Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters

• US 20060232110A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ariel Ovadia
• Original Assignee: Ariel Ovadia
• Inventors: Ovadia, Ariel
• Application Number:
  US11/095,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/60 Use of locks or ledges for limiting the seat movement coin-freed apparatus for seats or footstools G07F17/08

Abstract

There is provided a reserved seat system for stadiums, arenas and theaters to limit the use of reserved seats to those having a specific ticket for that particular seat for that particular event at that particular time. The system employs seats in which the pivoting seating portion can be locked in an upraised position, which lock can be unlocked using a ticket having appropriate indicia to be deciphered by a ticket reader in the arm of the seat. The system is preferably controlled by an electronic lock system utilizing a central computer. The central computer randomly changes the electronic lock opening signals after each event to prevent a spectator retained ticket from being used at a subsequent event to unlock a seat occupied in the previous event. The central computer further provides instructions for ticket indicia creation for each subsequent event, provides instructions for printing replacement tickets for those purchased from third party ticket sellers, and provides a signal to all seats after an event is concluded for ticket spitters to discharge all tickets from ticket readers in the seats so that floor sweeping results in the disposal of all ticket left in the ticket readers after the spectators depart.

Claims

1. A reserved seat control apparatus comprising:

a seat having a movable portion to alternately allow access to the seat for occupying it and to deny access to the seat to prevent occupying it;

a locking mechanism controlling when the movable portion allows access to the seat and when the movable portion denies access to the seat; and

a means to unlock the locking mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises means to resiliently urge the movable portion to a position denying access to the seat when the seat is unoccupied.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the movable portion is a seating portion pivotable about a pivot axis connected to a frame of the seat, and in which when the seating portion is raised it denies access to the seat and when the seating portion is lowered it allows access to the seat.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the locking mechanism includes an electronic lock controlled by a computer in electrical communication with the electronic lock.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means to unlock the locking mechanism further comprises:

a ticket having indicia thereon;

at least one arm rest on the seat;

a slot disposed in an end of the arm rest which slot is adapted to accept an end to the ticket; and

a ticket reader to decipher the indicia disposed on the ticket and send a signal to the computer to unlock the electronic lock.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the computer is programmed to randomly change the electronic lock opening signal after the conclusion of an event and to provide indicia creation instructions for a succeeding event as a result of randomly changing the electronic lock opening signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 which further comprises a ticket spitter in the ticket reader to discharge the ticket out of the slot when an event is concluded.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the locking mechanism includes a linkage between the seating portion of the seat and the electronic lock such that when the seating portion is raised, the linkage causes an inclined plane latch in the electronic lock to engage a latch chamber in the linkage thereby locking the apparatus in a position to deny access to the seat.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the linkage comprises:

a first spur gear attached to the seating portion concentric with and rotatable about the pivot axis;

a locking mechanism axle disposed horizontally beneath the seating portion and parallel to the seat back;

a second spur gear co-planar with the first spur gear and fixedly mounted on a first end of the locking mechanism axle to rotate therewith;

a toothed belt around the first and second spur gears to cause them to rotate together;

a pinion fixedly mounted to a second end of the locking mechanism axle to rotate therewith;

a locking plate having a latch chamber and containing a rack that meshes with the pinion whereby the locking plate is driven by the rack and pinion to translate laterally toward the inclined plane latch in the electronic lock to engage the latch chamber in the locking plate when the seating portion is raised.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which at least some components of the linkage are disposed within a housing to prevent tampering with the locking mechanism.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a multiplicity of substantially similar such seats to form a system.

12. The system of claim 11 in which the locking mechanisms of all seats in the system include electronic locks that are all controlled by a central computer in electrical communication with all the electronic locks.

13. The system of claim 11 in which the means to unlock the locking mechanisms further comprises:

a ticket for each seat having indicia thereon;

at least one arm rest on each seat;

slots disposed in the ends of the arm rests which slots are adapted to accept ends to the tickets; and

ticket readers to decipher the indicia disposed on the tickets and send signals to a central computer to unlock each electronic lock if the indicia match requirements for a specific seat for which a specific ticket is presented.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the central computer is programmed to randomly change all the electronic lock opening signals after the conclusion of an event, to provide ticket indicia creation instructions for a succeeding event as a result of randomly changing the electronic locks opening signals, and to provide instructions for the printing of tickets in a manner analogous to that used to print self serve airline boarding passes to replace tickets purchased from third party ticket sellers that lack the ability to print tickets having indicia readable by the ticket readers.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 which further comprises ticket spitters controlled by the central computer in all the ticket readers to discharge the tickets out of the slots when an event is concluded so that floor sweeping will dispose of all used tickets and clear all ticket readers.