Theatre chair

Abstract

A theatre chair having a frame to which there is connected at least a seat component (21) and a backrest component and, providing means on the seat component (21) to co-operate with a seat member (30) and means on the backrest component to co-operate with a backrest member whereby the seat member (21) and backrest member can each be readily attached to the appropriate component to be positively affixed thereto, the members being able to be removed from the appropriate component when required. The connection between the components and the members can be by way of interacting lugs (24), interacting ribs (26) and means (25) whereby the parts are held in compression and tension. Means to rapidly replace the upholstery and means whereby the same components can be used for chairs of different widths are also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is a divisional of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 220,751, filed Dec. 10, 2003, now allowed, which is a national phase application of International Application No. PCT / AU01 / 00232, filed Mar. 2, 2001, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. PQ 5975, filed Mar. 2, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to theatre chairs and is generally useful for chairs used in cinemas, auditoria and theatres.[0003]When a cinema (which we shall use as an exemplification) is being built or refurbished when the chairs are located, care must be taken not to damage the upholstery of these chairs or to locate chairs where they can be damaged by other trades still working on the incomplete cinema.[0004]In some applications, it is preferred that some seats, generally the more expensive, are spaced at intervals greater than the others. This has normally meant that to provide sea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]A first object of the present invention is to provide a cinema chair which can initially be located in a cinema in its required position without the upholstered portions thereon so that likelihood of damage during construction is minimized and which, at the same time can readily have the upholstered portions removed and reinstalled, should be it be necessary for refurbishment, either to an individual chair or to the chairs in the theatre generally.

[0008]A second object is to provide a seat which can be located at different spacings so that it is not necessary to provide different seats for different spacings.

[0011]In one particular form of the invention we use a toggle joint which provides a snap over type connection to assist in retaining the components together which joint can be released by the insertion of an appropriate tool.

[0012]In a second aspect of the invention, which may be associated with a seat as described above, we provide in the underside of the seat component, on each side thereof, a recess adapted to receive a pivot block, the pivot blocks having a longitudinal aperture into which a pivot member mounted on the seat frame adjacent thereto can pass to permit the seat to pivot about the pivots, characterized in that the pivot blocks can be located at different positions relative to the side of the seat so that the pivot blocks can co-operate with pivots having different spacings, and thus the seat component can be used in seats having different widths.

Problems solved by technology

Further, individual chairs in theatres can be damaged either inadvertently or by vandalism and it is then necessary to re-upholster or repair these chairs on an individual basis.

This has led to similar difficulties as described above where a theatre is being refurbished although, to an extent, the problem can be exacerbated as often it is necessary to have a skilled person come to the theatre to remove and replace a seat.

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