US3167283A

US3167283A - Article supporting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3167283A
Application number: US190707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter E Soehrman; Charles T Masterson
Original assignee: AMERICAN CONCEPTS OF PROGRESS Inc
Current assignee: AMERICAN CONCEPTS OF PROGRESS Inc
Priority date: 1962-04-27
Filing date: 1962-04-27
Publication date: 1965-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-26

Description

26, 1965 w. E. SOEHRMAN ETAL 3,167,233

ARTICLE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTORS:

WALTER E. SOEHRMAN CHARLES T. MASTERSON Jan. 26, 1965 w. E. SOEHRMAN ETAL 3,157,283

ARTICLE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INCLINED PLANE INVENTORSI WALTER E. SOEHRMAN CHARLES T. MASTERSON ATT 'YS w. E. SOEHRMAN ETAL 3,167,283

ARTICLE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Jan. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 27, 1962 INVENTORS. WA LTE R E. SOEH R MAN CHARLES T. MASTERSON ATT'YS Jan. 26, 1965 w. E. SOEHRMAN ETAL 3,167,283

ARTICLE SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.||

INVENTORS. WALTER E. SOEHRMAN CHARLES T. MASTERSON av We ATT'YS United States Patent 0 3,167,283 ARTRCLE SUPPORTENG APPARATUS Walter E. Soehrman and Charles T. Masterson, Lombard, IllL, assignors to American Concepts of Progress, lino, Hinsdale, EL, a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 1%,707 7 (Ilaims. (Cl. 248-l) This invention, in general, relates to apparatus supporting an article or person by a novel combination of a support arm or series of arms having swivel connections on a base in which said arm (or arms) is mounted and on a platform, vessel, container, seat or the like supported on said base by said support arm(s). More particularly, the combination utilizes swivel connections between said support arm(s) and said base and platform, etc., wherein the pivot axes of said arm(s) are arranged in a manner so that the point of intersection of straightline extensions from these axes is substantially at, or preferably above and in substantial vertical alignment with, the center of gravity of the mass of the supporting system and supported mass. Under these relationships of base, swivel arm(s) and supported mass, the latter, due to the influence of gravity, will maintain a substantially level position when the base is tilted from the horizontal or is placed in a position other than horizontal. The invention also has other advantageous applications in relation to other forces acting on the supported mass such as centrifugal force, acceleration, deceleration and the like, as will be described hereafter.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a swivel support system for a mass wherein said mass remains in substantially self-adjusting relationship with the resultant forces of gravity, acceleration, deceleration and/or rotation, i.e., centrifugal force.

A further object is to provide devices applying unique geometric principles in the supporting system for a mass.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for supporting a mass by a pivotable arm or arms with swivel connections on the arm(s), the pivot axes of said swivel connections being arranged so that straight line extensions of said axes intersect at a point substantially at, or substantially on a vertical line extending above, the center of gravity of said mass.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention and specific embodiment thereof.

Briefly, this invention relates to a device that will support a vessel, container, platform, seat, or other supporting element or device, holding, carrying, or containing various materials and/or objects. The support is of such a nature that the vessel, or other supported or held device, tends to move about the virtual point of support, above the center of gravity of the supported system, which virtual point of support is at or near the intersection of the axes, as projected, of the bearing or pivot axes of the support arm or support arms, e.g., such bearings or pivot axes which are a part of the supported system or a part of the base or bottom element or fixed support socket.

This support is of such a nature that the supported elements of the device tend to remain in an essentially level, or horizontal position when the base, or fixed support socket, or bottom element, is in non-uniform motion; or when the device is at rest with the base, or support socket, etc., in a non-horizontal position. Furthermore, the supported element of this device, in the several forms as described below, tend to move freely about the virtual point of support, and such motion allows the supported parts to move freely with respect to centrifugal, acceleration, and/or gravity forces, about this virtual point of support, without regard to the relative position of the base, bottom, or support socket. The virtual point of support referred to herein is used as being synonymous with the point of intersection of straight line extensions referred to at line 10 and following in column 1 and is so referred to in order to contrast the virtual point from an actual support point, insofar as the supported mass in the present invention is not in reality supported from this point, but acts in use as though it were supported therefrom.

The point of convergence, or of intersection, of the axes of the support arm bearing is approximately or nearly a static point in relation to any position the supported elements may assume with respect to the base, etc., as above. This is true regardless of the various positions the swiveled support arms may assume, within the normal limits of movement and of motion of this device, and is further more evident from a study of the accompanying drawings, and the further description.

This unique method of support, wherein the supported elements and/or masses are free to move about their combined or common center of gravity, regardless of the position of the base, or bottom element, etc., of the device lends itself to a wide latitude of practical uses.

The convergence of the bearing, or pivot axes, of this device, in all the variety of forms this device may assume, at or near a virtual point of intersection, and above the normal center of gravity of the supported element and/ or masses of the device, gives a compound angular orientation of axes to each other, so that in all instances the forces, motions, and positions of the base, etc., are transmitted to the supported elements and/0r masses, through a compound spatial and angular system wherein motion is possible only along the several axes of these bearings or pivots. These motions combine to give the supported elements and/or mass movement only about the virtual point of support. Such movement of supported mass, etc., about its center of gravity, from the virtual point of support, is in actual effect the total of the component and compound angular forces; operating through the suspension system from forces applied to the base or the like and to normal mass dominance of the supported system over the supporting and moving members, not including the base. Also because of free acting bearings, the supported elements tend to have comparatively free movement about the virtual point of support, and the free motion of the supported mass is inhibited very little by the mass, inertia, or friction of the supporting system.

This device, in all its variations, as listed and described above, can have a high ratio of supported mass to the mass of all moving support members.The inertia of the support system can be low compared to the supported mass, which allows the action of the whole system to be dominated by the supported mass. This in turn allows the mass its maximum freedom of motion about its virtual point of support.

The unique uses of these devices are many and various. In the variety of forms a device of the invention may assume, it may support a cup or other vessel, holding liquids or fluids, and can maintain a level, liquid surface when the device is placed on a rocking surface, a surface having alternating accelerating and decelerating linear motion, or on an irregular non-horizontal static surface. It can support, for example, a cup or other vessel holding liquid or fluid and maintain a relatively level liquid surface, with respect to the top of the container (or the parts of a container normally considered to be level) when the device is in uniform motion, or support a platform, for example, holding a ships compass-and even a compass and a crew man observing it-in a level and comparatively quiet position while in motion, or is attached to or is resting on an anchored boat moving from compound wind and water forces.

I the base or bottom is attached to, or is resting'on a boat Funthermore, this device can support a vessel, or a fluid contain'er, used in transport and can, by means of its unique self leveling action, keep the fluid or liquid quiet and level'with respect to they container, within the as the center of mass or gravity of both the fluid, etc., a e

and the vessel can be, in some instances, at (the same point, and in all normal instances fairly near together, bothalways being below the virtual point of support. Furthermore, when both container and contained have a coxnmon, or near common, center of mass or gravity, they tend to moveor to oscillate about the virtual point of support with the same period or cycle, etc. of movement and hence remain quiet and static with relation to each other, regardless of forces that are applied to the hm. a

The self-leveling feature of this device is still very pronounced when the two centers of mass, as described above, are not incident or are not of equal distance from the virtual point of support, provided that they are not too far apart in relation to the ratios of distances'from the virtual point of support; also this is true without regard v to the nature of the supported element, or elements, and provided that the'configuration of the supporting system i is in reasonable or practical scales, etc., to the above, and in harmony with the intent of this device. 7

Because of the simple principle of virtually supporting mary objectives thereof, further objects and advantages of the invention and other adaptations thereof will ,be

apparent from the following further descriptionv and claims together with the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration show preferred embodiments of the invention and the principles thereof'iswhat we now .con-

FIGS.- and 11 are illustrations, in side and rear elevations, respectively, depicting adaptation of the support systems of the invention'inthe form of safety seats for vehicles.' 7 Referring first to FIGS. l-S, this embodiment comprises a base 1 having a recess 2 in its upper side. The

7 base l has at one sidethereof an upwardly and inwardly sloping bearing 3.in which is pivotally supported the end 4 of an arrn'5. The arm' 5 has a bend 7 at which starts the mid-portion 6 of the arm. The mid-portion 6 extends from the pivot axis, provided-by the pivotal mounting of end 4 in bearing 3, across, but .above, the base 1 in a manner similar to achord of a circle as the apparatus is seen in top plan view. The arm 5 has another bend 8 roviding an end 9 of arm 5 which extends upwardly and radially inwardly. The end 9 is pivotally mounted in a'bearing 10 of aplatform support 11. The bearing 1% is in the outer edge of the platform 11 and :extends' upwardly and radially inwardly.

unique arrangement of the swivel support of the platform 11 provided by the arm 5 andbearings 3and 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the glass or vessel 17 is symmetrical and has a center of gravity within'the glass or vessel lying on, the line C, regai'dlessof the depth of ,liquid, if-any, therein. Ifthe mass of the arm 5 and platform 11 isverylsinallin comparison to the mass of the vesselj17 and the fluid therein, the latter mass may so dominate themass of the supported system (vessel, liquid, platform and arm) that the former mass will not materially change'the position of the center of gravity of the supported system from that which is the center of gravity of the supported system to that which isthe center of gravityjo-f the vessel'and liquid-only. Where, however, 7

the platform and/ or arm has a substantial mass in relation; to the mass of the vessel and liquid, it is preferred to have the center, of gravity of the platfoim and arm mass on or in close proximity tothe line C. For this purpose, a counterweight or countermass 16 may be prosider to be the best modes contemplated for applying 3 these principles' Other embodiments of the invention.

embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may'bemade as desired by those skilled in the art without departing" from the true spirit and principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of 'a liquid-holding. vessel supported in a level-position on a platform which in turn is supported on a swivel arm having swivel connections with said platform and abase the latter resting on a'sljoping surface;

FIG. 2 is a top plan viewof-the apparatus of FIG. '1;

FIG; 3 is a cross-section-of the apparatus of; FIG. 2,

the invention with the base in its extreme degree of tilt at which the supported mass remains level;

FIG. 7 is' a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6

with the-supported mass removed from the pivot arm sys-' temandwith the base in level 'or horizontal, orientation;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 7 of still other embodiment of the: invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of amulti-arm system with all of thearmsin a single plane; a

vided on the platform 11 to counterbalance the weight of the bearing 10 and extra massof the stud 15 in the platform needed to mount the bearing therein.

In order to maintain the platform and vessel supported thereon in level position when thebase is tilted, the straight-line extensions A and B of the pivot axes of the ends 4- and 9 of the

arm 5'in bearings

3 and 10, respectively, must intersect at a point Fsubstantially at, and preferably substantially directly above, the center of gravity of the'supported mass. The lines A and Bpreferably intersect on, or substantially on, the line C denoting the line of gravity of the center of gravity of the supported mass.

' ably low frictionbearings so that there is a quick response 'of the pivot arm system to a change in the forces acting on the supported mass. In the embodiment of FIGS. l-S,

the bearings 3. and 10 are hollow sleeves having a closed end. The tips of the arm segments 4 and 9 are tapered to a pointwhich rests against the closed end of the

sleeves

3 and 10. The arm segments 4- and 9 are rotatablyjournalled in a round hole 13 in the closed end of the sleeves and in a roller bearing 14- mounted in the open end of each sleeve.

In the embodiment of ,FIGS. l'5, the bearing 10 is mountedoff-center inthe platform or support ll. The

j'sleeve 12 of bearing 10 is fixedly mounted instud 15 mounted on the underside of the platform 11. Because of the oif center mounting of the bearing 16, the platform 11 also carriesa counter-weight16. The counterweight 16 is used to counterbalance the mass comprising the stud 15, the bearing 10, and the arm 5 so that the platform 11 has, a center of gravity G substantially in vertical alignment with the point of convergence F of extensions A and B of the pivot axes of

bearings

3 and 10, respectively. By providing these relationships, the platform remains in a substantially horizontal position when the base 1 is tilted. The platform of such a system acts as though it were suspended from a virtual point of support at the point F.

The mass of the material supported and its center of gravity also must be considered in mounting the counterweight 16 and/ or the location of the point of convergence F of the pivot axes. In the case of FIGS. 15, the supported mass is a symmetrical vessel 17 adapted to hold a liquid or solids or both. The symmetry of the vessel 17, coupled with its central positioning on the platform 11 in the disc-shaped recess 18 in the upper surface thereof, maintains the relationship between the point of convergence F and the center of gravity of the supported system including the vessel 17 and its contents, if any. The latter center of gravity remains substantially on the vertical line C when the vessel contains a liquid at any depth or when the vessel is empty. Accordingly, the gravitational pull on the supported system brings the supported system to a substantially level, rest position so long as the center of gravity of the system lies substantially on the vertical line C through the point of convergence F.

The limits of degree of tilt of the base 1 before the support system ceases to maintain the level position of the supported mass varies with the pivot arm system. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, minimum and maximum limits exist when the base is tilted in a vertical plane of rotation wherein the arm 5 lies in a vertical plane through the center of the base 1 and the pivot axis of bearing 3. Where the side of the base 1 having bearing 3 is raised, the permissible angle of tilt of the base is about 45 from horizontal Whereas, if the same side of the base is lowered, the permissible angle of tilt is about 120 from horizontal. The permissible angle of tilt in any other direction of tilt of the base 1 lies between the aforesaid values.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a multi-arm support system in which a base 20 has mounted pivotally thereon a pivot arm 21 at any desired position on the base, the position in the illustrated case being the radial center of the disc-shaped base 20. One end of the arm 21 is attached rigidly to a shaft 22 rotatably journalled in the base 20. The other end of arm 21 carries a shaft 23 on which is rotatably journalled one end of an arm 24. The other end of arm 24 carries a shaft 25 on which is rotatably journalled one end of an arm 25. The arm 26 bears a counterweight 27 which counterbalances the weight of the pivot arm system so that the fiat portion 28 of arm 26 rests in a substantially horizontal position when the base 20 is level. The arm 26 also carries an upwardly projecting shaft 29 which is positioned so that its longitudinal axis H substantially intersects the point of convergence F of the pivot axes D, E and F of the arm swivel connections.

' The shaft 29 rotatably supports a symmetrical support member or platform 30 having a symmetrical recess 31 in the upper surface thereof. A symmetrical vessel 32 is supported on the member 39 in the recess 31. The center of gravity G lies substantially on the axis H, which also is a vertical line through the point of convergence F.

The multi-arm support system of FIGS. 6 and 7 operates in substantially the same manner as the single arm support system of FIGS. l-5 in providing a horizontal rest position of the supporting platform and article(s) supported thereon when the base is tilted. The maximum permissible angle of tilt of the base is the same in any direction of tilt, however, in the multi-arrn system of FIGS. 6 and 7. The maximum permissible degree of tilt of the base 20 is illustrated in FIG. 6, in which position the

arms

21, 24 and 26 are approximately in a straight line. When the base 20 is horizontal the arm linkage collapses to a position shown in FIG. 7. The embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 varies also from that of FIGS. 1-5 in the swivel mounting of the support member or platform with a swivel connection at the radial center of the platform. In this embodiment, the platform can swivel freely in a level position on the arm 26.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 is a multi-arm support system similar in construction to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 except that a two-arm system is used. An end of arm 31' is rotatably journalled in the radial center of the base disc 32'. Arm 31' carries a shaft at its opposite end, on which shaft is rotatably journalled an end of arm 34. Arm 34 has at its opposite end a shaft 35, the latter extending upwardly and radially inwardly. A platform with an off-center bearing similar to the bearing 10 of FIGS. 1-5 is supported rotatably on the shaft 35. The axes of rotation J and K and the vertical axis of rotation of arm 31 on base 32' intersect a point of convergence F. The principle of operation for this em bodiment is the same as the principles previously described.

The view of FIG. 9 shows in diagrammatic form the adaptations of the invention to support systems ranging from one to any plural number of arms. The arms are shown as they would appear when forced to lie in a single plane. The first arm 46 is rotatably journalled in a bearing 41 of any base upon which the pivot arm system is mounted. The arm carries a bearing 43 in which is rotatably journalled a second arm 42. A third arm 44 is rotatably journalled in the bearing 45 carried by arm 42. A fourth arm 45 is rotatably journalled in bearing 47 carried by arm 44 and carries a shaft (or bearing) 48 on which is rotatably journalled a platform or support member (not shown).

This diagram illustrates one of the essential features of inventionthe convergence of the pivot axes (in the illustrated case, pivot axes L, M, N, P and R) substantially at a point (F) above the center of gravity of the sup ported system. The same principle applies whether the system is a one arm support system, i.e., arm 40 and associated parts; a two arm system, i.e., arms 41) and 42 and associated parts; a three arm system, i.e.,

arms

40, 42 and 44 and associated parts; or a multi-arm system of five or more arms.

The illustrations of FIGS. 10 and 11 show an adaptation of the support systems herein disclosed to support seats of vehicles. These seats can be supported by one of the single arm or multi-arm systems of the invention. The advantage of seats so supported is that the support systems cause the seats to tilt under sudden acceleration or deceleration, such as occurs in a vehicle collision, in a direction so that the momentum of the human body in the seat is thrust into the seat instead of out of it. FIG. 10 shows the action of the seat under sudden deceleration occasioned by a head-on collision. FIG. 11 shows the action of the seat under sudden acceleration or deceleration as would occur when a vehicle slides sideways into an object or other vehicle or is hit from the side by another vehicle. Thus the seats offer a high degree of safety, even without the use of safety belts, preventing the occupant from flying out of the seat regardless of the direction of impact as mentioned above. This provides an improvement in the field of safety seats for land, sea, and air vehicles. Furthermore, the seats have other advantages as vehicle seats in their maintenance of level orientation when used on rocking or rolling vehicles, e.g., ships and boats, and in their banking or tilting when the vehicle is turning to compensate against centrifugal force.

The point of convergence F for the pivot axes of the arm support system for the seat is above the center of gravity G" of the support system, seat, and the person in the seat. It may be vertically above the center of gravity G" or slightly offset therefrom if the seat is designed to be tilted slightly when a person is seated therein. Furthermore, it is preferred that the support system be designed with a point of convergence F which is located in the vicinity of the top of the head of an average size seat tilts under one or more of the previously-described.

forces. a 1

As set forth herein, this device provides a simple, unique and effective means, embodyingseveral possible variations of a device that can carry, hold, or support a vessel, container, platform, seat, or other supported element or 3 e" I gravity of said mass-supporting platform member. and the mass supported thereon, the axis of said base pivot is inclined from (the vertical, all of I the said pivots in said connecting link systemare pivotable about only-one axis for each of said pivots, and upward extensions of all a of said pivot axes substantially intersect to forma virtual device,,the whole device, including its several possible forms, supporting, holding or carrying such-supported elements so that they are, in effect, supported below a virtual point of support caused or formed by the basic geometry, asabove and as herein described, of the unique suspension system, and furthermore, this unique suspension system is asel-f-leveling system, for the various supported elements that may be incorporated as a part of the device, or that may be in any wayor form held, carried, or supported by this device, 7 7 V The self-leveling propertiesof this device are inherent in its geometry and are properly applied, in; practical applications 'where it is required to dampen, or quiet, or tend to break any undesirable movement or motion of both supported fluids, and solids and various other device, for example mechanical or electrical devices which are incon-porated in a moving system; or a system subject to vibration or irregular or nonuniform motion.

This invention includes the direct support of specific.

objects by means of simple journals, sockets, inserts,

said objects. For example, a vessel can have a moulded or cast or fabricated-portion at the side or on the bottom,

etc., which receives and anchors or holds a journal, bearing, arm, etc., such bearing, journal, arm, etc., is a portion of the support system{ A useful example. i'sta throw-a-way cup, for use at drive-ins, or for service. on highway, raiLor-airway vehicles, with a support element anchor, journal bearing, e'tc=, 'moulded or inserted into the side of a paper fiber orplasticcup. The further support system is either expendable or permanent in na-. ture. Further examples are removable containers for transport with a simple'attachmentof a container to a support'system which system could be a part of a vehicle. Another exampleis' a compass or an apparatus for which it is desirable to have directional orientation when its normal. environment is one of motion, change of direction, etc., as outlined heretofore. Y 1

It will thus be'seen from the foregoing description; considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that the present invention provides new and improved mass support systems having novelfeatures, advantages and characteristics and accomplishing its intended 'objectives, including those hereinbefore pointed out'and others which are inherent in the invention.

We claim: 7 1. An article-supporting in a level position on a self leveling mass-supporting etc., which are attached directly or are made as a part of;

support point located substantially on said vertical center of gravity line and suificiently above said mass-supporting platform-member so that said'virtual support point is lo cated above the combined center of gravity of the said mass supporting platform member and a mass normally supportable thereon. V

2. An article-supporting apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the saidmass supported on said mass-supporting platform member is an'object with ,an apparent center of gravity substantially vertically aligned with the ccnterof gravity of the said mass-supporting platform member, and in which said virtual support point'is located above the combined apparent center of gravity of the said mass supporting platform member and a mass supported thereon.

3. An article-supporting apparatus as defined'in claim 1 in which the said connecting link system has a mass which is a small fraction of the total mass of the combination of the said mass-supporting plat-form member and a masssupported thereon, I

4. An article supporting apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the saidhiass-supportingplatform member has hollow drinking vessel which is *so designed that the apparent center of gravity of said hollow drinking vessel and its contents islocated' substantially below, and in vertical alignment-with, the said virtual support point.

5. Anarticle-supporting apparatus'as defined in claim 1; in which the said connecting link system comprises a single arm and in which the. point of attachment of saidarm to said mass-supporting platform member is a point-disposed substantially awaylfrom a vertical centerline through the said mass-supporting platform member.

6. Anarticle-supporting apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the said mass-supporting platform member includes aseat for seating a human person and in which the said virtual support point is disposed sufficiently above the apparent center of gravity of the 'said seat so'that the said virtual support point 'is disposedabovedhe center of gravity of thesaid mass-supporting platform and the seat when the saidseat is occupied by a human person. i

I. 7 7. An article-supporting apparatus as defined in claim apparatus supporting ainfiass platform member which is movable relative to a base, member attached thereto when said .baseme mberis mov? ing to eitherlevel or non-level positions, said apparatus comprising a'movable base member and a mass-support- 5 ing platform member which'is movable relative to the said movable base member, a connecting link system connecting said mass-supporting platform member and said movable-base member and including at least one arm with at least two pivots, said connecting link system beingpivotally connected at one end .thereof to said movable base member and being pivotally connected at another portion thereof to said mass-supporting platform member,

said. movable base member, said mass-supporting platform member, and said connecting link system being so constructed and arranged that. the point of attachment of said connecting linksystem to-said movable base mem her is located at a base pivot point dispo'sedin a position oifset-from a vertical line through the apparent center of 1 in which the said connecting link system comprises a plurality of connecting arms, and in'which the said base pivot axis is disposed on a nearly horizontal axis, and in which the said connecting link system: is foldable from a position of use infwhich the'said mass-supporting platform memberissubstantially horizontal, into a retracted position inwhich' the'said mass-supporting platform member'is disposed; in 'a nearly vertical position and said mass-supporting platform member is disposed adjacent to' the said movable base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATE PATENTS 113,035 3/71 Erkson p 211-165 X 790,217 5/05 Mason 248-282 X 1,765,267 6/30- .Hartman 248-282 X 1,796,354 3/31 Ahlberg 24s 2s2 2,175,091 10/39 Peterson 248121 X 2,483,160 '9/49; su s, 211-16SX 2,605,073 7/52 Buck 24s-145 X 3,076,467 "2/635c'ase 24s 364 X CLAUDEY'AV. LE RoY, Primary Examiner]

Claims

1. AN ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS SUPPORTING A MASS IN A LEVEL POSITION ON A SELF-LEVELING MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER WHICH IS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO A BASE MEMBER ATTACHED THERETO WHEN SAID BASE MEMBER IS MOVING TO EITHER LEVEL OR NON-LEVEL POSITIONS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A MOVABLE BASE MEMBER AND A MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER WHICH IS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE SAID MOVABLE BASE MEMEBER, A CONNECTING LINK SYSTEM CONNECTING SAID MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER AND SAID MOVABLE BASE MEMBER AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE ARM WITH AT LEAST TWO PIVOTS, SAID CONNECTING LINK SYSTEM BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID MOVABLE BASE MEMBER AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ANOTHER PORTION THEREOF TO SAID MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER, SAID MOVABLE BASE MEMBER, SAID MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER, AND SAID CONNECTING LINK SYSTEM BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT OF SAID CONNECTING LINK SYSTEM TO SAID MOVABLE BASE MEMBER IS LOCATED AT A BASE PIVOT POINT DISPOSED IN A POSITION OFFSET FROM A VERTICAL LINE THROUGH THE APPARENT CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER AND THE MASS SUPPORTED THEREON, THE AXIS OF SAID BASE PIVOT IS INCLINED FROM THE VERTICAL, ALL OF THE SAID BASE PIVOT SAID CONNECTING LINK SYSTEM ARE PIVOTABLE ABOUT ONLY ONE AXIS FOR EACH OF SAID PIVOTS, AND UPWARD EXTENSIONS OF ALL OF SAID PIVOT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY ON SAID VERTICAL CENTER SUPPORT POINT LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY ON SAID VERTICAL CENTER OF GRAVITY LINE AND SUFFICIENTLY ABOVE SAID MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER SO THAT SAID VIRTUAL SUPPORT POINT IS LOCATED ABOVE THE COMBINED CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE SAID MASS-SUPPORTING PLATFORM MEMBER AND A MASS NORMALLY SUPPORTABLE THEREON.