US3107399A

US3107399A - Portable telescoping gymnasium seat units

Info

Publication number: US3107399A
Application number: US781759A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond J Murphy
Original assignee: MEDART LOCKERS Inc
Current assignee: MEDART LOCKERS Inc
Priority date: 1958-12-19
Filing date: 1958-12-19
Publication date: 1963-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-22

Description

Oct. 22, 1963 R. .1. MURPHY 3,107,399

PORTABLE TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS Filed Dec. 19, 1958 r Y 7 Sheets-Sheet l 2 l 20 l2 l3 l 19 I4 I 2] "I 22 B I8 F I /20 I l7 i I F 13 n t ll l l w I 7 4 65 II 6 [I 3 6 l P 7 3 I 67 s la] 3 g I I 3| PIC Al 65 51 a I I 77 I23 2234 B INVENTOR.

RAYMOND .1. MURPHY Oct. 22, 1963 R. J. MURPHY PORTABLE TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, l958 mm 09 N020? m m 0 1.0 c0 INVENTOR.

RAYMOND J. MURPHY ATTY.

Oct. 22, 1963 R. J. MURPHY PORTABLE TELESCOPYING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS '7 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 19, 1958 vw mm hm E. ow w 9 ATT'Y.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. J. MURPHY 4* L0 JNVENTOR.

n on 3 mm EB PORTABLE TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS Oct. 22, 1963 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 mo GL5 RAYMO ND J. MURPHY -59 Q ow R ATT 'Y.

1963 R. J. MURPHY 3,107,399

PORTABLE TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS Filed Dec. 19, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 F P a m @g,

INVENTOR.

RAYMOND J. MURPHY ATTY.

Oct, 22, 1963 R. J. MURPHY v PORTABLE TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS Filed Dec. 19, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IIIIIIIIIIA United States Patent 3,1ti7,399 Pill- TABLE TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEAT UNITS Raymond J. Murphy, Affton, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Medart Lockers, Inc., a corporation Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,759 8 Claims. (Cl. 20-1126) This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in gymnasium equipment and, more particularly, to a portable telescoping gym seat unit.

It has become a common practice in school gymnasiums and similar auditoriums to install so-called wall-type telescoping bleachers or seating structures. These seating structures ordinarily consist of a plurality of steel frames which nest one within the other and carry seat boards and foot boards in suitably spaced relation to provide a tier of bleacher-like seats. The rear frame is ordinarily bolted to the gymnasium Wall while the remaining tiers are shiftable inwardly and outwardly relative to the rear frame when the seating structure is shifted to and from open and closed position. However, because of space requirements or other architectural conditions within the gymnasium or auditorium, it is not always possible to install the wall-type seating structures with the result that in order to accommodate spectators within the gymnasium, it is necessary to employ portable or movable seating structures, which can be moved from a storage area to a spectator area and set up when needed. Furthermore, even where the wall-type seating structures are installed along one or more walls of the gymnasium or auditorium, it sometimes happens that the wall-type seating structures do not provide adequate accommodations for the number of spectators anticipated at a particular event. In such situations, portable or movable seating structures are often employed for purposes of providing the necessary additional seating space.

These portable seating structures must, of course, be made quite strong in order to support the total weight of the number of persons who will be seated thereon and also to withstand the live loads resulting from movement of the persons. As a result, these portable seating structures are frequently constructed with a steel underfrarning and are, therefore, quite heavy. Consequently, it is customary to utilize various types of lift trucks for purposes of transporting the portable seating structures from the storage area to the spectator area and vice-versa. Since a plurality of these portable seating structures are usually set up in the spectator area in side-by-si-de relationship, it is necessary to carefully maneuver the lift truck into position under the seating structure, transport the seating structure to the spectator area, and thereafter maneuver the seating structure into its proper position on the gymnasium floor. Aside from the fact that this procedure is rather laborious and time-consuming, it usually requires that the institution purchase and maintain a lift truck and provide a trained workman for operating the lift truck.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a portable telescoping gym seat which can be conveniently and compactly stored remote from the spectator area, but at the same time can be quickly and easily maneuvered to the spectator area and set up without the use of lift trucks, dollies, or similar auxiliary moving devices.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a seating structure-of the type stated which is integrally provided with a hydraulic lifting mechanism which permits the seating structures to be elevated onto casters and moved to or from a storage area in a rapid and efiicient manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable gym seat of the type stated in which the hydraulic mechanism is free of fluid lines, thereby reducing the possibility of leakage of hydraulic fluid onto the gymnasium floor and also assuring relatively trouble-free operation of the mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable gym seat of the type stated which, in its opened position, affords a completely integrated rigid structure which is firmly supported on the floor so that the seating structure is capable of supporting a large number of spectators.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a portable gym seat of the type stated wherein the seating structure cannot be accidentally elevated onto all of said casters when the seating structure is in the opened or extended position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a portable gym seat of the type stated which is positively locked when in the collapsed or closed position so as to prevent accidental opening thereof as the seating structure is transported from place to place.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable gym seat'of the type stated in which one or more of the riser or fascia boards is hintgedly mounted in position to extend across the space between two adjacent seat boards when the seating structure is in the closed position so as to prevent a basketball, volley ball, or the like, from becoming lodged within the seating structure.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (seven sheets) HG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable gym seat constructed in accordance with and embodying the pres ent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-4 Olf -FIG. 1 and showing the gym seat in the opened or extended position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but on a somewhat smaller scale, and showing the front fascia or kickboard and mechanism associated therewith which forms part of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

(FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of a portable gym seat constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 and showing the gym seat in the opened position; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of the seating structure and showing the front kickboard and associated mechanism in the unlocked position.

Referring now in more detail andby reference characters to the drawings, which illustratae practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates a portable telescoping seating structure or bleacher which includes a rear frame 1 consisting of a suitable plurality of transversely spaced oblong rectangular panels 2, each, in turn, including a pair of spaced parallel

vertical posts

3, 4, formed preferably of angle section and being cross-connected at their upper ends by means of a connecting plate 5. Spaced a short distance upwardly from their lower ends, the

posts

3, 4, are cross-connected by a formed channel plate 6 which is welded or otherwise rigidly attached thereto. Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured upon the rearwardly presented flange of the back post 4 in a region of the channel plate 6 is a U-shaped transversely extending tie channel 7 which serves as a cross-connecting member between the several panels 2. The posts 3 are likewise cross-connected by an angle member 8.

Mounted upon the upper end of and extending horizontally between the panels 2 is a seat board 9, and swingably mounted at the forward edge of the seat board 9 by means of a plurality of hinges 10 is a riser or fascia board 11. Secured to each of the panels 2 in downwardly spaced relation to the seat board 9 is a forwardly extending horizontal beam 12 for slidable track-forming engagement within a slide fitting 13 which is, in turn, rigidly welded to the upper end of another panel section 14, the latter including spaced parallel

vertical posts

15, 16, which are similar to the

posts

3, 4, previously described. Welded to and extending upwardly from the forward end of the beam 12 is a seat-mounting member 17 for supporting a seat board 18 and fascia board 19, and also rigidly secured to the beam 12 below and between the

seat boards

9, 18, is a foot board 20. Thus, when the seating structure A is in the opened position, a spectator may be seated upon the seat board 9 and rest his feet upon the foot board 26 directly below, the proportions of these members being such as to form a comfortable seat for the average adult. It will, of course, be understood that the seat dimensions may be made smaller if the seating structure A is designed for use in elementary or primary schools where small children will be the spectators.

Rigidly mounted on and extending horizontally between the

panel sections

14 and 14 is a horizontal beam 21 for slidable track-forming engagement with a slide fitting 22, the beam 21 and the slide fitting 22 being similar to the beam 12 and the slide fitting 13 previously described. Rigidly mounted on the beam 12 are depending ears 23 for rockably supporting bell cranks 24, the upper ends of which are pivotally secured to one end of links 25, and the other ends of the links 25 are pivotally secured to brackets 26, which are secured to depend from the underside of the fascia board 11. Bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the angle member 8a are brackets 27 for journalling rollers 28 which are adapted to bear against lat eral flanges 29 formed on the lower ends of the bell cranks 24. As will be seen by reference to FIG. 8 when the seating structure A is in the closed position, the rollers 28 will swing the lower ends of the bell cranks 24 rearwardly causing the upper ends thereof and links 25 to rock forwardly, so as to swing the hinged fascia board 11 upwardly and substantially span the distance between the

seat boards

9, 18.

Each of the panels 14 corresponds to one of the panels 2 and there are, of course, a similar plurality of such panels 14, each being cross-connected by tie channels 7 and angle members 8a. At their lower ends the panels 2 are provided with floor-contacting foot frames 30 and welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower ends of the panels 14 are underframe carriages 31, each including a plurality of spring-biased rollers 32. The underframe carriages 31, are, furthermore, preferably of the same type as that disclosed in the application of George R. Chervenka, Serial No. 346,870, filed April 6, 1953, now United States Patent No. 2,870,492, dated January 27, 1959, and include interlocking

guide flanges

33, 34, so as to insure straight line relative movement between the several roller carriages 31, when the seating structure A is shifted to and from open and closed position. The seating structure A also includes intermediate panels 14 which are similar to the panels 2 previously described, and the intermediate panels 14' are prevented from relative movement along the adjacent rearward beam 21 by means of stop plates 1. Hingedly mounted to the seat board 18 associated with the panels 14 is a riser board 11 which is swingable by means of links 25 and bell cranks 24, the latter being actuated by means of rollers 28, all similar to the corresponding elements previously described. Furthermore, the roller carriages 31 at the lower ends of the panels 14 are welded or otherwise rigidly connected to the adjacent rearward roller carriages 31 by means of connecting plates p.

As is best seen by reference to FIG. 2, the bleacher A consists of a plurality of tiers T each having upright frames which include laterally aligned panels 14, 14', all supported on underframe carriages 31 and laterally connected by tie channels 7 and angle members 8a. When in the closed position, one group of panels 14 will be in alignment with the panels 2, while another group of panels will be aligned with the panels 14 but in forwardly spaced parallel relationship to the

panels

2, 14. It will be apparent that each tier T may include any number of laterally spaced panels depending upon the length of the seating structure and, similarly, any number of tiers T may be present, depending upon the number of seats desired and height to which the structure is carried. It has been found that it is possible to fabricate portable gym seats of the present type with as many as fifteen tiers rising to an over-all height of approximately thirteen and onehalf feet.

The forwa-rdmost section or unit of the seating structure A is provided with a horizontal L-channel 35 which extendst transversely across and is welded to the several aligned panels 14 of the lowermost section or tier. The channel 35 is welded to a horizontal beam 36, formed preferably of an L-shaped angle section and rigidly provided at its end with

vertical legs

37, 38. Disposed horizontally between the

legs

37, 38, is a downwardly turned U-shaped channel member 39 which is notched out at its opposite ends for slidable engagement with the inwardly turned flanges of the

legs

37, 38, so as to be shiftably disposed therebetween for upward and downward vertical movement. The channel member 39 is also provided with rollers 40 which are journalled upon shafts 41, and rockably mounted upon each of the shafts 41 and extending 'angularly upwardly therefrom are parallel links 42 which are provided adjacent their upper ends with roller shaft 43, the latter being adapted to bear against the downwardly presented edge of the beam 36. The links 42 are connected at their upper ends for parallel movement by means of a horizontal connecting link 44, which is provided on its rearwardly presented end with a roller 43. The forwardmost link 42 is, furthermore, provided with a laterally projecting pin 46 for sliding engagement in a slot 47 on an actuating link 48 which is, in turn, rockably pinned at its forward end to a bracket 49. The bracket 49 is bolted to the inside face of the front fascia board 50 secured at its upper end to a seat board 51 by means of hinges 52. Mounted on the inside face of the fascia board 50 adjacent the lower edge thereof, are tongues 53 for releasably engaging spring clips 54 which are mounted on and project outwardly from the leg 37.

Mounted on and projecting laterally outwardly from the leg 38 is a pin 55 for rockably supporting a sleeve 56 whichis welded to one end of a lock arm 57, the rearwardly presented end of which is bent downwardly in the provision of a flange 58. Welded to the lock arm 57 intermediate its ends is a channel bracket 59 for receiving one end of a tension spring 60, the other end of which is secured to an anchor pin 61 mounted on the forwardmost panel 14. Rigidly mounted on the foot frames 30 are channel brackets 62, and bolted to the channel brackets 62 and extending transversely of the foot frames 30 is a cross beam 63. Welded to the cross beam 63 and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom are U-shaped stop members 64 against which the flanges 58 hear when the seating structure A is in the closed position. Furthermore, when the seating structure is in the closed position,

the roller 45 bears downwardly against the lock arm 57 against the force of the spring 60, so as to hold the flanges 58 behind the stop members 64. The fascia board 50 is suitably provided at spaced intervals along its length with hand holes 65 and slots s for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Bolted to the rearwardly presented flanges of the posts 4 upwardly of the foot frames 30 are U-shaped brackets 66, and welded to the brackets 66 and extending transversely of the posts 4 is a rear beam 67 having a pair of caster plates 68 rigidly secured thereto. Rigidly mounted on the caster plates 68 are

vertical caster sleeves

69, 70, the caster sleeves 70 being somewhat longer than the caster sleeves 69, and supported at their upper ends by short plates 71 welded to the beam 67. Shiftably mounted within the

caster sleeves

69, 70, are

caster rods

72, 73, the lower ends of which are rigidly connected to swivel plates 74 internally provided with bearings (not shown). Rotatably mounted on the swivel plates 74 are floor-contacting casters 75. Rigidly mounted on the panels 14 are U-shaped brackets 76, and welded to the brackets 76 is an intermediate beam 77 which is similar to the beam 67, previously described. Mounted on the beam 77 are caster plates 78 which support caster sleeves 7 9, 80, all similar to the corresponding elements previouslydescribed, and, similarly, the

caster sleeves

79, 80, are provided with

caster rods

81, 82, the lower ends of which support swivel plates 83 which, in turn, rotatably support casters 84. Similarly, a forward beam 85 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the beams 36 and extends transvsersely therebetween for rigidly supporting a pair of caster plates 86, the latter supporting

caster sleeves

87, 88. The

caster sleeves

87, 88, are, furthermore, provided with

caster rods

89, 90, which are similar to the previously described caster rods and are provided at their lower ends with swivel plates 91 for rotatably supporting casters 92.

Rigidly mounted on the forward face of the beam is an angle bracket 93 provided with a lateral extension 94, and projecting through the lateral extension 94 is a pin 95 for rockably supporting one end of a hydraulic jack 96 provided with an outwardly extending piston rod 97 and a pump 98 including a socket 99 for releasably receiving a jack handle 100. Also, provided on the jack 96 is a release valve 101. Since the internal construction of the jack is conventional, it is not shown or described in detail herein. On its outer end the piston rod 97 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a crank 102, the lower end of which is rigidly mounted on a shaft 103 having

sections

103a, 103b, 103c. Intermediate its ends the crank 102 is pivotally connected to a cross link 104, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of a crank 105, which is, in turn, rigidly connected at its lower end to a shaft 106 having sections 1060, 106b, 1060. As best seen by reference to FIG. 5, the

shafts

103, 106, are located in spaced parallel relation and extend lengthwise of the seating'structure A. The

shafts

103, 106, are, furthermore, rotatably mounted in

bearings

107, 108, respectively, which are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the

caster plates

68, 78, 86. Preferably, the

shafts

103, 106, are also supported in

bearings

109, 110, which are welded to a cross member 111 which is, in turn, rigidly connected to the beams 36 by means of L-shaped channel plates 112. Mounted on the

shafts

103, 106, are

clutches

113, 114, 115, 116, each of which includes a socket-forming driving memher 117 and a forwardly projecting U-shaped driven member 118. Rigidly clamped to the

shafts

103, 106, adjacent the

casters

75, 84, 92 are actuating

arms

119, 120, which are adapted to bear against the upper side of the swivel plates 74, S3, 91.

Bolted to the

beams

67, 77, 85, and projecting downwardly therefrom are

U-shaped lift hangers

121, 122, 123, which are disposed in underlying relation to

flanges

124, 125, mounted on and projecting forwardly and rearwardly of the foot frames 30 and roller carriages 31. The

lift hangers

121, 122, 123, are normally out of contact with the

flanges

124, 125, when the foot frames 30 and rollers 32 are in position on the floor f and the

casters

75, 84, 92, are in the retracted or elevated position, as shown in FIG. 2.

In operation and use of the seating structure A, if the seating structure A is in the opened position, as shown in FIG. 2, and it is desired to close same, the front fascia board 50 is manually grasped through the hand holes 65 and swung upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 7, thereby swinging the link 48 outwardly. As the link 48 approaches its outmost length of movement, the pin 46 will be engaged in the rear end of the slot 47 and the links 42 will be swung forwardly so that the rollers 40 will be shifted downwardly into engagement with the floor. Movement of the front fascia board 50 to the position shown in FIG. 7 operates to lift the entire forward panel 14 of the seating structure A upwardly, whereupon the entire structure may be pushed inwardly to fully telescoped or collapsed position and engage the

several clutches

113, 114, 115, 116, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. When the seating structure is in such fully collapsed position, the front fascia board 50 may be swung downwardly to its vertical position retracting the rollers 50 so that the

legs

37, 38, are resting directly on the floor f and the entire seating structure A will thereby be rendered immobile. As the front fascia board is swung downwardly to its vertical position, the rollers will press the lock arm 57 downwardly in opposition to the face of the spring 60 and cause the flange 5 8 to be pulled downwardly behind the stop members 64. Consequently, unless the front fascia board 50 is swung upwardly, the seating structure A will be prevented from operating. Furthermore, as the seating structure closes, the rollers 28, 20', will operate the bell cranks, 24, 24, and swing the fascia boards 11, 11' from their vertical positions shown in FIG. 2 to the angular positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 8.

When it is desired to move the seating structure A either to a place of storage or to another area within the auditorium or gymnasium, the jack handle is inserted through one of the slots s in the front fascia board 50 and the jack 96 is operated to move the piston rod 97 to the right, referencebeing made to FIG. 3. This causes the crank 102 to rock the shaft 103, and since the

clutches

113, 114, are in engaged position, the actuating arms 119 will simultaneously press downwardly against the

swivel plates

74, 83, 91. Furthermore, since the link 104 operates the crank 105, the shaft 106 will rotate simultaneously with the shaft 103, causing the actuating arms 120 to bear downwardly against the

swivel plates

74, 83, 91, associated therewith. The seating structure A will then be lifted upwardly and the

lift hangers

121, 122, 123, will engage the

flanges

124, 125, and lift the roller carriages 31 and foot frames 30 off of the floor leaving the entire seating structure entirely supported on the

casters

75, 84, 92. Thereafter, the seating structure A may be readily rolled about to a storage area or any other desired place within the gymnasium. Since the flanges 58 are held behind the stop members 64 the seating structure A is prevented from accidentally becoming opened as it is moved about on the

casters

75, 84, 92.

In order to lower the seating structure A back onto the floor, the release valve 101 is operated whereupon the seating structure A, by reason of its own weight, will drop gently onto the floor f. The front fascia board 50 is then swung upwardly and outwardly to release the flange 58 from contact with the stop members 64, whereupon the entire seating structure may be telescoped outwardly to the extended position shown in FIG. 3. As the seating structure A is extended, the rollers 28, 28', will be pulled away from the bell cranks 24, 24', allowing the riser boards. 11, 11', to swing downwardly to the vertical position. The

clutches

113, 114, 115, 116, will then be in the disengaged position and the

several shaft sections

103a, 103b, 103e, 106a, 106b, 106e, will be separated. If, while the seating structure A is in the opened or extended position, the jack 96 is accidentally operated the movement of the piston rod 97 will elevate only the front of the seating structure A since only the two front actuating

arms

119, 120, will rotate and press down upon the swivel plates associated therewith. The remaining actuating

arms

119, 120, will not move since the

several clutches

113, 114, 115, 116, are in the disengaged position, with the result that accidental operation of the jack 96 when the seating structure is in the opened position will not completely elevate the seating structure but will allow the foot frames 31) and most of the rollers 32 to remain in contact with the floor.

It is also possible to provide a modified form of por-table telescoping gym seat B, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, which is similar in construction and operation to the seating structure A, previously described, and in which the same reference numerals designate corresponding parts. This form of the invention is used when the number of tiers of rows is somewhat less than the number of tiers in the seating structure A. Thus, the bleacher B consists of a plurality of tiers T, each having upright frames which include laterally aligned panels 14, all supported on underfrarne carriages 31 and laterally connected by tie channels 7 and angle members 8a. When in the closed position, the panels 14 will be in alignment with the panels 2 and all of the roller carriages 31 will also be in lateral alignment. Consequently, the depth of the seating structure B in the closed posiiton is considerably less than in the seating structure A.

The

shafts

103, 106, each include sections 103a, 1030, 106a, 106a, and the center shaft sections 103b, 166b, are eliminated. The

shafts

103, 106, are each provided with a clutch 126 which is similar to each of the clutches previously described and includes a socket-forming driving member 127 and a U-shaped driven member 128. Also mounted on each of the

shafts

103, 106, are

actuator arms

129, 130, which are adapted to bear against the

swivel plates

131, 132, on the two pairs of front and

rear casters

133, 134. The intermediate beam 77 and center pair of casters 84 shown in the seating structure A are also eliminated in the seating structure B. Furthermore, since all of the roller carriages 31 are in lateral alignment when the seating structure B is in the closed position, only two sets of

lift hangers

135, 136, are required, each set of

lift hangers

135, 136, being mounted on the rear and

front beams

137, 138. Also mounted on the rear beam 137 is a lock bracket 139. Moreover, the cross beam 63 is eliminated in the seating structure B together with the stop members 64, and the flanged end 140 of the lock arm 141 is adapted to hook behind the lock bracket 139 when the seating structure is in the closed position and the front fascia board 141 is in its lowered or vertical position.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the portable telescoping gym seat unit may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of frames respectively sized for internested relation one within the other when the seating structure is fully telescoped, releasable means for locking the frames in the fully telescoped position, means connecting said frames for relative shifting movement from such fully telescoped position into an extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, floor-contacting means mounted on the lower ends of said several frames, a plurality of vertically shiftable casters depending from the frames and being mounted on the frames for movement therewith, shaft means operatively mounted on and extending between a plurality of frames in parallelism with the line of movement of the frames as they shift from fully telescoped position to extended position, said shaft means including a plurality of separable sections respectively provided with interconnecting elements which are interengaged when the frames are in fully telescoped position and are disengaged when the frames are in extended position, actuating members mounted on said shaft means and contacting said casters, link means operatively connecting said shaft means, and a hydraulic jack means having an actuating element operatively connected to the link means for transmitting motion to the link means and thereby being adapted to rock said shaft means when the frames are in fully telescoped position whereby to cause said actuating members to apply downward pressure to said casters and lift the frames and floor-contacting means upwardly from the floor.

2. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of frames respectively sized for internested relation one within the other when the seating structure is fully tele scoped, means connecting said frames for relative shifting movement from such fully telescoped position into extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, floor-contacting means mounted on the lower ends of said several frames, a plurality of vertically shiftable casters depending from said frames, shaft means operatively mounted on and extending between a plurality of frames in parallelism with the line of movement of the frames as they shift from fully telescoped position to extended position, clutch means on said shaft sections respectively, said clutch means being interengaged when the frames are in fully telescoped position and being disengaged when the frames are in the extended position, actuating members mounted on said shaft and contacting said casters, and jack means having an actuating element operatively connected to the shaft means for operating said shaft means when the frames are telescoped whereby to cause said actuating members to apply downward pressure to said casters and to lift the frames and floor-contacting means upwardly from the floor.

3. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of frames respectively sized for internested relation one within the other when the seating structure is fully telescoped, means connecting said frames for relative shifting movement from such fully telescoped position into extended position in which the several frames are positioned in successively rearwardly spaced relation to each other, floor-contacting means mounted on the lower ends of said several frames, a plurality of vertically shiftable casters depending from said frames, said casters being mounted on the frames for movement therewith, shaft means operatively mounted on and extending between a plurality of the frames in parallelism with the line of movement of the frames as they shift from fully telescoped position to extended position, clutch means on said shaft sections respectively, said clutch means being engaged when the frames are in fully telescoped position and being disengaged when the frames are in the extended position, actuating members mounted on said shafts and contacting said casters, a crank mounted on each of the shaft means, link means connecting each of said cranks, and a hydraulic jack means having an actuating element operatively connected to the cranks whereby to transmit motion to the frames for rocking said shaft means when the frames are telescoped and thereby cause the actuating members to apply downward pressure to said casters and lift the frames and floor-contacting means up- Wardly from the floor.

4. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upstanding frames each including a forwardly extending seat-supporting member, said frames being sized for internested relation one within the other when the seating structure is fully telescoped, a fascia board hingedly mounted adjacent the forwardmost seat-supporting member, stop means rigidly connected to one of said frames rearwardly of said forwardmost frame, releasable locking means movably mounted upon another of the frames and adapted for engagement with said stop means when the seating sturcture is fully telescoped, said locking means consisting of a lock arm and having a hooked flange at its rear end and a sleeve at its front end, and a pin rigidly connected to one of said frames for rocleable engagement with said sleeve, said hooked flange being adapted for downward shiftable movement for releasably engaging said stop means when the seating structure is shifted into telescoped position, and means operatively connecting the locking means with the fascia board so that the locking means will move from locked to unlocked engagement with the stop means responsive to movement by the fascia board.

5. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upstanding frames each including a forwardly extending seat-supporting member, said frames being sized for internested relation one within the other when the seating structure is fully telescoped, a fascia board hingedly mounted adjacent the front end of the forwardmost seatsupporting member and being operatively connected to a rearwardly extending link, a stop member rigidly connected to one of said frames rearwardly of said forwardmost frame, a pin rigidly connected to one of said frames rearwardly of said forwardmost frame, and a lock arm rockably mounted on the pin, and having a hooked flange on one end in proximate relation to the stop member, said hooked end being operatively connected to the link so as to be rocked into locking position behind said stop member by said link when the seating structure is fully telescoped and the fascia board is in a vertical position thereby locking said frame members in such fully telescoped position, said fascia board being swingable upwardly to release said lock arm whereby the seating structure can be shifted into extended position.

6. A telescopic bleacher comprising a plurality of upstanding frames each including a forwardly extending seat-supporting member, said frames being sized for internested relation one within the other when the seating structure is fully telescoped, a fascia board hingedly mounted adjacent the front end of the forwardmost seatsupporting member and being operatively connected to a rearwardly extending link, a stop member rigidly connected to one of said frames rearwardly of said forwardmost frame, a pin rigidly connected to one of said frames rearwardly of said forwardmost frame, and a lock arm rockably mounted on the pin and having a hooked flange on one end proximate to the stop member so as to be engageable with the stop member, said lock arm being operatively connected to the link so as to be rocked downwardly into locking position behind said stop member by said link when the seating structure is fully telescoped and the fascia board is in a vertical position thereby locking said frame members in such fully telescoped position, said fascia board being swingable upwardly to release such lock arm whereby the seating structure can be shifted into extended position.

7. A telescopic bleacher comprising a first upstanding frame, a fascia board hingedly mounted on the upper end of said first frame and lying in a vertical position when said seating structure is in extended posit-ion, a second frame shiftable with respect to said first frame and sized for internested relation therewith when the seating structure is fully telescoped, actuating means operatively mounted on the first frame and connected to the fascia board for swinging said fascia board to an angular position with respect to said first frame and means on the second frame in alignment with a portion of the actuating means for engaging and moving said actuating means when the second frame is shifted to telescoped position within the first frame whereby to swing the fascia board into said angular position.

8. A telescopic bleacher comprising a first upstanding frame, a fascia board hingedly mounted on the upper end of said first frame and lying in a vertical position when said seating structure is in extended position, linkage means rockably mounted on said first frame and pivotally connected to said fascia board for swinging said fascia board upwardly into an angular position, a second frame shiftable with respect to said first frame and sized for internested relation therewith when the seating structure is fully telescoped, and means on said second frame in alignment with a portion of said linkage means for engaging and actuating said linkage means and thereby swinging said fascia board to said angular position with respect to said first frame when the second frame is shifted to telescoped position within the first frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,794 Mack July 24, 1906 2,183,057 Albach Dec. 12, 1939 2,681,202 Germond June 15, 1954 2,815,541 Lappin Dec. 10, 1957 2,870,492 Chervenka Ian. 27, 1959 2,877,507 Walworth Mar. 17, 1 959

Claims

1. A TELESCOPE BLEACHER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FRAMES RESPECTIVELY SIZED FOR INTERNESTED RELATION ONE WITHIN THE OTHER WHEN THE SEATING STRUCTURE IS FULLY TELESCOPED, RELEASABLE MEANS FOR LOCKING THE FRAMES IN THE FULLY TELESCOPED POSITION, MEANS CONNECTING SAID FRAMES FOR RELATIVE SHIFTING MOVEMENT FROM SUCH FULLY TELESCOPED POSITION INTO AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH THE SEVERAL FRAMES ARE POSITIONED IN SUCCESSIVELY REARWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, FLOOR-CONTACTING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID SEVERAL FRAMES, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SHIFTABLE CASTERS DEPENDING FROM THE FRAMES AND BEING MOUNTED ON THE FRAMES FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, SHAFT MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF FRAMES IN PARALLELISM WITH THE LINE OF MOVEMENT OF THE FRAMES AS THEY SHIFT FROM FULLY TELESCOPED POSITION TO EXTEND POSITION, SAID SHAFT MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SEPARABVLE SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH INTERCONNECTING ELEMENTS WHICH ARE INTERENGAGED WHEN THE FRAMES ARE IN FULLY TELESCOPED POSITION AND ARE DISENGAGED WHEN THE FRAMES ARE IN EXTENDED POSITION, ACTUATING MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT MEANS AND CONTACTING SAID CASTERS, LINK MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SHAFT MEANS, AND A HYDRAULIC JACK MEANS HAVING AN ACTUATING ELEMENT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LINK MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION TO THE LINK MEANS AND THEREBY BEING ADAPTED TO ROCK SAID SHAFT MEANS WHEN THE FRAMES ARE IN FULLY TELESCOPED POSITION WHEREBY TO CAUSE SAID ACTUATING MEMBERS TO APPLY DOWNWARD PRESSURE TO SAID CASTERS AND LIFT THE FRAMES AND FLOOR-CONTACTING MEANS UPWARDLY FROM THE FLOOR.

4. A TELESCOPIC BLEACHER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING FRAMES EACH INCLUDING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING SEAT-SUPPORTING MEMBER, SAID FRAMES BEING SIZED FOR INTERNESTED RELATION ONE WITHIN THE OTHER WHEN THE SEATING STRUCTURE IS FULLY TELESCOPED, A FASCIA BOARD HINGEDLY MOUNTED ADJACENT THE FORWARDMOST SEAT-SUPPORTING MEMBER, STOP MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FRAMES REARWARDLY OF SAID FORWARDMOST FRAME, RELEASABLE LOCKING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON ANOTHER OF THE FRAMES AND ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOP MEANS WHEN THE SEATING STRUCTURE IS FULLY TELESCOPED, SAID LOCKING MEANS CONSISTING OF A LOCK ARM AND HAVING A HOOKED FLANGE AT ITS REAR END AND A SLEEVE AT ITS FRONT END, AND A PIN RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FRAMES FOR ROCKABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLEEVE, SAID HOOKED FLANGE BEING ADAPTED FOR DOWNWARD SHIFTABLE MOVEMENT FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID STOP MEANS WHEN THE SEATING STRUCTURE IS SHIFTED INTO TELESCOPED POSITION, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE LOCKING MEANS WITH THE FASCIA BOARD SO THAT THE LOCKING MEANS WILL MOVE FROM LOCKED TO UNLOCKED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STOP MEANS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT BY THE FASCIA BOARD.