Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H3/00—Buildings or groups of buildings for public or similar purposes; Institutions, e.g. infirmaries or prisons
  • E04H3/10—Buildings or groups of buildings for public or similar purposes; Institutions, e.g. infirmaries or prisons for meetings, entertainments, or sports
  • E04H3/12—Tribunes, grandstands or terraces for spectators
  • E04H3/126—Foldable, retractable or tiltable tribunes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a grandstand of the foldable type, capable of being used for events of all kinds, sports, shows or the like.
• This equipment is subject to the conventional constraints of all rolling stock. It must comply with the standards established in terms of road gauge. But to be of real interest, this equipment must also offer a sufficient number of comfortable seats.
• this equipment must be able to be easily implemented, that is to say it does not require the intervention of several people, nor require complicated operations which, if neglected, would risk jeopardizing the safety of spectators.
• the present invention provides a tiered platform which meets all these constraints and which, by a simplified implementation and, by reducing the number of tasks performed by the operator, ultimately offers greater security for users.
• the platform according to the invention comprises three groups of steps arranged longitudinally on a chassis, that is to say parallel to the direction of travel of the trailer: - a central group articulated at its rear part, directly on said chassis , around a longitudinal axis which is located near the median vertical plane of the latter and at a height relative to the ground which is close to the width of said central group; a front group articulated on the front end of said central group, around a longitudinal axis and the underside of which folds back onto the underside of said central group; - a rear group articulated on the rear end of the central group, around a longitudinal axis located behind and above the articulation axis of the latter, on the chassis, its top folding over the top of said group central, the latter acting as a hinge element for a Z-shaped folding, which chassis further comprises complementary support means associated
• the central group of steps in the normal seating position is carried, on the one hand, by its articulation axis and connection with the chassis and, on the other hand, by means of a support arranged on said chassis, located under said group, in its lower front part, that is to say its downstream part.
• the front group of steps, in the deployed position, that is to say in the normal sitting position is carried by its articulation axis and of connection with the front end of the central group and by feet located at its lower front end, which feet are preferably in the form of rollers to guide said front group on the ground during deployment or folding.
• the rear group of steps, in the normal seating position is carried by its articulation and connection axis at the rear end of the central group and by a system of pads integral with the chassis, arranged on the bank of the latter, which skates cooperate with ski-shaped structures arranged under the floor of said rear group.
• the articulation axis of the central group of steps is disposed substantially at the level of the central part of the chassis of the trailer, above the plane of the frame or floor which acts as a support for the steps, substantially halfway between this plane and the plane passing through the seat base.
• the articulation axis of the rear group is disposed behind the articulation axis of the central group on the chassis, substantially at the level of the plane passing through the seat cushion, which articulation axis of the rear group moves during deployment or folding, around said articulation axis which allows the pivoting of the central group relative to the chassis, by a radius which is slightly less than the half the distance separating said axis of articulation from the central group, from the edge of the chassis where said rear group is located.
• the operation of the groups of steps is preferably carried out by means of at least one jack of the hydraulic type, for example, supplied either by an electric hydraulic power station or by a hand pump; which cylinder is interposed between the chassis, articulated on the bank on the rear side of the steps and it is articulated at its other end on the lower rear part of the central group, making it pivot around its axis of articulation relative to the frame.
• the central group In the deployed position, the central group can be locked by appropriate means such as, for example, pins positioned between the articulation arms of said central group and the frame structure.
• the grandstand according to the invention can be used with simply bleachers, in the open. It can also include a roof and, in this case, the roof can help to balance the efforts necessary for the deployment or folding of the various constituent groups of the steps.
• the roof of the grandstand is carried by telescopic lateral poles, which roof is movable vertically by means of connecting rods interposed between the mobile poles and an articulation motor axis located at the connection of the rear group relative to to the group before bleachers.
• each connecting rod is located on a crank which is integral with the rear group of steps, which axis rotates around the rear articulation axis interposed between the central group and the rear group and is located substantially in alignment with this rear axis and the central axis, either in the extension of these two axes when the steps are in the deployed position, or between the two when said steps are in the folded position.
• the roof has a canopy at its front part, which canopy is articulated on the front edge of said roof. Its maneuver is carried out either by means of a cable-shaped tie rod interposed between the chassis and an arm perpendicular to the surface of said awning under the latter, in line with its articulation on the front edge of the roof, when said awning is in the normal open position, either by a gas spring and, in this case, a pair of shrouds keeps the awning in the open position.
• the grandstand may also include conventional security organs.
• the rear group of steps may include a railing arranged on the bank at the rear, which railing may extend to the roof level by means of a canvas or the like, for example.
• the grandstand may include, integral with the chassis, guardrails or guardrails which extend over its entire width, foldable or associated either with the rear group or with the front group as the case may be.
• Each rear side railing can also have a tab which allows an interlocking on the central part of the side railing.
• FIG. 2 shows schematically, side view, the platform during the folding or deployment operation
• FIG. 3 shows, still viewed from the side, the grandstand in the normal position folded for transport
• FIG. 5 shows the central group of steps seen from the side, dissociated from the chassis
• FIG. 6 shows the rear group of steps also seen from the side and dissociated from the chassis and the central group
• FIG. 7 shows, schematically, in perspective, the connecting members between the central group and the rear group of steps
• - Figure 8 shows, schematically, the railings or balustrades arranged laterally on each side of the steps;
• - Figure 9 shows a side view of the tiered grandstand according to the invention, in the normal deployed position, showing an alternative embodiment in certain details;
• - Figure 10a and 10b show the structure and movement of the constituent bodies at each lateral end of the central group, for the operation of the roof;
• FIG. 11 shows, in more detail, the shoe system for the support and guidance of the rear group
• FIG. 12 shows, schematically, seen from above, the step gallery with its three groups and the position of the different systems of articulation of the groups between them.
• Figure 1 shows, schematically, the step platform according to the invention in the normal deployed position, forming a seat with eight rows of seats.
• This platform is fitted on a trailer which comprises a general chassis 1 mounted on wheels 2.
• This chassis 1 comprises a pair of supports 3 and 4 on which the general frame or floor 5 of the stands rests.
• the floor 5 is in fact divided into three parts, each of said parts comprising a group of steps; and there is a central group 6 which has three rows of seats 7, a front group 9 which also has three rows of seats 7 and a rear group 10 which has only two rows of seats 7.
• the central group 6 is articulated and integral of the chassis 1 by means of a longitudinal axis 11. This axis 11 is located at the rear upper part of the central group 6 and substantially in the center of the chassis 1, above the level of the floor 5 of said central group 6, below the level seats or rather below the level of the general seating plan. It is located approximately halfway between these two levels.
• the central group 6 In the normal sitting position, the central group 6 is supported by its hinge pin 11 and rests at its lower downstream part on the support 3 secured to the chassis 1.
• the front group 9 is articulated and linked to the central group 6 by means of a longitudinal articulation axis 12 parallel to the axis 11.
• This articulation axis 12 is located at the front end of the floor of the central group 6 and at the rear end of the front group floor 9.
• the front group 9 includes support feet 13 which are preferably provided with rollers 14 in contact with the ground. These feet are adjustable as required by means not shown, of the screw jack type.
• the rear group 10 is articulated and connected to the central group 6 by means of a hinge pin 15 which is situated at its front part, as shown in the different figures, above the level of the floor 5.
• the axes 15 and 12 are located on either side of the central axis 11.
• the rear group 10 rests on the support 4 arranged on the bank; this support 4 is integral with the chassis 1 of the trailer.
• This support 4 is located approximately in the center under the rear group when it is in the deployed seat position as shown in FIG. 1.
• This support 4 comprises a structure in the form of pads, detailed below in conjunction with FIG. 11, which cooperate with ramps in the form of skis 16, arranged under the floor 5 of the rear group 10.
• the rear group 10 is supported, in the normal deployed seat position, by its axis 15 and by the support 4.
• FIG. 7 shows, diagrammatically, the steps of the central group 6 and of the rear group 10 showing in particular the articulation structures around the axis 11 for the central group 6 and around the axis 15 which is located between said group 6 and said rear group 10.
• arm-shaped articulation structures are distributed over the length of the trailer and are three or four in number, or more as required, that is to say according to the load provided on the stands.
• each articulation structure fitted on the central group 6 is in the form of a yoke 17 which is engaged on a post 19 secured to the frame 1, as shown in FIG. 4.
• the yoke 17 is extended by means of arms 20 towards the rear of the upper part of the central group 6. These arms 20 carry the axis 15 and form, with the lug 21 of the rear group 10, a kind of hinge allowing to articulate this rear group 10 on the central group 6.
• FIG. 4 which shows the chassis 1 forming the base of the tribune, there is the support 3 on which the central group 6 rests as well as the skid system 4 on which the underside of the rear group 10 slides.
• the support 3 and the skate system 4 are located on either side of the posts 19 which carry the central group 6 by the axis 11.
• Figure 5 shows the central group 6 alone. On the floor portion 5, there are three rows of seats 7. At the lower front end of the floor 5 there is the axis 12 on which the front group 9 is articulated.
• FIG. 6 shows the rear group 10 alone. Found in the front part of the floor 5, the legs 21 which extend vertically to the axis 15. Under the floor 5 there is also the ski-shaped support structure 16 which cooperates with the skate system 4 arranged on the shore on the chassis 1.
• the rear group 10 comprises two rows of seats 7 and its rear end may include, as shown in FIG. 6, a railing 22 which extends vertically when the group is in the normal position of seated. This rear railing 22 can be supplemented laterally by lateral returns or railings 23 which are fixed and tilt at the same time as the rear group.
• a tab 24 disposed on the lateral railing can allow the latter to be hung on the railings or fixed lateral railings of the central part, detailed below.
• the operation of unfolding or folding the steps is carried out by means of at least one actuator 25 as shown in FIG. 1.
• This actuator 25 is articulated on the chassis 1, on the bank, that is to say on the side of the trailer, under the support 4, around an axis 26 and the end of its rod is articulated around an axis 27, on the rear end of the central group 6, at its lower part.
• the cylinder 25 is preferably a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. It is operated by the operation either from a hand pump or from a motor pump group not shown. Note, in Figure 2, the action of the cylinder 25 on the central group 6 and the front and rear groups.
• the central group 6 pivots around the axis 11 and, in its movement, this central group 6 drives on the one hand, the front group 9 via the articulation axis 12 and, on the other hand, rear group 10 by via the hinge pin 15 which is located at the end of the arm 20 secured to said central group 6.
• the different groups fold up, forming a Z-structure; the underside of the front group 9 folds over the bottom of the central group 6, and the top of the rear group 10, that is to say the part with the seats 7, folds over the top of said central group 6.
• the front group 9 is also guided, at its front end, by the rollers 14 which are in contact with the ground.
• the rear group 10 is guided by means of its skis 16 and slides on the skate system 4 which is integral with the chassis 1.
• the front 9 and rear 10 groups are housed in the bulk of the trailer, that is to say in a normal bulk of the road.
• the folding of the floor 5 is in the form of a kind of Z, seen from the side, that is to say seen at the end of the trailer.
• the axis 12 which provides the connection between the central group 6 and the front group 9 moves on a arc 29 centered on axis 11, from bottom to top.
• the articulation axis 15 located between the central group 6 and the rear group 10 moves on an arc 30 also centered on the axis 11 and from top to bottom.
• the mechanism uses the weight of the cover, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.
• the grandstand may include a cover made up of a central roof 31 which can be extended by means of a canopy 32 articulated longitudinally on the bank at the front part of said roof, around an axis 33.
• the central roof 31 is carried by telescopic side posts 34. These posts 34 are movable, guided in drums 35 integral with the chassis 1 of the trailer. These posts are arranged on either side of the steps, that is to say at the front and at the rear of the trailer.
• the posts 34 are each connected by means of a connecting rod 36, to the hinge pin 15 which provides the connection between the groups 6 and 10.
• Each connecting rod 36 is for example articulated at one of its ends on the axis 15 and, at its upper end, on an axis 37 secured to the post 34.
• each connecting rod 36 follows the movement of the axis 15 up or down as appropriate and causes, in its movement, the corresponding post 34 via its axis 37.
• the awning 32 comprises at least one arm 39 which extends, as shown in FIG. 1, at right angles, under the hinge axis 33.
• This arm 39 has at its end 40, hooking means with a tie rod or cable 41, the other end of which, located at the level of the chassis 1 of the trailer, is fixed to said chassis in an appropriate manner, not shown in the figures.
• the roof 31 descends as well as the canopy 32, which has the effect, thanks to the tie rod, of allowing said canopy 32 to tilt about its axis d 'articulation 33.
• the awning 32 closes on the front group 9 as and when the integration of this group in the size of the trailer, as shown in Figure 3.
• the grandstand may comprise between the railing 22 and the roof 31, a protective fabric 42 as shown diagrammatically in thin dashed lines in FIG. 1.
• This fabric 42 does not harm the movement of the rear group 10 during the folding or deployment maneuvers.
• balustrades At the lateral ends of the grandstand, railings or balustrades can be installed. These balustrades and in particular the fixed central balustrade 43 may be integral with the barrel 35 in which slides the post 34 which supports the roof 31. This fixed balustrade 43 acts as an end wall for the trailer.
• FIG. 9 shows, in a more detailed manner, with additions and variants, all the elements represented in the form of a functional diagram, FIG. 1.
• chassis 1 of the trailer which chassis includes the supports 3 of the central group 6 and the supports 4 of the rear group 10.
• ramps 51 which extend, by example, as an extension of the supports 3.
• These ramps 51 are located opposite the rollers 14 which are positioned at the front end of said group.
• the awning 32 is operated, according to a variant, FIG. 9, by means of jacks 52, of the gas type for example.
• the stability of the canopy 32, in the open position, is ensured by means of a pair of shrouds 53 interposed between the frame and said canopy 32, as shown in FIG. 9.
• the operation of the roof 31 is carried out as described in connection with FIG. 1 by means of the connecting rods 36, arranged at each of the ends of the trailer.
• the connecting rod 36 is articulated at a greater distance from the central axis 11 than in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
• This connecting rod 36 is articulated on an axis 56 which is situated at the end of an extension of the lugs 21 of the rear group 10.
• This extension 57 extends from the axis 15, which axis 15 is the longitudinal axis of articulation of the rear group 10 relative to the central group 6.
• FIG. 10a shows, in solid lines, the position of the different axes 11, 15 and 56 when the groups 6 and 10 are deployed and FIG. 10b shows the position of these same axes when the same groups of steps are in the folded position.
• This arrangement simply consists of orifices 58 which make it possible to house a pin, not shown.
• Figure 11 shows the rear support of group 10 of steps.
• the ski 16 which includes a strip 59 parallel to the floor 5 and two parts 60 and 61 connected smoothly under the floor.
• the strip 59 slides on the pad itself 62, which pad consists of a block of material of the fatty polyethylene type, part of which is fitted into an ad hoc orifice fitted on the chassis 1.
• the ski 16 is guided by cheeks lateral 63, integral with the chassis, which are slightly projecting with respect to the shoe 62.
• FIG. 12 is a schematic top view of the steps, showing the different seats 7 which are shown in the form of circles.
• Each group of stands corresponds to a group of seats.
• the front group 9 comprises a group of seats 65 consisting of three rows.
• the central group 6 comprises a group of seats 66 also consisting of three rows, and the rear group 10 comprises a group 67 of seats consisting only of two rows, the last row of which may include a larger number of seats and extend over the entire length of the vehicle.
• the front group 9 is articulated, from place to place, around the axis 12, to the front part of the central group 6.
• the central group is articulated with respect to the chassis in several places, marked A, B and C in Figure 12.
• the joints A are joints of the type of those shown in FIGS. 10, that is to say joints which comprise the connecting rods 36 making it possible to maneuver the roof, which roof is guided in the sleeves 35, secured to the chassis of the vehicle.
• the articulations marked B correspond to articulations associated with the actuating cylinders 25.
• the articulations identified C located in the central part of the vehicle, are simple articulations for guiding the rear group relative to the central group.
• the front group 10 is guided by means of several articulations which are distributed over the length of the articulation axis 12.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
• Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

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Publications (2)

Family

ID=9529903

Family Applications (1)

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• 1998
  • 1998-08-24 FR FR9810745A patent/FR2782533A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 1999
  • 1999-08-20 DE DE69909103T patent/DE69909103T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-08-20 AU AU53768/99A patent/AU5376899A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-08-20 WO PCT/FR1999/002026 patent/WO2000011288A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-08-20 AT AT99939489T patent/ATE243801T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-08-20 EP EP99939489A patent/EP1108100B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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