US Patent 8215497 Collapsible stand

A stand, separable into parts, that can support substantially spherical objects such as pumpkins, melons, or balls; or those somewhat conical objects such as planters which have a top circumference greater in size than its lower circumference (the “load”) is disclosed. The stand includes a girdle that supports the load, at least two rigid leg segments that reversibly attach to the girdle, and, in a preferred embodiment, at least two rigid or semi-flexible arm segments also reversibly attached to the girdle. The body of the load is not pierced by the stand. When assembled, the stand combined with a load forms a vaguely humanoid structure. When not in use, the stand is capable of being disassembled and stored in a relatively compact form.