US2147564A

US2147564A - Foldable structure

Info

Publication number: US2147564A
Application number: US158621A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ella M Vance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-08-11
Filing date: 1937-08-11
Publication date: 1939-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. y F. c. VANCE FOLDABLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. ll, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIN.. Iiwi Qm @Wn wh@ v @mmv gym/umm Feb. 14, 1939. f F C, VANCE 2,147,564

FOLDABLE STRUG TURE Filed Aug. l1, 1937 I l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 sheets-sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1957 www@ Feb. 14, 1939. F. C, VANCEr 2,147,564

FOLDABLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. ll, 195'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 14, 1939. F. c. vANcE y y FOLDABLE STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. ll, 1937 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT CFFICE roLDABLE STRUCTURE Forrest C. Vance, Champaign, Ill.; Ella M.

Vance executrix of said Forrest G. Vance, de-

ceased Application August 11, 1937, Serial No. 158,621

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in foldable structures, more particularly, to a structure of such class designed for use as foldable grandstands in gymnasiums, public halls, at courts and playing fields, and of that type including a plurality of longitudinally extending seats, each capable of holding a number of persons, the seats when in use being disposed one below and in advance of the other and each being associated with a corresponding foot board or foot rest.

The invention hasY for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a foldable and extendible structure for the purpose referred to which may be expeditiously folded and extended at will and, when folded, will be arranged in a compact manner and occupy a relatively small area.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a foldable structure capable of being arranged at any desired point with respect to a playing field or court and out of the way of the athletes on the eld and court, and further capable of being extended to constitute' a grandstand formed with a step-like arrangement of seats, and still further of being expeditiously folded in a compact manner to occupy a relatively small area.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a structure for the purpose referred to including seats supported by uprights provided at their lower ends with rollers, and to further provide the structure with tracks upon which these rollers operate so as to prevent any twisting strain being applied to the seats when the structure is extended or folded.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a structure for the purpose referred to including a sectional base capable of being folded and extended and with the base including track sections for endwise aligning when the base is extended.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a structure for the purpose referred to including foot boards or foot rests which will be supported entirely from the base of the structure, when the latter is in its extended position.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a foldable and extendible structure for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly efficient in the use intended thereby, conveniently extended and folded when occasion requires, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to' set up with respect to structures now employed for the same purpose.

With the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown embodiments of the 10 invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the foldable structure extended,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure when folded,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view broken away in top plan, of the base or floor of the foldable structure upon an enlarged plan.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the base or Hoor of the foldable structure, 25

Figure 5 is a sectional detail illustrating the construction of the track elements employed,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal section illustrating the structure partly folded, v

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the foldable structure when extended,

Figure 8 is an end elevation of a modified form of foldable structure when folded and with the seat members and foot boards in transverse seotion, 35

Figure 9 is a frangmentary view in front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 7 extended,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the modified form of the foldable structure when extended, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal section of the modified form of the folding structure when the latter is partly extended. 45

With reference to Figures 1 to '7 both inclusive, the foldable and extendible structure which is termed a grandstand includes seat members and foot boards or rests of any desirable length and said members and boards will be of like length. 50 As illustrated the grandstand, indicated generally at I 2 is shown by way of example as including five seat members and four foot boards or rests. It is to be understood that the number of seat members and foot boards may be as de- 55 sired, but the nrunber of foot boards will be one less than the number of the seat members.

The grandstand I2 includes a set of spaced parallel vertically disposed stationary rear sup ports I3 of any suitable number provided with superposed means as at I4 for -detachably connecting them to and spaced forwardly from a wall or fence I5. As shown the means I4 is in the form of an angle-shaped bracket.

The grandstand I2 includes a set of spaced parallel vertically disposed slidable supports YI5 corresponding in number to that of the supports I3. The supports IS are of less height than, arranged forwardly of and align with the supports I3.

The grandstand I2 includes a set of spaced parallel vertically disposed slidable supports I'I corresponding in number to that of the supports I6. The supports I are of less height than, arranged forwardly of, and align with the supports I6.

The grandstand I2 includes a set of spaced parallel vertically disposed slidable supports I8 corresponding in number to that of the supports il. The supports I8 are of less height than, arranged forwardly of and align with the supports I'I. Each of the supports I3, I6, Il and i8 is in the form of a single upright or post.

The grandstand I2 includes a set of spaced parallel vertically disposed slidable supports i9 of inverted iJ-shape and which correspond in number to that of the supports I8. The supports I9 are of less height than, arranged forwardly of and align with the supports I8.

The supports I6, I'I and I8 have attached to their lower ends rollers 26, 2| and 22 respectively. The lower ends of the

sides

23, 24 of each support I9 are provided with

rollers

25, 26 respectively,

Arranged between a support I3 and a support I6 which aligns with said support I3 is an upstanding holder bar or intermediate vertical support 2l of less height than the said supports I3, I6. Extending forwardly from the said support I3 is a pair of superposed links 28, 29 pivotally connected at their rear ends, as at 3G, SI to the support I3 and at their forward en-ds to the bar 21 by pivots 32, 33 respectively. Extending rearwardly from the said support I6 in proximity to the upper end of the latter is a lever or arm 34 having its forward end terminal portion 35 curved upwardly and which is pivotally connected at its forward end as at 36 to the said support I6. The rear end of lever 34 is mounted on the pivot 32 for the link 28. Extending rearwardly from the said support I8 is a link 3l which has its rear end mounted on the pivot 33 for the link 2S. The forward end of link 3l' is pivotally connected to the said support I5 as at 38. Y

Arranged between a support I9 and support II which aligns with the said support I6 is an upstanding holder bar 39 of less height than the said supports I9, i? and of less height than the bar 2'I. Extending forwardly from the said support I6 is a pair of superposed links 4U, 4I pivotally connected at their rear ends as at 42, 43 respectively to the said support IE and at their forward ends to the bar 59 by the pivots 44, 45. Extending rearwardly from the said support I'l in proximity to the upper end of the latter is a lever 4G having its forward end terminal portion 41 curved upwardly and which is pivotally connected at its forward end as at 43 to the said support I'I. The rear end of lever 46 is mounted on the pivot 44 for the link 49. Extending rearwardly from said support IT is a link 49 which has its rear end mounted on the pivot 45 for the link 4I and has its forward end pivotally connected to said support I1 as at 50. Arranged between a support I'I and a support I8 which aligns with the said support I'I is an upstanding holder bar 5i of less height than supports I'I, I8 and of less height than the bar 39. Extending forwardly from the said support Il is a pair of superposed links 52, 53 pivotally connected at their rear ends as at 54, 55 respectively to the said support Il and at their forward ends to the bar 5I by the pivots 59, 5l respectively. Extending rearwardly from the said support I8 in proximity to the upper end of the latter is a lever 5S having its forward end terminal portion 59 curved upwardly and which is pivotally connected at its forward end as at 59 to the support I8. The rear end of lever 58 is mounted on the pivot 5G for the link 52. Extending rearwardly from the said support I8 is a link 6I which has its rear end mounted on the pivot 5'! for the link 53 and its forward end pivotally connected to the said support I8 as at 62.

Arranged between a support I8 and the side 24 of a support I9 which aligns with the said support I8 is an upstanding holder bar 63 of less height than the sai-d supports I8 and I9 and of less height than the bar 5I. Extending forwardly from the said support I8 is a pair of superposed links 64, B5 pivotally connected at their rear ends as at 66, Gl respectively to the said support I8 and at their forward ends to the bar 63 by the pivots 38, G9 respectively. Extending rearwardly from the side 24 in proximity to the upper end of the latter is a lever 'I9 having its forward end terminal portion 'II curved upwardly and which is pivotally connected at its forward end as at 'I2 to the side 24 of the said support I9. The rear end of lever 'i9 is mounted on the pivot 68 for the link 64. Extending rearwardly from the side 24 of the said support I9 is a link 'I3 which has its rear en-d mounted on the pivot 69 for the link 65 and its forward end pivotally connected to the side 24 of the said support I9, as at 14.

The link 28 and lever 34 are arranged above the link 49 and lever 46. The link 52 and lever 58 are arranged below the link 40 and lever 46 and the link 64 and lever 'H3 are arranged below the link 52 an-d lever 58. The links 29, 3'1 are arranged above the links 4I and 49. 'Ihe links 53, 6I are arranged below the links 4I and 49 and the links 65, 'I3 are arranged below the links 53, 6I.

The grandstand I2 includes seat members 15, lo, TI, 'I9 and i9. Said members when the grandstand is extended are positioned in a manner whereby member I6 is arranged below the member l5, member 'VI below member 16, member 'I8 below member 'I'I and member 'I9 below member 18. The lower face of member 'I5 is provided with spaced parallel depending brackets which are secured to the upper ends of the supports I3 whereby member 25 is anchored to the supports I3. Said member 'I5 extends forwardly with respect to the upper ends of the supports I3.

The lower face of member 'I6 is provided with spaced parallel depending brackets 8I which are secured to the upper ends of the supports I6 whereby member 'I5 is anchored to the support I6. Member 'l5 extends forwardly with respect to the upper ends of the supports I6. The lower face of member 'H is provided with spaced parallel depending brackets 82 which are secured to the upper ends of the supports I'I whereby member 11 is anchored to the supports I1. Said member 11 extends forwardly with respect to the upper ends of the supports |1. The lower face of member 18 is provided with spaced parallel depending brackets 83 which are secured to the upper ends of the supports I8 whereby member 18 is anchored to the supports I8. Said member 18 extendstforwardly with respect to the upper ends of the supports I8. The member 19 is secured to and on the tops 84 of the supports I9. The supports I9 are secured together by a plank or bar 85 arranged forwardly of and suitably anchored to the sides 23 of the said supports I9.

Secured upon and bodily carried with the levers 34 and extended on the links 28 when the structure is extended, is a foot board or rest 86 for the occupants. of the seat member 15. Secured upon and bodily carried with the levers 46 and extended on the links 40 when the structure is extended is a foot board or rest 81 for the occupants of the seat member 16. Secured upon and bodily. carried with the levers 58 and extended upon the links 52 when the structure is extended is a foot board or rest 81a for the occupants of the seat member 11, and secured upon and bodily carried with the lever 14 and extended upon the links 64, when the structure is extended, is a foot board or rest 81h for the occupants of the seat member 18. The foot rest for the occupants of the seat member 15 is provided by a base, platform or flooring 88 forming an element of the grandstand and which will hereinafter be termed a base.

The base 88 includes a rear section 89, an intermediate section and a forward section 9 I. The section 90 is of lesslength than the section 59 and the latter is of less length than the section 9|. The sections 90 and 9| are foldable relatively to the section 89. The section 89 is hinged to the section 90 as at 92 and the section 90 is hinged to the section 9| as at 93. When the grandstand is in a non-extended position, such as shown in Figure 2, the sections 90 and 9| will be arranged in the manner as shown in Figure 2. The supports I3 permanently rest on the section 39 of the base 88 and are ilxedly secured therewith in any suitable manner. The ground or support upon which the grandstand is positioned is indicated at 94.

A set of spaced parallel hinges 92 is employed for connecting the sections 89 and 90 together.

. A set of spaced parallel hinges 93 is employed for connecting sections 90 and 9| together.

The base 88 lengthwise thereof has secured upon its upper face a series of spaced parallel tracks 94(i lengthwise thereof. The number of tracks correspond in number to that of the supports of each set. Each track consists of a rear section 95, an intermediate section 96 and a forward section 91. When the base 98 is extended to the position shown in Figure 1 the sections of each track align. The

track sections

96 and 91 correspond in length to the base sections 90, 9| respectively. The track sections 95 are of less length than the base section 89. The rear ends of the track sections 91 are bevelled as at 98. The forward ends of the track sections 96 are bevelled as at 99 but the bevel extends in an opposite direction with respect to the bevel on the rear ends of the track sections 91. The rear ends of the track sections 96 are bevellecl as at |00. The forward ends of the track sections 95 are bevelled as at IOI but the bevel extends in an opposite direction with respect to the bevel on the rear ends of the track sections 96. The bevel ofthe track sections in the manner as stated provides for them to assume the position shown in Figure 2 when the grandstand is folded. Each of the track sections consists of a channel-shaped member |02 of the form shown in Figure 5. The rollers on the lower ends of the supports I6, I1, I8 and |9 travel in the tracks 94. When the grandstand is in a non-extended position, the rollers on the lower ends of the supports I6, I1, I8 and I9 are arranged in the sections 95 of the tracks 98 and in this connection attention is directed to Figure 2. When the grandstand is in a non-extended position, the foot rests 86, 81, 81a, 81b are disposed on one of their lengthwise edges and the levers 34, 46, 58 and 10 are vertically arranged, such as shown in Figure 2. When the grandstand is extended, the holder bars 21, 39, 5| and 53 seat in the tracks 94. When the grandstand is in a non-extended position, the links and levers are folded upwardly and carry the holder bars therewith, and further the base section 90 abuts the plank 85 and the base section 9| abuts the

seat members

15, 16, 11 and 18. Any suitable means may be employed for detachably connecting the base section 9| to the seat member 15.

With reference to Figures 8 to 11, the grandstand is generally indicated at |03 and by way of example, it is shown with four seat members and three `foot boards or rests, but it is to be understood that the number of seat members and foot boards may be increased. However, the number of the seat members will be greater by one than the number of the foot rests. The grandstand |03 will include a set of pairs of upstanding supports for each seat member. The number of pairs of upstanding supports of a set may be as desired and is shown by way of example as each set consisting of three pairs of supports. The supports of each pair of a set are of the same height and are arranged in parallel spaced relation. The space between the supports of a pair is of less width than that of the space between the pairs of supports of a set. As shown, the grandstand I 03 includes respectively a rear set of spaced pairs of supports and the supports of each pair of supports of said rear set are indicated .at |04, |65; forward and rear intermediate sets of spaced pairs of supports, the supports of each pair of supports of the rear intermediate set being indicated at |06, |01 and the supports of each pair of supports of the forward intermediate sets are indicated at |08, |09; and a front set of spaced pairs of supports and the supports of each pair of supports of the front set are indicated at I|0 and I| I. 'Ihe supports of a rear set are of greater height than the supports of the rear intermediate set. The supports of the forward intermediate set are of less height than the supports of the rear intermediate set, and the supports of the front set are of less height than the supports of the forward intermediate set. The supports of the rear set are stationary. The supports of the intermediate sets are movable towards and from the supports of the rear set. The supports of the front set are vertically movable and are shiftable towards and from the front intermediate set. The-supports of the rear and intermediate sets align. The supports of the front set align with the supports of the other set when the supports of the front set are in active and inactive positions. Secured respectvely with the upper ends of and extending forwardly from the supports of the rear set is a seat member I 2; with the upper ends and extending forwardly from the supports l forward ends to the bar |26.

of the rear intermediate set is a seat member H3; and with the upper ends of and extending forwardly from the supports of the forward intermediate set is a seat member H4. The supports of the front set are pivotally connected with a seat member 5.

The supports of each pair of supports' of the rear set are connected together by oppositely extending inclined clross braces H6 and |I1 and a transverse bar H8. The supports of each pair of supports of the rear intermediate set are connected together by oppositely extending inclined cross braces H9, |20. The supports of each pair of supports of the forward intermediate set are connected together by oppositely extending inclined cross braces I2 I, |22, and the supports of each pair of supports of the front set are connected together by a transverse brace |23.

The seat members H2, H3 and ||4 are pro vided on their lower faces with depending spaced parallel brackets |24 which are fixed to the upper portion of the supports of the said rear and intermediate sets. The seat member H has depending therefrom spaced blocks |25 which are anchored together at their fronts by a coupling bar |26, common to all of said blocks. Each block |25 is arranged over a pair of spaced parallel arms or levers |21, |28 anchored at their The upper ends of the supports H0, are pivotally connected as at |29 to the arms |21, |28 in proximity to their forward ends.

|11 for the occupants of the seat member H2.

Secured upon the levers |52, and extending upon the links |48 is a foot board or foot rest |18 for the occupants of the seat member H3. Secured upon the arms |21, |28 and projecting upon the extensions |69 is a foot board or foot rest |19 for the occupants of the seat member I4. The foot rest for the occupants of the seat member |I5 is provided by a base, platform or flooring forming an element of the grandstand and which will hereinafter be termed a base.

The base |80 includes a rear section I8I; an intermediate section |82 and a forward section |83. The base |80 is of the same form as the base 88 with the exception that the forward section is provided with a releasable latching structure |84 for coaction with the keeper |85 carried by the seat member H2 for the purpose of latching the forward section of the base to seat member H2 when the grandstand is in non-extended or folded position, such as shown in Figure 8. Secured 'Sil upon the upper face of the base are sectional tracks |86 corresponding in number' to the number of supports of a set. The tracks |86 are constructed in the same manner as the tracks |02 referred to in connection with the structure shown by Figures 1 and 2. When the grandstand |03 is extended the supports I I0, I I I are arranged forwardly of the tracks |86. 'I'he rollers |75 carried by the supports |06, |01, |08, |09 and |1| travel in the tracks |86. The lower ends of the supports |04, IE5 are provided with braced coupling pieces |81 which are anchored to the section |8| of the base |80.

When the grandstand |03 is folded, it will assume the position as shown in Figure 8. The sections of the base |30 are hinged together in the same manner as the sections of the base 88.

It will be seen that in either form of the grand stand, all of the forward seat members are folded compactly below the rearmost seat member. 'I'his makes it possible to nest the seat members in a relatively small space. Furthermore, it will be seen that the weight of the seat members is never lifted from the base, but at all times supported by the supports which carry them, moving rectilinearly upon the track sections and thus there is no danger of the seat members falling down due to broken springs or defective parts. When a grandstand is folded up all of the forward supports for the seat members are shifted rearwardly towards the rearmost supports for the seat members and which is due to the moving upwardly and rearwardly respectively of the intermediate and forward base sections. On the lowering of the forward and intermediate base sections, the seating structure is extended to the position shown in Figure 1 or 10.

The link and lever mechanisms between one set of supports and an adjacent set of supports are termed coupling structures which function as foot rests or foot board supports. These latter are foldable with the coupling structures.

Each grandstand includes a group of spaced parallel sets of upstanding supports, the sets of said group progressively increasing in height from the front to the rear of the group.

The base of the grandstand is so constructed that the forward and intermediate sections thereof are foldable relatively to each other and to the rear section of the base.

What I claim is:

In a foldable and extendible seating structure, a group of upstanding opposed bodily shiftable sets of spaced slidably mounted supports, an upstanding set of spaced stationary supports opposing the rear set of said group, a continuous seat forming member secured upon the upper ends of the supports of each set, sets of spaced levers having straight rear parts and upturned front parts, the front parts being pivotally connected at their forward ends to one side of the forward sets of supports below the seat members, sets of forwardly extending upper links having their rear ends pivotally connected to one side of the rear sets of supports below the seat members, sets of rearwardly extending forward lower links pivotally connected to said side of the forward sets of supports in proximity to the lower ends of the latter, sets of forwardly extending rear lower links having their rear ends pivotally connected to said side of the rear sets of supports in proximity to the lower ends of the latter, sets of upstanding bars aligning with the supports of said sets and pivotally connected respectively at one side of their upper ends to one side of the rear parts of said sets of levers and to one side of the upper sets of links and at said side thereof in proximity to their lower ends to one side of the sets of lower forward and lower rear links, and continuous foot rest members, `each having the major portion of its width fixedly secured on the rear parts of a set of levers, the remaining portion of its width of each foot rest member seating on the forward end terminal portions of an upper set of links when