Adjustable vertical support

Claim 2

An adjustable vertical supPort comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, a second elongated element of lesser cross sectional dimension than said first elongated element and movably mounted in said bearing means between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, that end of said second elongated element located within said first elongated element being closed, an annular space being formed within said first elongated element between said first and second elongated elements when said second elongated element is in said retracted position, granular or particular load-bearing material being located within said annular space, said loadbearing material being flowable into the space formed beneath said closed end of said second elongated element as said second elongated element is moved toward said extended position whereby to support said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions thereof, said second elongated element being movable toward said retracted position and said load-bearing material being flowable into said annular space when said support is inverted, the free end of said second elongated element having a bearing surface thereon adapted to engage the material to be supported by said support, means for shifting said surface between a released position and a locked position wherein said surface is engaged with said material to be supported, said last mentioned means being so configured as to make a final increment of length adjustment of said support as said surface is moved from said unlocked to said locked position.

Claim 3

An adjustable vertical support comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, a second elongated element of lesser cross sectional dimension than said first elongated element and movably mounted in said bearing means between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, means for supporting said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions, the free end of said second elongated element having a bearing surface thereon adapted to engage the material to be supported by said support, means for shifting said surface between a released position and a locked position wherein said surface is engaged with said material to be supported, said last mentioned means being so configured as to make a final increment of length adjustment of said support as said surface is moved from said unlocked to said locked position, said free end of said second elongated element having an anvil pivotally affixed thereto by a toggle assembly, said anvil having said bearing surface thereon, said toggle assembly comprising said means for shifting said bearing surface between said released and locked positions.

Claim 4

An adjustable vertical support comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, a second elongated element of lesser cross sectional dimension than said first elongated element and movably mounted in said bearing means between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, means for supporting said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions, the free end of said second elongated element having a bearing surface thereon adapted to engage the material to be supported by said support, means for shifting said surface between a released position and a locked position wherein said surface is engaged with said material to be supported, said last mentioned means being so configured as to make a final increment of length adjustment of said support as said surface is moved from said unlocked to said locked position, said free end of said second elongated element having an anvil pivotally affixed thereto by a toggle assembly, said anvil having said bearing surface thereon, said toggle assembly comprising said means for shifting said bearing surface between said released and locked positions.

Claim 5

An adjustable vertical support comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, a second elongated element of lesser cross sectional dimension than said first elongated element and slidably mounted in said bearing means, said second elongated element being slidable with respect to said first elongated element between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, the end of the second elongated element located within said first elongated element being closed, an annular space being formed within said first elongated element between said first and second elongated elements when said second elongated element is in said retracted position, granuLar or particulate load-bearing material being located within said annular space, said load-bearing material being flowable into the space formed beneath said closed end of said second elongated element as said second elongated element is moved toward said extended position whereby to support said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions thereof, said second elongated element being movable toward said retracted position and said load-bearing material being flowable into said annular space when said support is inverted, the other end of said second elongated element having an anvil affixed thereto by a toggle assembly, said anvil having a bearing surface adapted to engage the material to be supported by said support, said anvil being movable by said toggle assembly between a released position and an over-center supporting position, said toggle assembly being so configured as to make a final increment of length adjustment of said support as said anvil moves from said released position to said over-center support position.

Claim 6

An adjustable vertical support comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, a second elongated element of lesser cross sectional dimension than said first elongated element and slidably mounted in said bearing means, said second elongated element being slidable with respect to said first elongated element between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, the end of the second elongated element located within said first elongated element being closed, an annular space being formed within said first elongated element between said first and second elongated elements when said second elongated element is in said retracted position, granuLar or particulate load-bearing material being located within said annular space, said load-bearing material being flowable into the space formed beneath said closed end of said second elongated element as said second elongated element is moved toward said extended position whereby to support said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions thereof, said second elongated element being movable toward said retracted position and said load-bearing material being flowable into said annular space when said support is inverted, the other end of said second elongated element having an anvil affixed thereto by a toggle assembly, said anvil having a bearing surface adapted to engage the material to be supported by said support, said anvil being movable by said toggle assembly between a released position and an over-center supporting position, said toggle assembly being so configured as to make a final increment of length adjustment of said support as said anvil moves from said released position to said over-center support position.

Claim 7

The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second elongated elements have a circular cross section.

Claim 8

The structure claimed in claim 3 including means for captively maintaining said closed end of said second elongated element within said first elongated element.

Claim 9

The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein that portion of said second elongated element located within said first elongated element when said second elongated element is in said retracted position has a smooth uninterrupted exterior surface whereby to insure flow of said load-bearing material into the space formed beneath said closed end when said second elongated element is moved toward said extended position.

Claim 10

The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said toggle assembly comprises a first lever element, said first lever element having an upper end and a lower end, said first lever element being pivotally attached at a point between said upper and lower ends thereof to said free end of said second elongated element, said anvil being pivotally attached to said upper end of said first lever element, said pivotal attachment of said first lever element to said second elongated element and said pivotal attachment of said anvil to said first lever element being such that as said first lever is pivoted so that said lower end thereof is moved toward said second elongated element said anvil will shift from said released position to said over-center locked position and as said first lever element is pivoted so that said lower end thereof moves away from said second elongated element said anvil will shift from said locked to said released position.

Claim 11

The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said load-bearing material comprises a mixture of at least two particulate or granular substances having different exterior configurations to obtain proper flow characteristics.

Claim 12

The structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said load bearing material comprises particulate matter, said particles having a cylindrical configuration.

Claim 13

The structure claimed in claim 3 including spring detent means on said bearing surface of said anvil, said spring detent means engaging said material to be supported and compensating for the over-center vertical movement of said anvil and settling of said load-bearing material.

Claim 14

The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for captively maintaining said closed end of said second elongated element within said first elongated element comprises a rod extending axially within said first elongated element and affixed at one end to the closed end of said first elongated element, said rod slidably extending through a perforation in said closed end of said second elongated element, the free end of said rod within said second elongated element having a diameter greater than said last mentioned perforation whereby to captively maintain the closed end of said second elongated member within said first elongaTed member and to determine the maximum extended position of said second elongated member.

Claim 15

The structure claimed in claim 7 including a second lever element having upper and lower ends, the upper end of said second lever element being pivotally affixed to said lower end of said first lever element, said lever elements having cooperating surfaces which abut when said second lever element is pivoted toward said second elongated element so that said first and second lever elements act as a single long lever element when shifting said anvil from said released to said locked position, said second lever element having a cam surface thereon which abuts said second elongated element when said second lever element is pivoted so that its lower end moves away from said second elongated element whereby to assist in pivoting said first lever element in such a way that said anvil is shifted from said locked position to said released position.

Claim 16

The structure claimed in claim 10 wherein said spring detent means comprises an integral part of said anvil.

Claim 17

The structure claimed in claim 12 including a spring detent on said second lever element and a latching lug on said second elongated element, said spring detent and latching lug being engaged when said anvil is in said locked position.

Claim 18

The structure claimed in claim 12 including means on said lower end of said second lever for attachment thereto of an elongated member whereby said vertical support may be remotely retrieved by pulling on said elongated member.

Claim 19

The structure claimed in claim 12 including spring means mounted at said pivotal connection between said first and second levers, said spring means having a first leg contacting said first lever and a second leg contacting said second lever, said spring being so configured as to urge said first and second levers to said position wherein said cooperating surfaces abut until overcome by the resistance of shifting said anvil from said locked position to said released position.

Claim 20

An adjustable vertical support for maintaining two surfaces in spaced relationship, said support comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, said closed end comprising one end of said support, a second elongated element of lesser cross-sectional dimension than said first elongated element and movably mounted in said bearing means between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, means for supporting said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions, the end of said second elongated element extending beyond said first elongated element comprising the other end of said support, said ends of said support having bearing surfaces adapted to contact said surfaces to be maintained in spaced relationship, an anvil being pivotally affixed to said closed end of said first elongated element by a toggle assembly, said bearing surface at said closed end of said first elongated element being located on said anvil, said anvil bearing surface being shiftable by said toggle assembly between a released and a locked position wherein said anvil bearing surface is engaged with the adjacent one of said surfaces to be maintained in spaced relationship, said toggle assembly being so configured as to make an increment of length adjustment of said support as said anvil bearing surface is moved from said unlocked to said locked position.

Claim 21

An adjustable vertical support for maintaining two surfaces in spaced relationship, said support comprising a first elongated hollow element closed at one end and having a bearing means at the other end, said closed end comprising one end of said support, a second elongated element of lesser cross-sectional dimension than said first elongated element and movably mounted in said bearing means between a retracted position wherein a portion of its length is located within said first elongated element and an extended position wherein a lesser portion of its length lies within said first elongated element, means for supporting said second elongated element at any desired position between said retracted and extended positions, the end of said second elongated element extending beyond said first elongated element comprising the other end of said support, said ends of said support having bearing surfaces adapted to contact said surfaces to be maintained in spaced relationship, an anvil being pivotally affixed to said closed end of said first elongated element by a toggle assembly, said bearing surface at said closed end of said first elongated element being located on said anvil, said anvil bearing surface being shiftable by said toggle assembly between a released and a locked position wherein said anvil bearing surface is engaged with the adjacent one of said surfaces to be maintained in spaced relationship, said toggle assembly being so configured as to make an increment of length adjustment of said support as said anvil bearing surface is moved from said unlocked to said locked position.