Tilt-up support tower

Abstract

The support tower assembly of the disclosed invention includes an upper tower section and a tower base section pivotally joined together. The tower base section is also pivotally mounted. Both the upper tower section and the lower base section are readily pivoted selectively to be raised and lowered using a leveraged design cable systems and a small winch. A mounting base system is provided to support the tilt-up tower.

1 . A collapsible tilt-up support tower assembly for supporting an elevated device comprising: 
 (a) a pivoting tower base section having at least three-point support including at least one a free strut support and at least a pair of base section pivoting support legs having free upper ends and lower ends designed to be received in and pivotally attached to spaced pivotal mounts;    (b) an upper tower section designed to attach to and pivot about a pivot shaft connected with said free upper ends of said base section pivoting support legs, said pivot function being between an upright, raised position and a lowered position;    (c) an operating mechanism for selectively controlling the pivoting of said tower base section and said upper tower section between an upright, raised position and a lowered position; and    (d) latching systems for selectively fixing said upper tower to said tower base section and said free strut support of said tower base section to a fixed mount to secure the tower assembly in said upright raised position.    
   
   
       2 . A support tower as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (e) a mounting base system comprising at least three spaced points of support for receiving said pair of base section pivoting support legs and said at least one strut support including a pair of spaced pivotal mounts and at least one fixed mount spaced from said pivotal mounts.    
   
   
       3 . A support tower as in  claim 1  wherein said operating mechanism further comprises a winch and cable system.  
   
   
       4 . A support tower as in  claim 1  wherein said upper tower section has an offset center of balance such that it will pivot to a lowered position if not retained in place.  
   
   
       5 . A support tower as in  claim 3  wherein said operating mechanism includes pulleys.  
   
   
       6 . A support tower as in  claim 1  having four point support wherein said free strut support of said base section comprises a pair of struts attached to said pivoting support legs.  
   
   
       7 . A support tower as in  claim 1  wherein said upper tower section includes an extended aspect which compliments the tower base section and provides an extended lever arm for pivoting said upper tower section.  
   
   
       8 . A support tower as in  claim 7  wherein said upper tower section latches to said tower base section near the bottom thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A support tower as in  claim 2  wherein said pivotal mounts in said mounting base system include spaced lugs and shafts.  
   
   
       10 . A collapsible tilt-up support tower assembly for supporting an elevated device comprising: 
 (a) a mounting base system comprising at least three spaced points of support for receiving at least three support legs and including a pair of spaced pivotal mounts and at least one fixed mount spaced from said pivotal mounts;    (b) a pivoting tower base section having at least three support legs including at least one free leg and a pair of base section pivoting support legs having free upper ends and lower ends designed to be received in and pivotally attached to said pair of spaced pivotal mounts near the lower ends thereof;    (c) an upper tower section designed to attach to and pivot about a pivot shaft pivotally connected with said free upper ends of said base section pivoting support legs of said base section between an upright raised position and a lowered service position, said upper tower section including an extended aspect for leveraging the pivoting of said upper tower section and connecting to said tower base section;    (d) a winching mechanism for selectively controlling the pivoting of said tower base section and said upper tower section between an upright raised position and a lowered service position; and    (e) latching systems for selectively fixing said upper tower to said tower base section and said at least one free leg of said tower base section to said fixed mount to secure the tower assembly in said upright raised position.    
   
   
       11 . A collapsible tilt-up support tower assembly for supporting an elevated device comprising: 
 (a) a pivoting tower base section having three-point support including a free strut support and a pair of base section pivoting support legs having free upper ends and lower ends designed to be received in and pivotally attached to spaced pivotal mounts;    (b) an upper tower section designed to attach to and pivot about an elevated pivot shaft pivotally connected with said free upper ends of said base section pivoting support legs, said pivot function being between an upright, raised position and a lowered position;    (c) an operating mechanism for selectively controlling the pivoting of said tower base section and said upper tower section between an upright, raised position and a lowered position; and    (d) latching systems for selectively fixing said upper tower to said tower base section and said free strut support of said tower base section to a fixed mount to secure the tower assembly in said upright raised position.    
   
   
       12 . A support tower as in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 (e) a mounting base system comprising three spaced points of support for receiving said pair of base section pivoting support legs and said strut support including a pair of spaced pivotal mounts and a fixed mount spaced from said pivotal mounts.    
   
   
       13 . A support tower as in  claim 11  wherein said operating mechanism further comprises a winch and cable system.  
   
   
       14 . A support tower as in  claim 11  wherein said upper tower section has an offset center of balance such that it will pivot to a lowered position if not retained in place.  
   
   
       15 . A support tower as in  claim 13  wherein said operating mechanism includes pulleys.  
   
   
       16 . A support tower as in  claim 11  having three point support wherein said free strut support of said base section comprises a pair of converging struts attached to said pivoting support legs.  
   
   
       17 . A support tower as in  claim 11  wherein said upper tower section includes an extended aspect which compliments the tower base section and provides an extended lever arm for pivoting said upper tower section.  
   
   
       18 . A support tower as in  claim 17  wherein said upper tower section latches to said tower base section near the bottom thereof.  
   
   
       19 . A support tower as in  claim 12  wherein said pivotal mounts in said mounting base system include spaced lugs and shafts.  
   
   
       20 . A collapsible tilt-up support tower assembly for supporting an elevated device comprising: 
 (a) a mounting base system comprising three spaced points of support for receiving three support legs and including a pair of spaced pivotal mounts and one fixed mount spaced from said pivotal mounts;    (b) a pivoting tower base section having three support legs including at least one free leg and a pair of base section pivoting support legs having free upper ends and lower ends designed to be received in and pivotally attached to said pair of spaced pivotal mounts near the lower ends thereof;    (c) an upper tower section designed to attach to and pivot about a pivot shaft connected to said free upper ends of said pivoting support legs of said base section between an upright raised position and a lowered position, said upper tower section having an extended aspect for leveraging the pivoting thereof;    (d) at least one winching mechanism for selectively controlling the pivoting of said tower base section and said upper tower section between an upright raised position and a lowered position; and    (e) latching systems for selectively fixing said extended aspect of said upper tower to said tower base section and said free leg of said tower base section to said fixed mount to secure the tower assembly in said upright raised position.    
   
   
       21 . A collapsible tilt-up support tower assembly for supporting an elevated device comprising: 
 (a) a pivoting tower base section having a free upper end and a lower end designed to be received in and pivotally attached to one or more pivotal mounts;    (b) an upper tower section designed to attach to and pivot in relation to said upper end of said base section, said pivot function being between an upright, raised position and a lowered position;    (c) one or more operating mechanisms for selectively controlling the pivoting of said tower base section and said upper tower section between an upright, raised position and a lowered position; and    (d) latching systems for selectively fixing said upper tower to said tower base section and said tower base section to a fixed mount to secure the tower assembly in said upright raised position.    
   
   
       22 . A support tower as in  claim 21  wherein said fixed mount further comprises: 
 (e) a mounting base system for said tower comprising a support base for receiving and supporting the said tower base section including a pair of spaced pivotal mounts and at least one fixed mounting device spaced from said pivotal mounts to fix said tower base section in an upright disposition.    
   
   
       23 . A support tower as in  claim 21  wherein said operating mechanism further comprises at least one winch and cable system.  
   
   
       24 . A support tower as in  claim 21  wherein said upper tower section comprises an offset pivot mounting such that it will pivot to a lowered position if not retained in place.  
   
   
       25 . A support tower as in  claim 23  wherein said operating mechanism includes pulleys.  
   
   
       26 . A support tower as in  claim 21  wherein said tower base section comprises a leverage strut attached thereto to aid said operating mechanism.  
   
   
       27 . A support tower as in  claim 26  wherein said leverage strut is mounted to pivot out of the way when not in use.  
   
   
       28 . A support tower as in  claim 21  wherein said upper tower section includes an extended aspect which compliments the tower base section and provides an extended lever arm for pivoting said upper tower section.  
   
   
       29 . A support tower as in  claim 28  further comprising a latching system for fixing said upper tower section to said tower base section near the bottom thereof when said upper tower section is fully raised.  
   
   
       30 . A support tower as in  claim 29  wherein said latching system further comprises a saddle strap and bolt arrangement.  
   
   
       31 . A support tower as in  claim 24  wherein said upper tower section pivots on bearing mounts offset from the centerline thereof.  
   
   
       32 . A support tower as in  claim 31  wherein said upper tower section bearing mounts include pillow blocks mounted on top of said tower base section.  
   
   
       33 . A support tower as in  claim 21  comprising a plurality of fixed mounting devices to fix said tower base section in an upright disposition.  
   
   
       34 . A support tower as in  claim 22  comprising a plurality of fixed mounting devices.  
   
   
       35 . A support tower as in  claim 21  wherein said tower base section is provided with an open side and wherein said upper tower section has a leveraging tail segment which is accommodated within said base section when said upper tower section is raised.