US3087701A - Leg mounting for target frames and the like - Google Patents

Description

April 30, 1963 D. F. WALLACE LEG MOUNTING FOR TARGET FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed March 27, 1958 F/ci United States Patent Ofi ice 3,087,701 Patented Apr. 30, 1963.

3,087,701 LEG MOUNTING FOR TARGET FRAMES AND THE LIKE Donald F. Wallace, 1523 Hulett Ave., Faribault, Minn. Filed Mar. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 724,456 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-166) This invention relates to stands upon which signs, targets and the like may be displayed, and more particularly relates to the leg mounting for such stands as to hold the display in a predetermined position.

An object of my invention is to provide in a stand for displaying signs, targets and the like, a new and improved leg mounting of simple and inexpensive construction and operation for supporting the display in any of a number of predetermined positions regardless of the nature of the surface conduit upon which the stand is placed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel stand for displaying signs, targets and the like, wherein the display may be positioned at any of a plurality of positions at or above the ground surface and wherein the legs may be oriented and secured in any of a multiplicity of positions to prevent tipping of the stand under the influence of various forces exerted thereagainst such as strong wind and the like.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail elevation view, partially broken away and shown in section, of one of the leg mountings at a respective end of the display stand;

FIG. 3 is a detail section view taken on a vertical plane as indicated substantially at 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are end elevation views of the stand showing thedifferent positions in which the stand may be supported; 1

FIG. 6 is a detail section view taken approximately at 6-6 in 'FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a slightly modified form of the invention and showing the legs swung to a carriage position. a Y

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. l-6 includes a rigid rectangular frame 10 constructed of any suitable material such as angle iron. A rigid display panel or mounting board 11 is shaped to substantially conform to the internal periphery of frame 10 and is secured in the frame .10 as by bolts 12, substantially in the manner shown in 'FIGS. 1 and 6. The frame 10 may be provided with a carrying handle 13 which is afiixed thereto by any suitable means such as welding.

Means are provided at each end of the frame 10 mounting a pair of support legs 14 to permit swinging of the legs with respect to each other and to permit the legs to be positively held in predetermined relation with respect to each other and with respect to the frame 10. In the form shown, such means include, at each end of the frame 10, an elongate threaded stud, extending endwise outwardly from the frame 10 at a position adjacent the bottom edge of the frame and having an inner end portion 15a which is fixed as by welding to the bottom edge of the frame.

Each of the studs 15 has a plurality of rigid, apertured discs 16, 17 and 18 thereon which may be constructed of cast iron. It should be understood that discs 16-18 may also be constructed of other metal such as aluminum so as to reduce the overall weight of the stand. The discs 16 and 17 are leg-mounted discs and have radially extending posts or lugs 19 and 20 thereon respectively which are grooved at 19a and 20a to facilitate crimping of the tubular legs 14 thereinto to provide a secure permanent connection between the legs and the discs. The discs 16 and 17 are slidable along the threaded studs 15 as well as being rotatable thereon.

The disc 18 has a radially extending notch 18a in the inner end surface thereof which receives the edge of the frame 10 therein for retaining the disc 18 in a predetermined position. The disc 18 may be aflixed as by welding to the frame 10 so as to be stationary with respect to the stud 15.

Means are provided on the end surfaces of the discs 16, 17 and 18 which face the other discs for preventing rotation of one disc with respect to the other discs. In the form shown, such means comprise, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of radially extending teeth or projections 21 and grooves or recesses 22 on the end surfaces of the discs 16, 17 and 18. The teeth and grooves on adjacent discs are cooperatively formed to mesh with each other when the discs are in engaged relation with each other. The teeth and grooves of the discs prevent rotation of one disc with respect to the other.

Clamping means are provided on the stud 15 for urging the discs toward each other and causing meshing of the teeth. In the form shown, such clamping means comprise a wing nut 23 threaded on the stud 15 and retained thereon by a pin 24 which extends through a diametric aperture in the stud 15.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 7 is similar to that shown in FIGS. l-6, and it has a frame 10' which includes the frame end members 25 constructed of angle iron and diagonal braces 26 adjacent the corners of the frame 10'. The frame 10' alsoincludes a pair of wooden cross braces 27 which are bolted at 28 to the diagonal braces 26. The display panel or mounting board 11' is suitably aflixed 'to the frame 10' as by bolts 12'. This form of the invention also includes legs 14' and mountings for the legs which are substantially identical to that disclosed in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6.

In the use and operation of the invention, the frame 10 will normally be oriented in an upright position, substantially in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The legs 14 may be swung to various positions with respect to each other and with respect to the frame 10 for holding the frame in a desired predetermined orientation with respect to the ground surface, regardless of the nature or contour of the surface. As seen in FIG. 4, the legs 14 are disposed at various angles with respect to the frame 10 so as to support the frame in an upright position, even though the ground surface S is sloping.

When the legs are to be positioned, the wing nuts 23 will be loosened so as to permit the discs 16 and 17 to be slipped longitudinally of the stud 15 out of meshed relation with the disc 18 and with each other. When the discs 16 and 17 are disengaged, the legs may be swung to the desired position and because the teeth 22 are only minutely spaced from each other, substantially any desired position of the legs may be retained after the legs have been initially set and the discs 16 and 17 have again been slipped along the stud 15 into engagement with each other and with the disc 18. The wing nut 23 is then turned up to clamp and hold the discs 16 and 17 in meshed relation with each other and with the disc 18.

Under certain conditions, it may be desirable or necessary to swing the legs 14 in opposite and horizontally extending directions, substantially in the manner shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. When the legs are so posi tioned and engaged with the ground surface S the stand will withstand substantially all normal influences which 3 would otherwise tend to tip it over, such as extremely strong winds and the like.

In some cases it may be desirable to incline the frame 10, substantially in the manner shown in FIG. 5. In this position the legs 14 lie parallel with respect to each other and engage the ground surface so as to hold the frame in the desired position. It should be understood that the legs 14 may be swung through a 360 arc and clamped in substantially any position when the nut 23 is tightened. One of the tubular legs, in the position shown in FIG. 5, could be swung upwardly to act as a pedestal for a warning flag.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the legs are swung into parallel condition with the frame and this leg position is well adapted for use in storage or transporting the stand and this leg position is obtainable in the other form of the invention as well as that shown in FIG. 7.

The use of the wooden cross braces 27 is particularly well adapted to this form of the invention as a target supporting stand. Rifle slugs will readily pass through the panel 11, particularly so if it is constructed of fiber board or the like and the rifle slugs will also pass through the cross braces 27 without materially damaging the frame in general. It should 'be understood that the targets may be stamped or otherwise secured to the mounting board 11'. When the mounting board 11' and/ or the wooden cross braces 27 are damaged by slugs to the extent where they are no longer usable, they may be readily and easily replaced.

It should be noted that because the legs 14 of the stand are of tubular construction, extension portions may be easily slipped into the ends thereof for raising the stand to greater height. It should further be noted that when the stand is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 5, certain of the legs may be swung to a substantially vertical position and the tubular end of the vertically swung leg may provide a mounting for a warning flag or the like.

It should further be noted that the legs 14 may have a telescopic construction so that the height of the stand may be easily adjusted and adapted for various conditions.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and improved stand for displaying signs, targets and the like and wherein the frame and display panel of the stand may be oriented in any predetermined position and held in that position regardless of the nature of the surface contour upon which the stand is supported by the legs which may be swung through 360 and then held in substantially any position desired.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter described herein and set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A stand for displaying signs, targets, and the like, comprising a frame for supporting the display and having opposite end portions, two pair of support legs having hollow upper ends, each pair disposed adjacent a respective end portion thereof, a pair of threaded studs underlying the opposite end portions of the frame, each of said studs being affixed to and projecting endwise outwardly from a respective end portion of the frame, a pair of apertured leg mounting discs rotatably mounted on each stud and engaging each other, a third disc on each stud and affixed to the frame and disposed inwardly from the other discs, said third disc having a groove in one face thereof and receiving the frame end portion therein to prevent the disc from revolving with respect to the frame, said leg mounting discs and the third disc having projections and recesses on the end faces thereof and arranged for interfitting with corresponding recesses and projections of adjacent discs whereby to prevent relative rotation of the discs when in engagement with each other, and disc clamping means threaded on the end of each stud and bearing against the outermost disc to clamp the discs together and maintain said projections and recesses in interfitting relation to prevent rotation of the discs relative to each other, and each of said leg mounting discs having a grooved radially extending lug projecting into the hollow upper end of the respective leg, said leg upper ends being crimped into the grooves of the lugs, whereby the frame is positively held in predetermined relation with respect to the legs when said discs bear against each other with the projections and recesses in interfitted relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 497,042 Wood May 9, 1893 2,563,410 Micek Aug. 7, 1951 2,583,244 Underwood Jan. 22, 1952 2,650,119 Booth Aug. 25, 1953

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