Patent Abstract:
A collapsible two tier support as for use in camping dishwashing is formed by four uprights connected by pivoted cross brace sets and having a fabric panel defining on upper support connected to the tops. Additional cross brace sets support a second fabric panel at a lower level adjacent the uprights. The entire assemblage is collapsible by pivoting action of the cross brace members.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Ser. No. 60/483,699, filed Jun. 30, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention concerns collapsible portable supports as used in camping for chairs, tables, etc. The collapsible design allows these items to be brought along on camping trips since the amount of space required in a vehicle is greatly reduced.  
         [0003]     Camping usually involves cooking and washing of utensils, dishes, etc. Heretofore, washing the dishes has been quite inconvenient when, with the water stored in an often collapsible heavy jug and rinsing and washing in separate dishpan being quite awkward. Dispensing water from a large jug is also itself inconvenient.  
         [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible two tier support for convenient washing of dishes in a pan on a lower support and dispensing of water from a water jug on an adjacent upper support.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The above object and others which will be understood upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a two tier collapsible support. The support is formed by four elongated uprights arranged vertically spaced apart and parallel to each other in a rectangle with a fabric panel attached at their upper ends to provide a first generally planar support surface as for holding a water jug. The four uprights have pivoted cross brace sets interconnected to respective pairs of adjacent uprights to be braced in their spaced apart position.  
         [0006]     Four sets of pivoted cross braces, each connected to an adjacent pair of uprights have brace members having a pivotal connection together with the bottom ends of the uprights to connector pieces. The upper ends of the brace members are connected to connector pieces slidable on a respective upright at an intermediate region thereof.  
         [0007]     A second fabric rectangular panel support is connected on one side of one pan of the uprights by an additional three sets of pivoted cross braces, arranged in a rectangle together with one of the cross brace sets interconnecting the uprights. The second fabric panel provides a second panel horizontal support surface at a lower height than the first horizontal support surface and immediately adjacent thereto.  
         [0008]     The entire assemblage can be collapsed laterally to bring all four uprights and cross brace members together by pivoting of the cross brace members. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a two tier collapsible support according to the present invention, with supported items shown in phantom lines.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the two tier collapsible support shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the two tier collapsible support shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial collapsed view of the collapsible support shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged pictorial view of one of the short upright cross bracing connector pieces incorporated in the two tier support shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , with fragmentary portions of the connected upright and cross bracing member.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged pictorial view of the rear upright connector-cross bracing connector pieces, with a fragmentary portion of a rear upright and a cross bracing member.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged pictorial view of a connector piece connecting the forward pair of uprights to members of three adjacent cross bracing sets, with a fragmentary view of the adjacent portions of the upright and cross brace set members.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged pictorial view of a sliding connector piece fixed to a cross bracing member and slidable on an upright, portions of both shown in fragmentary form.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary pictorial view of one corner of fabric panel forming an upper planar support and adjacent portion of an upright.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary pictorial view of an inside corner of a fabric panel forming a lower horizontal support and adjacent portions of an upright and cross bracing members. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0020]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly  FIGS. 1-4 , a collapsible two tier support  10  according to the invention includes an upper generally planar support surface  12  provided by a rectangular durable (nylon, etc.) fabric panel  14  attached at each corner to an upper end of a respective elongated upright  16 .  
         [0021]     A second lower generally planar support surface  18  is provided adjacent and below the upper support surface  16  by a rectangular fabric panel  20  attached to two forward corners to the top ends of two cross brace members  22 , and at two rear corners to two of the uprights  16 A,  16 B at an intermediate height as well as the upper ends of the cross brace set members interconnecting the uprights  16 A,  16 B.  
         [0022]     A mesh material storage bag  24  can be attached to one side of the lower fabric panel  20 .  
         [0023]     This arrangement provides a planar support for a water jug  26  on the upper support surface  12  above a dishpan  28  on the lower support surface  20  for convenient dishwashing.  
         [0024]     Each pair of the uprights  16  are interconnected by one of four cross brace sets  30 A, B, C, D, respectively mounted between each adjacent pair of uprights  16  by bottom connector pieces  32 A, B and  34 A, B and intermediate connector pieces which comprise inverted connector pieces  32 C, D and  34 C, D.  
         [0025]     Such connector pieces are commercially available and used in other types of collapsible furniture.  
         [0026]     Connector pieces  32 A-D ( FIG. 6 ) comprised molded plastic bodies having a vertical hole  38  able to receive the lower end of an upright  16  (secured with a screw, not shown) and walls  40 ,  42  to which the lower ends of two cross brace members  44  are pivotally attached.  
         [0027]     Connector pieces  32 C, D ( FIG. 8 ) are the same as connector pieces  32 A, B but are inverted to receive the upper ends of cross brace members  44 . The uprights  16 C, D pass completely through holes  38  and are slidable thereon.  
         [0028]     Connector pieces  34 A, B ( FIG. 7 ) are also molded plastic bodies which have three vertical walls  46 ,  48 ,  50  to which are pivotally attached to the lower ends of three cross brace members  44 , and a hole  52  receiving a lower end of an upright  16 A or  16 B.  
         [0029]     Connector pieces  34 C, D are the same but are inverted and slidable on the uprights  16 A, B along an intermediate section thereof.  
         [0030]     There are three forward cross brace sets  30 E, F, G arranged in a rectangle with the forward cross brace set  30 D between uprights  16 C, D.  
         [0031]     The lower ends of formed cross brace members  44  of the cross brace sets are pivotally mounted to connector pieces  32  E, F ( FIG. 5 ) configured the same as connector pieces  32 A-D.  
         [0032]     The lower ends of the rear cross brace members  44  of cross brace sets  30 E, G are secured in connector pieces  34 A, B.  
         [0033]     The upper ends of the forward cross brace members  44  of cross brace sets  30 E, F, G are pivoted to inverted connector pieces  32 G, H.  
         [0034]     The rear upper ends of cross braces  30 E, G are pivotally mounted to connector pieces  34 D, C.  
         [0035]     The fabric panels  14 ,  20  each have grommets at their corners ( FIGS. 9, 10 ). The upper fabric panel  20  is secured with headed plastic pieces  58  secured with screws (not shown) passing up through associated connector pieces  32 I, J.  
         [0036]     The entire assemblage can be collapsed by lifting, the same and pushing the uprights  16  and cross braces  30 E, F, G together in both orthogonal horizontal directions, to the greatly compacted condition shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0037]     This allows for convenient storage and transport to provide a practical use in camping expeditions.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0