GB1567227A

GB1567227A - Foldable structure providing accomodation for spectators

Info

Publication number: GB1567227A
Application number: GB4071077A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CHATENAY C
Current assignee: CHATENAY C
Priority date: 1976-10-01
Filing date: 1977-09-30
Publication date: 1980-05-14
Also published as: FR2366424B1; DE2744689C2; FR2366424A1; IT1085195B; JPS5343923A; BE864747A; DE2744689A1

Description

(9) FOLDABLE STRUCTURES PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR SPECTATORS (71) I, CATHERINE MARIE CHATENAY, spouse Compagnone, a French citizen of "L'Etang", 49304 Martigne-Briand, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a foldable structure for providing seating and/or standing accommodation for spectators, for example at public meetings, theatrical performances or similar functions.

In a known structure, a platform, provided with independent lifting means carried by a member having legs hinged together at one end in the form of compasses, is characterised in that the fulcrum of the lifting forces of said platform is very close to its centre of gravity, so that it rises or descends in balanced position on a pivot. This is advantageous insofar as the placing into working position may be effected by hand when the platform has been raised, this position being ensured by means added at that moment and which consist of chains and struts.However, apart from the necessity of resorting to supplementary means which may sometimes raise problems of maintenance, the forces to be applied to the raising of the platform, at the moment when it passes from low to high position by closure of the legs, are very considerable, this leading to the use of over-sized lifting means or to the platform, in folded position, being of relatively great height. The direction of application of the lifting or raising forces of the platform is such that the legs cannot be completely open, this being translated by a sometimes unacceptable bulk. Now, the height of the folded platform is an important consideration. Moreover, the raising of a platform of one to two tons in equilibrium may raise problems of safety.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a structure overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks, whilst conserving the advantages of the known device.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a foldabel structure for providing seating and/or standing accommodation for spectators, the structure comprising: a platform, a plurality of supporting means each comprising two legs respective one ends of which are pivoted together in the manner of compasses, said one ends of the two legs being pivoted to the platform at a pivot axis which is located substantially at the midpoint of the length of said platform, a plurality of struts of variable length, each strut being pivoted at one of its ends to said platform and at its other end to the other end of a corresponding leg of said supporting means, and means for varying the length of said struts to enable the platform to be moved between raised and lowered positions and/or to be tilted.

The legs and strut members thus form two triangles and the platform has no need of supplementary bracing members.

Each strut may include a screw jack. Preferably the pivot axis of the supporting means on the platform is at a level lower than the pivot points of the struts on said platform when the latter is horizontal, so that when the legs of the supporting means are spread at an angle of 1800 in the fully lowered position of the structure, the struts form with the surface of the platform an angle of a few degrees, allowing the platform to be raised.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred structure in a folded position, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure in a raised, horizontal position, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure in an inclined, lowered position, Fig. 4 is à side elevation of the structure in an inclined, raised position, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the structure.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the structure which comprises a platform in the form of a rectangular frame 1, constituted by two supports 2, only one of which is visible in the figure, connected by at least two cross-pieces (not shown). The supports 2 bear containers or tubs 3 which are elongated transversely (see Fig. 5). The tubs 3 are of truncated, hemicylindrical section, and their upper surfaces 4 are substantially contiguous, so that, in rest position, they form a continuous flat surface, and, in working position, (Fig. 4) a succession of tiers 4 separated by the side walls 5 of the tubs 3.

The tubs 3 may contain seats 6 which may be arranged on the tiers by pivoting the upper surfaces of the tubs about median axes. The folded position of a seat is shown at-7 in Fig. 1.

The frame 1 is supported by support means 8 comprising two pairs of legs, the two legs 81 and 82 of one pair being visible in Fig. 2.

The ends of the legs 81 and 82 which are uppermost in Fig. 2 are pivoted together and to the platform at a pivot axis 10 which is at the mid-point of the length of the platform. The legs 81 and 82 are thus pivoted in the manner of compasses. In Fig. 1 the legs 81 and 82 are completely open. The other ends 83 and 84 of the legs 81 and are mounted on wheels 9 which enable the legs 81 and 82 to open and close. On the spindles of the wheels 9 are pivoted the lower ends of respective struts 11 and 12.

There are two pairs of struts, but only one pair has been shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the struts 11 and 12 are pivoted to the platform at pivot points 15 and 16 respectively. The strut 11 is, in practice, constituted by a section 18 of fixed length and a relatively telescopic screwed section 19. The length of the strut 11 is controlled by a screw jack 13. In the same way, the strut 12 is composed of a section 20 of fixed length and of a screwed section 21 partially penetrating said section 20, under the control of jack 14. A railing 17 (Fig. I) is fixed in conventional manner on the edges of the tiers, for safety purposes.

From the lowered position shown in Fig.

1. the process of raising the platform is clearly visible from Fig. 2. The screw jacks 13 and 14 are driven by a rotary movement of the motors (not shown in the figure) so that the screwed sections 19 and 21 are withdrawn from the sections 118 and 20 re spectively. The length of the struts 11 and 112 increases. thus causing the platform to rise and the legs to close. The lifting means are therefore not carried by the legs, but by the struts. The thrust force is made by the jacks of the struts and the legs work only in traction, when the platform is being raised. The legs consequently play an essential role in the necessary rigidity when used for ensuring stability of the platform.

It will be noted that, contrary to what exists in conventional hoisting systems, which employ a fixed ground support, the ground support is obtained by wheels which participate in the raising and lowering of the platform.

The jacks being identical, the platform rises into horizontal position if the drive speed of the motors is the same at each end. To obtain the inclined position shown in Fig. 3, it suffices either to control only the left-hand jacks, starting from the position of Fig. 1, or to actuate the rightwhand jacks, starting from Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows the platform in an inclined, raised position, the tiers of tubs 3 having been brought into their position of use.

Fig. 5 shows more clearly the structure of the lifting device, which is symmetrical, the different parts having identical references.

The motor 22 (for driving the jacks) is shown schemlatically and is disposed in the centre of the struts which are connected by crossed braces 23. The motor 22 rotates, via a bevel gear 24, the jacks 14 which cause the screwed sections 21 to rise or descend with respect to the sections 20. The motor 22 is fixed to the sections 20 and braces 23 by any suitable means. The struts and legs thus form frames spanning the width of the platform.

Preferably, the struts are pivoted at their upper ends on the platform symmetrically with respect to the centre of gravity thereof, the two pivots being distant from each other by about 9 of the length of the platform. Furthermore, the length of the legs may be substantially equal to one half of the length of the platform. In the fully lowered position 'ob the structure (Fig. 1), the pivot axis 10 is lower than the pivot points 15, 16 and the legs 81 and 82 are splayed apart at an angle of 180 . The struts 111, 12 form at angle of substantially 6" with respect to the platform so that extension of the struts causes the platform to be raised.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A foldable structure for providing seating and/or standing accommodation for spectators, the structure comprising: a platform, a plurality of supporting means each comprising two legs respective one ends of which are pivoted together in the manner of compasses, said one ends of the two legs being pivoted to the platform at a pivot axis which is located substantially at the midpoint of the length of said platform, a plurality of struts of variable length, each strut being pivoted at one of its ends to said platform and at its other end to the other end of a corresponding leg of said supporting means, and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. shows the structure which comprises a platform in the form of a rectangular frame 1, constituted by two supports 2, only one of which is visible in the figure, connected by at least two cross-pieces (not shown). The supports 2 bear containers or tubs 3 which are elongated transversely (see Fig. 5). The tubs 3 are of truncated, hemicylindrical section, and their upper surfaces 4 are substantially contiguous, so that, in rest position, they form a continuous flat surface, and, in working position, (Fig. 4) a succession of tiers 4 separated by the side walls 5 of the tubs 3. The tubs 3 may contain seats 6 which may be arranged on the tiers by pivoting the upper surfaces of the tubs about median axes. The folded position of a seat is shown at-7 in Fig. 1. The frame 1 is supported by support means 8 comprising two pairs of legs, the two legs 81 and 82 of one pair being visible in Fig. 2. The ends of the legs 81 and 82 which are uppermost in Fig. 2 are pivoted together and to the platform at a pivot axis 10 which is at the mid-point of the length of the platform. The legs 81 and 82 are thus pivoted in the manner of compasses. In Fig. 1 the legs 81 and 82 are completely open. The other ends 83 and 84 of the legs 81 and are mounted on wheels 9 which enable the legs 81 and 82 to open and close. On the spindles of the wheels 9 are pivoted the lower ends of respective struts 11 and 12. There are two pairs of struts, but only one pair has been shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the struts 11 and 12 are pivoted to the platform at pivot points 15 and 16 respectively. The strut 11 is, in practice, constituted by a section 18 of fixed length and a relatively telescopic screwed section 19. The length of the strut 11 is controlled by a screw jack 13. In the same way, the strut 12 is composed of a section 20 of fixed length and of a screwed section 21 partially penetrating said section 20, under the control of jack 14. A railing 17 (Fig. I) is fixed in conventional manner on the edges of the tiers, for safety purposes. From the lowered position shown in Fig. 1. the process of raising the platform is clearly visible from Fig. 2. The screw jacks 13 and 14 are driven by a rotary movement of the motors (not shown in the figure) so that the screwed sections 19 and 21 are withdrawn from the sections 118 and 20 re spectively. The length of the struts 11 and 112 increases. thus causing the platform to rise and the legs to close. The lifting means are therefore not carried by the legs, but by the struts. The thrust force is made by the jacks of the struts and the legs work only in traction, when the platform is being raised. The legs consequently play an essential role in the necessary rigidity when used for ensuring stability of the platform. It will be noted that, contrary to what exists in conventional hoisting systems, which employ a fixed ground support, the ground support is obtained by wheels which participate in the raising and lowering of the platform. The jacks being identical, the platform rises into horizontal position if the drive speed of the motors is the same at each end. To obtain the inclined position shown in Fig. 3, it suffices either to control only the left-hand jacks, starting from the position of Fig. 1, or to actuate the rightwhand jacks, starting from Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows the platform in an inclined, raised position, the tiers of tubs 3 having been brought into their position of use. Fig. 5 shows more clearly the structure of the lifting device, which is symmetrical, the different parts having identical references. The motor 22 (for driving the jacks) is shown schemlatically and is disposed in the centre of the struts which are connected by crossed braces 23. The motor 22 rotates, via a bevel gear 24, the jacks 14 which cause the screwed sections 21 to rise or descend with respect to the sections 20. The motor 22 is fixed to the sections 20 and braces 23 by any suitable means. The struts and legs thus form frames spanning the width of the platform. Preferably, the struts are pivoted at their upper ends on the platform symmetrically with respect to the centre of gravity thereof, the two pivots being distant from each other by about 9 of the length of the platform. Furthermore, the length of the legs may be substantially equal to one half of the length of the platform. In the fully lowered position 'ob the structure (Fig. 1), the pivot axis 10 is lower than the pivot points 15, 16 and the legs 81 and 82 are splayed apart at an angle of 180 . The struts 111, 12 form at angle of substantially 6" with respect to the platform so that extension of the struts causes the platform to be raised. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A foldable structure for providing seating and/or standing accommodation for spectators, the structure comprising: a platform, a plurality of supporting means each comprising two legs respective one ends of which are pivoted together in the manner of compasses, said one ends of the two legs being pivoted to the platform at a pivot axis which is located substantially at the midpoint of the length of said platform, a plurality of struts of variable length, each strut being pivoted at one of its ends to said platform and at its other end to the other end of a corresponding leg of said supporting means, and

means for varying the length of said struts to enable the platform to be moved between raised and lowered positions and/or to be tilted.

2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said struts are pivoted on the platform at pivot points which are symmetrical with respect to the centre of gravity of the platform and which are spaced from each other by substantially one third of the length of the platform.

3. A structure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein there are a pair of said supporting means pivoted on respective side edges of the platform and two pairs of struts pivoted on respective side edges of the platform, each strut on one side of the structure being connected by corresponding braces to the corresponding strut on the other side of the structure, whereby the legs, struts and braces form frames spanning the width of the platform.

4. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each strut is telescopic and includes a screw jack.

5. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of each leg of the supporting means is substantially equal to one half of the length of the platform.

6. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot axis of the supporting means on the platform is at a level lower than the pivot points of the struts on said platform when the latter is horizontal. so that when the legs of the supporting means are spread at an angle of 180 in the fully lowered position of the structure, the struts form with the surface of the platform an angle of a few degrees, allowing the platform to be raised.

7. A structure as claimed in Claim 6, wherein, in the fully lowered position of the structure, the struts form with the plane of the platform an angle of substantially 6".

8. A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the platform includes a generally rectangular frame formed of two spaced elongated parallel support members interconnected by at least two spaced cross-pieces extending transversely of the platform, a plurality of transversely elongated tubs arranged on and supported by said members, each of said tubs having a substantially fiat upper surface and a truncated semi-cylindrical cross-section, said tubs being rotatable relative to said frame between a position in which said upper surfaces form a substantially continuous flat surface to a position in which said tubs form a plurality of tiers projecting from said frame.

9. A structure as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said tubs are hollow.

10. A structure as claimed in Claim 9, in which the upper surface of each tub is pivotally mounted with respect to the remainder of the tub about a median axis.

11. A structure as claimed in Claim 10, including at least one seat attached to one of said upper surfaces, which seat can be stored within said tub by rotation of said upper surface about said median axis.

12. A foldable structure for providing seating and/or standing accommodation for spectators, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.