IP Library Granted Patent US 9,314,652
Granted Patent B2
US 9,314,652 · App. 12/597,596 · Granted Apr 19, 2016

High directional support having a configurable number of telescoping legs

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,314,652
App. No.
12/597,596
Granted
Apr 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A support in the form of a high directional having a configurable number of telescoping legs is disclosed. The support provides a head and a plurality of telescoping legs, the head having a plurality of head units and each head unit having at least one associated leg depending therefrom. Each head unit being adapted to be coupled to at least two other head units.

Claims (43)

1. A configurable high directional support comprising:

a plurality of telescoping legs wherein the top of each telescoping leg is provided with an angled abutment edge;

a head comprising a plurality of head units each having on opposite sides thereof first and second side connectors, wherein each head unit is pivotally attached to a respective one of the plurality of telescoping legs, wherein the telescoping legs are located in a respective head unit channel, and wherein each of the head units is adapted to be coupled to two other head units via the first and second side connectors to form a chain of head units, and wherein

each head unit is releasably coupled with at least one other adjacent head unit.

2. The high directional support according to claim 1 wherein each of the head units is pivotally and releasably coupled to two adjacent head units.

3. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of head units further comprises an attachment element for attachment of a rope guiding element.

4. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of head units further comprises an attachment element for attachment of a rope guiding element, wherein the rope guiding element comprises a pulley.

5. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of head units connected sequentially to form an open chain of head units, wherein each of the head units is pivotally and releasably coupled to an adjacent head unit.

6. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of head units connected sequentially to form a closed chain of head units, wherein each of the head units is pivotally and releasably coupled to two adjacent head units.

7. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of head units connected sequentially to form a closed chain of head units, wherein the closed chain can be arranged to form an array in the form of a regular polygon, and wherein each of the head units is pivotally and releasably coupled to two adjacent head units.

8. The high directional support according to claim 1 , the plurality of head units connected sequentially to form a closed chain of head units, wherein the closed chain can be arranged to form an array in the form of a regular polygon comprising the shapes of a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, an enneagon, or a decagon, and wherein each of the head units is pivotally and releasably coupled to two adjacent head units.

9. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracing member adapted to connect to and mutually brace four coupled head units.

10. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracing member adapted to connect to and mutually brace five coupled head units.

11. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracing member adapted to connect to and mutually brace three coupled head units.

12. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracing member adapted to connect to and mutually brace at least two telescoping legs.

13. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein each head unit further comprises a body portion, wherein the body portion has attachment means which releasably attach the respective one of the plurality of telescoping legs.

14. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a bridge member adapted to connect to and mutually brace at least two pairs of coupled head units.

15. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein the respective telescoping leg is adapted to pivot around the head unit by at least 90 degrees.

16. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a pin, wherein the first side connector is adapted to be coupled to a respective side connector of an adjacent head unit, and the first side connector and the respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via the pin.

17. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a pin, wherein the second side connector is adapted to be coupled to a respective side connector of an adjacent head unit, and the second side connector and the respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via the pin.

18. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of pins, wherein the first side connector is adapted to be coupled to a respective side connector of an adjacent head unit, and the first side connector and the respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via one of the pair of pins, and the second side connector is adapted to be coupled to another respective side connector of another adjacent head unit, and the second side connector and the other respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via the other one of the pair of pins.

19. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a pin and a respective retaining clip provided to a side of each head unit, wherein the first side connector is adapted to be coupled to a respective side connector of an adjacent head unit, and the first side connector and the respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via the pin, and wherein the pin is held releasably in place by the respective retaining clip.

20. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one bracing member which spaces one of the head units a predetermined distance from another one of the head units.

21. The high directional support according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of pins and at least one bracing member which spaces one of the head units a predetermined distance from another one of the head units, wherein the first side connector is adapted to be coupled to a respective side connector of an adjacent head unit, and the first side connector and the respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via one of the pair of pins, and the second side connector is adapted to be coupled to another respective side connector of another adjacent head unit, and the second side connector and the other respective side connector form together a hinge which is held together via the other one of the pair of pins, and wherein the bracing member is engaged by one of the pair of pins.

22. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second side connectors define two rotational axes for coupled head units, wherein the two rotational axes are parallel to each other.

23. The high directional support according to claim 1 , wherein each head unit is pivotally attached to a respective one of the plurality of telescoping legs with a leg pin through a leg pin opening on opposite sides of the head unit and through one or more leg apertures.

24. A kit for a high directional support having a head and a plurality of telescoping legs, comprising:

a plurality of head units each having on opposite sides thereof first and second side connectors;

a plurality of telescoping legs each having an angular abutment edge provided at the top thereof;

each head unit being pivotally attachable to a respective one of the plurality of

telescoping legs wherein the telescoping legs are located in a respective head unit channel; and

each head unit being pivotally couplable to two other head units only via the first and second side connectors to form a chain of head units.

25. The kit according to claim 24 wherein at least one head unit is equipped with a pulley.

26. The kit according to claim 24 further comprising a bracing member to retain the head units in a desired configuration.

27. A configurable high directional support comprising:

a plurality of head units;

a plurality of telescoping legs, wherein each telescoping leg is pivotally attachable to one of the head units, wherein the telescoping legs are located in a respective head unit channel, and wherein the top of each telescoping leg is provided with an angled abutment edge;

each head unit further comprises a first side connector and a second side connector, wherein each of the head units is adapted to be coupled to two other head units only via the first and second side connectors to form a chain of head units, wherein the first side connector is adapted to pivotally connect to a second side connector of one of the head units and the second side connector is adapted to pivotally connect to a first side connector of another one of the head units; and

each head unit further comprises a first head unit element and a second head unit element which are mutually couplable and decoupable at a central portion.

28. A configurable high directional support comprising:

a plurality of telescoping legs wherein the top of each telescoping leg is provided with an angled abutment edge;

a head comprising a plurality of head units each having on opposite sides thereof first and second side connectors, wherein each head unit is pivotally attached to a respective one of the plurality of telescoping legs, wherein the telescoping legs are located in a respective head unit channel, and wherein each of the head units is adapted to be coupled to two other head units via the first and second side connectors with a pin for coupling the head units via the first and second side connectors to form a chain of head units, and wherein

each head unit is releasably coupled with at least one other adjacent head unit.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2026
From: FERNO GROUP, INC.; FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC.; FERNO CANADA INC.; TRAVERSE RESCUE, LLC
To: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 074229/0457 →
RELEASE OF MORTGAGE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - PATENT REEL/FRAME NOS. 014363/0213, 018616/0238, 025956/0763 , AND 04058/0180 Recorded May 13, 2025
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC.
Reel/Frame 071272/0820 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2025
From: FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC., SUBSIDIARY OF FERNO GROUP, INC.
To: FERNO FINANCE I, LLC
Reel/Frame 071168/0422 →
MORTGAGE Recorded Mar 15, 2011
From: FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 025956/0763 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2009
From: BROADLEY, GAVIN LEE; WALROND, MICHAEL KLAUS; CAMBRIDGE, ALAN RAYMOND; MINNIS, BRADLEY MATTHEW; WEST, SCOTT ANDREW
To: FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC.
Reel/Frame 023590/0435 →