US2815541A - Folding bleacher - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1957 R. J. LAPPIN ETAL FOLDING BLEACHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W www., Fw b @NNN Q .www NNN @www o www Nm. 0 A Ow@ 0p MN 5W QM Dec. 10, 1957 R. J. LAPPIN ETAL t FOLDING BLEACHER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May e, '1955 INVENToRs.:

Z. @mam YM United States Patent O FOLDING BLEACHER Richard J. Lappin,` Robert I. Anderson, and Isadole` T.

Wurn, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to The Brunswick- Balke-Collender Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1955Serial No. 506,417

14 Claims. (CLM-1.126)

This invention relates to al seatingl structure for holding a plurality of persons'and, more particularly, to such va structurethatcan be folded intoa compact unitfwhen improved folding bleacher adaptedto lbe installed-in' a gym-` nasium or the like and including a plurality ofseries' of upright supports stepped upwardly in. height from the front series to the rear series, seatboards rigidly mounted thereon, and movably mounted'footboardslandskirtboards wherein the skirtboards and front edges of'the'seatboards` form a substantially continuous inclined closure surface when the bleacher is in-a folded condition, tliuseliminating gaping traps for balls and other sports equipment when the blea-cher is not in-use.

Yet another object of this invention is to providev a new and improved folding bleacher includingl a series of upright frames stepped upwardly in height from the front frame to the rear frame, seatboards rigidly fixed tothe tops of said frames, linkage means betweenl adjacent frames to permit `stacking of each frame against the-next rearward frame, and footboards and skirtboards operatively connected to the linkage means between adjacent frames so as to be movable between two positions asthe bleacher is folded and unfolded.

A more detailed object of this invention isto provide a new and improved folding bleacher havinga'rearxed upright support, a series of movable supports" stepped downwardly in height from the rear support, seatboards rigidly secured to the tops of said; supports, upper' and lower folding linkage means connectedbetween adjacent supports to permit stacking thereof, footboards carried'by the upper linkage means extending horizontally whe'nthe supports are unfolded and vertically whenl the supports are folded, latch means for clamping the footboards ina horizontal position, skirtboards mounted on'tlie supports below the seatboards and movable' by the upper linkage means between a substantially vertical position when the bleacher is unfolded and an inclinedfront closure position when the bleacher is` folded,y and hook means for locking the stacked frames together 4 Other objects land advantages will' become" apparent from the following detailed description takenfvin'conne'ction with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a side View in elevation of' one embodiment of the invention whenfthe bleacher is unfoldedi Fig. 2 is a sideview in` elevationof the invention as shown in Fig. l when the bleacher isfolded;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged,vfragmentary\ plan View of the invention as shown in Fig; l;

Fig. 4 is an.enlarged,.fragmentary'horizontalsectional viewtaken along-line 4- 4 ofFig. lgand..

Fig. 5 is arear elevationalviewf of thereal'. framevof the invention takenfon line 5--5 of Fig. 1 showing a typical lateral bracing structurefutilizedineaehfframe.Y

While the invention hereinv described'is a-preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit thein'vention tothe specific' form and arrangements shown, it being contemplated thatl various changes may be made'by' those skilled inthe art Without departing from the spirit and'scope of the appended claims.

Referringnow to the embodiment of the. invention. as shown in Figs. l and 2, the folding seating structure or bleacher includes a plurality of series of `upright supports, asframes.A,.B, Cand D. Frame Aris the`tallest` frame while' frame D is the shortest frame, frames B andl C being stepped downwardly in height from frame A t0 frame D. Adjacent frames A and B, B and C, and CandD are connected by associated foldable linkagemeans E, F and G so as'to stack together in closely adjacent parallel relationship when the bleacher is not' in use.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, frame A includes two vertical tubular members 2 and 2'- which are secured in spaced` relationship by a bracing structure H, including members 3, 5 and 7 secured therebetween, as best'shown intFig:y 5. Frames B, C andD include respectively tubular members 8 and 8', 10 and 10', and 1'2Vl and 12", each pair of ltubular membersbeing secured. in spaced relationship 'by' a: bracing structure similar to lateral bracing structure H of frame A.

For' conveniencey in further describing this invention, one end ofthefolding bleacher as'shown in Figs. 1 and"2 will be: described, it being understood-thatV the other end is identicalin'structure'to the;` end described.-

Referring now'to Fig; l for amoredetailed description, verticalltubular'member 2l of frameA islse'cu'red-at its'. lower end to the floor or supportingsurf-ace by any suitable means', such as a' bracket 4, and at itsupper end t'o a; vertical supporting means by any suitable means, such asa-bolt 6, Tubular members 8 and-10am movably supported on a floor or supporting surface respectively by rollers 14 and 16 while tubular member 12 is carried by af rigidly attached, horizontal, generally Y`shaped, angledm'emberV 18 having a leg 20 and two arms 22 and 24 (best shown in Fig. 4'). Member 158 is movably supported; on av Hoor' or `supporting surface by two rollers ZlandZS, roller 26 being located a-t thebasec of the leg 20 of Y-member 18 and roller 28being located adjacent the end'portion of arm 22 of Y-memberlS A brace 310i extends from adjacent roller 2Std leg 20'of Yniemberv 18 for additional support.

FiXed adjacent the upper end of members`2,-8" andh are brackets 32, each of which hasv an arcuate slot 34. FixedA adjacent the upper end of tubular member 121's abracket 36; Secured to :the upper surfaces' of brackets 32 andy bracket 36 are se'atboards 38 which extend longitudinally for at least the lengtli of frames A,.B, C and D.

FramesrA andzB and B and C are connected together byfol'dable linkage means E and F which includefvertically spacedflinksv 40 and 42 and 44V andl 46- which are pivotably connected to tubular membersI 2 and 8 respectively and extend forwardly therefrom. Brackets 48 land 50are secured to tubular members Brand; 10 in vertically spacedlrelationand pivotally carry rearwardly-extending footboard supporting bars 52k andl 54 and bell -crank'rnembersV 56 and 5S. The forward ends of links 42 .and 46, respectively, are pivotably connected' to the rearward ends of bell crank members 56 and S84 at 60 and 62 and the forward ends of'links Wand 44 .are pivotably connected respectively t-o footboard supporting barsSZ and 54 at 64 and 66. Extending vertically betweenlinks- 40 and 42 and 44 and 46, respectively, are membersor'vertical links 68and 70; Members 68Y^and are pivotally connected at their lower endsl toA links 42 and 46 at 72 and 74 and each has antelongated vertical^.slot76 and 78, respectively, in its upper end permitting-.a -slidable and pivotable connectionto links 49 and 44 at 80 yand 82, the purpose of Iwhich will be discussed subsequently.

Fastened to footboard supporting bars 52 and 54 and extending longitudinally thereon at least the length of frames B and C are footboards 84.

Means are provided for `stabilizing the bleacher when unfolded including brackets 48 on tubular members 8 and 10, each having an angled portion 86 operable to support respectively pivoted supporting bars 52 and 54 when they are in a horizontal position and to positively prevent further downward movement thereof. To further lock footboards 84 in the horizontal position, a latch member 88 is pivotably mounted on each link 40 and 44 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 90 connected therebetween. Latch members 88 have hook portions 92 adapted to engage 4pins 94 on the ends of the support- `ing bars S2 and 54, when the footboards 84 are in a horizontal position, and cam portions 96 in engagement with the upper ends of vertical members 68 and 70 adjacent the elongated slot connections 76 .and 78.

Movably carried in arcuate slots 34 of brackets 32 on tubular members 2 and 8 yare `skirtboard brackets 98 and plates 100, and brackets 98 and plates 100 being connected together at 102 and 104. Pivotably connected at their upper ends to brackets 98 and plates 100 at 102 are mem-bers 106. The lower ends of members 106 associated with frames A and B are pivotably connected respectively to the upper ends of arms 110 and 112, the lower ends of which are, in turn, respectively pivoted to link 40 at 80 and link 44 at 82. Secured to skirtboard brackets 98 and extending longitudinally thereon at least the length of frames A and B are skirtboards 114.

Linkage means G foldably connecting :frames C and D includes two vertically spaced links 116 and 118 pivotably connected to tubular member and extending forwardly therefrom. Secured to tubular member 12 is a bracket 120 extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. A footboard supporting bar 122 is pivotably connected to bracket 120 and, at 124 to the free end of li-nk 116. A link 126 is pivotably connected at 128 to link 118 and at 130 to arm 24 of Y-memfber 18. Extending vertically between connections 124 and 128 and pivotally mounted therebetween is a vertical link 132. A footboard 84', similar to 4footboards 84, 'is secured to footboard supporting bar 122 and extends longitudinally thereon at least the length of `frame D.

An arm 134, similar to but shorter than arms 110 and 112, has one end pivotably connected, at 136, to link 116 and has the other end connected to a skirtboard mounting means for frame C identical to the skirtboard mounting means described with regard to frames A and B, the elements of which are identified by :prime numbers corresponding to the identifying numbers of ythe previously described skirtboard mounting means.

Secured to the front of seatboard bracket 36 on tubular member 12 of frame D and extending downwardly therefrom and longitudinally at least the length of frame D is a two section `skirtboard 138 which has a hinge 140 adapted to perm-it forward swinging movement of the lower section 142.

Means for stabilizing the -bleacher in a folded condition include a hook member 144 pivotably connected with link 44 to tubular member 8. Hook member 144 extends rearwardly from tubular member 8 and is adapted to engage a pin 146 on tubular member 2 to lock frame B to frame A when the two are stacked against each other. A spring 148 is connected between hook member 144 and link 44 so that movement of link 44, as the bleacher is folded and unfolded, respectively urges hook member 144 into engagement with pin 146 and releases hook member 144 from pin 146.

A spring clamp member 150 (best shown in |Fig. 3) is secured to .and extends rearwardly from tubular member 10 and is adapted to releasably engage tubular member 8 when frames B and C are stacked against each other to clamp frame C to frame B.

A floor latch mechanism associated with frame D is adapted to stabilize the bleacher in either a folded or unfolded condition and includes Ia member 152 secured vertically -between bracket 36 on tubular member 12 and Y-'shaped member 18. Slidably carried on member 152 is a plunger 154 having a oor engaging pad 156 at its lower end and a laterally-extending .pin 158 at .approximately its midpoint. A spring 160 is positioned around plunger 154 between a lower projection 162 on member 152 and pin 158 on plunger 154 and acts to urge plunger 154 upwardly. An arm 164 `is pivotably connected Vat one end to the upper end of member 152, the lower end being adapted to abut Iagainst the back side of hinged skirtboard 142. A link 166 is pivotably connected at one end to the upper end of spring-urged plunger 154 and at the other end to arm 164 intermediate the two ends ythereof so that hinged skirtboard 142 is urged outwardly. Rearward movement of hinged skirtboard 142 to a Vertical :position acts `against arm 164 to `force plunger 154 downwardly so that floor-engaging pad 156 becomes operative to Vslightly raise frame D so that the weight of frame D is carried not entirely by rollers 26 and 28, but substantially by plunger 154, thus Ipreventing movement of frame D. A releasable catch for locking hinged skirtboard 142 in the vertical position, wherein the oor latch mechanism is actuated, includes a spring tab 168 on hinged skirtboard 142 engage- :able with an apertured plate member 170 on Y-member 18.

To aid in folding linkage means E and F, angled brackets 172 land 174 are secured to links 46 and 118 and are -operable upon movement in an upward direction to engage arms 176 and 178 on bell crank members 56 and 58 to pivotably move bell crank members 56 and 58 and break the link connections at 60 and 62.

As to the operation of this folding structure, it will be first assumed that the bleacher is in a fully unfolded or expanded condition as in Fig. l, with footboards 84 and 84 in a horizontal position and skirtboards 114 and 114 extending generally vertically below seatboards 38. First, the lower portion 142 of the skirtboard 138 on frame D is unlatched from member 170, thus tilting upwardly and releasing the Hoor-engaging pad 156 on plunger 154. As the result of the release of this floor latch mechanism, frame D is lowered slightly until supported solely by rollers 26 and 28. Then, the link connections at 124 and 128 are broken or unlocked by either raising footboard 84 or pulling skirtboard 114 forward.

Frame D is then pushed rearwardly raising vertical link 132 and the links connected thereto to allow folding of linkage G and movement of frame D against frame C. Simultaneously, footboard 84' is pivoted upwardly to a vertical position behind frame D and arm 134 is raised, causing skirtboard 114' to be moved forwardly to an inclined position extending between the front edges of seatboards 38 associated with frames C and D.

As angle bracket 174 is raised upwardly by link 118 it engages arm 178 on bell crank member 58 so as to break the link connection at 62 so that further rearward movement of frame D causes linkage F to be folded and frame C to be stacked against frame B.

As frame C is moved against frame B, member 70 is raised upwardly, slot 78 permitting the upper end of member 70 to engage cam portion 96 of latch member 88 and release hook portion 92 from pin 94 so that supporting bar 54 and footboard 84 may be pivoted to a vertical position behind frame C. Skirtboard 114 associated with frame B is simultaneously tilted outwardly to an inclined position by the upward movement of arm 112 and spring clamp member 150 engages tubular member 8 as frame C is stacked against frame B.

As described with regard to frames B and C, angle bracket 172 on link 46. engages arm 176 on bell crank member 56 to break the link connection at 60`t'o allow stacking of frame B againstl frame A and' the vertical and inclined positioning respectively of footboard 84 on supporting bar S2 and skirtboard 11`4l associated with frame A'.

As frame B is stacked against frame' Ahook member 144 on tubular member 8 engages pin' 146 on tubular member 2 to clamp frame B to frame A.

When the bleacher is in the fully folded condition, Fig: 2, hinged skirtboard 142 is then moved rearwardly to a vertical position and secured therein by engagement of'tab 168 with member 170, thus, actuating plunger 154 and clamping frame D to the floor or supporting surface.

It may be seen in Fig; 2 that when theV bleacher is folded, the frames are in ay stacked condition closely adjacent to eachother, the skirtboards 114 and 114' and front edges of the seatboards 38 forming a substantially continuous inclined or sloping closure surfacel extending downwardly from the seatboard of frame Ato the seatboard of frame D.

To unfold and expand the folded structure into. the unfolded usable conditionplunger 154 of the oor latch mechanism is first released as previously discussed and frame D pulled forward. As frame D is moved forwardly, adjacent frames are unhooked from each other, footboards 84 and 84 are pivoted to the horizontal position and locked in said position and skirtboards 114 and 114 moved rearwardly to the position extending generally vertically downwardly from the front edge of each seatboard. The floor latch mechanism is actuated and the bleacher is ready for use.

It is to be noted that the various linkage connections are positively locked in place by the weight of the parts themselves and do not depend for locking on the weight of persons sitting on the bleachers.

It is intended and believed evident that this invention is not limited to a folding seating structure having four frames or supporting sections as shown in the figures and described herein, as the number of frames or supporting sections utilized may be widely varied for the particular installation desired.

We claim:

l. In a folding seating structure, in combination; a stationary rear frame, a plurality of intermediate frames, a front frame, all of said frames extending generally vertically and decreasing in height from rear to front, a seatboard mounted adjacent the top of each of said frames, a skirtboard movably mounted adjacent each of the seatboards, foldable link means connected between adjacent frames so as to maintain the frames in parallel relationship during movement toward and away from each other, the link means between adjacent intermediate frames comprising a pair of vertically-spaced front links pivotally connected at their front ends t-o the forwardly disposed intermediate frame, a pair of vertically-spaced rear links pivotally connected at their front ends to said front links and at their rear ends to the rearwardly disposed intermediate frame, a footboard mounted on the upper front link, latch means mounted on the upper rear linkV and engageable with said upper front link for holding said links in their extended positions, second latch means associated with the rear of the upper rear link for engaging a frame disposed to the rear thereof when the links are folded and the frames are disposed adjacent each other, `an arm extending upwardly from the rear lower link and slidably mounted on the rear upper link to release said rst latch from engagement with the front upper link and upon continued upward movement cause folding of said upper links to move the adjacent frames successively toward each other, means including an arm extending upwardly from the rea-r upper link to move the skirtboarddisposed thereabove to an inclined position extending downwardly andforwardly fromtllcv front edge ofthe associated seatboard as the links 4are folded and means urging the secondi latch" intoY engaging position as the linksk are folded. j

2; A foldable seating structure comprising, a stationary rear frame,. a plurality of intermediate framesa front frame, all of said frames extending generally vertically and decreasing in height from rearto front, foldable link means extending between adjacent frames, a seatboard secured adjacent the topv of each frame, the seatboards being in stepped' relation and` having theirfront edges lying in an inclined planeextending downwardly and` forwardly when the link is folded, an inclined skirtboard betweenadjacent seatboardsmovably mounted on the same frame as the seatboard disposed thereabove and having its outer wear surface` disposed in said plane and substantially filling the space between the front edges of adjacent seatboards when the-link means is folded, a footboard extended vertically behind each of the seatboards except the uppermost seatboard when the link means is folded and means operative in response to lateral opening movement between adjacent seatboards and their frames to movethe skirtboard disposed therebetween to a generally up andt down out-of-the-way position beneath the seatboard mounted: on the same frame and to move the footboards from behindv the'seatboards to generally horizontal positions below andbetween adjacent seatboards.

3Q A seatingstructure comprising, a rear frame, a front frame, a plurality of intermediate upright frames increasing in height from front to rear, pivotally interconnected front and rear links connected between each of said frames, a seat member rigidly mounted on each frame adjacent the top thereof, a skirtboard associated with each frame and seatboard, means mounting the skirtboards on the' rear and intermediate frames for movement between a rst position wherein they extend generally vertically beneath the associated seatboards andfa second position wherein they are inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front edge of their associated seatboards to form a substantially continuous inclined front closure for the structure, a footboard mounted on one ofl said front links between adjacent frames and meansincluding an arm extending upwardly from one of said rear links between adjacent frames to move the skirtboard between said'adjacent frames toward the first position as the front and rear links are moved to space the frames from eachother and to move the skirtboard to its second position' as the front and rear links are folded to move the frames adjacent to each other.

4. A folding bleacher comprising, in combinati-on; a rear frame adapted to be secured t-o a supporting structure, a front frame, a series of intermediate frames, said front and intermediate frames being movable toward and away from said rear frame to fold and unfold the bleacher, seatboards secured adjacent the top of each frame, said seatboards forming a spaced seating structure upwardly stepped from the front frame when the bleacher isunfolded, a skirtboard movably carried by each seatboard, said skirtboards adapted to extend generally downwardly from the seatboards in out-of-the-way positions when'the bleacher is unfolded and adapted to form a substantially continuo-us, downwardly inclined cover surface when-the bleacher is folded, means responsive to fol-ding'and unfolding the bleacher for moving the skirtboardsbetween the two positions, and releasable latch meansl on adjacentv frames for securing the frames together when the bleacher is folded.

5. A folding bleacher construction comprising, in combination; a relatively tall, rigidly secured vertical frame, a relatively short movable vertical frame, intermediate movable vertical frames stepped in height from said short frame to said tall frame, seatboards rigidly secured to the tops of said frames, frontl and rear upper links pivotally connected between adjacent frames, front and'rear' lower links pivotally connectedbetween-adjacent said relatively tall frame, said slidably connecte-d vertical members providing release of said latch means upon movement of each of said frames toward said relatively tall frame to allow said footboards to be pivoted into a vertical position between adjacent frames, spring-urged hook means on said intermediate frames associated with the upper rear links and adapted to engage the next rearmost frame when said frames are moved towards said relatively tall frame to clamp said frames together, brackets on the lower rear links adapted on upward movement to engage an extension on the next rearwardly disposed lower front link to unlock the lower link connections as the next foremost frame is moved rearward, skirtboards movably mounted beneath each seatboard and adapted to extend substantially vertically downwardly therefrom when said bleacher is unfolded, an arm operably connected between each skirtboard and each upper rear link adapted when the frames are moved toward said relatively tall frame to move said skirtboards into a forwardly inclined position extending between the front edges of each pair of adjacent seatboards, said skirtboards and the front edges of said seatboards forming a substantially continuous inclined cover surface when the bleacher is folded, and a releasable oor lock mechanism associated with said relatively short front frame for clamping said frame to the oor to prevent movement of the frame toward or away from said relatively tall frame.

6. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of series of upright supports arranged one behind the other, each series being shorter than the series behind, a longitudinally extending seat secured to the top of each series of supports, all of the supports except the tallest being movable rectilinearly toward or from the tallest support and at all times operatively engaging a supporting surface at their lower ends, footboards disposed between the seat supports and operatively hinged thereto and movable between horizontal and vertical positions, operative connections between each series of seat supports and the series immediately behind automatically causing the tilting of the footboards from a horizontal to a vertical position upon the rearward movement of the seat supports toward the rearmost seat supports, a skirtboard movably mounted beneath each seatboard and adapted to extend vertically therebelow when the adjacent forwardly disposed support is moved away therefrom, linkage means operably connected to said skirtboards and to said `operative connections between each series of supports and the series behind automatically causing the tilting forward of said skirtboards from a vertical to an inclined position upon the rearward movement of the seat supports toward the rearmost seat supports so that said skirtboards form with the front edges of said seats a substantially continuous sloping front closure for the seating structure.

7. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of series of upright supports arranged one behind the other, each series being shorter than the series behind, a longitudinally-extending seat rigidly mounted on each series of supports, all -of the supports except the tallest being movable rectlinearly toward or from the tallest support and at all times operatively engaging a supporting surface at their lower ends, each series of seat supports except the tallest having a footboard supporting bar pivoted thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom,

footboards mounted upon said supporting bars, a rst series of horizontal links pivoted to the vertical supports of each series except the shortest series of vertical supports extending forwardly therefrom and pivoted to said footboard supports, a series of foldable linkages pivoted at their outer ends -to adjacent seat supports, vertical links pivoted at their lower ends to said foldable linkages and at their upper ends to said rst series of horizontal links, skirtboards movably carried beneath said seatboards, and support means operably connected between said skirtboards and said first series of horizontal links, movement of said supports toward the tallest support causing said footboards to be pivoted into a vertical position by said supporting bars and said skirtboards to be moved from a generally vertical position to an inclined front closure position by said support means.

8. A folding bleacher structure comprising, in combination; a series of upright frames stepped in height upwardly from a front frame to a rigidly secured rear frame, foldable linkage means between each pair of frames permitting movement of all of said frames except said rear frame against the next adjacent rear frame, seatboards rigidly secured adjacent the upper ends of said frames, skirtboards movably mounted beneath each seatboard, and motion transmitting connections between said skirtboards and said linkage means, said skirtboards being movable by said motion transmitting connections linkage means from a generally Vertical position below said seatboards to an inclined front closure position when said linkage means are folded and said frames are moved against the adjacent rear frames.

9. A folding bleacher structure comprising, in combination; a fixed support, a series of movable supports stepped downwardly in height from said xed support, seatboards rigidly carried on the tops of said supports, skirtboards movably mounted on and below said seatboards, link means connected between adjacent supports f-or foldably stacking adjacent supports against each other, footboards between adjacent supports carried on said link means and pivotable between a vertical and a horizontal position as the frames are foldably stacked and unstacked, and means connected between said skirtboards and said link means operable to move said skirtboards between an inclined closure position and a generally vertical position, respectively, as the frames are foldably stacked and unstacked.

l0. A folding bleacher structure comprising, in combination; a series of frames stepped in height, seatboards rigidly secured to the tops of said frames, footboards disposed between said frames, movable skirtboards carried by said seatboards, link means between adjacent frames operable to permit stacking yof said frames together, means including said link means for supporting said footboards in a horizontal position when the bleacher is open and in an upright position when the bleacher is folded, and means including said link means for supporting said skirtboards in a generally Vertical position when the bleacher is open and in a forwardly inclined position when the bleacher is folded to form with front edges of said seatboards a substantially continuous sloping closure surface therefor.

1l. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of series of upright frames arranged one behind. the other, each series being shorter than the series behind, a longitudinally-extending seat rigidly mounted on each series of frames, all of the frames except the tallest being movable toward or from the tallest frame and at all times operatively engaging a supporting surface at their lower ends, footboards disposed between adjacent frames and pivotably mounted on the forward one of said frames, skirtboards movably mounted beneath said seatboards, and operative connections between each series of frames for folding the structure and automatically causing the pivoting of the footboards from a horizontal to a vertical position and the tilting of the skirtboards from a vertical position to a forwardly sloping position upon the rearward movement of the frames toward the rearmost frames.

12. A foldable seating structure, including a plurality of upright frames arranged one behind the other, each frame being shorter than the frame behind, a longitudinally-extending seat rigidly mounted on each frame, all of the frames except the tallest being movable toward or from the tallest frame, each frame except the tallest having a footboard supporting bar pivoted thereto, footboards mounted upon said supporting bars, upper links pivoted to each frame except the shortest frame and pivoted to said footboard bars, lower linkages pivoted at their outer ends to adjacent frames, vertical members pivoted at their lower ends to said lower linkages and at their upper ends to said upper links, skirtboards movably mounted on said frames underlying said seatboards, and arms operably connected between said skirtboards, and said upper links adapted to move said skirtboards from a downwardly extending out-oftheway position to a sloping front closure position when said frames are moved toward said tallest frame.

13. A foldable seating structure, including a series of upright frames arranged one behind the other, each frame being shorter than the frame behind, a longitudinally-extending seat fixed to the top of each frame, all of the frames except the tallest adapted to be foldably stacked against the next rearward adjacent frame, hook means on each intermediate frame for automatically clamping it to the next rearward frame when it is moved toward the tallest frame, operative connections between adjacent frames for foldable stacking thereof, a skirtboard movably mounted on each frame beneath the seatboard and adapted to extend vertically therebelow when the adjacent forward frame is moved away therefrom, and an arm connected between each skirtboard and said operative connections automatically causing the tilting forward of said skirtboards from the vertical to an inclined position as the frames are foldably stacked against the next rearmost frames so that said skirtboards form with front edges of said seats a substantially continuous sloping front closure for the seating structure.

14. A folding seat struct-ure comprising, in combination.; a rear frame adapted to be secured to a supporting structure, a front frame mounted on rollers, a series of intermediate frames mounted on rollers, seatboards fixed adjacent the top of each frame and forming an upwardly stepped arrangement 'from said front frame to said rear frame, linkage means between each pair of adjacent frames adapted to permit relative movement thereof between an expanded condition and a closely adjacent condition, a skirtboard associated with each frame and adapted to extend generally vertically below each seatboard when the frames are in the expanded condition, said skirtboards forming a substantially continuous downwardly inclined cover surface when all of said frames are in the closely adjacent condition, means including said linkage means for moving said skirtboards between the two positions, a footboard disposed on a part of said linkage means behind said front and intermediate frames, said footboards being supported in a horizontal position by said parts of said linkage means when said frames are in the expanded condition and in an upwardly-extending vertical position when said frames are in the closely adjacent condition, and plunger means associated with said front frame for locking the seating structure in any desired position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,656 Du Bois Dec. 2, 1884 2,147,564 Vance Feb. 14, 1939 2,183,056 Albach et al Dec. 12, 1939 2,205,624 Horn June 25, 1940 2,706,835 Ullom Apr. 26, 1955

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