Patent ID: 8313076

Claim:
A collapsible rolling stand for use with an elongated normally horizontally oriented object attached thereto, said stand being supported by a ground surface and having a front end portion and a rear end portion, and being capable of being manipulated between open and closed positions, wherein the object is generally vertically oriented when the stand is closed and generally horizontally oriented when the stand is in the open position, said stand comprising: a top frame having a generally planar portion being configured to have the object secured thereto, said top frame planar portion being oriented in a generally horizontal position when said stand is in the open position and a generally vertical position when said stand is moved to the closed position; a pair of spaced apart elongated first members, each located on opposite sides of said top frame and pivotably connected at one end portion to a rear portion of said top frame planar portion, each of said first members also having an opposite end portion that include a point that contact the ground surface; a pair of spaced apart second members, each having a wheel for enabling a user to roll said stand on the ground surface and a pivot connection to one of said first members at a point intermediate said one end and opposite end portions of said first member, each second member also having one of said wheels connected to a lower end portion thereof and an upper end portion extending upwardly beyond said pivot connection; a pair of first link members, each having a first end portion pivotally connected to said upper end portion of said second member and a second end portion pivotally connected to a first end of a second link member; said pair of second link members each having a first end pivotally connected to said second end portion of said first link member and to a first end of a third link member, and a second end pivotally connected to one side of said top frame; and said pair third link members, each having a first end pivotally connected to said first end of said second link member and to said second end portion of said first link member, and a second end pivotally connected near said point of one of said first members that contact the ground surface; wherein said first and second members are pivotally connected to one another and configured so that the weight of the object provides a substantial portion of the necessary force needed to pivot said first and second pairs of members to further separate said points of said first members that contact the ground surface from said wheels and move said stand from the closed position to the open position wherein said top frame planar portion is substantially horizontal.