Folding Truss System With Integrated Entertainment Technology Equipment and Method Thereof

Abstract

The described system provides a folding and self-contained truss based entertainment technology support system designed for rapid deployment. Embodiments disclose a system incorporating folding truss technology in conjunction with lighting, dimming, power and data distribution systems encompassing a complete and integrated mobile and rapid deployment lighting and lighting support system. Further embodiments describe truss systems used for the rapid deployment, installation and removal of entertainment systems including but not restricted to lighting, sound, video and scenic equipment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 018,714, filed Jan. 3, 2008, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to entertainment technology systems and in particular, to truss systems necessary to install and support entertainment systems including but not restricted to lighting, sound, video and scenic equipment in entertainment environments such as arenas, convention centers, hotel ballrooms, and theatres.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Many of the entertainment truss support systems currently used in production applications are of a cumbersome and labor intensive nature, requiring the use of hand tools and skilled labor to assemble using conventional fasteners such as nuts and bolts or pins. Common configurations are the pinned box truss as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the bolt together...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Many of the entertainment truss support systems currently used in production applications are of a cumbersome and labor intensive nature, requiring the use of hand tools and skilled labor to assemble using conventional fasteners such as nuts and bolts or pins.

While this method has proven safe when executed properly, it inherently negates the strong point of the truss tubing itself by relegating the truss joints to relying on the strength of the bolts and gusset plates as opposed to using the tubing strength as in the method shown in FIG. 1.

The use of multiple bolts to connect truss sections is thus inefficient, less than ideal structurally, and time consuming to assemble.

This assembly process is extremely labor intensive and resource consuming.

A fault in any of these areas such as an incorrectly tightened fastener or badly secured cable could create a potential safety hazard.

Further, because of the need to use the entire space beneath the final truss hang position, which can mean utilizing the entire stage area, the technicians are often under severe time constraints and pressure to vacate that space in order to make it available to other crafts, such as scenic construction, sound, video and other technical components of an entertainment event.

Further, if the floor space beneath the final rigging position is inaccessible for some reason, such as being over a seating area or pre-existing scenery or staging, then rigging prior art truss can be difficult if not impossible to achieve.

In such cases the truss may need to be assembled elsewhere on site and is then manhandled into position in a difficult and potentially dangerous manner.

The prior art systems solve neither the problem of floor space requirement nor do they provide improvements to the means of connection of the separate truss sections and associated cabling systems.

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