US1952611A

US1952611A - Folding bleacher

Info

Publication number: US1952611A
Application number: US666961A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert E Sherlock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-04-20
Filing date: 1933-04-20
Publication date: 1934-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1951-03-27

Description

March 27 E934.,

R. E. SHERLOCK FOLDING BLEACHER Filed April 2o, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RNEYS ATTO March 27, 1934.

R. E. SHERLOCK FOLDING BLEACHER Filed April 20, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR BY) a- XM ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT Y oFFlcE 12 Claims.

This invention pertains generally to bleachers and pertains particularly to bleachers of the folding type.

r Bleachers of the folding type have a well established use in gymnasiums, auditoriums, etc., to provide seating facilities when necessary and at the same time to make available a maximumv of oor space when the seating facilities are not required.

'I'his invention relates to a folding bleacher of a type which may be permanently installed and which may be folded and unfolded quickly and easily. The invention also relates to a folding bleacher which affords a smooth exterior surface l" when folded and which is free from projections or other structural elements which might cause accidental injury to the person.

The invention also relates to the construction,

o arrangement, and combination of parts which 0 together with other features will become more apparent to persons skilled in the art as the specification proceeds, and upon reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view shown broken of 25 a bleacher in unfolded position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view shown broken of the bleacher of Figure 1 and illustrating the first step in the folding operation.

n Figure 3 is a perspective view shown broken 00 of the bleacher illustrating the folded position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view shown broken. Figure 5 is an elevation shown broken. Figure 6 is an end view of the bleacher in unfolded position. 0 Figure 7 is an end view of the bleacher in folded position. Referring now more particularly to'the drawin gs at 10 is shown a bleacher having spaced frame members 1l hinged at l2 to a wall 13. As seen in 40 Figures 4 and 5 the bleacher illustrated has three similar frame members hinged at spaced points to the wall 13. The spacing between frame members 11 is such that these members will not overlap when the bleacher is folded. It is to be un- 45 derstood that any number of frame members may be employed.

Frame members 11 may be of any suitable construction, and each is preferably provided with a supporting roller 15 or similar means at the floor 50 end 16 of Stringer 14 so that the frame members 11 may be moved between folded and unfolded positions with ease.

Any suitable means may be employed on each Stringer 14 for supporting the seats or the seats 55 and foot rests as the case may be. In the construction shown live spaced

vertical members

18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 and a sloping member 23 are attached to each stringer 14. 0n eachv frame member 11

Vertical members

18 and 19 are joined at their tops by a. horizontal member 24;

vertical members

20 and 21 are joined at their tops by a. horizontal member 25; and vertical member 22 is joined at its top with the top of sloping member l26 by a horizontal member 27.

A horizontal member 28 extends between the

vertical members

19 and 20 and as shown abuts the vertical member 20 at a point below its top end. Horizontal member 29 extends between

vertical members

21 and 22 and as shown abuts the vertical member 22 at a point below its top end. In other words the horizontal member 25 is at a. higher level than the horizontal member 28 and the horizontal member 27 vis at a higher level than the horizontal member 29. 'Ihis is to place the foot rests slightly below the adjacent seats. This 75 feature may be dispensed with if desired.

The frame members 11 shown and described provide for three seats and two foot rests. However, it will be understood that the construction may be Varied to accommodate any number of seats and foot rests.

In the bleacher illustrated a seat 31 is adapted to rest on the horizontal members 24, a foot rest 32 on the horizontal members 28, a seat 33 on the horizontal members 25, a foot rest 34 on the 85 horizontal members 29 and a seat 35 on the horizontal members 27. Seats and foot rests 31 to 35 inclusive are attached to the frame members 11 by means of doublejointed hinges', said hinges permitting the seats and foot rests to move about horizontal and vertical axes with respect to the frame members 11. l

As illustrated the seat 31 is attached to each frame member 11 through the medium of the plate 38 of hinge 39 and is adapted to move about a horizontal pintle 40 of said hinge. 'Ihe pintle 40 joins the plate 38 with the plate 41. Plate 41 is adapted to move about the vertical pintle 42 interposed between the plate 41 and the plate 43. Plate 43 is attached to the horizontal member 24 through the medium of an intermediate spacing block 44 so that the plate 38 might rest on the upper surface of the horizontal member 24 when seat 3l is in use, and so that the seat Will be spaced outwardly from the side faces of frame members 11 when folded as seen in Figures 3 and 7.

Seats

33 and 35 are attached to each frame member 11 in a similar manner by means of the

hinges

46 and 47 respectively.

A hinge 49 is employed for mountingthe foot rest 32 to each frame member 11. Hinge 49 is secured by its plate 50 to the vertical member 19. Plate 51 of hinge 49 is connected to plate 50 by means of a vertical pintle 52 and to the plate 53 of hinge 49 by means of a horizontal pintle 54e. Plate 53 is attached to foot rest 32.

The foot rest 34 is attached to frame members 11 in a similar manner by means of hinges 56.

- To fold the bleacher the seats and foot rests 31 to 35 are first moved about their horizontal pintles to a vertical position as illustrated in Figure 2. For convenience any means may be provided for holding the seats and foot rests 31 to 35 in this position. For instance, the hinges may have spring pressed or binding pintles, or hooks or other similar means may be employed. The

devices illustrated for holding up the seats com--v prise

tubular portions

58 and 59 formed by curling adjacent edges on

plates

38 and 41 respectively and a pin 60 for each pair of

alined portions

58 and 59 which fits into these portions as shown. For holding up the foot rests I have shown a tubular portion 61 on plate 51 and a pin 62 with a hook 63 which is adapted to engage a recess 64 in the edge of the foot rest as shown.

After the seats and foot rests have been brought to the vertical position as illustrated in Figure 2, the frame members 11 are moved to the right as seen in Figures 1 and 2 to bring them more or less parallel to the wall 13 as illustrated in Figure 3. In this movement the

seats

31, 33 and 35 move relative to the frame members 11 about the vertical pintles 42 and the foot rests 32 and 34 move relative to the frame members 1l about vertical pintles 52.

The parts are proportioned so that when the bleacher is folded (see Figures 3 and '7) the foot rest 32 passes underneath the hinges 39 and the seat 31; the horizontal members 25 iit underneath the foot rest 32; the seat 33 abuts the foot rest 32 face to face; the foot rest 34 passes underneath the seat 33 and its supporting hinges 46; the horizontal members 27 t underneath the foot rest 34 and the seat 35 abuts the foot rest 34 face to face.

It will be noted that foot rest 32 and foot rest 34 are substantially in one plane and that seat 31, seat 33 and seat 35 are also substantially in one plane. It will also be noted that the

seats

31, 33 and 35 presenta flat exterior surface when folded and that the entire bleacher is free from any projections or other structural elements which might cause injury to a player or other person using the gymnasium floor.

While the invention has been described in connection with a single embodiment for the purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is capable of embodiment in a wide variety 4of different structural forms.

The parts may be constructed of any suitable material such as wood or steel or a combination of the two.

A number of bleachers may be arranged side by side and may or may not overlap when folded, depending upon the spacing therebetween, as will be obvious. v

Having described my invention it is obvious that changes, additions, omissions, substitutions and modifications may be made within the same without departing from the spirit thereof.

It is, of course, obvious that when the seats and foot rests are referred to as being spaced horizontally, this need not necessarily mean that Athe horizontal projections of such members do not overlap or are not contiguous. The term spaced horizontally in its broadest sense is to be construed as meaning that one member is not directly above the other.

I claim:

l. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, cach frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, and means for attaching said seats to said frame members adapting said seats to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members.

2. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it tc swing about a vertical axis, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, and foot rest supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat foreach set of seat supporting portions of a common height, a foot rest for each set of foot rest supporting portions of a common height, and means for attaching said seats and foot rests to said frame members adapting said seats and foot rests to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members.

3. -A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, and means for attaching said seats to said frame members adapting said seats to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members through angles of at least about 90 degrees.

4. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, and foot rest supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, a foot rest for each set of foot rest supporting portions of a common length, and means for attaching said seats and foot rests to said frame members adapting said seats and foot rests to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members through angles of substantially 90 degrees.

5. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, the spacing between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontabprojection of a single frame member, each frameqnember having seat supporting portions spaced`\..vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, and means for attaching said seats to said frame members adapting saidseat to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members.

6. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, the spacing between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other and foot rest supporting portions spaced. vertically and horizontally from each other, a. seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, a foot rest for each set of foot rest supporting portions of a common length, and means for attaching said seats and foot rests to said frame members adapting said seats and foot rests to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members.

7. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, the spacing between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, and means for attaching said seats to said frame members adapting said seats to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members through angles of substantially 90 degrees.

8. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member adapting it to swing about a vertical axis, the spacing between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other and foot rest supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, a foot rest for each set of foot rest supporting portions of a common height, and means for attaching said seats and foot rests to said frame members adapting said seats and foot rests to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members through angles of substantially 90 degrees.

9. A bleacher comprising, a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member to a wall at a predetermined height above the floor in a manner to adapt it to swing about a vertical axis between positions substantially parallel to and substantially at right angles to said wall, the other end of each frame member adapted to engage the floor, the space between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertitically and horizontally from each other', a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, means for attaching said seats to said frame members adapting said seats to swing about horizontal axes between substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions and about vertical axcs relative to said frame members when said frame members are moved between positions at right angles to and parallel to said wall, so that when said seats are in vertical position said bleacher may be folded against said wall and unfolded to operative position.

10. A bleacher comprising, a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member to a wall at a predetermined height above the iloor in a manner to adapt it to swing about a vertical axis between positions substantially parallel and substantially at right angles to said wall, the other end of each frame member 'adapted to engage the floor, the space betweenv said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other and foot rest supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for 'each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, a foot rest for each set of foot rest supporting portions of a common height, means for attaching said seats and foot rests to said frame members adapting said seats and foot rests to swing about horizontal axes between substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions and about vertical axes relative to said frame members when said frame members are moved between positions at right angles to and parallel to said wall, so that when said seats and foot rests are in vertical position said bleacher may be folded against said wall and unfolded to operative position.

11. A bleacher comprising a plurality of spaced frame members, means for hingedly supporting one end of each frame member to a wall adapting said frame members to swing about a vertical axis between positions substantially at right angles to and substantially parallel to said wall, thespacing between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other, a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, means for attaching said seats to said frame members adapting said seats to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to y said frame members through angles of at least about degrees, said vertical axes for said seats being substantially in a common plane on each frame member and substantially identically positioned on each frame member, said seats adapted to swing about said horizontal axes between a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical position and about said vertical axes between a position substantially at right angles to and a position substantially parallel to said frame members, said seats having a width not greater than the vertical spacing therebetween,

axis between positions substantially at right angles to and substantially parallel to said wall, the spacing between said frame members being at least equal to the horizontal projection of a single frame member, each frame member having seat supporting portions spaced vertically and -1 horizontally from each other and foot rest sup porting portions spaced vertically and horizontally from each other,a seat for each set of seat supporting portions of a common height, a foot rest for each set of foot rest supporting portions of a common height, means for attaching said seats and foot rests to said frame members adapting said seats and foot rests to swing about horizontal and vertical axes relative to said frame members through angles of at least about 90 degrees, the vertical axes for said seats being in a common plane and the vertical ax'es for said foot rests being in a common plane spaced from said rst mentioned plane on each frame member and substantially identically positioned on each frame member, said seats and foot rests adapted to swing about said horizontal axes between a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical position and about said vertical