US2846221A - Collapsible stage structure - Google Patents

Description

Aug 5, 1958 c. E. 'SKINNER 2,346,221

COLLAPSIBLE STAGE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 10, 1954 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR CHARLES E. SKIN NER \I- Q, ATTORNEYS A 5, 1958 .c. E. SKINNER 2,84 ,221

COLLAPSIBLE STAGE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 10, 1954 FIG. 2. r Z4 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES E. SKINNER BY Q34, Mon/14 d/A-u-Q ATTORN EYS 5, 1958 c. E $KlNNER COLLAPSIBLE STAGE STRUCTURE I Filed Aug. 10, 1954 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

INVENTOR 60 CHARLES E. SKINNER ATTORNEYS 2,846,221 COLLAPMBLE STAGE STRUCTURE Charles E. Skinner, Stamford, Conn. Application August 10, 1954, Serial No. 448,800 Claims. (Cl. 272-21) The present invention relates to collapsible structures and more particularly to collapsible lightweight structures adapted to be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled and to fit together compactly with any associated equipment in disassembled form.

The present invention is described as embodied in a collapsible stage. Among the many advantages of the collapsible stage described are its extremely light weight, ease of assembly, and great strength and stability. It can be assembled in different widths or heights, and it is readily adapted for a wide variety of different stage arrangements, and when disassembled fits into a single carrying case with all of its accessories so as to be easily transportable.

The stage described is' particularly advantageous for use in connection with the filming of television movies or the presentation of television shows and for regular stage plays and for various types of sales presentations, and the like.

Prior to my invention there has been a serious need for a suitable stage for putting on the various types of shows mentioned above and others have made efforts form time to time to provide a suitable stage. However, in the past it has been necessary to use stages which re quire a large crew to set them up and customarily have included wooden studs and plywood panels, involving a large amount of carpentry work. It is not uncommon for such prior stages to require six or seven hours for assembly even with a large crew of skilled personnel. The upright members must all be braced or fastened to the floor. Moreover, the lumber and other equipment necessary toerect such prior stages is bulky and heavy, usually weighing in excess of half a ton and often considerably more.

Whereas, the stage described herein, together with all of its accessories and even including the shipping case, weighs only slightly more than four hundred pounds.

The stage described is very easy to assemble and dis assemble. With a brief set of directions, two men unfamiliar with the stage can usually erect it in one hour ready for use. After experience in erecting the stage once or twice, two men can put it up ready for use in considerably less time. The various parts of the stage slide together and yet are readily and securely locked in place, thus combining ease of assembly and strength.

In addition to its ease of assembly and light weight, the stage is very strong, readily supporting all of the lighting equipment and scenery necessary for various pro ductions and exhibitions. The stage is adapted to carry any special or extra stage equipment or eifects which may be used from time to time with the stage.

Among the further advantages of the collapsible stage described herein is the ladder-type construction of the frame, which I have found provides strength, reduction in weight and rigidity. Also, this construction enables the stage to rest firmly on uneven floor areas without teetering. Advantageously, in the frame of the stage described the various ladder-type sections are welded 2,816,2 2 I Patented Aug. 5, 1958 the ends of the various sections having sleeves and sockets which slide together and are held by pins.

The various other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description considered in conjunction with. the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the assembled frame of the stage, with portions of the front valence indicated in phantom view;

Figure 2 is a side-elevation of the right side of the stage;

Figure 3 is a partial elevational view, on enlarged scale, of the back side of one end of the movable intermediate truss which extends across the full width of the stage area;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View, on further enlarged scale, taken along the axes of two joined tubular members, showing details of a typical sleeve and pin joint which enables rapid assembly or disassembly of the stage;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, on enlarged scale, illustrating the way the legs of the stage nest together for ease in shipping;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, on enlarged scale, showing all of the sections of the frame and associated equipment nested together in the shipping case, portions of the curtain material and other equipment which lie at the top are shown broken away for purposes of illustration; and

Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 show various details of con struction and the. arrangement of certain accessory equipment.

As shown in Figure 1 the stage includes four integral leg sections, generally indicated at it), and a left and a right side truss or header 12 and 14, respectively, extending from front to rear between the top ends of the respective leg sections 10. A front truss or header 16 extends across between the tops of the front legs in and is covered by a valence 18, illustrated partially in phan tom. A similar rear header 20 extends across the top of the rear of the stage between the tops of the rear legs 10. A movable intermediate truss or floating header 22 is supported by pairs of hooks and 2:3" from the two side headers 12 and 1d and can be moved forward or back depending upon the stage arrangement desired.

The main traveling curtain 27 (shown in phantom in Figure 2) is carried by a suitable track (not shown) supported along the rear of the front header 16. This main clurtain 27 is provided with draw ropes (not shown) at one side of the stage so that it can be drawn back from the middle to either side to open the stage to view.

Usually, the intermediate header 22 is arranged about /2; or of the way forward along the headers 12 and 14, for it carries a second traveling curtain 28 (shown in phantom in Figure 2) supported from a suitable track (not shown) along its rear face so that the second traveling curtain can also be drawn back from the middle to either side to open the full depthof the stage to view. A single tubular cross tie 30 (see Figure 1) may be run from the middle of the front header 16 to the middle of the rear header 20, being pinned to the tops of the three headers. The cross tie 30 may have a plurality of vertical holes along its length to enable the movable header to be pinned to it at any position desired. In many as semblies this cross tie 30 can be Omitted.

In order to brace the legs 10 a unitary tubular foot tie 32 is run between the foot of each of the side legs, and a collapsible foot tie 34, comprising three tubular sections 35, 36, and 37, is run across the floor at the back of the stage between the bottom ends of the rear legs 10. It is an advantage of the present stage that the 3 legs are not fastened to the floor. In fact, during assembly, the various sub-assemblies can be stood up independently of each other and will remain standing while the other parts are assembled and stood up alongside. The result is a large saving in assembly time and labor.

The various foot ties can be omitted, if desired, with no loss in rigidity of the legs 10. Moreover, these foot ties can be removed or replaced, at any time desirable during a show.

The four legs 10 are identical in construction, each leg is an integral unit having a 45 right triangular cross section and including a vertical member 38 forming the corner of the leg with two other parallel tubular members 4t spaced equal distances therefrom. Each of the vertical members 40 is joined to the corner member 38 by a number of tubular rungs 42 in a ladder-type construction. The lower rungs are evenly spaced along the length of each leg 10. The top two rungs are spaced apart a distance approximating the spacing between the corner member 38 and each of the members 40. Preferably the diameter of the bottom and the two top rungs 42 is the same as the diameters of the members 38 and 40 so that they can be used as sockets 43 for holding other sections of the assembled stage. The other rungs 42 may be somewhat smaller.

A single diagonal brace 44 extends between the bottom ends of members 40 to brace them when the stage is assembled, giving added strength to the legs 10 in supporting the stage. Also shown in Figure 5, by having this diagonal brace at one end the legs are enabled to be nested together, and when desired may be arranged with the diagonal braces of successive legs at alternate ends of the nested stack, thus providing further strength to the whole kit when the stage is disassembled and fitted into its carrying case ready for shipping.

The larger bottom rungs 42 in each leg serve as sockets to hold the adjacent ends of the foot ties 32 and 34 and the pairs of larger top rungs 42 form sockets adapted to hold the adjacent ends of the side, front or rear headers. It is an advantage of this arrangement that the legs themselves form portions of the rectangular perimeter of the stage, thereby reducing the span between legs and providing greater strength. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the two side headers 12 and 14 are integral laddershaped trusses including two long members 46, which span between the sockets 42 in the adjacent legs with four rungs 48 of smaller diameter. The rungs at each end are spaced in and from the near ends of the numbers 46 by a distance approximately equal to the spacing between the members 46.

The front and rear headers 16 and 20 are of identical ladder-type construction. Each includes two longer sections 50, and a shorter section 52, which in the stage described here has a length of about three-quarters the length of one of the sections 56. Each of these sections 50 and 52 comprise two long tubular members '53 and four evenly spaced rungs 54 therebetween. The spacing between the tubular members 53 is the same as the corresponding spacing between the corner member 38 and a side member 40 in any of the legs 10.

The rung 54 at the end of the short section 52 adjacent the right leg is spaced from the near ends of members 53 by a distance equal to the spacing between the members 53, while at the opposite end of this section .52 the rung 54 is spaced in from the near end about one-half this distance. The same general pattern is followed in the left section 50, but in the center section 50, theend rungs 56 are both spaced from their respective ends of this section a distance of about one-half the spacing of the two long members therein. The general pattern of the spacing of these rungs is to have the end rungs spaced in from the respective near ends of their sections a distance of one-half the spacing between the long members wherever the ends of two sections are adapted to abut in the assembled stage. Otherwise, the inward spacing A I of the end rungs is equal to the spacing between the lOng members of the section.

The movable intermediate header 22 spans across the full width of the stage, and thus is somewhat longer than either header 16 or 20. The movable header 22 includes two identical center sections having the same length as one of the sections 52 and two slightly shorter end sections 56.

In order to enable rapid assembly and disassembly of the stage, all of the joints 57 (see also Figure 4), including one in the cross tie 30, are telescoping joints. The cross tie 30 comprises a longer tubular member corresponding approximately to the length of one of the side headers 12 or 14 with a telescoping joint and a shorter member about twice the length of one of the rungs 42, so as to span the full distance from the front to rear headers 16 to 20, respectively. These joints are formed by an inner sleeve 58 secured within one tubular member with a projecting end of a size to fit snuggly within the bore of the abutting tubular member. As shown in Figure 4, the preferred arrangement is to have an inner sleeve 58 with one half of its length secured by opposed welds 60 within one of the tubular members, for example such as the members The free end of sleeve 58 is drilled to receive a locking pin 62 which slides through aligned holes in the end of the abutting member 53.

In assembling the stage the front header 16 is first assembled from its sections 50 and 52 and is then fastened to the two front legs to form the arch unit which defines the front of the stage. This initial assembly is all made fiat on the ground. The arch unit is then stood up in position and is self-supporting so as to stand by itself.

Next, the rear header 20 is assembled and fastened to the rear legs 10, all while lying flat, and the two side headers 12 and 14, are also assembled in a vertical position to the rear legs 10. This unit is then stood up, and while one man holds it in position, the other fastens the free ends of the side headers 12 and 14 to the sockets 43 at the top ends of the front legs 10 which are standing. The foot tie bars 32 and 34 are then assembled in place.

The movable header 22 is assembled and is raised up and hooked into any desired position along the side headers 12 and 14. If desired, the cross tie 30 is added to complete assembly of the frame.

In order conveniently to increase the height of the stage, extension leg sections 64, shown in phantom view in Figure 2 may be added to the bottom ends of the legs 10. In adding the extension leg sections 64, the foot " tie tubes 32 and 34 are first removed, and three inner sleeves (not shown) at the upper ends of the vertical members of the extension leg sections 64 are slid up into the bottom ends of the vertical members 38 and 40 in the legs 10. Holes are provided up through the bottom rungs 42 in alignment with the bores of members 38 and 40 to admit these sleeves. The foot tie tubes 32 and 34 are then reconnected in place between the bottom ends of the extension leg sections 64.

The front and intermediate curtains 28 are carried by runners on suitable tracks (not shown) on the front and intermediate headers 16 and 22 with pull cords so that they can be drawn back from the middle toward either side of the stage. These tracks are in sections and are quickly and easily hooked in place by means of brackets which slip down into holes 67 (see also Figure 7) in T- shaped sockets spaced along the rear faces of the tubular members 53 in the headers 16 and 22.

As shown in Figure 8 the floodlights 68 with universal joints 70 are conveniently removably held by clamps, such as the pipe clamp 72 to the top horizontal members of any one of the headers. These are hidden from the audiences view by the projecting upper edge of the valence 18. The clamp illustrated includes a perforated strap 74 with a worm screw engaging the perforations to tighten the floodlights in place.

53 in the front header 16f provide the sockets for Among the further advantages of the stage described is the fact that the header 22 is moved forward or rearwardly simply by unhooking the h-shaped hooks 24 and 26 and hooking it in a new position. To enable easy adjustment of this header 22 the side panels of the stage area are each formed by three similar curtain panels 75 each having a considerable fullness when hung from the side headers 12 or 14 to give the appearance of a continuous panel. When the header 22 is forward of the center of the stage area, the hooks 24 and 26 are hung in the slit 73 between the front and center panels 75 on each side' When in position behind the center of the stage the rear slit 73 is used. The slits 73 provide a space at each side of the stage for receiving the curtains and give access to the pull cords.

The valence 18 is hung from the type of hooks 76 shown in Figure 9, and the other side and rear curtain panels are hung from the type of hook 77 shown in Figare 10. The top loop 78 of the hook 76 holds the upper edge of the valence. The bottom ends of both hooks are bent over at right angles to the plane of the hook portion and thus provide a Wide area of support along the top 82 of the curtain panels 75.

Another advantageous feature of the stage described is the fact that it packs into a carrying kit 84 along with all of its accessory equipment. When the various laddertype sections are packed in place in the box 84, substantially all of the rungs can be aligned with each other to provide spaces into which fit the floodlights, folded curtain panels and the various other accessories 86 such as electrical extension cords, curtain tracks, draw ropes, assembly instruction booklet, and the wooden mallet and pins, for assembly. The curtain 78 and panel material 75 are folded and laid on top of the frame sections, but

are shown mostly broken away in Figure 6 to reveal the packing arrangement.

In a commercial form the stage as described, can be assembled into various sizes. The legs 10 are 8 feet 9 inches long with the overall width of the leg across each side measuring lfoot. The side headers 12 and 14 are 8 feet long and 1 foot wide, thus providing a stage area 10 feet deep. The two longer sections 50 of the front and rear headers 16 and 20 are each 8 feet long and the short section 52 is 6 feet long giving a stage width of 24 feet.

By omitting sections 52 in headers 16, 22 and 20 and the section 37 in the foot tie brace, the stage becomes 18 feet wide.

When desired, an extra 6 or 8 foot section 52 or 50, respectively, is added in each of the front, movable, and rear headers and an extra section 36 or 37 is added in the rear tie bar 34 to give a stage width of 30 or 32 feet respectively. Also, an additional 6 foot or 8 foot section can be added in the side headers 12 and 14 and added to the foot tie bars 32 to 18 feet.

In a commercial form, all of the long tubular members are 1% inches outside diameter aluminum alloy tubing, which is available commercially as Alcoa 63S-T6. Most of the various rungs are 1 inch outside diameter tubing of the same material, except that the bottom rung and two top rungs in each leg are the larger size to assembly.

The sleeves 58 are about 1 foot long and are inch pipe size, i. e., with an outside diameter of 1.050 inches which fits snuggly into the larger tubes.

All of the equipment described herein fits into the carrying case 84 which is 9 feet long, 20% inches high and 29% inches wide and with a gross weight of only about pounds, which is readily carried by plane or automobile.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the present invention is well adapted to provide the advantages discussed above and that the particular collapsible stage described is for the purpose of illustrating provide a stage depth of 16 or a specific embodiment of the invention. The stage described can be used advantageously in a wide variety of applications and may be subject to various modifications, each as may best suit it to a particular application.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible stage comprising four leg sections adapted to stand at the four corners of a rectangular area, each leg section comprising first, second, and third long parallel members adapted to stand vertically and arranged at the corners of a right-triangular configuration as seen in cross sectio the first of said members in each leg section being adapted to stand at a corner of the rectangular area with the second and third members in each leg section being spaced from said first member and adapted to stand along the sides of said rectangular area near said corner, a plurality of spaced cross pieces in each leg section intermediate said first member and the other two, with the spaces between said cross pieces being unobstructed the ends of the uppermost cross pieces and next uppermost cross pieces in each leg section having open bores facing horizontally away from said first member forming horizontal sockets, four long trusses having pairs of vertically spaced rigid projecting elements on their ends fitting in said sockets to support said trusses between the upper ends of the leg sections with said leg sections defining portions of the rectangular perimeter of the stage and with said trusses spanned therebetween.

2. A collapsible stage comprising four leg sections adapted to stand at the four corners of a rectangular area, each leg section comprising first, second, and third long parallel members adapted to stand vertically and arranged at the corners of a right-triangular configuration as seen in cross section, the first of said members in each leg section standing at a corner of the rectangular area with the second and third members in each leg section being spaced from said first member and standing along the sides of said rectangular area near said corner, a plurality of spaced cross pieces in each leg section intermediate said first member and the other two, the ends of the two pairs of upper cross pieces in each leg section having open bores facing horizontally away from said first member forming two pairs of vertically spaced upper sockets, a pair of said cross pieces in each leg section being located at the bottom end of the leg section, each of said pairs of cross pieces having open bores facing horizontally away from said first member and forming horizontal bottom sockets adjacent to the ground level, three tie bars lying along three sides of said rectangular area adjacent to the ground level, four trusses extending horizontally between the top ends of said leg sections, said trusses each having first and second vertically spaced rigid projecting elements on their ends fitting into said upper sockets to support said trusses spanned between the upper ends of respective second and third vertical members of respective ones of said leg sections and vertically aligned with the sides of said rectangular area, and third rigid projecting elements on the ends of said tie bars fitting into said bottom sockets to tie the bottom ends of said leg sections together along three sides of said rectangular area.

3. A collapsible stage comprising four leg sections adapted to stand at the four corners of a rectangular area, section comprising first, second, and third long parallel members standing vertically and arranged at the vertices of a right-triangle as seen from an end of said section, with said first member at the right-angle vertex of said triangle, a plurality of parallel spaced cross pieces extending perpendicularly from said first member to said second and third members, a first pair of said cross pieces being tubes positioned at the bottom-ends of said members and having open bores facing horizontally away from said first member to form lower sockets, a diagonal brace between said second and third members at one end, a second pair of said cross pieces being tubes posi tioned at the top ends of said members and having open bores facing horizontally away from said first member to form top sockets, and a third pair of said cross pieces being adjacent tubes equidistant from respective tubes of said second pair and extending between said first member and said second and third members, respectively, and having open bores extending horizontally away from said first member to form intermediate sockets, said intermediate sockets being spaced from said top sockets a distance approximately equal to the spacing between said first and second members, a plurality of horizontal trusses each including a pair of rigid elements projecting from each end and fitting into a top and an intermediate socket to support said trusses intermediate the upper ends of said leg sections, and a plurality of tie bars having ends fitting into the lower sockets to hold the bottom ends of said leg sections in spaced relationship.

4. A collapsible structure as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said first, second, and third members in each leg are tubular and said first pair of cross pieces at the bottom end of each leg have holes therein aligned with the bores of said tubular members.

5. Apparatus enabling easy assembly and disassembly of a stage of rectangular area and easy transportation of the disassembled stage and all of its accessory equipment comprising a box, four leg sections, each leg section having a right-triangular configuration as seen in cross section and including a first long member adapted to stand vertically at a corner of the rectangular area and a pair of second long members parallel thereto and adapted to stand at positions along the sides of the rectangular area, said sections having a ladder type construction and including a plurality of rungs extending transversely between spaced points on respective ones of said long members, the right triangular area within each leg section being unobstructed over substantially the full length of the leg section at least four truss sections adapted to extend between the upper ends of said leg sections in the assembled stage and each having a ladder-type construction and including a plurality of long members adapted to extend horizontally in the assembled stage and a. plurality of rungs extending transversely between spaced points on respective ones of said last-said long members, detachable fastening means adapted to secure said truss sections between the upper ends of said leg sections in the assembled stage, a. plurality of curtain panels, detachable hanging means adapted to hang said curtain panels from said truss sections in the assembled stage, and accessory equipment, all of said sections being shorter than said box, the rungs in said various sections being spaced apart along their respective long members approximately the same distances from a first end of their respective sections, said box having a length slightly longer than the length of said leg sections and a width equal approximately to twice the distance between a first and second member in one of said leg sections, whereby said leg sections are enabled to nest together and whereby when said sections are fitted into said box with said first ends together the rungs on the various sections align with each other, leaving spaces therebetwcen adapted to receive said accessory equipment and portion of said curtain panels.

6. A collapsible structure comprising four leg sections standing at the four corners of a rectangular area, each leg section comprising first, second, and third long parallel members standing vertically and arranged in a righttriangular configuration as seen in cross section, the first of said members in each leg section standing at a corner of the rectangular area with the second and third members in each leg section being spaced from said first member and standing along the sides of said rectangular area near said corner, a plurality of spaced cross pieces in each leg section intermediate said first member and the second third members, a pair of side headers and a front and rear header, each having a ladder-type construction including a pair of long members extending horizontally, one over the other, and a plurality of spaced rungs extending vertically therebetween, detachable fastening means securing each of said headers between the upper ends of a respective pair of said legs, and a movable header bridged between said side headers, said movable header having a ladder type construction and including a pair of long members, one over the other, and a plurality of spaced rungs extending vertically therebetwecn, detachable and movable fastening means securing said movable header to said side headers.

7. A collapsible structure as claimed in claim 6 and wherein a plurality of curtain panels hang down from said side headers and the ends of said movable header aligned with the spaces between said curtain panels, and wherein a draw bacl; curtain is supported from said movable header.

8. A collapsible structure comprising a plurality of leg sections standing at the vertices of a polygonal area, each leg section comprising first, second, and third long parallel tubular members standing vertically and arranged at the vertices of a right-triangle as seen from an end of said section, with said first member at the right-angle vertex of said triangle, a plurality of parallel spaced tubular cross pieces extending perpendicularly from said first member respectively to said second and third members, a first pair of said cross pieces being positioned at the top ends of said members and having open bores facing horizontally away from said first member to form first sockets, and a second pair of said cross pieces being equidistant from respective cross pieces of said first pair and extending between said first member and said second and third members, respectively, and having open bores extending horizontally away from said first member to form second sockets, said second sockets being spaced from said first socltets a distance approximately equal to the spacing between said first and second members, a plurality of truss sections each including first and second long tubular elements with a plurality of spaced tubular rungs extending vertically thcrebetween, said first tubular element being aligned with and extending between the first sockets on respective pairs of said leg sections, said second tubular elements being aligned with and extending between the second sockets on respective ones of said leg sections, and a projection on the ends of each element of each truss section extending into the respective socket adjacent thereto.

9. A collapsible structure as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said tubular elements are formed in sections joined by telescoping joints, and said .tubular members and tubular elements are spaced equally far apart and are of about the same diameter, said socket-forming cross pieces'also having the same diameter, and said rungs having about a 25 smaller diameter.

10. A collapsible structure as claimed in claim 9 and wherein said tubular members and tubular elements are about 1% inches in diameter of aluminum alloy tubing and all of said cross pieces and rungs are of similar material welded thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 526,448 Karschner Sept. 25, 1894 534,434 Frost Feb. 19, 1895 669,621. Conderman Mar. 12, 1901 1,533,337 Purdy et al Apr. 14, 1925 1,634,127 Wagner June 28, 1927 2,316,560 Causey Apr. 13, 1943 2,369,340 Ditty et al. Feb. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 230,723 Switzerland Apr. 17, 1944 914,836 France July 1, 1946 610,726 Great Britain 1948 519,102 Belgium 1953

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