Modular Support Device

Abstract

A modular support device is adapted to support at least one article, and includes at least one base and two foot bases. The base includes a base body, and two slidable connecting members extending transversely and respectively in opposite directions from two opposite sides of the base body. The two foot bases are provided at the two opposite sides of the base body and are connectible respectively to the two slidable connecting members. Each foot base is slidable along the respective one of the slidable connecting members to adjust a distance with the base body. The foot bases and the base cooperatively support the at least one article. The number of the bases may be varied with the number of the articles without requiring additional foot bases, thereby providing an expansion mechanism. The combined space and width of the modular support device and the article can also be reduced.

1 . A modular support device adapted to support at least one article, said modular support device comprising:
 a base including a base body and at least two slidable connecting members extending transversely and respectively in opposite directions from two opposite sides of said base body; and   two foot bases disposed on the two opposite sides of said base body and connectible respectively to said two slidable connecting members, each of said foot bases being slidable along the respective one of said slidable connecting members to adjust a distance with said base body, each of said foot bases cooperating with said base body of said base to support the article.   
   
   
       2 . The modular support device according to  claim 1 , wherein said base body has a plate member that is disposed generally perpendicular to said slidable connecting members, each of said foot bases including a limiting member that is spaced apart from said plate member and that cooperates with said plate member for sandwiching the article therebetween. 
   
   
       3 . The modular support device according to  claim 1 , wherein said base body has two first support members that are disposed at a level higher than that of said slidable connecting members, each of said foot bases including a second support member disposed at substantially the same level as said first support members, each of said first support members cooperating with said second support member of a respective one of said foot bases for supporting the article. 
   
   
       4 . The modular support device according to  claim 1 , wherein said two slidable connecting members are, respectively, an elongate first slidable connecting member and an elongate second slidable connecting member, one of said two foot bases including a first slidable connecting member that is connectible to said second slidable connecting member of said base, the other of said two foot bases including a second slidable connecting member that is connectible to said first slidable connecting member of said base. 
   
   
       5 . The modular support device according to  claim 2 , wherein said base body has two first support members that are disposed at a level higher than that of said slidable connecting members and on two opposite sides of said plate member, each of said foot bases including a second support member that is disposed at substantially the same level as said first support members, said first support members cooperating with said second support members of said foot bases for supporting the article. 
   
   
       6 . The modular support device according to  claim 5 , wherein said two slidable connecting members are, respectively, an elongate first slidable connecting member and an elongate second slidable connecting member, one of said two foot bases including a first slidable connecting member that is connectible to said second slidable connecting member of said base, the other of said two foot bases including a second slidable connecting member that is connectible to said first slidable connecting member of said base. 
   
   
       7 . The modular support device according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said second slidable connecting members has a plurality of transversely extending positioning grooves, each of said first slidable connecting members having a resilient arm, said resilient arm including a positioning tooth that is engageable with one of said positioning grooves at a selected position. 
   
   
       8 . The modular support device according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said first slidable connecting members extends into the respective one of said second slidable connecting members, each of said second slidable connecting members having a top plate, and a plurality of blocking portions for abutting against a bottom end of the respective one of said first slidable connecting members, said positioning grooves being formed in an inner surface of said top plate of each of said second slidable connecting members, each of said first slidable connecting members having a top wall, said resilient arm including a connecting portion and a press portion, said connecting portion having one end connected to said top wall, said positioning tooth projecting from a top face of said connecting portion, said press portion extending downwardly from the other end of said connecting portion and being capable of being manipulated to bring said connecting portion to move therewith so as to disengage said positioning tooth of said resilient arm from said positioning grooves. 
   
   
       9 . The modular support device according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said second slidable connecting members extends into the respective one of said first slidable connecting members, each of said second slidable connecting members having a side plate, said positioning grooves being formed in an outer surface of said side plate, each of said first slidable connecting members having a top wall, a sidewall connected to one side of said top wall, and a plurality of blocking portions for abutting against a bottom end of the respective one of said second slidable connecting members, said resilient arm including a connecting portion and a press portion, said connecting portion having one end connected to said sidewall, said positioning tooth projecting from an inner side face of said connecting portion, said press portion being connected pivotally to a bottom face of said top wall and being accessible from said sidewall, said press portion being capable of being manipulated to bring said connecting portion to move therewith so as to disengage said positioning tooth of said resilient arm from said positioning grooves. 
   
   
       10 . The modular support device according to  claim 1 , wherein said base includes four of said slidable connecting members, which are substantially elongated and which are, respectively, two first slidable connecting members that are disposed at the two opposite sides of said base body, that extend transversely and respectively in opposite directions from the two opposite sides of said base body, and that are arranged along a straight line, and two second slidable connecting members that are disposed at the two opposite sides of said base body, that extend transversely in opposite directions from the two opposite sides of said base body, and that are arranged along another straight line, each of said foot bases including a first slidable connecting member that is connectible to a respective one of said second slidable connecting members of said base, and a second slidable connecting member that is connectible to a respective one of said first slidable connecting members of said base. 
   
   
       11 . A modular support device adapted to support a plurality of articles, said modular support device comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected bases, each of said bases including a base body, and a first slidable connecting member and a second slidable connecting member extending transversely and respectively in opposite directions from two opposite sides of said base body, said first slidable connecting member of one of said bases in each adjacent pair of said bases being connectible to said second slidable connecting member of the other of said bases in the respective adjacent pair of said bases, said bases in each adjacent pair being slidable relative to each other by means of said first and second slidable connecting members thereof so as to adjust a distance between said base bodies thereof, said base bodies of each adjacent pair of said bases being adapted to support one of the articles thereon.   
   
   
       12 . A modular support device adapted to support a plurality of articles, said modular support device comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected bases, each of said bases including a base body, and a first slidable connecting member and a second slidable connecting member extending transversely and respectively in opposite directions from two opposite sides of said base body, said first slidable connecting member of one of said bases in each adjacent pair of said bases being connectible to said second slidable connecting member of the other of said bases in the respective adjacent pair of said bases, said bases in each adjacent pair being slidable relative to each other along said first and second slidable connecting members thereof so as to adjust a distance between said base bodies thereof; and   two foot bases respectively connected to a distal pair of said bases that are disposed at two opposite distal ends of said plurality of interconnected bases, one of said foot bases being connected to said first slidable connecting member of one of said bases in said distal pair, the other of said foot bases being connected to said second slidable connecting member of the other of said bases in said distal pair, each of said foot bases being slidable along a corresponding one of said first and second slidable connecting members of the respective one of said bases in said distal pair so as to adjust a distance between each of said foot bases and said base body of the respective one of said bases in said distal pair, said foot bases and said base bodies of said bases being adapted to support the plurality of articles thereon.   
   
   
       13 . The modular support device according to  claim 12 , wherein said bases in said distal pair and said foot bases are detachably connected to each other. 
   
   
       14 . The modular support device according to  claim 13 , wherein said base body of each of said bases has a plate member that is disposed generally perpendicular to said first and second slidable connecting members, each of said foot bases including a limiting member spaced apart from said plate member of said base body of the respective one of said bases in said distal pair, said plate members of said base bodies of said bases and said limiting members of said foot bases being adapted to sandwich the plurality of articles thereamong. 
   
   
       15 . The modular support device according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said base bodies has two first support members disposed at a level higher than that of said first and second slidable connecting members and on two opposite sides of said plate member thereof, each of said foot bases including a second support member disposed at substantially the same level as said first support members, said first support members of said base bodies and said second support members of said foot bases being adapted for supporting the plurality of articles. 
   
   
       16 . The modular support device according to  claim 15 , wherein said one of said foot bases has a second slidable connecting member connected to said first slidable connecting member of said one of said bases in said distal pair, and said other of said foot bases has a first slidable connecting member connected to said second slidable connecting member of said other of said bases in said distal pair. 
   
   
       17 . The modular support device according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said second slidable connecting members has a plurality of transversely extending positioning grooves, and each of said first slidable connecting members has a resilient arm, said resilient arm including a positioning tooth for engaging one of said positioning grooves at a selected position. 
   
   
       18 . The modular support device according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said first slidable connecting members is extendible into the respective one of said second slidable connecting members, each of said second slidable connecting members having a top plate, and a plurality of blocking portions for abutting against a bottom end of the respective one of said first slidable connecting members, said positioning grooves being formed in an inner surface of said top plate of each of said second slidable connecting members, each of said first slidable connecting members having a top wall, said resilient arm including a connecting portion and a press portion, said connecting portion having one end connected to said top wall, said positioning tooth projecting from a top face of said connecting portion, said press portion extending downwardly from the other end of said connecting connection and being capable of being manipulated to bring said connecting portion to move therewith so as to disengage said positioning tooth of said resilient arm from said positioning grooves. 
   
   
       19 . The modular support device according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said second slidable connecting members is extendible into the respective one of said first slidable connecting members, each of said second slidable connecting members having a side plate, said positioning grooves being formed in an outer surface of said side plate, each of said first slidable connecting members having a top wall, a sidewall connected to one side of said top wall, and a plurality of blocking portions for abutting against a bottom end of the respective one of said second slidable connecting members, said resilient arm including a connecting portion and a press portion, said connecting portion having one end connected to said sidewall, said positioning tooth projecting from an inner side face of said connecting portion, said press portion being pivotally connected to a bottom face of said top wall and being accessible from said sidewall, said press portion being capable of being manipulated to bring said connecting portion to move therewith so as to disengage said positioning tooth of said resilient arm from said positioning grooves. 
   
   
       20 . The modular support device according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said bases includes four of said slidable connecting members, which are substantially elongated and which are, respectively, two first slidable connecting members that are disposed at the two opposite sides of said base body thereof, that extend transversely and respectively in opposite directions from the two opposite sides of said base body thereof, and that are arranged along a straight line, and two second slidable connecting members that are disposed at the two opposite sides of said base body thereof, that extend transversely in opposite directions from the two opposite sides of said base body thereof, and that are arranged along another straight line, each of said foot bases including first and second slidable connecting members that are connectible respectively to said second and first slidable connecting members of the corresponding one of said bases in said distal pair.