Apparatus for supporting a standing person

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a standing person includes a foldable base assembly, a collapsible and extensible upright assembly, and an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights. The engagement assembly includes a pair of collapsible support bars. The upright assembly has a pair of uprights that each include a lower portion connected to the base assembly and an upper portion that supports the engagement assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a base assembly resting on the surface;   an upright assembly, wherein the upright assembly comprises:
 a pair of uprights, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises:
 a lower portion connected to the base assembly; and 
 an upper portion; and 
 
   an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base assembly comprises:
 a pair of side members, wherein the lower portion of the upright assembly is connected to the pair of side members; and   a pair of cross members each extending between the pair of side members.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement assembly further comprises a pair of support bars. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the pair of support bars is configured to be folded from an extended position to a collapsed position against a corresponding one of the pair of uprights. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the pair of support bars is connected to the corresponding one of the pair of uprights with an upper hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the upper hinges includes an upper hinge lock. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement assembly further comprises a center beam. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the center beam comprises:
 a central hinge; and   a locking cap configured to selectively prevent the central hinge from folding.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises:
 an upright outer tube; and   an upright inner tube inside the upright outer tube.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of the upright inner tubes can be telescopically extended from the corresponding upright outer tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the pair of uprights includes an upright locking mechanism that secures the upright inner tube at a selected degree of extension from the upright outer tube. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of uprights is connected to the base assembly with a lower hinge that permits each of the pair of uprights to fold into a collapsed position on the base assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of lower hinges includes a lower hinge lock that selectively prevents or permits the pair of uprights from folding into a collapsed position on the base assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of the pair of side members comprises:
 a side member outer tube; and   a side member inner tube extensibly contained within the corresponding side member outer tube.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the base assembly further comprises a base lock that selectively secures each side member inner tube at a selected degree of extension from the corresponding side member outer tube. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a light module that illuminates a portion of the base assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the base assembly comprises an opening to permit a person to stand inside the base assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises an upright hinge between the lower portion and the upper portion. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a base assembly resting on the surface;   an upright assembly, wherein the upright assembly comprises:
 a pair of uprights, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises:
 a lower portion connected to the base assembly; and 
 an upper portion; and 
 
   an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for supporting a person standing on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a foldable base assembly resting on the surface;   a collapsible and extensible upright assembly, wherein the upright assembly comprises:
 a pair of uprights, wherein each of the pair of uprights comprises:
 a lower portion connected to the base assembly; and 
 an upper portion; and 
 
   an engagement assembly supported by the upper portions of the pair of uprights, wherein the engagement assembly comprises a pair of collapsible support bars.