GB2368785A

GB2368785A - Stand

Info

Publication number: GB2368785A
Application number: GB0125706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Storey
Original assignee: J E S Manufacturing CO Ltd
Current assignee: J E S Manufacturing CO Ltd
Priority date: 2000-11-02
Filing date: 2001-10-26
Publication date: 2002-05-15
Also published as: GB0026760D0; GB0125706D0

Abstract

A one-piece stand comprising a base part (18) and a support part (17) pivotally connected together by an integral hinge (16) to allow the support part (17) to be moved angularly from a storage configuration, where the stand is flat, to a selected supporting configuration where the support part (17) is upright at an angle to the base part (18). The support part (17) has a number of adjustment locations defined by pairs of spaced ribs (19), which are adjustably selectively engaged by a cross-piece of a bracing member (31) integrally pivotally connected to the base part (18). The base part has a pair of laterally spaced stability feet (21) with respective downwardly depending abutment feet (22).

Description

STAND This invention relates to a stand, particularly, but not exclusively, for displaying items of china, earthenware and glass.

An object of the invention is to provide such a stand in a convenient and effective manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a stand comprising first and second members pivotally connected together for relative angular movement between a storage configuration and a plurality of supporting configurations, one of the members having a plurality of adjustment locations at which part of a bracing member can be engaged so as to retain the members in a selected one of said plurality of supporting configurations.

Preferably one of the first and second members has at least one stability foot, which is preferably at the rear of the stand, in use. Desirably said one of the members has an upstand, which is at the front of the stand, in use, to support part of an article supported by the stand. In the storage configuration the members are together coplanar or substantially so.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, in which: Figures 1 to 3 are respectively a top plan view, an underneath plan view and a sectional side view on line 3-3 of Figure 1, of a stand of the invention in its storage configuration, and Figures 4 to 7 are respective side views of the stand in selected different supporting configurations.

The stand shown in Figures 1 to 3 is made of plastics material, for example polypropylene, and is formed in one piece, as a single sheet, for example by injection moulding. As will be described, the stand is formed with two hinges, which in the embodiment illustrated, are formed by respective grooves moulded in the undersurface of the sheet to leave thin strips of plastics material constituting the hinges.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the stand 10, in its storage configuration, i. e. during transportation, is of generally rectangular form in plan, but has respective central cut-outs 11,12 in the respective shorter sides of the rectangle. The cut-out 11 is of generally square shape but has its opposite inner sides tapering inwards towards one another. Moreover from the centre of the inner surface of the cut-out 11, there extends normally a central rectangular cut-out 13, the longer sides of which extend parallel to the longer sides of the sheet forming the stand 10. Moreover for each of the longitudinal sides of the sheet, at a position aligned longitudinally substantially with the inner closed end of the cut-out 13, there extends a generally L-shaped slot 14. The shorter limb of the L-shaped slot extends normally from the longitudinal side, with the longer limb being directed towards the cut-out 12 and extending slightly towards the longitudinal centre line of the sheet, the longer limb terminating some way short of the cut-out 12. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, a triangular groove 15 is formed in the underside of the sheet and across a central part of its width only, so as to define a hinge 16 which extends between the respective closed ends of the longer limbs of the slots 14, the hinge lying across the sheet at 90'to the respective longer sides thereof.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the hinge 16 connects a support member 17, formed by the part of the sheet having the cut-out 11 therein, with a base member 18 of the sheet which has the cut-out 12 therein, the hinge 16 allowing, as will be described, the support member to be pivoted upwardly relative to the base member 18 which is intended to remain horizontal on a flat support surface.

It can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that at the underside of the member 17, at respective opposite sides of the cut-out 13, spaced aligned pairs of rectangular abutment ribs 19 are provided, each rib extending longitudinally normal to the respective longer sides of the rectangular cut-out 13. As shown in Figure 3, the corner surface 20 of each rib facing the cut-out 11 can be arcuate. Although as shown in the drawings, there are four pairs of spaced ribs 19, it will be appreciated that the number of ribs can be varied, as can the spacing therebetween which, for example, need not be constant along the row of ribs, and in a further embodiment, these ribs could in fact be staggered at respective opposite sides of the cut-out 13.

With regard to the base member 18, it can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 that the respective parts thereof disposed outwardly at the longer sides of the Lshaped slots 14 define stability feet 21 rearwards of the hinge 16, and these feet are formed with respective downwardly depending abutment feet 22 at the underside of the sheet, these feet 22 extending further outwardly than the ribs 19 when the stand is in its storage configuration shown in Figures 1 to 3.

At the opposite end of the base member 18, there are defined elongated arms 23 defined at the opposite longer sides of the cut-out 12. This cut-out is generally rectangular, but has its longer inner sides tapering inwardly and rearwardly towards the hinge 16, the slot terminating in an inner transverse surface 24 normal to the parallel longer side surfaces of the rectangular sheet, this surface being spaced forwardly of the hinge 16. As can be seen from Figure 1, the respective front ends of the arms 23 are provided with respective upstanding projections 25,26, forming abutment arms, whilst at the underside of the sheet, slightly rearwardly of said projections, the arms are formed with respective downwardly depending abutment feet 27,28 which extend for the same distance as the feet 22, so that these feet at the underside of the member 18 at its front and rear serve, in use, to support this base member on a flat support surface. Additional respective abutment feet (not shown) can be provided spaced forwardly of feet 22 at opposite lateral sides of surface 24.

Finally with regard to the member 18, it can be seen that at the centre of surface 24, there is, in the underside of the sheet, at the centre thereof, and extending across only a short centre portion of the surface 24, a triangularsection groove 29 which forms a hinge 30 between the part of the member 18 adjacent the surface 24 and a bracing member 31. The bracing member, which is joined to the hinge 30 by a pair of inwardly sloping side surfaces, is generally rectangular, having a lateral width such that it can be received in the cut-out 13 and relatively moved therealong. At its free end, the member 31 is formed as a T-shape by way of a cross-member 32 normal to the longer rectangular sides of the remainder of the member 31. As can be seen from Figure 2, this bracing member terminates at the longitudinal position of the abutment feet 27,28.

The use of the stand 10 is believed apparent from, and will now be described in relation to, Figures 4 to 7.

As described, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the support member 17 and base member 18 are each generally planar and in the configuration shown in Figures 1 to 3, are aligned so that the one-piece sheet is itself generally planar, this being the storage/transport configuration of the stand, so that packing and transport is facilitated by it being generally flat.

When it is required to use the stand, it is intended that the base member 18 is supported on a flat surface, with its abutment feet 22 and 27,28 resting on said surface with the main plane of the member 18 being parallel to said flat support surface and with the projections 25,26 intended to form the front or forward end of the stand. In this position the support member 17 is pivoted upwardly about the hinge 16 relative to the base member 18. Initially this pivoting is through more than 90'so that it lies over the base member 18. In this position it is possible to pivot the bracing member 31 upwardly about its hinge 30 so that the rectangular section of the bracing member 31 can be received through the cut-out 13 and moved down the length thereof with its cross-member 32 received at the rear of the upwardly pivoted support member 17.

The width of the rectangular part of the bracing member 31 is slightly less than the width of the cut-out 13, so that relative sliding movement between the rectangular part of the bracing member and the cut-out can take place.

Moreover the cross-member 32 extends laterally of this rectangular part of the bracing member to substantially the same extent as the respective ribs 19 at each side of the rectangular cut-out 13. Additionally the longitudinal extent of the cross-member 32 is only slightly less than the spacing between adjacent ribs 19, and this enables stepped adjustment of the angle of the member 17 relative to the member 18 to be carried out, with the bracing member retaining the support member 17 in its adjusted position as shown in Figures 4 to 7.

Accordingly, firstly considering Figure 4, it will be appreciated that the support member 17 has been pivoted over the base member 18 at an acute angle of the order of 70 . The rectangular part of the bracing member 31 has been passed through the cut-out 13, and the respective opposite ends of the cross-member 23 have been engaged in the respective spaces between the two adjacent pairs of ribs nearest the cut-out 11 so that the bracing element 31 resists a load in a generally rearwards direction on the support member 17 and thus retains the members 17 and 18 apart in a selected, adjusted fixed angular orientation. Schematically shown in Figure 4 is a plate 33 supported by the stand, its lower end abutting the projections 25,26 and its upper rear surface bearing against the arms defined at opposite sides of the cut-out 11.

Although the cross-member 32 could be adjusted to engage the upper side of the uppermost pair of ribs, the arrangement shown in Figure 4 represents in practice the forwardmost retained position of the member 17, whilst Figure 7 shows the rearwardmost position, and Figures 5 and 6 show different intermediate positions between the two extremes shown in Figures 4 and 7.

Thus in Figure 5, the member 17 is at approximately 80'to the horizontal base member 18, and the engagement of the bracing member 31 has been altered so that the cross-member is now received between the second and third pairs of ribs 19, numbering in a direction away from the cut-out 11. It will be appreciated that adjustment is easily accomplished merely by pivoting the member 17 down towards the member 18 so that the cross-member is freed from between adjacent pairs of ribs, and pivoted slightly rearwardly, thereby to allow return upwards pivoting movement of the member 17 until it reaches the next stepped adjustment position, whereupon the cross-member is moved into place between the next adjacent pair of ribs. As mentioned, the ribs have arcuate corner surfaces 20 to facilitate such engagement of the cross-member. Figure 6 shows the arrangement where the cross-member is engaged between the third and fourth pairs of ribs, with the member 17 now being disposed just below 90'to the member 18. Finally in the extreme rearwards position of the member 17 shown in Figure 7, the cross-member is not held between respective adjacent pairs of ribs, but merely engages against the pair of ribs which is furthestmost from the cut-out 11, the member 17 now being at an obtuse angle to the member 18, for example approximately

0 9 7.

Accordingly with the stand of the present invention, the ribs provide a plurality of spaced apart adjustment locations to enable the stand to be used in a selected one of a plurality of supporting configurations, thus allowing the stand to adapt to different sizes of the different supported articles, such as plates, bowls, plaques and the like, and even pans and books. It will also be appreciated that the stand can be produced in a variety of different sizes for use with respective different sizes of said above items which cannot all be catered for with an adjustable single-sized stand. The stand can also be adapted/provided with attachments to support cups and saucers.

An important feature of the stand is the provision of the two stability feet 21 which, during the use of the stand, are at the rear thereof. These feet, which are conveniently formed merely by cutting away material of the plastics sheet to provide the hinged support member 17, serve to stabilise the stand when it supports an article such as the plate 33 and prevent the stand tipping rearwardly, particularly when the article supported extends significantly beyond the top of the member 17. The provision of feet for the member 18 is advantageous in lifting certain supported items clear of the surface on which the stand rests. With some specific items, particularly heavy items such as cut glass bowls and the like, the projections 25,26 may not extend sufficiently upwardly to provide the required abutment, and in such a case extension ferrules can be fitted onto the projections 25,26 to increase the height of the abutment surfaces provided thereat.

As mentioned, it would be possible to stagger the ribs at respective opposite sides of the cut-out 13 thereby to increase the stepped adjustability. In an alternative arrangement, the member 17 could be formed with a series of spaced T-shaped slots in place of the cut-out 13 and ribs 19, the arrangement being that the cross-member 32 is received through the wider part of a selected T-shaped slot and then moved down towards the hinge 16 thereby locking the bracing member to the member 17 by virtue of the cross-member 32 being unable to pass through the narrower portion of the T-shaped slot.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A stand comprising first and second members pivotally connected together for relative angular movement between a storage configuration and a plurality of supporting configurations, one of the members having a plurality of adjustment locations at which part of a bracing member can be engaged so as to retain the members in a selected one of said plurality of supporting configurations.
2. A stand as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one of said first and second members has at least one stability foot.
3. A stand as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said at least one stability foot is at the rear of the stand, in use.
4. A stand as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the second member has said at least one stability foot and constitutes a base member of the stand.
5. A stand as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said at least one stability foot is at the rear of the base member, in use.
6. A stand as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the base member has a pair of transversely spaced stability feet.
7. A stand as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the or each stability foot has a downwardly depending abutment foot.
8. A stand as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the stability feet extend rearwardly of a hinge between the first and second members which provides said pivotal connection therebetween.
9. A stand as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said hinge is integral with said first and second members.
10. A stand as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the hinge is disposed transversely of the first and second members.
11. A stand as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the hinge is formed by a groove in the undersurface of a plastics material sheet which defines said first and second members.
12. A stand as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the pivotal connection between the first and second members is an integral lateral hinge.
13. A stand as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said bracing member is pivotally connected to the other of said members.
14. A stand as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the pivotal connection between the bracing member and said other of said members is an integral lateral hinge.
15. A stand as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the hinge is formed by a groove in the underside of a plastics material sheet which defines said first and second members.
16. A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said adjustment locations are provided at a surface of said one of said members which is disposed rearwardly, in use.
17. A stand as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the adjustment locations are provided by one or more ribs.
18. A stand as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the adjustment locations are provided by a plurality of spaced pairs of ribs, the two ribs of each pair being disposed in longitudinal alignment at respective opposite sides of a longitudinally extending, open-ended slot in said one of said members.
19. A stand as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said part of the bracing member is a cross-piece which can be received between the two spaced pairs of ribs or a selected one of an adjacent pair of spaced pairs of ribs, or engaged solely against the pair of ribs nearest either end of said slot respectively.
20. A stand as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said cross-piece is on a main part of the bracing member which can extend through said open-ended slot, in use.
21. A stand as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the adjustment locations are provided by a series of spaced T-shaped slots.
22. A stand as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6 or 8 to 11, wherein a front end of the base member has projection means upstanding therefrom against which an article supported by the stand, in use, is intended to abut.
23. A stand as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the projection means are a pair of laterally spaced upstanding abutment arms.
24. A stand as claimed in Claim 23, wherein said abutment arms have respective extension ferrules fitted thereon.
25. A stand as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first member is a support member having said plurality of adjustment locations, and the second member constitutes a base member of the stand.
26. A stand as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the base member has said bracing member pivotally connected thereto.
27. A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, formed in one piece.
28. A stand as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 27, formed such that in its said storage configuration it is substantially flat with said first and second members and said bracing member lying substantially in the same plane.
29. A stand substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.