Telescoping lock mechanism
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a torso of a support device. The torso may include an axle assembly including an axle block and an axle passing through the axle block. The torso may also include a pelvic block assembly that includes a first pelvic block and a second pelvic block overlapping with the first pelvic block, the axle passing through the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block. The torso also includes a spreader pin passing through a spreader pin hole of the pelvic block assembly, the spreader pin and spreader pin hole being configured to adjust an angle between the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block.
1 . An adjustable support device comprising:
a torso comprising:
an axle assembly including an axle block and an axle passing through the axle block;
a pelvic block assembly comprising:
a first pelvic block, the axle passing through the first pelvic block; and
a second pelvic block overlapping with the first pelvic block and the axle passing through the second pelvic block; and
a spreader pin passing through a spreader pin hole of the pelvic block assembly, the spreader pin hole and the spreader pin being configured to adjust an angle between the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block;
a first telescopic leg coupled to the first pelvic block, the first telescopic leg comprising:
a first tube;
a second tube slidably disposed inside of the first tube, the second tube extendable from and retractable into the first tube;
a third tube slidably disposed inside of the second tube, the third tube extendable from and retractable into the second tube; and
an extension mechanism associated with the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube, the extension mechanism being configured to:
allow extension of the second tube away from the first tube and away from the torso;
lock the second tube with respect to the first tube to inhibit retraction of the second tube into the first tube and toward the torso; and
unlock, in response to the third tube being at least partially retracted into the second tube toward the torso, the second tube with respect to the first tube to allow the second tube to be retracted into the first tube and toward the torso; and
a second telescopic leg coupled to the second pelvic block.
2 . The adjustable support device of claim 1 , further comprising a first reinforcing plate on the first pelvic block and a second reinforcing plate on the second pelvic block.
3 . The adjustable support device of claim 2 , wherein the first reinforcing plate includes multiple indents, each of the multiple indents includes a position in which the first telescopic leg can be locked.
4 . The adjustable support device of claim 3 , wherein the multiple indents correspond to a forward position of the first telescopic leg, a deployed position of the first telescopic leg, and a backward position of the first telescopic leg.
5 . The adjustable support device of claim 3 , the first telescopic leg including a hip block with a spring force that must be overcome to move the first telescopic leg from a first indent of the multiple indents to a second indent of the multiple indents.
6 . The adjustable support device of claim 5 , wherein the spreader pin is coupled to a ring.
7 . The adjustable support device of claim 1 , wherein the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block are shaped such that when rotating about the axle, the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block contact each other at a maximum angle between the first telescopic leg and the second telescopic leg.
8 . The adjustable support device of claim 1 , wherein the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block are shaped such that when rotating about the axle, the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block contact each other at a minimum angle between the first telescopic leg and the second telescopic leg.
9 . The adjustable support device of claim 1 , wherein the axle block is rotatable about the axle relative to the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block when the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block are in a locked orientation.
10 . The adjustable support device of claim 9 , further comprising a tension nut to lock the axle block to the axle independent of rotation of the first pelvic block and the second pelvic block about the axle.
11 . The adjustable support device of claim 1 , further comprising a connection block coupled to the axle block, the connection block shaped to receive and lock an object into place.
12 . The adjustable support device of claim 11 , wherein the connection block is configured to receive a Picatinny rail.
13 . The adjustable support device of claim 11 , wherein the connection block includes a release button to unlock the object from the connection block.
14 . The adjustable support device of claim 11 , wherein the connection block is configured to interface with at least one of a firearm, a camera, binoculars, a monocular, or a scope.
15 . The adjustable support device of claim 1 , wherein the extension mechanism includes:
a lock mechanism disposed within the first tube and the second tube, the lock mechanism comprising:
a plug disposed at a proximate end of the second tube that is proximate the first tube; and
a ramp with a first ramp end and a second ramp end, the second ramp end wider than the first ramp end, and the first ramp end coupled to the plug; and
one or more bearings configured to roll along the ramp and sized to contact the ramp and at least an interior wall of the first tube as the one or more bearings approach the second ramp end such that as the one or more bearings contact the ramp and the interior wall of the first tube, interference of the one or more bearings with the interior wall of the first tube inhibits the retraction of the second tube into the first tube.
16 . The adjustable support device of claim 15 , wherein, in response to the third tube being at least partially retracted into the second tube, a proximate end of the third tube that is proximate the second tube pushes the one or more bearings toward the first ramp end.
17 . A device comprising:
a torso including:
a connection block configured to be coupled to an object;
an axle block connected to the connection block; and
a pelvic block assembly connected to the axle block;
a telescopic leg coupled to the pelvic block assembly via a hip block and comprising:
a first tube having a first end coupled to the hip block and a second end opposite the first end;
a second tube slidably disposed inside of the first tube at the second end of the first tube, the second tube extendable from and retractable into the first tube;
a third tube slidably disposed inside of the second tube, the third tube extendable from and retractable into the second tube; and
an extension mechanism associated with the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube, the extension mechanism being configured to:
allow extension of the second tube away from the first tube and away from the torso;
lock the second tube with respect to the first tube to inhibit retraction of the second tube into the first tube and toward the torso; and
unlock, in response to the third tube being at least partially retracted into the second tube, the second tube with respect to the first tube to allow the second tube to be retracted into the first tube and toward the torso.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the extension mechanism includes:
a lock mechanism disposed within the first tube and the second tube, the lock mechanism comprising:
a plug disposed at a proximate end of the second tube that is proximate the first tube; and
a ramp with a first ramp end and a second ramp end, the second ramp end wider than the first ramp end, and the first ramp end coupled to the plug; and
one or more bearings configured to roll along the ramp and sized to contact the ramp and at least an interior wall of the first tube as the one or more bearings approach the second ramp end such that as the one or more bearings contact the ramp and the interior wall of the first tube, interference of the one or more bearings with the interior wall of the first tube inhibits the retraction of the second tube into the first tube.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein, in response to the third tube being at least partially retracted into the second tube, a proximate end of the third tube that is proximate the second tube pushes the one or more bearings toward the first ramp end.
20 . A device comprising:
a torso including:
a connection block configured to be coupled to an object;
an axle block connected to the connection block; and
a pelvic block assembly connected to the axle block;
a telescopic leg coupled to the pelvic block assembly via a hip block and comprising:
a first tube having a first end coupled to the hip block and a second end opposite the first end;
a second tube slidably disposed inside of the first tube at the second end of the first tube, the second tube extendable from and retractable into the first tube;
a third tube slidably disposed inside of the second tube, the third tube extendable from and retractable into the second tube; and
an extension mechanism associated with the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube, the extension mechanism being configured to unlock, in response to the third tube being at least partially retracted into the second tube toward the torso, the second tube with respect to the first tube to allow the second tube to be retracted into the first tube toward the torso.