Suspended theater edge actuated seat moving machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058965-B2
Application number	US-202016846035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2020
Priority date	Apr 11, 2019
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A seat moving machine comprises a passenger seat assembly disposed in between opposing seat supports which raise and lower the passenger seat assembly. One or more passenger seat beam rotators are operative to rotate the passenger seat assembly to change the pitch independently of the raising and lowering. In embodiments, rather that the seat rows being pivoted up with a rotating floor, a rotate function alters their mutual positions to one another while the lift function is taking place which brings the back seat rows up and over the front seat rows, allowing control over mutual row position during lift and in the show. Though no cables are involved, by combining the motions of lift and rotate and without any further equipment, an immersive theater system comprising the seat moving machine still employs seating that is suspended.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A theater seating assembly, comprising:
a. a seat support base;
b. a first seat support, comprising:
i. a first lift arm pivotally connected to the seat support base, the first lift arm comprising:
1. a lower portion; and
2. an upper portion disposed at an angular offset from the lower portion;

ii. a first lift arm actuator operatively connected to the first lift arm;
iii. a first passenger seat beam rotator operatively connected to the first lift arm distally from the seat support base; and
iv. a first passenger seat beam rotator actuator operatively connected to the first passenger seat beam rotator, the first passenger seat beam rotator actuator operative to effect a change in passenger seat row pitch independently of rotation of the first lift arm;

c. a second seat support disposed distally from the first seat support in a mirror configuration with respect to a seat axis defined by a longitudinal distance between the first seat support and the second seat support, comprising:
i. a second lift arm pivotally connected to the seat support base, the second lift arm comprising:
1. a lower portion; and
2. an upper portion disposed at an angular offset from the lower portion;

ii. a second lift arm actuator operatively connected to the second lift arm and configured to coordinate movement of the second lift arm with the first lift arm;
iii. a second passenger seat beam rotator operatively connected to the second lift arm; and
iv. a second passenger seat beam rotator actuator operatively connected to the second passenger seat beam rotator distally from the seat support base, the second passenger seat beam rotator actuator operative to effect a change in passenger seat row pitch independently of rotation of the second lift arm cooperatively with the first passenger seat beam rotator actuator;

d. a passenger seat assembly operatively connected to the first passenger seat beam rotator and to the second passenger seat beam rotator, the passenger seat assembly disposed substantially parallel to the seat axis, the passenger seat assembly comprising a passenger seating area; and
e. a system controller operatively in communication with the first lift arm actuator, the second lift arm actuator, the first passenger seat beam rotator actuator, and the second passenger seat beam rotator actuator, the system controller operative to coordinate movement of the first lift arm with the second lift arm in their respective X-Y planes while simultaneously effecting a change to the pitch angle and to coordinate movement of the first passenger seat beam rotator actuator with the second passenger seat beam rotator actuator.

2. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat support base comprises a first seat support base connected to the first lift arm and a second seat support base connected to the second lift arm.

3. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a safety encoder operatively in communication with the system controller, the safety encoder operative to provide a measurement of an offset of the first passenger seat beam rotator or the second passenger seat beam rotator from the seat axis.

4. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor operatively in communication with the system controller, the sensor operative to provide a measurement of a predetermined physical characteristic of the first lift arm or the second.

5. The theater seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure transducer or a linear transducer.

6. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein each lift arm actuator further comprises a motion damper operatively connected to the seat support base and the first lift arm or the second lift arm.

7. The theater seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the motion damper comprises:
a. a first motion damper operatively connected to the first lift arm; and
b. a second motion damper operatively connected to the second lift arm.

8. The theater seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seat support base comprises:
a. a first seat support base operatively connected to the first motion damper;
b. a second seat support base connected to the first lift arm;
c. a third seat support base connected to the second motion damper; and
d. a fourth seat support base connected to the second lift arm.

9. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a brake operatively connected to the first lift arm or the second lift arm, the brake operative to impede motion of the first lift arm or the second lift arm.

10. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
a. the first passenger seat beam rotator is pivotally connected to the first lift arm at a pivot substantially located at a center of the first passenger seat beam rotator; and
b. the second passenger seat beam rotator is pivotally connected to the second lift arm at a pivot substantially located at a center of the second passenger seat beam rotator.

11. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passenger seat assembly comprises:
a. a first seat beam operatively connected to the first passenger seat beam rotator at a first end of the first passenger seat beam rotator and the second passenger seat beam rotator at a corresponding first end of the second passenger seat beam rotator substantially parallel to the seat axis; and
b. a second seat beam operatively connected to the first passenger seat beam rotator at a second end of the first passenger seat beam rotator distally from the first end and the second passenger seat beam rotator at a corresponding second end of the second passenger seat beam rotator substantially parallel to the first seat beam.

12. The theater seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passenger seat assembly further comprises:
a. a seat beam; and
b. a passenger seating area connected to the seat beam.

13. The theater system of claim 1 , wherein each of the rotator actuators comprises:
a. a rotary motor; and
b. a chain or sprocket set operatively in communication with the rotary motor.

14. The theater system of claim 1 , wherein the passenger seat assembly further comprises a canopy.

15. The theater system of claim 1 , wherein the passenger seat assembly further comprises a shield.

16. A method of providing a theater experience using a theater seating assembly comprising a seat support base; a first seat support comprising a first lift arm pivotally connected to the seat support base where the first lift arm comprises a lower portion and an upper portion disposed at an angular offset from the lower portion, a first lift arm actuator operatively connected to the first lift arm, a first passenger seat beam rotator operatively connected to the first lift arm distally from the seat support base, and a first passenger seat beam rotator actuator operatively connected to the first passenger seat beam rotator where the first passenger seat beam rotator actuator is operative to effect a change in passenger seat row pitch independently of rotation of the first lift arm; a second seat support disposed distally from the first seat support in a mirror configuration with respect to a seat axis defined by a longitudinal distance between the first seat support and the second seat support, comprising a second lift arm pivotally connected to the seat support base where the second lift arm comprises a lower portion and an upper portion disposed at an angular offset from the lower portion; and a second lift arm actuator operatively connected to the second lift arm and configured to coordinate movement

Assignees

• Oceaneering Int Inc

Inventors

• Jennings Clifford Allen
• Kurtz Kenneth
• Quillen Justin
• Wall Jeremy

Classifications

• A63G27/02

  with special movements of the seat-carriers · CPC title

• E04H3/30 Primary

  Constructional features of auditoriums · CPC title

• A63J2005/002

  moving the spectator's body · CPC title

• A63J25/00 Primary

  Equipment specially adapted for cinemas (cinematographic projection means G03B) · CPC title

• A63J5/12

  Apparatus for raising or lowering persons · CPC title