Seating System and Assembly

Abstract

This invention relates specifically to a seating system or assembly which utilizes a modularized system of standard sized components. The system reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies storage and shipping and improves assembly efficiencies. The system of modularized components allows flexibility in seating use and design.

1 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A method for facilitating the assembly of seating arrangements, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving an indication of a desired row configuration for at least one seating row;   inputting the desired row configuration into a computer executable algorithm;   determining, with the computer executable algorithm, a number of beams and corresponding beam sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration;   determining, with the computer executable algorithm, a number of seating components and corresponding seating component sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration; and   shipping the number of beams and corresponding beam sizes, which correspond to the desired row configuration, and the number of seating components and corresponding seating component sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration to a site for assembly.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the step of receiving an indication of a desired row configuration for at least one seating row comprises the step of receiving, via a networked communications link, an indication of a desired row configuration for at least one seating row. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the networked communications link comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 72 , further comprising the step of inventorying a plurality of beams having a plurality of predefined standard lengths. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said step of determining, with the computer executable algorithm, a number of beams and corresponding beam sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration comprises the step of:
 selecting a first beam having a first standard length from the plurality of beams having the plurality of predefined standard lengths; and   selecting a second beam having a second standard length from the plurality of beams having the plurality of predefined standard lengths, the first standard length being different than the second standard length.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein said step of determining, with the computer executable algorithm, a number of seating components and corresponding seating component sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration comprises the step of selecting a plurality of seat assemblies having an optimal seat width. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein said selecting a first beam step comprises the step of selecting a first beam having a first standard length which comprises an integer multiple of one half of the optimal seat width, and wherein said selecting a second beam step comprises the step of selecting a second beam having a second standard length which comprises an integer multiple of one half of the optimal seat width. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein said selecting a first beam step comprises the step of selecting a first beam having a first standard length which comprises an odd integer multiple of one half of the optimal seat width, and wherein said selecting a second beam step comprises the step of selecting a second beam having a second standard length which comprises an odd integer multiple of one half of the optimal seat width. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein said step of determining, with the computer executable algorithm, a number of beams and corresponding beam sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration further comprises the step of:
 selecting a third beam having a third standard length from the plurality of beams having the plurality of predefined standard lengths, the third standard length being different than the first standard length and the second standard length.   
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said step of determining, with the computer executable algorithm, a number of beams and corresponding beam sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration comprises the step of:
 selecting a first beam having a first standard length from the plurality of beams having the plurality of predefined standard lengths;   selecting a second beam having a second standard length from the plurality of beams having the plurality of predefined standard lengths, the first standard length being different than the second standard length;   determining a target cut beam length; and   selecting a beam to be cut to the target cut beam length from the plurality of beams having the plurality of predefined standard lengths.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the beam to be cut to the target cut beam length has the first standard length or the second standard length. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 72 :
 wherein said step of receiving an indication of a desired row configuration for at least one seating row comprises the step of receiving an indication of a desired row configuration for a plurality of seating rows; and   further comprising the step of bundling the number of beams and corresponding beam sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration and the number of seating components and corresponding seating component sizes which correspond to the desired row configuration together separately for each of the plurality of seating rows.   
     
     
         84 . A method for facilitating assembly a row of seating, comprising the steps of:
 inventorying a plurality of first beams having a first beam length;   inventorying a plurality of second beams having a second beam length, the second beam length being different than the first beam length;   receiving an indication of a target row length;   determining a number of the plurality of first beams and determining a number of the plurality of second beams based upon the target row length;   removing the determined number of the plurality of first beams and the determined number of the plurality of second beams from inventory; and   shipping the determined number of the plurality of first beams and the determined number of the plurality of second beams removed from inventory to a site for assembly.   
     
     
         85 . (canceled)