US3194601A

US3194601A - Audience chairs

Info

Publication number: US3194601A
Application number: US373327A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred C Hoven; Rapids Crand; Semplonius Frans
Original assignee: American Seating Co
Current assignee: American Seating Co
Priority date: 1964-06-08
Filing date: 1964-06-08
Publication date: 1965-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-13

Description

y 1965 A. c. HOVEN ETAL 3,

AUDIENCE CHAIRS Filed June 8, 1.964 4 sheets-sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTORS ALFRED c. HOVEN ,FRANS SEMPLONIUS WITNESS BY Awa 5 6m #1 3mm 7% Z WTWNEYS y 1965 A. c. HOVEN ETAL 3,194,601

AUDIENCE CHAIRS Filed June 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTORS:

ALFRED C. HOVEN FRANS SEMPLONIUS WITNESS July 13, 1965 A. c. HOVEN ETAL AUDIENCE CHAIRS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1964 %w%%%@ v m M W July 13, 1965 A. c. HOVEN ETAL 3,

AUDIENCE CHAIRS Filed June 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 25a 7 IO 33 m 29 FIG. 9 29 lo 3 39 36 3o 39 l i 34 J as v A 37 2 22 I I9 25 FIG. IO

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INVENTORSI ALFRED C. HOVEN FRANS SEMPLONIUS WITNESS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,194,601 AUDIENCE CHAIRS Alfred C. Haven, Grand Rapids, and Frans Seinplonius,

Wyoming, Mich, assigncrs to American Seating Com-l This invention relates to audience chairs and more particularly to chairs and support means therefor useful in stadia, theaters, assembly rooms, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide audience chairs of compact, sturdy and novel construction, and unique support structure therefor. A further object is to provide audience chairs supported in such a manner as to provide open and free passage in front of the chairs while at the same time providing comfortable seating when occupied. Yet another object is to provide in assembly area means for supporting chairs in compact arrangement within limited space while at the same time providing free passage areas in front of the seats when the same are not occupied. A still further object is to provide sturdy support means for maintaining chairs in selected spaced relation with a minimum of structural parts and enabling plastic back and seat segments to be employed. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the illustration given, FIGURE 1 is a perspective front view of chairs made and supported according to our invention; FIGURE 2, a rear persepctive view of said chairs and supporting means; FIGURE 3, a broken front view in elevation showing a row of seats; FIGURE 4, a broken front View in elevation of a pair of seats, one of the seats being equipped with a plastic back; FIGURE 5, a side View in elevation of an arm rest, the view being taken as indicated at Line 55 of FIGURE 4; FIGURE 6, a broken side view in elevation, the view being taken as indicated at Line 66 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 7, a view similar to FIGURE 6 but with the plastic back and plastic seat portions removed; FIGURE 8, a top plan view of a pair of chairs, one of the chairs being covered with plastic panels; FIGURE 9, a sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at Line 99 of FIGURE 8; FIGURE 10, a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at- Line 1ti-16 of FIGURE 9; FIGURE 11, an exploded perspective view of the seat and back frame members inseparated relation.

In the illustration given, A designates a platform formed of concrete or any suitable material and providing stepped horizontal portions A and vertical portions A Pedestals 10 are provided with integral slotted flanges 11 which receive bolts 12 which engage internally threaded sockets mounted within the vertical portion A of concrete or other suitable material. The pedestals are provided at the tops with flanges 13 which support segmental crossbeams 14'. Any suitable means for securing the crossbeam 14 upon the pedestals 16 may be employed. In the specific illustration given in FIGURE 2, where segmental beams 14 are abutting each other, bolts 15 pass through the beams 14 and engage tapped openings in the flanges 13. At the same time, the bolts extend through flanges 16 of the arm rests 17 so as to anchor the arm rest in place.

The pedestals may be spaced in any desired manner. In the illustration given in FIGURE 3, the end pedestals 10 are supported below the center of the end seats and a bolt 18 extends through the flange 13 from the bottom side thereof and engages a tapped opening in the top of beam 14. It will be understood, as stated above, that any suitable means for anchoring the beams 14 upon the pedestals may be employed, and, similarly, the arm rests 17 may be positioned at any desired points along the crossbeams I4.

Means for supporting the chair frame are shown best in FIGURES 7 and 8. A pair of chair back bars or tubes 19 extend. down and have flattened portions extending over the crossbeam I4 and welded thereto and have also forwardly projected portions Ztl. Welded to the forwardly projecting portions 26 of tubes 19 are the reinforcing

plates

21 and 22, as shown best in FIGURE 11. Plate 22 has a depending portion welded to beam I4 so as to rigidly anchor the back tubes 19 upon the beam 14. The back tubes 19 are curved re-arwardly and upwardly, terminating in a, metal cross piece 23, as shown best in FIGURE 8. The back piece is prefer-ably provided with recesses 24 adapted to receive ribs in a plastic backed panel 25. The plastic backed panel, as shown best in FIGURES l, 2, 4, and 6, fits down over the metal cross piece 23 and has a hood portion 26 which substantially encloses the cross piece 23. The plastic backed member is provided with side flanges 27, and at its bottom curves forwardly over the forwardly projecting tube portions 2% to provide a seat segment 28. The plastic member 25 thus provides not only a back rest but also a rigid or stationary seat portion 23. The rear seat segment 28, as shown best in FIGURE 8, is also provided with a pair of forwardly extending plastic segments 29.

A forward plastic seat segment Bil, as shown best in FIGURE 8, is complementary to the rear seat segment 2% so as to form a complete seat when the parts are in the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, and the forward seat portion 39 is provided with recesses 31 for receiving the projecting tongues 29 of the rear seat segment 23.

The forward seat segment 30 is supported by the following structure: a pair of seattubes 32, as shown best in FIGURES l0 and 11, are each flattened to provide a rearwardly extending plate 33 to which is welded a U- shaped strap 34. The sidewalls of the U-shaped strap 34 and the member 33 are apertured at 35 to receive a pivot rod 36. The

plates

21 and 22 of the back tube 19 are also apertured at 35a and the apertures 350 are brought into alignment with the apertures 35 when the parts are brought together, as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10. When the parts are brought together, as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, a plastic cover 37 is employed for enclosing the spring mechanism and the cover is held in place by screws 38.

Springs are employed for urging the seat normally to the raised position shown on the left-hand side of FIGURE 1. In the specific illustration given, a coiled spring 39 extends about each end of the rod 36 and has one end 40 anchored within a slot in the fixed plate 21. The other end of the spring 39 extends forwardly and under I a cross bar 41 which connects the plates 33 of the forward seat, support tubes 32.

In the assembled position shown in FIGURE 10, the plastic seat panel 30 has a depending flange 31a which holds the rod 36 in place. An extension 25a on the plastic back 25 also extends between the one side of the U-shaped strap 34 and the member 21 of the back tube 19.

Operation la a complete seat with the plastic segments 29 of the member 25 extending into recesses 31 of the forward seat member 30. The recesses 31 of the forward seat panel 30 enable the seat 39 to be raised, clearing the U-shaped strap 34, etc, and when the seat is lowered to the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, the recess is filled by the mating projections 29 of the back 25. .:The supporting structure comprising the pedestals It and the beam segments 14 permits the spacing of the seats as desired. For the most part, the pedestals may be located between every second chair while the end chairs may be supported by a central pedestal. By the attachment plates shown, arm rests may be located at any points desired on the beam 14 and the arm plates may be untilized also for strengthening the junction between segments of the beams 14.

When the forward seat portion is swung downwardly to the seat occupied position, the bottom of the U-shaped strap 34 becomes a seat stop by abutting the bottom side of the stationary back

tube reinforcing plates

21 and 22.

aiogeor In the latter position, it will be noted that the crack between the seat segment 28 and the forward seat segment 36 is on a curve so that the two segments form a smooth continuation providing a complete comfortable seat.

While we have shown the pedestals attached to a vertical wall, it will be understood that the pedestals may be arranged for attachment to level or inclined floors, and also the chain may be formed in one piece. With the center support structure shown, extra width is provided in the aisle.

While in the foregoing specification we have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that such details may be "aried widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We Claim:

1. In combination with a platform providing stepped vertical and horizontal areas, pedestals anchored to a vertical portion of the platform, a cross beam carried by said pedestals, a pair of back tubes fixed to said beam and having portions extending rearwardly and upwardly and short portions extending forwardly, a plastic'back carried by said upwardly-extending tube portions and providing also a rear seat segment over said forwardlyextending portions, a pair of seat supports pivotally mounted on said forwardly-extending tube portions, a plastic seat segment complementary to said first-mentioned rear seat segment carried by said seat supports, and spring means yieldably urging said forward seat segment upwardly into a position generally parallel with said'back, said forward seat segment being apertured to clear said forwardly-extending back tube portions when said for-* ward seat segment is raised and said fixed rear seat segment being provided with extensions received Within said apertures to substantially fill said apertures when the forward seat segment is in lowermost position.

2. In combination with a platform providing stepped vertical and horizontal areas, pedestals anchored to a vertical portion of the platform, a cross beam carried by said pedestals, a pair of back tubes fixed to said beam and having portions extending rearwardly and upwardly and short portions extending forwardly, a plastic back carried by said upwardly-extending tube portions and providing also a rear seat segment over said forwardly-extending portions, a pair of seat supports pivotally mounted on said forwardly-extending tube portions, 21 plastic seat segment complementary to said first-mentioned. rear seat segment carried by said seat supports, spring means yieldably urging said forward seat segment upwardly into a position generally parallel'withsaid back, said back tubes and forward seat tubes being provided with reinforcing plates in overlapping position, and a pivot rod connecting said plates. 9 g a 3. -In combination with aplatform providing stepped vertical and horizontal areas, pedestals anchored to a vertical portion of the platform, a cross beam carried by said pedestals, a pair of back tubes fixed to. said beam and having portions'extending. rearwardly and upwardly and short portions extending forwardly, a plastic back carried by saidupwardly-extending tube portions and providing also a rear seat segment oversaid forvvardly extending portions, a pair of seat supports pivotally mounted on said forwardly-extending tube portions, a plastic seat segment complementary to said first-mentioned rear seat segment carried by seat supports, spring means 'yieldably urging said forward seat segment upwardly into a position generally parallel with said back, said back tubes and forward seat tubes being provided with reinforcing plates in overlapping position, a pivot rod connecting said plates, at cross tube connecting the reinforcing plates of said forwardly-extending seat tubes, and coiled spring members carried by said pivot rod having ends anchored to the plates of said back tubes and having free end portions engaging said cross tube. 9

4. In combination with a cross support, a pair of back tubes fixed to said support. and having portions extending rearwardly and upwardly and short portions extending forwardly, a back carried 'by said upwardly-extending tube portions and providing also a rear seat segment over said forwardly-extending portions, a pair of seat supports pivotally mounted on said forwardly-extendingtube portions, a seat segment complementary to said first-mere tioned rear segment carried by said seat supports, and means normally urging said forward seat segment upwardly into a position generally parallel with said back, said forward seat segment being apertured to clear said forwardly-extending back tube portions when said forward seat segment is raised and said fixed rear seat segment being provided with extensions received within said apertures to substantially fill said apertures when the forward seat segmentis in lowermost position.

References @ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 143,979 10/73 Hall 297-336 179,472 7/76 Delph 1 297-336 974,703 11/10 Parr 297-332 1,209,452, 12/16 Kirsch 297-248 1,325,548 12/19 Wiley 297-333 2,812,800 11/57 Eames 297-239 2,907,378 10/59 Barecki 297-337 2,965,155 12/60 Henrikson Y 297-333 2,990,007 6/61 Kessler 297-440 3,006,689 10/61 Eppink 297-457 3,111,344 11/63 Hoven c 297-248 3,114,271 8/ 64 Lieberman 297-248 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,561 1912 Great. Britain. 138,663 1/53 Sweden.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PLATFORM PROVIDING STEPPED VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL AREAS, PEDESTALS ANCHORED TO A VERTICAL PORTION OF THE PLATFORM, A CROSS BEAM CARRIED BY SAID PEDESTALS, A PAIR OF BACK TUBES FIXED TO SAID BEAM AND HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY AND SHORT PORTIONS EXTENDING FORWARDLY, A PLASTIC BACK CARRIED BY SAID UPWARDLY-EXTENDING TUBE PORTIONS AND PROVIDING ALSO A REAR SEAT SEGMENT OVER SAID FORWARDLYEXTENDING PORTIONS, A PAIR OF SEAT SUPPORTS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FORWARDLY-EXTENDING TUBE PORTIONS, A PLASTIC SEAT SEGMENT COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID FIRST-MENTIONED REAR SEAT SEGMENT CARRIED BY SAID SEAT SUPPORTS, AND SPRING MEANS YIELDABLY URGING SAID FORWARD SEAT SEGMENT UP-