Foldable platform stage

Feb. 9, 1954

W. J. HORN

FOLDABLE PLATFORM STAGE

Filed Oct. 27, 1949

2,668,331

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Hnverntor

Vfalter &lt;7. morn

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Feb. 9, 1954

W. J. HORN

2,668,331

FOLDABLE PLATFORM STAGE

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Feb. 9, 1954

Filed Oct. 27, 1949

W. J. HORN

FOLDABLE PLATFORM STAGE

2,668,331

Sheets-Sheet 3

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Patented Feb. 9, 1954

2,668,331

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,668,331

FOLDABLE PLATFORM STAGE·

Walter J. Horn, Fort Dodge, Iowa, assignor,, by. ineshg assigriments,. to Tlje Brun^wick-Bai^eT, Coilender Company, Chicago,/111./¾ cprjppratipn of Delaware '* * ' ·-·...·---

Application October 27, 1949, Serial No. 123,955

3: Claims. (CI

This invention relates generally, to temporary stages for performance purposes, and in particular to a temporary platform stage of a foldable type. ............~

Temporary stages now generally used in schools, 5 hotels, halls and th© like to' accommodate performers or speakers for community and group gatherings usually comprise, unit box sffuctufes/ placed together to form a complete’stage, oi: flooring or planks extended between upright sup/ 10 ports. These temporary stages are objectionable in, that they are. generally bulky and, clumsy to, handle, especially in, limited spaces such as narrow hallways and building elevators, and unstable in supporting people, and objects thereon. 15 Further, and especially, where the. performers, are. in motion, the separate sections of such stages· tenti to move relative to each other so as to create a physical hazard to the performers.

It is an object of this, invention, therefore, to, 20 provide an improved temporary platform stage.

A further object of this invention, is to provide a temporary platform stage of a rigid and stable construction and capable of being locked- against movement relative to its supporting floor sur/ 25 face.

Still another object of this invention is to pron vide a sectional temgbrgry. stage, in, which the, sections are interconnected for folding and unfolding movement such that the floor space of 30 the stage may be varied by increments/ corresponding to the floor space of the sections........

A further object of this invention is· to prgy-ide; a. temporary platform stage which is attractive in appearance, capable of being conveniently 33 handled for transport, readily¹ movable on a floor surface for location purposes, adapted to/ be locked in a fixed position at a desired location^ and occupying a minimum of storage/space when not in use. ’ ........ ' ...... ' ₄₀

A feature of this, invention is found in the. provision of- a temporary platform stage' in which a series of longitudinally extended transversely foldable floor- units are- movably connected together in a side-by-side relation/ The floor units¹ 45 include upright transversely spaced supporting structures, interconnected- so. as- to be opened in succession on unfolding of the platform: The supporting structures are provided with at least three, portions in contact engagement with the 50 flooring of a floor unit at positions spaced transversely of a floor unit,, in its Enfolded position;, so, to, Positively, maintain- the surfaces, of gli, of the floor unijs, in, g; common gl§$ps/

Another feature of this invention is found in 55

29—1.123) the. provision, of· a;. temporary platform stage in which, a. plurality. o£ sectional· floor units’ are hingedly·· connected together for successive mover, ment to, unfolded positions in a horizontal plane, and, to, folded upright positions, Interconnected upright, ground supporting structures- in the flo.or' units are movable to folded and: unfolded positions in· resppnge. to the movement of their corresponding floor sections, whereby the floor space of the stage is, variable·. between limits, defined by the floor space of a. single, floor unit and combined floor surface of-all· of the floor units.

. Further objects, features, and advantages., of this, invention wilj· become apparent from’ the. following description when taken in connpetion with: the, apepmpanying; drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is, a front perspective view of the temr. pprary platf.orip, sjage of this, invention;

Fig., 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view, of the stage shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional· view, as seen substantially along the line 3—3, in Fig, 1;.........

Fig, 4 is, an enlarged fragmentary' perspective, view, of a floor supporting structure embodied in on© of the sectional· floor units forming the stage/ of this invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary- side eleyaj·, tional view- pf. the, stage· ⁱⁿ its unfolded or open position;

. Fig, 6 is a view- illustrated similarly, to Fig.. 5 showing the stage; in a clps.ed or folded ppsitiopt; and ' ' ..............

Fig, .7 is. a. detail· perspective view showing the assembly, of- an upright, frame mpmber and, lazy tong system, which .forms part, of the floor sup-i porting structure illustrated in Fig·. 4,

With reference, to, the drawings, the platform; stage, of thjs invention is illustrated in. Figs/ 1, 2 and, 5, as including, a platform, indicated/gen/ orally at. Hk comprised of a series of ipngitudir, nally extended transversely foldablp floor units U: arranged in, a; siderbyrside; relation, Each floor unit is comprised of- a pair of wooden floor boards, op segtipns (2; and an associated transversely foldable floor supporting structure; design nated generally as (3, Singe each floor-supports ing- structure (-3/ and .flpor sectipn“i_;2. aro of a siipilar construction,· and relatively assembled in a. similar· fanner·, only one of such assemblies will· be referred to in detail· in the. following despriptihn. with_ corresponding numeral's being use$ tp; d^ignate.iike parts, * ..........

Eaph fejorisupportingj structure.. 13, (Figs. 3 .and

4), ipcluges a, pair· of gab&amp;ta^iajiy u,_Tshape up.n right frames 15 arranged in a side-by-side reia2,668,331 tion and extended longitudinally of a corresponding floor unit II. The leg members 14 of a U-frame 15 are formed of a pair of substantially channel shape members IS, arranged in a back-to-back relation and formed at their outer or open sides with a pair of oppositely arranged inwardly extended track or guide portions 19, as best appears in Fig. 7. The base member 16, of a U-frame 15, is of an angle iron construction and has secured at each end, as by bolts 20, upright plate extensions 17 which are positioned between a pair of adjacent channel members 18 and extend laterally outwardly therefrom. The plate extensions 17 are secured to their corresponding channel members 18, as by welding or like means. Each U -frame 15 is carried on castor wheels 26 to provide for the ready movement of the stage on a floor surface.

In order to lock the stage against movement on a floor, certain of the plate members 17, and as indicated for the plate member 17α in Fig. 4, are provided with a floor-locking unit 25 comprising an internally threaded upright sleeve member 22 secured as by bolts 21 to the outer end of the plate member 17α. A hand screw 23, threadable within the sleeve member 22, is provided at its lower end with a floor-gripping vacuum cup member 24.

Mounted at the upper end of each leg 14 (Fig. 4) is a U-shape hinge supporting member 27 having the legs 28 thereof spaced transversely of a floor unit 11. A hinge 29 has a pair of hinge members 31 pivoted together at their inner ends, as indicated at 32. The outer ends of the hinge members 31 are pivoted at 33 to the adjacent legs 28 on adjacent uprights or legs 14 positioned transversely of a floor unit 11. The pivot connections 33 are such that when the hinge 29 is extended in a horizontal plane, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the top surface of the hinge is substantially flush with the top edges of the legs 28 of a U-support 27.

Each floor section 12 (Fig. 5) is of a width greater than the length of a hinge member 31, so as to overhang the space between the legs 28 of a hinge support 27, when the platform is unfolded, for a purpose to appear later. The floor sections 12 are secured to the top sides of the hinge members 31 by screws 55 or the like.

A lazy tong link system 34 is movably connected between a pair of transversely opposite Uprights or legs 14 at a position below the Usupports 27 (Fig. 4). Links 36 have their upper or free ends 37 extended within the open side of a channel member 18 for pivotal support on a pivot pin 38 carried between the legs 39 of a channel member 18, as best appears in Fig. 7. The links 41, which are connected in a scissors arrangement with the links 36, have their lower or free ends 42 provided with a transverse pin or roller 43 which is ridable on the tracks 19 of a channel member 18.

Intermediate of and pivotally connected with each pair of associated links 36 and 41, at 46 and 47, respectively, is a third pair of associated links 48 and 49. It is seen, therefore, that each lazy tong system 34 is comprised of a series of three pairs of links pivoted in a scissors fashion, and pivotally interconnected so as to be folded and unfolded in a direction transversely of a floor unit 11, with the open or unfolded position of a link system being limited by the movement of its respective hinge 29 to a horizontal position.

This horizontal position of the hinge 29 is defined by the engagement of its pivot connection with a combination hinge stop and support 60 associated with each lazy tong system 34 and comprising a pair of links 51 and 52 (Figs. 4 and 5) having their adjacent ends pivoted together at 53. The links 51 and 52 are arranged in a straddling relation, relative to the links 48 and 49, and in an inverted V-shape relation with their lower ends pivoted at 46.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when the link system 34 is extended and the hinge 29 is open, the apex or upper end of the combination hinge stop and support 56 is projected upwardly to a level substantially in the plane of the top edges of the legs 28 of the hinge supports 27 and at a position intermediate such supports for contact engagement with the hinge connection 32. As a result, the hinge 29 is positively locked against downward movement out of a horizontal position or plane, since any downward pressure applied on the hinge pivot 32 and against the combination hinge stop and support 50 is ineffective to close the link system.

In the use of the stage of this invention, assume the platform 10 to be in its open position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. At this open position, the floor sections 12 are arranged closely adjacent to each other and in a common plane so as to form an over-all smooth floor surface for the platform 18. This continuous floor surface is achieved as a result of the positioning .of the hinges 23 in horizontal planes in the manner previously described. Further, each floor unit li is positively supported against downward movement at three points spaced transversely thereof, namely, at the pivot connections 32 and 33, and in turn each floor section 12 is positively supported at the opposite sides thereof. Thus the support 50 supports the adjacent sides of a pair of sections 12 formed as a part of a floor unit ί 1, and the outer sides of such pairs of sections 12 are supported at the pivots 33 on adjacent supporting legs 14. Positive stability and rigidity is thus given to the platform 10. In its open position, the complete stage is readily movable over a floor surface 45 on the castor wheels 26. By merely turning the hand screws 23 downwardly, the suction cups 24 are pressed into gripping engagement with the flooi· 45 to positively hold the stage at a desired location.

For the purpose of appearance, the front side of the stage may be provided with an upright back board 56 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is suitably secured, as indicated at 57, to the upright legs 14 on the forward one of the U-frames 15. To facilitate this assembly, the forward legs of the U-members 27, associated with the front legs 14, are removed, as clearly appears in Fig. 5.

To assume the stability of the stage, it is contemplated that the U-frames 15, when the lazy tong systems 34 are in their extended positions, be spaced a distance apart of about thirty inches, transversely of the stage. Also, and with reference to Fig. 2, it is contemplated that the legs 14 of a U-frame 15 be spaced apart a distance of about thirty inches. Likewise, each series of frame members 15 and associated tong systems 34 are spaced transversely of the stage a distance apart of about thirty inches. As a result, regardless of the longitudinal length of the stage, the floor supporting structures 13, one or more of which may be used in a floor unit 11, can be spaced transversely of a floor unit such that the adjacent upright legs 14 in the stage will be a distance apart of about thirty inches. It is ap2,068,831

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Altficftighthe invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is hot to be so limited since changes cSh be made therein Which are within the f till-intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.