The present invention relates to an improved stage, of the type which are set up out of doors for concrete events such as musical concerts or the like. The stage has a structure formed from tubular elements, which supports the floor and vertical turrets which support the roof and other components.
The object of the invention is to provide a stage in which both the floor support structure and the floor boards have special characteristics which allow said floor boards to be perfectly stabilized and fixed in their horizontal position. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel turret assembly system which links these to the floor support structure, providing a great stability and a simple raising process.
Stages set up out of doors for certain events such as musical concerts or the like comprise a support structure, generally consisting of a metal pipe framework, on top of which is placed a floor consisting of a number of wooden boards. This floor structure is complemented by a number of turrets which support the roof for the stage and the light and sound equipment, etc.
The turrets are independent from the stage and consist of a tubular structure mounted on-site, by assembling all the structural components of each turret on the ground and raising these to their vertical position after they are fully assembled. The raising operation is performed by several persons or by cranes.
The drawback of this type of turrets is that a large space is required for both assembling them on the ground due to their length and for their support, as once raised they require a large base for support and stabilization which often requires the use of counterweights to secure them.
As regards stage floor which are formed with the support structure and the wooden floor boards, these have the drawback of consisting of independent planks which are placed resting on the tubular support structure, so that a board could come up if it is not properly secured when weight is placed on one of its ends, which can constitute a hazard.
In addition, EP-A-0623716 corresponding to ES-A-2068136 and to the Spanish Invention Patent P 9300941 is cited, which describes a scaffolding comprising a number of vertical struts attached to corresponding horizontal cross bars and diagonal bars to form a three dimensional framework which can be disassembled, so that the longitudinal posts, the crossbars and the diagonal tie rods are attached to the struts by anchoring jutting parts in orifices which are provided in rings joined to the struts and placed at regular intervals. For this purpose the posts, cross bars and tie rods and provided with end support elements which incorporate vertical projections in the form of fingers, and with passage orifices for tightening wedges which achieve a perfect union of the strut and the posts, cross bars or tie rods.
The stage of the invention presents a number of novel characteristics. Firstly, the turrets are jointed to the floor support structure, so that their assembly and raising operation is simplified and the space required for supporting the turrets is reduced, as they use the horizontal stage support structure as a counterweight. Also eliminated is the need for large amounts of space to assemble the turrets as they are assembled on the stage floor.
The floor support structure is based on the one described for constructing scaffolding in EP-A-0623716, cited in the previous section.
The turret structure comprises a number of modular components which are assembled on each other until the required height is reached. The base of the tower is mounted on a swiveling support which is in turn hinged to a frame that is mounted on the floor support struts.
Said swiveling support comprises a tubular bracket with joints on its top end meant for attaching it to the hinged frame that is mounted on the floor support struts. On its lower end the swiveling support is provided with lugs which together with pins locks the swiveling support to the hinged frame when the turret is raised to a vertical position.
A further novel characteristic of the invention is that the aforementioned swiveling support is provided on its front end and on its bottom with screw studs which allow the adjustment of the support base to ensure a perfect vertical position of the turret, so that the loads are all transmitted to the ground.
As regards the union of the hinged frame connected to the swiveling support and the struts which support the floor, this is achieved by securing elements in the form of fingers which jut out of the hinged frame and insert in one of the orifices of the ring provided on each strut of the floor base. In addition, a tightening wedge is provided for this securing finger. All of this allows the use of standard struts of the type employed in the scaffolding of the aforementioned EP-A-0623716.
With the above described characteristics, the turrets are assembled on the stage floor and thus large spaces are not required for this process; additionally, the turrets can be raised in a simple manner by as few as two people, one on the stage floor pushing the turret upwards and one which is pushing the swiveling support on which the turret is mounted, which acts as a counterweight and simplifies the raising operation. Preferably, however, a motor will be employed mounted on the swiveling support and which raises the turrets by means of an attached cable, winch or chain. This motor can be the one used to raise the sliding carriage used to place in position the light and sound equipment and the stage roof.
As relates to the construction of the stage floor itself, in addition to the structure described in the aforementioned EP-A-0623716 it comprises a number of horizontal beams on which the floor boards rest and are attached. Each horizontal beam consists of a horizontal body provided with end elements for anchoring to the struts, with a longitudinal inverted U section having the middle segment placed on the top and provided with evenly spaced opening in which insert attachment elements provided in the floor boards.
The floor boards are made of wood and present a pair of tubular frames on their bottom, which in turn are provided on their end with supports joined to transverse fingers which slightly jut out and which are meant to insert in the openings of the U-bar of the horizontal beam. Thus, the boards are secured in place and cannot move nor swivel.
The characteristics of the present invention will be better understood in view of the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment, where for purposes of illustration only the following is shown:
As can be seen in the above described figures, the stage of the invention comprises a lower support structure (1) for the floor (2) and a number of turrets (3), which in the rectangular shaped example of figure 1 are four, one on each corner of the stage. These turrets are meant to support a roof (4) and equipment for lighting, sound, etc., with each turret (3) provided with a sliding carriage (5) used to raise these light or sound equipments and the roof, etc.
As the structure of the lower support (1) and the structure of the turrets (3) are both tubular, and with the structure (1) incorporating a number of struts (6) which support all the tubular bars, the novelty of the invention lies in the method of assembly for the turrets (3) and in the method of assembly for the floor (2).
Each turret is mounted on a swiveling support (7) formed by tubular bars, with a bracket-like configuration, as seen clearly in figure 6, and provided with stiffening bars (7'). Said swiveling support (7) is further provided with screw studs (8) on its outermost area, that is, the area farthest from the support (1) of the floor (2). The screw stud or screw studs (8) are meant to adjust and level the swiveling support (7) so that the turret (3) is placed fully vertical and the loads are transmitted to the ground.
Said swiveling support is provided with a base (9) on which is placed the turret (3), as shown in figure 4. This swiveling support (7) which supports and anchors the turret (3) is hinged to a hinged frame (10), which is in turn mounted on and attached to the vertical struts (6) of the support (1) by attachment elements (11) consisting of support elements with a wedge (12) and a lower finger (11') which is inserted in one of the orifices provided for it in a disc that is joined to the struts (11). That is, said struts (11) incorporate the discs (13) at certain positions, shown by the discontinuous line of figures 7 and 8. These discs have orifices (14) in which insert said downwards-projecting fingers (11') of the attachments (11). The wedge (12) provides the final immobilization which attaches the frame (10) to the strut (6) and preferably to the two struts (6) of the support structure (1), as shown in Figure 5.
The swiveling support (7) is attached to the frame (10) by means of the hinges (15) provided on the top ends of said swiveling support (7), with which this support is connected to the frame (10), as previously described. The bottom end of the swiveling support (7) is provided with lugs (16) used to lock in place the frame (10) after the turret (3) has been raised and placed vertically.
In addition, the floor (2) consists of a number of horizontal beams (17) placed on the support structure (1). Each beam (17) is longitudinally welded to the side segments of a U-bar (18). This U-bar (18) is placed inverted with openings (19) on its top, middle segment, the purpose of which will be described below.
On these horizontal beams (17), and more specifically on the bars (18) joined to the beams, are placed the wood boards (20). As shown in figure 10, these are rectangular planks provided with a pair of longitudinal bars (21), on the ends of which are supports (22) with transverse fingers. These fingers are jutting out slightly so that the boards (20) rest on the top of the bars (18) with the fingers (23) inserted in the bar openings (19) . After the board (20) is set it is pushed to place the fingers (23) under the edges of the openings (19), thereby securing in place the boards (20) so that it cannot swivel even when its corners are stepped upon and preventing their extraction.
The turrets (3) are mounted on the floor constructed in this manner. Thus, once these turrets are mounted they are raised to a vertical position, as shown in Figure 2. This can be performed by as few as two people, one standing on the floor (2) and pushing upwards on the turret (3) and another on the ground, pulling on the swiveling support (7) which acts as a counterweight. The screw studs (8) are used to adjust the vertical position of the turret (3) once it has been raised.
The turrets are preferably raised automatically by a motor (25) mounted on the swiveling support (7), which pulls on a cable or chain (25) attached to the hinged frame (10), so that it can raise the turret (3) on its own and in an automated manner as shown in Figure 3. This motor will preferably be the one used to drive the carriage (5) mounted on the turret (3) which is meant to raise the lights and sound equipment, as well as the roof stage (4).
It is important to note that in this case, and in accordance with the structure described, the turrets (3) are not independent of the structure (1) which supports the floor but instead are joined to this structure (1). Therefore, the space which these turrets (3) occupy is reduced, as they are stabilized by their attachment to said support structure (1).
The beams (17) are provided on their ends with support elements (17') which are similar to the attachment elements of the frame (10) and which attach to corresponding discs provided on the struts (6) by insertion of the bottom fingers of the elements (17) in the orifices (14) of said discs (13), as shown clearly in figures 7 and 8.