Patent Abstract:
A seating system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of seating risers configured to telescope relative to one another. Further, at least one of the plurality of seating risers is a powered seating riser configured to deploy and retract the plurality of seating risers. The powered seating riser includes a belt drive system. Additionally, the plurality of seating risers are adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 14/807,191, filed Jul. 23, 2015, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. The &#39;191 application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/027,964, filed Jul. 23, 2014, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to portable seating systems, and more particularly to a powered telescopic seating riser having decks capable of being vertically raised. 
         [0003]    Seating risers are designed for use in auditoriums, gymnasiums, and event halls, as examples, to accommodate spectators on portable seats, such as folding chairs, or on seats affixed to the risers. Certain facilities may require seating risers that are capable of being moved between a retracted position for storage and a deployed position for use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A seating system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of seating risers configured to telescope relative to one another. Further, at least one of the plurality of seating risers is a powered seating riser configured to deploy and retract the plurality of seating risers. The powered seating riser includes a belt drive system. Additionally, the plurality of seating risers are adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position. 
         [0005]    Another seating system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of seating risers adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position. The plurality of seating risers are also configured to telescope relative to one another between a deployed position and a retracted position. The system further includes an actuator mounted to a scissor lift, which is configured to adjust a vertical position of at least one of the plurality of seating risers. The actuator slides a roller of the scissor lift in a direction parallel to the deployment and retraction of the plurality of seating risers. 
         [0006]    A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, moving a plurality of seating risers to one of a deployed position and a retracted position, and adjusting a height of at least one of the plurality of seating risers between a lowered position and a raised position using a scissor lift. The scissor lift includes a roller configured to slide in a direction parallel to the direction of deployment and retraction of the seating risers. 
         [0007]    The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings can be briefly described as follows: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a seating system in a deployed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic illustration of the seating system in a retracted position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom-perspective view of an embodiment of a powered seating riser including a dual-belt drive system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another example seating system in a retracted position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the seating system in the retracted position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the seating system of  FIG. 3A  in a deployed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a view of the seating system of  FIG. 3A  in a raised position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the seating system in the raised position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5C  is a view of the seating system, and illustrates gearboxes associated with a scissor lift. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5D  is a view of an example right angle gearbox. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a close up view of the encircled area in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a sway reduction feature according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    An exemplary seating system  10  (which is sometimes collectively called a “riser”) has a plurality of telescopic seating risers  12 A- 12 F configured to deploy ( FIG. 1A ) and retract (schematically represented in  FIG. 1B ) relative to one another. While six seating risers  12 A- 12 F are shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , it should be understood that this application extends to seating systems with any number of risers. For example,  FIG. 3A  illustrates an example including three risers. 
         [0022]    Each seating riser  12 A- 12 F (sometimes each “riser” is referred to as a “level” or a “rise”) generally includes a support structure which supports a respective deck. The decks may support spectators thereon, either directly, such as when spectators stand directly on the decks, or indirectly by way of fixed benches or removable seats, such as folding chairs. 
         [0023]    In one example, the lower level seating risers are narrower in width and shorter in height relative to the upper level seating risers (e.g., lowest level seating riser  12 A is narrower in width and shorter in height relative to seating riser  12 B, and so on) to facilitate telescoping of the seating system  10  between the deployed ( FIG. 1A ) and retracted positions ( FIG. 1B ). 
         [0024]    In one example, one of the seating risers is a powered seating riser including a belt drive system  16 . The powered seating riser is operable to drive the deployment (in the “deploy” direction, labeled in the Figures) and retraction (in the “retract” direction, also labeled in the Figures) the seating system  10 , and to further laterally steer the seating risers  12 A- 12 F side-to-side during deployment and retraction. In the disclosed non-limiting embodiment the lowest riser  12 A is the powered seating riser. Although any of the seating risers  12 A- 12 F may be a powered seating riser, the lowest riser  12 A may best facilitate steering of the seating risers  12 A- 12 F in many examples. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example powered seating riser. In the illustrated example, the powered seating riser includes a dual-belt drive system  16 B. The drive system  16 B includes two variable frequency motors, or drives,  26 A,  26 B, each driving a respective belt, or track,  28 A,  28 B. Conceptually, the dual-belt drive system  16 B provides the seating system  10  with a motive force, as well as steering (e.g., steering in a lateral, side-to-side, direction), in a “tank-like” manner. To this end, the variable frequency drives  26 A,  26 B may be disposed at opposite sides, or flanks, of the powered seating riser  12 A. 
         [0026]    The overall system  10 , along with the dual-belt drive system  16 B, is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/315,606 (“the &#39;606 application”), filed Dec. 9, 2011, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate another seating system  110  according to the present disclosure. The seating system  110  includes three seating risers  112 A- 112 C, although, again, any number of risers could be included. In this example, the lowest riser  112 A is a powered seating riser, substantially similar to the riser  12 A of  FIGS. 1A-2 . In particular, the lowest riser  112 A in one example includes the dual-belt drive system of  FIG. 2 . The seating system  110  may also include a laser alignment system, such as that described in the &#39;606 application. 
         [0028]    The lowest riser  112 A is configured to be driven forward or rearward, and steered laterally (as needed), to move between a deployed and retracted position. In this example, the lowest riser  112 A moves in response to commands from a controller  130 . The upper risers  112 B,  112 C follow the lowest riser  112 A as it moves between the deployed and retracted positions.  FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate the risers  112 A- 112 C in the retracted position.  FIG. 4  illustrates the risers  112 A- 112 C in the deployed position. 
         [0029]    Further, the seating system  110  includes a plurality of actuators  114 ,  116 ,  118  (perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 3B and 4 ) configured to vertically move the risers  112 A- 112 C between a lowered position of  FIGS. 3A-3B  (e.g., see the “lower” direction, labeled in the Figures) and a raised position of  FIGS. 5A-5B  (e.g., see the “raise” direction, labeled in the Figures). The actuators  114 ,  116 , and  118  are electrically coupled to the controller  130  and are responsive to commands from the controller  130 . In one example, the controller  130  commands the actuators such that the several levels (e.g., the risers  112 A- 112 C) change elevation at the same time. In the example, the controller  130  commands the first riser  112 A to start moving vertically (e.g., in the lower direction), and then commands the second riser  112 B to start moving vertically after a delay, which can be a fixed value and vary depending on the particular application. The controller  130  next commands the third riser  112 C to start moving after another delay, and so on (if there are additional risers). Ultimately, the delays reduce the likelihood of a collision between adjacent risers during vertical travel. In this example, if a fourth riser were present, that riser would start moving after the first riser  112 A completes its travel. This “leapfrog effect” would continue until all levels (again, if present) complete their vertical travel. 
         [0030]    It should be understood that the controller  130  is configured to provide the actuators  114 ,  116 ,  118 , as well as the drive associated with the powered seating riser, with the appropriate instructions. In one example, a user provides instructions to the controller  130  via an interface. In another example, the controller  130  is programmed to automatically deploy and raise the risers, depending on the particular example. The controller  130  may include memory, a processor, hardware, and software necessary to receive, store, and send the appropriate instructions throughout the seating system  110 . 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the lowest seating riser  112 A includes a deck  120 , which is vertically supported by a scissor lift  122 . The scissor lift  122  includes first and second arms  124 ,  126 , which are pivotably connected to one another (at point  128 ) and to the deck  120  (at points  131 ,  132 ). 
         [0032]    Opposite the connection with the deck  120 , the arm  124  is slidably connected to a roller  134 . The roller  134  is configured to move in a direction parallel to the “deploy” and “retract” directions. This direction of movement allows for increased range (e.g., in the vertical direction) of movement of the scissor lift. The actuator  114  is configured to longitudinally adjust the position of the roller  134 , which in turn raises and lowers the deck  120 . Further, the arm  126  is pivotably connected opposite the pivotable connection  132 , at  136 . In the lowered position, the deck  120  is provided at a height H 1  above a ground surface. 
         [0033]    In this example, the deck  138  of the second riser  112 B is vertically supported by a drivable structure  139 , an intermediate structure  141 , and a vertical support post  142 . The drivable structure  139  is connected to the intermediate structure  141  by way of one or more drivable rollers. The drivable structure  139  and the intermediate structure  141  are each configured to move in directions parallel to the “lower” and “raise” directions. In turn, the intermediate structure  141  is connected to the vertical support post  142  by a plurality of passive rollers. In this example, the actuator  116  drives the rollers of the drivable structure along the intermediate structure  141 , which itself, in turn, travels along the vertical support post  142 . The intermediate structure  141  allows additional vertical travel for the deck  138 , however it is not required in all examples. When in the lowered position, the deck  138  is a height H 2  above a ground surface. 
         [0034]    The third seating riser  112 C includes a deck  140  positioned at a height H 3  in the lowered position. The deck  140  is vertically supported by a drivable structure  145 , which is movable (e.g., by one or more drivable rollers) along a vertical support post  146  in response to the actuator  118 . The drivable structure  145  is moveable in directions parallel to the “lower” and “raise” directions. It should be understood that the actuators  114 ,  116 ,  118  can be any type of known actuator, such as linear actuators including acme screws, ball screws, or another type of actuator including a nut moveable along a threaded shaft. Further, the linear actuator may be self-locking. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view illustrating the seating risers  112 A- 112 C in a raised position. In the raised position, the deck  120  is a height H 1 ′ above a ground surface, which in one example is about 40 inches higher than the height H 1 . Further, the deck  138  of the second riser  112 B is a height H 2 ′ above a ground surface, which in one example is about 30 inches higher than the height H 2 . Further, the deck  140  of the third riser  112 C is a height H 3 ′ above a ground surface, which is about 20 inches higher than the height H 3  in one example. 
         [0036]    In this example, the second riser  112 B vertically travels further than the third riser  112 C due to the intermediate structure  141 . Further, the scissor lift  122  associated with the lowest riser  112 A is configured to provide the largest amount of vertical travel. The increased vertical travel associated with the lowest riser  112 A allows the lowest riser  112 A to vertically align with the highest riser of an adjacent seating system (which may be in a vertically lowered position). 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , when the seating system  110  is in the raised position, the vertical gaps between the decks  120 ,  138 , and  140  are sealed (e.g., substantially covered) by vertical flanges  150 ,  152 . The flanges  150 ,  152  prevent unwanted access to the underside of the decks  120 ,  138  and  140 , which increases the safety of the system  110 . 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 5B , the actuators  116 ,  118  are connected to vertical drives, which may be linear actuators like ball screws or acme screws within respective drivable structures  139 ,  145 , by way of a rotatable horizontal arm (such as arm  119  in  FIG. 5A ) and a respective right angle gearbox  161 ,  163 . The right angle gearboxes  161 ,  163  convert an input rotation ninety degrees into an output rotation. Likewise, as illustrated in  FIG. 5C , the actuator  114  drives a horizontal arm  115 , which is connected to first and second right angle gearboxes  165 ,  167 . The right angle gearboxes  165 ,  167  are arranged to drive the roller  134  in the deploy and retract directions. By providing right angle gearboxes between the actuators  114 ,  116 ,  118  and the respective linear actuators, maintenance is reduced relative to the prior systems (which may include additional parts like chains and sprockets that need lubrication), which in turn increases system reliability. 
         [0039]    One example right angle gearbox G is shown in  FIG. 5D . As mentioned, the right angle gearbox G is configured to convert an input rotation I 1  (e.g., from the horizontal arms  115 ,  119 ) by ninety degrees to an output rotation I 2 , which in turn drives the linear actuators and adjusts riser position. 
         [0040]    In one example, the scissor lift  122  requires additional vertical space for packaging when the system  110  is in the lowered position. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in one example, a vertical gap exists between the upper surface of the flange  150  and the lower surface of the second deck  138 . In this example, the arm  124  of the scissor lift  122  includes a projection  154  extending generally in a rearward direction (i.e., a direction parallel to the “retract” direction), which supports a cam  156 . When the seating system  110  is in the lowered position, the cam  156  engages a flap  158 , and rotates the flap  158  such that it contacts the lower surface of the deck  138 . The combination of the vertical flange  150  and the flap  158  effectively seal the underside of the decks  120 ,  138  when the system  110  is in the lowered position. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates a sway reduction feature according to this disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the second deck  138  includes a node  160  projecting downwardly from a lower surface thereof. In this example, the node  160  is a frustoconical projection. The lowest riser  112 A includes an opening  162  adjacent an upper surface of the flange  150 . When in the raised position, the node  160  is received in the opening  162 . Contact between the node  160  and the structure forming the opening  162  restricts lateral movement of the lowest riser  112 A and the second riser  112 B. It should be understood that a similar sway reduction feature can be provided between the second riser  112 B and the upper riser  112 C. Further, each riser can include more than one node/opening pair. 
         [0042]    Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. 
         [0043]    One of ordinary skill in this art would understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and non-limiting. That is, modifications of this disclosure would come within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4