Abstract:
A mobile stage which transforms between a first, transport position and a second, deployed position. A number of modular wall panels which act as a barrier between the interior and the exterior of the stage. This barrier is weather resistant by use of weather stripping in between the panels and additionally serves to protect from unauthorized access to any contents stored inside the stage itself when in transportation mode. The wall panels may be selectively remoted and replaced by stairways and other stage components. The upper wall panels are temporarily engaged by a roof of the mobile stage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/142,984 filed Apr. 3, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a mobile hydraulic stage and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a mobile hydraulic stage with removable wall panels and an integrated wireless control via mobile computing device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Mobile performance stages are commonly used for temporary venues, performances, or rallies. Typical mobile performance stages must be assembled on site. Modern mobile stages may come in the form of a trailer, wherein the mobile stage is collapsible to a compact and mobile unit. 
         [0006]    Mobile stages are often an economical alternative to erecting a permanent stage at a site. The typical reasons for electing to use a mobile stage include temporary use, cost, and reliability. Cutting the costs of using a mobile stage provides additional incentive for using a mobile stage. The simplest way to cut costs would be to reduce the number of persons and steps required to setup and operate the stage. Costs are also saved when the owner of a mobile stage knows the stage will last. These cost savings can be passed on to customers, increasing the incentive to use one mobile stage over another. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a highly transportable stage system with wall panel elements which quickly allow the stage to be transformed from a compact/transportation position to a functional stage position and back. 
         [0008]    Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a mobile hydraulic stage with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention generally provides a mobile stage which transforms between a first, transport position and a second, deployed position. A primary component of the present invention is a number of modular wall panels which act as a barrier between the interior and the exterior of the stage. This barrier is weather resistant by use of weather stripping in between the panels and additionally serves to protect from unauthorized access to any contents stored inside the stage itself when in transportation mode. 
         [0010]    When the stage is set up, the top row of panels are removed and the bottom row of panels serve as handrails (e.g. fall deterrent) along the back edge of the stage. All of the panels are designed to be modular and interchangeable, though the bottom panels also include kick plates to protect the interior of the panels. 
         [0011]    The bottom panels are secured to the stage floor by at least two removable bolts (or other connection elements) going through the bottom edge of the panel. There are two identical holes (for either bolts or pins) on the top edge of each of these panels that allow them to be joined to a second row of panels. 
         [0012]    The top row of panels have identical bottom edge bolt holes as the bottom panels, however, they are designed with a “track block” at two points on the top edge that allow them to be slid into place within a corresponding “female” track that is part of the roof framing of the stage itself. 
         [0013]    The panels could feasibly be designed in such a way as to form a wall/barrier of any suitable size used to cover any open side of a stage, even though the most common use would be to use them along the back edge of a non-symmetric stage design as shown in the figures. Although the top row and bottom row panel designs differ, building a taller wall would simply require additional panels reflecting the bottom panel design. A wall of increased width would require additional top and bottom panels as necessary to construct the wall. 
         [0014]    The panels are made from metal square tubing (e.g. aluminum), but the design allows them to be made from virtually any metal as long as the cross section of the material itself is square or rectangular to facilitate horizontal or vertical stacking. 
         [0015]    When the stage is in set up and only the lower row of panels are in use, any individual panel can be removed and a staircase or corresponding stage accessory can be placed in the corresponding void. 
         [0016]    Typical accessories that could be designed to fit in this void would be stage deck extensions, staircases or an alternative handrail design. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a three dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first position including diagrammatic representation of a wireless mobile device element thereof. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a three dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a second position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a three dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a third position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a three dimensional isometric view thereof, featuring an alternative arrangement including a removable stair component. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a three dimensional isometric view thereof, featuring an alternative arrangement including a removable screen component. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a three dimensional isometric view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown from an interior perspective. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a three dimensional isometric view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown from an exterior perspective. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a three dimensional isometric view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown from an interior perspective and demonstrating how various components join together. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0026]    As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0027]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Additional examples include computing devices such as a mobile smart device including a display device for viewing a typical web browser or user interface will be commonly referred to throughout the following description. The type of device, computer, display, or user interface may vary when practicing an embodiment of the present invention. A computing device could be represented by a desktop personal computer, a laptop computer, “smart” mobile phones, PDAs, tablets, or other handheld computing devices. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
       II. Preferred Embodiment Mobile Stage System  2   
       [0028]    Referring to the figures in more detail,  FIG. 1  shows a mobile stage system  2  primarily including a trailer element  4  with wheels  6  for transporting the stage, and a plurality of lower  10  and upper  8  wall panels forming at least one wall of the stage assembly.  FIG. 1  demonstrates the stage in a first, transport position where the walls  12 , roof  14 , and stage cover  16  are collapsed and compact arrangement. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows the same arrangement as  FIG. 1  with the upper wall panels  8  being removed. These panels (as shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6-8 ) fit into tracks or guides (not shown) along the interior edge of the roof  14 . The upper panels  8  hang from or slide into these tracks, and if the stage roof  14  and walls  12  are raised using the risers  22 , the upper panels  8  will rise with the roof  14  and can be taken down from there. Alternatively, the panels could be removed at any time. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  shows the mobile stage system  2  transforming from the transport position to a second, deployed position. Here, the walls  12  and roof  14  are raised up on risers  22  which may be hydraulic arms or some other suitable device. Support legs  20  are deployed beneath the stage to provide additional support. The stage cover  16  and stage floor  18  unfold from the compact transport position and are separated by support towers  24 . Here it can clearly be seen that the lower wall panels  10  provide a base which functions as a hand rail and prevents persons from falling over the edge of the stage while still permitting a view out the rear of the stage if necessary. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows how a modular stairway assembly  26  including hand rails could be inserted along the base of the stage into a slot left behind when a lower wall panel  10  is removed. Other devices may be inserted in such gaps as well, including stage extension panels, alternative hand rail assemblies or other desired elements. As shown, the stairway assembly  26  provides back stage access for performers or technicians away from the front stage platform  18  which faces the audience. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a wind screen  28  which may be removably attached to the rear of the stage system  2  for providing a backdrop to the stage to prevent wind, rain, and other elements from entering the stage, to provide privacy to the back stage area, or to provide a screen upon which a projector or other device can project lights, images, videos, or other display elements. The screen  28  may be made of a solid material or a semi-permeable, mesh material or other suitable material. It can be attached to the stage walls  12  and roof  14  using screws, bolts, nails, hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other suitable non-permanent attachment. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows the interior face of an upper wall panel  8 . The panel is generally constructed from a square or rectangular frame  30  made from tube metal and a face plate  32  attached to the exterior face of the panel  8 . Bolt or pin holes  36  are located at the top and bottom edges of the frame  30  and receive bolts or pins for connecting the frame  30  to an adjacent upper  8  or lower  10  wall panel. Additional holes may be located on the sides of the frame for connecting to adjacent panels to the left and right. Other attachment elements could be used, including hooks, screws, hook-and-loop fasteners, straps, or other suitable devices. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  shows the exterior face of the upper wall panel  8  which would be identical to the exterior face of the lower wall panel  10 . As shown in both  FIGS. 6 and 7 , weather stripping  34  is placed onto the frame  30  and squeezes between the panels to prevent wind and other elements from penetrating the wall formed by the panel, keeping wind, rain, water, dirt, dust, and other elements from penetrating the wall formed by the panels. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows how the upper  8  and lower  10  wall panels may be joined together. In the example as shown, long pins  40  are inserted through the receiver holes  36  of each respective panel and are secured using cotter pins  42 . These could be replaced with bolts or any of the other options discussed previously. The interior face of the lower wall panel  10  differs slightly from the upper panels in that it includes a kick plate  38  for protecting the interior of the face plate  32  from being damaged by feet or equipment. 
         [0036]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the present invention could be deployed using manual power, or it could be set up to include automated features for automatically raising the roof  14  and wall  12  structures using the risers  22  and may also automatically deploy the stage floor  18  and covering  16 . This could be performed using a remotely controlled hydraulic system or electrical system including winches and hydraulic arms. A mobile computing device  44 , such as a computer, touch-screen computer, smart phone, or other computing can be used to control the deployment or compacting of the mobile stage system  2 . The mobile computing device  44  includes a processor  46 , data storage  48  for storing a software application  52  associated with controlling the stage, and a wireless antenna  50  or other communicating element for communicating with a controller  54  associated with the stage. This controller could be a simple processor or computer solely responsible for receiving commands from the mobile computing device  44  and then operating the various devices which raise or lower the stage. 
         [0037]    It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.