US4232488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable stage
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-03-30
•
Granted: 1980-11-11
•
Expires: 1999-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A portable stage comprises a truck body with a fixed roof forming a main fixed panel (A) of a stage which is made by foldable side wall panels of the truck which can fold out into B, C and even D and E extensions for establishing a 30 or 40 foot or even greater width stage (using such foldable panel assemblies on either side of the truck) or fold down to an array which fits entirely within the cross section envelope or frame of the truck for over-the-road travel. The length of the stage is the length of the truck body. Practical 0°-180° movement between end to end arranged panels B and C (or between C and D or D and E) is made possible by a series of actuating assemblies running the length of the truck and each of which comprises plural linear actuating rams (hydraulically or pneumatically operated) wherein one such ram makes a forward stroke for driving a panel through an extreme acute angle range of movement (e.g., 0°-60°) and an opposite stroke for driving the same panel through extreme obtuse angle movement (e.g., 120°-180°) and the other ram makes a stroke driving the panel in between such angular rates of movement, the rams both being similarly mounted on a relatively fixed one of the two panels and attached to the relatively moveable one of two panels between which the rams operate at points offset from the panel plane on a lateral extension of the relatively moveable panel to pivot such panels about an axis located on a lateral extension of the relatively fixed panel of the pair.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Hanley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:42
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H3/00; E04H3/10; E04H3/22; E04H3/24; E04H3/28; B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/025; B60P3/0252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
Portable extendable, wide area apparatus, usable for stages and the like, mountable on and compressible to an over-the-road truck cross section frame and expandable to a flat staging width on at least one side of the truck of two or more times truck height and comprising, means forming a B panel arranged to hang vertically and pivot 0°-90° about a first pivotal axis running parallel to the truck length and located at elevation above the truck body and within the said cross section frame thereof and high enough so that the lower free end of the said B panel clears the ground when the panel is vertically arranged (at 0°), means for driving the B panel about its pivotal axis, means forming a C panel pivotally mounted to be movable 0° to 180° about a second axis running parallel to the truck length located substantially at and mounted on, but offset from said free end of the B panel and, means mounted on said B panel for driving the C panel about its pivot and comprising separate means, alternatively engageable, for driving the panel through extreme acute and obtuse angles and for driving the C panel in between said extreme angle ranges of motion, the B-C panels when at their respective 90° and 180° pivotal extensions forming a stage raised above the ground, means for supporting such raised stage, the 0° position of the C and B panels comprising a folded up panel array constituting a side wall of the truck.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
Portable extendable, wide area apparatus, usable for stages and the like, mountable on and compressible to an over-the-road truck cross section frame and expandable to a flat staging width on at least one side of the truck of two or more times truck height and comprising, means forming a B panel arranged to hang vertically and pivot 0°-90° about a first pivotal axis running parallel to the truck length and located at elevation above the truck body and within the said cross section frame thereof and high enough so that the lower free end of the said B panel clears the ground when the panel is vertically arranged (at 0°), means for driving the B panel about its pivotal axis, means forming a C panel pivotally mounted to be movable 0° to 180° about a second axis running parallel to the truck length located substantially at and mounted on, but offset from said free end of the B panel and, means mounted on said B panel for driving the C panel about its pivot and comprising separate means, alternatively engageable, for driving the panel through extreme acute and obtuse angles and for driving the C panel in between said extreme angle ranges of motion, the B-C panels when at their respective 90° and 180° pivotal extensions forming a stage raised above the ground, means for supporting such raised stage, the 0° position of the C and B panels comprising a folded up panel array constituting a side wall of the truck.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a further D panel is pivotable from the outer free end of the C panel and similarly drivable therefrom to pivot between 0° and 180° to define a stage extension of the C panel (at 180°) and to be folded under the C panel (at 0° and movable therewith and means for supporting the D panel as an extension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 1 or 2 wherein two similar pivotal panel arrays are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the truck body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 1 or 2 in combination with truck cab, and motive power and wheel means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said supporting means are pivotably mounted on the respective panels they support and nestable within the folded up panels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the C panel folds up under the B panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the C panel drive means comprise an array lengthwise of the truck of driving assemblies each of which comprise plural linear motors pivotably mounted on the B panel and having free ends connected to a tab extension of the C panel, the C panel tab extension also being pivotally mounted at said second axis to a lateral extension of said B panel, the points of attachment of the plural linear motors to the C panel tab extension being spaced therealong, the linear activators providing separate driving strokes for movement of the C panel in the extreme acute angle range, extreme obtuse angle range and in between.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
246 words
Portable extendable, wide area apparatus, usable for stages and the like, mountable on and compressible to an over-the-road truck cross section frame and expandable to a flat staging width on at least one side of the truck of two or more times truck height and comprising, means forming a B panel arranged to hang vertically and pivot 0°-90° about a first pivotal axis running parallel to the truck length and located at elevation above the truck body and within the said cross section frame thereof and high enough so that the lower free end of the said B panel clears the ground when the panel is vertically arranged (at 0°), means for driving the B panel about its pivotal axis, means forming a C panel pivotally mounted to be movable 0° to 180° about a second axis running parallel to the truck length located substantially at and mounted on, but offset from said free end of the B panel and, means for driving the C panel about its pivot and comprising separate means, alternatively engageable, for driving the panel through extreme acute and obtuse angles and for driving the C panel in between said extreme angle ranges of motion, the B-C panels when at their respective 90° and 180° pivotal extensions forming a stage raised above the ground, means for supporting such raised stage, the 0° position of the C and B panels comprising a folded up panel array constituting a side wall of the truck.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
246 words
Portable extendable, wide area apparatus, usable for stages and the like, mountable on and compressible to an over-the-road truck cross section frame and expandable to a flat staging width on at least one side of the truck of two or more times truck height and comprising, means forming a B panel arranged to hang vertically and pivot 0°-90° about a first pivotal axis running parallel to the truck length and located at elevation above the truck body and within the said cross section frame thereof and high enough so that the lower free end of the said B panel clears the ground when the panel is vertically arranged (at 0°), means for driving the B panel about its pivotal axis, means forming a C panel pivotally mounted to be movable 0° to 180° about a second axis running parallel to the truck length located substantially at and mounted on, but offset from said free end of the B panel and, means for driving the C panel about its pivot and comprising separate means, alternatively engageable, for driving the panel through extreme acute and obtuse angles and for driving the C panel in between said extreme angle ranges of motion, the B-C panels when at their respective 90° and 180° pivotal extensions forming a stage raised above the ground, means for supporting such raised stage, the 0° position of the C and B panels comprising a folded up panel array constituting a side wall of the truck.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein a further D panel is pivotable from the outer free end of the C panel and similarly drivable therefrom to pivot between 0° and 180° to define a stage extension of the C panel (at 180°) and to be folded under the C panel (at 0° and movable therewith and means for supporting the D panel as an extension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 8 or 9 wherein two similar pivotal panel arrays are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the truck body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 8 or 9 in combination with truck cab, and motive power and wheel means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 8 or 9 wherein said supporting means are pivotably mounted on the respective panels they support and nestable within the folded up panels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the C panel folds up under the B panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the C panel drive means comprise an array lengthwise of the truck of driving assemblies each of which comprise plural linear motors pivotably mounted on the B panel and having free ends connected to a tab extension of the C panel, the C panel tab extension also being pivotally mounted at said second axis to a lateral extension of said B panel, the points of attachment of the plural linear motors to the C panel tab extension being spaced therealong, the linear activators providing separate driving strokes for movement of the C panel in the extreme acute angle range, extreme obtuse angle range and in between.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 1 or 8 and further comprising means for adjusting elevation of the extended panel structure as a whole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 1 or 8 and further comprising means for pivoting the extended panel structure as a whole.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus in accordance with either of claims 1 or 8 and further comprising means for adjusting elevation of the extended panel structure as a whole, means for pivoting the extended panel structure as a whole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-11 | 1984-05-12 | 1984-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-11 | 1988-05-12 | 1988-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-11 | 1992-05-12 | 1992-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |