GB2206141A - Stage comprising hexagonal modules - Google Patents

Abstract

The stage system comprises a plurality of hexagon-shaped modules and means for securely connecting the modules one to another. Each hexagonal module comprises a first set of six linear elements connected at their ends to form a regular hexagonal base unit; a second set of six linear elements connected at their ends to form a regular hexagonal stage-supporting unit, each of which is substantially equal in size to at least one of the base units; and a support for supporting each corner of a stage-supporting unit above a corresponding corner of a base unit. The hexagon-shaped modules are connected together along their long edges to provide a space-filling stage platform. <IMAGE>

Description

Stage system The present invention is concerned with stage construction systems.

At present, the majority of stage construction systems are made up of square or rectangular modules, which imposes severe restrictions on the styles of stage which can be made. I have devised a stage construction system which offers greater flexibility in design.

According to the present invention, there is provided a stage construction system which comprises a plurality of hexagon-shaped modules, each module comprising a first set of six linear elements interconnected to form a regular hexagon-shaped base unit; a second set of six linear elements interconnected to form a regular hexagon-shaped stage supporting unit, each said stage supporting unit being of substantially the same-hexagon edge length as at least one of said base units; and means for supporting each corner of each said hexagon-shaped stage supporting unit above a corresponding hexagon-shaped base unit; said construction system further including means for securing said hexagon-shaped modules one to another.

In some embodiments of the invention, some of the six linear elements in either the stage supporting unit or the base unit may be integral or permanently connected to the limbs at the correct angle (l2O); it is, however, generally preferred that the linear elements are each separate but connectable together at a relative angle of 1200.

The means for supporting each corner of each stage supporting unit, in some embodiments of the invention, comprises at least six elongate support struts or legs for each pair of base and stage supporting unit, such that there is a. support leg for each corner of each stage supporting unit. The support struts are generally arranged substantially vertically to support the stage supporting unit substantially horizontally and parallel to the base, although they can be angled if it is desired to support the stage supporting unit at an angle to the ground. Adhere may, in addition, be support struts or legs within the area of the hexagons, such as, for example at the median point along a bracing element connecting opposed apices or edges.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, at least one support strut may be common to an adjacent pair of hexagon-shaped modules according to the invention.

The support struts can be of fixed or adjustable length; if of adjustable length, they can, in some embodiments be provided with hydraulic or other means for controllably adjusting the length thereof.

The struts and the linear elements are all preferably of tubular construction, for lightness. Sheet-like panel elements, for example of hardboard or the like, are generally provided to cover the stage supporting units. These sheet-like elements are also preferably of hexagonal shape, slightly larger than the hexagons of the stage supporting units.

There may also be provided "half-hexagon" modules, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The hexagonal modules may be interconnected in a great variety of ways, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hexagonal modules are connected edge to edge, with a module of substantially similar edge length.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures lA, 1B and 1C are respectively plan, side elevation and front elevation views of a "full" hexagonal module forming part of a stage construction system according to the invention; Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are respectively plan, side and front elevation views of a "half" module for use in a stage construction system according to the invention; Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are respectively plan, side and front elevation views of an alternative "half" module; Figures 4A and 4B are plan views showing an exemplary embodiment of means for interconnection of the modules; Figures 5A and 5B are respectively plan and front elevation views of a corner of an exemplary module;; Figure 6 is a close-up plan view of the interconnection means shown in Fig 4A; Figure 6A is a close-up view of alternative interconnection means; Figure 7 is a plan view showing how side panels may be affixed to the module; Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are respectively plan, side and front elevations showing how a flooring panel may be affixed to a module according to the invention; Figures 9A and 9B show two alternative means of using a single support strut to support two horizontal elongate elements in an exemplary module according to the invention; Figures lOA, lOB,lOC and lOD are plan views showing how support struts can be used to support more than one module in a system according to the invention; and Figures 11 to 14 are perspective views of various different stage constructions possible with a system according to the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, a "full" module forming part of the construction system according to the present invention comprises a first set of six elongate elements 1 interconnected to form a hexagon-shaped stage supporting unit 2, a second set of six elongate elements 3 similarly interconnected to form a hexagon-shaped base unit 4 of the same area as the stage supporting unit 2, and six elongate vertical support struts 5 located one at each corner of the hexagon around the module to support the stage supporting unit above the base. An additional bracing element 13 is provided in the illustrated embodiment between opposed apices of the base and/or the stage supporting unit to give extra rigidity to the module; in an alternative embodiment (not shown) a bracing element may be provided between opposed edges.A seventh vertical support strut 5 is located at the centre of bracing element 13.

The support struts 5 are, in the illustrated embodiments a sliding fit over corresponding projections 5A, SB provided respectively on stage supporting unit 2 and base unit 4, to enable the module to be easily assembled.

Referring now to Figures 2A, 2B and 2C (in which like parts are denoted by like reference numerals), a "half" module (type a) may also be provided, using only three elongate elements 1, and a central bracing strut 13 spanning opposed apices for the stage supporting unit, three corresponding elongate elements 3 and central bracing strut (not shown) to form the base, and a series of elongate support struts or legs 5 support the sewage supporting unit above the base. The struts may be provided one at each-corner, with a further one midway along bracing strut 13.

Referring now to Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, an alternative "half" module (type b) may be provided by using only two full elongate elements 1, two shortened elongate elements la and a shortened bracing strut 13a (which spans opposed parallel edges) to form the stage supporting unit, two full elongate elements 3, two shortened elongate elements 3 and a shortened bracing strut (not shown) similar to strut 13 & to form the base, and a series of elongate support struts 5 to support the stage supporting unit above the base.

The "half" modules may be used in some stage designs to fill the space between adjacent full modules to give added flexibility of design in the finished stage construction.

Referring now to Figure 4A, two full modules 6 (as shown in Figures 1A to 1C), one half module (type a - as shown in Figures 2A to 2C) and four half modules 8 (type b - as shown in Figures 3A to 3C) are rigidly interconnected by interconnecting means 9 to form a particular design of stage construction. In the type b half modules 8, additional bracing struts 10 bridging from strut 13a to the opposed apex 11 are used to impart extra rigidity to the structure.

Referring to Figure 4B, two full modules 6a (which are similar to those shown in Figures 1A to 1C except that the bracing elements, as in the "half" modules of Figures 3A to 3C) are interconnected to one half module 7 (type a) and four half modules 8 (type b); not all the connection means are shown in the illustrated embodiment.

Referring now to Figures SA and 5B, one way of joining of two adjacent elongate elements 1 is illustrated. The ends 12, 12a of the elongate elements are cut on the slant so that together they subtend an angle of approximately 120". A support strut 5 and associated projection Sa are located immediately beneath the corner to support it.

Referring now to Figure 6, an exemplary interconnecting means 9 is shown in more detail. It comprises a sleeve 9a through which passes a bolt 9b to rigidly hold the two elongate elements 1 together, the bolt 9b being secured at each end by nuts 9c, 9d.

Figure 6A illustrates an alternative interconnecting means 30 for connecting together two elomgate elements 1 of adjacent modules. The interconnecting means 30 comprises a pair of cylinders 31,32 which fit around the elongate members and a rigid bar 33 which is rigidly attached at each end to one of the cylinders, thus spanning the gap between adjacent modules. This arrangement gives greater stability than the version shown in Figure 6.

Referring now to Figure 7, six side panels 15 of wood, hardboard, plastics or similar material may be affixed to each module as shown to provide an enclosed module. The side panels have their side edges 15a, 15b cut on the slant so as to subtend a 1209 angle at each corner when fitted to the module.

Referring now to Figures 8A, 8B and 8C,.a hexagonal-shaped flooring panel 16 of wood, hardboard, plastics or similar material may be placed on top of the stage supporting unit of each module, these flooring panels being slightly larger than the stage supporting unit, thus providing a rigid continuous surface on which to walk. The flooring panel 16 is fixed to the elongate members 1 of the module by fixture means 17. Each floor panel fixture means typically comprises a spiked member for pushing into the flooring panel, which spiked member is fixed to the elongate member 1. The elongate member may also be held to the flooring panel by a bolt (not shown) held in place by a nut.

Referring to Figure 9A, there is shown the ends of two adjacent elongate elements 1 forming a stage supporting unit, and the ends of two adjacent elongate elements 3 forming a base unit; each end of element has a socket 21 therein. Strut 5 has a pair of complementary spigots 22 at each end thereof; spigots 22 engage, respectively, with sockets 20 and 21.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 9B, the strut 5 is provided with sockets 21a and the elongate elements 1,3 are provided with complementary spigots 20a,22a, respectively.

Referring to Figure lOA, there is shown the ends of two elongate elements 1 in a first hexagonal module and the ends of two elongate elements la in a second hexagonal module.

Between adjacent edges l,la is a strut or leg 5 having a plate 40 secured thereto; plate 40 has a pair of spigots 21 (similar to those described above with reference to Figures 9A and 9B) for engagement with corresponding sockets provided on elements 1.

Figure lOB is similar, except that plate 40 has three spigots such that it can engage with three hexagonal modules to act both as support for the corners and connection between the modules.

Figure lOC is again similar, except that the connection is between parallel elongate elements spaced from the hexagonal angle (the 120 angle) of a hexagonal module.

Figure lOD is again similar, but shows a connection between two "half" modules.

Figures 11 to 14 illustrate the wide degree of flexibility of the system according to the present invention, whereby any number of different designs of stage may be constructed by connecting together in the desired configuration the chosen number of full and half modules.

Claims (11)

1. A stage construction system which comprises a plurality of hexagon-shaped modules, each module comprising a first set of six linear elements interconnected to form a regular hexagon-shaped base unit; a second set of six linear elements interconnected to form a regular hexagon-shaped stage supporting unit, each said stage supporting unit being of substantially the same hexagon edge length as at least one of said base units; and means for supporting each corner of each said hexagon-shaped stage supporting unit above a corresponding hexagon-shaped base unit; said construction system further including means for securing said hexagon-shaped modules one to another.

2. A construction system according to claim 1, in which said means for supporting each corner comprises a support leg for each corner of each stage supporting unit.

3. A construction system according to claim 1, in which said means for supporting each corner includes at least some support legs which are common to an adjacent pair of said hexagon-shaped modules.

4. A construction system according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which said means for supporting each corner of said stage supporting unit is arranged to support said stage supporting unit substantially horizontally and parallel to said base unit.

5. A construction system according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which said means for supporting each corner comprises a plurality of legs, each having a first formation arranged to engage with a complementary formation provided on a first one of said first set of linear elements and a second formation arranged to engage with a second complementary formation provided on a second one of said first set of linear elements.

6. A construction system according to claim 5, in which said complementary formations comprise sockets and spigots.

7. A construction system according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which at least some of said stage supporting units further comprise a bracing element arranged to connect opposed apices of said unit.

8. A construction system according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which said linear elements are of tubular construction.

9. A construction system according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which said means for securing said modules comprises a plurality of bolts, each arranged to be secured through apertures in linear elements of adjacent modules.

10. A construction system according to any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a plurality of hexagonal flooring panels, each slightly larger than a hexagon-shaped stage-supporting unit and arranged to be secured thereto.

11. A stage construction system according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.