Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 61/990,217 filed on May 8, 2014 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to retractable seats and, more particularly, to retractable seats which can be fixedly or releasably attached to generally vertical structures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common for coaches and managers of baseball/softball teams, especially with teams up through the high school level to stand or “squat” next to the protective barrier between the ball field and the dugout during the game. This makes it easier for the coaches and managers to call out instructions to the team, give batting signals etc. More commonly, the managers/coaches squat outside the protective barrier as opposed to stand and, as anyone who has ever been in that position knows after several minutes it becomes quite uncomfortable as well as being hard on the knees, back etc. 
     Rather than squat, it has now become common place for managers/coaches to position a bucket up against the protective barrier, the bucket acting as a stool and eliminating the need for squatting. Buckets are freely used because they are common in dugouts to carry balls and, more importantly, when used in that fashion can quickly be moved. In this regard, the temporary “stool” must be quickly moved if there is a popup in foul territory and a defensive player has to get close to the dugout protective barrier to field it. Indeed, many umpires will not allow the use of buckets for the simple reason that they may not be moved quickly enough in the event of the foul ball scenario just described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention relates to a retractable seat assembly which can be attached to a vertical structure e.g., a protective barrier for a dugout. 
     In another aspect, the present invention pertains to a retractable seat assembly which can be attached to a vertical structure and which, in the upright position, presents a profile which is relatively thin and in any event poses virtually no impediment to going very close to the vertical structure. 
     In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a retractable seat assembly which can be attached to a mesh, generally vertical structure. 
     And still a further aspect, the present invention relates to a retractable seat assembly for attaching to a vertical structure in which the seat portion automatically moves from a lowered position providing a seating surface to an upright position when the user of the seat in the lowered position gets up. 
     These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear, elevational view of one embodiment of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side, elevational view of the retractable seat assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , the seat assembly being attached to a vertical structure, the seat being in an upright position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side, elevational view of the seat assembly shown in  FIG. 2  but with the seat in the lowered position. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the retractable seat assembly in the position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, elevational view, partly in section, of the circled portion shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines at  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  but showing the seat moved in the lowered position. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view, partly in section of the circled area shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view, partly in section of the circled area shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 10  is an elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing another method of connecting the seat assembly to a vertical structure e.g., a chain link fence. 
         FIG. 11  is a side, elevational view of the retractable seat shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the seat assembly of the present invention attached to a rigid structure e.g., a wall. 
         FIG. 13  is a side, elevational view of the seat assembly shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a view taken along the lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing another embodiment of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the retractable seat assembly shown in  FIG. 15  with the seat moving from an upright to a lowered position. 
         FIG. 17  is an elevational view showing another type of connector for use with the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a side elevational view showing another type of connector for use with the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a view taken along the lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 20  is a front, elevational view of another embodiment of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention connected to a wall structure. 
         FIG. 21  is a side, elevational view of the seat assembly shown in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a detailed side elevational view, partly in section of a connector for use with the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a view similar to  FIG. 20  but showing another connector assembly for releasably attaching the seat assembly to a rigid structure e.g., a wall. 
         FIG. 24  is a side, elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 23  and 
         FIG. 25  is a detailed, side elevational view of the connection assembly used with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 26  is a rear, elevational view of another embodiment of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  27 - 27  of  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  28 - 28  of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the description which follows, the word, “connected”, “connection assembly” or variants thereof is intended to include any structure, part or assembly by which the retractable seat assembly of the present invention can be releasably and/or fixedly attached to a generally vertical structure and can include without limitation hooks, straps, springs, screws, anchor bolts etc. The term “support”, “support structure” or variants thereof is intended to mean any structure, member, portion of a member or structure, leg(s), stanchion(s), frame(s) which maintains the seat position of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention in a generally horizontal disposition when the seat is in the lowered position and a downward force is applied to the seat in the lowered position. As used herein, the term “biaser”, “biasing” or variants thereof is intended to include any mechanism which can maintain a first member in a first position relative to a second member, but which under the application of a suitable force can move the first member to a second position while still acting to exert a force which wants to move the first member back into the first position. Thus, a biaser can include a torsion spring, a tension extension spring, a constant force spring, elastomeric straps, or bands, etc. It will be further understood that the biaser can include a single part or an assembly of parts provided the part or assembly of parts acts in the manner described above with respect to maintaining a first member in a first position relative to a second member until a force is applied to the first member to move it to a second position but with a force still being applied to the first member in the second position tending to urge the first member back to the first position. The biasers could be one or more elastomeric or spring hinges connecting the seat to the back support. Further, an elastomeric bridge of a suitable polymeric material which was connected to the bottom side  22  of seat  20  and the leg portions of the back support  12  and which spanned an imaginary line passing through the connection portion between seat  20  and support  12  could be used. Basically any part or assembly thereof which store mechanical energy can be emphasized as a biaser, or biasing device according to the present invention. 
     In general, the retractable seat assembly of the present invention, described more fully hereafter, includes a back support, a front support, a seat and a connector to connect the frame to a generally vertical structure. The seat of the seat assembly is pivotally connected to both front and back supports and there is a biasing assembly operatively connected to the seat and the back support to releasably bias the seat to a generally upright position. 
     Referring then to  FIG. 1 , there is shown one embodiment of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention shown generally as  10 . Retractable seat assembly  10  includes a back support shown generally as  12  comprised of a first frame which, as seen is generally U shaped having spaced apart leg portions  14 ,  16  connected together by a bottom cross-piece  18  at the ends of leg portions  14  and  16 . The retractable seat assembly  10  further includes a seat shown generally as  20  which is pivotally connected to frame  12  as described hereafter. Seat  20  has a bottom side  22  a top side  24  ( FIG. 4 ) a front edge  26  a back edge  28 , first side edge  30  and a second side edge  32 . Seat  20  may optionally have an opening or handle  15  by which a person can carry the retractable seat assembly. 
     Pivotally secured to the bottom side  22  of seat  20  is a front support shown generally as  34  comprised of a second frame and having a first side leg portion  36  and a second side leg portion  38 , side leg portions  36  and  38  being interconnected by a cross-piece  41 . The pivotal connection between front support  34  and the back side  22  of seat  20  as well as the biased, pivotal connection between seat  20  and back support  12  will be described in detail hereafter. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the seat assembly  10  is shown with the seat  20  in an upright position and legs portion  16 ,  18  of back support  12  connected to a chain link fence  40 . As is well known a chain link fence is comprised of a heavy steel wire woven to form a diamond shaped mesh. As can be seen with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , there are a pair of hooks  42  and  44  which connected to leg portions  18 ,  16  respectively of back support  12 . Hooks  44 ,  42  extend outward from leg portions  16 ,  18  respectively at a slight angle. Thus a user can place frame  12  against chain link fence  40  at a position such that cross-piece  18  or support  12  is slightly above a resting surface e.g., ground G, such that with the hooks  42 ,  44  extending through the diamond shaped openings in the chain link fence  40 , when the retractable seat assembly  10  is moved downwardly two of the wires of fence  40  will be trapped in the space between the hooks  42 ,  44  and the leg portions  18 ,  16 , respectively. In effect the engaged wires of fence  40  will be wedged between the hooks  42 ,  44  and the legs  16 ,  18  respectively. At this juncture even if cross-piece  18  were slightly above ground G, once the seat  20  of retractable seat assembly  10  is moved from its upright position to its lowered position as shown in  FIG. 3 , and the user sat on the front surface  24  of seat  20 , cross-piece  18  of frame  12  would engage the ground G. As well, frame  34  will swing outwardly to the position shown in  FIG. 3  such that cross-piece  41  also engaged the ground G thereby providing a firmly supported seating surface, much in the form of a stool, on which a user could sit. 
     Thus, the lower most portion of support  12  and the lower most portion of support  34  effectively provide “legs” which engage the ground G or other surface to support the seat  20  in the position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As will be seen hereafter, hooks  42  and  44  are just one type of connector which can be used with the retractable seat  10  of the present invention. Preferably, whatever type of connector is used will allow the user to quickly and easily connect the retractable seat assembly  10  to the vertical structure e.g., chain link fence  40 , will hold the back support  12  close to the chain link fence  40  or other vertical structure, and will allow the seat assembly to be quickly and easily removed from chain link fence  40  when the seat assembly  10  is no longer in use. Although two hooks,  42  and  44  are shown, it will be appreciated that frame  12  can be provided with an upper cross-piece close to the connection point between seat  20  and frame  12 , and one or more additional hooks attached to that cross-piece and would engage fence  40  as described above. 
     It will be understood that a chain link fence such as chain link fence  40  is a flexible structure, the woven mesh being supported by fence poles (not shown) spaced at desired distances from one another, the mesh portion of the chain link fence  40  being connected to the poles to maintain the mesh in a generally vertical position. None the less, should the poles be spaced at large distances from one another as is often the case, and if the seat assembly  10  were placed mid way between such spaced apart poles, there could be sufficient give or resiliency in the mesh of the chain link fence such that placement of the retractable seat assembly  10  as described above might tend to bow the mesh portion of the fence slightly outwardly toward retractable seat assembly  10 . Accordingly, to the extent practical, it would be desirable for the user to position the seat assembly  10  closer to a fence support pole where the mesh portion of the fence has less flexibility. It is to be understood however that even if the retractable seat assembly  10  were placed in an intermediate position on the mesh portion of the fence where the fence had substantial give, retractable seat assembly  10  would still function to provide a temporary, removable seating surface for a user. 
     As can be seen from the description of the retractable chair assembly of the present invention in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 , the retractable seat assembly when not in use i.e., no downward force is applied to surface  24  while seat  20  is in the lowered position, it will not pose an obstacle to someone wanting to get near to chain link fence  40 . When in use, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , seat  20  projects outwardly away from chain link fence  40  and if it remained in that position, would pose an obstacle to someone wanting to closely approach chain link fence  40 . One of the goals of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention is that, while not in use but still connected to a vertical structure such as chain link fence  40 , it forms little to no obstruction in front of the chain link fence. Additionally, it is desirable and that when it is in use as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and if the user desires to quickly move off the seating surface  24  of seat  20 , the seat  20  and front support provided  34  will move into the upright position shown in  FIG. 2 . To this end, a biaser or biasing assembly interconnects seat  20  to back support  12  such that the seat  20  is normally biased in the upright position e.g., in a position shown in  FIG. 2 . To this end reference is now made to  FIGS. 5-9  to describe in detail one method of pivotally connecting both supports  12  and  34  to seat  20  as well as one assembly for biasing seat  20  in the upright position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 5-7  show the details of one technique of connecting frame  34  to seat  20  while  FIGS. 8 and 9  show the details of one technique of both connecting seat  20  to frame  12  as well as biasing seat  20  to the upright position shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring then first to  FIGS. 5-7 , formed, either integrally with or attached by a suitable method, to the bottom side  22  of seat  20  are pillow blocks  50  and  52  which serve to journal a pin or shaft  54 , shaft  54  extending through registering holes in tubular leg portion  38  of support  34 . As can be seen, shaft  54  is maintained in place by snap rings  56 ,  58  on opposite ends of shaft  54 . As will be understood, a like pivotal connection is used between seat  20  and leg portion  36 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the connection between seat  20  and support  34  is further shown. In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , seat  20  is in the upright position as depicted in  FIG. 5 . As can be seen, pillow block  52  which is attached, as noted above, to the bottom side  22  of seat  20  has a recess  60  which provides a space allowing upper end  39  of leg portion  38  of support  34  to pivot. In order to keep leg portion  38  and front support  34  from continuing too far out away from support  12 , pillow block  52  forms a stop  62 , which as seen with reference to  FIG. 7  stops the motion of leg portions  36 ,  38  from further movement in the direction of arrow A ( FIG. 3 ) when seat  20  is moved down to its lowered position for seating. This prevents support  34  from splaying outwardly to far such that when seat  20  was in the down position and a user sat on seating surface  24 , the seat assembly  10  might collapse. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is shown in greater detail one technique of how support  12  is pivotally interconnected to seat  20  in such a fashion that seat  20  is normally biased in an upright position. Referring then to  FIG. 8 , the rear edge  28  of seat  20  has cutouts  64  (only one of which is shown) at least partially defined by an ear  66  forming part of seat  20 . Ear  66  has a bore  68  extending there through. Received through bore  68  is a shaft  70  on which is mounted a torsion spring shown generally as  72  having a coil portion  74  a first leg  76  and a second leg  78 . In the position shown in  FIG. 8 , spring  72  is in the relaxed position. Thus, as can be seen leg  76  of spring  72  engages the backside  22  of seat  20  while leg portion  78  of spring  72  is L shaped, having a first run  79 , and a second run  80  extending through registering holes in leg  16  of support  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is shown seat  20  in the lowered position for use. As will be understood, with the seat  20  in its lowered position for use, the helical coiled portion  74  of spring  72  has now undergone twisting such that the legs  76  and  78  are applying torque both to leg  16  and to the bottom surface  22  of seat  20 . Since leg  78  is not free to move, run  80  thereof being trapped in registering holes in leg  16 , the stored energy in the helical portion  74  of spring  72  is transmitted to leg  76  which urges or biases seat  20  in the upright position i.e., in the position shown in  FIG. 8 . Accordingly once any weight or force acting to keep seat  20  in the position shown in  FIG. 9  is removed, i.e., if a person sitting on seating surface  24  of seat  20  gets up, the stored energy in spring  72  will automatically force (via leg  76 ), seat  20  to the upright position shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIGS. 8, 9 and 19  also show the use of a spring clip whereby when the retractable seat assembly  10  of the present invention is in a collapsed or upright position e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1 , the open, U-shaped portion of spring clip  82  will receive leg  16  of frame  12  and releasably hold it in that position. 
     It will be understood while only one connection between seat  20  and front support  34  has been shown and only one connection between seat  20  and back support  12  has been shown, it will be understood, as can be seen from  FIG. 1 , that there are two pivotal connections between front support  34  and seat  20  and two biased, pivotal connections between seat  20  and back support  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11  there is shown another connection assembly for attaching the retractable seat assembly  10  of the present invention to a vertical structure e.g., chain link fence  40 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an adjustable strap shown generally as  90  supplied with hooks  92  and  94  at opposite ends is wrapped over legs  16  and  14  of back support  12 , hooks  92  and  94  engaging metal strands of the chain link fence  40 . Strap  90  can also include an adjustable buckle  96  which can be used to adjust the length of strap  91  between hooks  92  and  94  thereby forcing the back support  12  snugly against the mesh of fence  40 . 
       FIGS. 12-14  show a technique for connecting the retractable seat assembly of the present invention to a vertical, rigid support such as a wall. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the back and front supports differ from those shown in  FIGS. 1-11  in that rather than comprising a frame having a U-shape, they are H-shaped. Thus, rear support  100  has legs  102  and  104  terminating in feet  102 A and  104 A respectively, legs  102  and  104  being interconnected by cross brace  106 . It will be understood that front support  108  has a similar construction as that described with respect to rear support  100 . 
     To connect the retractable seat assembly of  FIGS. 12 and 13  to wall  110 , a pair of brackets  112  and  114  are placed around legs  102  and  114 , respectively, and secured to wall  110  by anchor bolts or the like, depending upon the material of construction of wall  110 . For example if wall  110  were wood, simple screws could be employed. As seen in  FIG. 114 , there are standoffs  124  between leg  112  and wall  110  to allow seat  120  to pivot to the upright position under the force of the biasing element e.g., spring  72  when the user gets off the seat  20 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , there is shown a slightly different embodiment of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. Retractable seat assembly  130  is, in all respects, substantially the same as that shown in  FIG. 1  with the exception that there are pivoting arms  132  (only one of which is shown) interconnected between legs  16  and  38  of back and front supports  12  and  34 , respectively. The pivoting arms  132  ensure that when the seat  20  is moved in the lowered position, shown in the dotted position in  FIG. 16 , the front support  34  will be formed into the position shown in  FIG. 15 . It will be understood however that the pivoting arms  132  are optional since once seat  120  is moved to the lowered position, there is sufficient momentum to cause the front support  34  to move the position shown in  FIG. 16 . If desired front support  34  could be weighted at its lower end to aid in swinging support  34  outwardly. 
       FIG. 17  shows another connector that can be used with the retractable seat assembly of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17 , the connector comprises a hook  134  which is secured to leg  16  (and also to leg  14  of rear support  12  as would be understood by those known in the art). Unlike hooks  44  and  42  shown in  FIG. 4 , which tend to form a tapering recess between hooks  42 ,  44  and the respective frame legs to which they are attached, hook  134 , as can be seen, simply forms a larger space between leg  16  and hook  134  at the point where hook  134  is adjoined to leg  16 . In this regard, hooks  42  and  44  are preferred because of the V-shaped recess formed between those hooks and the legs of the back support which insure the metal wire of the chain link fence  40  is wedged in the V-shaped recess. 
     With respect to  FIG. 17  and hook  134 , it should be noted that the lower ends of the hooks  134  have a flared out portion  136  which more easily allows the hooks  134  to be placed over a wire of the chain link fence  40 . It will also be understood that such a flared out portion could be added to hooks  42 ,  44  for the same reason. 
     With respect to  FIG. 18 , there is shown another connector in the form of a pivoting hook  140  which has a notch  142 . Using the connector shown in  FIG. 18  with the retractable seat assembly of the present invention, when the rear support of the retractable chair assembly was placed against a fence or the like, hook  40  would move to the dotted position shown in  FIG. 18 . Thus with a chain link fence  40  as the vertical structure as the retractable seat assembly was moved down, the pivoting hooks  140  would eventually engage wires of the chain link fence and nest in the notch  142 . 
     It will be understood with respect to all of the descriptions given above, that while with respect both to the rear support and the front support, in many cases only one interconnection between seat  20  and the rear support e.g., support  12 , or in the case of the interconnection between the front support  34  and the seat  20  has been described, it will be understood that there would generally be two such connections usually on opposite sides of the seat. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 20-25  there are shown other connectors and connector assemblies for attaching the retractable seat assembly of the present invention to a rigid structure e.g., a wall or the like. Referring first to  FIG. 20 , there is an elongated bar, rod or the like  150  which is attached to a rigid wall surface  152  by means of anchor bolts  154  which extend through rod  150  and a tubular standoff  156  which is secured e.g., by welding to rod  150 . Standoffs  156  are in turn secured to a plate  158  having a hole  160  therethrough for passage of anchor bolt  154 . As can be seen, the attachment assemblies comprised of plates  158 , standoffs  156  and anchor bolts  154  are spaced at longitudinal intervals along the length of rod  150 . As can be seen, the standoffs  156  provide a space between wall surface  152  and rod  150  to allow pivot space for seat  20  when it moves to the upright position. Attached to rear support  12  on both leg portions thereof are L-shaped hooks  162 . Thus, the retractable seat assembly of the present invention in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 23-25  can be attached to a rigid vertical structure e.g., a wall simply by placing hooks  162  over bar  150  such that the downwardly extending leg portion of hook  162  fits into the space between rod  160  and wall surface  152 . It would also be appreciated that with the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 20-25 , a plurality of retractable chair assemblies can be positioned against the wall surface  152 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 23-25  there is shown another embodiment of a connection assembly for attaching the retractable seat assemblies of the present invention to a rigid wall. An angle iron  170  is secured to a wall surface  172  using anchor bolts  174  and the like. As can be seen, the anchor bolts  174  extend through one leg  178  of angle iron  170  which has a hole  176  therein through which anchor bolt  174  can pass. Attached to the other leg  180  of angle iron  170  are at least one pair of socket forming structures  182  which can, for example, be short segments of pipe and which are spaced apart from one another a distance equal to that between the hooks  190  attached to leg portions  14  and  16  of back support  12 . Accordingly to attach the retractable seat assembly using the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 23-25 , hooks  190  have a downwardly projecting leg portion (a) which fits into the sockets  182 . 
     The arrangement shown in  FIGS. 23-25  is less flexible than that shown in  FIGS. 20-22  in the sense that the sockets  182  have to be spaced the correct distance for receipt of the hooks  190 . In this regard and as discussed above with the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 20-22 , the retractable seat assemblies can be placed at virtually any location along the length of tube, bar or rod  150 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 26-28 , there is shown an embodiment of the retractable seat assembly similar to that depicted in  FIG. 1 . Retractable seat  20  is pivotally connected to a back support shown generally as  212  comprised of a first frame which, as seen is generally rectangular shaped, having spaced apart leg portions  214 ,  216  connected together by a bottom cross-piece  218  and a top cross-piece  219  at the respective ends of leg portions  214  and  216 . 
     Pivotally secured to the bottom side  22  of seat  20  is a front support shown generally as  234  comprised of a second frame and having a first side leg portion  236  and a second side leg portion  238 , side leg portions  236  and  238  being interconnected by a top cross-piece  242  and a bottom cross-piece not shown. Supports  212  and  234  may optionally have pads or cushions  285  proximal the ground. 
     The bottom side  22  of seat  20  has at least one, preferably two, clips  230  proximal front edge  26  and at least one, preferably two, clips  250  proximal rear edge  28 . Clips  230  are comprised of base blocks  231  which cooperate with first and second arms  232  which form a generally circular channel  233  in which top cross-piece  242  of support  234  is journaled. Similar to clips  230 , clips  250  are comprised of base blocks  251  which cooperate with first and second arms  252  to form a generally circular channel  253  in which top cross-piece  219  of support  212  is journaled. It will be understood that clips  230  and  250  are made of plastic or any other material which provides sufficient give to allow cross-pieces  242  and  219  to be snapped into respective channels  233  and  253 . Mounted on top cross-piece  219  is a torsion spring shown generally as  272  having a coil portion  274 , a first leg  276  and a second leg  280  ( FIG. 27 ). In the position shown in  FIG. 26 , spring  272  is in the relaxed position. As can be seen leg  276  of spring  272  is L-shaped, having a first run  277  and a second run  278 . Bottom side  22  of seat  20  has an elongate notch or slot  290  in which second run  278  of spring  272  is frictionally nested. Leg  276  of spring  272  engages the bottom side  22  of seat  20  while leg  280  of spring  272  extends through a hole in cross-piece  219  of support  212 . 
     It will be understood that the embodiment of  FIGS. 26-28  operates in a manner similar to that of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 . Namely, as shown in  FIG. 26 , the spring  272  is in the relaxed position. Were someone to pivot seat  20  downwardly, as to sit on it for example, support  234  would swing outwardly to engage the ground and provide a firmly supported seating surface. Additionally, during the pivoting, spring  272  would undergo twisting. Since leg  280  of spring  272  is not free to move, the stored energy in the helical portion  274  of spring  272  is transmitted to leg  276  which urges or biases seat  20  in the upright position. Accordingly, when the weight or force acting on seat  20  is removed, i.e., the seated person stands up, the stored energy in spring  272  will force seat  20  to the upright position shown in  FIG. 26 . 
     As can be seen from the above, the retractable seat assembly of the present invention provides a versatile apparatus to provide a temporary seating surface for a user. The retractable seat assembly can be attached to virtually any upright e.g., generally vertical structure, be it a chain link fence, a post or a wall. For example with respect to a post, an adjustable strap assembly such as that shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  can be employed. If desired, the retractable seat assembly can also be permanently secured to a vertical structure e.g., a wall such as wall  110  by the connector assembly shown in  FIGS. 12-14 . 
     While in the discussion above, and with respect to a flexible, vertical structure, only a chain link fence has been mentioned, it should be understood that other types of flexible, mesh fencing could be employed. For example chicken wire, rabbit fencing, deer fencing, sheep fencing and garden fencing are all examples of suitable “flexible” vertical structures with which the retractable seat assembly of the present invention can be used. It will be understood however that when the vertical structure is a material such as a chain link fence or the like, the strands, wires or the like forming the mesh of the fence should have sufficient strength such that they will not break too easily. In this regard it should be noted that when the retractable seat assembly of the present invention is connected to a mesh type vertical structure, once the seat is moved to the lowered position and a user sits on the seat, since the front and back support will engage the ground, floor or the like, there is little downward force exerted on the mesh of the fence. Further, when the seat is in the lowered position and is being used, there is also little outward force i.e., in the direction away from the fence or mesh. Indeed, when the seat of the retractable seat assembly is in the lowered position for use, and when a user is sitting thereon, virtually all forces acting upon the retractable seat assembly as well as the vertical structure to which the seat assembly is attached are directed downwardly through the supports to the underlying substrate e.g., the ground. Further, although mesh fencing or the like has been described as being flexible, this is by way of distinguishing such a vertical structure as a support from a wall or other rigid or solid vertical structure. 
     The versatility of the retractable seat assembly of the present invention enables it to be connected to a semi-flexible surface such as a chain link fence and in this regard can be easily installed and removed as described above. Further, when used in a sports venue environment e.g., a baseball/softball field, the fence surrounding a tennis court etc. since the seat assembly automatically folds to a structure substantially parallel to the chain link fence etc., once the user removes weight from the seat, the seat and the front support automatically retract to an upright position thereby posing no obstacle to a player who might have to closely approach the chain link fence or the like e.g., to retrieve a foul fly ball etc. 
     The retractable seat assembly of the present invention also provides a quick, efficient and unobtrusive way to provide temporary seating, if needed, in a gymnasium, auditorium or the like using the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 20-25 . 
     Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of explaining the various aspects of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow. Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment shown and described is exemplary, and various other substitutions, alterations and modifications, including but not limited to those design alternatives specifically discussed herein, may be made in the practice of the invention without departing from its scope.

Technology Category: 1