US2726866A - Knock-down platform construction - Google Patents

Description

D. H. NALLY 2,72%,866

Dec. 13, 1955 KNOCK-DOWN PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTOR wag H. NALLY ATTORNEYJ Dec. 13, 1955 D. H. NALLY KNOCK-DOWN PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1953 IN VENTOR ATTORNEYJ Dec. 13, 1955 D. H. NALLY KNOCK-DOWN PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheei 3 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTOR mm H ALW 041 g; 6; ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,726,866 KN GK-DQWN P AT ORM IRU O Duke He Nally, Am ri Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,548 4 Claims, (CL Z 2.-.

This invention relates to improvements in knock-down platform constructions adaptable for use as a sports ring oras an entertainment bandstand or speakers platform.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a knock-down construction primarily adaptable for use as a o in ri g e p s of whi h ar and arranged that with facility two, individuals can readily load, unload, set up and take down the construction in a short period of time.

It is well known in the entertainment art that boxing ring constructions are subjected to rugged treatment. Gen orally they are either permanent installments or of semi.- permanent character so that installation and removal is done w cu tv, nd then u ally w th d mag to floors and walls. Many men are necessary to install and remove such rings, which requires a lot of time and incidental expense, with the usual loss of lumber, damaged during the setting up and taking down of the parts. It is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a kn d n r c n uc ion hav ng an. improved base structure for the immediate support of the platform whi ca e as e w i ty lo to he flo r; the same having improved corner poles or uprights so associated with the platform supporting construction that the latter will be supported with stability, and in such manner that a floor can be readily assembled thereon with ease.

further O t f h s nv nti n s the provisi n of an @P comer Pole .Q p t and d con ru tion fo boxing u s f t e vbi qt f h s venti n is th provision of a m ove at v unnu ting a ons r ct n fo boxing rings.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed descr ption.

In the accompanying drawings, forming P s! Of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several vis I Fig. l is a perspective view showing the assembled boxing ring, with portions of the flooring removed to better observe the details of the ring structure.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fioor supporting structure which is of such nature as to facilitate its assemblage and disassemblage thereof with great convenience.

Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a vertical standard or post construction for the ring.

Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded View showing a construction by means of which the platform supporting rails are connected to the corner posts, etc.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which stringers of the platform are assembled to the base or platform supporting rails.

'Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the assembled standard or corner pole.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the stringer and base so constructed rail connection, the view being taken substantially on the line 7:77 of Fig. 2. t

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken in a horizontal plane through one of the corner posts and through the base rails connected therewith, the view being taken sub-. stantially at the location shown by line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the floor rail supports of the corner poles.

Fig. IQ is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 10710 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan-. tially on the line 11-:11 of Fig. 7, at the connection of a stringer with a platform supporting base rail.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may designate the improved knockdown ring. It may include standards or poles C for supporting an assemblage B and the flooring D. Reinforc ing understructure E is provided to stabilize the position of the standards C.

The standards or corner poles C are preferably sectional, and as shown in the drawings include a lower tubular portion having a base plate or footing 21 welded as at 22 thereto. It includes an intermediate section 23, which really forms part of the platform supporting structure B shown in Fig. 2. It is internally screw threaded at its lower end 24 for receiving the upper screw threaded end of the lower standard section 20. The Standard construction (3 furthermore includes an upper tubular section 25 screw threaded at its lower end 26 in the upper screw threaded socketed end of the intermediate section 23; a position limiting sleeve 27 being provided in a shrunk relation thereon to enable the accurate positioning of the section 25' with respect to the section 23. The section 25 is provided with guard rope hooks 28, preferably three in number for each section 25. For ornamental purposes a head piece or knob 29 is screw threaded at 30% in the top of the tubular section 25.

The entire corner pole construction is preferably of Steel or some like durable construction and for purposes of lightness the parts are made tubular. The intermediate section 23 of each corner pole structure is provided with an eye 30 in the form of a staple, welded at 31 to a side of the said section 23., as shown in Fig. 6, to receive a turnbuckle arrangement. This intermediate section 23 furthermore includes rail attaching and supporting extensions and ledges to be subsequently described.

Forming part of the structure B are four rail or sill constructions 35, 36, 37 and 38. In the main they are identically formed with the exception of certain sockets provided for stringers 39 and 40% which are attached to the rails 36 and 38.

Each of these rail constructions includes a wooden beam 42 of 2" x 8" cross section, twenty feet in length. The ends of this beam are encased in steel channels 40 and 41. The channels 40 and 41 at their inner ends are welded to an eight foot piece of 2" x 2" steel angle 44; the flanges of which are disposed on the outside and bottom of the beam 42. This angle gives the supporting strength necessary to prevent buckling'of the ring and breakage of the beam 42. By means of the angle the weight of the rails is lessened. The channels 40 and 41 at their adjacent ends are bolted as at 43 to the wooden beam 42 to secure the desired spacing.

The channels 40 and 41 are directly supported upon the standard intermediate sections 23 by means illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The intermediate section 23 is provided with supporting ledges 59 and 51, welded thereto and relatively extending in right angled relation} supporting webs 53 being provided upon the underside of the ledges 5t] and 51, welded or otherwise secured thereto and also welded to the tubular piece 23. The ledges cured in place.

and 51 are adapted to directly support the adjacent ends of two beams supported by each pole piece 23, in the relation designated in the exploded view of Fig. 4, and as shown assembledinFig. l0. 7 i 1 The pole pieces 23 are furthermore provided with rail attaching wings or extensions 55 and 56, welded thereto, and disposed laterally outwardly from the supporting ledges 50 and51, in position to lie immediately at the outer surfaces of the rail channels in abutment therewith. The pieces 55 and 56 are transversely apertured for receiving bolts 57 by means ofwhich to secure the rail channels and beams in secured relation to the intermediate section 23. The assemblyis shown in Figs. 8 and 10 Each corner pole or'standard has two side rails secured thereto in a resting relation thereon and in side attached relation thereto. Thus,-the rails cannot move vertically ofi the ledge or laterally therefrom either inwardly or outwardly. .It is to be noted that the bolts are attached to metal parts of the poles and the poles directly receive only metal parts of the rails resting thereon. All of this will prevent any inaccuracies resulting'by reason of the damaging of the wood portions of the rails incidental to use, since there is little opportunity of the Wooden beam portion 42 to be damaged.

In the assemblage of the floor supporting structure B, shown in Fig. 2, the rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 are individually assembled with their channels attached and socketed on the beam portions 42, and thereafter the ends of the rails are disposed on the ledges 50 and 51 of the pole pieces 23,; the latter being vertically rested upon a supporting floor (see Fig. 2), and the bolts 57 are then'se- It is to be noted that the intermediate sections 23 are short and this enables all of the work to be done close to a supporting floor upon which the assembling isbeing done. .It is obvious thatthis is a convenient and expeditious way of assembling the structure The stringers'39 and 40 are preferably of single piece wooden beam construction with the ends thereof releasably socketed 'upon the rails 36 and 38 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. These stringers parallel the rails 35 and 37.

The means for supporting the stringers upon the rail structures 36 and 38 is metal, consisting of angles 60 and 61 each of which includes the rail attaching leg portion 63 and the right angled extension flange 64. Spacer pieces 65 are employed for the bolting, at 67, of the legs 63 to the beam portion 42 in order to provide sockets 68 between the legs 63 and the beam 42; the flange portions 64 extending in right angle relation from the beam 42 and in. spaced relation. A stringer supporting foot 69 is preferably bolted as at 70 to the underside of the beam 42, as shown in Fig. 11'.

Each of the stringers at 1ts ends is provided withangle and 73, including leg portions 74 which are pieces 72 7 directly bolted as at 75 to the sides of the stringer, With leg portions 78 laterally'extending from opposite sides of the stringer just short of flush with the ends of the stringer and adapted for socketing in the recesses 68. When in position the beam rests upon'the foot or ledge 69, as shown in Fig. ll.

With this construction the stringers 39 and 40 may be quickly assembled or disassembled with respect to the rails 36 and 38. y a It is to be noted that short vertical'legs 100 are bolted at convenient distances, not only to the rails 35, 36, 37 and 38, but to the stringers 39 and 40; these legs preferably being preassembled. They aid in the support of the rails during assembly and extend downwardly for the same distance as the tubular portion 23 of the corner pole structure. Thus, the rails are supported during assemblage all at the same level upon the floor upon which the assembly is being accomplished.

.It will be noted, that guy rods or wires 80 and 81'are provided in connection with the structure B, having turnbuckles 82 at the ends thereof, with books 83 by means of whichto connect the same. to the eyes of the pole sections 23. Tightening of these turnbuckles will maintain the structure B in a very stable assemblage.

Inorder to complete the ring assemblage, the corner standard sections 20 are placed at the proper location, and the operators will then socket the sections 20 in the intermediate sections 23.

The reinforcing understructure B may include vertical supporting legs 90 which may be bolted detachably to the rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 and also the stringers 39 and in the manner and positions shown throughout the drawings. The supporting legs 90 for the'rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 may furthermore have bottom horizontal bracing 91 connected thereto at 92; the ends of the horizontal bracing 90 preferably being bolted to connecting wings or extensions 93 which are welded as at 94 to each standard base piece 20, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These pieces 93 are received at the outer sides of the braces 91 and bolted thereto as by bolts 95. a 1

The flooring D may assume a variety of forms. For

a 20 foot ring there are preferably provided planks 2" by 8" in cross section, and 20 feet long, cleated together in threes. They are then secured as by cleats or other I means to the rails and stringers in' any approved manner. So much of the assemblage as has been above described, the structure may serve as a speaker stand, bandstand,

entertainment platform, or for any other purpose; When constructed as a boxing ring, the standard upper sections 25 are screw threaded to the intermediate sections 23 and the guard ropes 97 are secured by the usual turn-. buckle arrangements 98 to the corner pole section hooks 28. a

From the foregoing description of the invention it is apparent that a knock-down ring construction has been provided, the parts of which are of such nature as not 7 to be unwieldy or heavy.- Two 'men can' completely assemble the entire structure without other assistance,

for a 20 foot ring, and the parts may be loaded or' unloaded with facility by the same two man team. The parts of the ring structure which receive strain and constant contact, as a result of assembly and disassembly, are metal surfaced for protection, and the pedestal feet 21 are sufliciently broad to enable the ring to stand upon a floor without being nailed, cleated or otherwise bolted thereto.

This is a distinct advantage, since thereby the ring structure will not harm hardwood floors and the like. Merely by way of example, no one piece of a ring constructed as above described weighs more than 135 pounds, although it is well known in the art that ring constructions ordinarily weigh in the neighborhood of 3000 pounds.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

. connected to said stringers for supporting the same in-.'

I claim:

1. In a knock-down boxing ring construction the combination of vertical corner posts each comprising a relatively detachably connected base, intermediate and'top portions, floor supporting rails having means; for detachab le connection with the intermediate post portions, said rails having short supporting leg portions thereon the' bottoms of which are positioned substantially flush with the bottom edges of the intermediate post portionsto which said rails are directly connected, stringers, ,means to detachably connect the stringers to opposed floor sup porting rails, tensioned guys connected, diagonally between diagonally opposed intermediate ,post portions, lower horizontal reinforcing rails havingmeans for detachable connection ofthe same to the ,base' portions of the posts, vertical supporting legs between said posts detachably connected to said floor rails and the lower reinforcing rails,-and vertical supporting legs detachably tel-mediate their ends.

2. In a knock-down boxing construction the combination of vertical supporting corner standards, and floor supporting beams connected between said corner standards each including steel channel pieces directly connected to the corner standards and extending towards each other with their inner ends in spaced relation, a wooden beam having its ends socketed in said channels and being connected to said channels and connecting said channels together, and an angle piece of metal welded at its ends to the inner ends of said channels to connect said channels together, said angle piece including one flange resting beneath said wooden beam and a flange at the outer side of said wooden beam.

3. A knock-down structure as defined in claim 2 wherein short supporting legs are connected to said beams at locations between the corner posts, the lower edges of which lie flushed with the lower supporting edges of the short post portions first mentioned.

4. In a knock-down boxing ring construction the combination of elongated vertical corner posts, each including an elongated lower portion, an elongated intermediate portion and an elongated upper portion, all of the same being in vertical alignment and detachably connected together, a boxing ring beam and flooring construction,

means to detachably connect said boxing ring beam and flooring construction to the intermediate post portions at a location between the upper and lower ends of said intermediate post portions, short legs connected to the beam construction at locations between the corner posts the lower edges of which lie flush with the lower edges of the intermediate corner post portions, and detachable longer legs connected to the beam construction at locations between the corner posts, the lower edges of said longer legs lying substantially flush with the lower supporting surfaces of the lower corner post portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 765,382 Fleming July 19, 1904 1,477,232 Aid Dec. 11, 1923 1,753,328 Barnes Apr. 8, 1930 2,119,327 Gunnarson May 31, 1938 2,200,159 Davis May 7, 1940 2,267,865 Hurley Dec. 30, 1941 2,462,429 Sachs Feb. 22, 1949

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