GB2475505A

GB2475505A - Wheels for a stage deck

Info

Publication number: GB2475505A
Application number: GB0920303A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel Julius George Booker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-19
Filing date: 2009-11-19
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Also published as: GB0920303D0

Abstract

A system for attaching wheels to an existing stage deck without the use of tools, or making any alterations to existing stage deck comprises at least one wheel bar. The wheel bar is hinged in the middle and can fold in half for removal and storage. The bar can be locked in an open flat position and has ends which in use engage framing parts of the stage deck. The ends may have pegs to engage holes forming in the deck framing. The overall height of the rolling stage deck is no more than is required to lift the deck of floor and allow it to roll.

Description

Easy-fit low-level wheel attachment for standard stage deck

Background

This invention relates to the problem of attaching wheels to standard stage decks.

Low level rolling stage decks are often required in the production and performance industry for moving equipment and set items on and off stage quickly (e.g. during a festival when a number of different bands with different equipment perform one after the other). Existing solutions either involve a custom made rolling stage deck (also known as a skate'), bolting wheels in position and thereby damaging the stage deck or using the existing leg attachments for the wheels which mean the finished height of the deck is more than is necessary.

Statement of Invention

The present invention allows wheels to be fitted quickly and easily to the stage deck without altering the deck in any way and without the use of nuts and bolts or other separate fixing device. The overall height of the rolling stage deck is minimal with the wheels hidden underneath the stage deck and thereby virtually invisible to the audience. The wheels can be simply and easily removed at any time.

Advantages Can be fitted by one person without any tools Low level of rolling stage deck means wheels are virtually invisible to audience Requires no alteration to stage deck in order to be fitted An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure la/b: Existing methods for adding wheels to a stage deck Figure 2a/b/c: Description of low level easy fit wheel attachment Figure 3a/b: Illustration of low level easy fit wheel attachment on stage deck Figure 4: Versions of system for alternate stage decks

Detailed Description

Existing methods for attaching wheels to stage decks without altering or damaging the deck in any way involve using wheels or castors which are fitted to a standard pole (usually 2" diameter scaffold pole). This pole (label 1, figure la) is then inserted into the leg socket of the deck and secured with a thumb screw or clamp (See figure la). This method results in a finished height of deck (label 1, figure Ib) which is higher than is necessary and the wheels can be seen by the audience rather than being hidden (see figure ib) This invention describes standard castors being fitted to a hinged support frame (see figure 2a). The support frame is hinged in the middle via a retaining bolt (1). The hinge is lockable via some mechanic for example a removable pin (2). The support frame might have spacers located on the upper side to aid strength when attaching to certain types of stage deck (3). The wheels or castors are permanently fixed to the support frame (4). The support frame can then be located into stage deck by first unlocking the hinge (see figure2b) for example by removing the locating pin (1). The support bar can then be positioned into the stage deck (figure 2c) and then secured by re-locking the hinge in the fully open position (for example via replacing the removable pin) (see figure 3a). The finished height (2) of the stage deck using the present invention therefore can be as low possible to allow the unit to roll and wheels cannot be seen by audience (see figure 3b).

Depending on the exact type of stage deck different versions of the invention can be produced. For example one common type of stage deck has holes (1) at set distances around the perimeter (see figure 4b). In this case the support frame can have pins (1) on either end which locate into the existing holes in stage deck (See figure 4a). If no holes exist in the stage deck (See figure 4d) the support frame might have rubber compression pads (see component 1 -figure 4c) on either end which allow the unit to be secured in place.