Reverse fold tier catches for stadium seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telescopic seating assemblies are unable to reverse-fold, meaning higher tiers cannot retract over lower tiers, rendering the seating assembly unusable and making it difficult to access lower tiers.
Innovation Solution
A reverse-fold tier catch assembly that allows highest-to-lowest tier retraction by using a self-engaging locking mechanism with a tier catch mounted on the casterhorn, featuring a cam follower and cam arm interaction to pivot the tier catch and disengage the catch assembly of the next-lower tier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tier catch assemblies are used with shortest-to-highest retracting sequence, then the seating assembly can be folded in standard order, but the seating assembly becomes unusable and lower tiers become inaccessible when higher tiers are retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional folding sequence by enabling highest-to-lowest tier retraction instead of shortest-to-highest. The tier catch assembly is specifically designed to allow a higher tier to retract over a lower tier, with the lower tier's catch assembly disengaging when the higher tier moves thereagainst. This inversion maintains access to lower tiers even when higher tiers are retracted, resolving the accessibility problem.
2Reliability
If conventional tier catch assemblies are used, then the locking mechanism can prevent premature retraction, but the catches become heavily loaded and difficult to release when multiple tiers are retracted
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the folding sequence to highest-to-lowest, the patent reverses the load distribution on tier catches. When higher tiers retract first, the loads are distributed differently through the sequence, preventing cumulative heavy loading on individual catches and making them easier to release throughout the retraction process.
3Productivity
If tiers are moved rearward towards higher tiers for retraction, then the seating assembly can be folded in standard sequence, but access to floor space beneath rearmost tiers is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables highest-to-lowest tier retraction, which allows floor space beneath rearmost tiers to remain accessible during the folding process. By retracting higher tiers over lower tiers rather than moving all tiers rearward, the design maintains access to floor space while still achieving efficient folding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the seating assembly to be folded in reverse, maintaining access to lower tiers even when higher tiers are retracted, and reduces the load on tier catches, making it easier to release them.
Implementation Method 1
featuring a cam follower and cam arm interaction to pivot the tier catch and disengage the catch assembly of the next-lower tier
Data Source
AI summary
A tier locking assembly for allowing highest-to-lowest tier retract in a telescopic seating assembly that includes a plurality of seating tiers with seating platforms supported by movable supports structures that move relative to one another along a first direction. The tier locking system has a tier catch attached to a lower tier that automatically engages a catch plate of an adjacent higher tier to prevent that higher tier from retracting over the lower tier.