Adjustable assembly for providing all-terrain support to tables and other structures
View Patent ↗An adjustable assembly with at least a pair of adjustable legs is used to stabilize a support element on a wide range of terrains. Each of the adjustable legs is engaged with a leg exchange bracket 13 that is adapted for and connected to a support element such as a sawhorse beam, a tabletop, or other leg-bearing support element. Each of the adjustable legs can be variably adjusted to adapt to height and other terrain surface variations so as to provide an essentially steady and generally level support surface. Once the desired adjustment is selected, the legs are locked. If the terrain changes or there is a need to transfer the support surface to another terrain, the legs can be readily unlocked, the position of one or more legs adjusted, and the lock(s) reengaged to provide a steady and generally level assembly on the changed terrain. The assembly can also be configured so that it can be reversibly engaged with a variety of work surfaces either by removal of the full assembly from the support surface, or removal of the legs from their respective leg exchange brackets. An assembly can be readily disengaged from a first support surface, and reengaged with a second support surface. The legs of the assembly are easily adjusted to allow for stacking and for ease of transport of the support surface.
1. A self-adjusting support assembly for use on uneven surfaces, comprising:
(a) a support element;
(b) at least one leg assembly positioned beneath the support element; and
(c) at least one self-adjusting attachment assembly, wherein the at least one self-adjusting attachment assembly connects the support element to the at least one leg assembly, and wherein the at least one self-adjusting attachment assembly further includes:
(i) at least one bracket, wherein the at least one bracket is adapted to attach to the support element, and wherein the at least one bracket further includes:
a) a receiving channel formed therein, wherein the receiving channel is positioned along an angled axis of insertion, and
b) a locking ridge positioned in the receiving channel; and
(ii) a proximal head portion, wherein the proximal head portion is adapted to rotationally cooperate with at least one bracket and to receive the at least one leg assembly, and wherein the proximal head portion further includes:
a) a flange formed at one end thereof, wherein the flange rotationally engages the locking ridge;
b) a stem positioned beneath the flange, wherein the stem rotationally engages the receiving channel; and
c) a receiving portion positioned beneath the stem, wherein the receiving portion is adapted to receive the at least one leg assembly.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support surface attached to the support element, wherein the support surface is perpendicular to the support element.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg assembly further includes multiple leg sections, and wherein the multiple leg sections are connected to one another in a triangular, planar configuration.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled axis of insertion of the receiving channel is deflected outward from an axis that is perpendicular to a surface plane of the support element, and wherein the angle of deflection is between 2 degrees and 20 degrees.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled axis of insertion of the receiving channel is deflected outward from an axis that is perpendicular to a surface plane of the support element, and wherein the angle of deflection is between 13 degrees and 17 degrees.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled axis of insertion of the receiving channel is deflected outward from an axis that is perpendicular to a surface plane of the support element, and wherein the angle of deflection is 15 degrees.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg assembly can be rotated from 1 degree to 360 degrees around the angled axis of insertion.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one leg assembly can be rotated 180 degrees around the angled axis of insertion.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one locking element for preventing rotation of a leg assembly around the angled axis of insertion.
10. An adjustable support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leg exchange bracket is adapted to receive two legs of the leg assembly and wherein the leg exchange bracket is adapted for engagement with each leg such that the axis of insertion of each exchange bracket engagement socket is deflected from an axis that is perpendicular to the surface plane of the support element, and wherein the legs are deflected in opposing directions, such that the angle of deflection of one axis of insertion is the negative of the angle of deflection of the other leg.
11. The adjustable support element of claim 10 , wherein the angle of deflection is between 2 degrees and 20 degrees.
12. The adjustable support element of claim 11 , wherein the angle of deflection is from 13 degrees to 17 degrees.
13. The adjustable support element of claim 12 , wherein the angle of deflection is 15 degrees.
14. The adjustable support assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising a support element.
15. The adjustable support assembly according to claim 14 , the support element selected from a table top and a wooden beam.
16. The adjustable support assembly of claim 10 , wherein a leg can be rotated from 1 to 360 degrees around the axis of insertion.
17. The adjustable support assembly of claim 16 , wherein the leg can be rotated 180 degrees.