Bleacher seating system

A bleacher seating system comprising:

• at least two deck portions, said at least two deck portions positioned adjacent one another with a first of said at least two deck portions positioned in front of a second of said at least two deck portions, said at least two deck portions each configured to support one or more seats;
• at least two deck frames, said at least two deck frames coupled to respective ones of said at least two deck portions and supporting said at least two deck portions;
• at least two support frames, said at least two support frames positioned generally below respective ones of said at least two deck frames;
• at least two lift mechanisms, said at least two lift mechanisms coupled between respective ones of said at least two support frames and said at least two deck frames, and configured to selectively raise and lower corresponding ones of said first and second deck portions relative to respective ones of said at least two support frames;
• wherein said first of said at least two deck portions is positioned at an elevation below said support frame corresponding to said second of said at least two deck portions;
• first and second stop members coupled to each of said lift mechanisms;
• a lock mechanism for limiting lowering of a respective one of said deck portions when said respective deck portion is at a raised position, said lock mechanism comprising:
• a lock member having a proximal end portion that is pivotally coupled to said lift mechanism and pivotable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and a distal end portion configured to selectively engage said stop members, said distal end portion of said lock member comprising a first stop surface configured to selectively engage said first stop member when said respective deck portion is in a first raised position and said lock member is in said locking position, and a second stop surface that is spaced from said first stop surface and is configured to selectively engage said second stop member when said respective deck portion is in a second raised position and said lock member is in said locking position;
• and
• an actuator coupled between said lock member and said lift mechanism, wherein said actuator is operable to selectively pivot said lock member between said locking position and said unlocking position;
• wherein said lock mechanism is operable to mechanically limit or substantially preclude lowering of said deck portion responsive to said deck portion being moved to one of said first and second raised positions.

A method of extending and retracting a telescopic bleacher seating system, said method comprising:

• providing at least two rows of seating areas, each of said rows comprising a deck portion, a support frame, a lift mechanism coupled between said deck portion and said support frame, a base frame spaced below said support frame, a stop member coupled to said base frame, and a support member coupled between said base frame and said support frame, wherein a first of said at least two rows of seating areas is positioned substantially directly below the support frame of a second of said at least two rows of seating areas when said seating areas are in a retracted configuration;
• extending said seating system by positioning said first of said at least two rows of seating areas in front of said second of said at least two rows of seating areas;
• actuating each of said lift mechanisms of said at least two rows of seating areas to raise said deck portions to a desired one of at least two selectable respective heights;
• actuating lock mechanisms of each of said lift mechanisms into a locking configuration in which a stop surface of said locking mechanisms is configured to contact said stop member at said base frame to prevent movement of said deck portions below said desired one of said at least two selectable respective heights;
• actuating said lock mechanisms of each of said lift mechanisms into an unlocked configuration in which said stop surface of said locking mechanism is configured to not contact said stop member as said stop surface moves past said stop member;
• actuating each of said lift mechanisms of said at least two rows of seating areas to lower said deck portions at least until the deck portion of the first of said at least two rows of seating areas is positioned at an elevation below the support frame of the second of said at least two rows of seating areas;
• and
• retracting said seating system by positioning said first of said at least two rows of seating areas below the support frame of said second of said at least two rows of seating areas.