Staging transport assembly and method

{
  "publication_number": "US9689171B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Staging transport assembly and method",
  "abstract": "A staging transport assembly comprises a base plate, an L-shaped attachment piece, a fastener to couple the base plate to the L-shaped attachment piece, a support plate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface where the second surface is coupled to the base plate, and at least two wheels coupled to the first surface of the support plate. The base plate comprises a first edge having a first protrusion and a second opposing edge having a second protrusion and further comprises a first surface and a second opposing surface. The L-shaped attachment piece includes a short side comprising a cavity configured to receive the first protrusion of the base plate, a first end terminating in a lip, and a second opposing end coupled with a long side disposed along a portion of the first surface of the base plate when the cavity is mated with the first protrusion.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A staging transport assembly, comprising: a base plate comprising a first edge having a first protrusion and a second opposing edge having a second protrusion and further comprising a first surface and a second opposing surface; an L-shaped attachment piece, wherein a short side comprises a cavity configured to receive the first protrusion of the base plate, a first end terminating in a lip and a second opposing end coupled with a long side, where the long side is disposed along a portion of the first surface of the base plate when the cavity is mated with the first protrusion; a fastener configured to couple the base plate to the L-shaped attachment piece; a support plate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface where the second surface is coupled to the base plate; and at least two wheels coupled to the first surface of the support plate.",
    "2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lip of the short side of the L-shaped attachment piece protrudes away from the base plate when the cavity is mated with the first protrusion.",
    "3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener.",
    "4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener is further configured to secure the staging transport assembly to a staging platform.",
    "5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the base plate is adjacent the L-shaped fastener when the fastener is tightened.",
    "6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the L-shaped attachment plate and the base plate comprise respective apertures configured to receive the fastener.",
    "7. A portable staging system, comprising: a staging platform comprising at least one contoured edge surface; and at least one transport assembly comprising at least two wheels coupled to a first surface of a support plate, wherein an opposing, second surface of the support plate is coupled to an attachment assembly, wherein the attachment assembly comprises: a base plate comprising a first edge having a first protrusion and a second opposing edge having a second protrusion and further comprising a first surface and a second opposing surface; an L-shaped piece, wherein a short side comprises a cavity configured to receive the first protrusion of the base plate, a first end terminating in a lip and a second opposing end coupled with a long side, where the L-shaped piece is rotatable about the first protrusion when the cavity is mated with the first protrusion; and a fastener configured to couple the base plate to the L-shaped piece and wherein the attachment assembly is hookably engaged with the contoured edge surface of the staging platform.",
    "8. The system of claim 7, wherein the staging platform comprises at least three legs for engaging a support surface, and when the staging platform is in a position for use substantially parallel to the support surface where the legs engage the support surface, the at least one transport assembly is substantially parallel to the legs and suspended above the support surface.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, wherein a majority of the length of the support plate is positioned below a bottom surface of the staging platform when the platform is in the position for use.",
    "10. The system of claim 7, wherein the contoured edge surface comprises a plurality of channels and lips and the attachment assembly comprises corresponding mating protrusions for hooked engagement with the contoured edge surface.",
    "11. The system of claim 7, wherein the second protrusion of the base plate and the lip of the short side of the L-shaped attachment piece are configured to hookably engage the contoured edge surface of the staging platform.",
    "12. The system of claim 7, wherein the attachment assembly is fastened to the staging platform.",
    "13. The system of claim 7, wherein the transport assembly comprises at least three wheels.",
    "14. The system of claim 7, wherein the support plate is removable.",
    "15. The system of claim 7, comprising at least two transport assemblies.",
    "16. The system of claim 7, wherein the staging platform comprises two panels configured to fold to a collapsed position where a first panel is substantially adjacent the second panel.",
    "17. A method, comprising: engaging a protrusion of a transport assembly base plate with a first channel of a contoured edge of a platform; engaging a lip of a transport assembly L-shaped piece with a second channel of the contoured edge of the platform; tightening a transport assembly fastener to rotate the L-shaped piece to dispose a long side of the L-shaped piece adjacent the base plate and fix the transport assembly to a position along the contoured edge; rotating the staging platform to engage the transport assembly with a support surface; and moving the staging platform to a second location.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: folding the staging platform to position a first panel substantially adjacent a second panel.",
    "19. The method of claim 17, wherein three or more legs are coupled to the staging platform and the method includes positioning the legs substantially adjacent the staging platform in a position for transport."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure is directed to portable and modular staging. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to transportable staging platforms.\n\nMany venues such as those for educational, religious, sporting, and performing arts organizations do not provide permanent staging structures for performances. Instead, they either rent or own temporary staging equipment. This equipment can be large and unwieldly. For example staging platforms can weigh approximately 100 to 150 pounds and can have dimensions of up to approximately four feet by 8 feet, which presents obstacles to portability and efficient installation.\n\nIn the past, staging platforms have been transported with a separate piece of equipment such as a cart or carriage that may be specially designed to accommodate certain platforms. These carts can include manual lifts or hydraulics in order to lift the platforms, and they need to be stored along with the staging equipment. Alternatively, certain staging platforms are designed with an intricate transport system built into the underside of the platform. For example, the platform may be foldable and a system of wheels descends when the platform is folded into a storage position. Both of these approaches can increase the complexity of transporting the platforms and can be costly. Staging systems, and especially platforms, are beneficial when they are affordable, readily transported, easy to set up/take down, and provide a solid stable surface which meets mandated safety requirements.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04H 3/28"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04H 3/28"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Staging Concepts Acquisitions Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Dale William Cartwright",
    "Travis William Raida",
    "Jonathan M. Chase"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-06-15",
  "publication_date": "2017-06-27",
  "grant_date": "2017-06-27",
  "priority_date": "2016-06-15",
  "application_number": "US-201615183517-A",
  "family_id": "59069509",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}