US2924414A - Collapsible supporting frames - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1960 1-. L. TESDAL COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORTING FRAMES Filed. Jan. 1a, 1956 INVEN TOR. THOMAS L TESDAL United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORTING FRAMES Thomas L. Tesdal, Eugene, Oreg.

Application January 18, 1956, Serial No. 559,912

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-165) This invention relates to improvements in collapsible racks and more particularly to a rack primarily designed for use by game hunters in suspending game such as deer, elk, and the like for the dressing operation, which must be done as soon after the kill as possible in order to preserve the meat.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to so construct a rack of this type that it will be strong and durable, yet light in weight and compact for carrying purposes and of a character that will permit of its being readily and easily assembled for use and when so assembled can be adjusted to different heights and positions.

The foregoing and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a rack made in accordance with my invention and in position for use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a typical telescopic supporting leg.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, of a four-piece cross-bar.

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a typical fitting for connecting the ends of the cross-bar to the supporting legs.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a portable base for the legs of the rack.

Figure 7 is a front view of Figure 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings:

In Figure 1 reference numeral 1 indicates generally a horizontal cross-bar comprising a plurality of interconnected hollow tubular sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 all of equal length and threadedly interconnected as indicated at 6 and 7 in Figure 3. The outer end of each section 2 and 5 is flattened and apertured as at '8 and 9, respectively. By means of said apertures the end sections 2 and 5 are removably secured by means of wing nuts 10 to the threaded end of bolts 11 embedded within and extending upwardly from a cylindrical block 12 of metal such as babbitt or the like secured within a cup member 13. The cup member comprises a flat circular bottom wall and an annular vertical wall as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The top surface of the circular block 12 lies flush with the rim of the cup as shown in Figure 5. By this arrangement each flattened end 8 of the cross bar 1 will bear securely flatwise against the top surface of the block 12 and against the rim of its respective cup member 13 upon advancement of the wing nuts 10 on the threaded end of the bolts 11. Three arcuate clamping elements 14, 15 and 16 are secured by spot-welding or the like to the outer peripheral surface of the cup member and their 2,924,414 Patented Feb. 9, 1960 ice flanged ends 17 are provided with bolts and wing nuts' Each telescopic leg of the two supporting tripods 20 for the cross-bar 1, as best illustrated in Figure 2, comprises a hollow base section 21 equal in length to that of each of the sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the cross-bar, a hollow central section 22 and a hollow top section 23 all telescopically interconnected as shown. The top end of each top section 23 is flattened and apertured as at 24 for lockable engagement with the flanges 17 of the clamping elements 14-15 and 16 by means of the bolts 18 and wing nuts 19.

For quickly and conveniently locking the leg sections in extended or retracted positions with respect to each other I provide the central section 22 with longitudinally aligned apertures 25 to selectively receive a spring-urged detent '26 carried by the base section 21. A similar detent 27 is carried by the central section for selective engagement with apertures 23 provided in the top section 23. By this arrangement the leg sections may be locked in a fully extended position, a fully retracted or collapsed position or in any adjusted position therebetween to accommodate the tripods to ground irregularities or sloping terrain.

The bottom end of each bottom section 21 is provided with an insert 29 pointed at its outer end as at 30 for firm engagement with the ground to prevent slippage when in use. The inserts also provide means for firmly positioning each tripod upon a portable base as shown in Figures 6 and 7 which comprises a triangular platform 31 supported by caster wheels 32 and provided with recesses 33 at each of its corners to receive the pointed ends of the inserts as shown in Figure 7.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a collapsible rack which can be quickly and conveniently assembled and extended from a fully collapsed compact form to any desired length and height within its operative range and which when set up for use will stand firmly upon the ground in a fixed position or upon a portable base in a similar manner.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention 1 am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A collapsible rack comprising a pair of spaced apart identical tripods interconnected at their top ends by a cross bar, each tripod comprising a metallic cup having a flat circular bottom wall and an annular vertical wall, a circular block of metal secured within the cup member and fully occupying the interior thereof whereby the top of said block will lie flush with the top rim of said annular vertical wall, a bolt having a head at one of its ends and threaded at its opposite end, said bolt secured within said circular block with its threaded end extending upwardly therefrom, said cross bar having a flattened portion at each end thereof and each flattened portion having an opening therethrough for engagement with the threaded end of its respective belt, a nut threadedly attached to each bolt whereby upon advancement of its respective nut on the threads thereof said flattened ends of said cross bar will bear securely flatwise against the top surface of said circular block and the top rim of said annular wall, clamping elements permanently secured to and surrounding each of said cups and having cooperating outwardly flanged ends, legs having openings in their top ends, bolts extending through said openings in q t V .3 the legs and through said outwardly flanged ends of the clamping elements to thereby lock said legs either in parallel or in downwardly diverging relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,602 Wood et a1. Aug. 22, 1899

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