Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6598351
-
Patent Number
6,598,351
-
Date Filed
Monday, July 16, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 29, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Friedman; Carl D.
- Glessner; Brian E.
Agents
- Thimmig; David M.
- Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 052 6
- 052 7
- 052 8
- 052 9
- 052 64
- 052 7411
- 297 331
- 297 236
- 297 257
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A telescopic seating riser assembly capable of being configured into a variety of seating riser systems. The assembly has a plurality risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions with the risers being movable between an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage. The assembly is further constructed to support deck bridging panels between spaced apart pairs of assemblies, and to utilize a method of supporting at least one deck bridging panel on a pair of spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies in an extended position for use and in a retracted position for storage of the assemblies.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to portable seating equipment, and more particularly to a telescopic seating riser assembly for use in seating systems having various configurations. The telescopic seating riser assembly of the present invention comprises a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, with the risers being movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage. The assembly is capable of use alone or spaced apart from a similar assembly and in combination with deck bridging panels.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Seating risers are designed for use in auditoriums, gymnasiums, and event halls to accommodate spectators on portable seats, such as folding chairs. Depending on the intended use, a facility may require seating risers that are capable of being moved from a retracted position for storage, to an extended position for use with seating placed on top of the risers. Heretofore, many different telescopic seating riser structures have been provided to satisfy nonpermanent seating riser needs. Examples of such telescopic structures can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,400,502, 4,467,569 and 6,041,554. These prior art systems use a series of assemblies having seating risers of given heights where the seating risers are telescopically connected to store within close proximity to one another. With each of these prior art systems, several of the telescopic assemblies could be placed adjacent one another, for instance, to form the seating along a side of an athletic playing surface.
Because of the temporary nature of the seating used by some organizations and the large storage area required to house seating riser systems when not extended for use, it is desirable to have easily transportable telescopic seating riser assemblies. It also is desirable to be able to achieve a variety of seating configurations while using a common telescopic seating riser assembly throughout a seating system. It is similarly desirable to have a system that is capable of supporting deck bridging panels between each two spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies. In essence, if every other set of seating riser deck surfaces along the length of an entire seating system does not require a full understructure, the floor space required for storage of the seating system when not in use and the cost of the system can be reduced significantly.
It is advantageous to be able to position a telescopic seating riser assembly in front of a wall to be extended for use or retracted for storage in a given location. It is also advantageous to be able to roll extended or retracted assemblies across a flooring surface so as to form multiple seating configurations, or to bring the retracted assemblies together to minimize the total floor space required for system storage. It is still further advantageous to have a telescopic seating riser system which consists of simple, telescopic assemblies that can be extended for use or retracted for storage by unskilled persons, with minimal use of tools, and which can readily achieve a simplified, space efficient storage configuration. The present invention overcomes disadvantages of the prior art, while providing the above mentioned desirable features of a telescopic seating riser structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose and advantages of the invention will be set forth in and apparent from the description and drawings that follow, as well as will be learned by practice of the invention.
The present invention is generally embodied in a telescopic seating riser assembly which can be configured into a variety of seating riser arrangements. In a first aspect, the invention provides a telescopic seating riser assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, with the risers being movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage. Each riser of the telescopic seating riser assembly has at least a first rear leg proximate a first rear corner of the riser and at least a second rear leg proximate a second rear corner of the riser. Each riser above a lowest riser also has at least a first front wheel proximate a first front corner of the riser and at least a second front wheel proximate a second front corner of the riser, with the front wheels contacting an upper surface of a next lower riser. Each riser also has deck bridging panel supports proximate the front and rear corners of the riser, with the deck bridging panel supports adapted to engage a deck bridging panel when a pair of riser assemblies are spaced apart substantially the length of the deck bridging panel.
In another aspect, the invention provides a telescopic seating riser assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, with the risers being movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage. Each riser further has at least one upward facing deck surface on the horizontal portion of the riser, and at least one pair of rear legs and at least one pair of ground engaging wheels proximate the rear legs. Each riser further has at least one deck bridging panel support extending outward from the horizontal portion of the riser.
In still a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing support for deck bridging panels in a telescopic seating riser assembly. The method comprises the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies, each assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, the risers being movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage, and wherein each riser further comprises at least one upward facing deck surface on the horizontal portion and at least one deck bridging panel support extending outward from the horizontal portion, and supporting at least one deck bridging panel by the deck bridging panel supports on the pair of spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies in an extended position for use and in a retracted position for storage of the assemblies.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and provided for purposes of explanation only, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. Further features and objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiment of this invention and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In describing the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a front perspective exploded view of a pair of retracted telescopic seating riser assemblies with a series of deck bridging panels spanning the space between the two assemblies.
FIG. 2
is a side view of a retracted telescopic seating riser assembly.
FIG. 3
is a front view of a retracted telescopic seating riser assembly.
FIG. 4
is a rear view of a retracted telescopic seating riser assembly.
FIG. 5
is a rear perspective view of a pair of extended telescopic seating riser assemblies with a series of deck bridging panels spanning the space between the two assemblies.
FIG. 6
is a bottom perspective view of an extended telescopic seating riser assembly.
FIG. 7
is a side view of the three lowest elevated risers of an extended telescopic seating riser assembly in combination with a ground engaging deck panel assembly placed in position for installation.
FIG. 8
is a perspective exploded view of a ground engaging deck panel assembly intended for use with a telescopic seating riser assembly having a bridging panel to only one side of the assembly.
FIG. 9
is a side perspective view of a portion of the frame structure of two risers of a partially extended telescopic seating riser assembly.
FIG. 10
is a side perspective view of a pulley assembly and guide rail as used in maintaining the alignment between two risers in a telescopic seating riser assembly.
FIG. 11
is a top view of the pulley assembly and guide rail of FIG.
10
.
FIG. 12
is a partial cross sectional front view of the pulley assembly and guide rail of
FIG. 10
in accordance with the section indicated in FIG.
11
.
It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale and that certain aspects are illustrated in phantom views. While considerable mechanical details of a telescopic seating riser assembly, including details of fastening means and other plan and section views of the particular embodiment depicting the invention have been omitted, such detail is not per se part of the present invention and is considered well within the comprehension of those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment illustrated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring generally to
FIGS. 1-8
, it will be appreciated that the telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
of the present invention generally may be embodied in numerous configurations of a telescopic seating riser system
12
. Telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
form the fundamental building blocks of the system
12
. The assemblies
10
may stand alone, or may stand side by side. However, as seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5
, like telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
are intended to be arranged in a spaced apart configuration to support deck bridging panels
14
therebetween.
Use of deck bridging panels
14
provides significant savings in cost and storage space by reducing the number of full telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
needed to provide a required total riser surface area within a full seating system. For instance, the telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
are straight, and a series of spaced apart assemblies
10
may be used with straight bridging panels
14
therebetween along a straight wall. A portion of such a series is seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5
. Alternatively, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the bridging panels may be trapezoidal or pie-shaped to generate shapes to fill curved or corner portions of a seating system. Depending on the rise chosen between vertically spaced risers, hard closure panels
16
may be attached to each riser of assembly
10
to enhance the appearance and safety of the assembly
10
. Complementary hard closure panels
18
may be attached to the spaced apart assemblies
10
to provide closures between deck bridging deck panels
14
.
In a particularly advantageous method of using the invention, the deck bridging panels
14
may stay in place while moving extended portions of the seating system. Also, when using straight bridging panels, the panels may stay in place when moving from an extended position, as seen in
FIG. 5
, to a retracted position, as seen in
FIG. 1
, or vice versa. Or, if necessary, bridging panels
14
may be stacked atop a retracted telescopic seating riser assembly
10
and the retracted assemblies
10
may be moved adjacent each other to reduce the required storage space of the entire system.
Each assembly
10
of the embodiment shown includes a first elevated riser
20
, and successive additional elevated risers
22
,
24
,
26
,
28
,
30
,
32
and
34
. It will be appreciated that the number of additional risers in any given assembly will be a matter of design requirements and safety. As best seen in
FIGS. 2 and 7
, each successive riser has a similarly sized forward deck
40
on a horizontal portion
42
. Each riser horizontal portion
42
is longer than the next lower respective riser horizontal portion
42
. The top riser
34
has a further elevated rearward deck panel
44
. Each horizontal portion
42
preferably has a pair of upright projections
46
to provide a stop when each riser is fully extended for use.
As best seen in
FIG. 7
, in the present embodiment, the first elevated riser
20
rests on caster wheels
60
that are in direct contact with the floor surface, while each of the additional risers is supported at three respective locations. For instance, as seen in
FIG. 9
, each riser has a frame
50
, and returning to
FIG. 7
, with respect to the third elevated riser
24
, the frame has a rear leg assembly
52
, including a cross beam
54
with caster wheels
60
and rear legs
56
to rest on the floor. Each riser also has front legs
58
with wheels
62
to rest on the deck of the next lower riser, as seen with respect to third elevated riser
24
resting on the next lower elevated riser
22
. Supplemental support also is provided in the span between front legs
58
and rear legs
56
, with each horizontal portion
14
of a riser resting atop a wheel
64
facing upward from a support on the rear leg assembly
52
of the next lower riser, again as seen with respect to the third elevated riser
24
and the rear leg assembly
52
of the second elevated riser
22
. It will be appreciated that the height of any supports or legs is dependent on design choices including the desired rise between respective seating risers. In some cases, for instance, the front wheels may be located nearly entirely within a tube of frame
50
, with no appreciable downward leg
58
.
When an assembly
10
is located at the site where it will be used and stored, it may be moved in the retracted or extended state on caster wheels
60
on the rear leg assembly
52
and front legs
58
of first elevated riser
20
, and on the caster wheels
60
on the rear leg assemblies
52
of the additional elevated risers. To enhance the system stability and load capacity for actual use as seating risers, each depending leg
56
,
58
of an elevated riser may include an extendible foot
66
to accept direct, stationary loading. As shown in the preferred embodiment, for simplicity of assembly and use, it is desirable to have the feet
66
extend only from the rear legs of each elevated riser. Feet
66
are shown in a retracted position in
FIGS. 1-4
and
7
, and in an extended position in
FIGS. 5 and 6
.
To similarly lift the front of the first elevated riser
20
off of the caster wheels
60
on front legs
58
, a floor engaging deck panel assembly
70
of
FIG. 8
is used. The assembly
70
may be constructed by attaching pedestals to the bottom of a deck bridging panel
14
. The choice of pedestals is determined by whether the telescopic seating riser assembly
10
will be flanked by bridging panels
14
on both sides such as in the center of a run within a seating system, or whether the assembly
10
will be required to support bridging panels
14
only on one side such as when positioned at the end of a run within a seating system, or whether the assembly
10
will stand alone without having to support bridging panels
14
on either side. Deck bridging panels
14
are provided with node receptacles proximate the panel corners in at least the lower surface of the panel to engage locator nodes. Hence, if deck bridging panels
14
will be adjacent a particular side, then a pedestal
72
having forward and rearward pairs of upward projecting locator nodes
74
will be required. Alternatively, on any side adjacent which deck panels
14
will not be used, a pedestal
76
having forward and rearward single upward projecting locator nodes
74
will be required. Both pedestals
72
and
76
have upstanding projections
78
at their rear. Once the appropriate choice of pedestals is made for a given deck panel assembly
70
, the pedestals may be permanently attached to a deck bridging panel
14
by use of adhesives or mechanical fasteners. If the node receptacles in deck bridging panels
14
are essentially holes that extend completely through the panel, then the locator nodes
74
may be constructed to receive a fastener installed from the top surface of the panel
To lift the front of the first elevated riser
20
off of the caster wheels
60
, a deck panel assembly
70
is slid rearward into position at an angle to the floor surface, as seen in
FIG. 7
, by allowing the rearward edge of deck panel assembly
70
to rest on the floor while the forward edge is held above the floor surface. Once the upstanding projections
78
on deck panel assembly
70
are in position beneath the front of the first elevated riser
20
, the forward edge of deck panel assembly
70
is lowered to the floor, which in turn causes the projections
78
to contact the underside of riser
20
and to lift the riser
20
and the caster wheels
60
on its front legs
58
off of the floor.
It will be appreciated that telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
may be constructed to be positioned adjacent each other in forward alignment to create seating systems having additional riser heights. In such systems, the height of the first elevated riser of the next rearward assembly should be greater than the tallest or last elevated riser of the next forward assembly. Also, such rearward assemblies would not use a floor engaging deck panel assembly
70
, but rather would include forward depending legs, each having an extendible foot similar to those used with depending legs
56
, to accept direct, stationary loading. In a similar manner, it will be appreciated that assemblies
10
may be constructed for use without a floor engaging deck panel assembly
70
in systems that simply require the forward most riser to be elevated some distance from the floor.
It also will be appreciated that a telescopic seating riser assembly
10
may be alternatively constructed with fixed legs in place of the wheels
60
shown, and that wheels
60
may instead be employed in place of feet
66
. Such an assembly
10
would therefore be raised onto wheels
60
for movement across the floor when the legs are extended, and then set onto the fixed legs when the legs are retracted.
For ease of transporting a riser assembly
10
and for initial installation, the first elevated riser
20
may include tubes
80
to accept a fork lift or other lifting equipment. The compact storage of each successive elevated riser level immediately above the next lower elevated riser level facilitates the lifting of the entire assembly
10
by positioning the lift mechanism beneath the first elevated riser
10
.
As shown in
FIG. 9
, to simplify manufacture and reduce weight, it is preferable to incorporate the frame
50
of each riser into the respective deck
40
. A decking
48
may be mounted directly to the frame
50
as shown. Alternatively, deck panels similar to rearward deck panel
44
or deck bridging panels
14
may set on top of frame structures.
The use of deck bridging panels
14
significantly reduces the complexity and weight of the support structure needed for a given riser surface area. However, use of deck bridging panels
14
also requires that the risers be adequately stabilized and supported proximate their ends. In this regard, it will be appreciated that as a matter of design choice, gussets
82
are used with the taller elevated risers
26
,
28
,
30
,
32
and
34
. The gussets
82
are set at complementary angles for an aesthetically pleasing appearance and to avoid interference between risers. Similarly, the rear legs
56
of the respective risers are set proximate the riser ends and are arranged in forward alignment with each other in a nesting format. The risers are further stabilized by rear cross gussets
84
. The rear cross gussets
84
are connected to horizontal portions
42
at their upper ends and are connected to the rear cross beams
54
at their lower ends. The rear cross gussets
84
also are positioned forward of a handle
86
for use in moving the telescoping seating assembly
10
across the floor. A handle
86
′ may be provided for convenience in extending or retracting the risers of assembly
10
. Handle
86
′ preferably is constructed to extend forward of assembly
10
and rotate upward for use, and to retract to a position beneath the first elevated riser
20
for storage.
The use of deck bridging panels
14
between spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
further requires that the risers be equipped proximate their ends with supports to accept the deck bridging panels
14
. Accordingly, each riser of the telescopic seating riser assembly
10
preferably employs deck bridging panel supports
88
with upward projecting locator nodes
90
. Locator nodes
90
are similar to previously mentioned locator nodes
74
, and are similarly engaged by node receptacles on the lower surface of deck bridging panels
14
for use in a seating system as seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5
.
It is highly desirable to maintain proper forward alignment of the risers when extending and retracting a telescopic seating riser assembly
10
. This is especially true when using deck bridging panels
14
which rely on proper placement of a pair of spaced apart risers assemblies
10
with deck bridging panel supports
88
and locator nodes
90
. To reduce the effort and time required to move the telescopic seating riser assemblies
10
between a retracted position for storage and an extended position for use, the assemblies
10
employ a cable alignment systems
92
between each adjacent pair of vertically spaced risers, as seen in FIG.
9
. The cable alignment system
92
is somewhat similar to the system used in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,502, but employs enhanced features.
Between each pair of vertically spaced risers, a cable system
92
employs a pair of cables
94
, cable tension adjusters
96
, pulley systems
98
, and cable end holder flanges
100
. Each cable
94
is preferably made of braided steel wire, with a terminating end plug
102
, that is retained by a cable end holder flange
100
proximate the front of frame
50
. The cable tension may be adjusted from the rear of the assembly by use of the tension adjuster
96
, which employs a nut and a threaded adjuster bolt attached to the other terminating end of the cable
94
, proximate the rear of frame
50
. Each pair of cables
94
is then strung in opposite manner around a pair of pulley systems
98
, as best seen in
FIGS. 9-12
. This opposed relationship causes the pulleys to move directly forward and rearward as an assembly
10
is extended or retracted.
The pulley systems
98
are rotatably connected to a mounting plate
104
. Pulley systems
98
have a retainer top
106
, a roller
108
, an upper pulley
110
, a lower pulley
112
and a pedestal
114
. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the components are separated by thin bushings to facilitate the rotation of the roller
108
, upper pulley
110
and lower pulley
112
relative to one another and to the pedestal
114
which acts as a common axle for these components. The frame
50
employs a guide
116
along the inside of each of the side frame members
118
. Guides
116
assist in maintaining side to side, or lateral alignment by riding against or staying between rollers
108
. Guides
116
also ensure that each riser assembly maintains vertical alignment to prevent inadvertent lifting upward of a riser which could otherwise derail the cables. This vertical alignment is achieved by each guide
116
being located between an upper pulley
110
and a retainer top
106
. A fastener
120
holds the retainer top
106
on pedestal
114
, which is, in turn, fastened to mounting plate
104
.
It will be appreciated that telescopic seating riser assembly
10
is a load bearing structure intended to hold many people and equipment, such as portable seating, above a floor surface. Therefore, assembly
10
should be suitably constructed. For instance, the structural members of the riser assembly
10
preferably are constructed of thin wall tubing, straight bar stock, right angle bar stock, and plate of suitable materials, for instance, steel, alloy, aluminum, wood or high strength plastics. Components may be joined in any number of conventional manners, such as by welding, gluing or with suitable fasteners. Wheels
60
are preferably of the swivel caster type. If extendible feet
66
are used in conjunction with fixed height wheels
60
, or if fixed legs are used in conjunction with wheels
60
on extendible feet, then the wheels
60
may be designed with a reduced load capacity. For instance, the wheels
60
could be capable of carrying only the weight of the telescopic seating riser assembly
10
, or might be designed to be capable of supporting the assembly
10
with additional deck bridging panels
14
and floor engaging deck panel
16
for storage. It will be appreciated that in reference to the wheels
62
and
64
, such wheels may be constructed of any device that provides rolling or other relative movement, such as sliding, between respective surfaces.
It also should be understood that while a preferred embodiment has been described herein, any of a variety of fastening means and suitable materials of construction and dimensions may be used to satisfy the particular needs and requirements of the end user. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the design and construction of a telescopic seating riser assembly without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.
Claims
- 1. A telescopic seating riser assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, said risers movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage, said assembly further comprising:each riser having at least a first rear leg proximate a first rear corner of the riser and at least a second rear leg proximate a second rear corner of the riser wherein in the retracted position the first rear leg of each riser is in substantial forward alignment with the first rear leg of the other risers and the second rear leg of each riser is in substantial forward alignment with the second rear leg of the other risers; each riser above a lowest riser further having at least a first front wheel proximate a first front corner of the riser and at least a second front wheel proximate a second front corner of the riser, said front wheels contacting an upper surface of a next lower riser; and each riser having deck bridging panel supports, said deck bridging panel supports adapted to engage a deck bridging panel when a pair of riser assemblies are spaced apart substantially the length of the deck bridging panel.
- 2. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each riser below an upper most riser has at least a pair of upward facing wheels in engagement with an underside surface of a next higher riser.
- 3. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one riser further comprises a gusset connected at a first end to said first rear leg and connected at a second end to said riser at a location between said first front corner and said first rear corner.
- 4. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each adjacent vertically spaced pair of risers comprises an upper riser and a lower riser, said pair of risers further comprising a cable and pulley alignment system having a pair of cables connected at their ends to the upper riser and a pair of pulleys rotatably connected to the lower riser.
- 5. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein one cable is connected at a first end proximate said first rear corner of said upper riser and is connected at a second end proximate said second front corner of said upper riser, and said second cable is connected at a first end proximate said second rear corner of said upper riser and is connected at a second end proximate said first front corner of said upper riser.
- 6. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first front corner and the first rear corner are spaced apart a different distance for each riser.
- 7. A telescopic seating riser assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, said risers being movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage, wherein each riser further comprises:at least one upward facing deck surface on said horizontal portion; at least one pair of rear legs wherein in the retracted position said at least one pair of rear legs of each riser are in substantial forward alignment with said at least one pair of rear legs of each other riser; at least one pair of ground engaging wheels proximate said rear legs; and at least one deck bridging panel support extending outward from said horizontal portion of said riser.
- 8. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein each riser below an upper most riser has at least a pair of upward facing wheels in engagement with an underside surface of said horizontal portion of a next higher riser.
- 9. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one riser further comprises at least one gusset connected at a first end to a rear leg and connected at a second end to said horizontal portion.
- 10. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein a first rear leg of each said pair of rear legs is located proximate a first rear corner of the riser and a second rear leg of each said pair of rear legs is located proximate a second rear corner of the riser.
- 11. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein each riser above a lowest riser further comprises at least a pair of front wheels in engagement with the upward facing deck surface of a next lower riser.
- 12. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein opposed said deck bridging panel supports of a pair of riser assemblies spaced apart substantially the length of a deck budging panel are adapted to engage the deck bridging panel.
- 13. A method of providing support for deck bridging panels in a telescopic seating riser assembly, comprising the steps of:providing a pair of spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies, each assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, said risers movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage, wherein each riser further comprises at least one upward facing deck surface on the horizontal portion and at least one deck bridging panel support extending outward from the horizontal portion; and supporting at least one deck bridging panel by said deck bridging panel supports on said pair of spaced apart telescopic seating riser assemblies in an extended position for use and in a retracted position for storage of said assemblies.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein each riser below an upper most riser has at least a pair of upward facing wheels in engagement with an underside surface of said horizontal portion of a next higher riser.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein each telescopic seating riser assembly further comprises at least one pair of rear legs.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said rear legs of each riser are in substantial forward alignment with said rearward legs of each other riser.
- 17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one riser further comprises at least one gusset connected at a first end to a rear leg and connected at a second end to said horizontal portion.
- 18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one riser further comprises at least one pair of ground engaging wheels proximate said rear legs.
- 19. A telescopic seating riser assembly comprising a plurality of risers having vertically spaced substantially horizontal portions, said risers being movable between at least an extended position for use and a retracted position for storage, wherein each riser further comprises:at least one upward facing deck surface on said horizontal portion; at least one pair of rear legs wherein in the retracted position said at least one pair of rear legs of each riser are in substantial forward alignment with said at least one pair of rear legs of each other riser; each riser having front and rear corners; wherein for each riser each front corner is spaced apart from each rear corner a different distance than for each other riser; and wherein each riser further comprises at least one deck bridging panel support extending outward from said horizontal portion of said riser.
- 20. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein each riser below an upper most riser has at least a pair of upward facing wheels in engagement with an underside of said horizontal portion of a next higher riser.
- 21. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein at least one riser further comprises at least one gusset connected at a first end to a rear leg and connected at a second end to said horizontal portion.
- 22. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein a first rear leg of each said pair of rear legs is located proximate a first rear corner of the riser and a second rear leg of each said pair of rear legs is located proximate a second rear corner of the riser.
- 23. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein each riser above a lowest riser further comprises at least a pair of front wheels in engagement with the upward facing deck surface of a next lower riser.
- 24. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein said at least one deck bridging panel support further comprises at least one deck bridging panel support proximate front corners of each riser and at least one deck bridging panel support proximate rear corners of said upward facing deck surface on each riser.
- 25. A telescopic seating riser assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein opposed said deck bridging panel supports of a pair of riser assemblies spaced apart substantially length of a deck bridging panel are adapted to engage the deck bridging panel.
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Foreign Referenced Citations (10)
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