This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/GB2017/053567 filed Nov. 28, 2017 which designated the U.S. and claims priority to GB Patent Application No. 1620239.2 filed Nov. 29, 2016 and GB Patent Application No. 1713870.2 filed Aug. 30, 2017, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
This invention relates to seating used in arenas and venues, such as sports stadia, concert venues, and theatres capable of holding significant numbers of people.
As a result of past incidents as a result of crowd surges etc., authorities in many parts of the world have imposed regulations requiring sports and entertainment venues with tiered terracing, such as football grounds to be all seated. Unfortunately, this has not entirely eliminated standing within the seated areas either as a result of spectators standing when excited to get a better view of the action taking place, as a result of deliberate intransigence from spectators resisting the move to all seated stadia or as a result of obstructed views caused by permanent or temporary structures such as barriers, advertising boards etc. When spectators stand, other seated spectators behind those standing either stand too, or become agitated with those who are blocking their view, none of which is desired. As guard rails are not normally provided in seated accommodation there is a risk of spectators falling from height over low barriers below the regulatory (in the United Kingdom) 1.1 m in height, seat backs etc. or toppling forward and falling on top of other spectators, when they stand.
Spectators dancing in seated accommodation during concerts present significant risks of falling from height over low barriers or over seat backs. The health and safety risks of falling from height or toppling forward whilst persistently standing or dancing are significantly increased when spectators have consumed alcohol.
Persistent standing is also a customer service issue as it impacts spectator comfort, amenity and event/match day experience.
According to the present invention a seat unit for use in a seating venue comprises:
The side frames are normally arranged to restrict sideways movement of a spectator standing in the space of the seat pan when the seat pan is vertical.
In most cases the seat unit would include a guardrail or transverse barrier member between the spaced apart members, said transverse barrier member being above and behind the back support. However, in some situations, for example where the seat unit is installed for example where there is a low risk of persistent standing occurring, immediately in front of a wall or in other situations where a person will not stand or pass behind the seat unit, this can be omitted.
Although specifically designed for stepped seating venues the invention can be used in flat venues, where spectators or audiences could sit or stand times as it leads to increased safety and improved line of sight.
For most locations the height of the top of transverse barrier member, when installed on step or floor of the venue, is best set 1.1 metres above the top of a step or above the floor in a flat venue. However this could vary between 0.8 metres and 1.3 metres depending on the location of the venue and the average height of attendees at the venue.
The present invention seeks to create a safe environment that meets stadia and statutory building regulations and health and safety recommendations for able bodied adults, children, semi-ambulant, and ambulant disabled spectators, workers etc., thus reducing the safety risks associated with spectators persistently standing or dancing in tiered stands and its adverse impact on the quality of spectator viewing accommodation to an acceptable level to comply with safety and security authority regulations.
In order to facilitate use by more disabled persons, in a row of seat units according to the invention, one or more seats units may be provided with a retractable seat pan pivotally mounted on a frame wherein height of the seat pan, when in use, is at the same height as the seat pan of an adjacent seat unit according to the invention, but no footrest is provided. In such a case, optionally a raised platform is provided below the retractable seat pan at the height of a footrest, when in use, of a set unit according to the invention.
The invention should also improve the safety and welfare of workers in venues who are at risk in areas in venues where there are no are guard rails or safety barriers, or the rails or barriers are insufficiently high to protect them from harm through falling, undue crowd pressures etc. when attending incidents or on non-event days when carrying out maintenance, cleaning duties and the like.
The seat pan is normally mounted on a seat pan frame. In one arrangement one or more linkage arms connect of the seat pan mounting frame and footrest to ensure that they operate in tandem.
In such an arrangement a counter weight bar may be located at the rear of the seat.
In one arrangement the counterweight is connected to linkage arms, the counterweight and linkage arms acting together to ensure that the seat pan and footrest automatically tip up to their vertical position when the seat pan is not in use.
In another arrangement cables, wires or coil springs join the seat frame and footrest, with the counterweight tending to pull the seat and footrest to a vertical position when the seat is not in use.
In a further arrangement, coils springs may be located around the seat pan pivots or foot pan pivots, connected at one end to the seat frame or foot rest and at the other end to fixed points, the coil springs biasing the seat pan and footrest to the vertical position when the seat pan is not in use.
The side frames act as support legs and arm rests also provides containment for a spectator standing in the space occupied by the seat pan when it is not in use, restricting to a degree the sideways movement of that spectator.
The footrest is used as an aid to mount and dismount and as a foot support when the seat pan is in use.
Fixing plates are fixed to the end of the rear frame and side frames allowing the complete seat unit to be bolted onto a step's tread. Fixing plates may alternatively be fitted to the rear frame to enable the seat unit to be bolted to the step's riser.
It is preferred, where possible, that seat units are arranged in rows on the steps wherein a row is off-set behind the row in front by half the width of a seat unit.
Infill frames each being half the width of a seat unit are provided at both ends of the off-set row and comprise a secondary leg which also acts as a hand hold adjacent to the radial gangway.
As the seat pan height of seating units according to the invention is higher than the seat pan height of conventional retractable seating, in some venues it may be possible to have a floor for the front row that is lower than in conventional venues, with tiers behind similarly lower. Where this is practicable, say when the front row would be seated, then there is considerable savings in construction costs for the venue, though use the reduced total height of the tiers.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one example is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
In
The seat units in Row 2 are off-set to those in Rows 1 and 3, a sequence that is repeated in the rows behind, which significantly improves the quality of the viewing standard, for example, of Spectator 9 who looks between the heads, rather than over the heads, of spectators 7 and 8 in Row 2 who are immediately in front.
The off set of seat units with an infill frame 50 in alternate rows also improves the quality of spectator 9 sightline over the head of spectator 6 located two rows in front looking towards a focal point which in the case of football and rugby events is either one of the touch or goal lines. This sightline is known as the C Value and is illustrated more clearly in
The viewing experience of spectators in rows other than the front row is substantially improved. The front row view could be improved if there are barriers, advertising boards etc. that may restrict spectators views
In
A guardrail or transverse barrier member 13 is fixed between the side members 15 of the rear frame 11 with the top of the transverse barrier member 13 at a height of above the top the riser R5 (see
The barrier member 13 and side members 15 can be made from one piece of bent tube, or bolted or welded together. A seat pan 21 is mounted on a seat pan frame 22 which is pivotally mounted with respect to the rear frame 11. The seat pan 21 and seat pan frame extend horizontally from the rear frame 11 when the seat pan is in use (as in
A rearward directed bend or crank 14 is provided in the side frames 15 towards their tops to ensure that the barrier 13 is clear of the head of any person seated on the seat pan 21.
A footrest 25 is pivotally mounted with respect to the rear frame 11 and below the seat pan 21. A pair of linkage arms 29 are pivotally mounted with respect to the seat pan frame 22 and link the seat pan mounting frame 22 to the footrest 25. They linkage arms are also pivotally mounted on the footrest 25. As result the seat pan 21 and footrest 25 rotate in tandem, with the footrest 25 being horizontal when the seat pan 21 is horizontal, and is folded away vertically when the seat pan is folded away vertically.
The seat pan 21 is mounted on a square seat pan frame 22 with rounded corners. Seat pan pivots 23 pass into the frame 22. The seat pan pivots 23 themselves are mounted in seat pan frame pivot blocks 24 one each extending forwards one from each side of the side members 15 of rear frame 11. The seat pan 21 will thus extends forwards horizontally from the rear frame 11 when the seat pan 21 is to be used (
In the drawings, although linkage arms 29 are shown, these can be replaced by cables or coil springs in the embodiments shown, as the counterweight will return the seat pan and foot rest to the vertical position when the seat is not being sat on.
Linkage arms 29 are pivotally mounted on pivots 28 on opposite sides of the rear of seat pan frame 22 and on pivots 30 on opposite sides of the footrest 25 towards its rear. The linkage arms 29 ensure that the seat pan 21 and the footrest 25 rotate about their respective pivots 23 and 27 in tandem, with the footrest 25 being horizontal when the seat pan 21 is horizontal, and is folded away vertically adjacent the rear frame 11 when the seat pan 21 is folded away. Two arms rests 41 extend forward from the rear frame 11, one from each side 15. The arm rests 41 are supported on side frames 43. Each side frame 43 comprises a vertical section 45 and a horizontal section 47 extending from the top of the vertical section 45 to the sides 15 of rear frame 11. The arms rests 41 are mounted on the horizontal sections 47 which are spaced apart to allow the seat pan 21 freely to rotate between them and are set at a height with respect to the seat pan 21 to provide comfortable arm rests for a spectator seating on the seat pan 21. The side frames 43 provide a degree of containment for a spectator who is standing in the space which would be occupied by the seat pan, when in its horizontal position.
The bottom of each side member 15 of the rear frame 11 and the bottom of a vertical section 45 of the side frames 43 are welded to a base plate 49, which can be bolted to the top surface of a step 5. The bolts can be undone to allow the seat unit 4 to be moved or replaced.
As an alternative to bolting the base onto the top surface of the step on which the seat unit 4 is mounted, the side members 15 can be bolted directly onto the riser behind the infill unit. The bolts can be undone to allow the seat unit 4 to be moved or replaced.
Ideally the height of the seat pan 21 when horizontal is between 45 and 85 cms above the floor of the row on which it is installed.
When the seat pan is in use the footrest 25 act as a foot support for a spectator sitting on the seat pan, with this in mind, the seat pan frame pivots 23 and footrest pivots 27 should be placed so that the tops of the seat pan and the footrest are separated by between 40 cm and 55 cm.
In
The side member 52 are spaced apart by half the distance by which the side members 15 of the seating unit 4 shown in
As an alternative to the base plate being bolted onto the step on which the infill unit 50 is mounted, the side members 52 can be bolted directly onto the riser behind the infill unit.
In the arrangement described in
In the discussion of
The barrier member 13 of each seat and the upright side members 15 can be fabricated from a single piece of tube, and in that case the side members would not common between adjacent seats but would be bolted or joined together in some other way in a row. Similarly the rear frame 51 including barrier member 53 can be fabricated from a single piece of tube; the side member 52 away from the gangway would not in that construction be also the upright side member of the adjacent seat unit.
The seat units 4 as described are between 45 cm and 60 cm inclusive wide.
In
As in the earlier example, the seat units in alternate rows are off-set to improve the quality of the spectator sightline over spectators located two rows in front looking towards a focal point. The principles are again as illustrated in
In
As riser heights may vary, the overall height of the rear frame from the row that it is installed on may vary (i.e. guardrail 113 height of 1.1 m plus the height of the riser).
The seat pan 121 is pivotally mounted with respect to the rear frame 111. In
A footrest 125 pivotally on the rear frame 111 below the seat pan 121. A single or pair of connecting rods 129 (best seen in
Two arms rests 131 extend forward from the rear frame 111, one from each side 115. The arm rest are supported on side frames 133.
The side frames provide a degree of containment for spectators standing in the space of the seat pan 121 when it is folded against the rear frame 111.
The arm rests 131 and the side frame 133 are spaced apart to allow the seat pan 121 freely to pivot between them, and are set at a height with respect to the seat pan 121 to provide comfortable arm rests for a spectators seating on the seat pant 21.
The rear frame 111 comprises a top rail 113 acting as a guard rail as necessary for spectators passing or standing or dancing behind the seat unit and link side members 5, which are generally vertical, but cranked slightly rearwards near their tops where the top rail 113 joins the side members 115 so that spectators behind holding or standing in front of the guard rail 113 and are clear of spectators sittings in the seat unit.
The back support 117 is mounted in the rear frame in a position to support the back of a spectator sitting on the seat pan 121.
Seat pan 121 is mounted on a square frame 122 with rounded corners. Seat pan pivots 123 pass into the frame 12. The seat pan pivots 123 themselves are mounted in pivot blocks 124 on extending forwards one from each side of the side members 115 of rear frame 111, such that the seat pan 121 will extend forwards horizontally from the rear frame 111 when the seat pan is to be used (
A footrest 125 is mounted on a pair of opposed pivots 127 mounted in footrest pivot blocks 126 on the side members 115 below the pivot blocks 124. The seat is prevented from rotating past the horizontal point by stops 141 located on the sides 115 of the rear frame. Two connecting rods 129 are pivotally mounted in apertures 128 on opposite sides of the seat pan frame 122 and in apertures 130 on opposite sides of footrest 125. The connecting rods 129 ensure that the seat pan 121 and the footrest 125 rotate about their respective pivots 123 and 127 in tandem, with the footrest 125 being horizontal when the seat pan 121 is horizontal, and is folded away against the rear frame 111 when the seat pan is folded away. The pivot apertures 128 and 130 are best located half way between the front and back of the seat pan and footrest. Two arms rests 131 extend forward from the rear frame 111, one from each side 115. The arm rests may be provided with liquid container holders 132. The arm rests 131 are supported on side frames 133. Each side frame comprises a vertical member 135 and a horizontal arm rest supports 137 extending from the top of vertical; from the tops of poles 135 to the sides 115 of rear frame 111. The arms rests 131 and their supports 137 are spaced apart to allow the seat pan 121 freely to pivot between them and are set at a height with respect to the seat pan 121 to provide comfortable arm rests for a spectator seating on the seat pan 121.
The side frames 133 provide a degree of containment for a spectator who is standing in the space which would be occupied by the seat pan, when in its horizontal position.
The bottom of each side member 115 of the rear frame 111 and the bottom of a vertical member 135 of the side frames 133 are welded to a base plate 139, which can be bolted or otherwise fixed to the top surface of a step 2. The bolts can be undone to allow the seat unit to be moved or replaced.
Ideally the height of the seat pan when horizontal is between 40 and 85 cms above the row on which it is installed.
When the seat pan is in use the footrest 125 can act as a foot support for a spectator sitting on the seat pan, with this in mind, the pivots 123 and 127 should be placed so that the tops of the seat pan and the footrest are separated by between 40 cm and 55 cm.
A further example of a seat unit 201 according to the invention is shown in
The units 201 are mounted on terracing 202 behind wall 260 guard rail 262 mounted on a frame 264 fixed to the wall, the wall 260 being between the front row of seat units and the area in front of the terracing.
The seat units 201 are arranged in rows 203, 204 and 205 etc. on the terracing. Row 203 is offset from rows 202 and 204 and for that reason the seat unit in row 203 is shown in vertical section.
The seat unit 201 has a rear frame 211 having spaced apart side members 215. A fixed back support 217 is mounted on each of the side members 215 the rear frame 211.
A barrier member 213 is fixed between the side members 215 of the rear frame 211 with the height of the top of the transverse barrier member 213 determined as in the earlier examples.
The guard rail 262 and barrier member 213 are generally set at a height of 1.1 metres above the level of the terracing behind the guard rail or barrier member concerned
The barrier member 213 and side members 215 can be made from one piece of bent tube, or bolted or welded together. A seat pan 221 is mounted on a seat pan frame 222, a footrest 225 is pivotally mounted below the seat pan and a link bar 229 connects the seat pan frame 222 to the foot rest 225 so that the seat pan and foot rest rotate together from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. The seat pan 221 and footrest 225 project forwards from the rear of the seat unit when the seat pan 221 is in use (as in
A rearward directed bend or crank 214 is provided in the side frames 215 towards their tops to ensure that the barrier 213 is clear of the head of any person seated on the seat pan 221.
A side frame 243 is provided either side of the seat pan 221 and footrest 225. Each side frame 243 comprises a vertical section 245 and a horizontal section 247, the horizontal section being at a convenient height to act as an arm rest for a person 205 seated in the unit. The horizontal section 247 is welded or otherwise connected to a side member 215 of the rear frame 211. The bottom of the vertical section 245 and the corresponding side member 215 are welded or otherwise joined to a footplate 249 which may be bolted down.
A horizontal seat pan mounting member 224 extends between each side member 215 and the corresponding vertical section 245 of side frame 243. A horizontal footrest mounting member 228 extends between each side member 215 and the corresponding vertical section 245 of side frame 243 below the seat pan mounting member.
A seat pan pivot 223 is provided in the seat pan mounting member 224, approximately three quarters of the way between the side frame 215 and the vertical section 245. A seat pan pivot 227 is provided in the seat pan mounting member 228, approximately three quarters of the way between the side frame 215 and the vertical section 245. Pivots 223 and 227 are separated vertically by 40 cm and 55 cm
Seat pan frame 222 is extended with a section 231 at right angles to the remainder of the frame. A pivot 233 is provided in this section 231 on which one end of the link bar 229 is pivotally mounted. Footrest 225 has a pair of upstanding portions 235 in which pivots 237 are provided on which the other end of ink bar 229 is mounted.
Pivots 223 extend into the seat pan frame 222, allowing the seat pan to rotate about the seat pan mounting members 224. Pivots 237 extend into the footrest 225 allowing the seat pan to rotate about the footrest mounting members 228.
A stop pin 239 is directed inward from each footrest mounting member near the side members 215, to sop further rotation of the footrest and thus the seat pad when they reach their substantially horizontal in use positions.
It can be seen that the design in
In
In
Wheelchair users can also be accommodated within a venue using seat units according to the invention by providing a tier within the tiers of the venue, whose height is such that the eye level of a wheelchair user conforms to the c-value as discussed in relation to
Although the invention has been described with reference to particular examples, variations on the specific implementation described are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
In the description and claims the word “step” encompasses tiers and levels stacked one above another, likewise “stepped” means having steps, tiers of stacked levels; “riser” is the vertical part of a step and “tread” is the level part of a step on which the seat units are mounted.
Further details concerning the requirements for safety in England and Wales at sports ground, and design criteria for seating and standing space, is set out in the Guide to Safety at Sports grounds 5th Edition published by the Department of Culture Media and Sport [2008]—the so called “Green Guide”. Installation of seating units according to the invention in England and Wales would need to be in compliance with that Guide. It is expected that a 6th edition of the Green Guide will be issued in 2018.
Throughout the seat frame and its fixings are designed to withstand forces such as horizontal imposed being applied to the guard rail simultaneously with spectators sitting on the seats.
Although the descriptions in
Employing seating units of the kind described, when females are seated the average eye-height difference between standing or seated males and seated females is substantially reduced, meaning that females have a substantially improved view compared to standing.
The seat units described in the figures have a guardrail or transverse barrier member 13,113 between the spaced apart members above and behind the back support. However, in some situations, for example where the seat unit is installed, for example, where there is a low risk of persistent standing occurring, immediately in front of a wall or in other situations where a person will not stand or pass behind the seat unit, this can be omitted.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1620239.2 | Nov 2016 | GB | national |
1713870.2 | Aug 2017 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/GB2017/053567 | 11/28/2017 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/100347 | 6/7/2018 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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International Search Report for PCT/GB2017/053567 dated Jan. 18, 2018, 2 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190298063 A1 | Oct 2019 | US |