Patent ID: 8616379

Claim:
A new and novel portable prospecting device comprising: a support system consisting of a plurality of identical support assemblies for easy attachment to opposite ends of a variety of sluice box designs; whereas said support system to include features allowing infinite adjustments bilaterally to compensate for varying terrain conditions as well as ability to adjust for optimum operating incline of said sluice box; whereas each said support system consists of two sub-assemblies; whereas each said subassembly, consisting of a vertical side bracket, cross brace, leg socket, leg, a plurality of vertical side bracket positioning screws, shoulder bolt, washer, wing nut and leg locking screw; whereas each said subassembly, is positioned and retained onto said sluice box by means of an inwardly formed lip located at uppermost edge of said vertical side bracket and hooked over upper most vertical edge of said sluice box side wall; whereas each said leg socket to be attached to exterior surface of said side bracket; and each said vertical side bracket to be held in position against outside vertical side wall of said sluice box by means of said cross brace which is attached to said vertical side bracket by insertion of a plurality of side bracket positioning screws through parallel elongated slots in said vertical side bracket and threaded into said side bracket positioning screw captive nuts located in downturned vertical short side of said cross brace and on same axis on said cross brace; whereas said parallel elongated slots located vertically in said vertical side bracket to allow for vertical adjustment, so as to adapt to said variety of sluice box side wall and bottom designs and dimensions; whereas two of said subassemblies mated with each other across external bottom planer surface of said sluice box, with first said sub-assembly positioned 180 degrees from second said sub-assembly on same axis and overlapping planes and co-joined by insertion of said shoulder bolt, downwardly and vertically through centrally positioned and commonly aligned elongated slots and retained by said washer and wingnut; whereas said support sub-assemblies, when adjusted vertically and horizontally inward and against said sluice box sides and bottom and are retained by tightening said side bracket positioning screws and said shoulder bolt, washer and wing nut; and inserting said legs into and through said leg sockets and positioned with said leg locking screws; whereas two said support systems when attached to opposing ends of said sluice box's gives the user said infinite bilateral adjustment thereof.