Patent Publication Number: US-2005121566-A1

Title: X-style stand having disengageable crosspieces, and packaging combination including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/512,610, filed Oct. 20, 2003 in the names of the inventors designated herein, the entire specification of which Provisional Application is incorporated hereinto by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      So-called “X-style” stands are widely used in the music industry, primarily for the support of keyboard instruments but also for supporting electronic sound-reproduction equipment and the like. Such stands must be strong and very stable, particularly if they are to enable adequate support of a keyboard instrument, which is constantly subjected to significant levels of asymmetric impact as the player strikes the keys along the front side of the instrument; shifting, wiggle, and other movement will not be tolerated.  
      In the present state of the art, X-stands (which are commercially available in both single- and double-braced forms) are of welded construction. Thus, the four support members, or crosspieces (i.e., two arms at the top and two feet at the bottom), are welded to the opposite ends of the legs, albeit the two individual legs of a single-brace assembly, and the four-paired legs of a double-brace assembly, are pivotably interconnected at a central hinge location. While providing a very strong and stable structure, there are a number of disadvantages associated with such a welded construction. In particular, manufacture, transport and storage are relatively expensive, the latter costs being increased substantially due to the limited collapsibility of the welded stands described.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it is the broad object of the present invention to provide an X-style stand wherein the top and bottom support members are readily removed from the X-brace assembly, which stand nevertheless provides a high level of strength and stability.  
      It is a related object of the invention to provide a stand having the foregoing features and advantages, packaged in a container that is of very substantially reduced volume, as compared to that which is required for a welded stand of corresponding set-up dimensions.  
      It has now been found that certain of the foregoing and related objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a stand consisting of an X-brace assembly in combination with four removable crosspiece members, wherein weldments and fasteners are so employed as to substantially preclude wiggle, shifting, or other undesirable movement at the points of crosspiece connection, in normal use of the stand. More particularly, the stand comprises an X-brace assembly and at least four elongate crosspiece members disengageably assembled therewith in a generally perpendicular relationship thereto. At least two of the crosspiece members constitute upper support members and at least two of the crosspiece members constitute lower support members. The X-brace assembly comprises at least first and second legs, each leg having an upper end portion and an opposite lower end portion and the legs being pivotably attached to one another at a hinge point intermediate the opposite end portions thereof.  
      Each support member has a joining piece attached thereon intermediate the ends thereof. The joining piece is comprised of axially opposing end portions and transversely opposing side portions; it is dimensioned and configured to telescopically interengage (externally or internally) one of the opposite end portions of an associated one of the X-brace assembly legs in a close-fit relationship; it is secured to the support member to which it is attached by weldments extending along its opposing side portions, generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated support member; and it has at least one aperture providing a passage extending from end-to-end therethrough, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the associated support member. Each of the upper and lower end leg portions has at least one aperture providing a passage extending therethrough and aligned with the passage through the joining piece with which the end portion of the associated leg is interengaged. The stand additionally includes an elongate, removable fastener extending through the aligned passages in each of the joining pieces and associated leg end portions, whereby the support members are securely and disengageably affixed on the first and second legs of the X-brace assembly.  
      In preferred embodiments of the stand, each of the joining pieces will comprise a sleeve piece in which the end portion of the associated brace assembly leg is received. The opposing end portions and the opposing side portions of the sleeve piece will comprise end walls and side walls, respectively, and the passage through the sleeve piece will be provided by aligned apertures in the end walls. In such an embodiment, each of the fasteners will desirably comprise a nut and bolt, the tightening of which will cause the end walls of the sleeve piece to be compressed into intimate contact with the end portion of the leg. Utilization of such an external, receiving sleeve piece (rather than, for example, a solid, internally received block) is especially desirable in those instances in which the X-brace assembly further comprises a height-adjusting positioning mechanism that includes an operating handle, which is advantageously mounted to slide in a slot formed through one of the end walls of the sleeve piece.  
      In most instances, the joining pieces and the end portions of the X-brace assembly legs will be of rectangular (e.g., square) cross section, with the legs being of correspondingly shaped tubular metal construction. The crosspiece members will usually be mutually parallel, and the stand will usually include a protective cap engaged over both ends of each support member.  
      In certain embodiments of the invention, the X-brace assembly will additionally comprise third and fourth legs disposed parallel, respectively, to the first and second legs and pivotably attached to one another in such manner that the hinge points of the two pairs of legs are coaxial. Each of the support members employed in combination with such an X-brace assembly will additionally include a second joining piece, attached thereon and interengaged with one of the opposite end portions of the third and fourth legs, with a fastener extending through the aligned passages, as described.  
      Other objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a packaging combination comprised of a carton and a collapsed X-style stand contained therein, the stand being constructed as described and having the features herein set forth. The collapsed stand is arranged with the legs of the X-brace assembly substantially mutually parallel, and with all of the crosspiece members removed from, and disposed substantially parallel to, the legs of the X-brace assembly and in mutually close-fit relation thereto and to one another. The space within the carton is substantially limited to that which is necessary to accommodate the collapsed stand. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a single-braced X-stand embodying the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a double-braced version of the stand;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view showing the upper end portion of one of the legs of the brace assembly of the stand of  FIG. 1  and the support arm to be attached thereto, from which the end caps have been removed;  
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , taken from the opposite side;  
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , showing the parts fastened in assembly;  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary elevational view, in partial section, depicting the same subassembly;  
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , showing the support arm and upper leg portions of the double-braced stand of  FIG. 2 , the end caps being removed from the support members;  
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the subassembly of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  consists of (A) a side view, (B) an end view, and (C) a perspective view of a packaged X-style stand of welded construction, representative of the prior art; and  
       FIG. 10  consists of corresponding views showing a packaged X-style stand, of the same set-up size, embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS  
      Turning initially to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, therein illustration is an X-style keyboard stand embodying the present invention and comprising an X-brace assembly, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The brace assembly consists of two legs  12 , fabricated from square tubing and pivotably interconnected, at a central hinge point, by a transversely extending fastener  14 . As is conventional, the brace assembly includes a positioning disk  16  having a series of circumferential notches for engaging a locking pin (not seen), operated by a handle  18  connected thereto by linkages (also not shown). This mechanism (and similar arrangements using apertured discs, notched locking bars, etc.) enables ready adjustment of the height of the stand.  
      A floor-engaging foot, or lower crosspiece support  20 , is attached at the bottom of each of the legs  12  and extends with its longitudinal axis perpendicular thereto. Similarly, an instrument-rest arm, or upper crosspiece support  22 , is attached at the top of each leg  12  and also extends with its longitudinal axis parallel thereto. A protective cap  24  (normally made of an elastomeric material) is engaged over the ends of each crosspiece  20 ,  22 , providing eight contact points for the stand (i.e., with the floor and under the supported instrument).  
      The double-braced stand shown in  FIG. 2  and generally designated by the numeral  10 ′ is of the same construction as that of  FIG. 1  (and hence the same numbers are used to designate corresponding elements), the primary exception being that four legs  12  are employed, with a parallel pair thereof being associated with each set of upper and lower crosspieces  20 ,  22 . Each leg of a parallel pair is pivotably connected to a corresponding leg of the other pair by a fastener  14 , but with only one positioning disk and operatively connected handle  18  being provided. As can be seen, each foot support  20  and arm support  22  is attached at two locations to the bottom and top portions of the legs  12 , as the case may be.  FIG. 2  also shows an Allen wrench W clipped to the side of one of the legs  12  for ready access; the wrench fits the screws that are used to secure the support members on the brace assembly, as will be described below.  
      Turning additionally now to  FIGS. 3-6  of the drawings, the means by which the crosspieces are removably attached to the brace assembly legs is described in greater detail. It will be appreciated that, although only one supporting arm  22  and the corresponding upper portion of one leg is illustrated, the second arm  22 , as well as both feet  20 , is joined to the associated leg in the manner hereinafter described.  
      As can be seen, a short length of square metal tubing  26 , or sleeve piece, is welded to the arm  22  at an intermediate location (somewhat offset from the center), with the weldment  28 , formed at the top edge of the sleeve piece  26  along each side, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm. A pair of apertures  30  are formed through opposing end walls of the sleeve piece  26  and are also aligned on an axis parallel to that of the arm  22 , and a corresponding pair of aligned apertures  32  are formed through opposite walls of the leg  12 . It will be appreciated that the inside dimensions of the sleeve piece  26  are slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the leg  12 , such that the sleeve piece can be engaged telescopically over the end portion of the leg  12  in a close, sliding-fit relationship.  
      In assembly, all of the apertures  30 ,  32  lie in alignment, enabling the bolt  34  (a socket head cap screw) to pass through them, parallel to the axis of the arm  22 , for threaded engagement with the nut  36  which is fastened (e.g., welded) to the outside surface of one of the walls of the sleeve piece  26  surrounding the aperture  30  therein. When tightened, the bolt  34  compresses the opposite end walls of the sleeve piece slightly, taking up any gap and forming a very strong and tight joint. It will be appreciated that the parallel relationship of the weldment  28  and the bolt  34 , relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm  22 , contributes substantially to the strength and stability of the connection and hence to the overall strength and stability of the assembled stand.  
       FIGS. 8 and 9  show a corresponding subassembly for the double-braced stand of  FIG. 2 . Apart from the provision of two sleeve pieces  24  on the arm  22 , arranged in suitably adjusted positions, the features shown in these figures correspond to those  FIGS. 5 and 6  and consequently bear the same numbers.  
      Turning finally to  FIGS. 9 and 10  of the drawings, depicted therein are, respectively, a prior art single-braced X-stand, of welded construction, and an equivalent single-braced X-stand embodying the present invention, each contained in a carton, shown diagrammatically and generally designated by the numerals  38  and  40  (in  FIG. 10B  the packing filler is removed). As can perhaps best be seen in parts C of the figures, the ability to disassemble the crosspieces from the X-brace, in accordance with the present invention, permits the entire stand to fit within a space that is less than half the volume required by the conventional welded X-stand, as represented by the carton  38  for the prior art stand, and by the carton  40  for the stand of the invention. It should perhaps be pointed out that the legs of the X-brace assembly are typically at least about 36 inches long, the upper support members are typically at least about 12 inches long, and the lower support members are typically at least about 16 inches long; the legs and joining pieces will desirably interengage telescopically through a length of at least about two inches.  
      In view of the asymmetric character of the stands (i.e., the crosspieces are not generally centered, from front-to-back, on the legs) the opportunity exists for assembly in incorrect relationships. A coding system may therefore be incorporated to afford a quick and reliable means for correct assembly, in accordance with which an identifying color, number, letter, or the like may be provided at a suitable location on or adjacent each sleeve piece, with the same color, number, or letter being provided at a suitable location on the leg that is to be inserted into that particular piece.  
      Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides an X-style stand, generally of tubular metal construction, in which the top and bottom support members are readily removed from the X-brace assembly, which stand nevertheless provides a high level of strength and stability. The invention also provides a stand, having the foregoing features and advantages, packaged in a container that is of very substantially reduced volume as compared to that which is required for a welded stand of corresponding set-up dimensions.