Abstract:
A system which generates electricity from the movement of at least a portion of a seat in an arena and, preferably, combines electricity generated by the movement of a plurality of seats to create usable quantities of electrical energy.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/417,836 on Nov. 29, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a system, e.g. an entertainment system, which generates electricity from the movement of at least a portion of a seat in an arena and, preferably, combines electricity generated by the movement of a plurality of seats to create usable quantities of electrical energy. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As a person sits down in a seat there is typically wasted energy. This energy that is typically wasted is turned into usable electrical energy by utilizing forces acting on the seat. When a seat is turned/lowered, only a small amount of electrical energy will be generated, however, when thousands of seats are generating energy, such as in a stadium, a more significant amount of electrical energy will be generated. The various embodiments of the present invention generate electricity from the movement of at least a portion of a seat in an arena and, preferably, combines electricity generated by the movement of a plurality of seats to create usable quantities of electrical energy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plurality of seats according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of one of the seats of  FIG. 1  with a base in a raised position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of one of the seats of  FIG. 1  with a base in a lowered position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plurality of seats according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  illustrates a single base of a seat according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 6-8  are side, front perspective and top views, respectively, of a base of a fourth embodiment of the present invention with the base in a raised position. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 9-11  are side, front perspective and top views, respectively, of a base of a fourth embodiment of the present invention with the base in a lowered position. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 12-14  are side, front perspective and top views, respectively, of a base of a fourth embodiment of the present invention with the base in a lowered position and a spring which has been tripped. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 15-19  are schematic views of movable bases of alternate embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    When a person sits down, almost all of their weight from their knees up is applied downwardly. For purposes of illustration, if an average person has a weight of 177 pounds, after subtracting their weight below their knees, for present purposes estimated to be 37 pounds, the upper 140 pounds is applied to the seat. If this weight (140 lbs.) is multiplied by 45,000 seats in a stadium, the result is 6,300,000 pounds of force. 
         [0014]    If the distance between a person&#39;s knees and hips is 18 inches, this is the approximate distance a person&#39;s weight travels during the act of sitting. Therefore, 6,300,000 pounds of force is applied for a distance of about 18 inches. This occurs if the people in the stadium sit down once. During an exciting event, many people will stand up and sit down many times, e.g. 10-20 times. The resulting foot-pounds is converted to electrical energy which is used for different things. One example is lighting up lights, signs, or scoreboards around the stadium. Another example is powering electrical necessities in the stadium. 
         [0015]    Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes the generated electricity for entertainment purposes. Fans in certain stadium sections of the stadium compete with fans in other sections to see who can generate the most electricity which can be displayed visually or broadcast audibly with the amount of signage illuminated or the brightness or the audible volume, related to the amount of electricity generated. As used herein, the term arena is used to include venues such as stadiums, theaters, and or other venues comprising a large number of seats, e.g., 50 or more seats. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the electricity generated by electrical generator  15  can be directed to one or more discernible signal generators  17  and  18 . In this illustrated embodiment discernible signal generator  17  provides illumination through a series of lights  17 ′. Preferably, the number of lights illuminated and/or the brilliance of the illumination corresponds to the amount of electricity generated by one or more electrical generators  15 . Discernible signal generator  18  is a speaker which generates sounds. The electricity used to power one or more discernible signal generators can be amplified or otherwise controlled by controller  19  which comprises one or more amplifiers if desired. In this manner, fans can compete to generate greater signals or sound which is broadcast in a manner which indicates which seats have generated more electricity. 
         [0017]    The following embodiments illustrate seats which generate electricity individually or collectively. There are many methods to produce electricity from moving mechanical parts. The illustrated embodiments provide just a few examples. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , seats  10  each comprise a movable base  11 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base is pivotal and is connected to a bellows  12 . When the seat is in the raised position as in  FIG. 2 , the bellows  12  is expanded. When a person sits or otherwise applies force to base  11  in the generally downward direction, the bellows  12  is compressed forcing air through tube  13  into conduit  14 . Suitable one-way valves, not shown, control the flow of air according to this embodiment of the present invention in order to always direct the air out of the bellows through tube  13  and into conduit  14  which is connected to an electrical generator  15 . Though not illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , tube  13  is connected to bellows at connection point  13 ′. The pressurized air entering conduit  14  causes a turbine  15 ′ in electrical generator  15  to spin thereby generating electricity which, according to this embodiment, is transferred to one or more devices via electrical conductor  16 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein each seat  20  is connected to an individual electrical generator  25  which generates electricity which is transmitted through conductors  26  to a common conductor  28 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a seat base  31  is connected to a bellows  32 . This embodiment comprises a sub-base  33  and a plurality of springs  34  which is connected to a turbine  36  in an electrical generator  35 . According to this embodiment of the present invention, springs  34  return base  31  to a storage position. According to this embodiment of the present invention turbine  36  is caused to spin in both directions, i.e., both clockwise and counterclockwise, as base  31  is moved downwardly and upwardly, respectively, in order to generate electricity when base  31  is moving in either of two directions. As in the embodiments described above, electrical generator  35  is connected to a desired device or signal generator, e.g., a discernible signal generator. 
         [0021]    While the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  utilize pneumatic forces, it is also within the scope of the present invention to use hydraulic forces. From the present description, it will be appreciated that the particular form of electrical generator can vary and that one or more different types of electrical generators can be used within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 6-14  illustrate a base of a fourth embodiment of the present invention comprising a flywheel.  FIGS. 6-14  illustrate a series of views of a base, namely, a side view, a front perspective view and a top view of the base in an upright or storage position, a lowered position, and a lowered position wherein the flywheel had been caused to spin. According to this embodiment of the present invention a base  41  comprises a flywheel  42  comprising ratchet teeth  43 . The base also comprises a spring actuated drive mechanism comprising a rotatable but lineally stationary spring support  44  connected to one end of compression spring  45 . Spring support  44  comprises a trip pin  46 . Connected to the other end of the compression spring  45  is a rotationally stationary but lineally movable spring support  47  which is movable along the longitudinal axis of pivotal support  50 . According to this embodiment of the present invention, when base  41  is lowered from the raised position shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , spring  45  is compressed between spring supports  44  and  47  thereby exerting an outwardly directed force on spring support  47 . Spring support  47  comprises an engagement member which is positioned between the ratchet teeth  43  of flywheel  42  as the base is lowered to its lower position. Also, as base  42  is lowered to its lowest position, trip pin  46  trips a release (not shown) which allows spring support  47  to slide lineally and axially along pivotal support  50  thereby driving flywheel  42 . This flywheel  42  has magnets which will spin around a coiled wire to generate electricity or is connected to another type of generator (not shown). 
         [0023]      FIGS. 15 through 19  each illustrate a series of movements of a seat or the base portion of a seat. The movement can be caused by the downward movement of the mass of a person. Each of  FIGS. 15-19  comprises a series of schematics. Each individual schematic comprises two lines. The line of the left illustrates the backrest of a seat while the line to the right illustrates the base portion of the seat on which a person sits. The portion of the seat on which a person&#39;s buttocks will rest is referred to herein as the base, in order to distinguish it from the entire seat which includes a base, a backrest and preferably armrests. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 15 , the base of the seat is normally biased upwardly, e.g. by a spring. The weight of a person will move the base from the position shown in  FIG. 15(   a ) downwardly through the position illustrated in  FIG. 15(   b ) to the final position shown in  FIG. 15(   c ). 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 16 , the backrest and base move downwardly together from a position shown in  FIG. 16(   a ) to the position shown in  FIG. 16(   c ). 
         [0026]      FIG. 17  illustrates an embodiment more similar to a conventional arena or stadium seat wherein the base pivots downwardly. It will be appreciated that the spacing between the base and the backrest is usually sufficient for a person to position at least part of his buttocks on the base to apply weight and downward force to the base thereby moving the base from the position generally illustrated in  FIG. 17(   a ) through the position shown in  FIG. 17(   b ) to the final position shown in  FIG. 17(   c ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 18  illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the base is pivoted about an axis located forwardly whereby the seat pivots downwardly and rearwardly toward the backrest when a person&#39;s weight is applied. 
         [0028]      FIG. 19  illustrates an embodiment wherein the base moves both downwardly and slide forwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 19(   a ) through the positions shown in  FIGS. 19(   b ) and  19 ( c ) to the final position shown in  FIG. 19(   d ).