Storable seating unit

Abstract

A facility including at least one viewing tier having a horizontal supporting surface and a rear wall. An opening is formed in the rear wall of the one tier, and a storable seating unit is movable between a stored position and a deployed position through the opening. The seating unit is supported by the horizontal surface of the one tier, and is configurable in a storable configuration and a deployed configuration. The seating unit height is greater when in the deployed position than in the storable configuration. The opening height is less than the height of the storable seating in the deployed configuration, and greater than the height of the storable seating in the storable configuration.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A storable seating unit comprising: 
 a support frame movable between a stored position and a deployed position, and having a front surface;    a support member fixed to said frame and spaced rearwardly from said support frame front surface;    at least one first seat fixed to said support frame and providing seating forwardly of said support frame front surface;    at least one second seat having an upwardly extending seat back, and being fixed to said support member, said seat back being movable between a storable configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in said storable configuration, said seat is moved to reduce the height of the storable seating unit when moving said frame from said deployed position to said stored position.    
     
     
         2 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , in which said seat back is pivotally mounted to stanchions fixed to said support member.  
     
     
         3 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , in which said seat back is fixed to stanchions pivotally fixed to said support member.  
     
     
         4 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , in which said second seat is at a higher level than said first seat in said deployed configuration.  
     
     
         5 . The storable seating unit of  claim 1 , in which a platform extends between said second seat and said first seat.  
     
     
         6 . The storable seating unit of  claim 5 , in which said platform is pivotally mounted to said frame, wherein said platform is pivoted to provide clearance for pivoting said second seat when moving said frame from said deployed position to said stored position.  
     
     
         7 . The storable seating unit of  claim 6 , in which a support member fixed to said frame supports said pivoted platform and prevents an edge of said platform from striking a surface supporting said frame.  
     
     
         8 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , in which said frame includes support surface engaging wheels to reduce friction when moving said frame between said stored position and said deployed position.  
     
     
         9 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , including a restraint mechanism which prevents said frame from moving beyond said deployed position.  
     
     
         10 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , including a locking mechanism which locks said frame in a fixed position.  
     
     
         11 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 1 , including an extension extending said first mounting member for mounting at least one additional seat thereto.  
     
     
         12 . A facility for viewing an event comprising; 
 at least one viewing tier having a horizontal supporting surface and a rear wall;    an opening having a height, and being formed in said rear wall of said tier;    a storable seating unit having a height and being supported by said supporting surface, said seating unit being movable between a stored position and a deployed position through said opening and being configurable in a storable configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein said seating height is greater when in said deployed configuration than in said storable configuration, and said opening height is less than the height of said storable seating in said deployed configuration, and said opening height is greater than the height of said storable seating in said storable configuration.    
     
     
         13 . The facility of  claim 12 , in which said seating unit includes a support frame movable between a stored position and a deployed position, and having a front surface; 
 a support member fixed to said frame and spaced rearwardly from said support frame front surface;    at least one first seat fixed to said support frame and providing seating forwardly of said support frame front surface;    at least one second seat having an upwardly extending seat back, and being fixed to said support member, said seat back being movable between a storable configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in said storable configuration, said seat is moved to reduce the height of the storable seating unit when moving said frame from said deployed position to said stored position.    
     
     
         14 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 13 , in which said seat back is pivotally mounted to stanchions fixed to said support member.  
     
     
         15 . The storable seating unit as in  claim 13 , in which said seat back is fixed to stanchions pivotally fixed to said support member.  
     
     
         16 . The facility as in  claim 12 , in which said second seat is at a higher level than said first seat in said deployed configuration.  
     
     
         17 . The facility as in  claim 12 , in which a platform extends between said second seat and said first seat.  
     
     
         18 . The facility as in  claim 17 , in which said platform is pivotally mounted to said frame, wherein said platform is pivoted to provide clearance for pivoting said second seat when moving said frame from said deployed position to said stored position.  
     
     
         19 . The facility as in  claim 18 , in which a support member supports said pivoted platform and prevents an edge of said platform from striking the ground.  
     
     
         20 . The facility as in  claim 12 , in which said frame includes ground engaging wheels to reduce friction when moving said frame between said stored position and said deployed position.  
     
     
         21 . The facility as in  claim 12 , including a restraint mechanism which prevents said frame from moving beyond said deployed position.  
     
     
         22 . The facility as in  claim 12 , including a locking mechanism which locks said frame in a fixed position.  
     
     
         23 . The facility as in  claim 12 , including an extension extending said first mounting member for mounting at least one additional seat thereto.  
     
     
         24 . The facility as in  claim 21 , in which a rear wall of a second viewing tier abuts a forward edge of said horizontal supporting surface, and a third seat is pivotally mounted to said second viewing tier rear wall wherein pivoting said third seat reduces the height of said third seat below the horizontal supporting surface.  
     
     
         25 . The facility as in  claim 21 , in which a removable platform abuts a forward edge of said supporting surface to extend said supporting surface over said third seat.