Quick release support system

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a support system for using, transporting, or otherwise engaging a structure to be supported. The support system includes a support apparatus that defines a first end and a second end. In some embodiments, the support apparatus includes a plurality of coupling members, positioned such that at least one of the plurality of coupling members can be movably engaged to the support apparatus. The support apparatus may also include a plurality of receiving members, such that at least one of the plurality of receiving members may be disposed adjacent to the first end of the support apparatus. In addition, the plurality of receiving members can be configured and arranged to engage at least one of the plurality of coupling members. Moreover, in some embodiments, the support apparatus can be configured and arranged to be reversibly coupled to the structure to be supported.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support system comprising:
 a support apparatus comprising a first end and a second end;   a plurality of coupling members being engaged to the support apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of coupling members is movably engaged to the support apparatus;   a plurality of receiving members being engaged to the support apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of receiving members is disposed substantially adjacent to the first end of the support apparatus, and further wherein the plurality of receiving members are configured and arranged to engage at least one of the plurality of coupling members; and   a supported structure that is capable of being engaged to the support apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The support system of  claim 1  and further comprising at least one structure receiving member being coupled to the supported structure. 
     
     
         3 . The support system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of coupling members is capable of engaging the at least one structure receiving member. 
     
     
         4 . The support system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of coupling members is coupled to the support apparatus at a position substantially adjacent to the first end and at least another of the plurality of coupling members is coupled to the support apparatus at a position substantially adjacent to the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The support system of  claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus defines a first region and a second region. 
     
     
         6 . The support system of  claim 5 , wherein the first region comprises at least two of the plurality of coupling members and at least one of the plurality of receiving members. 
     
     
         7 . The support system of  claim 5 , wherein the second region comprises at least two of the plurality of coupling members and at least one of the plurality of receiving members. 
     
     
         8 . The support system of  claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises a first surface and a second surface. 
     
     
         9 . The support system of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the plurality of receiving members are disposed on the first surface. 
     
     
         10 . The support system of  claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises a first coupling member engaged to the first end, a second coupling member engaged to the second end, a third coupling member movably engaged to the support apparatus, and a fourth coupling member movably engaged to the support apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The support system of  claim 10 , wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured and arranged so that the third coupling member and the fourth coupling member are incapable of being removed at the first end and the second end of the support apparatus, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . A support apparatus comprising:
 a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises a first end of the support apparatus and the second region comprises a second end of the support apparatus;   a plurality of coupling members, wherein some of the plurality of coupling members are movably disposed within the first region, and further wherein at least one of the plurality of coupling members is engaged to the first region at a position substantially adjacent to the first end;   a plurality of receiving members, wherein a portion of the plurality of receiving members are positioned in the first region and another portion of the plurality of receiving members are positioned in the second region, wherein at least one of the plurality of receiving members is disposed substantially adjacent to the first end of the support apparatus, and further wherein the plurality of receiving members are configured and arranged to engage at least one of the plurality of coupling members; and   wherein the support apparatus is configured and arranged to reversibly engage a supported structure.   
     
     
         13 . The support apparatus of  claim 12  and further comprising a first surface and a second surface. 
     
     
         14 . The support apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of receiving members are engaged to the first surface. 
     
     
         15 . The support apparatus of  claim 12  and further comprising a first coupling member engaged to the first end, a second coupling member engaged to the second end, a third coupling member movably disposed within the first region, and a fourth coupling member movably disposed within the second region. 
     
     
         16 . The support apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured and arranged so that the third coupling member and the fourth coupling member are incapable of being removed at the first end and the second end of the support apparatus, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The support apparatus of  claim 12  and further comprising at least one structure receiving member being coupled to the supported structure. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a support system, the method comprising:
 providing a support apparatus that defines a first end and a second end;   engaging a plurality of coupling members to the support apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of coupling members is movably engaged to the support apparatus;   coupling a plurality of receiving members to the support apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of receiving members is disposed substantially adjacent to the first end of the support apparatus, and further wherein the plurality of receiving members are configured and arranged to engage at least one of the plurality of coupling members; and   providing a supported structure that is capable of being engaged to the support apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19  and further comprising:
 coupling a first coupling member to the first end; 
 coupling a second coupling member to the second end; and 
 movably coupling a third coupling member and a fourth coupling member to the support apparatus. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured and arranged so that the third coupling member and the fourth coupling member are incapable of being removed at the first end and the second end of the support apparatus, respectively.