Abstract:
A performance riser assembly including a modular riser stage that can be assembled in multiple configurations to meet the needs of many musical performance groups and multiple venues. The invention also includes modular performance fixtures that can be assembled onto the riser stage so that the performance fixtures do not contact the platform and that can be configured in many different combinations to meet various performance needs.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/637,702, filed Dec. 21, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of equipment used to stage musical performances and rehearsals.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many fixtures in addition to musical instruments are required when staging a musical performance by a band or other musical group that has many performers. All but the most informal performances require seating for the musicians, music stands and instrument stands. More formal performances often utilize other performance fixtures such as acoustical shells, risers and platforms. In addition, musicians may use various accessories such as picks, bows, spare reeds and mutes during a performance. Many of these items are fragile and subject to damage if mishandled. Others are small and easily misplaced if they lack a designated storage location.  
         [0004]     Particularly, when a music director is working with young musicians in training, such as school children or high school students, the possibility of a mishap with an instrument or accessory increases since young musicians do not exhibit the same degree of care with instruments or accessories, they may be more easily distracted and are more likely to be forgetful than are more mature performers.  
         [0005]     Many performance fixtures such as music stands are somewhat irregular in shape and despite prior art efforts to make them foldable, collapsible or stackable, they can sometimes be difficult to store. School budgets are often tight and the purchase, maintenance and storage of large numbers of performance fixtures can create a strain both financially and in terms of space utilization. Further, music stands are often kicked or knocked over when performers are shuffling to and from their seats.  
         [0006]     Traveling musical groups often must transport performance fixtures with them as they travel. In this case the need for organization and compact storage is very important. It is also helpful to have as much consistency as possible in packing, unpacking and arrangement of the fixtures as the traveling performance group moves from venue to venue. In addition, consistency in setup between a rehearsal and performance venue even within the same building (such as a high school having a rehearsal room and an auditorium) avoids distractions that may attend different stage configurations and seating.  
         [0007]     A school may have a number of different groups such as senior band, junior band, male chorus and others, each group requiring a different optimal setup for performing. Instrumental groups may require risers, instrument stands, music stands, seating and, optionally an acoustical shell, while a choral group may require only risers and an acoustical shell.  
         [0008]     Exemplary acoustical shells are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,908,787, 4,278,145 and 5,651,405. Exemplary music stands are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Des. Nos. 388,262, 4,650,145 and 5,833,199. Exemplary chairs and instrument stands are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Des. Nos. 297,890, 3,193,325 and 4,306,750. Exemplary stages and risers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,006,680, 6,729,075, 6,598,351, 5,848,501 and 5,381,873. All of the above-recited patents are incorporated into this application in their entirety by reference.  
         [0009]     It would be a great benefit to musical performance groups and musical performance director to have a system that would accommodate the above needs and simplify the staging of group musical performances.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention meets many of the above discussed needs. The performance riser assembly includes a modular riser stage that can be assembled in multiple configurations to meet the needs of many musical performance groups and multiple venues. The invention also includes modular performance fixtures that can be configured in many different combinations to meet various performance needs.  
         [0011]     The modular performance fixtures include, for example, seating, music stands, musical instrument holders, musical instrument accessory holders, sheet music holders, supports for instruments such as keyboards, percussion instruments or xylophones. In addition, modular performance fixtures can include modular acoustical shells that can be selectively attached to the modular riser stage.  
         [0012]     In an exemplary embodiment, the modular fixtures may be hung from an upright railing that separates the multiple riser levels.  
         [0013]     The performance riser assembly may include a riser section including a platform located on or above the floor and a railing including at least one substantially horizontal member at the front of the platform and a second railing including a substantially horizontal member also located at the front of the platform; and a performance fixture removably coupled to at least one of the horizontal members. The performance fixture is supported above and not in contact with the platform. The performance fixtures may include but are not limited to seating members, music stands, musical instrument holders, musical instrument accessory holders, sheet music holders, instrument supports and acoustical shell panels.  
         [0014]     The seating member may be foldable so that, for example, the seat pan is foldable to a substantially vertical position near the seat back.  
         [0015]     The invention also includes a method for arranging a performance group and musical instruments using the performance riser assembly. The method includes arranging the riser sections to be adjacent to one another in stair step fashion and coupling at least one performance fixture to at least one of the horizontal members of riser section. It is notable that the performance fixture is not in contact with the platform when it is connected to the railing or railings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a performance riser assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is side perspective view of a performance riser assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a performance riser assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a performance riser assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a performance riser assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  perspective view of a performance riser assembly in accordance with the present invention with no performance fixtures;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a grille that may be used in construction of a railing for a riser section;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of components of a grill that may be used in construction of a railing;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bracket that may be used to incorporate a grille into a railing;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a bracket assembled onto a vertical member of a railing;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a bracket assembled onto a vertical member of a railing;  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a bracket assembled onto a vertical member of a railing;  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of one type of standardized bracket that may be used to couple a performance fixture to one or more horizontal members of a railing;  
         [0029]      FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of one type of standardized bracket that may be used to attach a performance fixture to one or more horizontal members of a railing;  
         [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an instrument holder capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention having a keyboard set thereupon;  
         [0031]      FIG. 16  is a side plan view of the instrument holder of  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of an acoustical shell capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 18  is a side plan view of an instrument holder for a string instrument capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of an instrument holder for a string instrument capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of an instrument holder for percussion instruments, such as drums, capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an instrument holder for a string instrument, such as a guitar, capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an instrument holder for a string instrument capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a seating member capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a seating member capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention having an alternative seat pan configuration;  
         [0040]      FIG. 25  is a rear perspective view of a seating member capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention showing standardized brackets for coupling to two horizontal members on the railing;  
         [0041]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a seating member capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention further depicting a footrest;  
         [0042]      FIG. 27  is a front perspective view of a seating member installed on a railing in accordance with the present invention and depicting structure for allowing adjustment of the height of the seating member relative to the platform;  
         [0043]      FIG. 28  is a rear perspective view of a seating member installed on a railing in accordance with the present invention and depicting structure for allowing adjustment of the height of the seating member relative to the platform;  
         [0044]      FIG. 29  is a front perspective view of a music stand capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention depicting structure for allowing adjustment of the height of the seating member relative to the platform;  
         [0045]      FIG. 30  is a side plan view of a music stand capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention depicting structure including a pivot joint for allowing adjustment of the height of the seating member relative to the platform;  
         [0046]      FIG. 31  is a front perspective view of a music stand capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention having two sets of standardized brackets (of which only one is visible in this view) for coupling to a railing in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0047]      FIG. 32  is a side plan view of a music stand capable of being assembled onto a railing in accordance with the present invention and depicting two pivot joints allowing for adjustment of the position of the stand relative to the railing and to the floor.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0048]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the performance riser assembly  10  of the present invention generally includes at least one modular riser section  12  and one or more performance fixtures  14 .  
         [0049]     Riser section  12  includes platform  16  and railings  18 . Platforms  16  provide a level surface for performers to stand or to reach their seats, are modular and riser sections can be constructed with platforms at a plurality of levels, though one or more platforms in a riser assembly may be at or near the level of the floor upon which they rest. Typically in a riser assembly, riser sections of varying heights are arranged so that each of the platforms  16  are deployed in stair step fashion ascending from the frontmost riser section or vertically offset from each other, but this arrangement should not be considered limiting.  
         [0050]     Railings  18  are located at the front and rear of platforms  16 . It should be noted that a railing  18  at the back of a lower platform  16  in a riser assembly may serve as the railing at the front of the next higher platform  16 . The frontmost railing  18  may support a concealing panel, or a sign bearing indicia such as the band name, logo or other message. The frontmost railing  18  may also be lower in height than other railings  18 .  
         [0051]     If a more robust or semi-permanent installation of performance riser assembly  10  is desired, railings  18  may be anchored to the floor, for example by securing railings  18  into a receiver in the floor. Such a reliever may comprise a relief, pocket, tube or similar structure embedded in the floor. Railings  18  may also be semi-permanently secured with the use of fasteners. In the case of installing performance riser assembly  10  on a concrete floor, acceptable fasteners may include concrete anchors, or other fasteners apparent to one skilled in the art.  
         [0052]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , railings  18  may comprise at least two vertical members  60  that support at least one horizontal member  62  on which performance fixtures  14  may be hung, usually including at least two horizontal members  62 . Vertical members  14  may be located at or near the front comers or the rear corners of the platform. Vertical members may also be placed along the front or rear edges between corners. Horizontal members  62  may be placed a standard distance apart vertically to correspond to the spacing of standardized brackets  38  on performance fixtures  14  that will be employed with the riser assembly of the invention. The standard distance may be about ten inches. Horizontal members  62  will typically extend across the entire front edge or entire rear edge of a platform, thereby facilitating maximum flexibility of placement of performance fixtures on a riser section.  
         [0053]     Standardized brackets  38  are designed to engage horizontal members  62  of railings  18  and provide a stable connection between the performance fixture and one or more horizontal members. Standardized brackets  38  may be formed as an integral portion of a performance fixture  14 . In an alternative embodiment, standardized brackets may be added onto a performance fixture during construction either as a separate part or as part of an attachment construct having two or more standardized brackets.  
         [0054]     Additional horizontal members may also be added to railings to allow for performance fixtures  14  to be placed on railing  18  at different heights. These additional horizontal members may also accommodate the need to place diverse performance fixtures  14  on railing  18  when it is being used simultaneously as a rear railing for a first riser section and a front railing for a second riser section located behind the first riser section. It will be appreciated that the need for additional horizontal members may occur more often where the second riser section is located higher off the floor than the first riser section.  
         [0055]     In one embodiment, the vertical members  60  and one or more horizontal members  62  are formed from a single piece of material such as a metal rod or hollow metal pipe. Horizontal members  62  may also be welded or otherwise permanently affixed to vertical members  60 . Horizontal members  62  may also be securably adjustable along a vertical member  60  and optionally removable thereby allowing flexibility in the placement of the horizontal members  62  relative to the vertical members  60 . In use, a pair of vertically adjustable horizontal members  62  may be moved to a position where they are placed at the standard distance relative to each other. The structures providing for connections between vertically adjustable horizontal members  62  and vertical members  60  must reliably hold the horizontal member in the desired position and may include various clamps or may employ pegs deployed in holes defined by the vertical members  60  on which horizontal members  62  may rest.  
         [0056]     In a further embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIGS. 7-14 , railing  18  comprises a frame  70  supporting a grille  72 , with grille  72  having a plurality of vertical grille members  74  and a plurality of horizontal grille members  76 . The structure of grille  72  is similar to that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/990,277 to Bothum et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference. Grille  72  may be coupled to frame  70  with a plurality of brackets  78 . Grille  72  may be constructed from welded metal rod, square stock, or flat bar. Grille  72  may also be constructed from injection molded plastic. The size and spacing of vertical grille members  74  and horizontal grille members  76  may be varied depending on the load carrying requirements of grille  72 . For instance, close spacing of vertical grille members  74  and horizontal grille members  76  will increase load carrying capacity of grille  72 , as will the use of large cross-sectioned materials for grille  72 .  
         [0057]     A bracket  78  may be use to couple grille  72  to frame  70 . Bracket  78  may be secured to frame  70  with one or more fasteners  80 . Performance fixtures  14  may be coupled to grille  72  using specialized hangers  82 . Hangers  82  comprise a body  84  and a plurality of engagement members  86  disposed perpendicular to the body  84 . Hangers  82  are adapted to engage the horizontal grille members  76  of grille  72 .  
         [0058]     Referring now to  FIGS. 15-32 , performance fixtures  14  may include seating members  20 , music stands  22 , musical instrument holders  24 , musical instrument accessory holders  26 , sheet music holders  28 , instrument supports  30  and acoustical shell panels  32 . Instrument storage cabinets, racks, or shelves may be supported on the back of a rearmost railing  18  of a riser assembly  10 .  
         [0059]     Instrument supports  30  may include keyboard supports  34  that may be capable of holding keyboards of varying sizes and may further be capable of holding keyboards at various heights, as seen, for example, in  FIGS. 15-16 . Instrument supports  30  may also include percussion instrument supports  36  such as for a bass drum, a snare drum or a gong, as seen, for example, in  FIG. 20 . Instruments may be releasably coupled to instrument supports  30 , or instruments may be permanently coupled to instrument supports  30 . Structures allowing for adjusting the height of instrument supports, as well as music stands, may include the use of gas struts, or various mechanical structures that may be releaseably secured with clamps, pins, or the like.  
         [0060]     In an exemplary embodiment, performance fixtures  14  may be adapted to be removably connectable to the horizontal members of railings  18  by standardized brackets  38  defining a space in which horizontal members of railings  18  may be received within the standardized bracket. Railings  18  thus support performance fixtures  14 , such that performance fixtures  14  are not in communication with platform  16  or the floor. Standardized brackets may be formed as a part of a performance fixture or may be assembled as a separate structure and attached to a performance fixture.  
         [0061]     Performance fixtures  14  may be coupled to railings  18  in a variety of ways. For instance, it may be desirable for performance fixtures  14  to be quickly and easily removable from railings  18 , and in such a case standardized brackets  38  of performance fixtures  14  may simply rest on railings  18 . Alternatively, it may be desirable for performance fixtures  14  to be more securely coupled to railings  18 , and standardized brackets  38  of performance fixtures  14  may therefore include a means for securely yet removably attaching performance fixtures  14  to railings  18 .  
         [0062]     Such securely removable means for attachment may employ threaded screws, bolts or the like that extend through the standardized brackets  38  and may be advanced to securely engage a horizontal member  62 . Various clamps that apply pressure to a horizontal member  62  may also be employed in a standardized bracket  38 . Mechanisms that allow a portion of standardized bracket  38  to swing back toward the performance fixture  14  and to come into contact with a lower surface of a horizontal member  62  thus completely or almost completely surrounding the horizontal member may also be employed.  
         [0063]     It will be appreciated that performance fixtures  14  having a lower center of gravity with respect to the standardized brackets  38  from which they are hung will be advantageous as they will be less likely to tilt to one side or another when hung from horizontal members  62 . It may be desirable for performance fixture  14  to be lower than the point from which it is hung on horizontal member  62 . For example, the height of a seating member  20  may be lower than the point at which seating member  20  attaches to horizontal member  62  by standardized bracket  38  in order for seating member  20  to be sturdily secured to railing  18 .  
         [0064]     Performance fixtures  14  may utilize one or more standardized brackets  38  for attachment to horizontal members  62 . Smaller or lighter performance fixtures  14  such as musical instrument accessory holders  26  may be adequately secured to railing  18  with the use of only one standardized bracket  38 . Larger, heavier performance fixtures  14  such as seating members  20 , instrument supports  30  and acoustical shell panels  32  may require the use of two or more standardized brackets. In some cases, the performance fixture may be designed with three standardized brackets (e.g., one bracket at an upper level and two brackets at a lower level centered on the upper bracket and spaced a distance sufficient to minimize tilt of the performance fixture). In the case of a seating member  20 , the tilt might arise from a performer shifting their weight in the seat pan or in the case of a music stand from a musician setting a large quantity of music on the stand or making notations in pencil (e.g. reminders or bowings) on music present on the stand.  
         [0065]     It may be desirable to remove performance fixtures  14  from performance riser assembly  10  and store them elsewhere, such as along a wall or in an existing storage room. A storage structure having a similar construction as railings  18  may be used to receive the standardized brackets  38  on performance fixtures  14 . The storage structure may have one or or more horizontal members adapted to receive standardized brackets of performance fixtures.  
         [0066]     Seating members  20  may include a seat pan  64  and a seat back  66 , as depicted in  FIGS. 23-28 . Seating members  20  may be foldable or collapsible, as foldable seating members  20  provide more open space on platform  16  when folded up. In one embodiment, a seat pan  64  of seating member  20  folds up towards a seat back  66 . Seating member  20  may be adapted such that the default position of seat pan  64  is to be folded up against seat back  66 . The folding of seat pan  64  may be facilitated with springs, or by weighting seat pan  64  such that the rear of seat pan  64  is heavier than the front, causing seat pan  64  to rotate towards seat back  66 .  
         [0067]     In addition, seating members  20  may include a means for height adjustment in order to comfortably accommodate a wide range of performers. Such means for height adjustment can include hanging seating member  20  from different horizontal members  62  on railing  18 , having a telescoping seat frame, employing a vertically directed gas strut between seating member  20  and standardized bracket  38 , or employing a vertical member coupled to standardized bracket  38  defining a plurality of pin-receiving holes and a slidable collar surrounding the vertical member defining holes of corresponding size and attached to the back of seating member  20  such that the position seating member  20  is selectable by vertical movement of the collar along the vertical member and insertion of a pin through the slideable collar and the vertical member. Seating members  20  may also include a footrest; however the footrest is not in communication with platform  16  when seating member  20  is properly installed on railing  18 . Seating member  20  may be constructed of a variety of materials readily apparent to one skilled in the art, including injection-molded polymers, metal, wood, composite, or some combination therein. Seating member  20  may further be covered with upholstery.  
         [0068]     Seat back  66  may include a lumbar adjustment, and may further include a height adjustment separate from any height adjustment for seating member  20 . Such height adjustment for back rest  66  may be facilitated by any of the means recited for seating member  20 . In an alternative embodiment, seating member  20  is not provided with a back rest.  
         [0069]     Referring now to  FIGS. 29-32 , music stands  22  may include a height adjustment, such as a telescoping arrangement. Alternatively, music stand  22  may include one or more pivot joints  68  on standardized bracket  38  for height adjustment. In the event that seating member  20  is height adjustable, a performer will likely be able to adjust seating member  20  such that music stand  22  is at the correct height. It may be desirable for music stands  22  to be at a fixed height, however.  
         [0070]     Musical instrument holders  24  may include specialized holders for individual instrument such as guitar holders  40  as seen, for example, in  FIG. 21 , cello holders  42  as seen, for example, in  FIGS. 18-19 , violin holders  44  as seen, for example, in  FIG. 22 , or tuba holders  46  as seen, for example, in  FIGS. 1-4 , however musical instrument holders  24  may be provided for any and all instruments, and this list should not be considered exclusive or limiting. Musical instrument holders  24  may include a restraint, such as hook-and-loop fastener straps for retaining musical instruments when stored thereon.  
         [0071]     Performance riser assembly  10  may also include structures defining one or more storage compartments  48 . Ideally, storage compartment  48  is unobtrusively located underneath platform  16 , and may be accessed before or after a rehearsal or a performance. Storage compartment  48  may open to the back or to the side of a riser section or may be closed with doors, optionally with mechanisms for locking otherwise securing the storage compartment. Storage compartment  48  may be divided into multiple compartments suitably shaped for storing particular instruments. The storage compartments may further comprise drawers or platforms that can be conveniently moved from a stowed or storage position to an extended or available position that allows for equipment or instruments, as the case may be, to be placed into or removed from the storage compartment.  
         [0072]     If seating for a large group is needed, multiple performance riser sections  12  may be used. The multiple riser sections may be joined to one another, such that the platforms  16  of a first performance riser section  12  is contiguous with the platform of a second performance riser assembly  10 . Alternatively, multiple performance riser sections  12  can be arranged in an arc, or positioned proximate from one another to achieve any desired arrangement. If such a configuration is desired, riser sections having trapezoidal or wedge-shaped platforms are used between riser sections having rectangular-shaped platforms in order to create the desired arc. Three riser sections  12  may be arranged in an arc, with a first riser section having a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped platforms in the center, and riser sections having rectangular-shaped platforms coupled to each side of the first riser section. The angle of the wedge on wedge-shaped performance riser assemblies  10  may be varied, however wedges of thirty (30), forty-five (45), and (60) degrees may offer greater utility.  
         [0073]     In these configurations, elevated platforms may be inserted at the various levels between the riser sections having rectangular-shaped platforms to allow for movement of performers between the assemblies such as at the start or conclusion of a performance. These elevated platforms may be equipped with clamps or other similar mechanisms to hold the elevated platform in place and may additionally have legs that are designed to fold into the bottom of the elevated platform allowing for convenient storage.  
         [0074]     In one embodiment of the present invention, riser assembly  10  comprises riser sections with a total of four (4) platforms  16  and five (5) railings  18 . Platforms  16  are arranged in a stair step fashion, with a rise between individual platforms  16  of six (6) to twelve (12) inches. The frontmost platform may be resting on the floor, or may be six (6) to twelve (12) inches off the floor. Each platform  16  may be generally rectangular, measuring approximately eight (8) feet wide by four (4) feet deep, and comprises a frame constructed of twelve (12) gauge 1½ inch×1½ inch square profile steel tube and a flooring surface constructed from plywood, aluminum, composites, polymers, or the like.  
         [0075]     A railing  18  may have a height with respect to the front of a platform  16  of approximately three (3) feet, and a height with respect to the rear of a platform  16  of approximately four (4) feet. Railings  18  may be constructed from the same steel tube as is used for platforms  16 . The vertical spacing between horizontal members  62  may be approximately ten (10) inches. Railings  18  may be constructed to house one or more electrical power outlets along their length capable of providing electrical power light fixtures that may be attached to performance fixtures, such as music stands. In an alternative embodiment, railings  18  may be constructed to house fiber optic cables to provide lighting to music stands or to facilitate movement of performers on a modular riser under low ambient lighting conditions.  
         [0076]     Railings  18  may be secured to platforms  16  by a variety of methods, all of which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. As an example, bolts and nuts offer an easily removable fastening solution, while weldments may be desired for a more permanent joint between railings  18  and platforms  16 . However this embodiment should in no way be considered limiting or restrictive.  
         [0077]     Riser assembly  10  may comprise more or less than four riser sections. The rise between successive platforms  16  may be more than, or less than, six (6) to twelve (12) inches, and in the case that the rise between successive platforms  16  is greater than eight (8) inches, an intermediary step may be included. The dimensions of each platform  16  may be varied, to accommodate larger instruments, smaller spaces, a greater number of performers, etc. Further, the shape of platform  16  may be triangular or generally wedge-shaped rather than rectangular, and the frame of platform  16  may constructed of materials other than steel, or materials not having a square-shaped profile. Also, the height of railings  18  may be varied to suit different uses of performance riser assembly  10 .  
         [0078]     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof; therefore, the illustrated embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.