Bleacher seat

• US 20060108843A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott Suprina
• Original Assignee: Scott Suprina
• Inventors: Suprina, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/217.700
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/12 Theatre, auditorium, or similar chairs seats detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16

Abstract

A seat module that forms a seat portion and an upright lumbar and thoracic support portion in one piece as a commercial grade seat the at can be retro-fitted to any stadium bleacher easily to conform with building safety codes and provide comfortable seating to the patrons of the stadium.

Claims

1. A bleacher seat module comprising:

a seat portion contiguously formed with an upright lumbar and thoracic support portion, the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion having tapered sides and a hollowed indentation.

2. A bleacher seat module of claim 1, wherein the bleacher seat module is ergonomically formed.

3. A bleacher seat module of claim 2, wherein the bleacher seat module is individually, permanently affixed to a bleacher plank.

4. A bleacher seat module of claim 3, wherein the bleacher seat module is sized to provide clearance space.

5. A bleacher seat module of claim 4, wherein the seat portion has a greater width than depth to provide clearance space.

6. A bleacher seat module of claim 5, wherein the tapered sides provide sitting space.

7. A bleacher seat module of claim 6, wherein the hollowed indentation provides sitting space.

8. A bleacher seat module of claim 7, wherein the bleacher seat portion has at least one brace to permanently affix the seat module.

9. A bleacher seat module of claim 8, wherein the bleacher seat module has at least one drainage hole.

10. A bleacher seat module of claim 8, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion has an indented advertisement holder.

11. A bleacher seat module of claim 8, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion has a space forming a hole as an advertisement holder or seat number.

12. A bleacher seat module of claim 8, wherein the bleacher seat module further comprises an armrest module.

13. A bleacher seat module of claim 8, wherein the bleacher seat module further comprises a support component.

46. The bleacher seat of claim 2 in which said seat portion slopes downward from a front end of said seat portion to said rear end of said seat portion.

47. The bleacher seat of claim 6 in which a recess is formed in a rear surface of said back portion for attachment of an identifying plaque or label.

14. A bleacher seat module comprising a seat portion contiguously formed with an upright lumbar and thoracic support portion, the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion having tapered sides and a hollowed indentation and the seat portion having at least one brace permanently affixable to provide at least twelve inch clearance when aligned in at least a 24 inch row to row spacing.

15. A bleacher seat module of claim 14, wherein the bleacher seat module is ergonomically formed.

16. A bleacher seat module of claim 15, wherein the bleacher seat module is custom sized.

17. A bleacher seat module of claim 16, wherein the bleacher seat module is individually, permanently affixed.

18. A bleacher seat module of claim 17, wherein the seat portion has a greater width than depth to provide clearance space.

19. A bleacher seat module of claim 17, wherein bleacher seat module has at least one drainage hole.

20. A bleacher seat module of claim 17, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion has an indented advertisement holder.

21. A bleacher seat module of claim 17, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support has a space forming a hole as an advertisement holder or seat number.

22. A bleacher seat module of claim 17, wherein the bleacher seat module further comprises an armrest module.

23. A bleacher seat module of claim 17, wherein the bleacher seat module further comprises a brace support component.

24. A bleacher seat module for a bleacher stadium seating arrangement, wherein said bleacher stadium seating arrangement includes a minimum predetermined horizontal clearance distance of at least 24 inches between rows of adjacent seats having a clearance of at least twelve inches in front of and behind each said backless seat plank sufficient for patrons of the bleacher stadium seating arrangement to have egress therefrom without the risk of encroaching upon the clearance space between said respective seats, said seat module comprising a seat portion contiguously formed with an upright lumbar and thoracic support portion and said seat portion having at least one brace permanently affixable to said seat portion, to provide said minimum predetermined horizontal clearance distance when installed in industry standard 24 or 26 inch rows.

25. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the bleacher seat module is ergonomically formed.

26. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the bleacher seat module is custom sized.

27. A bleacher seat module of claim 26, wherein the bleacher seat module is individually, permanently affixed.

28. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the seat portion has a greater width than depth to provide clearance space.

29. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the seat portion has at least one drainage hole.

30. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion has an indented advertisement holder.

31. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion has a space forming a hole as an advertisement holder.

32. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the bleacher seat module further comprises an armrest module.

33. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein the bleacher seat module further comprises a brace support component.

34. A bleacher seat module of claim 24, wherein said seat portion has a length coterminous with a predetermined length of the backless bleacher plank.

35. The bleacher seat module as in claim 24, wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion includes tapered sides.

36. The bleacher seat module as in claim 24 wherein the upright lumbar and thoracic support portion includes a hollowed indentation.

37. A bleacher seat mountable on a bench plank comprising in combination:

a bleacher bench plank;

a seat portion adapted for resting on a top surface of said bench plank;

an upright lumbar and thoracic support portion extending up from a rear end of said seat portion;

fasteners in said seat portion for attaching said seat to said bench;

said upright lumbar and thoracic support portion having an enlarged radius of an upper thoracic support region as compared to a smaller radius of a lower lumbar region.

38. A bleacher seat as in claim 37 further comprising said upright lumbar and thoracic support portion having indented side edges, said indented side edges providing knee access to prevent hitting seat back, said upright lumbar and thoracic support from users of a seat sitting behind;

40. The bleacher seat as in claim 37 further comprising an oval flat recess for attachment of logos, seat numbers, and/or other identifying plaque or label.

41. The bleacher seat as in claim 37 further comprising a gusset brace attaching said upright lumbar and thoracic support to said seat portion.

42. The bleacher seat of claim 37 having a downwardly extending front apron for nesting against a front edge of said bench.

43. The bleacher seat of claim 37 further comprising fasteners hidden by snap-in plugs.

44. The bleacher seat of claim 37 further comprising drain holes in said seat portion.

45. The bleacher seat of claim 37 in which said upright lumbar and thoracic support portion has a narrowed waist region for accommodating knees of a person sitting on a bench behind said bleacher seat.

48. The bleacher seat of claim 37 further comprising a holographic label.

49. A souvenir seat of claim 37 further comprising a stool frame and an attachment fastener attaching said stadium seat to said stool frame.

39. The bleacher seat as in claim 39 further comprising an opening within said upright lumbar and thoracic support to provide proper flexure for more comfortable support of the upper thoracic back while the lower lumbar region provides adequate lumbar support, said opening being gently contoured in a kidney shape and framed with a rim angled toward the rear for avoiding any edges which may entangle belts or other accessories.

50. A spectator bleacher seating system providing related sporting events a plurality of bleacher plank rows with individual bleacher seats having predetermined maximum front to back depths providing occupant comfort while conforming to safety aisle egress codes comprising:

a plurality of staggered bleacher plank rows;

a floor panel deck for each of said plurality of bleacher plank rows except for a first of said plurality of bleacher plank rows, each floor panel deck being at a fixed height from the un-elevated floor; and

at least one bleacher seat in each bleacher plank row and positioned to have a predetermined bleacher seat height,

wherein said at least one bleacher seat includes a back, wherein said rows of bleacher seats are set back from each other a predetermined distance.

each said bleacher seat spaced apart from its respective floor by said fixed height, said fixed height defining a volume between each said bleacher seat and its respective floor

each said bleacher seat including a generally horizontally oriented bleacher seat sitting pan and an upright bleacher seat lumbar support;

said bleacher seat pan supported by a post having a predetermined height equal to said fixed height;

said predetermined height of said defined volume comprising a size that is a predetermined minimal height providing unobstructed views board for patrons sitting in a row of bleacher seats;

each bleacher seat sitting pan having a predetermined front to back depth providing occupant comfort while conforming to safety aisle egress codes;

each said bleacher seat lumbar support separated from each adjacent bleacher seat lumbar support in front of or behind said bleacher seat lumbar support by a minimal horizontal distance exceeding said minimal localized volume conforming to a theoretical volume defined by a building code minimal aisle egress clearance between said adjacent bleacher seat lumbar supports extending in a horizontal direction;

said volume formed by said predetermined height and said minimal horizontal distance forming a minimal localized volume conforming to a theoretical volume defined by a building code minimal separation distances between said adjacent bleacher seats backs.

51. A bleacher seat and bleacher plank system comprising:

a bleacher plank having a predetermined front to back distance and an area extending in front of said plank of at least twelve inches;

a bleacher seat permanently affixable to said plank, said bleacher seat including a generally upright lumbar support extending upward from a forwardly extending seat pan, said seat pan having a front to back depth of a predetermined distance without encroaching upon said minimum twelve inch clearance distance in front of said plank.

52. A bleacher seat and bleacher plank system comprising:

a bleacher plank having a predetermined front to back distance and an area extending in front of said plank of at least twelve inches;

a bleacher seat permanently affixable to said plank, said bleacher seat including a generally upright lumbar support extending upward from a forwardly extending seat pan, said seat pan having a front to back depth of a predetermined distance without encroaching upon said minimum twelve inch clearance distance in front of said plank.

said seat pan tilting downward toward the back, thereby giving under-knee support and placing the occupant in a more natural sitting posture;

said seat having a rear with inwardly extending recesses accommodating the knees of an occupant of a bleacher seat behind said bleacher seat with knees of the occupant pointing forward, to prevent the knees of the rear occupant from hitting said upright lumbar support;

said lumbar support having an opening providing increased flexure of said lumbar support above an axis penetrating said opening;

said bleacher seat having a pair of opposite flared gusset braces in a region where said bleacher seat is attached to said bleacher plank; and

,

said lumbar support having an upper portion with a radius longer than a predetermined radius of a lower portion thereof, wherein the smaller radius more closely fits the lower lumbar region of the occupant while the larger radius of the upper portion allows the shoulder blades of the occupant to stretch naturally rearward without undue forward pressure;

said longer radius of said upper portion flattening the upper thoracic region when compared to the more concave lower region lumbar region of said lumbar support.