Foldable, multi-level staging and seating support

Abstract: A staging and seating understructure which provides a base frame for a multiplicity of support panels (P). The base frame consists of a series of vertical cross frames, usually having different levels, each cross frame being connected to another cross frame by collapsible gates (30, 32) at each end which fold inwardly to allow movement of the cross frames close toward each other wherein the entire base frame assembly may be stored compactly.

Description: Field of Invention Foldable staging and seating supports for occasional use in auditoriums, social halls and gymnasiums. Background and Features of the Invention Many auditoriums and gymnasiums in schools, and social halls in churches, cannot allot space for permanent staging or bleachers to accomodate singing groups where multi-level staging is required, or to accomodate spectators when special events such as concerts or sporting events are scheduled. To meet this demand for staging, various suppliers have merchandised collapsible or demountable support frames for staging platforms or seating. Examples of collapsible bleacher systems are found in US Patent No. 3.995.832 (Dec. 7, 1976) and US Patent No. 4.363.197 (Dec. 14, 1982). Staging support apparatus is illustrated in US Patent No. 4.638.604 (Jan. 27, 1987) assigned to the assignor of the present application. A multi-level staging understructure assembly as defined in the preamble of claim 1 has become known from AU-B-547.147. In this assembly, the panels are hinged together and are also hinged to one of the transverse frames. Furthermore, each side gate frame has a vertical column at its inner end, with the inner vertical columns of a pair of side gate frames being hinged together. In view of this construction, the multi-level staging understructure of this publication suffers from some drawbacks with respect to storage, assembly, disassembly, and transportation thereof. FR-A-2 418 319 discloses a multi-level staging understructure assembly having panels that are separate from the understructure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible support frame structure which can occupy very little space in the collapsed state but which can be easily advanced for supporting staging or seating panels. It is a further object to provide a support frame which can be handled by unskilled persons with no need for special tools in assembly or disassembly. Another object is the provision of a support structure which can be used in horizontal multiples by bridging between structures, thus reducing the need for, and cost of, individual supports for all adjacent horizontal tiers. The components which require manual lifting preferably shall weigh not more than 130 pounds and shall be adaptable to use of guard railings, chair rails, skirting enclosures and so forth. Suitable leveling devices can be readily adapted to the system. The present invention has been defined in claim 1. Further developments of the invention have been defined in the subclaims. Briefly, the assembly comprises a series of multi-level frames forming an understructure, each with common vertical supports, and side gates for each level, between said frames, which pivot on the vertical supports and fold toward each other in the collapsed state. Horizontal lateral spacers stabilize the side gates. A series of support panels are each engaged at two opposed corners with vertical supports and at the remaining corners with brackets on the gates adjacent vertical supports so that each level is securely stabilized against shifting. The support panels are reinforced flat structures which can be used with either side up and optional surfaces as desired. Brief Description of the Drawings DRAWINGS accompany the disclosure and the various views thereof may be briefly described as: FIG. 1, a perspective view of a double collapsible frame with bridging panels. FIG. 2, a perspective view of one assembled section and multiple lower sections partially collapsed to illustrate the pivot connection. FIG. 3, a perspective view of a multi-level stage assembly in various levels from low to high. FIG. 4, a view of one gate frame illustrating the pivotal joints to permit the folding action. Detailed Description of the Invention and the Manner and Process of Using It With reference to FIG. 1, a series of staging levels are illustrated. Each panel P is supported on four vertical columns, each column being formed preferably of steel tubing dimensioned, for example, of 2.00" diameter, 11 to 14 gauge. The columns are connected laterally at the base by horizontal braces 20. Additional horizontal braces 22 at a higher level are also provided. Each panel P is supported by a short and a long vertical column. In FIG. 1, two opposed side frames or gates 30 and 32 are shown. Gate frame 30 is formed by a vertical column 33 at the forward end and by a rearward column 34. These columns are connected by horizontal braces 36 at the top and 38 at the bottom. Cross struts 40 extend from the corners of gate frame 30. Similarly, the gate frame 32 is formed by a forward vertical column 43, a rearward column 44, top and bottom braces 46 and 48 and, cross-struts 50. At the top of each forward vertical column is a capital plate 60 which has two spaced stub posts 62 and 64. At the rear of each top brace 36 and 46 close to the columns 34 and 44 are similar plates 70 with spaced stub posts 72 and 74. The posts 62 and 72 are inside posts which register with and receive sockets 80 in the stage panels P. The posts 64 and 74 are outside posts which will be received in the corner sockets 80 at each end of bridging panels BP as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the bridging panels are supported at each end by the folding structures. Lateral cross braces may also be utilized to provide lateral stability to the structure. These are illustrated at 90 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, an isolated view of frame gate 32 is shown for the purpose of illustrating how the frame gates are pivotally associated with the vertical columns. Pivotal sleeve collars 110 and 112 connect top and bottom braces 46 and 48, respectively, with the vertical column 44. Pivotal sleeve collars 114 and 116 connect braces 104 and 100, respectively, to column 43. At the base of column 44 is a sleeve collar 120 connected to the lower brace 100 of the next higher tier. At the base of column 43 is a sleeve collar 122 connected to the lower brace 100 of the next lower tier. These pivotal sleeve collars are not illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in order to simplify the graphic presentation. When the frames are fully extended, the gate frames 30,32 are all aligned in a vertical plane and the columns, both long and short, lie in that plane. When the panels P are all applied to and seated on the inside posts 62 and 72, the structure will be exceedingly stable. When the panels P are removed, the gate frames, some of which are shown partially folded in FIG. 1, can be completely folded in. The different levels of the cross-braces on the gate frames permit the collapsing of the gate frames into close proximity. For example, in FIG. 1, the bottom cross brace 100 is lower than the cross brace 102 in the adjacent gate frame. Similarly, the top cross brace 104 is higher than the top cross brace 106 of the same adjacent gate frame. Thus, each gate frame, as shown in FIG. 2, can fold closely adjacent the next higher gate frame and the whole structure can be folded back against a wall or moved to a storage area. Suitable leveling screw feet on the bottom of the vertical columns can be used if needed. Also, guard railings and chair rails will be applied as needed. The dimension of the panels from front-to-back and the gate frames can be varied to provide staging levels or seating levels as needed. It will be seen that the assembly can be adapted to as many levels as needed for a particular installation. When the system is to be activated, the various cross frames are pulled out to unfold the frame gates until all are extended. Then the support panels are applied to the upstanding stub posts to rigidify the entire assembly. The folding understructure is preferably equipped with casters to enable movement into place without lifting. Essentially, the foldable understructure is comprised of a plurality of rigid cross frames varying in height from front to rear, each having a vertical column at each end, and a plurality of pairs of collapsible side frame gates pivotally connected at outer ends to respective vertical columns of said cross frames, and pivoted at inner ends to a displaceable vertical column which is movable by the collapsing of said gates to a storage position, and movable in an open position of said gates to align with the respective vertical columns at the ends of said cross frames.

Claims: A multilevel staging understructure assembly, said assembly being foldable for storage and extendable for use, which comprises: a) a series of vertical transverse frames (20, 22, ), each including a vertical column (33, 43) at each end, b) a pair of side gate frames (30, 32) at each end of said transverse frames connected between the respective vertical columns (33,43) at the respective ends of said transverse frames, c) each side gate frame (30, 32) of said pairs having an inner end and an outer end, the outer ends being pivotally connected to respective vertical columns (33, 43) of the respective ends of said transverse frames, and the inner ends being pivotally connected to each other and to inwardly displaceable vertical columns (34,44) at said inner ends, d) said side gate frames (30, 32) being collapsible to lie adjacent and between said transverse frames when said understructure is collapsed, and said side gate frames being extendible outwardly to an open position to lie in a plane between said vertical columns (33, 43) and to position said displaceable vertical columns (34, 44) on said plane, e) said gate frames (30, 32) each having top and bottom horizontal cross braces (36, 38, 46, 48; 100, 102, 104, 106) each having an inner end and an outer end, f) a plurality of panels (P) positioned horizontally on said transverse frames and gate frames when said gate frames are in said open position, and means (60, 70) to support said panels, said panels (P) being separate from each other and demountable from the understructure assembly, characterized in that g) said means (60, 70) to support said panels are disposed on the top of each vertical column to interengage with a corner of a support panel (P) so as to rigidify the entire assembly, h) adjacent frames have common vertical columns (33,34,43,44) at their ends, whereby the inner ends of the horizontal cross braces (36, 38, 46, 48; 100, 102, 104, 106) of each pair of adjacent side gate frames (30, 32) are pivotally connected to the common inwardly displaceable vertical column (34, 44), and the outer ends of the horizontal cross braces (36, 38, 46, 48; 100, 102, 104, 106) of each pair of adjacent side gate frames (30, 32) are pivotally connected to the common vertical column (33, 43) of said vertical transverse frames (20, 22, 33, 43), and i) the top and bottom cross braces of adjacent side gate frames (30, 32) are at different levels to permit the collapsing of the gate frames (30, 32) into close proximity. A staging understructure assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said means (60, 70, 62, 72, 64, 74) comprises up standing stub posts (62, 64, 72, 74) on said columns (33,34, 43, 44), and recesses (80) formed in the corners of said panels (P) to receive said stub posts. A staging understructure assembly as defined in claim 2 in which said means (60, 70, 62, 72, 64, 74) comprises a capital plate (60, 70) on each said vertical column (33, 34, 43, 44), with said upstanding stub posts (62, 64, 71, 74) be ing fixed on said capital plates. A staging understructure assembly as defined in claim 3 in which each said capital plate (60,70) has two parallel upstanding stub posts (62, 64, 72, 74) spaced laterally including an inside post (62, 72) for engaging a recess (80) in a panel (P) on said understructure and an outside post (64, 74) for engaging bridging panels (BP) between understructures spaced apart the length of said bridging panels. A staging understructure assembly as defined in claim 3 or 4 wherein the vertical columns (33, 43) of intermediate transverse frames in the series thereof and the displaceable vertical columns (34, 44) each have a second capital plate (60, 70) provided with a stub post (62, 64, 72, 74) so that said columns of intermediate transverse frames and said dis placeable vertical columns each support two adjacent support panels (P) in the descending series.

Inventors: RANDALL CALVIN KENT, ROGERS ORLEY DAVID, STATEN KENNETH EDWARD, RANDALL, CALVIN KENT, ROGERS, ORLEY DAVID, STATEN, KENNETH EDWARD
Applicants: STAGERIGHT CORP, STAGERIGHT CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04H3
IPC codes: E04H3