Patent Abstract:
A column attachment having an abutment, a platform, a tension member, and a securing element that are used to provide a stable support for a device. The tension member secures the platform to the abutment. The securing portion is able to slide along a slot defined in the platform. The securing portion is able to attach to devices, like total stations, and secure them to the platform.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to portable stand that needs not touch the ground. The portable stand can serve as a stable platform for devices used in construction. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During construction, constant measurements must be taken to insure that the structure is adhering to the design being built. Many times a scanner and/or total stations are used to take these measurements. A total station is an electronic/optical instrument used in modern surveying. The total station is an electronic theodolite (transit) integrated with an electronic distance meter (EDM) to read distances from the instrument to a particular point. 
     The total station, and most all other devices, need to be stable in order to make precise measurements. However, in many situations, the surface near where the device must be set does not allow a tripod to provide a stable surface. Other times it is just inconvenient or very difficult to use a tripod due to the state of the surface. In some cases, metal or wood decking is set as a form before the concrete floors are poured which is not a stable footing for a tripod. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a column attachment secured to a square column; 
         FIGS. 2-7  shows different perspectives of the an embodiment of the column attachment; 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the column attachment; and 
         FIGS. 9-10  shows an embodiment of the column attachment with an attached device in different positions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the platform  1  is secured to the abutment  6  by one or more tension members and the lower support element  10 . The one or more tension members can include a center tension member  4  and a periphery tension member  5 . The abutment  6  can have one or more strap accepting sections  7 . A strap  8  can be run through the strap accepting sections  7  and secured tightly to a column, post or other suitable object. The strap  8  can be tightened by a strap tensioning member  9  so as to firmly secure the abutment  6  to the column, post or other suitable object. The securing element  3  can be used to secure a device against the platform  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the securing element  3  can have a gripping portion  31 , a securing portion  32  and a neck  33 . The securing portion  32  can be threaded and have a size and a thread that corresponds to standard threaded holes of devices used in surveying, construction or photography. The securing portion  32  can have a #8-32 thread. Different securing elements  3  can be supplied to correspond to different devices. The length of the securing portion  32  can be shorter than the accommodating space in the device. Thus the securing portion  32  can be secured to the device, have the device press against the platform  1 , and have the gripping portion  31  press against the underside of the platform  1 . This will stabilize the device on the platform  1 . The neck  33  is of a size that will allow it to slide along the slot  12 , while the securing portion  32  has an effective circumference that will prevent it from slipping through the slot  12 . The gripping portion  31  can be any number of designs. As shown, the gripping portion  31  is a cylinder with grooves to increase friction. In other embodiments a knob or other handles can be used as the gripping portion  31 . 
     The platform  1  defines a slot  12  that allows for adjusting the location of the device along the platform  1 . The slot  12  can be in communication with the platform through hole  13 . The platform through hole  13  can have a thread that corresponds to the securing portion  32 . In other embodiments, the through hole  13  need not be threaded. The through hole  13  allows the securing element  3  to be removed. In some embodiments, the platform  1  does not have a through hole  13 , and the securing element  3  is retained by and able to move along the slot  12 . The platform  1  can also define a curved slot  14 . The curved slot  14  allows the platform to move relative to the periphery tension member  5  so as to rotate the platform  1 . The platform can also define an aperture through which the center tension member  4  extends to engage the abutment  6 . 
     The lower support element  10  comprises a base  101  and one or more arms  102  extending from the base  101 . The lower support element  10  is secured to the abutment  6  by a lower tightening member  11 . The lower tightening member  11  is able to increase the pressure between the lower support element  10  and the abutment  6 . Thus the relative movement between the abutment  6  and the lower support element  10  is limited. Each arm  102  can have one or more braces  2  attached thereto. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower support element  10  comprises two arms  102  extending from a rounded base  101 , and a brace  2  is attached to each arm  102 . In other embodiments, there is only one arm  102  with one or more braces  2  attached thereto. The base  101  can have a shape that corresponds to a portion of the abutment  6  so as to maximize the contact surface area between the lower support element  10  and the abutment  6 . The amount of contact surface area will influence the rotational stability of the platform  1 . The amount of contact surface area and/or the friction thereof can be set as desired. In some embodiments, there are no arms extending from the base  101 . 
     The lower tightening member  11  can have a threaded portion  111  that corresponds to a threaded element located on the abutment  6 . The lower tightening member  11  also has a handle portion  112 . The handle portion  112  can be an adjustable clamping lever or a knob. 
     The platform  1  is connected to one or more braces  2 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the two braces  2  extend from the lower support element  10  to the platform  1 . In other embodiments, the one or more braces  2  can be connected to the base  101 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the abutment  6  comprises two projections  61  that extend from a center portion  62 . The two projections  61  can define an angle. The angle can be in the range from about 45 degrees to about 180 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle is about 90 degrees as shown in the drawings. The projections  61  can have a solid surface or define multiple apertures to decrease the weight. The center portion  62  has an upper portion  63  and lower portion  64 . The upper portion  63  defines two receiving holes that can accept portions of the center tension member  4  and the periphery tension member  5 . 
     In some embodiments, the receiving holes and the portions have corresponding threads, such that when the center tension member  4  and/or the periphery tension member  5  are tightened, the platform  1  is pressed against the upper portion  63 . In some embodiments, a nut is what supplies the corresponding thread. The nut may or may not be secured to the abutment  6 . When the center tension member  4  and/or the periphery tension member  5  is tightened sufficiently, the rotational stability of the platform  1  is increased. The upper portion  63  and the lower portion  64  have planar sections that are in contact with the platform  1 , the former, and the lower support element  10 , the latter. It is also understood that other types of frictional engagement arrangements can also be employed. In one embodiment there are corresponding grooves. In yet other embodiments, these corresponding groves will have indicia associated with them. In some embodiments the indicia indicate angular position of the platform  1  in relation to the abutment  6 . 
     The one or more strap accepting sections  7  are located on the abutment  6 . The strap accepting sections  7  can serve as a guide for a strap  8 . In some embodiments, there is a strap accepting section  7  on each of the projections  61  and on the center portion  62 . The size of the strap accepting sections  7  can be changed according to need. In some embodiments, there are multiple strap accepting sections  7  of varying sizes on one of the projections  61 , both of the projections  61 , and/or the center portion  62 . The strap accepting sections  7  can form a full enclosure, so that the strap is threaded through, or define a gap that will enable the strap  8  to be inserted therein (not shown). In some embodiments, the strap accepting section(s)  7  is merely an indentation in the abutment  6  (not shown). 
     The center tension member  4  and the periphery tension member  5  can comprise an adjustable clamping lever with a threaded member that engages the abutment  6 . In other embodiments, the center tension member  4  and the periphery tension member  5  can comprise a knob with a threaded member. When the user tightens the center tension member  4  and/or the periphery tension member  5 , it increases the pressure between the platform  1  and the upper portion  63 . Some embodiments lack the center tension member  4  and there is an attachment between the platform  1  and the abutment  6  that allows for rotational movement. Other embodiments lack the periphery tension member  5 . 
     The strap tensioning member  9  is used to tighten the strap  8  and secure the abutment  6  member to a column. In some embodiments, the strap tensioning member  9  is an endless loop ratchet. In other embodiments different types of tensioning devices can be used to secure the abutment  6  to the stable object such as a cambuckle or gunwale strap. 
     It is understood that the components can be comprise varying materials. These materials include, but are not limited to, steel, aluminum, other metals, plastics, composites, laminates, nylon, and combinations thereof. 
     During use a user will secure the abutment  6  to a column, post or other stable object. This can be done using the strap  8 . The strap  8  is situated in or on the strap accepting sections  7  wrapped around the column, post or other stable object, and tightened until there is sufficient tension to secure the abutment  6  to the a column, post or other stable object. The tightening of the strap  8  can be achieved by the use of the strap tensioning member  9 . If the object is a square column, the two projections  61  will abut surfaces of the square column, as shown in  FIG. 1 . If the object is an I-beam, one of the projections  61  will abut a surface while the other may hang in space. If the object is round or an irregular shape, certain parts of the projections  61  will abut the surfaces. While the projections  61  are shown as defining a V-shape, it is understood that the projections  61  may define a U-shape, a semicircle, or other shapes. The user can set the platform  1  to a desired position by adjusting the center tension member  4 , the periphery tension member  5  and/or the lower tightening member  11 . In order to rotate, the tension members  4 ,  5 , and/or the lower tightening member  11  are loosened. The platform  1  is rotated about the center tension member  4 , and the platform  1  is free to move about the periphery tension member  5  due to the curved slot  14 . The rotation of the platform  1  will be transferred down the brace(s)  2  to the lower support element  10 . Once the desired orientation is achieved, the user can tighten the center tension member  4 , the periphery tension member  5  and/or the lower tightening member  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , another degree of adjustment is provided by the securing element  3  and the slot  12 . The securing element  3  is attached to the device. The user is able to slide the device along the length of the slot  12 . When the user has arrived at the desired location, the user will tighten the securing element  3  such that the platform  1  will be located between the base of the device and the gripping portion  31 . This arrangement will prevent movement of the device along the slot  12  as well as stabilize it in relation to the platform  1 . 
     Depending on the embodiment, certain steps of methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. Those skilled in the art will now see that certain modifications can be made to the apparatus and methods herein disclosed with respect to the illustrated embodiments, without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. And while the invention has been described above with respect to several embodiments, any element and/or step described in reference to any particular embodiment is hereby disclosed to be associated with any other embodiment of the invention. It is understood that the invention is adapted to numerous rearrangements, modifications, and alterations, and all such arrangements, modifications, and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5