Collapsible support unit for a garment bag or the like

Claim 1

A collapsible support unit for supporting an object in vertical disposition above an underlying horizontal surface, such as the ground, the support unit comprising, an upright vertical shaft, a connection at the upper end of said shaft adapted to releaseably engage the object to support the object in generally vertical disposition above the ground, at least two base legs pivotally connected with a lower end of said shaft for motion between a retracted position lying against said shaft and an extended position in which said base legs are adapted to rest on the ground extending perpendicularly to said shaft in opposite transverse directions therefrom, at least one bAse foot, pivotally connected to a free end of an associated one of said base legs, said base foot in a folded position thereof lying against the associated said base leg; and first means associated with said base foot for moving it from its folded position to an unfolded position extending horizontally at an outward inclination from the associated said base leg during movement of said base leg onto the ground, wherein each said base leg extends along a longitudinal first axis thereof, said base foot being hinged to the free end of the associated said base leg for pivotal motion about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said first means for moving said base foot comprising, an arm connected to the free end of the associated said base leg for pivoting motion about a third axis perpendicular to both said first and second axes, first and second engaging gear teeth on said arm and on adjacent portions of said base foot, pivoting motion of said arm between extreme positions thereof relative to the associated said base leg causing said base foot to rotate between its folded and unfolded positions; and a lever contacting said arm connected with said base leg for pivoting motion about said third axis, said lever having a free extremity inclined downwardly and outwardly from the associated said base leg in the extended position thereof whereby said lever contacts the ground in advance of the associated said base leg, subsequent downward motion of the unit causing said lever to pivot into generally horizontal alignment with the associated said base leg thereby causing said arm to rotate said base foot to the unfolded position thereof.