Bench Seating System

Abstract

A bench seating system includes a plurality of seats, each seat defining a singularly curved seating surface spanning from front to back, the curved seating surface of each adjacent seat alternatingly concave and convex. The seats can be mounted on an elongate support member, supported horizontally by one or more posts. Features of the bench seating system, including the alternating concave and convex seating surfaces, provide aesthetic, anti-skate, comfort, and modular aspects.

1 . A seating system, comprising a plurality of seats, each seat including a contoured seating surface defining a substantially singularly curved plane spanning from front to back, the curved seating surface of each adjacent seat alternatingly concave and convex. 
   
   
       2 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seats are oriented end to end along a line such that the concave or convex curve of each seating surface is substantially perpendicular to the line. 
   
   
       3 . The seating system of  claim 2 , further comprising an elongate support member, and wherein:
 the plurality of seats are supported by the elongate support member; and   the first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.   
   
   
       4 . The seating system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of vertical posts supporting the elongate support member. 
   
   
       5 . The seating system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of seats further comprises a pair of end plates, the end plates coupled to the elongate support member. 
   
   
       6 . The seating system of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of flanges coupled to the elongate support member, and wherein each end plate is coupled to one of the plurality of flanges. 
   
   
       7 . The seating system of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate support comprises one or more modular members adapted to be coupled end-to-end to provide support for additional ones of the plurality of seats. 
   
   
       8 . The seating system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seats each further comprise:
 a front edge; and   a back edge; and   wherein a contoured sheet defines the front edge, back edge, and contoured seating surface.   
   
   
       9 . The seating system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the front edge and back edge define a single curved convex surface. 
   
   
       10 . The seating system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of seats further comprises a pair of end plates, the bottom edge of the end plates define a straight line. 
   
   
       11 . The seating system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of seats further comprises a pair of end plates, the bottom edge of the end plates define a convex curve. 
   
   
       12 . A seating system, comprising:
 an elongate support;   a first seat coupled to the elongate support, the first seat defining a substantially concave upper surface, the curve defining the concave upper surface substantially perpendicular to the elongate support; and   a second seat coupled to the elongate support adjacent the first seat, the second seat defining a substantially convex upper surface, the curve defining the convex upper surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the elongate support.   
   
   
       13 . The seating system of  claim 12 , wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween. 
   
   
       14 . The seating system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first seat and second seat each further include a curved front edge to a curved rear edge; and   each upper surface spans from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge.   
   
   
       15 . The seating system of  claim 14 , wherein the first seat further comprises a substantially convex lower surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge. 
   
   
       16 . The seating system of  claim 14 , wherein the second seat further comprises a substantially planar lower surface spanning from the curved front edge to the curved rear edge. 
   
   
       17 . The seating system of  claim 14 , wherein a contoured sheet defines the front edge, back edge, and contoured seating surface. 
   
   
       18 . The seating system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second seat further comprises a pair of end plates, the end plates coupled to the elongate support. 
   
   
       19 . The seating system of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of flanges coupled to the elongate support, and wherein each end plate is coupled to one of the plurality of flanges. 
   
   
       20 . The seating system of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate support comprises one or more modular members adapted to be coupled end-to-end to provide support for additional seats. 
   
   
       21 . A seating system, comprising:
 an elongate support;   a first seat coupled to the elongate support, the first seat defining an upper surface having a first median height above the elongate support; and   a second seat coupled to the elongate support adjacent the first seat, the second seat defining an upper surface having a second median height above the elongate support; and wherein the first median height is greater than the second median height thereby providing an anti-skate feature.   
   
   
       22 . The seating system of  claim 21 , wherein the first seat and the second seat are arranged end-to-end and define a space therebetween.