Moving Trolley for an I Beam Extrusion
An I beam trolley that can move along an I beam
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This application claims priority from provisional application No. 61/061,403, filed Jun. 13, 2008, and from application No. 61/165,435, filed Mar. 31, 2009, and from 61/176,692, filed May 8, 2009, the entire contents of all which are herewith incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDSupport structures are used throughout show venues such as plays and concerts. In addition, it may be useful to move items, such as props and other items to different places on the stage.
SUMMARYThe present application describes a trolley device for use on as a support beam such as an I beam. It also describes a special support beam that can be used in 2 different directions, where in one direction, the I beam part is facing downward, and in the other direction, a cavity-shaped part faces downward.
These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Embodiments refer to an I-beam trolley that has wheels that can attach to an I beam, and form a trolley device, that can hold items and travel along the trolley. Another aspect describes a special I beam track extrusion.
The figure shows how wheels can ride on the flat surface of an ibeam, to move along that flat surface.
The figures show details of construction and use.
This can be used with any support structure that has a flat surface, and is not limited to an I beam. For example, this can be used with the extrusion shown in
The top 100 is shaped like a conventional I beam where the main support 150 ends and extends outward to two arms 114, 115. There is s flat mounting surface 116 on the bar of the arms.
The bottom end 120 ends in a cavity shaped part, with surfaces 122, 123 on the inside of the cavity. The surfaces 122 may have indented portions 124, which are slightly lower than the other surfaces, to receive, for example, a mounting part for an object in a way that resists the mounting going over the edge. This may allow rolled items to roll along the track.
When used in this direction, the device may be attached at its top, using screws 102, 103 to press the mounting surface against a support. By mounting in this direction, a device can be held or can slide along the track parts while held by the portions 122, 123.
The device can be turned upside down, to have the part 100 facing down. This allows rollers to roll on the surfaces for example 112. Therefore, this device takes the place of two different tracks.
When in the orientation of
When the I-beam portion 100 is hanging downward, the special trolley system of
A first set of rollers 200, 202 are opposite to one another on the first and second housing parts respectively. A second set of rollers 210, 212 is spaced from the first set of rollers, and again opposite to one another. The rollers are rotatable along the rotational axis shown as 201 to slide along an I beam.
The bottom tangent surface 205 of the rollers can at any time be supported against the spaced outer arms 114, 115 of an I beam. This allows the trolley when in the closed position of
The item support is shown generally as 220, including a support pole 222 into which an item can be placed for holding. For example, a hook or chain can be used to hang items from the holder 222.
An alternative embodiment, shown in
In operation, the two sides 700, 705 can be separated, the trolley placed on the track, and then the sides can again be connected, for example using the connection screw 715. While
As an alternative, the trolley can be placed on an I beam from the end of that I beam without disassembling the trolley.
An alternative embodiment of the trolley with an enhanced festoon assembly is shown in
The device has, when in the non-safety mode, an opening in its front portion at 810. For example, a chain or cable can be placed into the opening, in the area generally shown as 811. This chain/cable 811 is raised over a surface 825, then rested against the curved upper surface 812 of the festoon assembly 805. Once the holding cable is put into place, a movable safety part 815 may be moved upward position to hold the cable into place.
For example,
The cross-section of
In
This safety mechanism can be used, for example, when the festoon is holding, for example, a performer. For example, the performer can be wearing straps, and carried by the festoon along the I-beam trolley.
The safety 815 can also be moved upwards as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, other sizes, materials and connections can be used. Also, the inventors intend that only those claims which use the-words “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims.
Where a specific numerical value is mentioned herein, it should be considered that the value may be increased or decreased by 20%, while still staying within the teachings of the present application, unless some different range is specifically mentioned. Where a specified logical sense is used, the opposite logical sense is also intended to be encompassed.
Claims
1. A device, comprising:
- a trolley device for traveling on a beam, that has a first housing part, having first and third wheels thereon, an oppositely facing second housing part, having second and fourth wheels thereon, where said first housing part and said second housing part are separable from one another and can be attached to be spaced from one another,
- when said first housing part is attached to said second housing part, said first and second wheels being opposite to one another, by a distance that allows the wheels to ride on arms of an I beam and where a distance between said first and second wheels fits the support part of said I beam and are separable from one another;
- said third and fourth wheels being spaced from said first and second wheels, wherein said third and fourth wheels are separable from one another, and when attached, roll along said arms of said I beam along with said first and second wheels,
- a holder, coupled between said first housing part, and said second housing part, said holder connected to move with said first and second housing, and said.
2. A device as in claim 1, wherein each of said wheels has a first smaller in diameter portion in an area further from said housing, and a second larger in diameter portion, adjacent said housing.
3. A device as in claim 2, wherein, when in the position where said first and second housing portions are attached to one another, said larger in diameter portions are separated by a distance of a desired support beam.
4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said desired support team is an I beam.
5. A device as in claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a downwardly-facing device with an open surface therein.
6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a curved surface, over which items can be hung.
7. An ibeam trolley, comprising:
- a trolley device for traveling on a flat surface of an I beam, said trolley device having a housing, multiple wheels attached to said housing that travel along the ibeam surface, and a structure that holds said trolley on said I beam; and
- a holder, coupled to said housing, said holder connected to move with said housing, and having an item holding surface.
8. A trolley as in claim 7, wherein each of said wheels has a first smaller in diameter portion in an area further from said housing, and a second larger in diameter portion, adjacent said housing.
9. A trolley as in claim 8, wherein said smaller diameter portions of said wheels are sized to fit on a desired support beam.
10. A trolley as in claim 7, wherein said surface is an opening for receiving an attachment.
11. A trolley as in claim 7, wherein said surface is a curved surface, over which items can be hung.
12. A trolley as in claim 11, wherein further comprising a safety which holds items in said surface.
13. A trolley as in claim 12, wherein said safety is a movable safety.
14. A trolley as in claim 13, wherein said safety is moved to a position where items on said surface cannot be removed from said surface without moving said safety to a non-safe position.
15. A track extrusion, comprising:
- a substantially elongated axis;
- a first portion, on a first side of the substantially elongated axis, said first portion including symmetrical portions extending in opposite directions, each of said portions being substantially flattened, and having an opposite, attachment surface; and
- a second portion, on a second side of the substantially elongated axis, said second portion including a cavity portion with inwardly facing flanges, and an open bottom.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2009
Publication Date: Jan 14, 2010
Applicant: Production Resource Group L.L.C (New Windsor, NY)
Inventor: James Kempf (Wallkill, NY)
Application Number: 12/484,191
International Classification: B61B 3/00 (20060101); E01B 25/22 (20060101);