Method and apparatus for mobile elevatable expandable viewing studio

Method for providing, and system for, a mobile, elevatable, expandable and retractable viewing studio for temporary installation at outdoor locations, with particular application for television announcers and broadcasting.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to a mobile, elevatable, expandable and retractable 
viewing studio and a method for providing a mobile viewing studio, in 
particular for outdoor events for the television media. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Within the television industry there is a segment devoted to the 
broadcasting and cablecasting of events on location, and in particular, on 
outdoor locations. Sporting events, such as golf, tennis or beach 
volleyball, offer prime examples of such events. A need arises to place 
the announcers and broadcasters in a studio environment at this location. 
Yet, these announcers and broadcasters also need to be where the action 
is, with good visibility. 
Presently the two most common options used to create a television studio 
environment on outdoor event locations are (1) constructing an elevated 
temporary studio using construction scaffolding or (2) modifying a 
portable modular office trailer that is trucked in. Depending on the 
event, various elevations for the studio or announcers, position are 
preferred. When elevation is desired, the scaffolding system is used. The 
scaffolding is erected to a desired height and then the top level is 
partially enclosed. When elevation is not a factor, a modular office 
trailer can be used. 
A third option exists that is not widely used in the industry. It is 
comprised of a one of a kind studio trailer. This trailer is constructed 
of wood and steel upon a trailer base and includes an add-on structure for 
one side that must be attached on-site. This trailer is owned by one 
individual and used by one company in the industry. 
The present invention discloses a portable, expandable and retractable, 
elevatable viewing studio that will meet the composite needs of the 
television industry. Through integration and modification of existing 
diverse technologies, the present invention combines the desirable 
features of the above three on-location television studio options to 
achieve efficient versatile adjustable on-location viewing. In particular, 
the present invention offers a viewing studio that is able to accommodate 
preferred elevation requirements and studio space needs while remaining 
self-contained and portable. The mobile studio does not require extensive 
erection and disassembly on site, as with the fixed scaffolding system. 
The studio is not only portable over the highway system, and adjustably 
elevatable to achieve the requisite view, but the studio expands to 
provide studio space requirements for television announcers and 
broadcasters on location, above and beyond those of a standard bus or 
trailer. 
Presently the airline industry uses a variety of hydraulic lift vehicles. 
E.g. one such vehicle is used to deliver food service supplies to 
airplanes. Hi-Way, Inc. of Bartow, Fla., manufactures vehicles of this 
sort. The vehicle is driven to the airplane and elevated to the loading 
door for loading and unloading supplies. Another similar vehicle is known, 
an elevatable bus, used to transport passengers from airport terminals 
directly on to an airplane. 
The trucking industry has developed designs for fold-out trailers. Versions 
of such a design are offered for use as cargo trailers or concession 
trailers. Southern Truck Body Corporation of Tampa, Fla. advertises such 
trailer designs. 
The present invention, to achieve its purposes, integrates technologies 
from these diverse industries into one design. The invention combines the 
modified technologies of a hydraulic lift vehicle with that of an 
expandable truck body. This disclosed combination of technologies creates 
a portable viewing studio system unique to the industry. The invention 
will be most useful to the television media, although uses outside of this 
industry can be foreseen, such as a mobile elevatable viewing room for VIP 
groups at outdoor events. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention discloses a method for providing a mobile, elevatable 
viewing studio for on-location outdoor events. The studio is particularly 
designed for the height and space requirements of the television media. 
The method includes trucking a studio in a retracted configuration to an 
outdoor location, the retracted studio having a width, height and length 
that can be trucked over the normal highway system. The studio at location 
is elevated to at least ten feet using automatic lift means attached to 
the truck chassis and studio base. The studio is further expanded in at 
least one direction. Preferably, the studio is expanded in two opposing 
directions. The elevating means preferably includes operating a hydraulic 
lift. The method may further include elevating and lowering a balcony 
attached to one side or end of the studio. 
This invention also teaches a mobile, elevatable, expandable and 
retractable viewing studio system. The system includes a studio having a 
retracted and an expanded configuration. In the retracted configuration 
the studio has a width, height and length that permits it to be trucked 
over the highway system. The studio is attached to a truck chassis. 
Automatic lift means are attached to and operate between the studio base 
and the truck chassis. The automatic lift means are adequate to elevate 
the studio at least ten feet. The studio includes at least one expandable 
side. Preferably the studio includes two opposing expandable sides. 
Preferably, the automatically lift means involves hydraulic operation. The 
system may include an elevatable balcony attached to one side or end of 
the studio.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention wherein studio S has 
been trucked by truck T to a location and has been elevated and expanded. 
The roof or ceiling of the studio in FIG. 1 is not shown for illustrative 
purposes. The studio in the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been expanded to each 
side. Balcony B is illustrated in the embodiment as attached to studio S 
at the front of the studio. Balcony B can be raised and lowered, by means 
not shown but known in the art, from its elevated position roughly equal 
to the ceiling of the studio to a lowered position that would be roughly 
the same elevation as the floor of studio S. Lifting means L, attached to 
the truck or truck chassis and attached to the floor or base of studio S, 
are illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally, support struts 20 are shown in 
the embodiment. Support struts 20 help stabilize and support the elevated, 
expanded studio. 
As can be seen from the illustration of FIG. 1, the expanded studio 
provides the requisite space needed for television announcers and for 
broadcasting purposes. It is intended that a small room at the rear of the 
studio be outfitted as a restroom. Windows in the walls of the expanded 
studio provide for 360.degree. viewing. It is anticipated that provision 
will be made for the temperature inside the studio to be controlled and to 
equip the studio with video, audio and telephone connections. 
FIG. 2 offers an alternate view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. Doors D1 and 
D2 are shown. Door D2 connects stairway 22 with the interior of studio S. 
Doorway D1 connects the interior of studio S with balcony B for use when 
balcony B is at an elevation analogous to the floor of studio S. It is 
intended that balcony B will operate predominantly as a camera position 
when elevated to its higher level. At floor level balcony B can be 
utilized as an extra balcony for outside viewing. Balcony B is provided 
with railing 24. 
FIG. 3 offers a side view of another embodiment of the mobile studio, 
installed on location with studio S elevated and expanded. In FIG. 3 
balcony B is shown in solid lines in an elevated condition and in dashed 
lines in a lowered condition. Hydraulic lift unit L for the studio is 
illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3. 
In the preferred embodiment, a chosen truck chassis 28 will have a 
hydraulic lift system L attached to it. Hydraulic lift unit L will further 
attach to the base, such as the floor or a platform attached to the floor, 
of studio S. Modifications can be made to currently available hydraulic 
lift systems to support the structure of studio S and, in particular, to 
allow for the extra weight of the expandable studio body. In FIG. 3 the 
studio is illustrated as elevated to a distance 26 of approximately 18 
feet. 
FIG. 4 offers an illustrative floor plan for a mobile viewing studio in its 
expanded configuration. The length 32 and width 30 of the main portion of 
studio S of the embodiment of FIG. 4 are both approximately 20 feet. 
FIG. 5 offers a rear outside view of an embodiment of the mobile studio as 
installed on location with studio S elevated and expanded. 
FIG. 6 illustrates the usefulness of the mobile studio method and system as 
installed on location at an outdoor event. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the present invention 
wherein the studio is carried in its retracted configuration on the truck. 
In FIG. 7 Studio S has not been elevated or expanded from the chassis of 
truck T. In regard to truck T, a chassis of choice should be available 
from both domestic and imported sources. Lift means L of the embodiment of 
FIG. 7 includes a custom built hydraulic control package for operation of 
all unit functions, installed on the chassis of truck T. Element 34 of 
FIG. 7 illustrates a hydraulic tank attached to the chassis of truck T. It 
is estimated that hydraulic tank 34 would contain approximately 30 gallons 
of fluid with ports built in for heaters and service. Element 36, 
illustrated attached to the rear of studio S, represents a ladder for 
access to camera platform balcony B. In the embodiment of the invention 
illustrated in FIG. 7, the length of studio S in its retracted 
configuration is approximately 25 feet. The width 40 of central window W 
is anticipated to be approximately 8 feet. The width 42 of side window W 
is anticipated to be approximately 4 feet. Lighting 44 is provided as 
required, in AC or DC power. 
FIG. 8 offers a rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 
illustrates the width 46 of studio S in its retracted configuration to be 
approximately 81/2 feet. 
FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 7 as studio S is being elevated. 
Lift means L, attached between the truck chassis and base of studio S, 
includes a heavy duty scissor mechanism 56. Such scissor mechanisms have 
years of proven experience. Pivot point 54 of scissor mechanism 56 should 
be designed for easy lubrication. In the embodiment of FIG. 9 the outside 
of studio body 58 is anticipated to be constructed of a prepainted white 
aluminum. It is intended that the embodiment provide maximum viewing 
window sizes 52 to the left, right and rear of studio S. It is further 
anticipated that windows W will slide open. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, 
studio S is anticipated to have a body size in its retracted configuration 
of approximately 25 feet long and 81/2 wide. It is anticipated that such 
studio S can expand to a expanded configuration of 20 feet wide. Location 
48 illustrates the location in the embodiment of FIG. 9 for push button 
controls for elevating studio S. Keyed locks are anticipated to be 
available. Balcony B in the embodiment of FIG. 9 comprises a reinforced 
camera platform of approximately 6 feet by 8 feet. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 wherein the 
studio is elevated and expanded. FIG. 10 illustrates heavy duty extended 
stabilizers 60 which are capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle 
system. Lighting 74 to meet DOT standards for over the road equipment is 
illustrated. Supports 64 for the extended body of studio S are illustrated 
in FIG. 10. Width 76 of expanded studio S is approximately 20 feet. Left 
and right body extension 70 and 68 expand from a custom built studio S 
body. 
FIG. 11 illustrates the floor plan of an expanded studio S. The embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a studio S that expands to offer a studio 
of dimensions approximately 20 feet by 25 feet, to offer 500 square feet 
of floor space. 
FIGS. 12 and 13 offer a rear and top view, respectively, of an expanded 
studio illustrating a method of expansion and retraction. In the 
embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13 sidewalls DD fold into body EE. Walls AA 
fold down onto floor BB. Floor BB then folds up vertically. Roof CC folds 
down vertically against floor BB. 
In operation, studio S in retracted configuration, illustrated in FIGS. 7 
and 8, is trucked to an appropriate on-site location. See FIG. 6. FIG. 8 
offers a rear view of studio S in retracted configuration as it might be 
trucked by truck T. Upon selection of a suitable location for the mobile 
studio, such as illustrated in FIG. 6, truck T is parked as illustrated in 
FIG. 7. Utilizing lift means L, studio S in its retracted configuration is 
elevated, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The preferred means of elevation 
comprises hydraulic lift means. Subsequent to elevation, studio S is 
extended to an expanded configuration, such as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 
11 or FIGS. 1 through 5. One means for expanding studio S from a retracted 
configuration to an extended configuration would involve expanding both 
sides of the studio. The body of studio S could expand, in one means, by 
folding outwards, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The body could fold 
outwards approximately 7 feet on both sides by such method. In particular, 
achieving this expansion could involve hinging upwardly side walls of the 
retracted body of the studio from an expanded floor position. Expanded 
ceilings or roofs could hinge outwardly from the nonexpanded body. 
Expanded floor portions could hinge down from the nonexpanded body and 
expanded front and back outer wall sections could hinge sideways from the 
body of the retracted studio. It is anticipated that the outer wall and 
the separate sidewall units would contain extra large viewing windows. 
Alternately, studio S could expand by other means known in the art of 
expandable buildings, including telescoping outwardly a wall, floor and 
ceiling unit. 
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative 
and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the size, shape and materials 
as well as the details of the illustrated construction may be made without 
departing from the spirit of the invention.