Theater Seating Layout With Privacy Panels and Clear Sightlines

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional theater seating arrangements lack privacy and comfort, with identical seats that do not offer audience members the option to choose between different types of seating, leading to a uniform experience and potentially obstructed views due to the maximization of seating capacity.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a theater seating system featuring a separating panel with a unique structural arrangement that includes sections defining a chamber for each seat, providing privacy and adjustable configurations for comfort, along with movable seating and table options to enhance the audience experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If seats are arranged to maximize the number of seats in the theater, then seating capacity is improved, but audience member comfort and line of sight are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating capacityVSAvoidcomfort and line of sight
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the theater into distinct seating zones (premium seating area with reclining seats and standard seating area) separated by aisleways. This segmentation allows different comfort levels to coexist, with the premium area providing enhanced comfort and visibility while the standard area maintains higher capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between maximizing seating capacity and ensuring comfort/line of sight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If identical seats are used throughout the theater, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but audience member experience and privacy are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidseating variety and privacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different seat types in different locations within the theater. The premium seating area features reclining seats with adjustable backrests and footrests, while the standard seating area has fixed seats. This localized differentiation allows the theater to offer varied experiences and privacy levels to different audience members while controlling overall manufacturing costs by not making all seats expensive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If separating panels are added to provide privacy, then privacy is improved, but device complexity and space requirements are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprivacyVSAvoidseating system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing separable privacy panels as intermediate elements between adjacent seats in the premium seating area. These panels can be positioned to provide privacy when needed and removed or folded away when not required, thus providing privacy functionality without permanently complicating the seating system structure or consuming excessive space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3112559B1Theater seating
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 IPIC GOLD CLASS ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3112559B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3112559B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3112559B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Theater seating systems, theater lounge seats, theater seats, and theater seating arrangements are described herein. An example embodiment of a theater seating system comprises a separating panel and a theater seat. The separating panel has a first end, a second end, a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section. The first section, the second section, the third section, and the fourth section cooperatively define a chamber within which the theater seat is disposed. The first end is separated from the second end to define an opening that provides access to the chamber defined by the separating panel.