Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Translation of original application PCT/EP99/01745 filed
March 17, 1999.
Transportable Podium
The invention relates to a transportable podium which is
designed and suitable for use and erection at various
locations, comprising step elements which, in an
operating position of the podium, have different heights
above a floor. The individual step elements are thereby
either flat or step-shaped and can have connecting
passages, seats or standing areas.
According to prior art, transportable podiums are erected
from individual parts into a supporting scaffolding and
dismounted into individual parts for transport. This has
the consequence, that erecting and dismounting the known
transportable podiums requires a considerable amount of
time and assembly effort.
Stationary podiums are also known which can be pulled
apart from a stack in the manner of a telescope along a
horizontal pulling direction into the position of use and
can be pushed back together into a stack, in opposition
to the pulling direction, after use. Advantageously,
these podiums can be erected with relatively little
effort and, if the area they cover is needed for other
purposes, they can be easily pushed back into a stack.
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These podiums are, however, stationary means which
require an unacceptable amount of effort for transport to
different locations of use.
Another telescopic podium provided for use at a fixed
location, e.g. in a certain gymnasium, is disclosed in DE
7919671 U1. It comprises step elements having different
heights above a floor during use. The step elements can
be pulled apart in the manner of a telescope along a
lo horizontal pulling direction into the position of use and
can be pushed back together into a stack in opposition to
the pulling direction.
This conventional podium comprises a chassis for
i5 transport thereof as a whole to facilitate erection and
dismounting at the location of use when required without
requiring any transport means. This podium can be pushed
together in the manner of a telescope on the supporting
frame connected to the chassis and moved to a different
20 location using the chassis. Such a podium, provided for a
certain location of use, has the advantage that it can be
transported to the location of use if required. It is,
however, not possible to transport these podiums to a
different location, e.g. the gymnasium of another town,
25 without an unreasonable amount of effort.
Taking into consideration the above prior art, it is the
underlying purpose of the present invention to produce a
transportable podium which can be easily erected,
30 dismounted and transported from one location of use to
another.
To achieve this object with a transportable podium
comprising step elements having different heights above
35 the floor during use of the podium, the invention
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proposes that the step elements can be pulled apart in
the manner of a telescope along a horizontal pulling
direction for use and can be pushed together into a pile
in opposition to the pulling direction, and for
transporting the podium to a different location, the
piled step elements are arranged in a transporting
position within an essentially cubical supporting frame
or can be brought into a transporting position in the
supporting frame by means of a lifting device.
The underlying idea of the invention consists in
arranging step elements, which can be pulled apart and
pushed together in the manner of a telescope and in a
supporting frame which assumes a static function to
support the podium during erection thereof and also for
transporting the pushed together step elements. The
supporting frame is essentially cuboid, i.e. its outer
covering surface corresponds essentially to that of a
cubical container. The supporting frame does not have to
be formed as a closed receptacle, such as a container,
but can be an open, supporting structure.
The feature that the step elements stacked in the
transporting position are arranged within the supporting
frame, means that, in the transporting position, they are
essentially preferably completely within the space
enclosed in the supporting frame. In the transporting
position, the step elements are preferably suspended in
the supporting frame. Also, additional fixing elements
can be provided for fixing the position of the step
elements in the supporting frame or load bearing
supporting elements for supporting the step elements in
the supporting frame from below.
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The supporting frame is preferably an integrated part of
the podium. It is preferably composed of profiles which
are advantageously disposed along the edges of the
essentially cuboid basic shape. Reinforcing braces and
elements for securing the step elements in the
transporting position must also be provided for as
needed. The supporting frame thereby comprises a three-
dimensional scaffolding as basic body for transport and
erection of the podium. The braces are preferably erected
in the floor and in the side parts of the cuboid
supporting frame. Further braces can be erected in a
transverse or longitudinal direction in the edge areas if
they are disposed such that they do not obstruct pulling
apart or lifting of the stacks.
For transporting the podium, the step elements are pushed
into the supporting frame in which they are flush or
slightly offset in a stack. It can thereby be
advantageous to bring some of the stacking elements into
a transporting position in the supporting frame by means
of a lifting device.
For erecting the podiums, the step elements are
preferably pushed out of the supporting frame via the
longitudinal side of the supporting frame. It can be
advantageous thereby if some of the step elements can be
initially lifted by means of a lifting device above the
upper side of the supporting frame and subsequently
pulled out. The lifting device is preferably integrated
in the cuboid supporting frame and can be realized e.g.
by means of a spindle, chain or hydraulic drive. One
embodiment is particularly preferred which comprises
spindle drives preferably having synchronized gearing.
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The inventive podium can provide standing areas and also
seats on the step elements. The seats can be provided
i.a. in the shape of individual seats, e.g. integral-
molded seats which are erected e.g. on appropriate base
5 structures on the step elements or are formed as folding
seats. Particularly preferred are the seat elements of DE
3614983 Al.
The outer dimensions of the supporting frame can be
selected as required by taking into consideration the
transport requirements, the weight and the number of
seats. An advantageous feature thereby can be that the
outer dimensions of the supporting frame correspond
essentially to an integral multiple or integral number of
parts of the dimensions of standardized containers. This
facilitates transport of such a standardized size. A 20
foot standardized container has e.g. a length of 6055 mm,
a width of 2435 mm and a height of 2591 mm. An inventive
supporting frame can have e.g. these dimensions or, with
otherwise identical dimensions, only half or a third of
the length.
In a further advantageous feature facilitating transport,
the supporting frame comprises transport means for
transport by means of a transporting device, lifting
equipment or a conveying means. Transport means of this
type can preferably be engagement elements in the form of
loops or hooks, e.g. for erecting a crane hook or a crane
gear. Other advantageous transporting means can be
engagement openings, e.g. pockets for inserting a
stacking fork for removing the container. Advantageously,
the transporting means are generally disposed on top
and/or on the side of the supporting frame. For transport
with standardized transporting means, it can be in
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particular advantageous if the supporting frame comprises
corresponding engagement openings, such as a container.
To obtain small transport weight, as many parts of the
podium as possible preferably consist of light-weight
material, e.g. of aluminium, especially the step
elements. Supporting and load-receiving parts such as
e.g. the supporting frame are preferably made from a
stronger material.
It was surprisingly discovered within the scope of the
present invention that the difficult requirements of
transportable podiums can be solved by means of
telescope-like extendable step elements arranged in a
supporting frame without requiring time-consuming
erecting or dismounting of many individual parts. The
inventive podium not only has advantages with respect to
the time required for erecting and dismounting and with
respect to its mobility, but also has a wide range of
uses.
A particular additional advantage of the inventive podium
is that it does not need a solid, level, flat ground for
erection. It can be erected on a sloping or uneven
surface, since, for erecting the podium, it is sufficient
to align the supporting frame in a=horizontal direction,
e.g. by using pivoting supports or spindles. The
invention achieves goals which the experts have been
attempting to achieve for a long time.
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There is therefore provided, in accordance with one aspect
of the present invention, a transportable podium adapted to
be transported to and erected at a different location of
use, comprising step elements having different heights above
a ground during use of the podium which are adapted to be
pulled apart in a telescopic manner into the position of use
in a horizontal pulling direction and are adapted to be
pushed together to a stack in opposition to the pulling
direction, wherein for transporting the podium to a
different location for erection, the stacked step elements
are disposed in a transporting position within an
essentially cuboid supporting frame, wherein the step
elements are positionable into a transporting position in
the supporting frame by means of a lifting device, the step
elements being lifted by the lifting device past an upper
side of the support frame and subsequently pulled out into
the position of use, the lifting device being integrated in
the cuboid supporting frame.
The following embodiments of the invention illustrate
additional advantageous features and characteristics which
are further described and explained by means of the
representations shown in the drawing.
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Fig. 1 shows a side view of a podium comprising step
elements in the transporting position;
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the podium of Fig. 1 in a
first position of use;
Fig. 3 shows a side view of the podium of Fig. 1 in a
second position of use;
Fig. 4 shows a side view of the podium of Fig. 1 in a
third position of use;
Fig. 5 shows a top view of the podium of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 shows a top view of a modified podium;
Fig. 7 shows a view of a further modified podium;
Fig. 8 shows a side view of a podium with roof;
Fig. 9 shows a modification of Fig. 4;
Fig. 10 shows a side view of a further podium;
Fig. 11 shows a detail of the podium; and
Fig. 12 shows a detail of the telescopic extension.
Fig. 1 shows a side view of an inventive podium 1
comprising step elements 2 in a stacked position. The
step elements 2 comprise a front stack 3 and a rear stack
4. They are disposed in a supporting frame 5 surrounding
the two stacks 3, 4. In other embodiments, only one of
the two stacks 3, 4 can be provided. The supporting frame
5 is on the floor 6 or a different support surface and
comprises securing elements (not shown) by means of which
the step elements 2 are secured from inadvertent pulling
out. The supporting frame 5 is formed preferably such
that it can be piled on top of or next to one another for
transport with other supporting frames.
Fig. 2 shows the podium 1 of Fig. 1 in a first position
of use. The step elements 2 of the front stack 3 are
pulled out from the supporting frame 5 in a forward
direction. The step elements 2 are partially pulled out
in the manner of a telescope and form a front part of a
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podium 1. The not needed step elements 2 of the front
stack 3 are stacked on top of one another and form the
front end of the pulled out step elements 2. The upper
step element 2 of the front stack 3 is connected to the
supporting frame 5.
The podium 1 not only comprises a lower front stack 3,
having step elements 2, which can be pulled out of the
supporting frame 5 from the transport position in the
forward direction, but also an upper rear stack 4, having
step elements 2, which can be pulled out towards the rear
from the supporting frame 5 departing at a position
raised with respect to the transporting position. For
pulling out the upper part of the podium 1, the rear
stack 4 is partially lifted by means of a lifting device
7 formed by a spindle drive and the required step
elements 2 are extended towards the rear in the manner of
a telescope. The upper banister 8 is already erected to
the uppermost step element 2 and must merely be folded
out and arrested. The side banisters 9 are inserted into
the step elements 2 and arrested. The present example
also comprises stairs 10 extending downwards towards the
rear.
The front part of the podium 1 formed by the step
elements 2 of the stack 3, is supported on the floor 6 by
means of a front supporting element 11. The rear part of
the podium 1, formed by the step elements 2 of the rear
stack 4, is unsupported, i.e. does not comprise a
supporting element. This is possible in the example shown
since the total depth of the podium 1, in particular the
length of the extension in the upper part is relatively
small. The podium 1 is erected in a first, short variant.
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The step elements 2 can be provided with seats as
required. A further feature is that the supporting frame
forms part of a step of the podium 1 at its upper side.
In Fig. 2, a suitable floor, e.g. a loadable board is
5 erected in the area of the front edge 12 at the upper
side of the supporting frame 5. The podium 1 thus forms
an area or stairs which can be walked on from the bottom
to the top.
Fig. 3 shows a side view of the podium 1 of Fig. 2 in a
further pulled-out position of use. The rear pile 4 is
thereby completely lifted out of the supporting frame 5
by means of the lifting device 7. All of the step
elements 2 of the rear stack 4 are pulled out in the
manner of telescopes such that the rear part of the
podium 1 has a larger erected depth and a larger number
of walkable step elements 2. The front part, comprising
the front stack 3, corresponds to the position of Fig. 2,
however, can be pulled out to a greater or lesser degree.
The front part is supported directly on the floor 6 by a
front supporting element 11. The front supporting element
11 serves for simultaneously supporting several step
elements 2; not all step elements 2 of the front part of
the podium 1 have their own support. The step elements 2
are connected by means of the telescopic guidance such
that individual support of each step element 2 on the
floor 6 is not required and the individual step elements
2 can accept mutual loads.
The rear part of the podium 1 comprises a rear supporting
element 13 by means of which supporting elements 2 are
borne on the supporting frame 5. It comprises a lower
part 13a in the shape of a reinforced triangular frame
which is pivotably hinged on the supporting frame 5 and
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an upper part 13b in the shape of a connecting rod which
is screwed at its lower end to the lower part 13a and
hinged with its upper end to a step element 2. The upper
part 13b of the supporting element 13 and the front
5 supporting element are advantageously hinged for pivoting
at the step element 2.
Also in the upper part of the podium 1, not every step
element 2 comprises a rear supporting element 13 for
10 support on the floor 6 or the supporting frame 5, rather
the step elements 2 are connected to one another by the
telescopic guidance such that they can accept the
required loads even without such a support. The rear
supporting element 13 is formed like the front supporting
element 11 for simultaneous support of several step
elements 2, connected to one another in a telescopic
manner.
Advantageously, the inventive podium 1 can be erected in
variable ways. Fig. 4 shows the podium 1 of figures 2 and
3 in the position of use in which the two stacks 3, 4 are
completely pulled out to thereby effect the largest
possible number of step elements 2 for seats or standing
areas. With respect to the construction of Fig. 3, the
step elements 2 of the front stack 3 are completely
pulled out. Due to the further extension to the front, a
further supporting element 11 is provided for supporting
the step elements 2 on the floor 6. The bottom step
element 2 of the rear stack 4 is connected with the
supporting frame 5 or the lifting device 7.
Fig. 5 shows an exemplary top view of a podium 1 and Fig.
4 shows a side view thereof. It is constructed from a
total of five adjacent supporting frames 5 which are
disposed at a lateral distance from one another.
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Connecting elements (explained in more detail in Fig. 11)
are arranged on the side of the supporting frame 5 or the
associated pulled-out step elements 2 and are connected
with podium intermediate elements 14, each disposed
between two neighboring supporting frames 5. The podium
intermediate elements 14 are suspended parts which are
hung-up between two neighboring supporting frames S. The
podium intermediate elements 14 can form step elements 2
or stair elements 10, 15. Steps which decline to the rear
io are designated with 10 and steps which decline to the
front are designated with 15.
The podium intermediate elements 14, in particular those
forming step elements 2 are preferably hung only on the
laterally adjoining supporting frame 5 or the step
elements 2 pulled out of the supporting frame 5 without
supporting them with supporting elements on the floor 6
or the supporting frame 5. The podium intermediate
elements 14 are then only erected to and supported on the
neighboring supporting frames 5 or the step elements 2.
This facilitates erecting and dismounting of the podium
1. The step elements 2 and the podium intermediate
elements 14 are preferably of light-weight construction,
e.g. made from aluminium.
Fig. 5 also shows that the podium 1 can be constructed in
a plurality of ways in rows or sectors with or without
cushions and with or without boxes by modified telescopic
extensions and intermediate elements 14. For forming an
angular or polygonal podium 1, intermediate segments
formed of conically shaped podium intermediate elements
14 can also be provided between two neighboring
supporting frames 5.
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Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a different embodiment having
a smaller number of seats. The podium 1 comprises four
supporting frames 5 and only one staircase 15, towards
the front. Fig. 7 shows a modification of a smaller
podium 1 with only four supporting frames S.
Fig. 8 shows a side view of a podium 1 such as in Fig. 4
having a roofing 16 made from a textile roof skin 17
between purlins which are supported by roof supports 18
consisting of one or more parts. The roofing 16 can be
erected to the podium 1 as required, wherein the roof
supports 18 are supported e.g. on the corner points of
the supporting frame 5 and on the upper podium ends in
the area of the upper banister 8.
Fig. 9 shows a modification of a podium 1 comprising a
rear supporting element 13 which in contrast to the
embodiment of Fig. 4, supports the upper part of the step
elements 2 on the floor 6 instead on the supporting frame
5. This figure further shows the telescopic extension 19
between neighboring step elements 2. The guidance in the
telescopic extensions 19 prevents tilting of the step
elements 2 such that not every step element 2 must be
supported on the floor 6 by supporting elements 11, 13.
Fig. 10 shows a side view of a podium 1 having the
particular feature that it is formed of two mutually
parallel supporting frames 5, 5a disposed at a separation
with respect to one another and with their upper edge at
different heights. The two supporting frames 5, 5a not
only have different heights but also have different
bases. The front supporting frame 5a is on the floor 6,
whereas the rear higher supporting frame 5 is located on
a base scaffolding. The base scaffolding can e.g. be a
platform. Another embodiment of a suitable base
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scaffolding may be a carriage, chassis or a semitrailer
20 by means of which the supporting frame 5 can be
transported with inserted step elements 2. For static
reasons, lateral extensions 21 can be provided on the
base scaffolding or the semitrailer 20 for support.
The podium 1 is formed by the two adjacent supporting
frames 5, 5a, wherein in the embodiment shown, the step
elements 2 are not lifted and extended out of the front
supporting frame 5a. When the rear supporting frame 5 is
located at a larger height or its front step elements 2
are only partially extended, the rear stack 4 of the
front supporting frame 5a can also be used.
Fig. 11 shows, in partial section, details of the
telescopic extension 19 and of the connecting elements 22
laterally erected on the step elements 2. The connecting
elements 22 are formed as hang-up shackles into which
podium intermediate elements are hung. Each telescopic
extension 19 between two neighboring step elements 2
comprises rollers 23 and roller guides 24.
Fig. 12 shows details of the telescopic extension 19 in
which three step elements 2 are located in the inserted
piled position and three step elements 2 in the extended
position. The telescopic extension 19 between two
neighboring step elements 2 comprises two rollers 23
disposed at a separation from one another on the lower
step element 2 on a shackle 25 which run in a roller
guidance 24 disposed in the upper step element 2 and
supporting the rollers 23 towards both the top and also
the bottom.
The rollers 23 have end stops in the completely pulled
out and also in the completely inserted positions of the
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step elements 2. For safety reasons, securing wedges 26
are provided each of which is disposed between two
rollers 23 and are retained by the roller guidance 24 in
case the roller 23 breaks such that, in this case, the
step elements 2 do not become detached from one another,
with the force and torque loading being ensured.
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5 List of Reference Numerals
1 Podium
2 Step element
3 Front stack
10 4 Rear stack
5 Supporting frame
6 Floor
7 Lifting device
8 Upper banister
is 9 Lateral banister
10 Stairs to the rear
11 Front supporting element
12 Front edge
13 Rear supporting element
14 Podium intermediate element
15 Stairs to the front
16 Roofing
17 Roof skin
18 Roof support
19 Telescopic extension
20 Semitrailer
21 Lateral extension
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22 Connecting element
23 Roller
24 Roller guidance
25 Shackle
26 Safety wedge
