Patent ID: 8814119

Claim:
A front-loading arbor apparatus for use in a counterweight rigging system of a stage comprising a plurality of counterweight bricks, the apparatus comprising: a) a support structure extending generally in a longitudinal direction between top and bottom ends, the support structure including a left side support, a back support, and a right side support, the left side, back and right side supports extending generally in the longitudinal direction between the top and bottom ends and defining an elongate carrying section therebetween, the carrying section accessible through a front opening defined by the left side and right side supports, the front opening sized and shaped to receive the plurality of counterweight bricks in stacked arrangement; and b) a plurality of shelf members coupled to the support structure, each of the plurality of shelf members extending generally in a lateral direction between the left side and right side supports and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction between the top and bottom ends to define a plurality of carrying subsections; wherein each of the carrying subsections is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the counterweight bricks in stacked arrangement and the respective shelf member supports the counterweight bricks received by the carrying subsection from below; wherein the support structure further comprises first and second body members that extend between the top and bottom ends, each of the body members comprising an elongate side portion, the body members arranged so that the side portions are in generally opposed relation and define the respective left and right side supports; wherein each of the body members further comprises an elongate back portion connected generally orthogonally to the respective side portion, the body members arranged so that the back portions are generally coplanar and define the back support, and the back portions of the body members are spaced apart to define an elongate gap therebetween; and wherein each of the shelf members comprises a main supporting portion, a rear flange portion that projects generally in the longitudinal direction towards the bottom end, and a front flange portion that projects generally in the longitudinal direction towards the top end.