Patent Publication Number: US-2004056522-A1

Title: Seating unit including modular stanchion

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY  
       [0001] The present invention relates to seating units and, more particularly, to seating units including modular stanchions.  
       [0002] Seating systems for educational, amusement, performing arts, and sporting events typically have various drawbacks. These drawbacks often include the need for large, one piece stanchion castings or permanent welded steel stanchions each usable in only a limited number of applications. For different applications, different stanchions must be used, necessitating maintenance of a large inventory of parts. Moreover, the inventory of parts is typically of large parts.  
       [0003] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of parts are adapted to interlock by means of unique shaped male to female connections in order to achieve multiple floor or riser mounting variations as well as right hand, left hand, and intermediate stanchion configurations. A feature of an embodiment of the present invention is the use of modular components. Additionally, a feature of an embodiment of the invention is the ability of components of the stanchion to be interlocked and securely connected by means of a single bolt. Features such as these are significant in that the stanchion can be produced by manufacturing smaller common components and interlocking and connecting them together in different configurations to produce a variety of stanchion types.  
       [0004] Embodiments of the present invention permit resolution of several problems or limitations of existing chair stanchions. Problems overcome by and benefits of embodiments of the present invention include: elimination of the need for dedicated one piece stanchion castings or permanent welded steel stanchions by using a plurality of smaller components, which can be assembled together in different configurations to produce a variety of different stanchions; easy conversion between right hand and left hand stanchions in the field; reduction of the number of components and space requirements for repair or replacement parts typically kept in inventory for performing maintenance on stanchions by using common components that can be easily disassembled , replaced, and re-assembled by means of a single bolted connection; flexible design permits easy conversion of stanchions to different slopes or mounting configurations and does not require complete replacement of the stanchion.  
       [0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a seating system comprises one or more seating units. Each seating unit comprises a seat portion, and left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion. Each stanchion includes a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships.  
       [0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a family of different seating systems is provided, each seating system of the family of different seating systems comprising one or more seating units. Each seating unit comprises a seat portion and left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion. Each stanchion includes a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships. For each seating system of the family of different seating systems, the first end of the bottom member is different from the first end of the bottom member of another seating system of the family of different seating systems. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] The features and advantages of the present invention are well understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which:  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seating system with a modular stanchion according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0009] FIGS.  2 A- 2 C are side views of embodiments of modular stanchions according to the present invention; and  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a modular stanchion according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0011] A seating system  21  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The seating system  21  includes one or more seating units  23 , each seating unit including a seat portion  25  and a left and right stanchion or arm portion  27  and  29  on opposite sides of the seat portion (right and left designations are, for purposes of the present invention, determined from the perspective of one looking at the front of the seat, not one seated in the seat). Each arm portion  27  and  29  preferably includes a lower stanchion  31  and an upper stanchion  33   a  or  33   b  fixed to the lower stanchion. The lower stanchion  31  is ordinarily secured to the floor, wall, or some other surface. The seat portion  25  is preferably pivotably secured to the arm portions  27  and  29  and movable between a substantially horizontal use position and a substantially vertical storage position. A suitable seat portion  25  is disclosed in copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 033625-004), entitled “Seating Unit Including Spring-Assisted Gravity-Fold Seat Mechanism”, Inventor Mike Nelson, filed together herewith, which is incorporated by reference. A seating unit  23  ordinarily also includes a back assembly  34  attached to the arm portions  27  and  29 . A back assembly suitable for use in connection with the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 033625-008), entitled “Seating Unit Including Back Assembly”, inventor G. Edward Huff III, filed together herewith, which is incorporated by reference. The upper stanchion  33   a  may be identical to the upper stanchion  33   b  or may be adapted for provision of, for example, a tablet arm such as is disclosed in copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 033625-002), entitled, “Seating Unit Including Foldable Tablet Arm”, inventor Michael L. Leighton, filed together herewith and which is incorporated by reference, or such as is disclosed in copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 033625-003), entitled, “Seating Unit Including Foldable Tablet Arm”, inventor Brian R. McLaughlin, filed together herewith and which is incorporated by reference. In addition, both upper stanchions may be adapted for provision of, for example, a tablet arm. For purposes of discussion, however, the present invention will be described in terms of a stanchion  29  with an upper stanchion that has no tablet arm, it being understood that the description is also applicable to stanchions with tablet arms, except as otherwise noted.  
     [0012] As seen in FIGS.  2 A- 2 B, for each stanchion  29 , the lower or bottom member  31  has a first end  35  adapted to be secured to a surface S such as a floor or a wall and a second end  37 . The upper or second member  33   b  has a first end  39  adapted to be secured to the second end  37  of the bottom member  31  at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships. The second end  37  of the bottom member  31  includes a first hub  41  and the first end  39  of the second member  33   b  includes a second hub  43 .  
     [0013] As seen in FIG. 3, preferably, the first hub  41  has one of protrusions  45  and the second hub  43  has recesses  47  adapted to mate with the protrusions on the first hub at different relative angular relationships between the first hub and the second hub such that the bottom member  31  and the second member  33   b  can be secured at the different angular relationships. Of course, protrusions  45  or protrusions and recesses may be provided on the second hub  43  for mating with recesses  47  or recesses and protrusions on the first hub  41 , or some other suitable arrangement for permitting indexing of the first and second hubs at different angular relationships may be provided, such as holes in the hubs for receiving pins.  
     [0014] The bottom member  31  and the second member  33   b  are preferably secured relative to each other by a single fastener  49  such as a bolt extending through the first hub  41  and the second hub  43 . In addition, a boss  51  is preferably secured relative to the hubs  41  and  43  by the fastener  49 . The boss  51  is preferably a part adapted for connecting the seat portion  25  to the stanchions  27  and  29 . Bosses  51  may be provided on opposite sides of the hubs  41  and  43  for connecting seat portions on opposite sides of the hub where the seating system  21  comprises a plurality of adjacent seating units  23 . Alternatively, a cover  53  (shown in phantom in FIG. 3) may be provided on one side of the hubs  41  and  43 . The bosses  51  are preferably non-rotatable relative to the hubs  41  and  43  and may be provided with surfaces having male and/or female portions for mating with corresponding surfaces on the hubs to prevent rotation.  
     [0015]FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein the same bottom member  31  and second member  33   b  used to form a left stanchion  27  can be used to form a right stanchion  29  simply by switching the positions of items  51  and  53 . Preferably, the bottom member  31  and the second member  33   b  of each stanchion are identical. If desired or necessary, the first hub  41  on the bottom member  31  may be provided with left and right surfaces for mating with a surface on the hub  43  of the second member  33   b  so that a left or a right stanchion can be formed by attaching the second member to either the right or left side of the bottom member. Similarly, while also not required, the second hub  43  can be provided with left and right surfaces for mating with a surface on the hub  41  of the bottom member  31  so that a left or a right stanchion can be formed by attaching the bottom member to either the right or left side of the second member, or both the hubs  41  and  43  can be provided with left and right surfaces for mating with either left and right surfaces on the other hub.  
     [0016] As seen in FIGS.  2 A- 2 C, the bottom member  31  is preferably adapted to be secured at least at one of a plurality of angular positions between 90° and 180° relative to the second member  33   b  so that a surface  55  of the foot  57  at the first end  35  of the bottom member is flush against the surface S, regardless whether the surface is horizontal, sloped, or vertical.  
     [0017] An armrest or an bracket  59  for securing an armrest is preferably attached at the second end  61  of the second member  33   b . The armrest or bracket  59  may be pivotable between and adapted to be secured in one of a plurality of positions.  
     [0018] The seating systems  21  according to the present invention are preferably members of a family of different seating systems that differ from one another in various respects but that have many interchangeable components. For example, members of the family may use the same seat portion  25 , wing  34 , and second member  33   b , but have different bottom members  31 . As seen in FIGS.  2 A- 2 C, the foot  53  may differ in the bottom member of one seating system another seating system of the family of different seating systems by, for example, defining a different angle with the rest of the bottom member  31 .  
     [0019] Components of the modular stanchion according to the present invention can be made of any suitable material. For light weight and good structural integrity, it is presently contemplated that structural components such as the bottom member  31 , the second member  33   b , and the boss  51  will be formed of cast aluminum, and components having more of a decorative function such as the cover  53  will be formed of metal or plastic.  
     [0020] While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.