Portable support platform system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617133-B2
Application number	US-201213707156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2012
Priority date	Dec 6, 2012
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A portable support platform system and method for assembling the system are provided. The portable support platform system includes a support platform configured to receive theatrical devices and an orientation member attached to the support platform. The orientation member includes an arcuate surface configured to receive a flexible member. The flexible member is fixably attached to the orientation member at one or more locations along the arcuate surface to permit orientation and movement of the support platform when the flexible members are deployed or retracted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable support platform system comprising:
a support member, the support member being disposable above a reference surface and to which is affixed at least a pair of theatrical devices each emitting visible emissions and/or audible emissions, at least a portion of such visible emissions or audible emissions each forming a respective beam of emissions having a terminus at one of the theatrical devices, the support member having one end and an opposite end, a longitudinal axis delimited by the pair of ends, and a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and one of the pair of theatrical devices being affixed to the support member at a spacing from the other of the pair of theatrical devices as viewed relative to the longitudinal axis of the support member, the first theatrical device emitting a beam of visible emissions and/or a beam of audible emissions along a respective emission axis and the second theatrical device emitting a beam of visible emissions and/or a beam of audible emissions along a respective emission axis, and the emission axis of the first theatrical device and the emission axis of the second theatrical device being at a predetermined orientation to one another and the first theatrical device and the second theatrical device being affixed to the support member such that their respective emission axes intercept the reference surface through a range of angular positions of the support member relative to the lateral axis;
an orientation member attached to the support member; and
re-orientation reaction member, the re-orientation reaction member being operatively intermediate the support member and a load bearing structure that is at a height above the reference surface greater than the support member such that, as the support member and the thereon affixed theatrical devices is suspended from the load bearing structure, an amount of the load of the support member, ranging from substantially entirely the load up to the entirety of the load, being applied via the re-orientation reaction member on the load bearing structure, and the re-orientation reaction member and the orientation member being in engagement with one another such that a movement of the re-orientation reaction member is transmitted via the orientation member to the support member in a manner that effects a re-orienting shift of the support member about its the lateral axis from a starting angular position to a new angular position of the support member relative to the lateral axis, the shift of the support member about the lateral axis changing the height of the first theatrical device relative to the height of the second theatrical device, as measured relative to the reference surface under a measurement condition in which this change in the relative heights of the first theatrical device and the second theatrical device is to be measured subject to the stipulation that the emission axis of the first theatrical device and the emission axis of the second theatrical device maintain the same predetermined orientation to one another both at their respective dispositions at the starting angular position of the support member before the re-orienting shift of the support member and at their respective dispositions after the re-orienting shift of the support platform, and the respective emission axes of the first theatrical device and the second theatrical device intercepting the reference surface at both the starting angular position of the support member and the new angular position of the support member.

2. The portable support platform system of claim 1 , wherein the orientation member includes a generally arcuate surface, the re-orientation reaction member is a flexible member operable to flexibly conform to the generally arcuate surface of the orientation member as the flexible member is moved, and the first theatrical device and the second theatrical device are each affixed to the support member in a manner in which each theatrical device is individually adjustably re-positionable relative to the support member, wherein a given orientation of the emission axis of the first theatrical device and the emission axis of the second theatrical device to each other, or a given pair of orientations of both the first theatrical device and the second theatrical device to the support member, can be changed via adjusting the position of one or both of the first theatrical device and the second theatrical device relative to the support member.

3. The portable support platform system of claim 2 , wherein the re-orientation reaction member is attached to a moveable trolley.

Assignees

• Tait Towers Inc
• Tait Towers Mfg Llc

Inventors

• Davis Adam
• Kicera Tyler

Classifications

• F21V21/15

  specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control · CPC title

• B66F11/00 Primary

  Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for (ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting or manoeuvring the vehicle B60S9/00) · CPC title

• F16M13/027 Primary

  Ceiling supports · CPC title

• F16M11/18

  with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• F21W2131/406

  for theatres, stages or film studios · CPC title