Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
7~
This invention relates to collapsible staging and
has been devised particularly though not solely as a low
level platform for bands etc., or as a module to be used
in the formation of catwalks etc. The invention also
envisages the provision of collapsible accessories for a
platform or catwalk, such as collapsible ramps or collapsible
stairs. Throughout this specification where the term
"staging" is used it is to be understood to include within
its ambit those other components normally used with
platforms, such as ramps or stairs.
Where it is necessary to present various types of
entertainment, for example bands or singing or other types
of performance, or where it is necessary to provide a
raised p~atform, for example as a catwalk at a fashion show
it is often required to provide elevated staging to
support an elevated platform for the display of the
entertainment etc. In the past the staging has been
provided in a number of different ways, for example by
fabricating a custom-made framework from timber or by
assembling a support framework from scaffold like
components. These methods have the disadvantages that
they are time consuming and therefor expensive to erect,
and are difficult to transport and assemble.
It is therefor an object of the present invention
to provide collapsible staging which will obviate or
minimize the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet
effective manner or which will at least provide the
public with a useful choice.
Accordingly the invention consists in a staging
module having first and second end frames at either end
thereof and side frames between said end frames, said
side frames each comprising two rectangular sub-frames
hinged together by a vertical central hinge along their
common vertical edges and being connected to said
end frames by vertical end hinges along the edges remote
from the central hinge, said hinges being arranged such
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that the central hinges of opposite side frames can be
moved toward one another causing the side frames to fold
inwardly in a concertina fashion as the end frames are
moved one towards the other, said staging module further
incorporating a platform adapted to be placed on and
supported by the upper peripheries of at least some of
said frames, and engaging means between said platform and
said frames adapted to prevent hinging movement of said
frames, one relative to the other, when engaged with said
platform.
In one form of the invention all of the frames are
rectangular and of the same overall height providing a
level platform.
In an alternative form of the invention the
rectangular sub frames are of different heights, and the
end frames are each of a height corresponding to the
adjacent sub frames so that the module forms a pair of
steps. .
In yet a further alternative form of the invention
the end frames are triangular in configuration so that
the module forms an inclined ramp.
Although the invention has been described thus
far as a staging module it will be appreciated that numbers
of modules may be placed side by side or end for end to
build a platform of a required size. Similarly a number of
step modules of increasing size may be placed end for end
to form a graduated flight of stairs.
Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall
within its scope one preferred form of the invention will
now be described by way of example only with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a double staging
module according to the invention in the erected configu-
ration,
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the double module
'` shown in Fig. 1 in the folded configuration,
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Fig. 3 is a partial side view of the module
shown in Fig. 1, showing the folding of the staging
platform,
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the framework of the
module shown in Fig~ 1 in the erected configuration,
Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4 showing
the framework in a partially folded position,
Fig. 6 is an underside scrap view of the hinge
line between the two halves of the platform shown in Fig. 3,
Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view to an
enlarged scale of the module shown in Fig. 1, showing the
construction details of the framework,
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative
form of staging module in the form of an inclined ramp,
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a further
alternative form of the invention in the form of a set
of steps and
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative
step configuration having three treads to the set of steps.
In the preferred fo~m of the invention collapsible
staging comprising two basic staging modules having a common
end frame is constructed as follows with reference to
Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, although it will
be appreciated that the basic staging module according to
the invention comprises one half of the configuration shown
in those drawings. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show various alternative
configurations in the form of ramps or steps and once again
it will be appreciated that the basic module may be made in
a number of further alternative configurations to give various
different staging modules.
Each staging module comprises rectangular end frames
1 and 2 which may for example be formed from top, bottom and
side members of rectangular hollow section metal tubing,
welded glued or otherwise fastened together. The actual
construction of the frames can be seen more clearly with
reference to Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
C)7976
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The end frames are connected by side frames 3
each formed from two rectangular sub-frames 4 which once
again are formed from hollow rectangular metal tubing.
In the form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 7
where a raised level platform is provided the sub-frames
and the end frames are all of the same height. Each
pair of sub-frames are hinged together by a vertical
central hinge 5 along their common vertical edges and are
connected to the end frames 1 and 2 by vertical end hinges
6. The hinges are preferably continuous piano type hinges
but may alternatively be formed from two or three individual
hinges located on the hinge lines shown. The hinges
are arranged so that the central hinges S of opposite side
frames can be moved toward one another causing the side
frames to fold inwardly in a concertina fashion as the
end frames are moved one toward the other as can be clearly
seen in Fig. 5. To this end the hinge pins of the hinges
5 are located on the outside of the framework when viewed
in plan view and the hinge pins of the hinges 6 are located
on the inside of the framework as can be seen in Fig. 4.
The staging further comprises an upper platform which is
placed on and supported by the upper peripheries of the
frames. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7
the platform is supported by the upper edges of all of the
frames and sub-frames. In the preferred form of the
invention the platform is formed from sheet material such
as plywood or particle board and is attached to the
framework by hinges 7 along the upper outer edges of the
platform at either end of the collapsible staging. The
platform above each module is preferably provided in two
parts 8 and 9 fastened together by a further horizontal
hinge 10 parallel to the hinge 7 at the mid-point of the
platform located above the junction between the sub frames
4. The pins of the hinges 7 are located coplanar with the
upper surface of the platform as can be seen in Figs. 3 and
7 so that the platform portion 8 may be rotated through
270 degrees in the direction of arrow 11 and the platforms
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moved through positions as shown in broken outline in
Fig. 3 to lie alongside one another and alongside the end
frames 1. Once the platform components have been folded
as described and the sub-frames have been hinged inwardly
as previously described the entire platform can be
concertinaed into a very compact package as shown in Fig. 2.
Although the platform members have been described
in one particular configuration it will be appreciated
that they may be provided in many other alternative
forms. For example the platforms may be in one piece and
may be totally detachable from the frames rather than being
hinged to the frames as previously described. In a further
form of the double module shown in Figs. 1 to 7 the four
platform components may all be hinged together in an
accordion pleat fashion and may all be folded to one end
of the framework rather than to the two separate ends as
previously descrlbed.
Engaging means are provided between the platform
and the frames adapted to prevent hinging movement of the
frames one to the other when the frames are engaged with
the platform. In the preferred form of the invention the
engaging means comprise pins 12 extending downwardly from
the underside of the platform members, the pins engaging
in holes 13 in the upper peripheral compone~ts of the
sub~frames 4. The underside of the platforms 3 and 9
may also be provided with corresponding holes so that the
pins are housed within the holes when the platform components
are folded one against the other in the direction of arrow
11 .
In use,the collapsible staging may be erected as
shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and the platforms located horizontally
on top of the frames which are then prevented from folding
by the pins 12 engaging in the holes 13. When it is
desired to fold the staging for transportation or storage
the platforms are lifted from the upper surface of the frames
`-" 1;2(~9~6
by rotating about the hinges 7 and 10 until the platforms
lie alongside the end frames 1. The sub frames 4 may
then be folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 5 and the end
frames 1 moved toward one another in the direction of
arrows 14 (Fig. 4) until the end frames and the sub-
frames all lie in parallel planes adjacent one another with
the folded platforms on the outside of the "sandwich"
as shown in Fig. 2. In this form the staging is extremely
compact and simple to lift and carry for transportation
or for storage.
Although the preferred form of the invention
has been described as~a double module it will be appreciated
that the central frame 2 can be an end frame in its own
right and the staging module can comprise one half of the
size shown in Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Either single or double modules of the type described
can be used in conjunction with other similar modules to
build up a platform of the required size, either in
rectangular arrays to create a large stage or alternatively
by placing the modules end to end or side by side to create
a long catwalk.
In alternative forms of the invention the module
may be provided either in the form of an inclined ramp as
shown in Fig. 8 or in the form of steps or stairs as shown
in Figs. 9 and 10. In the ramp configuration the end frames
20 are triangular in shape and are joined by side frames 21
of graduated height corresponding to the height of the
end frame at that point. As may be seen in Fig. 8 the
lower side frame may in fact simply be a two part bar 22
hinged in the middle at 23. The intermediate "side frame"
2~ is composed of two rectangular sub frames 25 and similarly
; side frame 26 is also composed of rectangular sub frames
27. The platform surface 28 is once again formed from
-heet material such as plywood or particle board and
in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 is hinged to
the sloping upper rail 29 of one of the end frames by a
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1%(~'79t7~
continuous hinge 30. It will be appreciated however that
the platform 28 may be detachable from the framework or
may be provided in a number of smaller portions appropriately
hinged together and to the frame~ork. The folding
operation of the ramp is the same as that of the module
shown in Figs. l to 7 in that the platform 28 is firstly
hinged about the hinge 30 and then the side frames 21 are
collapsed allowing the triangular end frames 20 to move
toward one a~other and lie in a compact sandwich configuration.
In a further form of the invention a step module
may be provided as shown in Fig. 9 wherein the end frames
31 and 32 are of different heights and are connected by
sub-frames 33 and 34, each sub-frame being the same height as the
height of the adjacent end frames. The sub-frames are
hinged together by a vertical hinge 36 in a similar manner
to the hinge 5 in the module described above and the
sub-frames fold inwardly in a concertina fashion in the
same manner as shown in Fig. 5.
The treads of the stair 36 and 38 are hinged
by way of hinges 39 to their respective end frames 31 and
32 so that the treads may be rotated through 270 degrees
to lie alongside their respective end frames before
concertina folding of the sub-frames 33 and 34.
The steps may also be provided as a "double
module'l using the end frame~32 as a common end frame in
the same manner as the end frame 2 of the configuration shown
in Figs~ l to 7. The second half of the double module
incorporates sub-frames of progressively taller configuration
to form ~hird and fourth steps 40 and ~l as shown in
broken outline in Fig. 9~ Various other configurations of
the folding steps may also be provided to give the required
size and height of finished stairway.
In one particular application of the folding
steps the end frame of the tallest step may be fastened
to the edge of a permanent platform or stage so that the
steps may be unfolded from the front of the platform when
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access to the platform is required. Where it is difficult
to hinge all of the treads onto the frames the treads
may be totally removable and simply engaged with the
frames by engaging downwardly protruding pins (not shown)
on the underside of the platforms with corresponding
holes in the upper frame mernbers.
In a further interesting form of the step
configuration, where.it is desired to provide three graduated
steps as shown in Fig. 10 the sub-frames may.be of different
widths as wel.l as different heights. In this configuration
the two upper treads 42 and 43 are supported by "conventional"
one piece sub frames 44 and 45 respectively hinged together
by a vertical hinge46 and the lower tread 47.is supported
by a pair of smaller sub frames 48 of the same height
hinged together by a vertical hinge 49. The folding
operation.is exactly the same as that described for the
previous configurations. The treads.may all be hinged
to the frames, for example the upper tread 42 is hinged
by a continuous hinge.along the rear edge of the platform
and folded adjacent the end frame 50 as.shown by arrow 51.
The intermediate. tread 43 may be provided in two halves
connected by anunderside hinge 52 and folde.d in a
concertina fashion in a similar manner to the folding
action shown in Fig. 3 through the arc.shown by arrow
53. The lower tread 47 folds in a similar manner to the
intermediate tread 43 through the.arG shown by arrow 54.
The frameworks forming the end.frames, side
frames and sub~frames may be fabricated.in any known or
convenient manner but in.the preferxed.form of the
invention are formed from rectangular.hollow section tubing
by welding or riveting as shown in Fig. 7. Where desired
the corners of all of the frames may be reinforced by
triangular gussets 55. Similarly the platfo.rms such as those
shown at 8 and 9 may be foxmed from any s.uitable material,
which is preferably plywood or particle board or some other
~ form of timber flooring, but which.may.alternatively be
other fabricated~constructions such as metal frame or
lZ07976
-- 10 --
expanded metal mesh configurations.
Although the staging folds to a very compact size
very simply and quickly the assembled staging is very
rigid and robust and therefor safe because of the
5- integral permanent nature of the various frames and
sub-frames, and because of the locking provided by the
engaging means in the form of the pins 12 and the holes
13.
