IL25910A - Folding stage construction - Google Patents

Description

FOLDING STAGE CONSTRUCTION Richard 0. Bue M & M 12,689 FOLDING STAQB CONSTRUCTION This invention relates generally to portable or foldable stages, platforms, tables and the like, and more particularly, is in the nature of an iiaprovement on structures of the type disclosed in the ermlt H. Wilson United States Letters Patent No. 2,978,754.

In folding platforms or tables, it is often desirable to arrange one working surface equipped top element in such relationship to another, or to a wall, so that when the top element is unfolded to a generally horizontal operative position, a minimum space or gap is maintained between one of Its enda^ and the wall or an adjacent top element. In a portable stage or platform, it is important that the top working surface be smooth and substantially unbroken, so that performers thereon wi not trip when moving about, and shoe heels will not be caught in any opening which might be otherwise present.

In folding stages or like structures having a folding t comprising a pair of cooperating top sections normally in end-to end relationship and hinged for folding, the hinge or pivot connections of cooperating top sections are disposed below the level of the top surfaces of the seotions so as to be out of the way; hence, in order to prevent interference between the adjacent ends of the pivoted top sections when folding, sufficient clearance therebetween was provided, resulting in an appreciable gap betwee the top sections in their operative positions. Heretofore, the problem of closing the gap between the top sections In their ope ative positions was solved by providing a bridge element of a width to overli the adjacent ends of the top seotions, as disclo Ln the above-identified Wilson patent.

, An important object of this invention is the provision )f a folding stage, platform or table having a novel pivot arrang sent adjacent one end of a top element, b means of which the top element may be easily swung between a generally horizontally disposed operative position and a generally vertically disposed inoperative folded or storage position and wherein, in its operatj position, the top element substantially abuts a cooperating top ilement or a wall surface, with a minimum gap therebetween.

/ Another object of this invention is the povision of a folding stage as set forth, comprising a supporting structure, a ;op element operatively plvotally mounted on the supporting struc ture, and novel means for automatically shifting the axis of pivo il movement of the top element during pivotal movement thereof, /hereby to move the adjacent end of the top element toward and aw f from an adjacent wall or cooperating top element.

To the above ends, I provide a support structure in underlying relation to one end portion of a top element, and rigid primary and secondary links pivotally secured at one of their ends to the supporting structure and at their opposite ends to the top element below the top surface thereof and in such relationship that, during initial swinging movements of the top element away from horizontally disposed operative position and upwardly toward a generally vertical folded position* the secondar link shi ts the top element and the axis of swinging movement between the top element and said primary link in a direction toward the other end of the top element.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a folding stage or table as set forth, having means for releasJ ably locking the top element in its inoperative folded; poolfelon." Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding stage or the like which is relatively simpl and inexpensive to produce, which is highly efficient in operation and which is rugged in construction and durable in use.

The above, and still further highly Important objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters Indicate like parts throughout the several views: Fig. 1 is a view In side elevation of a folding or portable stage produced in accordance with this invention, some parts being broken awayj Fig. 2 Is a fragmentary view correspondin to a portion of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown Pig. 3 is a vie¾r in side elevation of the stage of Pig. 1 but showing the stage in a folded condition; Pig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the stage in a folded oondition; Pig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary iew partly in end elevation and partly in section, taken on the line 5-5 of Pig. 1; Pig. 6 is an enlarged view corresponding to a portio of Pig. 2, some parts being broken away and some parts being show in section; Pig. 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showin a modified arrangement; and Pig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse seotion taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Pig. 7.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrate in Pigs. 1-6, a foldable and portable stage is shown as involving a pair of cooperating flat top elements or sections 1 and 2 that are preferably rectangular and which may be made from any suitabl material, such as plywood, wood planks, particle board or the lik The top elements 1 and 2 are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to generally rectangular frames 3 and respectively, the frames 3 and k preferably being made from structural angle iron or the like, and each comprising laterally spaced side frame rails 5 at opposite longitudinal edge portions of the top elements 1 and 2, cross rails 6 and 7, and an intermediate longitudinal rail 8. The several rails 5 · 8 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured together to provide a rigid frame struoture, the cross rails 6 being disposed along the outer edge portions of their respective top elements 1 and 2, the cross rails 7 being disposed in spaced relation to the inner ends of their respective top elements 1 and 2.

■V The top elements 1 and 2 are supported at their adjacen inner end portions by a supporting structure indicated generally by the reference numeral 9. The supporting structure 9 comprises a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed legs 10 which normally underlie the inner end portion of the top element 1, and a like pair of vertically disposed legs 11 which normally underlie the inner end portion of the top element 2. Each leg 10 is rigidly connected to an opposite leg 11 by upper and lower cross member 12 and 13 respectively and connected to the legs 10 and 11 by welding or the like. The legs 10 and 11 are rigidly held in spaced apart relationship transversely of the stage by diagonally disposed brace members 14 bolted or riveted at their opposite ends to the legs 10 and 11, see particularly, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The outer ends of the top elements 1 and 2 are supported from the ground or floor by respective leg structures each comprising a pair of laterally spaced legs 15 and 16 respectively. The legs 15 are pi otally secured at their upper ends, as Indicated at 17, to brackets or the like 18 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to th end rail 6 at the outer end of the top section 1, n aligned horizontal axes extending transversely of the top element 1. In like manner, the legs 16 are pi otally secured, as indicated at 17, to brackets 18 secured to the end rail 6 of the top element 2, the legs 15 and 16 being movable betwee operative position generally normal to their respective top elements 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 1, and inoperative folded positions generally parallel to their respective top elements 1 and 2 as shown in Fig* 3. At their lower ends, the legs 15 and 16, as well as the legs 10 and 11, are provided with floor engaging cushions or feet 19. As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 6, the upper ends of the legs 10 and 11 engage the bottom surfaces of the top elements 1 and 2 respectively to aid in supporting their respective top As shown in Pigs. 1, 2 and 6, when the top elements ire disposed in their generally horizontal operative positions, the inner ends la and 2a thereof respectively, are disposed in substantially abutting relationship; and, with reference to Pig. £>* it will be noted that the cross members 12 between each leg 10 and its opposite leg 11 are arranged in laterally spaced pairs, >referably made from metallic bar stock. The supporting structure 9 further includes two pairs of rigid primary links 20 and two pairs of generally L-shaped secondary links 21, a pair of each thereof underlying the inner end portion of a different one of the top elements 1 and 2. At their upper ends, the primary and second ary links ar© plvotally secured to bifurcated brackets 22 by means of pivot bolts or the like 23 and 24 respectively, the brackets 22 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to respective ones of the cross rails 7 and extending toward the inner ends la and 2a of their respective top elements laand 2. The pivot bolts 23 and 24 are disposed on parallel horizontal axes which extend in directions parallel to the inner ends la and 2a_ of their respective top elements 1 and 2. The lower ends of the primary and secondary links 20 and 21 are plvotally connected to adjacent cross members 12 by means of respective pivot bolts 25 and 26 disposed on axes parallel to the axes of the pivot bolts 23 and 24. With reference to Pig.5» it will be seen that the secondary links 21 are disposed within their respective bifurcated brackets 22 and between adjacent ones of the crose members 12, the primary r links/ 0 being disposed laterally outwardly of adjacent ones of the brackets 22 and the adjacent pair of the cross members 12.

It will be further noted, particularly with reference to Pig. 6, that the axes of the several pivot bolts 23 and 24 are disposed in a common horizontal plane substantially below the level of the top surfaces of the top elements 1 and 2 when the top elements V links 20 and 21 being spaced apart a greater distance than that between the axes of cooperating pivot bolts 23 and 24.

The above-described mounting means for the top elements 1 and 2 permits the top element to be swung or pivotally moved between their generally horizontal operative positions shown in Pig. 1 and by full lines in Pigs. 2 and 6, and inoperative folded positions shown in Pigs. 3 and 4. During said swinging movement of either of the top elements 1 or 2, their respective primary and secondary links 20 and 21 swing in paths wherein the axes of their respective pivot bolts 23 and 24 travel in arcs shown by broken lines 27 and 28 respectively. Each top element 1 and 2 pivots on the axis of its respective pivot bolts 3* this axis being moved along the path of the arc 27 by the action df its . respective secondary link 21. During initial swinging movements of either top element 1 or 2 from its horizontal position, the axis of its pivot bolts 23 is moved almost directly away from the other top element or in a direction toward the outer end of its respective top element. During this initial movement, the top comer edge of the inner end la or 2a; moves directly away from the adjacent inner edge of the opposite top element and, as the top element is swung upwardly toward its inoperative folded position, the inner end la or 2a thereof travels in a generally S-shaped path, indicated by a broken line 29 in Pig. 6. Obviousl when the top elements 1 and 2 are swung downwardly from their folded positions to their operative positions, the inner ends la and 2a thereof re-trace the paths indicated by the broken lines 29. With this arrangement, it is possible to dispose the pivot axes of the top elements 1 and 2 below the level thereof, and yet have the inner ends la and 2a thereof in substantially abutting relationship or in full abutting relationship, if desired, without one of the ends la or 2a interferin with the other thereof during swinging movements of the top elements 1 and 2 between their operative and inoperative positions.

For the purpose of bracing the outer leg structures comprising the several legs 15 and 16, and for moving the same between their operative positions generally normal to their respective top elements 1 and 2, as shown in Pig. 1, and their inoperative folded positions shown in Figs. 3 and k, I provide pairs of rigid control arms 30 and 31. The control arms 30 are pivotally connected at their inner ends each to a different one of the legs 10, as indicated at 32, and at their outer ends to a respective dne of the legs 15# as indicated at 33* the pivot axes of the pivotal connections 32 and 33 being parallel to the pivotal connections of the various primary and secondary links 20 and 21 respectively. In like manner, the control arms 31 are pivotally connected at their inner ends each to a different one of the legs 11, as indicated at 3^# and at their outer ends each to an adjacent one of the legs 6, as indicated at 35.

Por the purpose of rendering the folding stage easily movable from place to place in its folded condition, X provide a pair of transverse members 36 and 37 each having a pair of vertically disposed tubular elements 38 at its opposite ends, the tubular elements 38 of the transverse member 36 slidably encompassing the legs 10 and the tubular elements 38 of the transverse member 37 slidably encompassing the legs 11, both of the transverse members 36 and 37 being disposed below the cross members 13 of the supporting structure 9. Each of the transverse members 36 and 37 is provided with a pair of spaced caster wheels or the like 39 Intermediate the tubular elements 38, see Figs, 1, 3 and 4. Each of the top elements 1 and 2 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced bifurcated brackets 40 and 41 that are of their respective top elements 1 and 2. A pair of rigid suppor links 42 are plvotally connected at their upper ends to the brack ets 40 and at their lower ends to spaced portions of the transverse member 36, as indicated at 3 and 44 respectively; and a like pair of support links 45 are plvotally secured at their uppe ends to the brackets 41 and at their lower ends to the transverse member 37 as indicated at 46 and 47 respectively, the axes of the pivotal connections 43, 44, 46 and 7 being parallel to the axes of the various pivotal connections of the primary and second ary links 20 and 21.

As each top element 1 or 2 is raised from its operative position of Pigs. 1 and 2 toward its folded inoperative position of Pig. 3» the brackets 40 and 4l swing downwardly about the axes of the primary link pivot connections 23 to impart downward movement to the support links 42 and 5 and their respective tran verse members 36 and 37 until the caster wheels 39 engage the floor or ground. Further upward swinging movements of the top sections or elements 1 and 2 imparts a lifting movement to the primary links 20 to raise the legs 10 and 11 out of engagement with the floor or ground, as shown in Pig. 3, whereby the folded table or stage may be easily moved to another location for furthe use or storage. Preferably, the top element 2 is provided at its outer end with a hook 48 that is plvotally secured to the cross rail 6 thereof, whereby the same may be hooked ove the adjacent outer ends of the top elements 1 and 2 in their folded positions to prevent accidental unfolding of the top elements 1 and 2.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Pigs. 7 and 8, a supporting structure is shown as comprising a pair of laterally spaced support brackets 49 and 50 that are adapted to be bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to a building wall or the like, indicated at 51. Each bracket and 50 is provided with V This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of folding stage, platform or table, and a modified form thereof,, it will be understood that the same is capable of further modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims .

Claims (1)

1. Appln.No. 25910 28.4.70 . β If A I M » A folding stage comprising! (a) a top including a pair of normally horizontally disposed flat top elements having substantially abutting inner ends and having a pair of reinforcing frames one each underlying a different one of said top elements and secured thereto, (b) a supporting structure including a pair of spaced inner leg structures each underlying a different one of said top elements adjacent their inner ends in the horizontal positions of said top elements and each having lover ground-engaging ends, and a generally horizontal cross member connecting said leg structure, (c) support means for the outer ends of said top elements, and (d) means mounting said top elements adjacent their inner ends on said supporting structure for independent swinging movement between their normal generally horizontal operative positions overlying said supporting structure and a generally vertical folded position, said means comprising t ($) a pair of primary straight links each pivotally secured to said cross member below the inner end portion of a different one of said top elements on an axis parallel to the inner ends of said top elements, (2) a pair of secondary angular links pi otally secured to said cross member on closely adjacent axes under the ends of the respective top elements and each in horizontally spaced parallel relation to the axis of the pivotal connection of an ad cent n f a ma Appln.No. 25910 28,4."70, . (3) and primary and secondary pivot means pivotally securing said primary and secondary links respectively each to the frame structure of a respective one of said top elements belov the top thereof and on axes parallel to the axes of the pivotal connection of said 'Stinks - said cross member and spaced closer than the spacing of their axes on the cross member, (4) said primary pivot means defining the axes of said swinging movement of their respective top elements, (5) Said primary and secondary links and the pivotal connections thereof to the top element frames and said cross member being so arranged that, during upward swinging movement of either top element away from said operative position thereof the respective secondary link imparts movement to its top element to move its cooperating primary pivot means initially in a direction toward the outer end of said top element, whereby the inner end of its respective top element at the top thereof moves away from the inner end of the other top element in an outward and downward generally S-shaped path. Tel-Aviv, 2nd June, 1966 AGENT FOR APPLICANTS