Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PORTABLE SHELL USABLE AS AN ACOUSTICAL OR VISUAL ENCLOSURE WITH
STORABLE SUPPORT MEANS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to por-table shells usable as a
room divider, display panel, or acoustical or visual enclosure
and, in particular, to such shells usable with performing art
groups such as choral or ins~rumental groups.
In the performing arts, it is ~uite common to use
portable shells -to control the direction and reflect sound
created by orchestras, smaller musical ensembles, or vocal
groups. Use of such a portable shell enables transport of -the
shells and grouping thereof, dependent upon the total reflecting
surface required. A need has developed for a ligh~weight, low-
cost portable shell structure to provide the desired reflection
of the sound produced by a performing group wherein the portable
shells may be easily stacked when not in use in a minimum size
area and easily transported and erected for use.
The prior art includes H.J. Wenger U.S. patent No.
3,180,4~6 and J.A. Wenger et al U.S. pa-tent No. 3,630,309 which
disclose portable shell structures, but which do no-t have the
lightweight, storage, transport and set-up features of the
p~rtable shell disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
-
The present invention relates -to a portable shell of
an improved-construc-tion providing additional highly desirable
features over and above those found in the structures oE the
prior art.
A primary feature of the invention is to provide a
li~htweight portable shell having improved set-up, storage, and
transport features and with greater versatility in the use
thereof.
Another feature of the invention is to provide a
portable shell having a framework with panel means and leg
7~
tructure with the leg structure ~ein~ connectable ~o tl-e
framework at several different locations to provide different
operative elevations for the shell.
Another feature of the invention is to provide a
portable shell, as referred to in the preceding paragraph,
wherein the leg structure is completely separable from the
framework and may be related thereto in a storage position
whereby the leg structure, including pivo-tally mounted feet, is
disposed adjacent the framework to not require any additional
space in storage or transport of the shells in a stacked
relation.
In its broader aspects the invention comprehends a
l.ight~ei~ht portable shell comprising a framework consisting of
panel means supported by spaced-apart side frame members and a
supporting leg structure including a pair of legs and each
having a foot at an end thereof. Means are provided for
detachably locking the legs one to each side frame member in an
operative posi.tion along the length of the side frame member to
extend downwardly from the side frame member, and one to each
~0 side frame member opposite the one to which the leg is secured
in the operative position to be in storage positions whereill the
legs are disposed substantially within the length o:E the s.ide
frame members.
~ lore particularly, in carrying out the foregoing, the
framework of the portable shell has a pair oE side frame members
each with a series of openings along the length thereof and the
legs of the leg structure have mounting structure coacting with
a pair of openings in each side frame member. Any two of the
series of openings are selected to provide for attachment of the
legs to the framework at di~ferent locations for differen-t
elevations of the shell in use and with certain of said openings
also being usable to attach the legs thereto when the legs are in
a reversed position to have the legs and pivotally-mounted feet
extend along the side frame members -to facilitate stacking of
plural shells in nested relation. As part of the foregoing, the
portable shell may have a hinged canopy panel at the upper enc~
thereof, with this canopy panel being movable between a storage
position adjacent the framework and an elevated operative position
whereby in the storage posi-tion the canopy panel nests within
the perimeter of the shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI ON OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a series of
portable shells in stacked, nested relation for storage and
with associated filler panels in the upper part of the stack;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the rear
of a single horizontally-disposed portable shell showing the
parts in storage position and with one of the legs o~ the leg
structure separated therefrom;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, lookin~ toward the
rear of a horizontally-disposed portable shell showing a leg
associated therewith in storage position;
Fig. 4 is a plan view, looking toward the rear of a
horizontally-disposed portable shell showing the legs associated
therewith in operative position prior to the shell being erected
to the operative position shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view o~ a Icc~ anc~ associa~ccl
foot, taken generally along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the leg
and foot in operative relation;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section, -taken generally along
the line 7-7, showing the latch structure coacting between a
foot and leg;
B
~7~i
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of tl~e portable
shell shown in one of the erected operative positions
wherein the shell is at the lowest of three elevations;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section, ta'~en
generally along the line ~~9 in Fig. 8jappearing with Figs.
Fiy. 10 is a plan view, partly in section, taken
generally along the line 10-10 in Fig. 9; appearin~ with Figs.
5, 6, 7 and 9;
Fig.'ll is a front elevational view of the portable
shell shown in an erected operative position at an inter-
mediate elevation;
Fig. 12 is a view, similar to Fig. 11, showing the
portable shell in the erected operative position at a higher
elevation;
Fig. 13 is a perspec-tive view, looking generally
toward the front of a shell system, showing a pair of portable
shells in operative position and associated with a filler
panel; and
! 20 ~ig. 14 is a fragmentary view, loo~ing toward the
rear of the system shown in Fig. 13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMsODIM~NT
The lightweight, por~able shell is shown erected
in one operative position in its lowest elevation in Fig. 8
wherein a framework with interconnected frame members in-
cluding a pair of side frame members 10 and 11, a bottom
frame member 12, and a top frame member 15 defines a
generally rectangular area and carries one-piece panel means
defining a pair of panels 16 and 17 which may be of an acous-
tical nature defining acoustical panel means for reflecting
sound. The framework is supported in operative position
by a le~ s~ructure including a pair of legs 20 and 21 of
square tubular stock associated with the side frame mem-
bers 10 and 11, respectively, and with each leg having a
foot 22 and 23, respectively, pivoted intermediate its
ends to the lower end of the associated leg.
An additional panel, forming a canopy panel 30,
is carried in a framework having interconnected frame
m~mbers 31, 32, 33, and 34 and is pivotally connected to
10 the upper end oE the framework by a pair of hinge means 35
an~ 36 connected between the side frame members 10 and 11
and the frame members 32 and 33 of the canop~ panel. The
hinge means each has a pair of hinge members interconnected
by a pin and with suitable spring-loaded detent structure
for holding the canopy panel in a desired position, including
a storage position, shown in Fig. 1 to 4 and an elevated
position at an incline to the vertical t as shown in Fig. 8,
or other operative positions selectable by manual rotataive
positioning of the canopy panel.
An intermediate operative position for the shell
is shown in Fig. 11 wherein the framework and panels 16 and
17 are at a greater distance from a floor than the arrange-
ment shown in Fig. 8. The positioning of the portable shell
in an operative position at an even higher elevation is
shown in Fig. 12. In any of these arrangements, a plurality
of shells may be nested for storage while in erected position.
6.
'7~6~i
The utili~ation of a pair of the portable ~hells
with an associated filler panel is shown in Fig. 13. As
shown, two of the shells having the operative position shown
in Fi~. 8 are placed in spaced-apar-t relation and may be at
an angle to each other, as indicated by the direction of the
feet 22 and 23. A filler panel 40 having a height equal to
the framework of the portable shell is disposed to the rear
thereof and has a canopy panel 41 resting on the back side
of the canopy panels 30. Referring to Fig. 14, a piano-type
hin~e, indicated generally at 42, has the leaves 43 and 44
thereof secured to the upper edge of the filler panel 40 and
the lower edge of the canopy panel 41, respectively.
A stack of four portable shells in nested relation
with four filler panels 40 and associated canopy panels 41
on top thereof is shown in Fig. 1. The lowermost portable
shell faces upward and has its canopy panel 30 folded in a
storage position extending parallel ànd in abutting relation
to the framework and thereabove and extending from the lower-
most hinge 35 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1~ The
superimposed portable shell is faced downward and reversed,
with its canopy panel 30 in storage position therebeneath to
lie in the same plane as the canopy panel of the first-
mentioned portable shell. This pattern is then repeatèd for
the two additional portable shells thereabove.
The portable shell structure shown particularly in
Figs. 2 and 3 is for the portable shell next to the bot-tom
in the stack of Fig. 1, however, it will be understood that
all of the portable shells are of the same constructionO
The leg 20 is associated with the side frame member 11 when
3~ in the storage position and the leg 21 is associated with
`~ 7~
the side frame member 10. In erec-ting the portable shell,
the leg 20 is removed from side frame member 11, as indi-
cated in Fig. 2, and the leg 21 lS similarly removed from
the side frame member 10 and then the relation of the legs
to the side frame members is reversed to form the operative
position for the shell, as noted in Fig. 8, wherein the leg
21 is associated with the side frame member 11 and.the leg
20 is associated with the side frame member 10 (Fig. 4).
The structure for associating the legs with the
framework includes a series of equally spaced-apart open-
inc3s in each of the side frame members 10 and 11, with
these openings being identified at 50-53 with respect to
the side frame member 11 in Fi.~. 2. An additional opening
(llOt shown) sirnilar to opening 50 is used for connection
of the hinge means 35 and 36 to the side frame members. The
side frame member 10 has the same series of equally-spaced
openings as the side frame member 11 and in alignment there-
with. The structure additionally includes a fixed pin 60
(Fig. 9) extending laterally from the upper end of each of
the legs 20 and 21. Additionally, each ieg has an L-shaped
latch pin 61 with an end projectable outwardly from the leg
by a spring 62 positioned within the tu~ular leg and coacting
between a wall thereof and a roll-pin 63 affixed to the latch
pin. The latch pin has a handle end 64 to facilitate re-
traction of the latch pin from the position shown in Fig. 9.
The fixed pin 60 and the latch pin 61 are spaced apart a
distance equal to the distance between anv two adjacent open-
ings of the series of openings 50-53 whereby the pirls rnay
extend into any two adjacent ones of said openings.
An additional part oE the attachment structure
for connecting a leg to the framework includes an elongate
bracket 70 secured to each of the legs in a posi-tion
between the fixed pin 60 and latch pin 61 and having a
flange 71 which, together with a wall 72 (Fig. 10) of the
tubular leg, forms a U-shaped channel to receive and
closely fit the tubular square section siae frame member of
the framework.
Referring to Fig. 2, the positionin~ of -Ehe leg
in storage position is accomplished by lifting the end of
the leg 20 carrying the foot 22 to have the flange 71 of
the bracket 70 clear the side frame member 11. The leg 20
is then advanced toward the side frame member to insert the
fixed pin 60 in the opening 50. This also aligns the side
frame member 11 with the U-shape channel provided by the
bracket 70 ana the leg may be lowered to bring the parts to
a relation as shown in Fig. 10 and bring the latch pin 61
(in retracted position) into alignment with the opening 51.
Ater the alignment occurs, the handle 64 is releasea and
the spring 62 causes the latch pin 61 to move into the open-
ing 51. This firmly locks the leg member 20 to the side
frame membe~ 11.
As stated previously, the arrangement of the legs
in association with the side frame members is reversed be-
tween storage and operative positions thereof. Assuming that
a portable shell is to be erected into operative position
and referring to the shell of Fig. 2, each of the legs 20
and 21 is released from the associated side member by
retraction of the latch pins 6] to permit upward pivoting
of the legs to cause the bracket flanges 71 to clear the
side frame members and then the fixed pins 60 are withdrawn
from the openings 50. The relation of the legs is then re-
versed to the position shown in Fig. 4 wherein, with the
7~
~ramework s-till resting on a floor surface, the leg 20 is
~- associated with the side frame member 10 hy first inserting
the fixed pin 60 with the leg tilted and the leg is then
lo~ered to bring the bracket 70 into fitting rel~tion with
the side frame member followed by insertion of the latch
pin 61. A similar action occurs with respect to the ley 21
in association with the side frame member 11.
In the relation of Fig. 4, the fixed pins 60 have
been positioned in the openings 53 of the side frame members
and the movable latch pins 61 have been positioned in the
openings 52 of the side frame members. This ultimately re-
sults in an elevation for the shell shown,in Fig. 8. If it
were desired to have the shell at an intermediate elevation,
as shown in Fig. 11, the fixed pins 60 would be inserted
in the side frame openings 52 and the movable pins would be
inserted in the side frame opening 51. If a higher elevation
is desired, the fixed pin 60 would be inserted in the side
frame opening 51 and the movable latch pin 61 would be in-
serted in the side frame opening 50.
Subsequent to making the desired association o~
legs to side frame members as described in the preceding
paragraph, the framework is raised and the feet 22 and 23
associated with the legs are moved from the storage posi-
tion to an operative position. In the storage position, as
noted partlcularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the feet extend ~enerally
parallel to the associated side frame mem~er and are moved
to a position generally normal to a leg. The storage po~
sition is shown particularly in Fiy. 5 and the operative
position is shown in Fig. 6.
1~ .
7~
The fee-t are pivotally connected to the legs
by structure illustrated with respect to leg 21 and ~oot
23 and shown particularly in Figs. 5-7. The lower end of
the leg 21 has a plate 80 secured, as by welding, to opposite
sides of a lower end 81 of the le~. A tubular pos-t 82 secured
to the foot 23 is connected by a pivot pin 83 to the plate
80~ A latch member, indicated generally at 84, is movably
mounted in a tubular post 85 attached to the foot 23. The
latch member 84 is urged to the position shown in Fig. 7 by
a sprin~ 87, acting between the post 85 and a roll-pin 88 secured
to th~ lat:ch member. The latch member 84 is cooperable with
eitller of two openings formed in the plate 80. In the storage
~osition of the foot, the latch member coacts with an opening
91 in the plate while, in the operative position, the latch
member coacts with an opening 93 in the plate 80.
With the structure described herein, it is possible
to stack a series of portable shells in an area substant;ally
no larger than the area of a basic framework of the shell,
with the reversal of the legs from the normal operative posi-
tion and the movement of the foot associated with each leg to
the storage position shown in Fig. 2. The stack is of a si~e
to be transported in a standard size station wagon.
A portable shell may be erected from storage po-
sition in the manner described previously and with the
initial assembly position being in relation to selected ones
oE the series of openings 50-53, to provide the desired
elevàtion for the shell in use. After erection of the shell
with the feet in operatlve positlon, the canopy panel 30 may
then be moved manually to a desired angle relative to the
panels 16 and 17. Alternatively, the canopy panel 30 can
11 .
` ` ' .
7~
be positioned before upright positioning of the shell.
If two or more portable shells are to be used
at an elevation selected from the various elevations shown
in Fi~s. 8, 11 and 12, the shells may be related as shown
in Fig. 13 and then the filler panel 40 may be used to
fill the space between adjacent portable shells.
The filler panel 40 is easily associated with
adjacent portable shells by means of a pair of hooks 100
and 101, each having a leg 102 thereof pivotally mounted
at the upper corner of the filler panel and another leg 103
thereof extending outwardly beyond the filler panel for
engagement within an opening 104 formed in the top frame
member 15 of the portable shell. The swivel action of the
hooks 100 and 101 permits easy positioning of the filler
panel 40 to the rear of adjacent shells and location of the
hook ends 103 in the openings 104 for supporting the light-
wei~ht filler panel from the adjacent portable shells, even
with the portable shells at different angles and with varying
gaps between shells. As an initial step, the canopy panel 41
is moved upwardly from a position to the rear of the filler
panel by means of the hinge 42 and engages and is supported
by the back side of the canopy panels 30 of the adjacent
portable shells and is free to move as the hooks are attached.
With the structure disclosed herein, the shells
may be easily erected for use at di~ferent ~levations and
stored in either a stacked storage position or an erected
12.
position and with there being no loose parts that could
be lost.
