Fire retardant seating

• US 5,297,847 A
• Filed: 03/09/1992
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gds Seating
• Original Assignee: Interkal Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, Vaughn L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SILBERMANN, JOANNE
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonifanti, J.
• Application Number:
  US07/848,485
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188-194, 297/217, 297/463, 297/DIG. 5, 5/459, 5/483, 169/26, 169/56, 169/57, 169/62
• US Class Current: 297/217.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/12 Theatre, auditorium, or similar chairs seats detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/001 Fireproof means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/05 Fireproof

Abstract

A fire-resistant seating component. In a first embodiment, seat backs and pans are equipped with an enclosure containing a fire-retardant material which can flow out of early-release openings in the enclosure. The enclosure comprises at least one meltable zone which causes dispensation of the fire-resistant material at a temperature which is below the ignition temperature of the seating component. The enclosure is located at the lower portion of either a seat pan, a seat back, or both, so that burning rubbish such as paper cups and similar flammable debris disposed under a seat can be extinguished by the fire-retardant material as it flows vertically downward into the space beneath the seat. In a second embodiment, interior spaces within a seating component are coated or filled with non-combustible material to reduce the transfer of heat and the spread of fire. Such material may completely occupy the interior space within the component, or the material may simply coat the interior surfaces of the component. The non-combustible material may remain in contact, such as by adhesion, with the interior surfaces of the component to limit the amount of oxygen which comes into contact with the interior surfaces, thus limiting the tendency for the component to burn. Alternatively, the interior space within the component may be completely or partially filled with a highly heat absorbing material, such as water stabilized with a super absorbent polymer.

Claims

1. A seating component comprising a blow molded plastic enclosure having generally thin walls, said walls forming the structural elements of said seating component, at least a portion of the interior surface of said walls being in contact with a generally non-combustible material selected from the group consisting of foamed concrete, neoprene foam, fire-resistant cellulose fiber and fiberglass, said generally non-combustible material prevents initiation of combustion at said interior surfaces by insulating said interior surfaces of said walls from heat and oxygen,

said blow molded plastic enclosure containing the generally non-combustible material during a fire,

the generally non-combustible material remaining in the seating component and not migrating out thereof if the generally non-combustible material is exposed to heat.

2. A seating component in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said generally non-combustible material is initially flowable, which conforms to the interior contour within said component, after being inserted therein.

3. A seating component in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

said material adheres to said interior surfaces.

4. A seating component in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

said material generally fully occupies interior spaces of said component.