A covered stand The present invention relates to a covered stand comprising a number of supports arranged mutually separately in the transverse direction of the stand, the upper edges of the supports being shaped like steps of a stair rising from the front of the stand towards its back, a number of cross-sectionally L-shaped beams of reinforced concrete extending in the longitudinal direction of the stand, the beams resting on the steps of the supports and forming seating, a number of roof frames each fastened at one end to its support at an upper hind-most portion thereof, the roof frames extending across the stand towards its front, and a roof surface supported by said roof frames and substantially covering the seating.

A covered stand of this type is known from the French patent publication No. 2, 627, 792. In this prior- art stand, the supports consist in two separate pillars together supporting an inclined concrete beam, the upper edge of which is provided with steps for supporting the L-shaped beams forming the seating. The upper end of the inclined beam is cantilevered from the associated pillar, and on the cantilevered end is bolted a mast which, at its middle, supports one end of a roof surface covering the seating, the outer portion of the roof surface being suspended in a tension member connected to the top of the mast. Via another tension member, the lower end of the mast is connected to the inclined beam.

The stand has the disadvantage that the pillars and the inclined beam are cast on site, which entails major work efforts for setting up formwork, arrangement of reinforcement and casting of concrete as well as subsequent mounting of many individual components. These work efforts are therefore very expensive and result in

a lengthy building process. It is a further disadvantage that any later increase of the capacity of the stand by extension using the same method of construction results in comprehensive works on the building site. It is also a disadvantage that in practice the prior-art stand cannot be dismounted and moved to another position should this be needed.

The object of the invention is to provide a covered stand that can be mounted in substantially less time than the prior-art stand and does not entail comprehen- sive works on the building site. It is a further object to provide a covered stand which can easily be dis- mounted again and possibly remounted elsewhere.

This is achieved according to the invention with a covered stand of the type mentioned in the introduc- tion characterized in that each support is formed by a single prefabricated, largely triangular plate or support wall made of reinforced concrete, one edge of which in the position of use forms a horizontal, substantially unbroken lower edge, the second edge of which forms a substantially vertical back edge, and the third edge of which comprises said upper edge with steps, that each roof frame is manufactured as a single element of prestressed concrete, and that the roof frame is removably fastened to the support wall.

Use of a support wall generally in the shape of a triangle provides a very rigid structural member having the advantage that all forces and moments from the roof can be passed direct down to the lower edge of the member without any weak points with stress concentra- tions arising anywhere in the support wall as is the case with the prior-art structure.

The support wall according to the invention has the further advantage that when normal dimensioning regula- tions are followed, it has a wall thickness and thus a

width of the lower edge so large that under normal good soil conditions the support wall can be erected direct on a levelled ground surface without further foundation requirements. In case of a more soft soil, it is sufficient with a standard foundation, a so-called "elephant's foot ", at each end of the lower side of the support wall. Since no comprehensive earthworks, casting, etc. , are required, the work on site substan- tially comprises merely erection of support walls, mounting of L-shaped beams for seating and mounting of roof frames. Finishing works, such as mounting of roof, covering plates, rails and seats are all prepared from the factory and can rapidly be completed afterwards.

The covered stand according to the invention has the further advantage that it can easily be dismounted and remounted elsewhere. An existing stand according to the invention can be provided with further audience capacity by simply extending the stand using the same simple members as in the original stand. The said advantages are above all due to the fact that the stand with roof is substantially constructed from only three different simple members that are easy to transport and mount.

In a preferred embodiment, the roof frame and the support wall can be tightened against each other so that surfaces of said two components resting against each other are pressed against each other under all occurring loads. Such a tightened joint is especially favourable when concrete components are used, as the areas with concrete near the joint surface are thus also kept under compression regardless of the load. The joint can, in a manner known per se, be executed as a bolted connec- tion with tightened bolts, or as a connection using pretensioned cables.

In other preferred embodiments, the support wall and/or the L-shaped beams may be made of prestressed concrete if increased strength of these components is required.

In a second embodiment, the hind-most portion of the support wall may project above the remaining part of the support wall like a short pillar. This ensures sufficient standing height above the uppermost row of seating.

In a third embodiment, two adjacent support walls may be interconnected by means of a prefabricated wall arranged in the longitudinal direction of the stand and preferably made of reinforced, possibly prestressed concrete to absorb forces acting on the stand in the longitudinal direction. A typical stand may consist of four support walls erected at even intervals in mutually parallel planes. This forms three sections between the support walls, and in consideration of the stability of the stand it is expedient to connect the two middle support walls with a longitudinal wall to form a stable core in the structure. As suggested in a fourth embodi- ment, the support walls in the two end sections can be interconnected by means of cross bracings for further stabilization of the stand.

The roof frames can also be stabilized by interconnection of two adjacent roof frames by means of a cross bracing that may be located in a plane substan- tially parallel with the plane of the roof surface.

In yet another embodiment, the roof surface may be formed like a disc that stabilizes the roof.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of an embodiment and with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A in Fig. 2 of a covered stand according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the back of part of the stand in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a partially sectional detailed view of a joint between a support wall and a roof frame.

Fig. 1 shows a support wall 1 having an upper edge 2 formed like a stair with steps 3,4, a lower edge 5 and a back edge 6. At the back edge 6, the support wall 1 has an extension 7 that forms a short pillar. On the upper edge 2 of the support wall, longitudinal L-shaped beams 10, on which seat rows 11 are mounted, are arranged on the step surfaces 4.

Fig. 1 also shows a roof frame 20 which has a recess 24 in its middle part to reduce the weight of the roof frame. At its lower surface 23, the roof frame 20 is clamped to the upper surface 8 of the pillar part 7 as described in more detail below in connection with the description of Fig. 3.

A stabilizing longitudinal wall 32 interconnecting two adjacent support walls can be seen at the back 6 of the support wall 1. A rail 12 is arranged behind the uppermost row of seating, and a corresponding rail extending from the front of the stand to its back (not shown in the Figure) is provided at each end of the stand.

The roof is constructed by means of longitudinal purlins 25 mounted on the roof frames 20. Roof panels 26, such as steel sheets are laid over the purlins. The front end 22 of the roof frame has a barge board 27, and a covering plate 28, which may also consist of steel sheets, is mounted at the back end 21 of the roof frame.

Mounting of rails, seats, cross bracings, roof purlins and covering plates at the back end of the roof frames is facilitated by the fact that the factory has already cast in fittings for these structural members. Said structural members may be mounted in a removable manner

to further facilitate the work in case of any dismount- ing and remounting of the stand.

Fig. 2 shows two sections of a 3-section stand extending towards the right in the Figure. For the sake of clarity, the roof 26 is only shown schematically, and the covering plate 28, the rail 12 and the seats 11 are omitted. It is seen that the middle section has been stabilized by the use of a longitudinal prefabricated wall 32, while the outer sections are stabilized by means of cross bracings 30. Above the stabilizing wall 32 a further cross bracing 31 is provided to ensure the stability of the roof structure. It is seen that space occurs below the seating that may, for example, be used for sports accessories.

Fig. 3 shows the pillar part 7 of the support wall 1, and angle brackets with threaded bushings 40 cast into the upper surface 8 of the pillar part. Steel abutments 41 are cast into the lower surface of the roof frame. Long bolts 42 are inserted from the upper side of the roof frame through through-going holes 43 in the roof frame and screwed into said threaded bushings. The bolts 42 are tightened to a predetermined value that ensures that the joint surfaces are pressed against each other at all occurring loads on the structure.