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US 7,478,876 B2Granted
Seating system and assembly
AssigneeSeries International, LLC
InventorAlvaro Mauricio Olarte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates specifically to a seating system or assembly which utilizes a modularized system of standard sized components. The system reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies storage and shipping and improves assembly efficiencies. The system of modularized components allows flexibility in seating use and design.
Claims47
A row of seating having a predetermined length, said row of seating comprising:
- a beam assembly comprising a plurality of beams aligned end to end, at least a first of the plurality of beams having a first standard length selected from a plurality of predefined standard length, and at least a second of the plurality of beams having a second standard length selected from the plurality of predefined standard lengths;
- wherein the first standard length is different than the second standard length;
- a plurality of supports supporting said beam assembly in a substantially horizontal position;
- a plurality of seating components attached to said beam assembly;
- wherein, said beam assembly is secured to said plurality of supports such that said beam assembly is positioned between a first and second plate and secured by screws passing outside the beam assembly connecting the first and second plates;
- and
- wherein, a said first plate of each of said plurality of supports is an upper plate and a said second plate of each of said plurality of supports is a lower plate and said beam assembly is positioned between the upper plate and the lower plate of each of said plurality of supports and screws extend from the upper plate to the lower plate to secure said beam assembly to said plurality of supports.
4 more elements
A row of seating having a predetermined length, said row of seating comprising:
- a beam assembly comprising a plurality of beams aligned end to end, at least a first of the plurality of beams having a first standard length selected from a plurality of predefined standard lengths, and at least a second of the plurality of beams having a second standard length selected from the plurality of predefined standard length;
- wherein the first standard length is different than the second standard length;
- a plurality of support supporting said beam assembly in a substantially horizontal position;
- a plurality of seating components attached to said beam assembly;
- wherein said plurality of seating components comprises a plurality of seat assemblies having an optimal seat width;
- and
- wherein said first standard length and said second standard length comprise integer multiples of one half of the optimal seat width.
4 more elements
A row of seating having a predetermined row length, comprising:
- at least two beams from a plurality of beams having at least two predefined standard lengths aligned end to end to form a beam assembly such that the predetermined row length is reached;
- a plurality of supports supporting the beam assembly in a substantially horizontal position;
- a plurality of seating components of a standard size comprising a plurality of seat bottoms;
- a number of left seat connectors equal to the number of seat bottoms and a number of right seat connectors equal to the number of seat bottoms attached to the beam assembly such that a left seat connector is positioned to attach to a left side of a seat bottom and a right seat connector is positioned to attach to a right side of a seat bottom;
- and
- a distance between adjacent seat bottoms that is varied by shifting at least one of the left and right seat connectors along said beam assembly so that the row of seating reaches the predetermined length without requiring customization of the plurality of seating components.
3 more elements
A row of seating having a predetermined length, said row of seating comprising:
- a beam assembly comprising a plurality of beams aligned end to end, at least a first of the plurality of beams having a first standard length selected from a plurality of predefined standard length, and at least a second of the plurality of beams having a second standard length selected from the plurality of predefined standard length;
- wherein the first standard length is different than the second standard length;
- a plurality of supports supporting said beam assembly in a substantially horizontal position;
- a plurality of seating components attached to said beam assembly;
- a plurality of seat connectors connecting said plurality of sealing components to said beam assembly, wherein each of the seat connectors comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket, an opening of the U-shaped bracket corresponding to the thickness of said beam assembly, and positioned such that the U-shaped bracket substantially surround said beam assembly on three sides;
- and
- wherein said plurality of seat connectors comprise a plurality of left and right seat connectors.
4 more elements
A row of seating having a predetermined row length, comprising:
- a beam assembly comprising at least two beams aligned end to end to reach the predetermined row length, said beam assembly having a substantially rectangular cross-section including a top side, a front side, a back side and a bottom side;
- a plurality of supports supporting the beam assembly in a substantially horizontal position, each of said plurality of supports secured to at least one of a floor and a step riser;
- a plurality of seating components comprising a plurality of seat bottoms and a plurality of seat backs;
- a plurality of seat connectors connecting said plurality of seating components along said beam assembly, wherein each of the plurality of seat connectors comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket that substantially surrounds the top side, the front side, and the back side of said beam assembly;
- a space between each adjacent seat bottom that is adjustable by shifting at least one of said seat connectors along said beam assembly so that the row of seating reaches the predetermined length without requiring customization of the plurality of seating components;
- wherein each of said seat connectors includes a securing apparatus adjacent to at least the bottom side of said beam assembly securing each of the seat connectors about said beam assembly without requiring holes in said beam assembly;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of seat bottoms are pivotably attached to at least one of said seat connectors and separately pivotable about an axis through the at least one seat connector.
5 more elements
A seating arrangement comprising:
- at least a first row of seating and a second row of seating, said first row of seating having a different length than said second row of seating;
- wherein said first row of seating comprises a first plurality of beams aligned end to end and supported in a substantially horizontal position, at least one of the first plurality of beams having a first length and at least another of the first plurality of beams having a second length different than the first length a combined length of the first plurality of beams defining a length of said first row of seating;
- wherein said second row of seating comprises a second plurality of beams aligned end to end and supported in a substantially horizontal position, at least one of the second plurality of beams having a third length and at least another of the second plurality of beams having a fourth length different than the third length, a combined length of the second plurality of beams defining a length of said second row of seating;
- a first plurality of seats connected to the first plurality of beams, at least some of said first plurality of seats having a first standard width, a combined width of said first plurality of seats being generally equal to the length of said first row of seating;
- and
- a second plurality of seats connected to the second plurality of beams, at least some of said second plurality of seats having a first standard width, a combined width of said second plurality of seats being generally equal to the length of said second row of seating.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.