Performance stage deck and assembly method

A performance stage deck comprising a plurality of interlocked deck segments which together form a substantially continuous performance surface, wherein at least some of the deck segments are reusable segments comprising:

• a frame including a top, a bottom, a first pair of opposed sides, and a second pair of opposed sides;
• guide means on said first pair of opposed sides, including an elongated alignment member projecting from one side and a receptacle with an outwardly-flared opening for a like elongated member on the other side, to vertically and horizontally align those sides with sides of adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• guide means on said second pair of opposed sides, including an elongated tongue element on one side and an elongated groove element on the other with low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding movement between engaged complimentary members on adjacent segments, to vertically align those sides with adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• low-friction pads on the bottom of the frame to facilitate sliding the deck segments across a stage surface to engage complimentary guide means on adjacent deck segments;
• an upper deck surface comprising a flat sheet which is supported by the top of the frame and overhangs the sides of the frame sufficiently to cover the guide means and provide an essentially continuous surface between adjacent deck segments;
• lock means to interlock aligned sides of adjacent deck segments;
• and
• at least one deck segment comprising a track for supporting cables between the top and bottom of the frame.

A performance stage deck comprising a plurality of interlocked deck segments which together form a substantially continuous performance surface, wherein at least some of the deck segments are reusable segments comprising:

• a frame including a top, a bottom, a first pair of opposed sides, and a second pair of opposed sides;
• guide means on said first pair of opposed sides, including an elongated alignment member projecting from one side and a receptacle with an outwardly-flared opening for a like elongated member on the other side, to vertically and horizontally align those sides with sides of adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• guide means on said second pair of opposed sides, including an elongated tongue element on one side and an elongated grove element on the other with low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding movement between engaged complimentary members on adjacent segments, to vertically align those sides with adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• low-friction pads on the bottom of the frame to facilitate sliding the deck segments across a stage surface to engage complimentary guide means on adjacent deck segments;
• an upper deck surface comprising a flat sheet which is supported by the top of the frame and overhangs the sides of the frame sufficiently to cover the guide means and provide an essentially continuous surface between adjacent deck segments;
• lock means to interlock aligned sides of adjacent deck segments;
• and
• wherein the upper surface includes an elongated opening above a track, the opening being adapted to permit movement of a dog along said opening and thereby enable moving objects connected to said dog across the performance surface.

A performance stage deck comprising a plurality of interlocked deck segments which together form a substantially continuous performance surface, wherein at least two of the deck segments are basic structural segments and at least one deck segment comprises a track segment for supporting cables between the top and bottom of the frame,

• the basic structural segments comprising
• a frame including a top, a bottom, a first pair of opposed sides, and a second pair of opposed sides;
• guide means on said first pair of opposed sides, including an elongated alignment member projecting from one side and a receptacle for a like elongated member on the other side, to vertically and horizontally align those sides with sides of adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• guide means on said second pair of opposed sides, including an elongated tongue element on one side and an elongated groove element on the other with low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding movement between engaged complimentary members on adjacent segments, to vertically align those sides with adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• low-friction pads on the bottom of the frame to facilitate sliding the deck segments across a stage surface to engage complimentary guide means on adjacent deck segments;
• an upper deck surface comprising a flat sheet which is supported by the top of the frame and overhangs the sides of the frame sufficiently to cover the guide means when engaged with complimentary means and provide an essentially continuous surface between adjacent deck segments;
• and
• lock means to interlock aligned sides of adjacent deck segments;
• and
• the cable track segment comprising
• an upper surface including an elongated opening above a track, the opening being adapted to permit movement of a dog along said opening and thereby enable moving objects connected to said dog across the upper surface.

A performance stage deck cable track segment comprising:

• a frame including a top, a bottom, a first pair of opposed sides, and a second pair of opposed sides;
• an upper deck surface supported by the top of the frame;
• guide means on said first pair of opposed sides to vertically align those sides with adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• lock means to lock aligned sides of adjacent deck segments;
• a track for guiding a dog between the top and bottom of the frame;
• and
• an elongated opening above the track, the opening being adapted to permit movement of a dog along said opening and thereby enable moving of objects connected to said dog across the performance surface.

A method for assembling a performance stage deck comprised of a plurality of interlocked deck segments which together form a substantially continuous performance surface, the method comprising:

• (a) providing at least two reusable deck segments which each comprise
• a frame including a top, a bottom, a first pair of opposed sides, and a second pair of opposed sides;
• an upper deck surface supported by the top of the frame;
• guide means on said first pair of opposed sides to vertically and horizontally align those sides with adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• guide means on said second pair of opposed sides to vertically align those sides with adjacent deck segments having complimentary guide means;
• lock means to lock aligned sides of adjacent deck segments;
• and
• at lest one track segment comprising a track for supporting cables between the top and bottom of the frame;
• (b) sliding the segments over the surface of a stage to engage complimentary guide means on the two deck segments;
• and
• (c) engaging said lock means to interlock the two deck segments.