Reducible support structures having off-axis engagement

Abstract

A reducible support system for supporting various items is presented in various embodiments. A reducible support structure, may comprise an operation element which may be attached to an orthogonal element. Limbs, such as a tripod, may be attached to the operation element and a plug element may provide a slide so that the limbs or tripod may open and collapse easily.

1 - 148 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       149 . A method of supporting an item comprising the steps of: 
 providing a reducible support structure;    providing an orthogonal element having a longitudinal axis of said reducible support structure;    moving an operation element responsive to said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis of said reducible structure;    off-axis engaging at least one limb at a dynamic connection location having a movement juncture;    transposing said at least one limb of said reducible support structure; and    locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis of said reducible structure.    
   
   
       150 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  wherein said step of locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis comprises the step of establishing high friction between said operation element and said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       151 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  wherein said step of locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis comprises the step of biasing at least part of said operation element against at least part of said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       152 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 150  wherein said step of locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis comprises the step of biasing at least part of said operation element against at least part of said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       153 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 151  wherein said step of locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis comprises the step of dynamically operating a limb movement restraint.  
   
   
       154 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  wherein said step of moving said operation element comprises the steps of: 
 gripping a hand grip located on said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis; and    releasing a bias responsive to said hand grip.    
   
   
       155 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  wherein said step of moving said operation element responsive to said orthogonal element comprises the step of dynamically operating a limb movement restraint.  
   
   
       156 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  further comprising the step of latching a spring latch to said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       157 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 156  wherein said step of latching said spring latch to said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis comprises the step of connecting at least part of said spring latch with at least part of said operation element.  
   
   
       158 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  wherein said step of locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis of said reducible structure comprises the step of locking said at least one limb of said reducible structure at an expanded state along said orthogonal element.  
   
   
       159 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  or  158  further comprising the step of engaging a peg responsive to said operation element with a peg aperture of said operation element.  
   
   
       160 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  wherein said step of locking said operation element along said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis of said reducible structure comprises the step of releasing a hand grip located on said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       161 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 160  wherein said step of releasing said hand grip comprises the step of engaging a peg responsive to said hand grip with a peg aperture of said operation element.  
   
   
       162 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  or  158  further comprising the step of unlocking said operation element from said orthogonal element.  
   
   
       163 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 162  wherein said step of unlocking said operation element from said orthogonal element comprises the steps of: 
 gripping a hand grip located on said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis; and    removing a peg from a peg aperture of said orthogonal element.    
   
   
       164 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 162  wherein said step of unlocking said operation element from said orthogonal element comprises the step of moving said operation element and said at least one limb from an expanded state to a reduced state.  
   
   
       165 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  or  158  and further comprising the step of providing an limb channel of said reducible support structure.  
   
   
       166 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 165  and further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an orthogonal element having a longitudinal axis of said reducible support structure;    attaching a plug element having at least one internal limb fitting with at least one spur to said orthogonal element having said longitudinal axis;    inverting said limb channel of said reducible support structure; and    connecting said spur with said inverted limb channel.    
   
   
       167 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 165  wherein said step of providing said limb channel of said reducible support structure comprises the step of bidirectionally retaining a plug element along said limb channel wherein said plug element slides along a track of said limb channel of said reducible support structure.  
   
   
       168 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 167  wherein said step of bidirectionally retaining said plug element along said limb channel wherein said plug element slides along said track of said limb channel comprises the step of sliding said plug element along a T-slot track of said limb channel.  
   
   
       169 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149  and further comprising the step of shielding at least a portion of said movement juncture of said dynamic connection location.  
   
   
       170 . A method of supporting an item of  claim 149 ,  151  or  158  and further comprising the step of providing a microphone stand.  
   
   
       171 . A reducible support structure comprising: 
 an orthogonal element having a longitudinal axis;    an operation element responsive to said orthogonal element;    at least one limb off-axis responsive to said operation element;    a dynamic connection to which said at least one limb is responsive having a movement juncture; and    a locking element to which said operation element and said at least one limb is responsive.    
   
   
       172 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  wherein said locking element comprises a high friction element.  
   
   
       173 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  wherein said locking element comprises a bias element.  
   
   
       174 . A reducible support structure of  claim 172  wherein said locking element comprises a bias element.  
   
   
       175 . A reducible support structure of  claim 173  wherein said locking element comprises a dynamically operable limb movement restraint.  
   
   
       176 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  wherein said operation element comprises a bias release and a hand grip.  
   
   
       177 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  wherein said operation element comprises a bias release and a dynamically operable limb movement restraint.  
   
   
       178 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  further comprising a high friction element to which said operation element is responsive.  
   
   
       179 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  further comprising a spring latch.  
   
   
       180 . A reducible support structure of  claim 179  wherein at least part of said spring latch is connected with at least part of said operation element.  
   
   
       181 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  or  176  wherein said locking element to which said operation element and said at least one limb is responsive comprises an expanded limb locking element.  
   
   
       182 . A reducible support structure of  claim 181  wherein said expanded limb locking element comprises a peg responsive to said operation element and a peg aperture of said operation element.  
   
   
       183 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  further comprising a limb channel.  
   
   
       184 . A reducible support structure of  claim 183  further comprising a plug element wherein said plug element comprises at least one internal limb fitting wherein said at least one internal limb fitting comprises at least one spur and wherein said limb channel comprises an inverted channel, wherein said spur connects with said inverted channel.  
   
   
       185 . A reducible support structure of  claim 183  wherein said limb channel comprises a bidirectionally retained track channel to which a plug element having at least one internal limb fitting is contained.  
   
   
       186 . A reducible support structure of  claim 185  wherein said bidirectionally retained track channel comprises a T-slot track channel to which said plug element having said at least one internal limb fitting is contained.  
   
   
       187 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  and further comprising a shield over at least a portion of said movement juncture.  
   
   
       188 . A reducible support structure of  claim 171  or  172  and further comprising a microphone stand.