WO2000075461A1

WO2000075461A1 - Dismountable covered stage area and method for the assembly thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2000075461A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/001502
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Rabuteau; François DESTORS
Original assignee: Profil Scene
Priority date: 1999-06-03
Filing date: 2000-05-31
Publication date: 2000-12-14
Also published as: FR2794486A1; AU5410800A; FR2794486B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dismountable covered stage area and method for the assembly thereof. The stage area is characterized in that it comprises a lower stage (1) which rests upon the ground and has a cylindrical or prismatic form with a vertical axis of symmetry, a load bearing structure (2) made of stanchions (13) which are placed at an equal distance from each other, joined to the lower stage (1) and spread out around the rear of the stage and the greater part of the periphery thereof, in addition to a sunshade-like covering (3) consisting of canvas (21) which is maintained by an unfolding frame consisting of radial spokes (19), whereby the free ends thereof are held in a position in which they rest on the upper ends of the stanchions (3).

Description

REMOVABLE COVERED STAGE SPACE AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

The present invention relates to a removable covered stage space and its mounting method.

Light shelters that are easily assembled and dismountable are already known, which comprise a support structure, consisting of uprights bearing on the ground at the periphery and, at the upper part of the support structure, a cover bearing, along its edge, on the upper ends of the uprights. We also know, as described in patent FR-A-2 588 032, a covered scenic space, open towards the front, comprising a frame supporting a floor constituting the scene and a protective cover situated above of the chassis. These rigid frame structures commonly used in the production of rectangular covered scenic spaces have, moreover, the disadvantages of being expensive, of being heavy and difficult to assemble, and, in the hypothesis of a generally circular scenic space , they offer limited visibility by the presence of bulky and unsightly poles on the stage. In addition, the lighter blankets using a canopy or tarpaulin, meanwhile have poor rigidity and a high sensitivity to wind does not provide sufficient security in the event of a storm or bad weather. In order to overcome these drawbacks, the present invention relates to a covered scenic space which can be quickly assembled and disassembled with mutually locking elements and whose cover can be put in place in a very simple manner, the scenic space once mounted presenting, in addition to its functional advantages, such as the absence of a pole on a stage whose configuration is generally circular, a marked aesthetic character.

For this purpose, this removable covered scenic space is characterized in that it comprises a lower stage bearing on the ground, of cylindrical or prismatic shape with vertical axis of symmetry, a supporting structure constituted equidistant uprights secured to the lower stage and distributed around the rear of the stage and most of its periphery, and a parasol-type cover made up of a canvas supported by a foldable frame made up of radial ribs, the free ends are held in abutment on the upper ends of the uprights.

The present invention also relates to a method of mounting a covered scenic space characterized in that first of all a lower stage is formed, bearing on the ground, of cylindrical or prismatic shape, having a vertical axis of symmetry, by providing, in the central part, an opening allowing access to a sleeve which can tilt around a horizontal axis, at its upper part, and provided with a removable stop in its lower part, it is mounted around the greater part of the periphery of the stage, a supporting structure made up of equidistant uprights integral with the stage, one engages, in the tilting sleeve, through the central opening of the stage, the extreme part of an auxiliary mast coupled to '' in a removable manner with a section of upper mast forming part of the frame of a cover of the parasol type with deployable radial ribs connected, by jambs, to a slide mounted movable su r the auxiliary mast and on the upper mast section, the auxiliary mast and the parasol type cover which it carries in the folded state are tilted in a vertical position, by pivoting around the horizontal axis of the sleeve; causes the movement of the movable slide upwards to pass it over the upper mast section and cause the opening of the ribs of the parasol, the ends of these ribs moving between the uprights until the parasol is fully deployed with the ends of the whales located substantially at the level of the upper ends of the uprights, the deployed parasol is rotated around the vertical axis so as to bring the ends of the whales just above the upper ends of the uprights, the pin is removed diametral of the slide so as to cause, under the effect of their own weight, a slight downward movement of the whales of the parasol which then rest on the upper ends of the uprights, the removable stop located in the lower part of the tilting sleeve is removed so as to cause a downward movement of the auxiliary mast causing its uncoupling from the upper mast section, the auxiliary mast thus released is tilted in an inclined position relative to the horizontal, it is extracted from the sleeve and closed the central opening of the stage by means of a plate.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a covered, fully assembled stage space according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the supporting structure at the start of the assembly phase of the scenic space shown in FIG. 1,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the supporting structure and the scene at the start of the phase of setting up the umbrella type cover in the still folded state, - Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to the assembly phase illustrated in FIG. 3,

- Figure 5 is a simplified perspective view illustrating the deployment phase of the umbrella type cover, - Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stage space practically assembled, after the deployment of the umbrella type cover and during of the attachment of the ends of its ribs on the upper ends of the uprights, - Figure 7 is a simplified elevational view, partially in vertical section, of the support structure, limited to two diametrically opposite uprights, and of the cover of the mounted scenic space, - 4 -

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical section view of the device allowing the mounting and the deployment of the umbrella type cover,

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a device for fixing one end of a whale to an upper end of an upright,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the fixing device shown in FIG. 9.

The stage space according to the present invention which is represented in FIG. 1 in the assembled state has, seen in plan (FIG. 4), the shape of a regular polygon comprising, for example, twelve sides in the embodiment shown, this number however not being limiting. It essentially consists of a scene 1 having the shape of a straight prism with a polygonal base and a vertical axis of symmetry, resting on the ground, of a lateral supporting structure 2 surrounding the rear part of the scene 1 c ' that is to say that which is opposed to the public attending a demonstration or representation given in the scenic space, and a cover 3 of the parasol type which is deployed and which rests on the upper part of the supporting structure 2.

Scene 1 comprises an upper horizontal floor made up of twelve identical or almost identical panels 4, substantially in the form of isosceles trapezoids, adjacent to one another and locked, for example, between them. These panels 4 are distributed regularly around the vertical axis of the stage and their internal edges delimit a central opening which, when the assembly of the stage space is finished, is covered with a polygonal or circular closing plate 5. The panels 4 of the stage 1 floor are supported by vertical and radial trusses 6 which each have a horizontal and radial upper bar 6a (FIG. 7) supporting the panels 4. The trusses 6 which are located on the front side of the stage (FIG. 2) have, at their outer ends, β bars which bear on the ground by means of screw jacks 6ç for allow height adjustment. At their internal ends the trusses 6 are hooked, by means of coupling elements of the male / female type 7

(Figure 8), on the outer surface of a section of central cylindrical tube or "heart" 8 with a vertical axis coinciding with the vertical axis of the scenic space. The cylindrical core 8 is supported on the ground by means of at least three screw jacks 9 for its setting in a vertical position. Inside the cylindrical core 8 coaxially extends a sleeve 11 which is articulated, at its upper part, on the core 8, around a horizontal and diametral axis 12, so as to be able to tilt during the positioning of the umbrella type cover as will be explained in detail later. The supporting structure 2 of the scenic space comprises, around the rear of the stage and most of its periphery, equidistant uprights 13 which support the cover 3 of the parasol type. For example, if the front part of scene 1, left free, corresponds to four trapezoidal plates 4, the support structure 2 comprises nine uprights associated respectively with the other eight trapezoidal plates 4 in the case of a polygonal scene 1 to twelve sides as previously indicated. Each upright 13 has, in this non-limiting embodiment, a shape of right triangle consisting of a vertical outer bar 13a. _. a lower horizontal and radial bar 13b_ and an inner bar 13c, constituting the hypotenuse of the right triangle, which is inclined up and down, from the upper end of the outer bar 13a. to the inner end of the lower horizontal bar 13 &. Each upright 13 bears on the ground by means of two height-adjusting screw jacks 10 engaged in the lower ends of the outer bars 13a. The expression "bar" used for the purposes of the description is understood naturally for designate any elongated element, full but also hollow: in other words, the different bars can in fact be constituted by tubes. The lower parts of the inclined internal bars 13c of the uprights 13 are connected, by self-locking hooking means not shown, to the bars 6b constituting the inclined external sides of the trusses 6 of scene 1. To allow an appropriate application of the bars inclined external bars 6b of the trusses 6 on the lower parts of the inclined internal bars 13c of the uprights 13, the bars 6b must form, with the horizontal bars 6a of the trusses 6, an angle equal to the angle formed by the inclined internal bar 13c. an upright 13 with its horizontal lower bar 13b. The vertical bars 13a and inclined 13c. various uprights 13 are also interconnected by an intermediate horizontal bar 13d. serving as a support for seats 14 juxtaposed with each other in the rear part of the stage space. These seats 14 are constituted by trapezoidal panels, for example of wood, and their juxtaposition constitutes a partially polygonal bench at the rear of the stage.

In the rear part the supporting structure 2 is completed by bracing panels 15 which extend between the pairs of neighboring uprights 13 and are hung between their vertical external bars 13a. These panels extend up to a certain height above the seats 14 and at least as far as the bottom of the seats 14. They assume several functions in addition to that of the aforementioned lateral bracing. They notably provide security by opposing a fall towards the rear of the support structure 2 and they also play the role of sound reflector towards the audience in front of the stage. They can also be used for various displays and they mask the people who can circulate behind the stage space. As shown in FIG. 1, the free space delimited between the internal edge of each trapezoidal seat 14 and the external edge of a trapezoidal panel 4 of the stage 1 floor is advantageously closed by a riser 16 such as a wooden sign. This riser 16 can be an independent panel but which is then locked by the seat 14, or it can be pivotally connected to the seat 14 by means of a hinge. As shown in FIG. 1, one or more staircases 17 can be provided, incorporated in the supporting structure 2 to give access to the stage 1. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the scenic space comprises two stairs 17 located respectively to the left and right of the front part of scene 1 and they are fixed between the first two uprights 13 located on each side. However, the modular nature of the support structure 2 makes it possible to place a staircase 7 between any pair of neighboring uprights 13 of the support structure 2.

The umbrella type cover 3 comprises a foldable frame and an upper mast section 18, extending vertically in the center of the cover 3 and on the upper end of which are articulated, around horizontal axes, radial bars 19 constituting the

"whales" of the parasol forming part of the unfolding frame. These bars support a canvas 21 and, as in a conventional parasol structure, the opening and closing movement of the ribs 19 is controlled by a slide 22, movable vertically on the upper mast section 18 and on an auxiliary mast 23, can be assembled, removably, with the previous one, by means of a coupling device 20 with mutual interlocking and which is used for mounting the cover as will be explained later. The slide 22 is connected to each whale 19 by means of a leg 24 which is articulated, at one of its ends, on the whale 19 and, at its other end, on the slide 22. The slide 22 can be immobilized on the lower part of the upper mast section 18 by means of a diametric pin 25 for example as shown in FIG. 8.

We will now describe the mounting method of the stage area, the main components of which have been described above.

At the location identified for mounting the stage space, the central cylindrical core 8 is installed and its verticality is adjusted by means of screw jacks 9. The trusses 6 and the uprights 13 are then put in place. The trusses 6 which are on the front of stage 1 are hooked, by their internal ends, to the central core 8, by means of the coupling elements 7, and they rest on the ground by means of the height adjustment jacks 6c. The other trusses 6 are also attached to the central core 8, at their internal ends, and they are also attached, by their inclined external bars 6b, to the lower parts of the inclined internal bars 13c. uprights 13. After that, the vertical rectangular panels 15, providing lateral bracing, are placed between the uprights 13. Each bracing panel 15 is hooked to the vertical external bars 13a of two neighboring uprights 13. The panels 15 guarantee the appropriate angular spacing of the trusses 6 and of the uprights 13 and they ensure the rigidity of the entire structure, which is then as shown in FIG. 2. The horizontal trapezoidal plates are then put in place. 4 which rest on the upper horizontal radial bars 6a of the trusses 6 and are locked together. The internal edges of the panels 4 delimit a central opening situated above the central core 8, as shown in FIG. 8. The risers 16 and the seats 14 are then put in place to obtain the structure as shown in the figure 3.

After that we proceed to the establishment of the cover 3. For this, the auxiliary mast 23 and the upper mast section 18 being, naturally, assembled from the last folding of the parasol, we engage, through the central opening of the panels 4, the auxiliary mast 23 which is then extended by the upper mast section 18 carrying the ribs 19 and the fabric 21 folded, in the sleeve 11 mounted rocking about the horizontal axis 12 in the central core 8. The fact that the internal sleeve 11 can rock around of the horizontal axis 12, facilitates the introduction of the auxiliary mast 23 into this sleeve 11 since the entire umbrella type cover can thus be approached and engaged by the mast 23 in a position inclined relative to the horizontal as it is shown in FIG. 3. The penetration of the auxiliary mast 23 into the sleeve 11 is limited by a stop provided in the lower part of the sleeve 11 and which can be constituted by a removable diametral stop 26

(figure 8). Once the auxiliary mast 23 engaged and retained in the sleeve 11 then inclined, one can straighten the mast 23 and the entire parasol to the vertical position as shown in Figures 5 and 8. The parasol being then folded, the slide 22 is in the lower position on the auxiliary mast 23 as shown in phantom in Figure 8. Once the vertical position has been reached, it suffices to open, in the usual way, for example by means a hoist, the parasol by raising the slider 22 until it arrives on the upper mast section 18, which causes the progressive opening of the whales 19 and the deployment of the fabric 21. The combined height of the auxiliary mast 23, bearing on the stop 26, and of the upper mast section 18 is chosen such that once the parasol has been deployed, the free ends of the ribs 19 are located substantially at the level of the upper ends of the uprights s 13. Furthermore, to allow easy deployment of the parasol, the ribs 19 must be placed in a position, around the vertical axis, such that they can pass between the neighboring uprights 23 when the parasol opens. FIG. 5 illustrates the progressive opening of the parasol of the cover 3. Once the parasol has been deployed, as shown in FIG. 6, it suffices to rotate it around the vertical axis to bring the ends of the ribs 19 exactly above the upper ends of the uprights 13. Once this position is reached, the diametral pin 25 is removed so as to allow the slide 22 and the ribs 19, via the legs 24, to descend slightly and take support on the ends of the uprights 13. The ribs 19 being retained by the upper ends of the uprights 13, the stop 26 is then removed to allow the auxiliary mast 23 to slide slightly down into the sleeve 11 causing uncoupling of the device 20 between this mast 23 and the upper mast section 18. It is then possible to tilt the auxiliary mast 23 in an inclined position relative to the horizontal and release it from the sleeve 11. The cover 3 is then placed on the upper ends of the uprights 13 as shown in FIG. 1, the upper mast section 18 then being suspended l free at the meeting point of the whales 19. The weight of the cover 3 then causes a slight "separation" of the uprights 13 outwards, which are then put under tension. This ensures the stabilization of the entire structure and the adjustment of the clearances. To complete the assembly, the central opening delimited by the internal edges of the panels 4 is closed by means of the closure plate 5 which is blocked and ends the self-locking of the various constituent elements of the structure.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a device for fixing one end of a whale 19 on the upper end of an upright 13. The fixing device comprises a housing 27 attached to the upper end of the upright 13, this housing being open on at least one side to allow penetration and embedding in the housing, of the end of a whale 19 as a result of the rotational movement of the parasol around its vertical pole. Once the end of the whale 19 is engaged in this housing 27, this end is advantageously immobilized by means of a locking member 28 such as a screw. - 11 -

It goes without saying that high crosspieces can be positioned between each of the ends of the ribs 19 bearing on the upper ends of the uprights 13 in order to stretch the canvas of the parasol and further stiffen the supporting structure.

The front part of the stage can be closed by risers 29, consisting, for example, of wooden panels, extending between the outer edges of the panels 4 of scene 1 and the ground, as shown in FIG. 1 .

It should be noted that all the constituent elements of stage 1 and of the supporting structure 2 are of the self-locking type, except for the last element placed which is locked by a clamping screw, that is to say that as and when the different parts are mounted, the newly mounted parts automatically lock those which have been previously mounted. This provides a guarantee of inviolability for the entire structure.

Although, in the nonlimiting embodiment of the invention which has been described, scene 1 has a periphery of polygonal shape, it goes without saying that this periphery could have a circular shape, scene 1 then having a shape straight cylinder with circular base and the panels 4 being constituted by circular sectors.

Claims

1 - Removable covered stage space characterized in that it comprises a lower stage (1) resting on the ground, of cylindrical or prismatic shape with vertical axis of symmetry, a support structure (2) consisting of equidistant uprights (13) integral of the lower stage (1) and distributed around the rear of the stage and the greater part of its periphery, and a cover (3) of the parasol type consisting of a canvas (21) supported by a unfolding frame constituted by radial ribs (19) whose free ends are held in abutment on the upper ends of the uprights (13).

2 - Stage space according to claim 1 characterized in that the unfoldable frame comprises legs (24) articulated respectively, at one of their ends, on the different whales (19) and, at their other ends, on a slide (22) movable vertically on a section of upper mast (18) of low height freely suspended from the whales (19).

3 - Stage space according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the ends of the whales (19) are engaged in housings (27) attached to the upper ends of the uprights (13) and which are open from at least one side to allow the entry of one end of whales (19) by a rotational movement around the vertical axis and the end of each whale (19) is immobilized in its housing (27) by means of a blocking member (28).

4 - Stage space according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the stage (1) comprises a supporting structure consisting of radial and vertical trusses (6) whose internal ends are hung on a central cylindrical core (8) vertical axis, the trusses (6) which support the front part of the stage (1), devoid of uprights (13), rest on the ground by their external ends (6bJ and the trusses (6) which support the rest of the stage where the uprights (13) are located, have external ends (6b) which are attached to the lower parts of the uprights (13).

5 - Stage space according to claim 4 characterized in that the central cylindrical core (8) contains a vertical coaxial sleeve (11) which is articulated, at its upper part, on the core (8) around a horizontal and diametral axis (12) and which comprises, in its lower part, a removable stop (26).

6 - Stage space according to any one of claims 4 or 5 characterized in that the stage (1) comprises an upper floor consisting of identical or almost identical panels (4) juxtaposed, regularly distributed around the vertical axis and of which the internal edges define an opening situated above the cylindrical central core (8). 7 - Stage space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that rectangular bracing panels (15) extend between each pair of uprights (13) neighbors to which they are hung. 8 - Stage space according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each upright (13) has the shape of a right triangle comprising a vertical outer bar (13a.), A horizontal lower bar (13b) and an inclined inner bar ( 13çJ extending from the upper end of the outer vertical bar (13a.) To the inner end of the horizontal lower bar (13i≥), and it also includes an intermediate horizontal bar (13çi) s' extending between the external vertical bar (13a) and the inclined internal bar (13c.), this intermediate horizontal bar (13d) serving as support for a panel (14) constituting a seat, the seats (14) being juxtaposed and constituting a bench behind the stage (1).

9 - Stage space according to claim 8 characterized in that a riser (16) extends between the inner edge of each seat panel (14) and the outer edge of a panel (4) constituting the floor of the scene (1). 10 - A method of assembling a covered scenic space characterized in that a lower stage (1) is first of all supported on the ground, of cylindrical or prismatic shape, having a vertical axis of symmetry, by providing, in the central part, an opening allowing access to a sleeve (11) which can tilt around a horizontal axis (12), at its upper part, and provided with a removable stop (26) in its lower part, we mount, around the major part of the periphery of the stage (1), a supporting structure (2) made up of uprights (13) equidistant from the stage, we engage, in the tilting sleeve (11), through the central opening of the stage, the extreme part of an auxiliary mast (23) detachably coupled with an upper mast section (18) forming part of the frame of a parasol-type cover with radial ribs deployable (19) connected, by legs (24), to a slide (2 2) movably mounted on the auxiliary mast (23) and on the upper mast section (18), the auxiliary mast (11) is made to pivot into a vertical position by pivoting around the horizontal axis (12) of the sleeve (11). 23) and the umbrella type cover which it carries in the folded state, the movable slide (22) is caused to move upwards so that it can pass over the upper mast section (18) and cause the opening of the ribs (19) of the parasol, the ends of these ribs moving between the uprights (13) until the parasol is fully deployed with the ends of the ribs located substantially at the upper ends of the uprights, the parasol is rotated deployed around the vertical axis so as to bring the ends of the ribs (19) just above the upper ends of the uprights (13), the diametral pin (25) of the slide (22) is removed so as to cause, under the effect of their own po ids, a slight downward movement of the whales (19) of the parasol which then take support on the upper ends of the uprights (13), the removable stop (26) located in the lower part of the tilting sleeve (11) so as to cause a downward movement of the auxiliary mast (23) resulting in its uncoupling from the upper mast section (18), the auxiliary mast thus released is tilted in an inclined position relative to the horizontal, extract it from the sleeve (11) and close the central opening of the stage (1) by means of a plate (5).