STAND FOR CLAMPING POST/ROD-SHAPED ITEMS WITH ELECTRICAL FILL LEVEL DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract

A stand for clamping post/rod-shaped items, comprising a housing, at least two holding elements adjoining a receiving space for receiving the pole- or rod-shaped part, a securing device, and a flexible force transmission device, wherein the holding elements are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis in the direction of a fixing position, wherein the force transmission device leads from the securing device to the holding elements, which are movably coupled with the securing device by the force transmission device, and wherein the force transmission device is pulled and/or loaded with force in a pulling direction to the securing device as a result of the movement of the securing device from a disengaged position toward an engaged position, so that the securing device counteracts or prevents a pivoting of the holding elements toward the release position by the force transmission device, wherein the stand has a fill level sensor for determining a liquid fill level in the receiving space that protrudes into the receiving space of the housing, the fill level sensor being electrically connected to an electrical display device that is arranged on an outer side of the housing, so that fill level information that can be displayed by the display device correlates with a liquid fill level determined by the fill level sensor.

Claims

1. A stand for clamping post/rod-shaped items, particularly Christmas trees, comprising a housing, at least two holding elements adjoining a receiving space for receiving the post/rod-shaped items, a securing device, and a flexible force transmission device, the stand comprising the following features: the holding elements are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis in the direction of a fixing position; the force transmission device leads from the securing device to the holding elements, which are movably coupled with the securing device by the force transmission device; the force transmission device being pulled and/or loaded with force in a pulling direction to the securing device as a result of the movement of the securing device from a disengaged position toward an engaged position, so that the securing device counteracts or prevents a pivoting of the holding elements toward the release position by the force transmission device, comprising the following features: the stand has a fill level sensor for determining a liquid fill level in the receiving space that protrudes into the receiving space of the housing; and the fill level sensor being electrically connected to an electrical display device that is arranged on an outer side of the housing, so that fill level information that can be displayed by the display device correlates with a liquid fill level determined by the fill level sensor.

2. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display device is embodied as a luminous display device and configured to emit visible light.

3. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the luminous display device has a plurality of luminous elements.

4. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the respective lighting elements are embodied as light-emitting diodes.

5. The stand as set forth in claim 3, wherein: the luminous display device has a first number of first luminous elements for emitting light in a first wavelength range; and the luminous display device has a second number of second luminous elements for emitting light in a second wavelength range.

6. The stand as set forth in claim 5, wherein the luminous display device is embodied such that at least one first luminous element emits light when the liquid fill level in the receiving space is above a predetermined minimum level.

7. The stand as set forth in claim 5, wherein the luminous display device is embodied such that at least one second luminous element emits light when the liquid fill level in the receiving space is below a predetermined minimum level.

8. The stand as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first wavelength range is between 490 nm and 560 nm and the second wavelength is range between 630 nm and 700 nm.

9. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the luminous display device is embedded in a recess of the housing.

10. The stand as set forth in claim 9, wherein the stand has a cover for covering the recess.

11. The stand as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stand has a transmitting device for wirelessly transmitting fill level information.

12. A stand system with a stand as set forth in claim 11 and a terminal device that is designed to receive and display the fill level information transmitted by the transmitting device of the stand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further advantages, details, and features of the invention will become apparent from the illustrated exemplary embodiments. In the drawing:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a spatial representation of the stand according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of the stand shown in FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a detailed representation of the stand shown in FIG. 1 in the vicinity of its display device;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the stand shown in FIG. 3 without a battery compartment cover;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows the stand shown in FIG. 4 without a display device cover;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows the stand shown in FIG. 5 along a sectional plane that extends along a longitudinal axis of the display device;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows the stand shown in FIG. 5 along a sectional plane that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the display device;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional representation of the stand shown in FIG. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of a fill level sensor and a display device of the stand according to the invention connected thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In the following description, like reference numerals designate like components and like features, so that a description that is provided for one figure with respect to a component also applies to the other figures, so that repetitive description is avoided.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic spatial representation of a stand according to the invention.

[0043] The stand 1 according to the invention, which can also be termed a Christmas tree stand 1, comprises a housing 10, which, in turn, comprises a housing base 11 or a base plate 11 and a housing cover 12. The housing cover 12 is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base plate 11, so that the housing 10 is suitable for receiving water, enabling a Christmas tree that is to be held by the stand 1 to be supplied with water. To control the water level within the housing 1, a water level indicator 70 having a buoyant body is provided in the housing cover 12.

[0044] The housing cover 12 has a central opening 13. As can already be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 as well, the stand 1 has holding elements 20 that protrude upward out of the housing cover 12 through the central opening 13. The holding elements 20 are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis 19 and pivotable about a respective horizontal pivot axis, so that the holding elements 20 can be pivoted away from the central axis 19 in the direction of a release position and toward the central axis 19 in the direction of a fixing position shown in FIG. 1.

[0045] The stand 1 further comprises a securing device 30, which can also be referred to as a clamping device 30. The securing device 30 has a securing lever 31 or a tension lever 31 by means of which a tension roller (not visible in the figures) can be actuated. In the exemplary embodiment that is illustrated, the securing device 30 is embodied as a tensioning ratchet 30 known to those skilled in the art.

[0046] Furthermore, the stand 1 has a force transmission device 40, which, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, is embodied as a guy 40.

[0047] As already described above, the holding elements 20 are arranged so as to be angularly offset around a central axis 19 of the receiving space and pivotable about a respective pivot axis away from the central axis 19 in the direction of the release position and toward the central axis 19 in the direction of the fixing position. The guy 40 leads from the securing device 30 to the respective holding elements 20, which, in turn, are movably coupled with the securing device 30 by means of the guy 40. For this purpose, the respective holding elements 20 have passage openings 21 through which the guy 40 is passed.

[0048] When the securing device 30 is moved from a disengaged position in the direction of an engaged positionwhich takes place in the illustrated exemplary embodiment by pump-like actuation of the tension lever 31the guy 40 is pulled in a pulling direction toward the securing device 30, so that the securing device 30, by means of the guy 40, counteracts a pivoting of the holding elements 20 in the direction of a release position.

[0049] It can be seen particularly from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the stand 1 has a fill level sensor 50 protruding into the receiving space 19 of the housing 10 for determining a liquid fill level in the receiving space 19. The fill level sensor 50 can be embodied as a capacitive fill level sensor 50. Furthermore, it is also possible for the fill level sensor 50 to be embodied as a conductive fill level sensor 50 or as an ultrasonic fill level sensor 50. There are no restrictions on the design of the level sensor 50.

[0050] The stand 1 according to the invention also has an electrical display device 60. The fill level sensor 50 is electrically connected to the electrical display device 60 arranged on an outer side of the housing 10, so that fill level information displayed by means of the display device 60 correlates with a liquid fill level detected by the fill level sensor 50. Consequently, the display device 60 is data-coupled with the fill level sensor 50, so that fill level information determined by means of the fill level sensor 50 can be transmitted to the display device 60.

[0051] The display device 60 is embodied as a luminous display device 60 and has a plurality of luminous elements 61, 62, 63 that are arranged on a circuit board of the luminous display device 60. The luminous elements 61, 62, 63 are embodied as light-emitting diodes 61, 62, 63, first luminous elements 61 being configured to emit light in a first wavelength range between 490 nm and 560 nm, and second light-emitting elements 62 being configured to emit light in a second wavelength range between 630 nm and 700 nm. Consequently, the first light-emitting diodes 61 emit green light, while the second light-emitting diodes 62 emit red light.

[0052] The display device 60 is embodied such that when the housing 10 is completely filled with water, all of the luminous elementsi.e., both the first luminous elements 61 and the second luminous elements 62emit light. When the fill level of the housing 10 decreases, individual first luminous elements 61 will no longer emit light. As soon as the fill level within the housing 10 has reached a lower threshold fill level, only the second lighting elements 62, which emit red-colored light in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, light up. It is thus easy for the user to see that the fill level within the housing 10 is no longer sufficient, so that the stand 1 can be filled with new water.

[0053] It can be seen particularly from FIGS. 5 to 8 that the illuminated display device 60 is embedded or recessed in a recess 14 or a depression 14 of the housing 10. In order to cover the luminous display device 60 and close the recess 14, a cover 15 is provided in which luminous openings 15a are arranged through which the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes 61, 62, 63 can be transmitted to the outside of the stand 1.

[0054] It can also be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6 that a battery well is arranged in the recess 14, in which two batteries 80 are arranged in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. An additional cover 17 for sealing the battery well is provided.

[0055] FIG. 9 shows the luminous display device 60 with the first light-emitting diodes 61 and the second light-emitting diodes 62 together with the fill level sensor 50. It can be seen that the fill level sensor 50 is perpendicular to the luminous display device 60, more specifically to a circuit board of the luminous display device 60.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0056] 1 stand [0057] 10 housing [0058] 11 base plates (of the housing) [0059] 12 housing cover [0060] 13 opening [0061] 14 recess/depression of the housing [0062] 15 cover/lid (for covering the recess) [0063] 15a illuminated opening [0064] 16 battery compartment [0065] 17 cover/lid (for covering the battery compartment) [0066] 18 central spike [0067] 19 receiving space [0068] 19 central axis (of the receiving space) [0069] 20 retaining element [0070] 21 passage opening (of the holding element) [0071] 22 securing device/clamping device [0072] 30 safety latch/tensioning lever [0073] 40 force transmission device, traction device, safety cord, guy [0074] 50 fill level sensor [0075] 60 display device/luminous display device [0076] 61 first luminous element [0077] 62 second luminous element [0078] 63 luminous element/light-emitting diode [0079] 70 water level indicator/buoyant body [0080] 80 battery