Patent Publication Number: US-2005119060-A1

Title: Support stand

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a support stand, and more particularly to a support stand for a billiard table, a playing table or the like.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A conventional playing table comprises a table body and a support stand fixed on the bottom of the table body. However, the conventional playing table has a larger volume and has a fixed structure without detachment, thereby causing inconvenience in package, storage and transportation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a support stand for a billiard table, a playing table or the like.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide a support stand that is assembled easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user assembling the support stand.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a support stand, wherein the support stand is mounted on the playing table easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user mounting the support stand on the playing table.  
      In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a support stand, comprising: 
          a folding board having a surface formed with a plurality of arc-shaped plates;     an upper cover mounted on an upper end of the folding board and having a bottom formed with an insert inserted into the upper end of the folding board; and     a lower cover mounted on a lower end of the folding board and having a top formed with an insert inserted into the lower end of the folding board.        

      Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support stand in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2 ′ is an exploded perspective view of the support stand in accordance with the preferred-embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an upper cover of the support stand as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective expanded view of a folding board of the support stand as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the support stand and a playing table in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a support stand in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective expanded view of a folding board of the support stand as shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective assembly view of the support stand and a playing table in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a support stand in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective assembly view of the support stand and a playing table in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-4 , a support stand  1  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a folding board  20 , an upper cover  10 , and a lower cover  30 .  
      The folding board  20  is made of an elongated bendable material and has an oblong shape when being folded. The folding board  20  has a surface formed with a plurality of arc-shaped plates  21  and a plurality of upright plates  22 . Each of the arc-shaped plates  21  has an upper end and a lower end each formed with a plurality of screw bores  23 . Each of the upright plates  22  has an upper end and a lower end each formed with a plurality of screw bores  230 .  
      The folding board  20  has two sides each formed with a fixing plate  24  formed with a plurality of through holes  25 . The fixing plates  24  of the two sides of the folding board  20  are juxtaposed to each other, and the support stand  1  further comprises a plurality of fastening bolts  40  each extended through the respective through holes  25  of the juxtaposed fixing plates  24  of the folding board  20 , and a plurality of fastening nuts  41  each screwed on a respective one of the fastening bolts  40 , so that the juxtaposed fixing plates  24  of the folding board  20  are combined with each other to form the closed folding board  20 .  
      The upper cover  10  is mounted on an upper end of the folding board  20  and has a bottom formed with an insert  13  inserted into the upper end of the folding board  20 . The upper cover  10  has a periphery formed with a plurality of through holes  11 , and the support stand  1  further comprises a plurality of locking screws  42  each extended through a respective one of the through holes  11  of the upper cover  10  and each screwed into a respective one of the screw bores  23  and  230  of the respective arc-shaped plate  21  and upright plate  22  of the folding board  20 , so that the upper cover  10  is secured on the upper end of the folding board  20 .  
      The lower cover  30  is mounted on a lower end of the folding board  20  and has a top formed with an insert  32  inserted into the lower end of the folding board  20 . The lower cover  30  has a periphery formed with a plurality of through holes  31 , and the support stand  1  further comprises a plurality of locking screws  420  each extended through a respective one of the through holes  31  of the lower-cover  30  and each screwed into a respective one of the screw bores  23  and  230  of the respective arc-shaped plate  21  and upright plate  22  of the folding board  20 , so that the lower cover  30  is secured on the lower end of the folding board  20 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the upper cover  10  of the support stand  1  has four corners each formed with a bore  12 , and the support stand  1  further comprises a plurality of locking screws  43  each extended through the respective bore  12  of the upper cover  10  and each screwed into a bottom of a playing table  101 , so that the upper cover  10  of the support stand  1  is secured on the bottom of the playing table  101 . Thus, the support stand  1  is mounted on the playing table  101  easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user mounting the support stand  1  on the playing table  101 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the upright plates  22  are undefined, and the folding board  20 A is only provided with a plurality of arc-shaped plates  21 , so that the folding board  20 A has a circular shape.  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , the support stand  1 A is secured on the bottom of a playing table  102 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , a support board  50  is mounted between two folding boards  20 A and has two sides each clamped between the juxtaposed fixing plates  24  of the respective folding board  20 A and each formed with a plurality of through holes  51  for passage of the fastening bolts  40 , so that the support board  50  is combined with the two folding boards  20 A.  
      As shown in  FIG. 10 , the combination of the support board  50  and the two folding boards  20 A is secured on the bottom of a table  103 .  
      Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.