Self-elevating staging with rack-and-pinion posts

Abstract

A staging system includes vertical posts each with rack gears disposed along their lengths. A self-propelled truss-support collar with a motor and pinion gear can climb up and down the vertical post by engaging the rack gear. A battery inside the collar provides electrical power to the motor so AC utility power is not needed. The collar provides an anchoring plate for attachment and support of horizontal staging trusses for assembly on the ground and self-elevation overhead. A protective track cover tape in the vertical post hides the rack gear from view. A threading roller in the collar routes the protective track cover tape around the pinion gear so it can engage the rack gear.

1 . A staging system, comprising: 
 a vertical post with a rack gear disposed along a part of its length;    a self-propelled motorized collar with a motor and pinion gear for climbing up and down the vertical post by engaging said rack gear; and    a battery disposed within the collar and providing for electrical power to said motor;    wherein, the collar provides an anchoring plate for attachment and support of horizontal staging trusses for assembly on the ground and self-elevation aloft.    
   
   
       2 . The staging of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a protective track cover tape disposed in the vertical post and for hiding the rack gear from view; and    a threading roller disposed in the collar for routing the protective track cover tape around said pinion gear.    
   
   
       3 . The staging of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 more vertical posts and corresponding collars all inter-connected by horizontal staging trusses in adaptable configurations, and wherein the motors are synchronized to move at least two collars up and down in tandem.    
   
   
       4 . The staging of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a brake included in said motor for holding the position of said pinion gear when said motor is off.    
   
   
       5 . The staging of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a box-channel and U-channel combination disposed in the post and for providing vertical support of said self-propelled motorized collar and pinion drive gear; and    a rack gear inset into one longitudinal surface of the box-channel for providing vertical gearing to said pinion drive gear.    
   
   
       6 . A staging system, comprising: 
 a set of four vertical posts each with a rack gear disposed along a substantial part of their lengths;    a corresponding set of four synchronized and self-propelled truss-support collars each with a motor and pinion gear for climbing up and down respective vertical posts in tandem by engaging the post rack gears;    a protective track cover tape disposed in the vertical post and for hiding the rack gear from view; and    a threading roller disposed in the collar for routing the protective track cover tape around and behind said pinion gear so it can engage said rack gear;    wherein, each collar provides an anchoring plate for attachment and support of horizontal staging trusses for assembly on the ground and self-elevation aloft.    
   
   
       7 . The staging of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 at least one battery providing for electrical power to said motors so that utility power is not required to elevate or de-elevate said horizontal trusses.    
   
   
       8 . The staging of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the self-propelled truss-support collars are such that said motors include means for uniform lifting of the whole given non-uniform loading amongst them.