Granted Patent B2

US 7,703,401 · App. 11/295,999 · Granted Apr 27, 2010

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A portable support structure comprising:

an elongate primary support configured to vertically support a platform, the elongate primary support comprising:

a first end comprising a male primary connector having a flange portion, a flared end, and a tapered portion disposed between the flange portion and the flared end, the flared end having an alignment channel across an end surface;

a second end substantially opposing the first end;

a longitudinal axis; and

a hook projecting from a location between the first end and the second end;

a platform comprising:

a female primary connector comprising a connector cavity and an alignment pin across the connector cavity, the female primary connector being configured to receive the flared end and the tapered portion of the male primary connector, the female primary connector and the male primary connector being configured to connect when the elongate primary support is in a rotational orientation about the longitudinal axis that allows the alignment channel to engage the alignment pin during insertion of the male primary connector into the female primary connector; and

a secondary connector; and

an elongate secondary support configured to diagonally support the platform and to stabilize the elongate primary support, the elongate secondary support comprising a first connecting end and an opposing second connecting end, the first connecting end being configured to engage the secondary connector of the platform, the second connecting end being configured to engage the hook of the elongate primary support.

2. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a retention device arranged and disposed to releasably retain the male primary connector in the female primary connector when the alignment channel engages the alignment pin.

3. The portable support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the retention device includes a ball and a spring, the ball being configured to contact the flared end at a second location, the second location being proximate the tapered portion.

4. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion includes a frusto-conical geometry.

5. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second connecting end comprises an aperture, the aperture being configured to engage the hook.

6. The portable support structure according to claim 5 , the hook being arranged and disposed such that, upon rotational orientation of the elongate primary support and subsequent connection of the elongate primary support to the platform, the hook is correspondingly positioned to enable a user to readily connect the elongate secondary support to the platform and to the elongate primary support by engaging the first connecting end and the secondary connector and by engaging the second connecting end and the hook.

7. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , the hook further comprising a curved portion that projects substantially toward the first end.

8. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the platform, the elongate primary support, and the elongate secondary support are configured to be repeatedly engaged and disengaged from one another to facilitate repeated assembly and disassembly of the portable support structure.

9. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the portable support structure is a stage.

10. The portable support structure according to claim 1 , the hook being arranged and disposed such that, upon rotational orientation of the elongate primary support and subsequent connection of the elongate primary support to the platform, the hook is correspondingly positioned to enable a user to readily connect the elongate secondary support to the platform and to the elongate primary support by engaging the first connecting end and the secondary connector and by lockingly engaging the second connecting end and the hook.

11. The portable support structure according to claim 10 , wherein the first connecting end and the second connecting end have similar geometries, enabling the first connecting end to alternatively lockingly engage the hook and enabling the second connecting end to alternatively engage the secondary connector.

12. A portable support structure comprising:

an elongate primary support configured to vertically support a platform, the elongate primary support comprising:

a first end comprising a male primary connector having a flange portion, a flared end, and a tapered portion disposed between the flange portion and the flared end, the flared end having an alignment channel across an end surface;

a second end substantially opposing the first end; and

a longitudinal axis;

a hook member comprising a hook, the hook member being releasably securable to the elongate primary support at a location between the first end and the second end; and

a platform comprising:

a female primary connector comprising a connector cavity and an alignment pin across the connector cavity, the female primary connector being configured to receive the flared end and the tapered portion of the male primary connector, the female primary connector and the male primary connector being configured to connect when the elongate primary support is in a rotational orientation about the longitudinal axis that allows the alignment channel to engage the alignment pin during insertion of the male primary connector into the female primary connector; and

a secondary connector;

an elongate secondary support configured to diagonally support the platform and to stabilize the elongate primary support, the elongate secondary support comprising a first connecting end and an opposing second connecting end, the first connecting end being configured to engage the secondary connector of the platform, the second connecting end being configured to lockingly engage the hook.

13. The portable support structure of claim 12 , the hook member further comprising a plurality of hooks.

14. The portable support structure according to claim 12 , wherein the platform, the elongate primary support, and the elongate secondary support are configured to be repeatedly engaged and disengaged from one another to facilitate repeated assembly and disassembly of the portable support structure.

15. The portable support structure according to claim 12 , wherein the portable support structure is a stage.

16. The portable support structure according to claim 12 , further comprising a retention device arranged and disposed to releasably retain the male primary connector in the female primary connector when the alignment channel engages the alignment pin.

17. The portable support structure according to claim 16 , wherein the retention device includes a ball and a spring, the ball being configured to contact the flared end at a second location, the second location being proximate the tapered portion.

18. The portable support structure according to claim 12 , wherein the tapered portion includes a frusto-conical geometry.

19. The portable support structure according to claim 12 , wherein the first connecting end comprises a first aperture, wherein the second connecting end comprises a second aperture, and wherein the first connecting end and the second connecting end have similar geometries, enabling the first connecting end to alternatively lockingly engage the hook and enabling the second connecting end to alternatively engage the secondary connector.

20. The portable support structure according to claim 12 , the hook member further comprising an attachment portion having a pair of clamp-like structures.

Assignments (12)