Abstract:
An easily assembled and disassembled, aquarium stand wherein a pair of longitudinally spaced, generally vertical, springable end frame members have upper portions removably supporting an upper aquarium supporting frame and lower portions supporting a lower frame. Braces, which are fixed to the upper frame section, engage and hold the end frame members in sprung positions of assembly with the upper and lower frames.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an easily assembled and disassembled stand for an aquarium or the like. At least one prior art aquarium stand includes a plurality of individual, wrought iron frame pieces which are welded together. Although such stands, when assembled, are rigid, their assembly requires skilled labor and special equipment and the assembled stands are relatively difficult to pack and bulky to ship. If the individual aquarium stand sections are connected by bolts, the bolt holes must be accurately positioned. In addition, the use of bolts increases packaging costs and complicates assembly. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boltless, easily assembled and disassembled aquarium stand. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of easily assembling and disassembling a boltless, knockdown aquarium stand. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A knockdown stand for supporting an object, such as an aquarium, comprising a pair of springable, longitudinally extending, end frame members and a pair of transversely extending frame members removably supported by the longitudinal frame members and holding the end frame members in sprung or distorted conditions. 
    
    
     The present invention may more readily be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an aquarium stand constructed according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of an aquarium stand constructed according to the present invention, taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of an aquarium stand constructed according to the present invention, an upper part of the stand being broken away; and 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged underplan, perspective view of an end frame portion of the lower support frame section. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The aquarium stand illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 4 is generally designated 10 and includes top and bottom, generally rectangular, open framework, springable shelf frame members, generally designated 12 and 14, and a pair of vertical, springable, end frame members, generally designated 16. The top and bottom frame members 12 and 14 each include a pair of side angle iron frame sections 18, spanned by a pair of end angle iron frame sections 20. An aquarium (not shown) may be supported on the upper frame member 12. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, the side and end angle iron frame sections 18 and 20 include horizontal flange portions 18a and 20a, respectively integrally joined to vertical flange portions 18b and 20b, respectively. The side angle iron sections 18 of the top frame member 12 are normally slightly downwardly and outwardly bowed prior to assembly as illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2. 
     Each of the end frame members 16 includes a pair of vertical angle posts 24 spanned by upper and lower angle iron cross braces 26. The vertical posts 24 include vertically extending, side flange portions 24a joined to vertically extending, end flange portions 24b to provide bearing surfaces 24d. The upper and lower cross braces 26 each include horizontal flange portions 26a joined to the lower ends of vertical flange portions 26b. Segments of the upper vertical end flange portions 26b and the vertical side flange portions 24b are cut away as at 19 to receive the vertical side flanges 18b of the top frame member 12. Segments of the lower vertical end flange portions 26b are also cut away as at 19a to receive the vertical side flanges 18b of the lower frame member 14. The outer dimensions of the upper and lower frame members 12 and 14 may be identical. The vertical flanges 26b on the upper and lower end frames are received between the vertical end flanges 20b of the upper and lower frames. 
     The end frames 16, as well as the top and bottom frames 12 and 14, are constructed of spring steel, wrought iron, or other resilient material which permits the end frame members 16 to be sprung, without being permanently deformed, during the assembly of the stand. The vertical flanges 24b and 26b of the end frame members 16 normally lie in the same vertical plane, as is illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2. When the stand is assembled, the end frame members 16 are sprung or deformed to the positions shown in FIG. 2. The vertical end flanges 20b of the lower frame 14, include locking detents 20c, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for locking the bottom frame 14 to the lower vertical brace flanges 26b. 
     Mounted on the side frame sections 18 of the upper frame member 12 are a plurality of tension brace members, generally designated 22. Each brace member 22 includes a hook-shaped or curvilinear portion 22a welded or otherwise fixed to the upper vertical side walls 18b and a free end portion 22b which diverges downwardly away from the side frame section 18. The braces 22 may also be fashioned of wrought iron. 
     The tension brace members 22 are positioned so that the end portions 22b pass laterally outwardly of the vertically extending, side flange portions 24a and abut the vertically extending, end flanges 24b of the vertical end frame posts 24 at load bearing surfaces 24d. The braces 22 are so positioned and are of such length that when the upper end frame vertical flanges 26b are received between the upper frame end flanges 20b, the lower end frame vertical flanges 26b are, during the initial stage of assembly, held by the braces 22 in the downwardly diverging, spread positions, illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2. When the stand is assembled, the braces 22 maintain the end frame member portions 24f of the confronting flanges 24b, intermediate the upper and lower frames 12 and 14 and the upper and lower cross braces 26, bowed outwardly. After the aquarium is assembled, the distance D between the intermediate end frame portions 24f of the confronting flanges 24b adjacent the free ends 22b of the brace members 22 is greater than the distance D&#39; between the upper and lower cross brace vertical flanges 26b. The lower frame section 14 holds the end frame members 16 in the sprung or bowed positions against the return &#34;spring&#34; of the end frame members. 
     METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE AQUARIUM STAND 
     The aquarium stand 10 is assembled by mounting the upper frame section 12 atop the end frame sections 16 so that the free ends 22b of the tension brace members 22 bear against the vertically extending end flanges 24b on the upstanding posts 24 and the vertical flanges 26b on the upper end cross braces 26a are received between the vertical end flange portions 20b of the upper frame section 12. 
     One vertical flange 20b of the lower frame member 14 is hooked over one of the lower vertical end frame flanges 26b. The lower ends of the end frame members 16 are then forced together to spring the end frame members 16 from the positions illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2, to the bowed positions illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2. The other vertical flange 20b of the lower frame member 14 is then slipped or hooked over the other lower end frame flange 26b, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to prevent the end frame sections 16 from springing back to the positions illustrated in chain lines. The spring or memory of the material 16 urges the upper ends of legs 16 to swing outwardly about the brace members 22, which act as fulcrums, into tight engagement with the vertical end flanges 20b of the upper aquarium frame member 12. The spring tension of the end frame members 16 produces an outward thrust which holds the various parts tightly together but permits quick disassembly for storage and for shipment. 
     As the lower end portions of the end frame members are sprung together, the brace members 22 are forced together slightly to move the intermediate section of the upper frame member 12 upwardly from the position illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2, against the &#34;spring&#34; or memory of the wrought iron material, until the upper surface 12a of the upper frame 12 lies in a horizontal plane. This added spring tension aids in holding the parts together. 
     It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.