Adaptable frame

An adaptable frame, for mounting of equipments, keyboards, displays, accessories, printed material, and other paraphernalia is disclosed. The frame contains supports having uprights and braces to which are connected crossbars. Either brackets or a shelf for holding equipment and material may be mounted on each crossbar to suit the needs of the user. The frame can easily and rapidly disassembled and assembled without tools. It disassembles into a few parts, i.e. two uprights, two braces, the crossbars with attached brackets, and shelves, for ease of transportation, handling and storage. The shelves are longitudinally hinged so that they may be folded for greater ease in handling when the frame is disassembled. The number and positioning of crossbars, brackets and shelves can be varied to meet the needs of the user. A compartmentalized carrying bag may be supplied for ease of storage and transportation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an adaptable frame which is simple, inexpensive, 
flexible and sturdy, and which may easily be assembled and disassembled 
for storage, handling and transportation without the need for tools. 
Recent years have seen a proliferation of the need for adaptable frames so 
that relatively heavy equipment can be moved from place to place and 
mounted for use rapidly and easily. Presentations and demonstrations often 
require the use and set up of display equipments, computers, control 
keyboards, TV sets, VCRs, screens, charts and the like. Musicians who 
travel from place to place for each performance require a means to set up 
and mount musical keyboards, amplifiers, and associated equipment. 
Another need for adaptable frames which has grown rapidly in the past few 
years is to hold and store small home and business computers and their 
associated equipment, paraphernalia and printed material such as 
keyboards, printers, displays, modems, instruction books, storage discs 
and programs. 
Previous frames that have been designed for these purposes in the past are 
more complex, have more parts, and are not as easily assembled and 
disassembled, transported, handled and stored as this invention. 
Further, previously designed devices do not allow flexibility in mounting 
brackets to hold equipment which can be set at any desired vertical angle 
and also accommodate shelves when the brackets are set horizontally. They 
also do not allow for the addition or subtraction of shelves and brackets 
to accommodate changing needs in the amount of equipment, paraphernalia 
and printed material the frame is required to hold. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide an 
adaptable frame which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an adaptable frame which 
is flexible and accomodates various numbers and types of keyboards, 
equipments, paraphernalia and printed materials. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide an adaptable frame for 
the mounting of equipment, paraphernalia and keyboards which is easily and 
rapidly assembled and disassembled for ease of storage, handling and 
transportation without the need for special tools. 
It is still a further object of this invention to provide an adaptable 
frame for mounting equipment, keyboards and paraphernalia which is 
inexpensive to manufacture, and comprises a minimum number of parts. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention comprises an adaptable frame which has two supports, between 
which crossbars are clamped. The supports include uprights which are 
supported by braces which extend diagonally downward and back from the 
lower portion of the uprights. A crossbar is also placed between the two 
braces. 
Brackets are attached to the crossbars and may be positioned at any 
desirable vertical angle. Equipment, keyboards or shelves may be placed on 
the brackets. 
The crossbar heights are adjustable as the clamps which hold the crossbars 
may be positioned as desired on the uprights and the braces. Therefore 
various heights of equipment can be accomodated by placing the crossbars 
at required heights. Further, the brackets connected to the crossbars may 
be spaced at different widths to accommodate equipment of various sizes. 
The frame may be assembled and disassembled into just a few parts without 
the use of tools. These parts are the two uprights, the two braces, each 
of the crossbars to which are attached the brackets, and the shelves. For 
further ease in transportation, handling and storage, hinges may be placed 
longitudinally on the shelves to enable the shelves to be folded. A 
compartmentalized heavy duty laminated cloth bag, into which the 
disassembled frame parts can be placed, may be supplied with hand and 
shoulder straps, for easy transportation and storage. 
Other objects and many of the attendent advantages of this invention will 
be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference 
of the following detailed description when considered in connection with 
the accompanying drawings:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference 
characters refer to like parts, there is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1 a 
self standing adaptable and easily assembled frame for mounting 
equipments, accessories and printed material. Left and right supports 12 
comprise uprights 14 and braces 16. The braces 16 are inserted into 
connection means 18 which clamp and affix the braces 16 to uprights 14, so 
that braces 16 extend downward and backward from upright 14 to provide 
support to uprights 14. 
Mounting assembly 20 for holding a crossbar includes clamping devices 22, 
crossbar 24 and brackets 26. The crossbars 24 are mounted into and gripped 
by clamping devices 22 as shown in the FIG. 1. The brackets are held in 
place by bolts inserted into holes 28 in crossbar 24 as will be described 
in further detail later. As can be seen in FIG. 1 the separation and 
positioning of the brackets may be varied by bolting the brackets 26 
through the different holes 28 in crossbar 24. Thus the brackets may be 
positioned to accomodate equipments or paraphernalia of various sizes and 
widths. 
FIG. 1 shows one mounting assembly 20 connected to the uprights 14 and 
another connected to braces 16. As can be seen additional mounting 
assemblies 20, as desired, may be mounted to uprights 14 or braces 16. 
It is also apparent that after brackets 26 are affixed to crossbar 24, the 
brackets 26 may be positioned horizontally or at any vertical angle by 
loosening clamping devices 22 and rotating crossbar 24 to the proper 
position. 
Shelf 30 is placed upon the lower set of mounting brackets 26 which has 
been positioned horizontally. Shelf 30 is not bolted or otherwise affixed 
to brackets 26 so that after use, the shelf may be lifted free of the 
remainder of the frame 10. For ease of transportation and storage, shelf 
30 may be folded along hinge 32. Alternatively, the shelf may be bolted to 
the brackets if desired. 
Lip 34, at the forward edge of shelf 30 abuts the upwardly bent forward 
portion of bracket 26. Protective pad 36 is placed over the end of bracket 
26 so that shelf 30 and equipment may be safely and securely held by 
brackets 26. 
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of frame 10. Plug-in caps 38 are inserted 
into the ends of forward uprights 14, crossbars 24 and braces 16. 
A cut away view of the upper portion of upright 14 is shown to illustrate 
the seating of plug-in caps 38 at the top of FIG. 3. Plug-in cap 38 
comprises cylindrically shaped lower portion 40 and upper portion 41. When 
plug-in cap 38 is inserted into the top of upright 14 which is a hollow 
cylinder, the outer surface of lower portion 40 abuts the inner surface of 
upright 14, while the lower surface of upper portion 41 abuts the upper 
surface of upright 14. Upper portion 41 has the same diameter as the outer 
diameter as upright 14. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, the means for attachment of clamping device 22 
will be described. Split collar or stationary clamping member 42 of 
clamping device 22 is an elongated sleeve which contains a longitudinal 
gap 44 so that the inner dimension of split cylinder 42 is greater than 
the outer dimension of upright 14 and brace 16. Therefore collar 42 may be 
slid over the ends of uprights 14 or braces 16 and positioned along the 
length of uprights 14 or braces 16 as desired. 
Projections 54 on split collar 42 on both sides of gap 44 contain threaded 
holes 56. When clamping device 22 is positioned at its desired location 
split cylinder 42 is tightened about either upright 14 or brace 16 to give 
full bearing support on an upright over its entire length. This is 
accomplished by placing screws (not shown) into the threaded holes 56 of 
projections 54 which are shown in FIG. 4 on one side of the gap, and 
threading those screws into threaded holes 56 on projections 54 on the 
other side of gap 44. This shortens the gap and tightens split collar 42 
about upright 14 or brace 16. 
Clamping device 22 also has pivotable upper jaw 58 and stationary lower jaw 
60 which is in the form of an acts as a stationary truss. The stationary 
lower jaw 60 includes a cantilever beam (unnumbered) being of varying 
cross-sectional area, varying from a greater cross-sectional area adjacent 
the sleeve where the moment force is greatest to a minimal cross-sectional 
area where the moment force is less. Upper jaw 58 is connected to lower 
jaw 60 by pivot 62. It will be seen from FIG. 4 that the lower jaw 60 
extends from a cantilever truss. Therefore, upper jaw 58 may be rotated in 
the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to increase the gap 
between upper jaw 58 and lower jaw 60 and to separate the jaws. Crossbar 
24 may be placed between the jaws when they are separated. 
As shown in FIG. 3, screw 64 is attached to knob 66 of upper jaw 58. Lower 
jaw 60 contains threaded hole 68. After crossbar 24 has been inserted 
between the jaws, upper jaw 58 is pivoted about pivot 62 in the direction 
opposite to the arrows shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to bring screw 64 into 
contact with threaded hole 68. Rotation of knob 66 causes screw 64 to 
thread into threaded hole 68 closing the gap between upper jaw 58 and 
lower 60, and clamping crossbar 24. Upper jaw 58 and lower jaw 60 are 
semi-toroidal in shape so that when clamping device 22 is tightened the 
jaws fit tightly about the cylindrical cross bar and the lower jaw forms a 
ledge to support the crossbar. 
As shown in FIG. 3 connection means 18 comprises rear plate 70 which is 
shaped to longitudinally abut with and be permanently attached to upright 
14. Cup 72 is permanently attached to rear plate 70 and is angled rearward 
and downward to accept brace 16. Slot 74 is cut into the side of cup 72. A 
threaded hole in brace 16 accepts a threaded shaft (see FIG. 5) attached 
to tightener 76. When brace 16 is inserted into cup 72 the threaded shaft 
of tightener 76 is accepted into slot 74. 
FIG. 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of brace 16 inserted into and 
clamped by connection means 18 taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3. As can 
been seen in FIG. 5 rotation of tightener 76 inserts threaded shaft 78 
further into threaded hole 80 so that washer 82 beneath tightener 76 is 
pressed against the side of cup 72 thereby clamping brace 18 in place. 
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through bracket 26 taken along the lines 
6--6 of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 6, bracket 26 contains counter sunk hole 
84 through which bolt 86 is inserted. Bolt 86 extends through holes in 
cross bar 24 and is threaded into nut 88. Tightening of bolt 86 firmly 
affixes bracket 26 to cross bar 24. Plastic washer 89 is placed between 
bracket 26 and crossbar 24. The lower portion of washer 89 is curved to 
conform to the shape of crossbar 24 while the upper portion upon which 
bracket 26 is placed is flat. 
Plastic washer 89 performs two functions. It increases the load bearing 
surface of the connection between bracket 26 and crossbar 24 and it 
facilitates the rotation of brackets 26 from a position perpendicular to 
crossbar 24 when frame 10 is in use, to a position parallel to crossbar 24 
for ease of transportation and storage when frame 10 is not in use, as 
will be explained later. 
FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of bracket 26, crossbar 24 and shelf 34 taken 
along lines 7--7 of FIG. 2. As described above bolt 86 is inserted into 
countersunk hole 84 and threaded into nut 88 to secure shelf 26 to 
crossbar 24. Plastic washer 89 is placed between bracket 26 and crossbar 
24. Shelf 30 rests freely on bracket 26 with lip 34 of the shelf in 
contact with and abuting protective pad 36. Therefore, upon disassembly, 
shelf 30 may be removed from bracket 26 and folded along hinge 32 for ease 
of transportation and storage. 
The ease of assembly and disassembly, transportation and storage of the 
frame will now be described. Upon initial assembly braces 16 are connected 
to uprights 14 by insertion into connection means 18 and secured by 
rotation of tightener 76. Clamping means 22 are then slid on to uprights 
14 and braces 16 and positioned where desired. The clamping means 22 are 
secured by screws inserted into threaded holes in projections 54. 
Crossbars are inserted between jaws 58 and 60 of clamping means 22. It 
should be noted that as many crossbars as desired may be mounted on braces 
16 and uprights 14, by adding pairs of clamping means 42 positioned where 
desired on braces 16 and uprights 14 to meet the needs of the user. 
Brackets 26 are then connected to crossbars 24 by insertion of bolts 86 
which are threaded into nuts 88. Hand tools are required during initial 
assembly only to secure bolts 86 and to secure clamping means 22. No 
special tools are required for subsequent disassembly and reassembly. 
Crossbars 24 are then rotated to position brackets 26 horizontally for 
shelf mounting or at any desired angle for holding equipments and/or 
keyboards. Crossbars 24 are then clamped into position by rotating upper 
jaw 58 about pivot 52 to place upper jaw 58 in close proximity to lower 
jaw 60. Knob 66 is then rotated to thread shaft 64 (see FIG. 3) into 
threaded hole 68 to tightly clamp crossbar 24. 
Disassembly and reassembly can be done rapidly and easily without the need 
for any tools. Disassembly requires only lifting of shelf 30 off bracket 
26 and folding shelf 30 about hinge 32. Knobs 66 are then rotated to 
loosen clamps 22 so that crossbars 24 may be lifted away from clamps 22. 
Brackets 26 are then rotated about the axis of its connection point to 
crossbar 24 so that brackets 26 are longitudinally parallel to crossbar 
24. Tightener 76 is then loosened to allow removal of braces 16. 
The disassembled parts of frame 10 are crossbars 24 to which are attached 
brackets 26, uprights 14 to which are attached connection means 18 and 
clamping devices 22, braces 16 to which are attached clamping devices 22, 
and folded shelf 30. 
Reassembly of the device 10 also requires no hand tools and is essentially 
the reverse of the disassembly procedure described above. Braces 16 are 
inserted into connection means 18 and clamped to uprights 14 by rotation 
of tightener 76. Upper jaws 58 of clamping devices 22 are separated from 
lower jaws 60 by pivoting about pivot 62. Crossbars 24 are inserted into 
clamping devices 22. Brackets 26 are rotated about their connection points 
with crossbar 24 so that brackets 26 are perpendicular to crossbar 24. 
Crossbars 24 are rotated to set brackets 26 to their desired vertical 
angles. Upper jaw 58 is rotated about pivot 62 to bring it into close 
proximity with lower jaw 60, and knob 66 is rotated to clamp crossbar 24 
between jaws 58 and 60. Shelf 30 is opened about hinge 32 and placed upon 
brackets 26 with lip 34 in contact with protective pad 36 of brackets 26. 
The entire reassembly or disassembly of the frame including mounting or 
dismounting of the equipment, keyboards and paraphernalia requires 5 
minutes or less in time. 
A carrying and storage bag 90 may be supplied to hold the disassembled 
parts of flexible frame 10 for ease of transportation and storage. 
Referring to FIG. 8, carrying bag 90 is made of heavy laminated cloth or 
plastic material. It includes shoulder strap 92 and hand strap 94. One end 
of carrying bag 90 contains zipper 96 so that after the parts have been 
placed in carrying bag 90 the bag may be closed. Carrying bag 90 may be 
internally compartmentalized, similar to a golf bag, so that the various 
parts of disassembled frame 10 may be placed into their associated 
compartments. 
Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate my 
invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, 
readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.