Granted Patent B2

US 9,476,575 · App. 14/195,630 · Granted Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A support frame comprising:

a first vertical support member having a top end and a bottom end, the first vertical support member having a first pair of opposing locking pin openings;

a second vertical support member having a top end and a bottom end, the second vertical support member having a second pair of opposing locking pin openings;

a first cross brace having a top surface, a bottom surface and first and second ends, the first end of the first cross brace secured to the top end of the first vertical support member and the second end of the first cross brace secured to the top end of the second vertical support member;

a second cross brace having a top surface, a bottom surface and first and second ends, the first end of the second cross brace secured to the bottom end of the first vertical support member and the second end of the second cross brace secured to the bottom end of the second vertical support member; and

a vertical locking assembly secured to one of the surfaces of the second cross brace, the vertical locking assembly comprising a first locking pin aligned with the first locking pin openings and a second locking pin aligned with the second locking pin openings, each locking pin being simultaneously movable between a locked position, wherein the first and second locking pins extend into the first and second opposing locking pin openings, and an unlocked position, wherein the first and second locking pins are withdrawn from the first and second opposing locking pin openings,

wherein the vertical locking assembly further comprises a handle operably connected to the first and second locking pins, the handle being operable to simultaneously move the first locking pin and the second locking pin.

2. The support frame of claim 1 , wherein the vertical locking assembly is secured to the top surface of the second cross brace.

3. The support frame of claim 1 , wherein the vertical locking assembly further comprises:

a first pinion gear operably connected to the first and second locking pin; and

a second tooth and pinion gear operably connected to the second locking pin,

wherein the handle is operably connected to the first pinion gear.

4. The support frame of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second cross braces further comprises a first support member opening adjacent the first end of each of the first and second cross braces and a second support member opening adjacent the second end of each of the first and second cross braces, wherein the first support member is located in each of the first support member openings and the second support member is located in each of the second support member openings.

5. The support frame of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second cross braces are removably attached to the first and second vertical support members.

6. The support frame of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second cross braces further comprise a front surface and a back surface and an expansion slot extending from at least one of the support member openings to the front surface or the back surface of the cross brace, and a threaded bore extending from at least one of the front surface or the back surface across the expansion slot.

7. The support frame of claim 1 , wherein the support frame further comprises:

a first locating pin having a circular cross section extending axially from the top of the first vertical support member;

a second locating pin having a circular cross section extending axially from the top of the second vertical support member;

an axial first locating pin bore in the bottom of the first support member, the first locating pin bore having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the first locating pin;

an axial second locating pin bore in the bottom of the second support member, the second locating pin bore having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the second locating pin.

8. A support frame, comprising:

a first vertical support member having a top end and a bottom end;

a second vertical support member having a top end and a bottom end;

a first cross member extending from a location proximate the top end of the first vertical support member to a location proximate the top end of the second vertical support member;

a second cross member extending from a location proximate the bottom end of the first vertical support member to a location proximate the bottom end of the second vertical support member; and

a horizontal attachment assembly comprising:

a pivot member comprising:

a fixed, first vertical support member attachment portion, the first vertical support member attachment portion attached to the first vertical support member;

a pivotable, second vertical support member attachment portion pivotally attached to the first vertical support member attachment portion, the second vertical support member attachment portion including a support member mount,

wherein the first vertical support member attachment portion further comprises:

a substantially planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface;

a first support member collar secured to the first vertical support member and abutting the top planar surface; and

a second support member collar, secured to the first vertical support member and abutting the bottom planar surface, together the first and second support member collars securing the horizontal attachment assembly to the first support member, and

wherein the first support member has a circular cross section and each support member collar further comprises:

a support member opening having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first support member;

an outer surface including a front surface and a back surface, and an expansion slot extending from the support member opening to the front surface or the back surface of the support member collar; and

a threaded bore extending from the outer surface of the collar across the expansion slot.

9. The support frame of claim 8 , wherein the first and second support member collars are slidably attached to the first vertical support member.

10. An attachment plate system, comprising:

an attachment plate having a top, a bottom, two opposing sides, a back surface and a front surface;

at least one vertical mounting assembly mounted on the back surface of the attachment plate, the at least one vertical mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting arm ratchet assembly; and

a mounting arm movable between a first position for engaging with the mounting arm ratchet of an adjacent attachment plate system and a second position for not engaging a mounting arm ratchet of an adjacent attachment plate system,

wherein:

the mounting arm comprises a top, a bottom, a back, a front and first and second opposing sides, with a transverse notch in the front side;

the attachment plate further includes at least one mounting arm support having a first mounting arm slot for slidably supporting the mounting arm for movement in a longitudinal direction; and

the mounting arm ratchet assembly includes:

a mounting arm ratchet assembly housing, the mounting arm ratchet assembly housing comprising a top, a bottom, a back, a front, and two opposing sides, and a second mounting arm slot formed in the front side of the housing for receiving a mounting arm, wherein the first mounting arm slot and the second mounting arm slot are axially aligned; and

a pivotal ratchet assembly supported in the mounting arm ratchet assembly housing, the pivotable ratchet assembly comprising a ratchet body stop pin for engaging the transverse notch on the mounting arm of an adjacent attachment plate system is in the second position.

11. The attachment plate system claim 10 , wherein the mounting arm ratchet assembly comprises a trigger assembly for releasing a mounting arm from the first position.

Assignments (17)