GB2469324A

GB2469324A - Support and removal tool for lightning initiator

Info

Publication number: GB2469324A
Application number: GB0906183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Barsby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-09
Filing date: 2009-04-09
Publication date: 2010-10-13
Also published as: GB0906183D0

Abstract

A support arrangement 10 for supporting a lightening initiator (12, Figure 7). The arrangement comprises a support mounting 11 for supporting a load and at least two support legs 15a - 15c for supporting the mounting 11 in spaced relation to a support surface. The support further comprises a coupling arrangement 14a — 14c for separately coupling the at least two support legs 15a — 15c to the support mounting 11, wherein the coupling arrangement permits translational movement of the support legs 15a — 15c with respect to the support mounting 11 while preserving the orientation of the support legs 15a — 15c with respect to the support mounting in a first orientation, and rotational movement of the support legs 15a — 15c with respect to the support mounting 11 between the first orientation and a second orientation. Preferably each leg has an aperture 22 to receive a stake 26 to secure the support structure. A tool (28, Figures 3 to 5) may be used to remove the stake.

Description

Support Arrangement The present invention relates to a support arrangement and particularly, but not exclusively, to a support arrangement for supporting a lightning initiator.

Collapsible stands used in supporting loads, such as cameras, telescopes and the like are known for providing a quick and easy support and can be erected at any desirable location. Such stands typically comprise two, three or more support legs that are pivotally coupled to a support mounting by pivot pins.

The pivot pins enable the support legs to be pivoted away from each other to provide a sturdy support and toward each other for storage and/or transportation. However, the weight of the load being supported is taken upon the pivot pins. This is found to unduly stress the pins in situations whereby heavy bodies are supported, and as a result, it is common for the pins to break unexpectedly.

I have now devised a support arrangement which provides the advantages offered by the collapsible stand, but which overcomes the above mentioned problem.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a support arrangement, the arrangement comprising a support mounting for supporting a load and at least two support legs for supporting the mounting in spaced relation to a support surface, the support further comprising a coupling arrangement for separately coupling the at least two support legs to the support mounting, wherein the coupling arrangement permits translational movement of the support legs with respect to the support mounting while preserving the orientation of the support legs with respect to the support mounting in a first orientation, and rotational movement of the support legs with respect to the support mounting between the first orientation and a second orientation.

The support arrangement is arranged to take the weight of the load with the support legs arranged in a first orientation, while the second orientation reduces the volume occupied by the support arrangement for easy storage.

Preferably, said translationa' movement and said rotational movement are arranged to take place independently of each other.

Preferably, the coupling arrangement permits said translational movement of the support legs between a first position and second position with respect to the support mounting.

Preferably, the coupling arrangement permits said rotational movement of the support legs when the respective support leg is arranged in a third position.

The coupling arrangement preferably comprises at least two guides for separately guiding the at least two support legs, each of the at least two the guides being rigidly orientated with respect to the mounting.

A proximal end of each support leg is preferably arranged to move in sliding relation with respect to the respective guide. The proximal end of each of the support legs preferably comprises locking means for locking the respective leg to the respective guide. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, each guide preferably comprises locking means for locking the respective support leg thereto.

A distal end of at least one of the support legs preferably comprises an aperture for receiving a stake for securing the at least one support leg to the support surface.

Preferably, the aperture is formed in a foot region disposed at the distal end of the at least one support leg.

Preferably, the stake comprises an elongate rod section, which is dimensioned to pass through the respective aperture and a head section, which limits the extent to which the rod section can pass through the aperture.

The at least one support leg comprising the aperture for receiving the stake preferably comprises means for providing a fulcrum for a tool that is used to manipulate the stake within the aperture.

The tool preferably comprises means for engaging with the fulcrum on the at least one support leg and means for coupling with the head section of the respective stake.

Preferably, the support mounting is arranged to support a mast of a lightning initiator.

The support mounting preferably comprises connection means for providing an electrical connection between the support mounting and an electrical earth.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a support arrangement, the arrangement comprising a support mounting for supporting a load, and at least two support legs for supporting the mounting in spaced relation to a support surface, wherein, at least one of the at least two support legs is arranged to be secured to the support surface by stake, and wherein the at least one support leg comprises means for providing a fulcrum about which a level can rotate to manipulate the stake.

The support arrangement of the second aspect thus facilitates the securing of stakes into a support surface to secure the support arrangement thereto.

Preferably, the means for providing a fulcrum comprises an abutment against which a lever can pivot.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a third aspect, there is provided a tool for manipulating a stake used in securing a support leg of a support arrangement to a support surface, the tool comprising means for cooperating with the support leg to provide a fulcrum about which the tool can rotate and means for coupling with the stake.

The tool thus enables a stake to be levered into and out of a support surface by rotating the tool about a fulcrum on a support leg of the support arrangement.

The means for cooperating with the support leg preferably comprises a slot formed at a proximal end of the tool for receiving the support leg. The means for coupling with the stake preferably comprises an elongate channel that extends along a longitudinal axis of the tool, for receiving a head section of the stake.

Preferably, the head section of the stake can slide along the channel as the tool is rotated about the fulcrum.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a fourth aspect there is provided a support system, the system comprising a support arrangement according to the first or second aspect and a tool according to the third aspect.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of manipulating a stake used in securing a support leg of a support arrangement to a support surface, the method comprising, engaging the tool with the support leg to provide a fulcrum upon the support leg; coupling the stake to the tool; and, rotating the tool about the fulcrum to insert or remove the stake into or from respectively, the support surface.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the support arrangement according to an embodiment of the first aspect of present invention in an operative configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support arrangement of figure 1 in a stowed configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tool according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 is perspective view of the tool of figure 3 as used in inserting a stake within a support surface; Figure 5 is perspective view of the tool of figure 3 as used in removing a stake from a support surface; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the support arrangement of figure 1 with electrical connections secured thereto; and, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the support arrangement of figures 1 or 5 as used in supporting a lightning initiator.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a support arrangement 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The support arrangement 10 comprises a support mounting 11 for supporting a load such as mast 12 of a lightning initiator 13 or an antenna (not shown) or similar. The support arrangement 10 enables the lightning initiator 13, for example to be readily erected on-site as required to protect a mobile communications station (not shown), for example from a potential lightning strike.

The support arrangement 10 comprises three coupling arrangements 14a-14c which depend downwardly from the mounting 11 at an acute angle thereto and which are rigidly mounted thereto. The coupling arrangements 14a-14c are separated equidistantly around the periphery of the mounting 11, accordingly, the angular separation of the coupling arrangements 14a-14c is substantially 120°.

The coupling arrangements 14a-14c separately couple a support leg 15a-15c, respectively, to the mounting 11 and comprise a housing 16a-16c that is shaped to substantially match the cross-sectional shape of the each leg 15a-15c. Each housing 16a-16c is sized such that the interior cross-sectional dimensions substantially correspond with the exterior cross-sectional dimensions of a proximal end the respective leg 15. Accordingly, the legs 15 are arranged to slide within the respective housing 16 while maintaining their orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective housing, and thus the legs 15 are arranged to similarly depend downwardly from the support mounting 11 and diverge away from each other, when mounted within the respective housings 16.

The proximal end of each leg 15 comprises an externally threaded rod 17 which extends through the leg 15, in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the respective leg 15. The rod 17 is arranged to pass through an elongate slot 18 formed in opposite sides faces of the housing 16 and is further arranged to receive a nut 19 at each end the rod 17. The rod 17 prevents the removal of the leg 15 from the respective housing 16, while enabling the leg 15 to slide within the housing 16. To lock the legs 15 in place within the respective housing 16, the nuts 18 are tightened upon the respect rod 17 to clamp the leg 15 to the respective housing 16.

The upper and lower faces of each housing 16 comprise a cut-out formed at the lower end thereof which extend longitudinally of the respective housing 16 toward the mounting 11. Each cut-out extends to a longitudinal position which is intermediate opposite ends of the elongate slot 18 formed in the side faces thereof. Accordingly, each leg 15 can slide along the respect housing 16 and upon reaching the lower end thereof is permitted to rotate about the rod 17 off the longitudinal axis of the respective housing 16. The legs 15 can thus be rotated toward each other to reduce the volume occupied by the support arrangement 10 for storage and/or transportation.

Each housing 16 further comprises a bolt 20 or similar which is arranged to be screwed into an out of the housing 16 through an aperture (not shown) formed in the upper face thereof. The bolt 20 further enables the leg 15 to be secured within the respective housing 16.

The distal end of each leg 15 comprises a plate 21 which may be pivotally coupled to the leg 15 or rigidly coupled thereto. Each plate 21 comprises an aperture 22 for receiving a stake 23, which is used to secure the plate 21 and thus the respective leg to the ground. The stake 23 comprises a rod section 24 which is arranged to pass through the aperture 22 formed within the plate 21 and a head section 25 which comprises a peripherally extending lip 26 that prevents the head section 25 from passing through the respective aperture 22.

The stake 23 is driven into the ground through the respective aperture 22 using a tool 27 as illustrated in figures 3 of the drawings. The tool 27 comprises a handle section 28 and a forked section 29 comprising a pair of forks 30a, 30b for engaging with a support leg 15 of the support arrangement 10. At the junction between the forks 30a, 30b and the handle section 28, there is provided an opening 31 to a channel 32 which extends longitudinally of the handle section 28, within the handle section 28. The channel 32 further comprises a slot 33 that extends longitudinally of handle section 28 and which is formed within an underside of the tool 27. The opening to the channel 32 is dimensioned to receive the head section 25 and lip 26 of the stake 23, while the slot 33 is dimensioned to only allow the rod section 24 to pass. Accordingly, the head section of the stake 23 can move along the channel 32 as the rod section 24 moves within the slot 33, but the stake 23 cannot be pulled from the channel 32 through the slot 33 by virtue of the lip 26.

In use, the support arrangement 10 is reconfigured from a stowed configuration to an operative configuration by pivoting the legs 15 of the support arrangement 10 about the respective rod 17, until the longitudinal axis of the respective leg 15 is arranged substantially collinear with the longitudinal axis of the respective housing 16. The legs are then inserted within the respective housing 16 and the nuts 19 and bolts 20 are tightened to lock the legs 15 within the respective housing 16. The support arrangement 10 is then suitably positioned upon the ground so that the plates 21 on each leg 15 suitably contact the ground. In this operative configuration, any load that is placed upon the support mounting 11 is taken by the legs 15 and the housings 16, as opposed to the rods 17.

The head section 25 of a stake 23 is then inserted into the channel 32 of the handle section 28 and a distal end of the rod section 24 is located within an aperture 22 formed within a plate 21. The tool 27 may then be pressed downwardly to force the stake 23 into the ground or the forked section 29 of the tool 27 may be engaged under an abutment rod 34 that extends across the respective leg 15 intermediate opposite ends thereof, and subsequently levered downwardly using the abutment rod 34 as a fulcrum. Conversely, in removing the stake 23, the forked section 29 of the tool 27 may be engaged over the abutment rod 34 and levered upwardly, again using the abutment rod 34 as a fulcrum.

Once all the support legs have been secured to the ground by stakes 23, a mast 12 may then be coupled to the support mounting 11 using coupling means (not shown), for supporting a lightning initiator 13 in an elevated position. Electrical wires 35 are then electrically connected to the support mounting 11 via copper screw connections 36 to provide an electrical pathway for the conducted lightning to a suitable electrical ground (not shown).

To return the support arrangement to the stowed configuration, the mast 12 is removed from the support mounting 11 and the electrical wires 35 are disconnected from the support mounting 11 by unscrewing the copper screws 36, for example. The stakes 23 are then removed from the ground using the tool 27 as described above, and the nuts 19 and bolts 20 are unscrewed to unlock the legs 15 from within the respective housing 16. Each leg 15 is then pulled along the respective housing 16 until the respective rod 17 abuts the lowermost end of each of the slots 18. The legs 15 are then rotated toward each other about the respective rod 17 provide a compact arrangement for storage and/or transportation.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the support arrangement and tool of the present invention provide a simple yet effective means of supporting and securing bodies such as masts and antennas in an erected configuration.

Claims

Claims 1. A support arrangement, the arrangement comprising a support mounting for supporting a load and at least two support legs for supporting the mounting in spaced relation to a support surface, the support further comprising a coupling arrangement for separately coupling the at least two support legs to the support mounting, wherein the coupling arrangement permits translational movement of the support legs with respect to the support mounting while preserving the orientation of the support legs with respect to the support mounting in a first orientation, and rotational movement of the support legs with respect to the support mounting between the first orientation and a second orientation.
2. A support arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said translational movement and said rotational movement are arranged to take place independently of . each other. **.

*
3. A support arrangement according to claim I or 2, wherein the coupling arrangement permits said translational movement of the support legs between a first *. 20 position and second position with respect to the support mounting.

*.:.
4. A support arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the coupling arrangement permits said rotational movement of the support legs when the respective support leg is arranged in a third position.
5. A support arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises at least two guides for separately guiding the at least two support legs, each of the at least two the guides being rigidly orientated with respect to the mounting.
6. A support arrangement according to claim 5, wherein a proximal end of each support leg is arranged to move in sliding relation with respect to the respective guide.
7. A support arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the proximal end of each of the support legs comprises locking means for locking the respective leg to the respective guide.
8. A support arrangement according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein each guide comprises locking means for locking the respective support leg thereto.
9. A support arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a distal end of at least one of the support legs comprises an aperture for receiving a stake for securing the at least one support leg to the support surface.
10. A support arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the aperture is formed in a foot region disposed at the distal end of the at least one support leg.
11. A support arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the stake comprises an elongate rod section, which is dimensioned to pass through the respective aperture, and a head section, which limits the extent to which the rod section can pass through * the aperture. S...S S...
12. A support arrangement according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the at least one support leg comprising the aperture for receiving the stake comprises means for 5, providing a fulcrum for a tool that is used to manipulate the stake within the aperture.S
13. A support arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the tool comprises means for engaging with the fulcrum on the at least one support leg and means for coupling with the head section of the respective stake.
14. A support arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the support mounting is arranged to support a mast of a lightning initiator.
15. A support arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the support mounting comprises connection means for providing an electrical connection between the support mounting and an electrical earth.
16. A support arrangement, the arrangement comprising a support mounting for supporting a load, and at least two support legs for supporting the mounting in spaced relation to a support surface, wherein, at least one of the at least two support legs is arranged to be secured to the support surface by stake, and wherein the at least one support leg comprises means for providing a fulcrum about which a level can rotate to manipulate the stake.
17. A support arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the means for providing a fulcrum comprises an abutment against which a lever can pivot.
18. A tool for manipulating a stake used in securing a support leg of a support arrangement to a support surface, the tool comprising means for cooperating with the support leg to provide a fulcrum about which the tool can rotate and means for coupling with the stake. S.. * . S..'
19. A tool according to claim 18, wherein the means for cooperating with the support leg comprises a slot formed at a proximal end of the tool for receiving the S...support leg.
20. A tool according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the means for coupling with the 4..... stake comprises an elongate channel that extends along a longitudinal axis of the tool, * for receiving a head section of the stake.
21. A tool according to claim 20, wherein the head section of the stake can slide along the channel as the tool is rotated about the fulcrum.
22. A support system, the system comprising a support arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 17 and a tool according to any of claims 18 to 21.
23. A method of manipulating a stake used in securing a support leg of a support arrangement to a support surface, the method comprising, engaging the tool with the support leg to provide a fulcrum upon the support leg; coupling the stake to the tool; and,SraiSing the tool about the fuicrum to insert or remove the stake into or from respectively, the support surface. * * **** ******* * * in. so. in * Si *st S *5*S 5i5S