GB2285565A

GB2285565A - Pivoted foot assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2285565A
Application number: GB9500621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melvyn Wilde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-01-13
Filing date: 1995-01-12
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-12
Also published as: GB9400528D0; GB2285565B; GB9500621D0

Abstract

A foot assembly comprises a base 11 having upward lugs 14, 15 receiving a bolt 19 on which is mounted an element 21 in aperture 35 in socket 31 which receives rod 32. The socket 31 can pivot 90 DEG either side of vertical on element 21 about the axis of bolt 19 and 15 DEG on either side on an orthogonal axis. Surface 40 on socket 31 engages surface 41 on the base to guide the pivotal movement. The assembly may form part of fishing tackle. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOT ASSEMBLIES THIS INVENTION relates to foot assemblies.

According to this invention a foot assembly comprises a base for resting on a support, and a pivot portion for connection to the lower end of an elongate member and mounted in the base for movement about a first, axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

The support may be the ground.

The pivot portion may comprise a socket for receiving the lower end.

The pivot portion may comprise a surface defining an aperture, which surface engages a pivot element during pivotal movement.

The surface of the element may be shaped to limit the extent of pivotal movement about one of the axes. The element may be shaped to limit pivotal movement in two opposed senses about the one axis.

The one axis may be the second axis.

The pivot portion may comprise a surface engageable with a surface of the base to guide the pivot portion during pivotal movement about the one axis.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foot assembly; Fig. 2 is a side view of the foot assembly; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the assembly of Fig.

2; and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

A foot assembly 10 comprises a moulded plastics base 11 which has a somewhat flexible (e.g. of a rubber-like material) generally conical portion 12 providing a central underneath recess 13 and having a pair of upstanding lugs 14, 15 respectively with aligned apertures 16. The apertures 16 are countersunk at outer ends 17 so as respectively to receive the circular head 20 of pivot bolt 19 which is threaded at its other end to receive a hexagon nut 18 in the hexagon section countersunk portion 17. In a modification the head 20 is also hexagon section in a hexagon countersunk portion.

Received with a firm fit on the bolt 19 and engaged between the lugs 14, 15 is a pivot element 21. Two other pivot elements 21, 21a (only shown in Fig. 4) are moulded with the base 11 each being connected to the base 11 by a frangible link 22.

A socket unit 30 has a socket 31 for receiving a lower end of an elongate member 32 which for example is held by rivet 33 and a planar pivot part 34 with an aperture 35 which receives a pivot element 21. The element 21 can be replaced by spare pivot element 21 or 21a which has been removed from the base 11, leaving the other element as a spare, when necessitated e.g. by possible wear.

Alternatively, the parts can be supplied separated and element 21 or 21a removed from the base and used in the initial assembly.

As can be seen in Fig. 3 the element 21 has in longitudinal section upper and lower inclined surfaces 36, 37 meeting at curved junction 39 engaging the surface 38 of the aperture 35.

The angle of inclination of surfaces 36, 37 to the horizontal may for example be 15 enabling the rod 32 to pivot 150 in opposed senses either side of vertical whilst being guided by engagement of surface 38 with junction 39. The axis of pivoting is orthogonal to the bolt 19 but in some cases may not be fixed.

Also as can be seen in Fig. 2 the rod 32 can pivot 90C either side of vertical on element 21 about the axis of pivot bolt 19 at right angles to the axis of pivoting on element 21. The pivot bolt 19 provides a defined axis.

The rod 32 can pivot in the opposed senses for all positions of movement about rod 19.

The external surface of element 21 is circular as viewed on the axis of bolt 19, and element 21 and planar part 34 have a degree of resilience.

The curved end surface 40 of pivot part 34 engages curved surface 41 between the lugs 14, 15 during pivotal movement on element 21 (Fig. 3) to provide further guidance.

The assembly may find use as part of fishing tackle where the base 11 may rest on an uneven river bank whilst the rod 32 remains substantially vertical.

Claims

1. A foot assembly comprising a base for resting on a support, and a pivot portion for connection to the lower end of an elongate member and mounted in the base for movement about a first, defined, axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the pivot portion comprises a socket for receiving the lower end.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the pivot portion comprises a surface defining an aperture, which surface engages a pivot element during pivotal movement.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, in which the surface of the pivot element is shaped to limit the extent of pivotal movement about one of the axes.

5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, in which the pivot element is shaped to limit pivotal movement in two opposed senses about the one axis.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the one axis is the second axis.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the pivot portion comprises a surface engageable with a surface of the base to guide the pivot portion during pivotal movement about the one axis.

8. A foot assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.