GB2346322A

GB2346322A - Backrest mounting for a stadium seat

Info

Publication number: GB2346322A
Application number: GB0001619A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Thomas Walker
Original assignee: ARENA STADIA SEATING Ltd
Current assignee: ARENA STADIA SEATING Ltd
Priority date: 1999-02-04
Filing date: 2000-01-26
Publication date: 2000-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-26
Also published as: GB2346322B; GB9902433D0; GB0001619D0

Abstract

A moulded plastics backrest 2 of a stadium type seat has integral upper and lower projections 4,5 on each side which are received in corresponding apertures 11,12 of hollow metal supporting uprights 10. The projections are locked in place in their apertures by means of a fastener 13 inside the hollow upright, whose two legs 16 engage with groove 7 of each projection. The fastener may be U shaped (Fig 7) with a pair of legs on each arm of the U whereby two backrests engaged in opposite sides of an upright may be fixed simultaneously.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Stadium etc. seating FIELD OF THE INVENTION : This invention relates to stadium etc., seating, whether of a fixed kind wherein a metallic frame is secured by bolts into a tiered concret structure, or temporary kind intended for occasional events, typically outdoor events, support on or from a scaffold type structure. The invention also includes a backrest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Conventionally, each individual stadium etc., seat comprises two moulded synthetic plastics portions, viz. a seat portion and a backrest. The seat portion is usually attached to a metallic, generally rectangular ring, opposite sides pf which are mounted as pivot pins (so as to be pivotable between generally vertical and generally horizontal positions) carried by a portion of the frame, whilst the backrest is adapted to be fissed between a pair of spaced-apart, uprights of the frame.

Conventionally, the uprights are usually of rectangular hollow section, and the backrest is secured at each of its side to one upright by two sciew fastener arrangements, and hence upper and lower drilled holes are required in the uprights to accommodate the screw/bolt stems, with a spacer normally interposed between the side edge'of the backrest and the adjacent face of the upright. During the on-site fitting of a backrest tb, and between, its uprights, there is a need firstly to align the holes in the uprights with corresponding holes in the interposed spacer and with corresponding holes in the backrest, and then, to pass the screw/bolt stems through these aligned holes for the fitting of a nut and washer which, with many hundreds if not thousands of seats involved, is a tedious and time-consuming manipulation operation usually effected outdoors which in adverse weather conditions precludes the wearing of gloves.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION : A basic object of the invention is the provision of an improved stadium seating and also an improved moulded backrest.

SUMMARY OF A FIRST ASPECT OF THE INVENTION : According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a backrest to form a part of a stadium etc., seat, the backrest being of moulded synthetic plastics material, with opposed side edges of the backrest each provided with a lateral projection having a formation, the projection being adapted, in use, to pass through an aperture in an adjacent side wall of an upright of a metallic frame of the seating, such that a screwless fastener element at the other side of that side wall may engage the formation to secure each edge of the backrest to its adjacent upright.

The formation may be one or more female grooves, apertures, recesses etc. In detail, each projection is preferably integrally moulded with the backrest as a lateral projection beyond each side edge, extending over a portion of the depth of the side edge, and preferably comprises a female formation engageable by a male fastener element, or vice versa. In one preferred construction, an upper, and a lower projection is provided at each side of the backrest. It follows that with this construction the upright requires upper and lower apertures for each projection. In another preferred construction, each projection extends longitudinally for a portion of the length of each side edge of the. backrest, in which case the formation may be constituted by opposed, longitudinally extending, female grooves, to be engaged by a male forked fastener element, to provide a knock-in fastener, capable of being prised out should the need arise.

As an alternative to a formation with oppbsed grooves as described above, the formation could be provided with a blind or through hole adapted to be engaged by a fastening pin. Yet again, a blind or through hole of the formation ray be engaged by a wedge-like fastening pin.

Thus. the backrest in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, provides the possibility of employing a screwless fastening system in which, once the projections have been engaged in the corresponding apertures (which would normally be elongated slots) in an adjacent pair of uprights, the fastener element is fitted by hand, by engaging, e. g. the tongues of the forked plate in, for example, the opposed groove$ of the formation, with the fastening element then being knocked fully home with a mallet for rapid fitting of backrests, with minimum fatigue, even in adverse weather conditions by gloved hands.

SUMMARY OF A SECOND ASPECT OF T E INVENTION: According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastening system for a backrest of stadium type seating employing a pair of upwardly projecting, spaced apart, hollow section, uprights, the backrest being in accordance with the first aspect and each upright, on a face adjacent an edge of the backrest being aperturtd so that the projection of the backrest may pass through that side wall to present its formation (s) internally of its upright, with a metallic, knock-in, fastening element also located internally of the uprights adapted to engage the formations to complete the fastening.

When assembled, at least some portions of the side edges of the seat back abut the adjacent sidewall of the adjacent upright, thereby defining the penetration of the projections into the upright and hence ensuring accurate positional location of the formation, e. g. the grooves, within the upright. Preferably, the formation is so located that the fastener element may bear on the inside of the penetrated side wall of the upright, to ensure a relatively tight joint.

As the tops of the uprights are initially open, being hollow section tubing, the fastener element is conveniently applied, and if necessary removed, longitudinally via the open end, to which a cap is finally applied.

Of course, adjacent seats share a common upright, and consequently opposite walls require slotting for penetration of the formations of two adjacent backrests.

One example of seating in accordance with a first and second aspect of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings., in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one lateral side of a backrest in accordance with the first aspect; Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an upright adapted, with a backrest of Figures 1 to 3, to form the fastening system of the second aspect of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single knock-in, fastening element; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lateral side of a backrest provided with an upper and a lower lateral projection to fit the apertures in the upright of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a double, knock-in, fastening element.

In the drawings, a backrest 1, is moulded in synthetic plastics material and comprises a centre portion 2, and a lateral side 3 having upper and lower integral and laterally extending projections 4 and 5, each having opposed female grooves 6 and 7 as best seen in Figure 3.

An upright 8 of hollow section tubing has an initially open upper end 9, and a lateral sidewall 10 provided with upper and lower apertures 11, 12 each to receive, respectively a projection 4 and 5 with lateral side 3 of the backrest 1 abutting lateral sidewall 10 of the upright, whereupon a sheet metal fastening element 13 haying two tongues 14 separated by a groove 15 is inserted, by hand, into the upper end 9 of the upright 8 until mutually facing side edges 16 of the tongues 14 engage grooves 6 and 7 of the projections 4 and 5. A mallet is used to hammer home the fastening element 13, by striking its bent-over, upper edge 17. A closure cap (not shown) is then applied, as a push-fit, to close off the upper end 9.

In Figure 7 is illustrated a double fastening element 13A for use at an upright 8 where backrests 1 are to be attached not only to one lateral sidewall 10, but to an opposed lateral sidewall 10A also provided with upper and lower apertures. Element 13A thus comprises four tongues 14A and two grooves 15A, while upper correcting web 17A may serve as a closure cap for the upper end 9 of the upright 8.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A backrest to form a part of a stadium etc., seat, the backrest being of moulded synthetic plastics material, with opposed side edges of the backrest each provided with a lateral projection having a formation, the projection being adapted, in use, to pass through an aperture in an adjacent side wall of an upright of a metallic frame of the seating, such that a screwless fastener element at the other side of that side wall may engage the formation to secure each edge of the backrest to its adjacent upright.
2. A backrest as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the formation is one or more female grooves, apertures, recesses etc.
3. A backrest as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each projection is integrally moulded with the backrest as a lateral projection beyond each side edge, extending over a portion of the depth of the side edge.
4. A backrest as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein an upper, and a lower projection is provided at each side of the backrest.
5. A backrest as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, each projection extends longitudinally for a portion of the length of each side edge of the backrest.
6. A backrest as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the formation is constituted by opposed, longitudinally extending, female grooves, to be engaged by a male forked fastener element, to provide a knock-in fastener, capable of being prised out should the need arise.
7. A backrest as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the formation is a blind or through hole adapted to be engaged by a fastening pin.
8. A backrest as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the formation is a blind or through hole adapted to be engaged by a wedge-like fastening pin.
9. A backrest substantially as hreinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A fastening system for a backrest of stadium type seating employing a pair of upwardly projecting, spaced-apart, hollow section, uprights, the backrest being in accordance with any preceding Claim, and each upright, on a face adjacent an edge of the backrest, being apertured so that the projection of the backrest. may pass through that sidewall to present its formation (s) internally of its upright, with a metallic, knock-in, fastening element also located internally of the uprights adapted to engage the formations to complete the fastening.
11. A fastening system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the formation is so loated that the fastener element bears on the inside of the penetrated sidewall of the upright, to ensure a relatively tight joint.
12. A fastening system, as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the uprights are hollow section tubing, having an open upper end to which the fastener element is applied.
13. A fastening system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein a closure cap is finally applied to the upper end of each upright.
14. A fastening system as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13, wherein one lateral wall of each upright is apertured for penetration Qf seating formations.
15. A fastening system as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 13, wherein opposed lateral walls of each upright are apertured for penetration of seating formations.