Patent Application
20160100692
This invention was not made by an agency of the United States Government nor under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention is directed to a device for holding the seat base portion of a stadium seat or chair in a downward or substantially horizontal orientation. The device is attachable to a seat frame member generally disposed adjacent to the seat base and extends outward and over the seat base to prevent or restrict the seat base from automatically folding upward, for example when a person stands up or leaves the seat.
Many stadiums, arenas, convention centers, theaters and similar venues are equipped with seats that are constructed to automatically pivot or move upward in the absence of a counter downward force exerted thereupon, for example, via a person's weight upon the seat base or upon the placement of an object on the seat base. The seat base is in a substantially vertical (closed or default position) when the seat is unoccupied. The seat base is moved downward to a substantially horizontal position (open or sitting position) when a person desires to occupy the seat. When the user stands up, the seat base will automatically flip or pivot upward to the closed position. Upon returning to his or her seat, the user is required to manually push the seat base down against the biasing force and into the open or sitting position that will allow the user to sit back down.
In many cases, this constant readjusting of the seat base may be bothersome, especially at sporting events or other events that may encourage periodic standing during the course of the event. In other cases, the readjusting of the seat base may be difficult to accomplish for example, in the event the person's hands are full (e.g., with food, concession items, etc.), or in the event the person is physically impaired.
There is thus a need in the art for a device that can be used to restrict the automatic positioning of the seat base from the open or sitting position to the closed or default orientation. The proposed device would advantageously be non-permanently attached (removable) to a support frame, armrest or other proximate structure and extend over a portion of the seat base in order to engage the seat base and prevent it from automatically pivoting upward. The device may be selectively positioned and attached to the support frame and selectively removed, for example, when the person or user leaves the event.
Many stadiums, arenas, convention centers, theaters and similar venues are equipped with seats that are configured for the seat base to be in a substantially vertical orientation (closed or default position) when not occupied. When a user desires to occupy his or her seat, the user must move the seat base from its closed position to a substantially vertical orientation (open or sitting position) so that the user may sit on the seat base. The seat base is structured to automatically return to the closed position when the occupier removes their weight from the seat. The present invention is directed to a device which will prevent or inhibit the seat base from moving from its open or sitting position to the closed or default position when the user is no longer occupying the seat.
The device is configured to securely, yet non-permanently, attach to a support frame, armrest, or other like member and extend outward over the seat base and into an engaging relation with the upper surface of the seat base. In this manner, the device of the various embodiments described herein is configured to maintain the seat base in the open or sitting position, even in the absence of additional downward force upon the seat base, for example, via a person's weight. In this regard, with the device installed while the seat base is disposed in the open or sitting position, when a person stands up and/or leaves the seat, the device will restrict the automatic movement of the seat base into an upright position and, instead, maintain the seat base in the sitting position.
The device includes an attachment member which is structured to engage a seat frame member in a secure manner. For instance, the seat frame member of many stadium seats, arenas, etc. are constructed with, or otherwise include, at least one substantially vertically disposed “I” beam, or a beam with the cross sectional shape substantially similar in visual appearance to the letter “I.” The “I” beam or seat frame member may include two enlarged ends connected by a center connection member, forming the “I” shape. It should also be noted that in many stadium or arena seats, the entire circumference of the support beam or “I” frame may be exposed, meaning that a person or user may be able to reach under the armrest and through to the adjacent seat. This allows the device of the present invention to attach or connect to the seat frame or “I” beam in a number of different manners, for example, along the front of the frame, side of the frame, back of the frame, or a combination thereof.
Particularly, some of the embodiments of the present invention may engage or connect to one of the enlarged ends of the “I” beam (e.g., either the front or rear enlarged end), whereas other embodiments may connect or engage both of the enlarged ends, spanning across the center connection member. It should be noted, however, that the various embodiments of the present invention may connect to or engage with seat frame members having other configurations, cross sections or shapes, and thus the present invention is not limited to use with an “I” beam seat frame. Furthermore, a seat engaging extension is disposed in an outward manner from the attachment member and is positioned above the upper surface of the seat base adjacent the seat frame member. The engaging relation between the attachment member and the seat frame will maintain the device in the intended or operative position, thereby restricting upward movement of the seat base. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings provided herein.
The present invention is directed to a device (10) for maintaining a folding seat typically used in a stadium, arena or like venue in the open or sitting position, even in the absence of additional weight or force exerted upon the seat base, for example, by a person. Many stadium seat assemblies (100) include a seat base portion (110) that is hinged or otherwise configured to automatically fold or pivot in a generally upward direction when the seat is not in use.
The device (10), as disclosed in accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention, is structured to secure or attach to the seat frame (120) and continuously hold the seat base portion (110) in the open or sitting position, even when the seat is unoccupied. It should be noted that the seat frame (120), as used herein, may include one or more portions of the seat assembly, including but not limited to a beam, post, armrest, one or more supports, etc., generally disposed adjacent to the seat base portion (110) and in some instances, between two seat assemblies (100). The structure, size, shape, and configuration of the seat assemblies (100), and in particular, the seat frame (120), may vary from one location to another (e.g., from one stadium to another), and thus, the device (10) of the various embodiments may be configured for attachment to a number of different supports, frame members, etc. of different shapes, sizes, and locations. The exemplary seat assemblies (100) and frame members (120) shown in
In particular, the various embodiments of the device (10) include an attachment member 20 and at least one seat engaging extension member (30) disposed in a generally outward direction from the attachment member (20) and into an at least partially engaging relation with an upper surface of an adjacent seat base (110). The attachment member (20) of at least one embodiment is configured to at least partially wrap around a portion of the seat frame member (120) and engage the seat frame member (120). Certain embodiments include a tight, gripping and/or frictional engagement between the device attachment member (20) and the seat frame member (120) in order maintain the device attachment member (20) in an operative position and prevent, restrict or minimize movement or sliding of the device attachment member (20), particularly when a generally upward force is exerted upon the device (10) by seat base portion (110) attempting to move into its closed position.
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
The side wall panels (24, 26) of at least one embodiment includes a plurality of sections or portions (24A, 24B, 24C, v26A, 26B, 26C). The side wall panels (24, 26) are configured with an inwardly disposed angular bend between the first and second portions (24A, 24B and 26A, 26B) toward the receiving area (25). In this manner, the first portions (24A and 26A) extend from the base panel (22)at opposite ends of the base panel (22) and the second portions (24B and 26B), are at least partially angled inward toward the receiving area (25). This configuration facilitates a tight, engaging relation between the attachment member (20) and the corresponding seat frame member (120) and can further facilitate a tight, engaging relation with different sized frame members 120. The inwardly directed angle between first and second portions (24A, 24B and 26A, 26B) allows the device attachment member (20) to at least partially flex and engage seat frame members (120) of difference sizes and dimensions.
The side wall panels (24, 26) of at least one embodiment further includes outer engaging arms or outwardly directed flanges (24C and 26C). The flanges (24C, 26C) are disposed in an angular relation to the second portions (24B, 26B) and are configured to define an outer opening (27). The opening (27) is sized to accommodate a number of different sized seat frame members (120) in that the device attachment member (20) flexes to at least partially fit around the seat frame member (120). Thus, the second portions (24B, 26B) may fit around the seat frame member (120) or engage the side of the seat frame member (120), depending on the size, shape and dimensions of the seat frame member (120).
The device attachment member (20) of the various embodiments is structured to engage or attach to a portion of the seat frame member (120). Depending on the size, shape and dimension of the seat frame member (120), the device attachment member (20) may fit around the seat frame member (120) such that the second portions (24B, 26B) of the device side wall portions at least partially contact the backside of the seat frame member (120) while the front side of the seat frame member (120) at least partially contacts the interior surface of the base panel (22). Other applications, however, may include engaging the side surfaces of the seat frame member (120) via the second portions (24B, 26B) of the side wall panels or via the end flanges (24C, 26C).
The present invention includes at least one seat engaging extension member (30) disposed outwardly from the device attachment member (20) and into engagement with the seat base (110). In the embodiment illustrated in
The device's seat engaging extension member (30) is structured to contact the upper surface of the seat base (110) and hold the seat base (110) in the generally downward or substantially horizontal orientation (open or sitting position) while the device's attachment member (20) is secured or attached to the seat frame (120). In certain embodiments, the device's seat engaging extension member (30) includes a generally flat or planar configuration with a bottom or lower surface (32) which is structured to at least partially engage or contact the seat base (110). For example, depending on how close the seat base (110) is relative to the seat's frame member (120), the engaging surface (32) may substantially contact the seat base (110) or the outer peripheral end (34) may only contact the seat base (110).
Further structural features of the device's seat engaging extension (30) of at least one embodiment include an outer reinforced end portion (35). The outer reinforced end portion (35) comprises a bulbous or enlarged configuration for contact with the seat base (110) and to provide reinforcement to sufficiently facilitate holding the seat base (110) in the open or sitting position. The reinforced end (35) further provides an enlarged bottom surface (36) for increasing the contacting surface area between the device's seat engaging extension (30) and the seat base (110).
Moreover, as illustrated, the length of the seat engaging extension (30) of at least one embodiment may extend the entire length of the attachment member (20), which as described above, may include an elongated length.
Another variations of the present invention include one or more display panels (40) disposed on the device's attachment member (20) and/or the seat engaging extension (30). The display panels (40) may be used to display one or more logos, trademarks, graphics, text, phone numbers, designs, artwork, etc., and which may be embedded as part of a mold, etched on the display panel, applied via ink, sticker(s), adhesives, etc.
Many seat assemblies in stadiums, arenas, etc. include a seat frame (120) constructed out of or otherwise including at least one “I” beam defined as a support member or frame member comprising a cross-sectional shape substantially in the form of the upper case letter “I,” as illustrated in
As shown in
In certain embodiments, the outer ends of one or more of the side walls (24 and 26) may, but need not necessarily, engage or contact the inner connection or support portion (126) of the seat frame (120) or “I” beam for establishing or facilitating a secure, yet removable, connection therewith. As shown in
It should also be noted that the base panel (22) of the device attachment member (20) may include a slight curvature from one side wall (24) to the other side wall (26). This curvature will extend across the end of the seat frame (120) and facilitate a secure attachment thereto. In order to remove the device (10) from the seat frame (120), the user may grab one end of the attachment member (20) or seat engaging extension (30) and rotate the device (10) off of the seat frame.
The device's attachment member (20) secures at least partially around one of the enlarged ends (122) of the “I” beam or other portion of the seat frame (120) in order to secure the attachment member (20) thereto. The user may attach one arm (24 or 26) around the seat frame (120) portion first, then snap the other arm into place until the device (10) is secured to the seat frame (120) portion and the device's extension member (30) is positioned in an overlying relation to the seat base (110). In this embodiment, the outer ends of the side walls (24, 26) may not reach or engage the inner support (126), but rather, secures around the end of the support frame (122), as shown in
As seen in
The device (10) may be constructed of various organic and inorganic polymers that comprise a material that is partially rigid and yet somewhat flexible. An example material of construction is polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic. It should be noted that material of construction of the invention is not limited to PVC.
A potential patent classification for this invention is Class 297, Chairs and Seats; Sub-Class 463.2, Miscellaneous.
The present invention described above, in particular paragraphs 40 through 56 and illustrated in
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a stricture or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/062,458 Filing Date: Oct. 10, 2014 Relationship: Provisional application was for the same invention
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62062458 | Oct 2014 | US |
