, spike or auger124has been removed from the leg104and may be used to anchor the foot102, which would have been extended into the ground-mount position, by inserting stake or auger124into the opening148in the interior of the foot102and pressing, hammering or screwing it into the ground.