Motion picture theatre structure

• US 5,822,928 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Inventors: Jacques, G. Eric, Coito, Ilidio Paulo, Maxwell, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US08/807,922
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 52/6, 52/8
• US Class Current: 52/8
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/22 Theatres; Concert halls; Studios for broadcasting, cinematography, television or similar purposes

Abstract

A theatre designed to provide an intimate environment for an audience, particularly for watching 3-D motion pictures. The theatre has an auditorium with a sloped seating deck and audience entry/exit points on opposite sides, generally at an intermediate level of the deck. The entry/exit points are generally at ground level with the portion of the deck below those points in an excavated pit. A ground level lobby connects to the access points by aisles outwardly of opposite sides of the auditorium and a projection room is provided above the lobby.

Claims

1. A motion picture theatre structure comprising:

an auditorium having first and second opposite ends;

a projection screen at said first end of the auditorium and a lobby at said second end of the auditorium, the lobby having a floor at a defined level;

a seating deck which includes an array of seats arranged in rows generally transversely with respect to said screen, said seating deck sloping downwardly in a direction from said second end of the auditorium towards said screen;

entry/exit points for audience members, one at each side of said seating deck, each said entry/exit point being located generally at said defined level and generally intermediate upper and lower ends of the deck so that multiple rows of seats exist both above and below the entry/exit points, the seating deck providing access to said seats for audience members from both of said entry/exit points at respective ends of each row of seats;

respective access aisles at opposite sides of the auditorium connecting the lobby with the respective entry/exit points; and

,

a projection room at said second end of the auditorium above the lobby, for projecting images onto said screen.

3. A theatre structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auditorium has a shape as seen in plan defined by side walls inwardly of said aisles which extend parallel to one another to said entry/exit points and which then diverge to an end wall at said first end of the auditorium having a minimum lateral dimension sufficient to accommodate said screen.

2. A theatre structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said defined level is ground level, whereby said lobby, aisles and entry/exit points are generally at ground level, and wherein the portion of the seating deck below said entry/exit points is located in an excavated pit below ground level.

4. A theatre structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said screen is curved as seen in plan and said end wall of the auditorium is curved to follow said screen curvature.