Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6769738
-
Patent Number
6,769,738
-
Date Filed
Thursday, November 6, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 3, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Cuomo; Peter M.
- Vu; Stephen
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 297 232
- 297 248
- 297 335
- 052 8
- 052 9
- 052 10
- 070 261
- 248 188
- 248 501
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
Seat units in a row of seat units are each connected to an operating bar that is rotationally mounted on a support surface. Rotation of the operating bar causes the seat units of the row of seat units to move from a use orientation, wherein the seat elements thereof are oriented essentially parallel to the support surface, to a cleaning orientation, wherein the seat elements of the seat units are oriented at an oblique angle to the support surface whereby the seat units are moved to an orientation in which cleaning beneath the seat units can be effected.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of furniture, and to the particular field of movable and collapsible furniture.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Attending sporting events, as well as attending concerts, theater, and the like, are extremely popular forms of entertainment. In all of these situations, people are seated for at least part of the performance. Therefore, the design of seats used at such events have received attention in the furniture art. There have been several innovations in this art in recent times. For example, stadium seating has been used in theaters and the like.
However, while there have been advances in several areas of such seating, there has been one area that seems to have been overlooked and is in need of improvement. That area involves the cleaning of a stadium or a theater after the people leave. People often eat at their seats before, during, and after an event. In fact, such action is often greatly encouraged by most event promoters. While food consumption may have many advantages, the debris left behind is a disadvantage. Clean-up crews often spend many hours cleaning a stadium or a theater after an event. This is a costly and time-consuming operation and may affect the scheduling of later events at the same venue. Therefore, anything that will improve the efficiency of a clean-up operation may have significant advantages.
Cleaning around and under seats is especially difficult and time-consuming. Workers often must actually get down on their hands and knees to be sure that areas under all seats are completely clean. This difficulty is exacerbated when there is a long row of seat. Gaining access to the areas beneath seats in a long row of seats can be very difficult and awkward.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to make cleaning under seats in a row of seats easy and expeditious.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide furniture that is easily manipulated for cleaning purposes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide rows of seats that are easily manipulated.
It is another object of the present invention to provide rows of seats that can be easily manipulated from a use orientation to an orientation which provides access to the area under the seats in the row of seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by an anchored, releasably tiltable row of seats which comprises a support surface; a row of seat units having a plurality of side-by-side seat units on the support surface; an operating bar fixedly connected to each seat unit of the plurality of seat units, the operating bar having a longitudinal axis and a first end having key-accommodating elements therein; an operating bar support bracket mounted on the support surface, the operating bar being rotationally mounted on the operating bar support bracket to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the operating bar; a key element sized and shaped to be accommodated in the key-accommodating elements of the operating bar to rotate the operating bar via the key element. The seats units of the plurality of seat units being movable with the operating bar to move between a first orientation having a seat of each seat unit oriented parallel to the support surface and a second orientation having the seat of each seat unit oriented at an oblique angle to the support surface.
The seat units can thus be oriented in a use orientation for accommodating seating, but can be easily moved into a cleaning orientation in which a great part of each of the seat units is in an orientation that frees the space beneath the seat units for access. Cleaning, or the like, can thus be effected beneath the out-of-the way seat units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a row of seats which are movable in accordance with the teaching of the present invention and which are in a use orientation.
FIG. 2
is a side elevational view of a seat in a tilted orientation in accordance with the teaching of the present invention.
FIG. 3
shows a key used to move the row of seats from the
FIG. 1
use orientation to the
FIG. 2
tilted orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
As shown in the figures, the present invention is embodied in an anchored, releasably tiltable row of seats
10
that can be moved between a use orientation suitable for seating and a cleaning orientation in which the area beneath the present invention
10
is accessible. The anchored, releasably tiltable row of seats
10
comprises a first seat unit
12
which includes a first side
14
having, in a use orientation shown in
FIG. 1
, a bottom edge
16
of the first side
14
, a top edge
18
of the first side
14
, a front edge
20
of the first side
14
, a rear edge
22
of the first side
14
, a transverse axis
24
of the first side
14
extending between the front edge
20
of the first side
14
and the rear edge
22
of the first side
14
, a longitudinal axis
26
of the first side
14
extending between the bottom edge
16
of the first side
14
and the top edge
18
of the first side
14
, an inside surface
30
, and an outside surface
32
.
A second side
40
is spaced apart from the first side
14
and has, in the use orientation shown in
FIG. 1
, a bottom edge
42
of the second side
40
, a top edge
44
of the second side
40
, a front edge
46
of the second side
40
, a rear edge
48
of the second side
40
, a transverse axis
50
of the second side
40
extending between the front edge
46
of the second side
40
and the rear edge
48
of the second side
40
, and a longitudinal axis
52
of the second side
40
extending between the bottom edge
42
of the second side
40
and the top edge
44
of the second side
40
. The second side
40
further includes an inside surface
54
and an outside surface
56
. A width direction
58
extends between the first side
14
and the second side
40
.
A first arm rest
60
is located on the top edge
18
of the first side
14
, and a second arm rest
62
is located on the top edge
44
of the second side
40
.
A first front foot
66
is located on the bottom edge
16
of the first side
14
near the front edge
20
of the first side
14
and a second front foot
68
is located on the bottom edge
42
of the second side
40
near the front edge
46
of the second side
40
. A first rear foot
70
is located on the bottom edge
16
of the first side
14
near the rear edge
22
of the first side
14
, and a second rear foot
72
is located on the bottom edge
42
of the second side
40
near the rear edge
48
of the second side
40
. The second rear foot
72
is identical to the first rear foot
70
.
A back support element
74
of the first seat unit
12
is fixed to the rear edge
22
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
and to the rear edge
48
of the second side
14
of the first seat unit
12
and extends from the rear edge
22
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
to the rear edge
48
of the second side
40
of the seat unit
12
. The back element
74
also extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis
26
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
.
A seat element
76
of the first seat unit
12
is fixed to the inside surface
30
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
and to the inside surface
54
of the second side
40
of the seat unit
12
and extends from adjacent to the front edge
20
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
to adjacent to the rear edge
22
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
and adjacent to the back support element
74
of the first seat unit
12
. The seat element
76
of the first seat unit
12
is located between the top edge
18
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
and the bottom edge
16
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
.
A second seat unit
90
is located adjacent to the first seat unit
12
. Additional seat units are also included but will not be discussed as those skilled in the art will understand what elements are included in such additional seat units from the teaching of the present disclosure. The second seat unit shares the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
as a common side
92
with the outside surface
56
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
being an inside surface of the common side
92
of the second seat unit
90
. The second seat unit
90
also shares the second front foot
68
of the first seat unit
12
as a common front foot
94
. The second seat unit
90
shares the second rear foot
72
of the first seat unit
12
as a common rear foot.
The second seat unit
90
includes a third side
96
spaced from the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
in the direction of the width direction
58
of the first seat unit
12
. Second unit
90
has, in a use orientation, a bottom edge
98
of the third side, a top edge
100
of the third side
96
, a front edge
102
of the third side
96
, and a rear edge
104
of the third side
96
. A transverse axis
106
of the third side
96
extends between the front edge
102
of the third side
96
and the rear edge
104
of the third side
96
, and a longitudinal axis
108
of the third side
96
extends between the bottom edge
98
of the third side
96
and the top edge
100
of the third side
96
. An inside surface
110
and an outside surface
112
are also included on third side
96
.
A back support element
114
of the second seat unit
90
is fixed to the rear edge
48
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
and to the rear edge
104
of the third side
96
of the second seat unit
90
. The back element
114
of the second seat unit
90
also extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis
52
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
. The back support element
114
of the second seat unit
90
is substantially co-planar with the back support element
74
of the first seat unit
12
.
A seat element
120
of the second seat unit
90
is fixed to the outside surface
56
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
and is also fixed to the inside surface
110
of the third side
96
of the second seat unit
90
. Seat element
120
extends from adjacent to the front edge
46
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
and adjacent to the front edge
102
of the third side
96
of the second seat unit
90
to adjacent to the rear edge
48
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
and adjacent to the rear edge
104
of the third side
96
of the second seat unit
90
and adjacent to the back support element
114
of the second seat unit
90
. The seat element
120
of the second seat unit
90
is located between the top edge
44
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
and the bottom edge
42
of the second side
40
of the first seat unit
12
, and is substantially co-planar with the seat element
76
of the first seat unit
12
.
The first seat unit
12
and the second seat unit
90
, like all of the other seat units of the present invention
10
, are coupled together via the common side
92
and the common front foot
94
and the common rear foot to be a single unit.
First and second seat units
12
,
90
rest on a support surface S, such as a floor, or the like.
A first support foot unit
130
is connected to the first front foot
66
of the first seat unit
12
and includes a base surface
132
which rests on support surface S and a body
134
extending upward from the base surface
132
of the first support foot
130
in the use configuration shown in FIG.
1
.
A second support foot
136
is connected to the second front foot
68
of the first seat unit
12
and includes a base surface
138
of the second support foot
136
and a body
140
. The body
140
of the second support foot
136
extends upward from the base surface
138
of the second support foot
136
in the use configuration shown in FIG.
1
. The second seat unit
90
is connected to the second support foot
136
.
An operating bar
150
is rotationally supported in the body
134
of the first support foot
130
and is also rotationally supported in the body
140
of the second support foot
136
as well as on further support feet included in the present invention
10
. The operating bar
150
extends in the width direction
58
of the first and second seat units
12
,
90
. The operating bar
150
has a first end
152
located adjacent to the outside surface
32
of the first side
14
of the first seat unit
12
and a longitudinal axis
154
which extends in the width direction
58
of the first and said second seat units
12
,
90
. The operating bar
150
is rotatable about the longitudinal axis
154
thereof. The first and second sides
14
,
40
of the first seat unit
12
and the third side
96
of the second seat unit
90
are fixedly connected to the operating bar
150
for rotational movement therewith.
The first and second seat units
12
,
90
, as well as additional seat units in the present invention
10
, move in the direction indicated in
FIG. 2
by arrow
156
as a single unit between a first orientation shown in
FIG. 1
with the seat elements thereof oriented horizontally above the support surface S and a second orientation shown in
FIG. 2
having the seat units thereof oriented at an oblique angle to the support surface S. In the orientation shown in
FIG. 2
, the area beneath the seat units, denoted by reference arrow
158
, is accessible for cleaning, or the like.
An operating connection
160
on a first end of the operating bar
150
has a plurality of teeth-accommodating holes, such as hole
162
, defined therein.
An operating key
164
has teeth, such as tooth
166
, sized and shaped to engage the teeth-accommodating holes
162
defined in the operating connection
160
and a handle
168
connected to the teeth
166
of the operating key
164
.
As discussed above, the present invention
10
may include a plurality of seat units, including a third seat unit
180
, which is identical to the second seat unit
90
and moves with the second seat unit
90
as a unit. Furthermore, a first rear foot support
192
may be located on the first rear foot
70
of the first seat unit
12
.
Operation of the present invention
10
can be understood from the foregoing. The row of seats is initially in the use orientation shown in
FIG. 1
for accommodating people such as at a sporting event or at a theater. In order to clean the floor after the event, the operating key
164
is inserted into the operating connection
160
on the end of a row of seats and is rotated. Rotation of the operating key
164
allows the row of seats to be tilted from the use orientation shown in
FIG. 1
in direction
156
′ into the
FIG. 2
cleaning orientation. Once the floor is cleaned beneath the seat units, the operating key is turned in direction
156
″ to return the seat units to the
FIG. 1
use orientation.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
Claims
- 1. An article of furniture comprising:a) a first seat unit which includes (1) a first side having, in a use orientation, a bottom edge of the first side, a top edge of the first side, a front edge of the first side, a rear edge of the first side, a transverse axis of the first side extending between the front edge of the first side and the rear edge of the first side, a longitudinal axis of the first side extending between the bottom edge of the first side and the top edge of the first side, an inside surface and an outside surface, (2) a second side spaced apart from the first side and having, in a use orientation, a bottom edge of the second side, a top edge of the second side, a front edge of the second side, a rear edge of the second side, a transverse axis of the second side extending between the front edge of the second side and the rear edge of the second side, a longitudinal axis of the second side extending between the bottom edge of the second side and the top edge of the second side, an inside surface and an outside surface, (3) a width direction extending between the first side and the second side, (4) a first arm rest on the top edge of the first side, (5) a second arm rest on the top edge of the second side, (6) a first front foot on the bottom edge of the first side near the front edge of the first side, (7) a second front foot on the bottom edge of the second side near the front edge of the second side, (8) a first rear foot on the bottom edge of the first side near the rear edge of the first side, (9) a second rear foot on the bottom edge of the second side near the rear edge of the second side, (10) a back support element of said first seat unit fixed to the rear edge of the first side of said first seat unit and to the rear edge of the second side of said first seat unit and extending from the rear edge of the first side of said first seat unit to the rear edge of the second side of said seat unit, the back element also extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the first side of said first seat unit, and (11) a seat element of said first seat unit fixed to the inside surface of the first side of said first seat unit and to the inside surface of the second side of said seat unit and which extends from adjacent to the front edge of the first side of said first seat unit to adjacent to the rear edge of the first side of said first seat unit and adjacent to the back support element of said first seat unit, the seat element of said first seat unit being located between the top edge of the first side of said first seat unit and the bottom edge of the first side; b) a second seat unit located adjacent to said first seat unit, said second seat unit sharing the second side of said first seat unit as a common side with the outside surface of the second side of said first seat unit being an inside surface of the common side of said second seat unit, said second seat unit sharing the second front foot of said first seat unit as a common front foot, said second seat unit sharing the second rear foot of said first seat unit as a common rear foot, said second seat unit including (1) a third side spaced from the second side of said first seat unit in the direction of the width direction of said first seat unit and having, in a use orientation, a bottom edge of the third side, a top edge of the third side, a front edge of the third side, a rear edge of the third side, a transverse axis of the third side extending between the front edge of the third side and the rear edge of the third side, a longitudinal axis of the third side extending between the bottom edge of the third side and the top edge of the third side, an inside surface and an outside surface, (2) a back support element of said second seat unit fixed to the rear edge of the second side of said first seat unit and to the rear edge of the third side of said second seat unit, the back element of said second seat unit also extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second side of said first seat unit, the back support element of said second seat unit being co-planar with the back support element of said first seat unit, and (3) a seat element of said second seat unit fixed to the outside surface of the second side of said first seat unit and fixed to the inside surface of the third side of said second seat unit and which extends from adjacent to the front edge of the second side of said first seat unit and adjacent to the front edge of the third side of said second seat unit to adjacent to the rear edge of the second side of said first seat unit and adjacent to the rear edge of the third side of said second seat unit and adjacent to the back support element of said second seat unit, the seat element of said second seat unit being located between the top edge of the second side of said first seat unit and the bottom edge of the second side of said first seat unit, the seat element of said second seat unit being co-planar with the seat element of said first seat unit; c) said first seat unit and said second seat unit being coupled together via the common side and the common front foot and the common rear foot to be a single unit; d) a support surface on which said first and said second seat units rest; e) a first support foot unit connected to the first front foot of said first seat unit and which includes (1) a base surface, and (2) a body extending upward from the base surface of said first support foot in the use configuration; f) a second support foot connected to the second front foot of said first seat unit and which includes (1) a base surface of said second support foot, and (2) a body of said second support foot extending upward from the base surface of said second support foot in the use configuration; g) said second seat unit being connected to said second support foot; h) an operating bar rotationally supported in the body of said first support foot and rotationally supported in the body of said second support foot and extending in the width direction of said first and second seat units, said operating bar having a first end located adjacent to the outside surface of the first side of said first seat unit and a longitudinal axis extending in the width direction of said first and said second seat units, said operating bar being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said operating bar; I) the first and second sides of said first seat unit and the third side of said second seat unit being fixedly connected to said operating bar for rotational movement therewith; j) said first and second seat units moving as a single unit between a first orientation with the seat elements thereof oriented horizontally above said support surface and a second orientation having the seat units thereof oriented at an oblique angle to said support surface; k) an operating connection on the first end of said operating bar and having a plurality of teeth-accomodating holes defined therein; 1) an operating key having teeth sized and shaped to engage the teeth-accommodating holes defined in said operating connection and a handle connected to the teeth of said operating key.
- 2. The article of furniture as described in claim 1 further including a third seat unit which shares the third side of said second seat unit and which is fixedly mounted on said operating bar for movement therewith.
- 3. The article of furniture as described in claim 2 further including a first rear foot support in the first rear foot of said first seat unit.
- 4. An article of furniture comprising:a) a support surface; b) a row of seat units having a plurality of side-by-side seat units supported on said support surface; c) an operating bar fixedly connected to each of said seat units of said plurality of seat units, said operating bar having a longitudinal axis and a first end having key-accommodating elements therein; d) an operating bar support bracket mounted on said support surface, said operating bar being rotationally mounted on said operating bar support bracket to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said operating bar; e) a key element sized and shaped to be accommodated in the key-accommodating elements of said operating bar to rotate said operating bar via said key element; and f) the seats units of said plurality of seat units being movable with said operating bar to move between a first orientation having a seat of each of said seat units oriented parallel to said support surface and a second orientation having the seat of each of said seat units oriented at an oblique angle to said support surface.
US Referenced Citations (12)
