Retractable Anti-Panic Barrier for Convertible Grandstand Seating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grandstands face challenges in easily converting between seating and standing modes, with breakwaters obstructing footspace and requiring labor-intensive dismantling and storage when converted, and posing tripping hazards during seating use.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sliding guide mechanism that allows vertical displacement of barriers, maintaining them on the grandstand floor in both positions, ensuring unobstructed footspace and safety during seating, and using a telescopic design for ease of adjustment and aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If breakwaters are fixed on the grandstand floor in seating mode, then stability is improved, but footspace is obstructed and tripping hazards are created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreakwater stabilityVSAvoidtripping hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The breakwater is designed to change its position dynamically between two states: in seating mode, the barrier is lowered to a rest position that clears the footspace; in standing mode, the barrier is raised to a use position that provides safety. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the breakwater stable in both configurations while eliminating the tripping hazard in seating mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If breakwaters are dismantled when converting to standing mode, then footspace is cleared, but labor and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefootspace obstructionVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of dismantling the breakwater, the invention uses a dynamic positioning system where the barrier can be vertically adjusted between a rest position (clearing footspace) and a use position (providing safety). This eliminates the need for labor-intensive dismantling and storage while maintaining clear footspace in standing mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The breakwater structure serves multiple functions: it provides safety barriers in standing mode, clears footspace in seating mode, and maintains structural integrity throughout. The same structure adapts to different operational requirements without requiring separate components or storage facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If barriers are lowered to clear footspace in seating mode, then safety is improved, but barrier effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefootspace clearanceVSAvoidbarrier effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier system is designed to dynamically adjust its height based on operational mode. In seating mode, the barrier is lowered to clear footspace and eliminate tripping hazards while maintaining structural integrity. In standing mode, the barrier is raised to provide effective safety protection. This dynamic behavior ensures both footspace clearance and barrier effectiveness at appropriate times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3090657B1Tribune with several seats and/or standing room and with a Anti-panic barrier
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 ASTRID MAIER METALL UND TRIBUNENBAU
  • EP3090657B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3090657B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3090657B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A grandstand (1) with several rows of seats and/or standing room (2) has at least one spectator seat in at least one row of seats and/or standing room (2), to which a grandstand seat (3) connected to the grandstand floor (15) is attached , which can be adjusted between a first position in which it can be used as a seat and a second position in which the spectator seat can be used as a standing area. At least one breakwater (24), which has a barrier (25) extending in the direction of the seating and/or standing room rows (2), is arranged between the spectator seat and another row of seats and/or standing room (2) behind it. The barrier (25) can be moved vertically by means of an adjustment device which has a sliding guide between a position of use and a rest position in which the barrier (25) is arranged closer to the floor (15) of the grandstand than in the position of use. In the rest position, the barrier (25) is spaced from the grandstand floor (15) by a free space (29) underneath it. (Fig.3)