Patent ID: 8305287

Claim:
An apparatus for propping a device, comprising: a platform; at least a first bracket for slidably engaging a first portion of a device to be propped, said bracket being mounted on said platform; at least one screw-threaded drive element, said drive element being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said drive element having drive element threads on a surface thereof; at least one rail mounted on said platform, said at least one rail extending in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said drive element, said at least one rail having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in planes substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said drive element; a carriage having at least one rail engaging portion and at least one threaded portion, said rail engaging portion being of a shape which engages said rail, said threaded portion of said carriage having carriage threads which are in threaded engagement with said drive element threads, said carriage having at least one backstay mounting element; a backstay, a first portion of said backstay being rotatably attached to said backstay mounting element such that said first portion of said backstay is free to rotate relative to said backstay mounting element about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said drive element, said backstay having a second portion for rotatably engaging a second portion of said device to be propped; said drive element being rotatably supported by a drive element support and being threadedly supported by said threaded portion of said carriage, rotation of said drive element about its longitudinal axis causing said carriage to move in a direction substantially along said longitudinal axis due to said threaded engagement, which causes said first portion of said backstay to move relative to said bracket, which causes said second portion of said backstay to move relative to said bracket.