Abstract: A damped hinge assembly for a self-raising seat bottom for preventing the seat bottom from noticeably bouncing at its topmost position. The damped hinge assembly includes a clutch damping mechanism that is engaged at an intermediate position between its lowered position and topmost position to begin slowing the rotation of the seat bottom. The clutch damping mechanism has a number of adjacent plates with a viscous material disposed between them. When the clutch damping mechanism is engaged the plates rotate against one another and the viscous material applies a drag force that resists the rotation to slow the return of the seat bottom to its upright stored position.

Abstract: A guardrail storage system in a multi-tiered seating wherein the storage system is configured for securing an end guardrail in a use position substantially parallel to an end of the tier, and in a storage position substantially parallel to a front beam of the tier.

Abstract: A double action seating unit to be mounted to a nose of a platform is described. The double action seating unit includes a seat assembly, a back assembly and at least two stanchion. Each stanchion has a front bracket, a rear bracket, a stanchion tube and two pivot straps. The front bracket attaches the seat portion to the stanchion, the rear bracket attaches the stanchion to the nose of the platform and the stanchion tube attaches the back assembly to the stanchion. Each pivot strap connects an associated stanchion tube, the rear bracket and the front bracket. The double action seating unit can move between a use configuration and a storage configuration. The two pivot straps cause the seat assembly and the back assembly to simultaneously rotate when the double action seating unit moves between the use configuration and the storage configuration.

Abstract: A seating unit system is provided to mount seats to a nose of a balcony. The seating unit system includes a balcony mount beam secured to the nose of the balcony. The balcony mount beam includes a front plate and a return. The front plate has an upwards extension. The seating unit includes one or more seats. Each seat has a balcony mount stanchion and a front rail socket connected to the balcony mount stanchion. The balcony mount stanchion includes a hook feature and a balcony mount beam bracket. The hook feature attaches to the upwards extension of the front plate and the balcony mount beam bracket attaches to the return. The front rail socket is configured to receive a front rail.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing adjacent tiers of a retractable bleacher to prevent relative vertical movement between the adjacent tiers when the retractable bleacher is fully extended are described. The retractable bleacher includes a first engagement member that is secured to a first decking tier, a second engagement member secured to a second adjacent decking tier. The first engagement member and the second engagement member are configured and cooperative to prevent relative vertical movement of the second decking tier with respect to the first decking tier when the retractable bleacher is fully extended in the open configuration.

Abstract: Improved aisle rail systems and methods for use in conjunction with telescopic or retractable seating systems. A handle portion is at an upper end of a post. A short arm having a roller extends radially from a lower extent of the post. The post is rotationally mounted to a deck of a bleacher system by a support socket. Interaction of the roller with a step mounted on an underlying deck resulting from relative motion of the deck on which the aisle rail system is mounted and the underlying deck results in rotation of the post and associated handle.

Abstract: A front-aisle step that is integral with a deck of a bleacher and disposed in a bleacher access-aisle is disclosed. The first deck includes a deck surface having a deck surface height above a support surface and the front-aisle step has a front-aisle step surface having a height above the support surface that is less than the deck surface height. The front-aisle step has a front edge that is co-extensive with or recessed from a forward edge of the bleacher. In one embodiment a reversible platform is disposed in the access-aisle and in a first mounting orientation provides a front-aisle step surface at a height below the first deck surface and in a second mounting orientation in which the reversible platform is inverted from the first mounting orientation, the reversible platform provides a front-aisle step surface at a height generally co-planar with the first deck surface.

Abstract: A portable bleacher seating structure includes an active descent and lift mechanism that includes a placement assembly having an arm and an arm wheel at a distal end thereof. A bracket connects the arm to a gas spring. The pressure within the gas spring opposes the arm as the bleacher is positioned in order to control the descent of the bleacher as it is tipped into position.

Abstract: A seating spacer configured to fit between two seating units in a seating system bench-type seating. In one embodiment, at least one seating spacer is placed between two seating units arranged in a side-by-side manner to form a row of seating in a seating system.

Abstract: A seating spacer configured to fit between two seating units in a seating system bench-type seating. In one embodiment, at least one seating spacer is placed between two seating units arranged in a side-by-side manner to form a row of seating in a seating system.

Abstract: A seating system includes one or more seating units. Each seating unit includes a seat portion, and left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion. Each stanchion includes a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships.

Abstract: A reclining chair suitable for use in theaters or the like is provided wherein the backrest and seat are mounted upon spaced-apart wings having a substantially inverted, truncated, right triangular shape. The wings are respectively pivotally mounted to the inner sides of a pair of spaced-apart stanchions such that in the upright position of the chair the axis upon which the seat is mounted to the wings is located close to and substantially directly vertically above the axis upon which the wings are pivotally mounted to the respective stanchions. Stops are provided on the stanchions which interact with stop engaging surfaces on the wings to limit the forward and the downward and rearward travel of the backrest and seat.

Abstract: A telescopic grandstand is provided including a central support structure and two sets of interconnected telescopic grandstand seating tiers. One set of tiers is located adjacent one side of the support for telescopic movement between a closed position adjacent the vertical upright portion of the support and an open use position wherein the tiers of the set form a stepped configuration which extends outwardly from the adjacent side of the support and downwardly from the top of the vertical portion of the support. The second set of telescoping seating tiers is similarly located adjacent the other side of the vertical portion of the support. The entire unit is movable in directions normal to the sides of the vertical portion of the support, and means are provided for rotating the unit about a vertical axis.