Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to templates and, more particularly, to templates for locating attachment points for a seat or chair and, most particularly, to a template for locating attachment points for multiple seats or chairs in a row.
Although it is relatively simple to arrange a large number of movable seats or chairs in rows in a large space, the positioning and fastening of permanent seating to a floor in a large space can be very difficult and time consuming. Permanent seating is commonly provided in large public or private buildings. Such seating is securely fastened to the floor with threaded fasteners, such as bolts or screws, to prevent movement. Often the seating units are connected together to maximize the number of seating units in a given space. Careful placement of the anchoring fasteners into the floor is required to produce proper alignment of rows of adjacent seating units. Often, it is necessary to provide curvature of the rows of seating units for aesthetic or utilitarian purposes. This adds to the necessity for precise placement of the anchoring fasteners. Errors in location of one of the holes for the permanent fasteners can cause misalignment for the whole row of seats. Such errors are costly to repair at best.
Applicant has invented a template that provides location of the fastening points for multiple seating units in a row. A plurality of such templates can be linked together so that all fastening points for a row of seating units can be determined and prepared at one time. In addition, the plurality of linked templates can be adjusted to provide a straight line of seating or a curved line of seating.
The invention is directed to a planar, T-shaped template member having a linear leg section with a first end thereof intersecting a cross bar section at a center of the cross bar. The cross bar section has opposed ends, each cross bar end having a feature at a selected locations therein. The cross bar section also has a circular aperture there through positioned opposite and aligned with the leg section, with the circular aperture connected to an access channel extending to an edge of the cross bar section opposite the linear leg section. The linear leg section has a circular protrusion at a second end thereof opposite the cross bar section. The protrusion is sized to pivotally fit into the circular aperture and access channel of an identical T-shaped planar template member, thereby allowing pivotal movement between connected planar T-shaped template members. A large number of such templates can be connected together in a line.
In a preferred embodiment, the planar, T-shaped template member has a linear leg section with a first end intersecting a cross bar section at a center of the cross bar. The cross bar section has opposed ends, each cross bar end having an arc channel feature therein. The cross bar section has a circular aperture there through positioned opposite and aligned with the leg section, with the circular aperture connected to an access channel extending to an edge of the cross bar section opposite the linear leg section. The linear leg section had a circular protrusion at a second end thereof opposite the cross bar section. The circular protrusion is sized to pivotally fit into the circular aperture and access channel of an identical T-shaped planar template member, thereby allowing limited pivotal movement between connected T-shaped planar template members. A large number of such templates can be connected together in a line.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the surface of the cross bar section surrounding the circular aperture contains a plurality of spaced apart surface lines each extending radially outward from the circular aperture. In addition, the surface of the protrusion of the second end of the linear leg section, sized to pivotally fit into the circular aperture, contains a like plurality of spaced apart surface lines each extending radially inward from the edge thereof. The spacing between the radially extending lines of each surface are not identical. Thus, alignment of a selected pair of surface lines, one from each surface, results in a corresponding angle between adjacent, connected planar template members. Thus, identical angles between adjacent, connected planar template members can be maintained for a long string of such template members.
Nomenclature
The invention is a template that provides location of the fastening points on a support surface for multiple seating units in a row. A plurality of such templates can be linked together so that multiple fastening points for a row of seating units can be determined at one time. In addition, the plurality of linked templates can be adjusted to provide a straight line of seating or a curved line of seating. Careful placement of the anchoring fasteners into the support surface is required to produce proper alignment of rows of adjacent seating units. Often, it is necessary to provide curvature of the rows of seating units for aesthetic or utilitarian purposes. This adds to the necessity for precise placement of the anchoring fasteners. Errors in location of one of the holes for the permanent fasteners can cause misalignment for the whole row of seats. Such errors are costly to repair at best.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring again to
To properly position parallel strings of connected template members 10, long spacer connecting pieces 80 between adjacent strings of connected planar template members 10 assist in maintaining constant spacing between the adjacent strings of connected template members 10, as illustrated in
The planar, template member 10 and is preferably fabricated from a rigid material, such as fiber board or polymeric resin plastic, as are the spacer connecting pieces. Thus, the planar, template members 10 and the cross bar end pieces 70 can be used multiple times, reducing the per use cost for each of the templates 10 and 70.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of provisional application Ser. No. 62/246,268, filed 26 Oct. 2015. Application Ser. No. 62/246,268 is hereby incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62246268 | Oct 2015 | US |