Patent Abstract:
A folding stand adapted to be secured to the bottom wall of a portable crimping device which, in a folded position, is substantially flat against a wall portion thereof and, in an unfolded position, vertically raises the crimping device to a predetermined working height, the folding stand including a base portion, having a rear pivot axis, a mounting portion, having a front pivot axis, and a pair of elongated cross members for interconnecting the base and mounting portions, via oppositely directed fastening members, with opposed ends of the cross members being adapted to pivot, relative to the adjoining base and mounting members, between respective first and second stop point folding surfaces, in a folded position, and first and second stop point standing surfaces, in an unfolded position, the respective stop point folding and stop point standing surfaces being angularly spaced therebetween via first and second predetermined reflex angles.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES  
       [0001]     None.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention pertains to a compact, light weight, folding stand adapted for use with portable hydraulic hose crimpers designed to crimp a hose fitting to flexible hoses and the like. The purpose of this stand, in its unfolded position, is to position the portable crimping device at a predetermined working height, from a support surface during hose assembly. When not required, the stand is folded substantially flat and secured to an adjoining wall portion of the crimping device for stowage and ease of portability therewith.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The assignee of the present invention, Parker-Hannifin Corporation, of Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., manufactures and markets, under the trade name “MiniKrimp” a compact, lightweight, portable, hand-held if so desired, apparatus for crimping a hose fitting to the end of, for example, of thermoplastic, fluorocarbon and rubber hoses, with the structural and operational details of this portable crimping device being are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,335 B2 to Huebner et al.  
         [0004]     The positioning the portable crimping device a predetermined distance from a base or support surface, during the hose-to-fitting crimping process, allows the bottom surface of the crimping device, where the hose to be crimped is entered into this device, to be free from obstructions, thus improving both the cycle time and the ease of operation.  
         [0005]     Thus, there exists a need in the art for a mechanism for raising the portable crimping apparatus to the desired height, the key attributes for which included: low weight; ease of folding and unfolding; the absence of a locking mechanism in the unfolded or working position; a flat folding position on a side surface of the crimping device and ready portability therewith; as well as a simple but sturdy kinematical folding design; and low manufacturing cost.  
         [0006]     The patent literature includes folding support devices for everything from flashlights (U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,189 to Embury) to camera tripod support means (U.S. Pat. No. 2,543,352 to Brown), to adjustable support bases for computer devices and the like (U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,813 to Kim et al.), to universal supports for hand operated devices (U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,791 to Scherbarth), and even to a collapsible milk carton holder (U.S. Des. 179,992 to Walker). However, none of these prior art apparatuses, include the novel structures, details and combinations of the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, in order to increase the versatility and ease of operation or use of the portable hydraulic hose crimper the foldable or folding stand of this invention permits, in an unfolded position, the raising of the portable crimper a predetermined working distance or height from a support surface, while in its folded position, being folded substantially flat against and secured to a vertical wall portion of the crimping device.  
         [0008]     Specifically, in terms of structure, the foldable stand for a portable crimping device of this invention is adapted to be secured to a horizontal bottom wall surface of the crimping device, with the foldable stand comprising in combination: (a) a base portion, including a pair of spaced, main chassis, longitudinal base members, interconnected, on first ends thereof, via a first transversely directed connecting portion and interconnected, inboard of second ends thereof, via a second transversely directed connecting portion, the base member second ends each having a horizontal coaxial first pivot aperture in a common first pivot axis, the second connecting portion including a pair of laterally separated, coplanar, first stop point folding areas and a circumferentially spaced pair of laterally separated, coplanar, first stop standing point areas; (b) a mounting portion, including a generally ring shaped body portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central aperture, a plurality of spaced through bores and a pair of aligned, spaced, attachment bosses, at opposite sides of a front end portion of the body portion, the attachment bosses each including a lateral, vertical attachment portion having an opposed, horizontal coaxial second pivot aperture in a common second pivot axis, parallel with the first pivot axis, each attachment boss including a second stop point folding area, in first common plane, and a circumferentially spaced second stop point standing area, in a second common plane; (c) a pair of elongated cross members, each having a top surface, a bottom surface and first and second ends having first and second through bores, respectively; (d) a first pair of oppositely directed fastening members for pivotally connecting the first ends of the cross members, via the first bores, with respective ones, of the base portion second ends, via the first pivot apertures, thereby permitting relative movement, between the base portion and the cross members, for a first predetermined reflex angle between the first stop point folding areas and the first stop point standing areas; and (e) a second pair of oppositely directed fastening members for pivotally connecting the second ends of the cross members, via the second bores, with respective ones, of the mounting portion attachment bosses, via the second pivot apertures, thereby permitting relative movement between the mounting portion and the cross members, for a second predetermined reflex angle between the second stop point folding areas and the second stop point standing areas.  
         [0009]     The first predetermined reflex angle has an angular extent of about 315 degrees, while the second predetermined reflex angle has an angular extent of about 240 degrees.  
         [0010]     When the cross members abut the first and second stop point standing areas, respectively, the foldable stand is in an unfolded position. The folding stand, in its unfolded position, utilizes the mass of the portable crimping device, acting via its center of gravity, through the first and second stop point standing areas, to retain the foldable stand in the unfolded position.  
         [0011]     When the cross members abut the first and second stop point folding areas, respectively, the foldable stand is in a folded position.  
         [0012]     In one variation, one of the mounting portion attachment bosses includes, in an outer end surface thereof, a further bore portion and the base portion first connecting portion includes a further through bore, the further bore and through bore being axially aligned when the foldable stand is in the folded position, with an additional fastening member, extending, through the further through bore into the further bore, being adapted to fixedly retain the base portion to the mounting portion, in the folded position, thus fixedly securing the folding stand, in its folded position, to the portable crimping device and being portable therewith. In the folded position of the folding stand, the folded stand adjoins a front surface portion of the portable crimping device.  
         [0013]     In another variation, the attachment boss further bore portion serves as retainer for the additional fastening member when the folding stand is in its unfolded position.  
         [0014]     In a further version, the bottom wall surface of the portable crimping device abuts the top surface of the mounting portion and is secured thereto, via a plurality of further fastening members, extending through the plurality of through bores, in the body portion of the mounting portion, into a plurality of aligned bores in the crimping device bottom wall surface.  
         [0015]     In a differing version, the first and second pairs of fastening members take the form of stainless steel shoulder bolts.  
         [0016]     In yet another version, the first transversely directed connecting portion includes an arced center portion that can serve as an operator handle during folding and unfolding of the foldable stand.  
         [0017]     A still further version includes a parallel, auxiliary chassis, longitudinal base member, interconnected, on opposed ends thereof, via further transversely directed connecting portions, with one of the main chassis, longitudinal base members, inboard of the ends thereof. The further connecting portions of the auxiliary chassis base member preferably include a plurality of spaced through bores, the through bores being aligned with matching through bores in the base portion of a hydraulic pump normally mounted on a side surface of the portable crimping device, thereby permitting the mounting of the pump, via suitable fastening members, to the base portion.  
         [0018]     In yet a differing version, the ends of bottom surfaces of the main and auxiliary chassis longitudinal base members are provided with respective foot portions, with the lowermost surface of each of the foot portions defining an area in a common plane that, in turn, defines the footprint of the base portion.  
         [0019]     Another embodiment of this invention pertains to a folding stand for a portable crimping device, the folding stand being adapted to be secured to the horizontal bottom wall of the crimping device and adapted, in a folded position, to be folded substantially flat against a vertical wall portion of the crimping device, and, in an unfolded position, to vertically raise the crimping device to a predetermined working height from a support surface, wherein the folding stand comprises: a. a base portion, including a pair of spaced main members, connected on front ends thereof, via a transverse, front, connecting portion, and connected, inboard of rear ends thereof, via a transverse, rear, connecting portion, with each base member rear end having a first pivot aperture coaxial with a rear pivot axis, the rear connecting portion including laterally spaced, coplanar, first stop point folding surfaces and an angularly spaced pair of laterally spaced, coplanar, first stop point standing surfaces; b. a mounting portion, including a generally annular body portion, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central opening, a plurality of spaced through bores and a pair of spaced, opposed attachment bosses, located at opposite sides of a front body portion thereof, each attachment boss including a lateral attachment portion having a second pivot aperture in a common front pivot axis, parallel with the rear pivot axis, each attachment boss including a second stop point folding surface, in a first common plane, and an angularly spaced second stop point standing surface, in a second common plane; c. a pair of elongated cross members, each having a top and bottom surfaces, as well as front and rear ends having front and rear through bores, respectively; d. a pair of oppositely directed rear shoulder bolts for pivotally connecting the rear ends of the cross members, via the rear bores, with respective ones of the base portion rear ends, via the rear pivot apertures, thereby permitting relative movement, between the base portion and the cross members, for an angle of about 315 degrees, between the first stop point folding surfaces and the first stop point standing surfaces; and e. another pair of oppositely directed front shoulder bolts for pivotally connecting the front ends of the cross members, via the front bores, with respective ones of the mounting portion attachment bosses, via the rear pivot apertures, thereby permitting relative movement between the mounting portion and the cross members, for an angle of about 240 degrees, between the second stop point folding surfaces and the second stop point standing surfaces.  
         [0020]     In one variation, the cross members substantially abut the first and second stop point surface, respectively, when the folding stand is in an unfolded position, the folding stand, in the unfolded position, utilizing the mass of the crimping device, acting through its center of gravity and the first and second stop point standing surfaces, to retain the stand in the unfolded position.  
         [0021]     In another variation, when the cross members abut the first and second stop point folding surfaces, the folding stand is in a folded position. Preferably, one of the attachment bosses of the mounting portion includes, in an outer surface thereof, a further bore portion and the base portion front connecting portion includes a further through bore, the latter and the further bore portion being axially aligned when the folding stand is in its folded position, with a fastening member, extending through the further through bore into the further bore portion, the fastening member being adapted to fixedly retain the base portion to the mounting portion, thus fixedly securing the folding stand to the crimping device.  
         [0022]     In a further variation, the bottom wall surface of the crimping device adjoins the top surface of the mounting portion and is secured thereto with a plurality of further fastening members extending through the plurality of through bores in the mounting portion.  
         [0023]     A yet another variation includes a parallel longitudinal base member, connected, on respective front and rear ends thereof, via additional transverse connecting portions, with an adjoining one of the main base members, inboard of the ends thereof. The additional transverse connecting portions include a plurality of additional through bores, the through bores being aligned with corresponding through bores in the base portion of a hydraulic pump normally removably mounted on a side surface of the crimping device, thereby permitting the relocation and mounting of the pump, via suitable fasteners, to the base portion.  
         [0024]     The previously-described advantages and features, as well as other advantages and features, will become readily apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follow. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the folding stand of the present invention, in its working position, together with a portable crimping device housing, shown in phantom lines, mounted thereon;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a portable crimping device of the type utilized with the folding stand of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the base part of the folding stand of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a left end view of the base part of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a right end view of the base part of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is frontal plan view of the base part of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the stand mount of the folding stand of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the stand mount of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a left end view of the stand mount of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the stand mount of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a side view of one of the cross members of the folding stand of the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is an edge view of the cross member of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view similar to that of the circled area B in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged partial view, partly in section, taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0039]      FIGS. 15A-15G  illustrate the motion sequence, starting the fully folded position in  FIG. 15A  and successively progressing, via the positions shown in  FIGS. 15B-15F , until reaching the full working position shown in  FIG. 15G . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0040]     Turning now to the several drawings, illustrated in the perspective view of  FIG. 1  and indicated generally at  20 , is the folding stand of the present invention, in its working position, together with a housing  24 , shown in phantom lines, of a portable crimping device  22 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 . Crimping device  22 , illustrated merely to indicate the mechanism with which folding stand  20  finds utility and forming no part of the present invention, is set forth in detail in previously-noted U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,335 B2, to Huebner et al., the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. For ease of understanding, crimping device  22  includes noted one piece housing  24  having a bottom surface  25  with a plurality of threaded perpendicular bores (not shown), a hydraulic cylinder  26 , a spring loaded piston  28  movably situated within hydraulic cylinder  26 , a removable die pusher  30 , and a removably attachable, manually operated hydraulic pump  32 . Portable crimping device  22 , which weighs about 45 pounds, without tooling, is utilized for permanently attaching a metallic end fitting (not shown) onto the end of a flexible hose (not shown), as illustrated in cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,335 B2, in a manner well known in the art.  
         [0041]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , folding stand  20  includes a base part or base portion  36  and a stand mount or mounting portion  38 , interconnected via a pair of spaced, parallel, cross members  40 , all of which will now be described in greater detail. Turning initially to  FIGS. 3-6  and  14 , illustrated therein are several views of base portion  36 , preferably consisting of a metallic material, such as an aluminum alloy, although other materials, such as plastics and/or composites, or the like, may be utilized. Base portion  36  includes main chassis longitudinal, parallel, spaced and vertically-directed base members  42 ,  44 , whose respective front or proximate end portions  46 ,  48 , are rigidly connected via a transversely-directed, integral, arced front connecting portion  50 , having a vertical, through aperture  52  near its right hand end, in the vicinity of member end portion  48 . Rear or distal end portions  54 ,  56 , respectively, of members  42 ,  44 , are provided with coaxial, opposed, horizontally-directed, threaded apertures  58  residing in a common pivot axis  60 . Main chassis members  42 ,  44 , are rigidly connected, slightly inboard of their respective distal end portions  54 ,  56 , via a transversely-directed, integral, straight, rear connecting portion  62  having an angled or tapered, integral rear or outside abutment portion or area  64  that forms an acute, inside 45 degree angle  66 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 , with members  42  and  44 . As best seen in  FIG. 14 , the leading edge of angled abutment portion or area  64 , which also acts as a standing stop point surface area, merges into a bottom surface  65 , parallel with a top surface  63  of rear connecting portion  62 . The clockwise or reflex angle  67 , between standing stop surface  64  and folded stop point surface  65  provides for a maximum of 315 degree of rotational or angular movement. An auxiliary, longitudinal chassis member  68 , parallel with main chassis member  44 , is connected to the side thereof not connected to chassis member  42 , at its ends  70 ,  72 , via spaced, transversely-directed, integral connecting portions  74 ,  76 . Each connecting portion  74 ,  76 , is provided, near its ends, adjacent to members  44  and  68 , with two lateral, spaced threaded, through bores  78 . The four threaded bores  78  are spaced, in a predetermined manner, so as to permit, if so desired, the fastening, to connecting portions  74 ,  76 , via bolts (not shown) of previously-noted hydraulic pump  32  that is normally bolted to one side of crimping device  22  ( FIG. 2 ), using its existing bolt holes. Finally, the ends  46 ,  48 ,  70  and  72  of chassis members  42 ,  44  and  68 , respectively, are provide with similar, short, curved foot portions  80 , while main chassis member ends  54  and  56  are provide with elongated, vertical, foot portions  80 , with the outer or lowermost surface of each of the noted foot portions defining a an area in a common plane (not shown) that, in turn, defines the footprint of base portion  36 .  
         [0042]     Turning now to  FIGS. 7-10  and  13 , illustrated therein are several views of stand or mounting portion  38 , again preferably consisting of an aluminum alloy, although other materials, as previously noted, may also be utilized. Mounting portion  38 , which is generally ring-shaped, includes a body portion  86  having a top surface  88 , a bottom surface  90 , a central aperture  92  and four through bores  94 , equally spaced around and parallel with central aperture  92 . Extending perpendicularly from bottom surface  90  are spaced, curved, reinforcing or stiffening, opposed rib portions  96 ,  98  as well as opposed rib portions  100 ,  102 , with rib portions  100 ,  102  merging smoothly into spaced, opposite attachment bosses  104 ,  106 , respectively. Bosses  104 ,  106 , are allochiral or mirror images of each other, thus only the end of boss  106  is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 9 . Thus, each of bosses  104 ,  106 , includes an outer end surface  108 , with only surface  108  of boss  106  being provided with a perpendicular, threaded bore  110 . Each of bosses  104 ,  106 , is also provided with a lateral attachment portion  114  having a laterally-directed threaded bore  116  residing in a common pivot axis  117  parallel with base portion pivot axis  60 , an angled standing stop point working position surface area or tapered surface area  118  as well as a straight folded stop point working position surface area or retracted position surface area  120 . As best seen in  FIG. 13 , the clockwise movement or reflex angle  124 , between folded stop point surface  120  and standing stop point surface  118  provides for a maximum 240 degree of rotational or angular movement. Stand mount or mounting portion  38  is adapted to be connected with crimping device  22  by locating the latter above mounting portion  38  so that its top surface  88  abuts and is coplanar with crimping device bottom surface  25  in a manner so that a plurality of conventional metal bolts (not shown) can have their threaded portions extend through bores  94  and into mating, fixed, engagement with the threaded bores (not shown) in crimping device bottom surface  25 . If it is desired, since it is not mandatory, to remove and relocate the previously-noted hydraulic pump  32  from crimping device  22  onto folding stand base portion  36 , it should be understood that a high pressure hydraulic hose (not shown) and a quick disconnect coupler (not shown) will also be required.  
         [0043]     Continuing now with  FIGS. 11 and 12 , illustrated therein is one of the pair of cross members  40 , preferably again comprised of a metallic materials, such as fabricated steel bar stock, although other materials, as previously noted, may be utilized. Each cross member  40  has a top surface  123  and a bottom surface  123  as well as first and second ends  124 ,  126 , with lateral through bores  128 ,  130 , respectively. As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 15 B- 15 G, cross members  40  have their first ends  124  operatively interconnected, via conventional, preferably stainless steel material shoulder bolts  134  (not shown in detail), extending, via apertures  128  and threaded apertures  58 , into opposed main chassis member distal ends  54 ,  56 . The use of shoulder bolts  134  presents an economical way to produce pin type joints at the noted locations  
         [0044]     Upon the just noted interconnection, cross members  40  can rotate, about shoulder bolts  134 , from folded stop point area  65  to standing stop point area  63  and vice versa, through reflex angle  67  ( FIG. 14 ), for the noted maximum of 315 degrees of rotational movement. Again, as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 15 A- 15 G, cross members  40  have their second ends  126  operatively interconnected, via additional, similar, shoulder bolts  136 , extending via apertures  130  and threaded bores  116 , with lateral attachment bosses  104 ,  106  of stand mount  38 . Thus, cross member second ends can rotate, about shoulder bolts  136 , from folded stop point area  120  to standing stop point area  118  ( FIG. 13 ), for the noted maximum 240 degrees of rotational movement. When cross bars  40  are in their folded position, relative to folding stand base portion  36 , folded stop point areas  65  ( FIG. 14 ) of the latter abut or make contact with cross bar bottom surface  123 , at cross bar ends  124 , and when cross bars  40  are in their folded position, relative to mounting portion  38 , folded stop point areas  120  ( FIG. 13 ) of the latter abut or make contact with cross bar top surface  125 , at cross bar ends  126 . When folded, in the just described manner, base portion aperture  52  ( FIG. 3 ) is axially aligned with threaded bore  110  ( FIG. 10 ) in stand mount attachment boss  106 . A conventional preferably knurled, threaded bolt (not shown), having its threaded portion extending through aperture  52  can then be threaded, into operative engagement with bore  110 , thereby locking base portion  36  to mounting portion  38  and, together with crimping device  22  produce the fully folded or at-rest position of folding stand  20  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 15A . When it is desired to release folding stand  20 , from its locked position, the noted knurled bolt is removed and thereafter stored by threading same into threaded bore  110 . It should be clear that portable crimping device  22  can fully function in its usual and intended manner when folding device  20  is fully folded, in the manner previously described, since none of its structural components interfere with the assembly or operation of crimping device  20 .  
         [0045]     In terms of operation, once folding stand  20  is released from its locked position, relative to crimping device  22  ( FIG. 15A ), stand  20  is unfolded in the manner graphically illustrated in the series of progressive steps shown in  FIGS. 15B through 15F , thus arriving at the fully unfolded position thereof shown in  FIG. 15G . In the  FIG. 15G  position, cross bar top surfaces  121  of second ends  126  abut or make contact with standing stop point surfaces  118  of stand mount attachment bosses  106 ,  108 , while cross bar bottom surfaces  123  of first ends  124  abut or make contact with standing stop point surfaces  64  of base portion  36 . No separate locking mechanism is required to keep folding stand  20  in its standing position, instead, it relies on the center of gravity of crimping device  22 , indicated by arrow  140  in  FIG. 15G , with the mass of crimping device  22  acting, via the force of gravity, through the previously noted standing stop point surfaces  64  and  118  ( FIGS. 13, 14 ) on folding stand  20 . It should be understood that a reversal of the just described unfolding procedure will result in stand  20  being in its folded position, adjoining the front face  34  of crimping device  22 . The previously noted, not-illustrated threaded bolt or fastener can then be utilized to secure base portion  36  to mounting portion  38 , thus securing folding stand  20 , in its fully folded or at-rest position, to crimping device  22 , thereby permitting the portability of the stand/crimping device combination as but a single unit.  
         [0046]     It should also be understood, at this time that the use of preferably lightweight material, such as, for example, an aluminum alloy, for the base portion  36  and mounting portion  38 , aids in limiting the weight of folding stand  20  to about four pounds and that the previously described kinematical folding design permits ready unfolding and subsequent refolding thereof. In addition, the minimum size of folding stand  20  contributes to its ease of portability along with crimping device  22 , while not interfering with the operation and/or function of crimping device  22 , even when stand  20  is fully folded.  
         [0047]     It is deemed that one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present invention fills remaining needs in this art and will be able to affect various changes, substitutions of equivalents and various other aspects of the invention as described herein. Thus, it is intended that the protection granted hereon be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8