Self supporting and portable aerial rigging structure for aerialists

Abstract

Presented is a rigging structure with a mechanical advantage of being lifted and suspended above the ground surface using one or more pulley block and tackle systems and/or winch systems. The rigging structure includes a pivoting head portion, four legs, and four feet. The head portion includes a central shaft held between a pair of holders. Each of the holders includes a pair of legs connecting arms. Each of these legs connecting arms is connected to a first leg section and one or more second leg sections and finally to feet to form the legs. The bottom of the legs or feet is interconnected using metal or non-metal wires for preventing any buckling effect due to load attached to the rigging structure. The bottom of the legs are connected by pulling first pair of legs towards second pair or legs or vice versa using pulley block and tackle system capable of exerting required pull force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . The rigging structure ( 100 ) comprising:
 a plurality of legs ( 104 ), each consists of multiple leg sections ( 104   a ,  104   b ) interconnecting each other;   a plurality of feet ( 106 ), each connected to one end of the legs ( 104 );   a head portion ( 102 ) having a central shaft ( 108 ) held between a pair of holders ( 110   a ,  110   b ); wherein the holders ( 110   a ,  110   b ) include a pair of legs connecting arms ( 112   a ,  112   b ) connected to the legs ( 104 );   wherein the bottom of the legs ( 104 ) is interconnected using wires for preventing any buckling effect due to the load attached to the structure ( 100 );   wherein the head portion ( 102 ) acts as a pivoting point for the structure ( 100 ) and legs connecting arms ( 112   a ,  112   b ) and side plates ( 113   a ,  113   b ) of the holders ( 110   a ,  110   b ) are rotatable sidewise;   wherein the bottom of the legs ( 104 ) is connected by pulling first pair of legs of the plurality of legs ( 104 ) towards the second pair of legs of the plurality of legs ( 104 ) or vice versa using a pulley block and tackle system.   
     
     
         2 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the holders ( 110   a ,  110   b ) comprises a pair of opposing plates ( 111   a ,  111   b ), the pair of legs connecting arms ( 112   a ,  112   b ), each rotatably connected over a rod ( 110   c ) to provide support to the shaft ( 108 ) and configured in between the pair of opposing plates ( 111   a ,  111   b ), the pair of connecting side plates ( 113   a ,  113   b ), each rotatably connected over the rod ( 110   c ) and adapted for holding the leg connecting arm ( 112   a ,  112   b ) in a required angular position. 
     
     
         3 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central shaft ( 108 ) is further comprised of a centrally located eyebolt ( 108   c ) that helps in mounting the load or any props/equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a first end ( 108   a ) of the shaft ( 108 ) is passed through the opposing plate ( 111   a ) and is received by the opposing plate ( 111   b ), and a second end ( 108   b ) thereof is passed through the opposing plate ( 111   a ) and is received by the opposing plate ( 111   b ). 
     
     
         5 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the eyebolt ( 108   c ) is but not limited to a rotating eyebolt, a swivelling eyebolt or a fixed eyebolt. 
     
     
         6 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the eyebolt ( 108   c ) is additionally provided with connectors ( 108   d ) on either side thereof to allow connectivity for props or equipment as needed. 
     
     
         7 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the legs connecting arms ( 112   a ,  112   b ) are connected to the side plates ( 113   a ,  113   b ) using one or more fasteners such as screws, nuts, and bolts. 
     
     
         8 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the each of the legs ( 104 ) includes a first leg section ( 104   a ) that gets connected to the foot ( 106 ) and one or more second leg section ( 104   b ) that gets connected to the first leg section ( 104   a ). 
     
     
         9 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first leg section ( 104   a ) further includes a cleat ( 104   e ) for tying off ropes. 
     
     
         10 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first leg section ( 104   a ) is angled at one end for connecting to the foot ( 106 ). 
     
     
         11 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of the leg sections ( 104   a ,  104   b ) is adapted to have a first part ( 105   a ) incorporating holes ( 105   c ) and a second part ( 105   b ) incorporating push buttons ( 105   d ). 
     
     
         12 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second part ( 105   b ) of a leg section  1  is inserted under the part ( 105   a ) of a leg section  2  by pressing the push buttons ( 105   d ) of the leg section  1 . 
     
     
         13 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the buttons ( 105   d ) get into the holes ( 105   c ), when the buttons ( 105   d ) on the second part ( 105   b ) of the leg section  1  is slidably inserted inside the part ( 105   a ) of the leg section  2 . 
     
     
         14 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the metal wire ( 109   a ) with two ends laid on the ground is provided with 4:1 and 2:1 pulley block and tackle systems. 
     
     
         15 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein one of the 4:1 pulley block and tackle systems is deployed for connecting to one end of the metal wire ( 109   a ) and the foot of the leg ( 104 ) and another 4:1 pulley block and tackle system is deployed for connecting to one end of another metal wire ( 109   b ) and the foot of the leg ( 104 ). 
     
     
         16 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the user is allowed to pull one end of the rope from the 4:1 pulley block and tackle systems to pull the legs ( 104 ) (pair  1  legs) together towards the pair  2  legs for raising the structure ( 100 ). 
     
     
         17 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein one of the 2:1 pulley block and tackle systems is deployed for connecting to another end of the metal wire ( 109   a ) and the foot of the leg ( 104 ) and another 2:1 pulley block and tackle system is deployed for connecting to another end of the metal wire ( 109   b ) and the foot of the leg ( 104 ). 
     
     
         18 . The structure ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the user is allowed to pull one end of the rope from the 2:1 pulley block and tackle systems to pull the legs ( 104 ) (pair  2  legs) towards pair  1  legs that raises the structure ( 100 ). 
     
     
         19 . A method for installing the system ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises steps of:
 temporarily mounting and lifting the head portion ( 102 ) over at least one pair of a support stands ( 202 );   forming the plurality of legs ( 104 ) and connecting to the head portion ( 102 );   taking the structure ( 100 ) off the stands ( 202 ) and making the structure ( 100 ) to stand on a substantially flat surface;   orienting each pair of legs ( 104 ) at a distant location from each other resulting in a lower height of the structure ( 100 );   interconnecting the legs ( 104 ) together using the wire ( 109 ) to reduce buckling effect occurring on the legs ( 104 ) while the load ( 300 ) is attached; and   increasing the height of the structure ( 100 ) to a desired level above ground by pulling the pair of legs  1  or  2  towards each other.   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein forming the plurality of legs ( 104 ) further comprises steps of:
 connecting one or more second leg sections ( 104   b ) to each of the legs connecting arms ( 112   a ,  112   b ) of the head portion ( 102 ) by rotating the head portion ( 102 ) of the holders ( 110   a ,  110   b ) over the stands ( 202 );   connecting the first leg section ( 104   a ) to the second leg sections ( 104   b ); and   connecting the first leg section ( 104   a ) of each of legs ( 104 ) to the feet ( 106 ).