A leg assembly for selective attachment to a portable support structure having a base and removable lid. The leg assembly includes a plurality of legs that are selectively attachable to both the base and lid. When attached, the legs extending from the base to the lid thereby supporting the lid. The legs are substantially parallel to one another. The assembly further includes at least one cross member extending between two of the legs to stabilize and prevent lateral movement of the legs. The cross member also abutingly contacts and supports the lid whereby the base and lid function as a support structure.
1. A leg assembly for selective attachment to a storage case having a base and removable lid, said base having a front wall, a rear wall and two opposed sidewalls, said front wall and said rear wall having a length greater than a length of said sidewalls, wherein said storage case can alternatively function as a portable support structure, said leg assembly comprising:
two pairs of legs including a first pair selectively attachable to said front wall of said base adjacent opposing front corners and proximate said sidewalls and a second pair selectively attachable to said rear wall of said base adjacent opposing rear corners and proximate said sidewalls, each of said legs having an upper end, a lower end, and a central body portion;
at least one cross member extending between two of said legs to stabilize and prevent lateral movement of said legs;
wherein, when attached, said legs extend from said base to said lid thereby supporting said lid, said first pair and said second pair being substantially parallel to one another; and
wherein each of said legs includes a bracket formed on a distal portion thereof, said bracket including a first wall and a second wall for capturing one of said front wall and said rear wall therebetween when said legs are attached to said front and said rear walls.
2. The leg assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a latching mechanism which secures said lid to said base when said portable support assembly is configured as a storage case, said latching mechanism including a strike located on said lid, a latch having a hooked upper portion, said latch being located on said base, and a cam member in operative connection with said latch; and
wherein said hooked upper portion of said latch engages said strike and is cammed downward by said cam member to secure said lid to said base.
3. The leg assembly of claim 2 , wherein said lower end of said legs includes a latching slot, said latching slot being configured to receive said hooked upper portion of said latch; and
wherein said legs may be removably secured to said base by placing said hooked upper portion of said latch in said latching slot and camming said hooked upper portion downward with said cam member.
4. The leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said legs includes at least two attachment points at different positions on said legs that permit said cross member to be selectively attached to said legs at said attachment points to accommodate lids of varying depths.
5. The leg assembly of claim 4 , wherein said attachment points comprise slots in said legs that are configured to receive said cross member; and
wherein said cross member is inserted into said slots to secure said cross member to said leg.
6. The leg assembly of claim 5 , wherein said cross member is generally linear and has two opposite distal end portions, each of said distal end portions includes a mounting slot having an open end and a closed end having an abutment surface, said mounting slots allowing said cross member to be secured between two legs; and
wherein, after said cross member is inserted into said leg slot, said cross member is lowered such that a portion of said leg below said leg slot extends into said open end of said mounting slot until said portion contacts said abutment surface.
7. The leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein said lower end of said legs includes an attachment bracket, said bracket extending into an interior cavity and allowing said legs to be removably attached to said base.
8. A portable support structure that may be alternatively used as a storage case, said portable support structure comprising:
a base having a front wall, a back wall, two side walls and a bottom wall, said front, back and side walls being generally perpendicular to said bottom wall, said walls defining an interior cavity of said base;
a lid, having a front panel, rear panel and two side panels, that is selectively removable from said base to convert said base and lid from a storage case to a support structure;
two pairs of legs including a first pair selectively attachable to said front wall of said base adjacent opposing front corners and proximate said sidewalls and a second pair selectively attachable to said back wall of said base adjacent opposing rear corners and proximate said sidewalls, each leg having an upper end, a lower end and a central body portion, said legs being selectively attachable to both said base and lid, and, when attached, said legs extending from said base to said lid thereby supporting said lid and defining a support structure assembled position, said first pair and said second pair being substantially parallel to one another;
at least one cross member extending between two of said legs to stabilize and prevent lateral movement of said legs;
wherein said cross member abutingly engages, contacts and supports said lid when in said support structure assembled position whereby said base and lid function as a support structure; and
wherein each of said legs includes a bracket formed on a distal portion thereof, said bracket including a first wall and a second wall for capturing one of said front wall and said rear wall therebetween when said legs are attached to said front and said rear walls.
9. The portable support structure of claim 8 , further comprising:
a latching mechanism which secures said lid to said base when said portable support assembly is configured as a storage case, said latching mechanism including a strike located on said lid, a latch having a hooked upper portion, said latch being located on said base, and a cam member in operative connection with said latch; and
wherein said hooked upper portion of said latch engages said strike and is cammed downward by said cam member to secure said lid to said base.
10. The portable support structure of claim 9 , wherein said legs include a latching slot located on said lower end, said latching slot being configured to receive said hooked upper portion of said latch; and
wherein said leg may be selectively secured to said base by placing said hooked upper portion of said latch in said latching slot and camming said hooked upper portion downward with said cam member.
11. The portable support structure of claim 8 , wherein each of said legs includes at least two attachment points at different locations on said legs that permit said cross member to be selectively attached to said legs at said attachment points to accommodate lids of varying depths.
12. The portable support structure of claim 11 , wherein said attachment points comprise slots in said legs that are configured to receive said cross member; and
wherein said cross member is inserted into said slots to secure said cross member to said leg.
13. The portable support structure of claim 12 , wherein said cross member is generally linear and has two opposite distal end portions, each of said distal end portions include a mounting slot having an open end and a closed end having an abutment surface, said mounting slots allowing said cross member to be secured between two legs; and
wherein, after said cross member is inserted into said leg slot, said cross member is lowered such that a portion of said leg below said leg slot extends into said open end of said mounting slot until said leg contacts said abutment surface.
14. The portable support structure of claim 8 , wherein said lower end of said legs includes an attachment bracket, said bracket extending into said interior cavity and allowing said legs to be removably attached to said front, back or sides walls of said base.
15. The portable support structure of claim 8 , wherein said lid and said base have recesses in said front, back and side walls, said recesses having a profile; and
wherein said legs have a shape that corresponds to said profile of said recesses so that said legs fit into said recesses when they attached to said base and lid thereby limiting lateral movement of said legs.
16. The portable support structure of claim 15 , wherein said legs have a corrugated shape.