FOLD AND ROLL STAGING

Abstract: A portable and foldable platform stage assembly has two support panels (20)(22) movable from a collapsed position with panels (20)(22) closely adjacent each other to an operative position with the panels (20)(22) in a single plane, the inner edges in substantial contact. Roller wheels (64) move from a storage position when the panels (20)(22) are in operative position to a floor contacting position when the panels (20)(22) are collapsed for storage or movement. Outer legs (30) move from a storage position to a vertical operative position when the panels (20)(22) are shifted to operative position. A central support frame pivotally supports the inner edges of the platform panels (20)(22) in the two positions with shaped spaced support links (72)(44) which provide positive support in the operative position and adapt to a receiving position when the panels (20)(22) are moved to storage positions.

Description: The present invention relates to a fold and roll platform assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. Many educational and religious organizations cannot provide permanent stage platforms in the physical facilities available. When visiting choruses or dramatic groups are invited for a performance, it is possible to rent staging equipment for a temporary set-up after which the equipment is dismantled and returned. In addition, when visiting musical stars come into auditoriums, stadiums, or arenas, frequently it is necessary to set up an extensive stage area not normally available. To meet these needs, it is desirable to have staging equipment which can be easily stored and transported. It is also preferable to have equipment which can be folded into compact units to save space for storage and trucking. It is also desirable to have stage units which can be readily handled by one, or, at most, two persons so that large set-up crews are not needed. A known structure (US-A-3 351 029) comprises a rigid frame of two pairs of inner legs upon which the panel rest in the operative position. Each panel is linked to the frame by a pair of brackets shaped to allow the inner ends of the panels to approach each other without interfering one of the ends with the other end during swinging movement of the panels between the storage position and the operative position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable staging unit which is easily moved around by one person, which can be stored in a compact form and readily transported, and which can be easily set up to provide a solid stable unit which meets all the requirements of safety when used for holding groups of people, musical instruments, and the like. According to the invention the object is solved by the features of claim 1. Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth in the following description and claims in which the principles of the invention are set forth together with details to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the invention, all in connection with the best mode presently contemplated for the invention. DRAWINGS accompany the disclosure and the various views thereof may be briefly described as: FIG. 1, an elevation view of a folded stage unit. FIG. 2, an elevation view of a stage unit with one section open. FIG. 3, an elevation view similar to FIG. 2 with one section open and a second section in a transition position. FIG. 4, a stage unit entirely opened to operative position. FIG. 5, an enlarged view of the central support system for the unit in a fully open position. In FIG. 1, a folded stage unit is illustrated with two platform panels 20 and 22 connected by a special hinging system which positions two rollers at the base to facilitate moving the folded unit to and from storage or trucking facilities. In FIG. 2, the platform panel 20 is still in upright position while panel 22 is lowered to an operative position. Each unit has similar support systems on each side of the platform panels and only one side will be described in detail. The panels 20, 22 are constructed in a conventional manner of plywood, or honeycomb reinforced panels of suitable load bearing quality. Outer legs 30 are hinged at 32 to the bottom outer end of the platform elements and each has an end 34 to contact the support floor. These ends 34 may be suitably padded and may be extensible if different heights are desired. Each outer leg 30 is pivotally connected at 36 to an operating and stabilizing link 38 which at an inner end is connected pivotally at 40 to a central support frame having vertical main support legs 44 pivotally connected at the bottom ends at 46 to a base member 48. The legs 44 are bent inwardly at the pivot point 40. At the top end of the legs 44 a short arm 50 is pivotally connected at 52. This arm is positioned horizontally below the inner edge of the, platform panel 22 as shown in FIG. 2 when the platform panel is in operative position. A plate 60 secures the arm 50 to the bottom surface of the platform panels 20 and 22 adjacent the inner edges. Each link 38 has a bifurcate bracket extension 62 which mounts a roller wheel 64 on a short axle 66. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wheel 62 in the open side below platform element 22 is spaced away from the support plane 68. On the right side in conjunction in the upright panel 20 the roller 64 is in contact with the support plane. Reverting to the central support frame, the legs 44 and the base members 48 are pivotally secured together, and suitable lateral members extend transversely of the platform elements to rigidly connect the opposed frames and outer legs on each side of the platform elements. The base member 48 has a short vertical upright member 70. Dogleg struts or links 72 are pivoted at the short end at 74 to the infer end of arm 50 and at the long end at 76 to the upright member 70. In FIG. 3, the parts are shown with platform panel 22 in open position and panel 20 moved from the storage position to a 45° position to illustrate how the moving support parts function. FIG. 4 illustrates the fully operative position with both platform panels horizontally positioned with the inner edges close together. FIG. 5 shows the central support frame in a larger size, again in fully open position. It will be appreciated that in the opening or closing movement, the links 38 will act on the outer legs to move them respectively to the vertical support position or to the folded position shown in FIG. 1. Also, in FIG. 1 and at the right side of FIG. 2, the importance of the shape of legs 44 and dogleg links 72 is evident. The inner edges of the panels 20, 22 drop into the recess formed by the dogleg struts 72, and the bend-in legs 44 permits the nestling of the arms 50 and cross member associated with the spaced frames. In the storage position, the roller wheels 64 contact the support surface to permit easy movement of the collapsed assembly to and from the selected site. In the operative position, the wheels 62 are in a non-functioning storage position. In the operative position of the panels (FIGS. 4 and 5), they are supported centrally by the legs 44 and struts 72, each in turn supported in substantially parallel position on the base member 48 with the short vertical post 70 supporting the lower end of strut 72. In the folded position shown at the right side of FIG. 2, the panels are supported mainly by legs 44. If vertical extensions are desired to raise the level of the entire unit, retractible extensions can readily be installed at 34 on legs 30 and to the base end of legs 44. The swinging mount on the two platform panels has a significant function in the operation of the assembly. In essence, there is a parallelogram mount with the main support leg 44 and the strut 72 operating simultaneously. The strut 72 is shorter than the main leg. With this system, when a platform panel is lifted in the initial movement to move it to a storage position, it actually moves lineally away from the other panel so there is ample clearance to avoid interference of the inner edges of the panels as the panel is lifted. At the end of the upward stroke, the shape of the legs 44 and struts 72 function as described to allow the panel edge to move into the lowered storage position. The leg 44 starts in a substantially vertical position in storage position and ends in the same position when in platform position. This makes it possible to provide a lock on this main leg in either position.

Claims: A fold and roll platform assembly comprising: (a) a pair of platform panels (20, 22) (b) outer legs (30) on each said panels to support the outer edges in operative position, (c) a central support frame to support the panels in storage position when said panels are disposed parallel to each other or in operative position when positioned inner edge to inner edge in a common plane, said support frame comprising: a base member (48) on said frame extending in the same direction and spaced from said common plane, dogleg struts (72) each pivotally connected to said respective panels adjacent the respective inner edges of said panels and to said base member characterised in that said support frame further comprises main support legs (44) at each end of said base member (48) extending upwardly and pivotally connected to said base member, and in that the dogleg struts are pivoted on a common axis (76) to the base member, in the operative position of said panels said inner adjacent ends being supported on said base member solely by said dogleg struts and said main support legs extending between said panels and said base members. A fold and roll platform assembly according to claim 1, in which said base member (48) includes a central upright member (70) below the joining edges of said panels when in operative position and in which the lower ends of said dogleg struts (72) are pivoted to the upright member (70). A fold and roll platform assembly as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which operative links (38) respectively connect said outer legs (30) with said main support legs (44) to move said outer legs (30) from a storage position adjacent a panel to an operative position perpendicular to a panel when said panels are moved from a storage position to an operative position. A fold and roll platform assembly as defined in claim 3 in which roller wheels (64) are mounted on extensions of said respective operative links (38) to shift from a surface contacting position to a storage position when said panels are moved on said frame from a storage position to an operative position. A fold and roll platform assembly as defined in one of claims 1 to 4 in which said dogleg struts (72) are formed to provide a concave clearance area for the inner edge of a panel as it moves to a storage position. A fold and roll platform assembly as defined in one of claims 1 to 5 in which each said main support leg (44) has a bend to provide a storage space for one end of each said strut (72) when said panels are in storage position. A fold and roll platform assembly as defined in one of claims 1 to 6 in which a short arm (50) is positioned and secured adjacent the inner edge of each said platform panel (20, 22), and the upper ends of said main support legs (44) and said struts (72) are pivotally attached to said arm at spaced positions (52, 74).

Inventors: ROGERS, ORLEY DAVID, STATEN, KENNETH EDWARD
Applicants: STAGERIGHT CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04H3
IPC codes: A47B3, E04H3, A47B25