Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
TSSOO5PCT2
POWERED CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC VENUES,
ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, AND
COMPONENTS FOR USE IN ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS
TECHNICAL FEILD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to powered chairs. More
particularly, the
present disclosure relates to locally and/or remotely controlled powered
recliner chairs for use
within an associated venue.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Powered recliner chairs are currently available that operate
individually, such that an
occupant of the respective chair may reorient the respective chair between an
upright
orientation and a reclined orientation via a local control. Similarly, known
power-assisted
chairs may include a motor-operated lift mechanism for aiding persons that
require assistance
in entering or exiting the chair. Motor-operated lift mechanisms may be
interconnected
between a stationary base assembly and a moveable chair frame. Alternatively,
some power-
assisted chairs include separate linkage mechanisms for permitting the seat
occupant to
selectively extend and retract a leg rest assembly and/or produce reclining
angular movement
between an upright first orientation and a reclined second orientation.
[0003] Conventional rocking chairs may include a chair body and a
substantially arc-shaped
support bracket mounted on a bottom of the chair body. Thus, when a user
applies a force on
the chair body by his/her own gravity, the support bracket may function as a
rocking fulcrum
of the chair body so that the rocking chair is rocked forward and backward.
However, the
user has to exert a force on the chair body so as to rock the rocking chair,
so that the user
seated on the rocking chair cannot relax himself/herself, thereby easily
causing an
uncomfortable sensation to the user.
[0004] Power-assisted chairs may be adapted to provide the lift and tilt
function in
combination with a leg rest and/or reclining function. Chairs which provide
such a
combination of multi-positional functions generally require use of multiple
motors for driving
separate linkages, which results in extremely large and expensive chair units.
In addition,
most power-assisted chairs incorporate a drive mechanism that employs both a
power drive
function for extending the leg rest, lifting the chair, and reclining the
chair, and a power
return function for returning the chair to the normal seated position (e.g.,
an upright
orientation).
[0005] An important characteristic of power-assisted chairs is the ability to
support heavy
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loads during the lift and tilt functions. More specifically, power-assisted
chairs are designed
to support individuals of a particular weight. Typically, power-assisted
chairs that are adapted
to support weight above a particular threshold, such as 300 pounds, require
multiple motors.
[0006] In any event, known powered chair are, at most, controlled via a local
controller.
SUMMARY
[0007] An electric powered chair assembly control system may include a
controller having at
least one chair actuator output and at least one chair light output. The
system may also
include a user interface connected to the controller. The user interface may
include at least
one chair actuator user control and at least one chair light user control. The
system may
further include an electric power supply having an electric power supply input
and an electric
power supply output. The electric power supply may be mounted within a first
electric
powered chair assembly. A first set of electric wiring may extend from the
electric power
supply output to a first electric actuator mounted within the first electric
powered chair
assembly. A second set of electric wiring may extend from the electric power
supply output
to a first electric chair light mounted within the first electric powered
chair assembly. The
controller may be configured to control the first electric actuator, via the
at least one chair
actuator output, based on the at least one chair actuator user control. The
controller may be
configured to control the electric chair light, via the at least one chair
light output, based on
the at least one chair light user control and further based on at least one
of: a venue event, a
predetermined time, or a motion sensor. The controller may be configure to de-
energize the
chair light when the first electric actuator is energized.
[0008] In another embodiment, an electric powered chair assembly control
system may
include an electric power supply having an input and an output. The electric
power supply
may be mounted within a first electric powered chair assembly. An input
voltage rating of
the input may be different than an output voltage rating of the output. A
first set of electric
wiring may be plugged into the output of the electric power supply and may
extend from the
output of the electric power supply to a first receptacle having a first
electric actuator
mounted within the first electric powered chair assembly plugged into the
first receptacle. A
second set of electric wiring may extend from the output of the electric power
supply to a
second receptacle having a second electric actuator mounted within a second
electric powered
chair assembly plugged into the second receptacle. A third set of electric
wiring may extend
from the second electric powered chair assembly to the first electric powered
chair assembly.
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The electric power supply may further include at least one of: an electric
energy storage
device output or a chair light output.
[0009] In a further embodiment, an electric powered chair assembly control
system a
controller having at least one chair actuator output and at least one chair
heater output. The
system may also include a user interface connected to the controller. The user
interface may
include at least one chair actuator user control and at least one chair heater
user control. The
controller may be configured to control the first electric actuator, via the
at least one chair
actuator output, based on the at least one chair actuator user control. The
controller may be
configured to control the electric chair heater, via the at least one chair
heater output, based
on the at least one chair heater user control. The controller may be configure
to de-energize
the first electric chair heater when the first electric actuator is energized.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, an electric powered chair assembly control
system may
include a controller having at least one chair actuator output and at least
one chair electrical
energy storage device output. The system may also include a user interface
connected to the
controller. The user interface may include at least one chair actuator user
control and at least
one chair light user control. The controller may be configured to control the
first electric
actuator, via the at least one chair actuator output, based on the at least
one chair actuator user
control. The controller may be configured to control the at least one
electrical energy storage
device output based on a status of the at least one chair actuator output.
[0011] A venue seating management system may include a chair controller
including at least
one input selected from the group: a local user chair control input, a remote
chair control
input, a movie queue input, a venue sound system input, an emergency electric
power source
input, a chair ticket purchase input, a manually operated fire alarm input, an
automatically
operated fire alarm input, a carbon monoxide sensor input, a smoke sensor
input, a sound
detector input, a gunshot detector input, a scream detector input, a personal
electronic device
input, a mobile telephone input, a portable data assistant input, a laptop
computer input, a
computer input, a proximity sensor input, a universal serial bus (USB) port
input, a
capacitance sensor input, an ultra-sonic sensor input, a light sensor input, a
touch sensor
input, a proximity switch input, a limit switch input, an actuator electric
current sensor input,
a chair heater electric current sensor input, a chair cooling unit current
sensor input, an
electric power outlet current sensor input, a lighting unit current sensor
input, a chair massage
unit current sensor input, a pressure sensor input, a strain gauge sensor
input, a microphone
input, a motion sensor input, a temperature sensor input, a sonar sensor
input, a WiFi
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communications input, a local area network communications input, a Bluetooth
wireless
communications input, a near field communications input, or a venue
concessions input. The
chair controller may also include at least one output selected from the group:
a chair actuator
output, a chair information display output, a chair lighting unit output, an
electric power
output, a chair heater output, a chair cooling unit output, a chair massage
unit output, a USB
port output, a Bluetooth wireless communications output, a local area network
communications output, a near field communications output, a venue sound
system output, a
venue concessions output, or an electric power outlet output. At least one of:
an electric
power supply, an electric power demand, a venue business function, or a venue
maintenance
function, may be managed by controlling the at least one output based upon the
at least one
input.
100121 In another embodiment, a venue seating management system may include a
chair
controller including at least one input selected from the group: a local user
chair control
input, a remote chair control input, a movie queue input, an emergency
electric power source
input, an actuator electric current sensor input, a chair heater electric
current sensor input, a
chair cooling unit current sensor input, a lighting unit current sensor input,
an electric power
outlet current sensor input, a chair massage unit current sensor input. The
chair controller
may also include at least one output selected from the group: a chair actuator
output, a chair
lighting unit output, an electric power output, a chair heater output, a chair
cooling unit
output, a chair massage unit output, a USB port output, or an electric power
outlet output. At
least one of: an electric power supply or an electric power demand, may be
controlled by
controlling the at least one output based upon the at least one input.
100131 In a further embodiment, a venue seating management system may include
a chair
controller including at least one input selected from the group: a local user
chair control
input, a remote chair control input, a movie queue input, a venue sound system
input, an
emergency electric power source input, a chair ticket purchase input, a
manually operated fire
alarm input, an automatically operated fire alaiiit input, a carbon monoxide
sensor input, a
smoke sensor input, a sound detector input, a gunshot detector input, a scream
detector input,
a personal electronic device input, a mobile telephone input, a portable data
assistant input, a
laptop computer input, a computer input, a proximity sensor input, a universal
serial bus
(USB) port input, a capacitance sensor input, an ultra-sonic sensor input, a
light sensor input,
a touch sensor input, a proximity switch input, a limit switch input, an
actuator electric
current sensor input, a chair heater electric current sensor input, a lighting
unit current sensor
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input, a chair cooling unit current sensor input, an electric power outlet
current sensor input, a
chair massage unit current sensor input, a pressure sensor input, a strain
gauge sensor input, a
microphone input, a motion sensor input, a temperature sensor input, a sonar
sensor input, a
WiFi communications input, a local area network communications input, a
Bluetooth
wireless communications input, a near field communications input, or a venue
concessions
input. The chair controller may include at least one output selected from the
group: a chair
actuator output, a chair information display output, a chair lighting unit
output, an electric
power output, a chair heater output, a chair cooling unit output, a chair
massage unit output, a
USB port output, a Bluetooth wireless communications output, a local area
network
communications output, a near field communications output, a venue sound
system output, a
venue concessions output, or an electric power outlet output. A venue
maintenance function
may be managed by controlling the at least one output based upon the at least
one input.
[0014] In yet a further embodiment, a venue seating management system may
include a chair
controller including at least one input selected from the group: a local user
chair control
input, a remote chair control input, a movie queue input, a venue sound system
input, an
emergency electric power source input, a chair ticket purchase input, a
manually operated fire
alarm input, an automatically operated fire alarm input, a carbon monoxide
sensor input, a
smoke sensor input, a sound detector input, a gunshot detector input, a scream
detector input,
a personal electronic device input, a mobile telephone input, a portable data
assistant input, a
laptop computer input, a computer input, a proximity sensor input, a universal
serial bus
(USB) port input, a capacitance sensor input, an ultra-sonic sensor input, a
light sensor input,
a touch sensor input, a proximity switch input, a limit switch input, an
actuator electric
current sensor input, a chair heater electric current sensor input, a chair
cooling unit current
sensor input, an electric power outlet current sensor input, a lighting unit
current sensor input,
a chair massage unit current sensor input, a pressure sensor input, a strain
gauge sensor input,
a microphone input, a motion sensor input, a temperature sensor input, a sonar
sensor input, a
WiFi communications input, a local area network communications input, a
Bluetooth
wireless communications input, a near field communications input, or a venue
concessions
input. The chair controller may include at least one output selected from the
group: a chair
actuator output, a chair information display output, a chair lighting unit
output, an electric
power output, a chair heater output, a chair cooling unit output, a chair
massage unit output, a
USB port output, a Bluetooth wireless communications output, a local area
network
communications output, a near field communications output, a venue sound
system output, a
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venue concessions output, or an electric power outlet output. A venue business
function may
be managed by controlling the at least one output based upon the at least one
input.
[0015] An electrical system for a plurality of powered recliner chairs may
include an electric
supply connected to an input of an electric power source. A first rated
voltage of the input to
the electric power supply may be higher than a second rated voltage of an
output of the
electric power supply. The system may also include a first electrical
interconnection
extending from the output of the electric power supply to a first actuator in
a first chair, a
second electrical interconnection extending from the output of the electric
power supply to a
second actuator in a second chair, and a power demand management device. The
power
demand management device may control a power flow from the electric power
supply.
[0016] In another embodiment, an electrical system for a plurality of powered
recliner chairs
may include a first electric power supply connected to an input of a first
electric power
source. A first rated voltage of the input to the first electric power supply
may be higher than
a second rated voltage of an output of the electric power supply. The system
may also
include a first electrical interconnection extending from the output of the
first electric power
supply to a first actuator in the first chair, a second electrical
interconnection extending from
the output of the first electric power supply to a second actuator in the
second chair, and a
third electrical interconnection extending from the first electric power
source to a second
electric power supply. The second electric power supply may provide electric
power to at
least one of: an aisle light, a user interface, a row light, or a seat
identification.
[0017] In a further embodiment, an electrical system for a plurality of
powered recliner chairs
may include an electric supply connected to an input of an electric power
source. A first
rated voltage of the input to the electric power supply may be higher than a
second rated
voltage of an output of the electric power supply. The system may also include
a first
electrical interconnection extending from the output of the electric power
supply to a first
actuator in a first chair, a second electrical interconnection extending from
the output of the
electric power supply to a second actuator in a second chair, a local user
interface mounted in
the first chair, and a remote user interface physically separated from the
first chair and the
second chair. Activation of the local user interface may reorient the first
chair from a first
orientation to a second orientation. Activation of the remote user interface
may reorient both
the first chair and the second chair.
[0018] In yet a further embodiment, an electrical system for a plurality of
powered recliner
chairs may include an electric supply connected to an input of a first
electric power source. A
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first rated voltage of the input to the electric power supply may be higher
than a second rated
voltage of an output of the electric power supply. The system may also include
a first
electrical interconnection extending from the output of the electric power
supply to a first
electric actuator motor of a first actuator of a first chair, a second
electrical interconnection
extending from the output of the electric power supply to a second electric
motor of a second
actuator of a second chair, and at least one energy storage device connected
to the output of
the electric power supply or incorporated within an uninterruptible power
supply connected
to the input of the electric power supply. The at least one energy storage
device may include
at least one of: a battery or a capacitor. The electric power supply and the
at least one energy
storage device may provide electric power to the first electric motor and the
second electric
motor.
[0019] A powered recliner chair system may include at least one first powered
recliner chair
assigned to a first control group. The at least one first powered recliner
chair may be
assigned to the first control group by at least one of: a first pin and
shorting block, a first push
button, or a first entry in a memory. The system may also include at least one
second
powered recliner chair assigned to a second control group. The at least one
second powered
recliner chair may be assigned to the second control group by at least one of:
a second pin
and shorting block, a second push button, or a second entry in a memory. The
system may
further include a first remote control input to reorient the at least one
first powered recliner
chair to a first orientation. The system may yet further include a second
remote control input
to reorient the at least one second powered recliner chair to a second
orientation. The first
orientation is independent of the second orientation. Data representative of
the first remote
control input and the second remote input may be transmitted via at least one
of: a hardwired
communication network, or a wireless network connection.
[0020] In another embodiment, a powered recliner chair may include at least
one actuator
having a first input and a second input. The actuator may be configured to
reorient at least a
portion of the powered recliner chair between an upright orientation and a
reclined
orientation in response to the first input. The actuator may be configured to
reorient at least
the portion of the powered recliner chair between the recline orientation and
the upright
orientation in response to the second input. The powered recliner chair may
also include a
control module having a local input, a remote input, a first output, and a
second output. The
first output may be connected to the first input. The second output may be
connected to the
second input. The local input may be connected to a chair occupant user
interface that may
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enable a chair occupant to reorient the powered recliner chair while the chair
occupant is
seated in the chair. The remote input may be connected to a remote user
interface that may
be physically separate from the powered recliner chair and may enable a remote
operator to
reorient the powered recliner chair remote from the powered recliner chair.
[0021] In a further embodiment, a method for controlling a plurality of
powered recliner
chairs may include assigning at least one first powered recliner chair to a
first control group,
and assigning at least one second powered recliner chair to a second control
group. The
method may also include causing the at least one first powered recliner chair
to reorient to a
first orientation in response to a first remote control input. The method may
further include
causing the at least one second powered recliner chair to reorient to a second
orientation in
response to a second remote control input. The first orientation may be
independent of the
second orientation.
[0022] In yet another embodiment, a powered recliner chair system may include
at least one
of: a channel or an arm box; and at least one of: power wiring or data wiring.
The at least one
of: the power wiring or the data wiring may be routed through the at least one
of: the channel
or the aim box from a first powered recliner chair to a second powered
recliner chair.
[0023] In yet a further embodiment, a powered recliner chair system may
include a smart
power supply. The smart power supply automatically may prohibit a second
powered
recliner chair from starting to reorient at the same time that a first chair
starts to reorient.
[0024] In another embodiment, a powered recliner chair may include a battery,
a power
supply and an electric actuator motor. The power supply and the battery may be
configured
to provide a constant voltage to the electric actuator motor.
[0025] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent after a
careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the
accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0026] Fig. 1 depicts a high-level block diagram of a computer system for
managing powered
reclining chairs and venues that include powered chairs;
[0027] Figs 2A-2C depict perspective views of example powered reclining chairs
in various
orientations;
[0028] Figs. 3A-D depict profile views of a left side of various example
powered chair
positions and orientations;
[0029] Figs. 4A-C depict an example controller assembly for a powered
reclining chair;
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[0030] Figs. 5A-C depict an example controller assembly for a powered
reclining chair;
[0031] Figs. 6A-C depict an example local control for a powered reclining
chair;
[0032] Figs. 7A-D depict example recliner chair assemblies and related
electrical power and
control components for use with the chairs;
[0033] Fig. 8A depicts an example chair with an accessory tray in a non-use
position;
[0034] Fig. 8B depicts an example chair with an accessory tray in an in-use
position;
[0035] Fig. 9 depicts an example wireless chair controller;
[0036] Fig. 10 depicts an example lighting and display assembly;
[0037] Fig. 11 depicts a front top perspective view of example components for
use within
powered recliner chairs;
[0038] Figs. 12A and 12B depict example atm boxes for use with powered
recliner chairs;
[0039] Figs. 13A and 13B depict example user interfaces for use with powered
recliner
chairs;
[0040] Fig. 14 depicts a side profile view of an example recliner mechanism
structure with
occupancy sensing components;
[0041] Fig. 15 depicts a top plan view of an example heating apparatus for use
within
powered chairs; and
[0042] Figs. 17A-H, 17J-N and 17P-R depict example electrical control circuits
for use
within powered chairs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] Powered recliner chairs, assemblies for use in the powered recliner
chairs, and
components for use in the assemblies are provided. Related systems and methods
may enable
remote operation of the powered recliner chairs, thereby, may lower cost of
associated
routine maintenance and associated venue cleaning.
[0044] For example, a remote master controller may control multiple powered
chairs. The
master controller may be controlled/operated by venue management to ensure
safe and
efficient operation of a plurality of powered recliner chairs. A master
controller may contain
security features such as a key lock, password protection, security handshake
access, etc.
[0045] A local master controller may be, for example, located at an end of a
row of chairs,
within a section of chairs, or in a secured location selected by venue
management. A remote
master controller may be accessed wirelessly, via a hard wired connection,
and/or locally. A
master controller may interact with other systems (e.g., emergency systems,
food/drink
vending operations, venue lighting, maintenance, etc.) to improve venue
operations. A
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master controller may have output(s)/circuit(s) to control chairs via a
respective chair circuit.
Alternatively, a group of chairs may be mechanically interconnected, such that
a single
master controller may control a group of chairs.
[0046] Controlling multiple chairs at once may save time in performing venue
related tasks,
such as cleaning or maintenance that require chairs to be extended and/or
retracted. A
controller, having multiple output circuits, may allow for pre-select chairs
to be extended or
retracted in a defined order to facilitate a desired task. For example,
cleaning may be
facilitated by have every other chair extended and/or retracted to provide an
operator better
access to an extended recliner chair in narrow rows.
[0047] Alternate patterns of chair positioning may be achieved to aid in
different tasks. For
example, an entire venue of chairs may automatically reorient at a prescribed
time sequence
with a single initiation. While a controller may have multiple outputs, any
given controller
may only have one output circuit and associated chairs may include individual
ID's or
addresses such that a communication protocol of the controller may allow
control of an
individual chair and/or banks of chairs.
[0048] Controller output(s) may control chairs wirelessly using available
technologies such
as Bluetooth 0, and/or the controllers may be hard wired. Controller outputs
may drive chair
actuator(s) to respective internal stops, which may be settable by time such
that chairs may be
partially extended and/or retracted. Alternatively, or additionally, a
controller may be
sequenced to extend/retract chairs such that all chairs in a control group may
be filly
extended and/or retracted to a position before being extended and/or retracted
to a desired
position.
[0049] Master controller circuits may control a slave control unit at each
powered chair
allowing parallel operation of a local user control switch or a master control
circuit. Possible
scenarios for parallel chair control may include, but are not limited to, an
operator control
switch and the control circuit that plug into a slave controller, allowing
control of a powered
chair by the operator or by the master control box, an operator control switch
and a control
circuit may connect wirelessly to a slave controller, allowing control of a
powered chair by
the operator or by the master controller. A control circuit connected (wired
or wirelessly) to a
powered chair switch which may allow parallel operation. A control circuit
connected (wired
or wirelessly) to a powered chair actuator, which may allow parallel chair
operation.
[0050] Power to a powered chair may be extended directly from a transformer to
a master
controller, and/or slave controller(s) as needed. A slave controller may be
powered via
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respective input circuits or switch circuits as required.
[0051] Lights (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs)) may be incorporated into
the individual
chairs. For example, a light may be incorporated under each chair to
illuminate an area of a
floor in proximity to the respective chair. The systems and methods of the
present disclosure
may notify a remote location of activity (e.g., venue cleaning, chair
occupancy, chair
reorientation, etc.). This lighting may be turned on, for example, during
cleaning and/or prior
to and/or after a movie to provide entrance and/or exit lighting. Similar to
remote chair
reorientation, the lighting may be remotely controlled. For example, all
powered recliner
chairs may automatically return to an upright position (or any other
predetermined position)
and/or all chair lights may be turned on in an event of an emergency situation
in the
associated venue. Notably, notification of an emergency situation within a
venue may be
initiated via a central alarm (e.g., a manually operated fire alarm, an
automatically operated
fire alarm input, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, etc.), a sound
detector (e.g., a
gunshot detector, a scream detector, etc.), and/or via a personal electronic
device (e.g., a
mobile telephone, a portable data assistant, a laptop computer, a computer, or
any other
portable electronic device that is communicatively coupled to a venue
emergency notification
system).
[0052] Sensors (e.g., a proximity sensor, a capacitance sensor, an ultra-sonic
sensor, a light
sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity switch, a limit switch, an electric
current sensor, a
pressure sensor, a strain gauge, a microphone, a motion sensor, a temperature
sensor, a sonar
sensor, etc.) may be incorporated into a respective chair for safety purposes.
For example, a
sensor may indicate that reorientation of a chair has been inhibited (in at
least one direction)
because an object (e.g., an individual, or an individual's possession ) would
be in jeopardy of
being damaged. A capacitance sensor may be configured such that if an object
(e.g., an
individual, or an individual's possession ) touches, or comes close to a pre-
determined, part
of a respective chair (e.g., a metallic part of the chair), a capacitance
value will change and
the object may be detected. The systems and methods of the present disclosure
may provide
a remote indication of corresponding events.
[0053] Sensors and/or actuators may be incorporated into a chair that record
chair
reorientations and/or any other events associated with the respective chair.
Associated data
may be automatically recorded and logged to provide information for use with
preventive
chair maintenance and/or routine chair maintenance.
[0054] Actuator drive motor momentum may generate electrical energy after a
chair limit
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switch is activated to stop chair movement. The actuator drive motor momentum
may cause
transients in associated electrical circuits. In order to reduce, or eliminate
transients, an
armature of an actuator motor may be shorted when turned off, a limit switch
may be omitted
and a "soft stop" may be implemented via, for example, a processor/software or
a dedicated
circuit, an isolation relay may be incorporated, a zener-diode may be
incorporated in parallel
with the an armature, a silicon control rectifier (SCR) may be incorporated in
parallel with
the an armature, twisted wires may be incorporated to eliminate inductance,
etc.
[0055] A user interface may be provided that includes, for example, an
overhead plan view
map of a venue with each chair having alpha-numeric, color, graphical, etc.
information
related to respective chair status (e.g., need of maintenance, occupied,
reclined, malfunction,
number of reorientations since last maintenance, number of times occupied,
length of time
occupied, etc.). The information related to respective chair status may be,
for example,
historical status infolination, current status information, or predicative
status information.
[0056] The remote control system may automatically control other lighting in a
venue. The
systems and methods of the present disclosure may automatically record
cleaning times and
dates. For example, positions of each chair may be recording along with a time
stamp for
each chair orientation and/or chair reorientation. Occupancy sensors may be
incorporated
into a chair and may be used to record dates and times associated with when
the respective
chair was occupied. A weight sensor may be included that records a weight of
an individual
occupying a respective chair. Activation of a remote chair control may open
chairs that were
occupied during a previous event, while chairs that were not occupied during
the previous
event may remain in an upright orientation.
[0057] Local controls, located on each powered recliner chair, may allow a
chair occupant to
reposition the powered reclining chair while seated in the respective chair.
For example, a
first button may be provided to reorient a powered reclining chair from an
upright position
toward a reclined position. A second button may be provided to reorient the
powered
reclining chair from a reclined position toward an upright position. Any
number of buttons
may be provided to reorient individual parts (e.g., a back, a lower lumbar
support, a chair
seat, an armrest, a foot rest, a calf rest, etc.) of a powered reclining chair
independent of any
other part. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, a powered reclining
chair may be
controlled via a cellular phone (e.g., a smartphone) implementing a powered
reclining chair
application.
[0058] Any given powered reclining chair may include speakers and/or a
headphone
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connector plug. The speakers and/or the headphone connector may be hardwired
to a venue
sound system and/or may include a wireless connection to a venue sound system.
Any given
powered reclining chair may include a power and/or data connector, such that
an occupant
can plug in their cellular telephone and/or portable computer device. Thereby,
an occupant
may use the forgoing features to order a drink and/or food from a venue
delivery. The
occupant may be enabled to pay for their drinks and/or food via their own
device and/or via
an interface attached to the powered reclining chair. A theater control system
may be
interconnected with a theater speaker system (e.g., a speaker system as
provided by QSC, a
Qsys speaker system, etc.).
[0059] Turning to Fig. 1, a high-level block diagram of an example computer
system 100 for
managing powered reclining chairs is depicted. The computer system 100 may
include a
central venue operations center 105 and a powered reclining chair site 160
(e.g., a movie
theater, a sports venue, an auditorium, an arena, a theater, or any other
venue)
communicatively couple via a communications network 175. The computer system
100 may
also include a powered reclining chair technician site 145 and a powered
reclining chair
supplier site 130. While, for convenience of illustration, only a single
central venue
operations center 105 is depicted within the computer system 100 of Fig. 1,
any number of
central venue operations centers 105 may be included within the computer
system 100.
While, for convenience of illustration, only a single powered reclining chair
site 160 is
depicted within the computer system 100 of Fig. 1, any number of powered
reclining chair
sites 160 may be included within the computer system 100. Indeed, the computer
system 100
may accommodate thousands of powered reclining chair sites 160. While, for
convenience of
illustration, only a single powered reclining chair technician site 145 is
depicted within the
computer system 100 of Fig. 1, any number powered reclining chairs of
technician sites 145
may be included within the computer system 100. Any given powered reclining
chair
technician site 145 may be a mobile site. While, for convenience of
illustration, only a single
powered reclining chair supplier site 130 is depicted within the computer
system 100 of Fig.
1, any number of powered reclining chair supplier sites 130 may be included
within the
computer system 100.
[0060] The communications network 175, any one of the network adapters 111,
118, 125,
137, 152, 167 and any one of the network connections 176, 177, 178, 179 may
include a
hardwired section, a fiber-optic section, a coaxial section, a wireless
section, any sub-
combination thereof or any combination thereof, including for example a
wireless LAN,
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MAN or WAN, WiFi, WiMax, the Internet, a Bluetooth connection, a Zigbee
internet
connection, a Global Cache' internet connection, or any combination thereof.
Moreover, a
central venue operations center 105, a powered reclining chair site 160, a
powered reclining
chair technician site 145 and/or a powered reclining chair supplier 130 site
may be
communicatively connected via any suitable communication system, such as via
any publicly
available or privately owned communication network, including those that use
wireless
communication structures, such as wireless communication networks, including
for example,
wireless LANs and WANs, satellite and cellular telephone communication
systems, etc.
100611 Any given central venue operations center 105 may include a mainframe,
or central
server, system 106, a server terminal 112, a desktop computer 119, a laptop
computer 126
and a telephone 127. While the central venue operations center 105 of Fig. 1
is shown to
include only one mainframe, or central server, system 106, only one server
terminal 112, only
one desktop computer 119, only one laptop computer 126 and only one telephone
127, any
given central venue operations center 105 may include any number of mainframe,
or central
server, systems 106, server terminals 112, desktop terminals 119, laptop
computers 126 and
telephones 127. Any given telephone 127 may be, for example, a land-line
connected
telephone, a computer configured with voice over internet protocol (VOIP), or
a mobile
telephone (e.g., a smartphone). Any given server terminal 112 may include a
processor 115,
a memory 116 having at least on set of computer-readable instructions stored
thereon and
associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations 117, a
network
adapter 118 a display 113 and a keyboard 114. Any given desktop computer 119
may
include a processor 122, a memory 123 having at least on set of computer-
readable
instructions stored thereon and associated with managing powered reclining
chairs and venue
operations 124, a network adapter 125 a display 120 and a keyboard 121. Any
given
mainframe, or central server, system 106 may include a processor 107, a memory
108 having
at least on set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon and
associated with managing
powered reclining chairs and venue operations 109, a network adapter 111 and a
customer (or
client) database 110. The customer (or client) database 110 may store, for
example, chair
operation data and/or associated venue data, related to operation of the chair
(or a group of
chairs) within an associated venue. Any given lap top computer 126 may include
a
processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable instructions
stored thereon
and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations, a
network
adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given telephone 127 may include a
processor, a
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memory having at least on set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon
and
associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations, a
network adapter,
a display and a keyboard.
100621 Any given powered reclining chair supplier 130 may include a desktop
computer 131,
a lap top computer 138, a tablet computer 139 and a telephone 140. While only
one desktop
computer 131, only one lap top computer 138, only one tablet computer 139 and
only one
telephone 140 is depicted in Fig. 1, any number of desktop computers 131, lap
top computers
138, tablet computers 139 and/or telephones 140 may be included at any given
powered
reclining chair supplier 130. Any given telephone 140 may be a land-line
connected
telephone or a mobile telephone (e.g., smartphone). Any given desktop computer
131 may
include a processor 134, a memory 135 having at least on set of computer-
readable
instructions stored thereon and associated with managing powered reclining
chairs and venue
operations 136, a network adapter 137 a display 132 and a keyboard 133. Any
given lap top
computer 138 may include a processor, a memory having at least on set of
computer-readable
instructions stored thereon and associated with managing powered reclining
chairs and venue
operations, a network adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given tablet
computer 139 may
include a processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable
instructions stored
thereon and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue
operations, a
network adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given telephone 140 may include
a
processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable instructions
stored thereon
and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations, a
network
adapter, a display and a keyboard.
[0063] Any given powered reclining chair technician site 145 may include a
desktop
computer 146, a lap top computer 153, a tablet computer 154 and a telephone
155. While
only one desktop computer 146, only one lap top computer 153, only one tablet
computer 154
and only one telephone 155 is depicted in Fig. 1, any number of desktop
computers 146, lap
top computers 153, tablet computers 154 and/or telephones 155 may be included
at any given
powered reclining chair technician site 145. Any given telephone 155 may be a
land-line
connected telephone or a mobile telephone (e.g., smartphone). Any given
desktop computer
146 may include a processor 149, a memory 150 having at least on set of
computer-readable
instructions stored thereon and associated with managing powered reclining
chairs and venue
operations 151, a network adapter 152 a display 147 and a keyboard 148. Any
given lap top
computer 153 may include a processor, a memory having at least on set of
computer-readable
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instructions stored thereon and associated with managing powered reclining
chairs and venue
operations, a network adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given tablet
computer 154 may
include a processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable
instructions stored
thereon and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue
operations, a
network adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given telephone 155 may include
a
processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable instructions
stored thereon
and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations, a
network
adapter, a display and a keyboard.
100641 Any given powered reclining chair site 160 may include a desktop
computer 161, a
lap top computer 168, a tablet computer 169 and a telephone 170. While only
one desktop
computer 161, only one lap top computer 168, only one tablet computer 169 and
only one
telephone 170 is depicted in Fig. 1, any number of desktop computers 161, lap
top computers
168, tablet computers 169 and/or telephones 170 may be included at any given
powered
reclining chair site 160. Any given telephone 170 may be a land-line connected
telephone or
a mobile telephone (e.g., smartphone). Any given desktop computer 161 may
include a
processor 164, a memory 165 having at least on set of computer-readable
instructions stored
thereon and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue
operations 166, a
network adapter 167 a display 162 and a keyboard 163. Any given lap top
computer 168 may
include a processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable
instructions stored
thereon and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue
operations, a
network adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given tablet computer 169 may
include a
processor, a memory having at least on set of computer-readable instructions
stored thereon
and associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations, a
network
adapter, a display and a keyboard. Any given telephone 170 may include a
processor, a
memory having at least on set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon
and
associated with managing powered reclining chairs and venue operations, a
network adapter,
a display and a keyboard. While not shown in Fig. 1, any given set of powered
reclining
chairs 171, or individual powered reclining chair, may include a programmable
controller
(e.g., controller 860, 960a, 960b, 1060a, 1060b of Figs. 8, 9A-B, 10A-B,
respectively), a
powered reclining chair local control (e.g., local control 270, 370, 470, 870,
970c, 1070c,
1170a-c of Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9c, 10c, 11A-11C, respectively), and/or any
number of linear
and/or rotary actuators (e.g., actuator 655, 660, 760, 960b, 1060b, 1065b of
Figs. 6, 7, 9B,
10B, respectively). Furthermore, while not shown in Fig. 1, any given set of
powered
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reclining chairs 171, or individual powered reclining chair, may include a
plurality of sensors
(e.g., temperature sensor, pressure sensor, limit switch, motion sensor,
strain gauge, position
sensor, occupancy sensor, load sensor, etc.).
[0065] With reference to Figs. 2A-C, a venue 200a may include a plurality of
powered
recliner chairs 210a supported on a base (e.g., a floor or a structure) 205a.
The powered
recliner chairs 210a may be similar to the powered chairs 171 of Fig. 1. Any
given powered
recliner chair may include a chair back 215a, a lower lumbar support 220a, a
chair seat 225a,
a foot-rest 230a, and an arm-rest 235a. While not shown in Fig. 2A, any given
chair 210a
may include a headrest, and the headrest may be reorientable independent of
any other
portion of the chair. The arm-rest 235a may include a cup-holder 236a and/or a
chair
controller 270a. The chair controller 270a may include, for example, a first
button to reorient
the respective chair between an upright position (e.g., a chair position as
illustrated in Fig.
2A) and a reclined position (e.g., a chair position as illustrated in Fig.
2B). Alternatively, a
chair controller 270a may include a plurality of functions, such as,
individual buttons
associated with independently controlling a headrest (not shown in Fig. 2A),a
chair back
215a, a lower lumbar support 220a, a chair seat 225a, a foot-rest 230a, and/or
an ann-rest
235a. Additionally, a chair controller 270a may include an audio output
connector, a power
output connector, lighting, a microphone, a speaker, etc. Alternatively, a
chair controller
270a may be similar to a portable computing device (e.g., portable computing
device 169 of
Fig. 1) that facilitates a plurality of chair controls and/or venue
interaction. A chair controller
270a may include a docking station and/or connection for a smartphone.
[0066] An associated powered recliner chair system may include at least one
emergency
power input selected from a group including: a battery, a capacitor, a
photovoltaic cell, an
internal combustion engine driven electrical generator, a wind-turbine driven
electrical
generator, or a hydrogen fuel cell. The at least one emergency power input may
be
configured to provide electric power to the powered recliner chair in an event
of an
associated venue power outage.
[0067] Any given powered recliner chair may be a modular assembly having, for
example, a
single plug in power connection. The powered recliner chair may be fully
operable with only
the plug in power connection connected to the modular powered recliner chair.
Any given
modular assembly may include one, two, or more chair assemblies, including,
for example,
associated RMS(s), associated arm box(e)s, associated chair seat(s),
associated chair
ottoman(s), associated chair back(s), associated headrest(s), associated
electrical control(s),
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TSS005PCT2
associated actuator(s), associated lighting, associated snack tray(s) and/or
associated cub
holder(s). As a particular example, a modular assembly may include a first
chair assembly
having a snack tray pivotally attached to a right-hand arm box and a second
chair assembly
having a snack tray pivotally attached to a left-hand arm box. A left-hand arm
box of the first
chair assembly may be fixed to a right-hand arm box of the second chair
assembly. All local
chair control and/or remote chair control may be, for example, communicated to
a modular
assembly via a wireless communication network. A modular assembly may be
assembled at
a manufacturing facility remote from an associated venue, delivered to the
associated venue,
set in place, and plugged into, for example, a electrical outlet.
[0068] Any given reclining chair may be installed such that a surface under
the reclining
chair is not coplanar with an adjacent walking surface. Examples of such an
installation may
include: an area directly behind the ottoman raised to make it harder for
items to be
reoriented (e.g., kicked or pushed) under the reclining chair; an area
directly in front of the
reclining chair's rear closure panel may be raised to make it harder for items
to be moved
(e.g., kicked or pushed) under the reclining chair; and an area under the
recliner may be
sloped to promote movement of items under the reclining chair moving out from
under the
reclining chair.
[0069] A venue 200b may include a plurality of powered recliner chairs 210b
supported on a
base (e.g., a floor or a structure) 205b. The powered recliner chairs 210b may
be similar to
the powered recliner chairs 210a of Fig. 2A. Any given powered recliner chair
may include a
chair back 215b, a lower lumbar support 220b, a chair seat 225b, a foot-rest
230b, and an
arm-rest 235b. The arm-rest 235b may include a cup-holder 336 and/or a chair
controller
270b. The chair controller 270b may include, for example, a first button to
reorient the
respective chair between an upright position (e.g., a chair position as
illustrated in Fig. 2A)
and a reclined position (e.g., a chair position as illustrated in Fig. 2B).
Alternatively, a chair
controller 270b may include a plurality of functions, such as, individual
buttons associated
with independently controlling a headrest (not shown in Fig. 2B),a chair back
215b, a lower
lumbar support 220b, a chair seat 225b, a foot-rest 230b, and/or an arm-rest
235b. While not
shown in Fig. 2B, any given chair 210b may include a headrest, and the
headrest may be
reorientable independent of any other portion of the chair. Additionally, a
chair controller
270b may include an audio output connector, a power output connector,
lighting, a
microphone, a speaker, etc. Alternatively, a chair controller 270b may be
similar to a
portable computing device (e.g., portable computing device 169 of Fig. 1) that
facilitates a
18
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plurality of chair controls and/or venue interaction. A chair controller 270b
may include a
docking station and/or connection for a smartphone.
[0070] With reference to Fig. 2C, a venue 200c may include a plurality of
powered recliner
chairs 210c supported on a base (e.g., a floor or a structure) 205c. The
powered recliner
chairs 210c may be similar to the powered recliner chairs 210b of Fig. 2B. Any
given
powered recliner chair may include a chair back 215c, a lower lumbar support
220c, a chair
seat 225c, a foot-rest 230c, and an arm-rest 235c. While not shown in Fig. 2C,
any given
chair 210c may include a headrest, and the headrest may be reorientable
independent of any
other portion of the chair. The arm-rest 235c may include a cup-holder 236c
and/or a chair
controller 270c. The chair controller 270c may include, for example, a first
button to reorient
the respective chair between an upright position (e.g., a chair position as
illustrated in Fig.
2A) and a reclined position (e.g., a chair position as illustrated in Fig.
2B). Alternatively, a
chair controller 270c may include a plurality of functions, such as,
individual buttons
associated with independently controlling a headrest (not shown in Fig. 2C), a
chair back
215c, a lower lumbar support 220c, a chair seat 225c, a foot-rest 430, and/or
an arm-rest
235c. Additionally, a chair controller 270c may include an audio output
connector, a power
output connector, lighting, a microphone, a speaker, etc. Alternatively, a
chair controller
270c may be similar to a portable computing device (e.g., portable computing
device 169 of
Fig. 1) that facilitates a plurality of chair controls and/or venue
interaction. A chair controller
270c may include a docking station and/or connection for a smartphone. While
remote
control of reclining chair extend/retract functions may be performed, any
given remote
control function may similarly be used to control other functions such as
massagers, heaters,
cooling devices, etc.
[0071] Any given reclining chair system may include blower and/or vacuum
features, which
may aid in cleaning under reclining chairs. Examples of blower and/or vacuum
features may
include, but are not limited to: systems located in a reclining chair arm box;
systems located
in a reclining chair recliner mechanism; systems located in an associated
floor area, or rear
riser(s).
100721 Turning to Figs. 3A-3D, powered chairs 300a-d may include a chair back
315a-d, a
chair seat 325a-d, a foot-rest 330a-d, and an arm-rest 335a-d. The powered
chairs 300a-d
may be similar to the powered chairs 171, 210a, 210b, 210c of Figs. 1, 2A, 2B
and 2C,
respectively. As illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3D, a chair back 315a, 315d, a
chair seat 325a,
325d, a foot-rest 330a, 330d, and/or an arm-rest 335a, 335d may be
repositioned throughout a
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TSS005PCT2
plurality of various positions, shown as dashed lines.
[0073] Any given chair 210a, 210b, 210c, 500a-d may be configured as a powered
reclining/rocking chair and may include a support frame, a seat frame
pivotally mounted on
the support frame, a rotary actuator mounted between the support frame and the
seat frame
to drive the seat frame to move relative to the support frame, a chair back
pivotally mounted
on the seat frame, a linear actuator mounted between the seat frame and the
chair back to
drive the chair back to move relative to the seat frame, a head support
mounted on the chair
back, two link mechanisms mounted between the chair seat and the chair back to
move in
concert with the chair back, and a foot support mounted between the two link
mechanisms to
move in concert with the two link mechanisms. The seat frame may have an upper
end
provided with two opposite pivot ears and a lower end provided with a
plurality of castors.
The seat frame may have a rear end provided with a stop portion.
[0074] The powered reclining/rocking chair may further include two suspension
arms each
secured on the seat and each pivotally mounted on the support frame, and at
least two
reinforcing members located between the seat and the two suspension arms
respectively to
enhance the structural strength of the seat. Each of the two suspension arms
extends upwardly
from the seat and has an upper end provided with a pivot portion pivotally
mounted on a
respective one of the pivot ears of the support frame.
[0075] The seat may be pivotable relative to the support frame in a pendulum
manner. The
seat and has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the
seat may include
a front end provided with two first through holes and second through holes and
a rear end
provided with two through bores. The lower portion of the seat may include a
side provided
with a support base.
[0076] The rotary actuator may include a drive member secured on the lower
portion of the
seat, a rotation member rotatably mounted on the drive member, and a drive
lever having a
first end pivotally connected with the rotation member to move in concert with
the rotation
member and a second end pivotally connected with the stop portion of the
support frame. The
drive member of the rotary actuator is a drive motor to rotate the rotation
member. The
rotation member of the rotary actuator has a disk shape. The first end of the
drive lever is
arranged on the rotation member eccentrically and is deviated from a central
shaft of the
rotation member.
[0077] The two link mechanisms may be located at two opposite sides of the
seat
symmetrically. Each of the two link mechanisms may have a mediate portion
provided with a
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first pivot hole pivotally connected with a respective one of the first
through holes of the seat
and a second pivot hole pivotally connected with a respective one of the
second through holes
of the seat. Each of the two link mechanisms has a first end provided with a
driven portion
that is movable in concert with the backrest and a second end provided with a
support portion
that is movable in concert with the driven portion. The foot support is
mounted between the
support portions of the two link mechanisms.
[0078] The backrest has a lower end provided with two pivot bores each
pivotally connected
with a respective one of the through bores of the seat and two push portions
each pivotally
connected with the driven portion of a respective one of the two link
mechanisms. Each of
the two pivot bores of the backrest is located above each of the two push
portions. The
backrest has an upper end provided with two mounting sleeves. The backrest has
a side
provided with a drive arm which is substantially V-shaped.
[0079] The linear actuator has a first portion pivotally connected with the
support base of the
seat and a second portion retractably mounted in the first portion and
pivotally connected
with the drive arm. Preferably, the drive arm has an upper end secured on the
backrest and a
lower end pivotally connected with the second portion of the linear actuator.
Thus, when the
second portion of the linear actuator is moved relative to the first portion
of the linear
actuator, the drive arm is moved in concert with the second portion of the
linear actuator to
drive the backrest to pivot relative to the seat.
[0080] The head support may include a resting cushion and two adjusting rods
each mounted
on a bottom of the resting cushion and each adjustably mounted in a respective
one of the
mounting sleeves of the backrest.
[0081] In adjustment, when the second portion of the linear actuator is moved
toward the first
portion of the linear actuator, the drive aim __________________________ n is
moved in concert with the second portion of the
linear actuator to drive the backrest to pivot downward relative to the seat,
so that the pivot
bores of the backrest are pivoted about the through bores of the seat, and the
backrest is
moved rearward and downward. At the same time, when the backrest is moved
relative to the
seat, the driven portion of each of the two link mechanisms is pushed by the
respective push
portion of the backrest to drive each of the two link mechanisms to pivot
forward relative to
the seat, so that the support portion of each of the two link mechanisms is
moved forward and
upward, and the foot support is also is moved forward and upward until the
foot support is
disposed at a horizontal state. In such a manner, the inclined angle of the
backrest and the
foot support is adjusted by operation of the linear actuator according to the
user's requirement
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TSSOO5PCT2
so as to provide a comfortable sensation to the user.
[0082] On the contrary, when the second portion of the linear actuator is
moved outward
relative to the first portion of the linear actuator, the drive arm is moved
in concert with the
second portion of the linear actuator to drive the backrest to pivot upward
relative to the seat,
so that the pivot bores of the backrest are pivoted about the through bores of
the seat, and the
backrest is moved forward and upward. At the same time, when the backrest is
moved
relative to the seat, the driven portion of each of the two link mechanisms is
pulled by the
respective push portion of the backrest to drive each of the two link
mechanisms to pivot
rearward relative to the seat, so that the support portion of each of the two
link mechanisms is
moved rearward and downward, and the foot support is also is moved rearward
and
downward so as to fold the foot support.
[0083] In operation, the drive member of the rotary actuator may be secured on
the lower
portion of the seat, the first end of the drive lever is pivotally connected
with and arranged on
the rotation member eccentrically, and the second end of the drive lever is
limited by the stop
portion of the support frame, so that when the rotation member is rotated by
the drive
member, the rotation member is driven by the drive lever to move relative to
the support
frame, and the drive member is moved by the rotation member to drive the seat
to move
relative to the support frame. At this time, each of the two suspension arms
secured on the
seat is pivotally mounted on the support frame, so that the seat is pivoted
relative to the
support frame by operation of the rotary actuator. In such a manner, the seat
is pivoted
rightward and leftward so that the seat is pivoted reciprocally relative to
the support frame in
a pendulum manner.
[0084] The powered reclining/rocking chair further may further comprise an
electrically
control device connected with the rotary actuator and the linear actuator to
control operation
of the rotary actuator and the linear actuator, an overload protection device
connected with
the electrically control device to shut an electric power to the electrically
control device when
an overload occurs, and a timer connected with the electrically control device
to
automatically preset the operation time of the electrically control device. In
such a manner,
the linear actuator is controlled by the electrically control device to adjust
the inclined angle
of the backrest and the foot support, and the rotary actuator is controlled by
the electrically
control device to drive the seat to pivot relative to the support frame in a
pendulum manner.
[0085] The resting cushion of the head support may include a main adjusting
bracket and a
secondary adjusting bracket pivotally mounted on the main adjusting bracket.
The main
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TSS005PCT2
adjusting bracket of the resting cushion is provided with a main toothed
portion. The
secondary adjusting bracket of the resting cushion is provided with a
secondary toothed
portion adjustably meshing with the main toothed portion of the main adjusting
bracket.
Thus, the secondary adjusting bracket of the resting cushion is pivoted
relative to the main
adjusting bracket of the resting cushion to adjust the inclined angle of the
head support. Each
of the adjusting rods of the head support is provided with a plurality of
adjusting detents
adjustably mounted in the respective mounting sleeve of the backrest to adjust
the height of
the head support.
[0086] Accordingly, the rotary actuator is controlled by the electrically
control device to
drive the seat to pivot relative to the support frame reciprocally in a
pendulum manner so that
the seat is pivoted relative to the support frame automatically, and the user
needs not to rock
the seat manually. In addition, the linear actuator is controlled by the
electrically control
device to adjust the inclined angle of the backrest and the foot support
according to the user's
requirement so as to provide a comfortable sensation to the user.
[0087] Any given chair 210a, 210b, 210c, 300a-d may be configured as a powered
lift chair
and may include a lift base assembly and a chair support frame. The lift base
assembly
supports the chair in a normal seated position. The lift base assembly lifts
the chair to a tilted
position that makes it easier for a person to enter or leave the chair. Any of
a wide variety of
chair constructions can be used with the lift base assembly. The chair may
include a frame,
side arms, a seat back, and a seat portion. The seat back may recline in
response to pressure
from the back of an occupant and the seat portion may move simultaneously with
the seat
back. The chair also may include an extensible leg rest assembly.
Additionally, the seat back
and/or the seat portion may include a heat pad and/or a cooling device. The
heat pad and/or
cooling device may be selectively energized to provide heat and/or cooling to
person using
the chair.
[0088] An exemplary lift base assembly may include a stationary, rectangular
bottom frame
member that rests on the floor and a movable, rectangular upper frame member
on which the
chair is removably but securely attached by suitable fasteners. The bottom
frame member
may include left and right hand side members, respectively, that are rigid
with a front cross
member. Side members may have suitable pads that engage the surface of a
floor. Upper
frame member may include left and right side members that are rigid with a
rear cross
member. A linear actuator may nest inside of the bottom from member, the upper
frame
member, and the chair seat.
23
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[0089] Alternatively, a lift mechanism may include a power-assist means, such
as an electric
motor, a rotary screw shaft, and an internally threaded sleeve or nut. The
motor may be
selectively operable to rotate the screw shaft in either a first direction or
second direction.
Both the motor and the screw shaft can arcuately swing up and down in a
generally vertical
plane about a pivot. The screw shaft extends through and drives the sleeve so
that the sleeve
moves forwardly or rearwardly along the length of the screw shaft upon
rotation of the screw
shaft in one of the first and second directions. In the seated or lowered
position of the chair,
the sleeve may be positioned near the front or outer end of the screw shaft.
Lifting of the
chair is accomplished by energizing the motor to rotate the screw shaft in a
direction that
pulls the sleeve toward the motor. To lower the chair, rotation of the screw
shaft is reversed,
which draws the sleeve away from the motor. An exemplary lift base assembly
and lift
mechanism are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,010, assigned to
La-Z-Boy
Chair Co. Although the above lift base assembly and lift mechanism are
described for
illustrative purposes, it is to be understood that other suitable lift base
assemblies and lift
mechanisms may be used with the present invention as it is described below.
[0090] An electrical control system for the motor may include two-prong
attachment plug
that fits into an electrical receptacle in the general proximity to where the
lift base assembly
is used for providing electrical current to operate the lift assembly.
Alternatively, the
attachment plug may be a three-prong grounding plug that fits into a grounding-
type
receptacle. The plug may include an insulated cable or power cord of suitable
length. The
electrical control system also may include a transfoinier, an electrical
controller, a control
wand, heating pads, cooling device, massage device, a motor actuator, and
various male and
female socket connectors for connecting the components of the electrical
control system as
described below.
[0091] The transformer may include a power cord with three current-carrying
inductors that
terminate in a male socket connector. The male socket mates with a female
socket connector
so that the transformer is electrically connected to the electrical controller
through a power
cord. The electrical controller further may include power cords. The power
cord may include
four current-carrying conductors that terminate in a male socket connector and
a female
socket connector. The power cord may include eight current-carrying conductors
that
terminate in a female socket connector. The power cord may include five
current-carrying
conductors that terminate in a male socket connector. The socket connectors
may mate with
counterpart socket connectors to electrically connect the electrical
controller to the control
24
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wand, the heating pads, cooling device, massage device, and the motor
actuator.
[0092] The transformer may receive AC power from a standard electrical
receptacle via the
power cord. The transformer may step down the input power, for example 120
volts of AC, to
an output power. For example, the transformer outputs an AC voltage of 12
volts and a
constant DC voltage of 27 volts. The transformer may include batteries, such
as 9 volt
batteries, which may provide backup power to the electrical system in the
event of a power
failure. The heating pads, cooling devices, and message devices may be powered
by the 12
volts AC and the motor actuator may be powered by the 27 volts DC.
[0093] The electrical controller may receive both the 12 volts AC and the 27
volts DC from
the transformer. The electrical controller may distribute the power from the
transformer to the
heating pads, cooling devices, massage device, the motor actuator, and the
control wand. The
electrical controller may direct the 12 volts AC to the heating pads, cooling
device, and/or
massage device, and may direct the 27 volts DC to the motor actuator. The
control wand may
also receive power from the 27 volt DC supply.
[0094] The control wand may include a control cord for receiving power from
the electrical
controller. The control wand may be mounted to a side arm of the chair or,
alternatively, held
and operated by a person using the chair. Additionally, the control cord
communicates
commands from the control wand to the electrical controller. For example, the
control wand
may include indicator means, such as an LED array, and one or more control
switches. The
user may control the various operations of the chair with the switches, such
as lifting and
lowering functions, reclining functions, and "on" or "off' status of the
heating pads, cooling
devices, message devices, etc. When the user operates the switches to lift the
chair, electrical
power is supplied to the motor actuator to rotate the screw shaft, rotary
actuator, or linear
actuator in a direction to cause the chair to lift. When the user operates the
switches to lower
the chair, electrical power is supplied to the motor actuator to rotate the
screw shaft, rotary
actuator, or linear actuator in the opposite direction for lowering the chair.
The user may view
status information for the chair at the indicator means, such as "on" or "off'
status and/or
relative temperature indicators of the heating pads and/or cooling devices.
[0095] The control wand may be powered by the 27 volt DC supply. However, the
control
wand does not directly switch the current load of the motor actuator. Instead,
the control
wand switches relays located in the electrical controller in order to control
power to the motor
actuator. In this manner, the high current draw of the motor actuator does not
pass through
the control wand. In an alternative embodiment, the indicator means and/or the
switches are
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located directly on the chair rather than on the control wand. For example,
the indicator
means and switches may be located on a side aim n of the chair.
[0096] The motor actuator may receive electrical power from the electrical
controller through
the electrical connection of the power cord, the male socket connector, and
the female socket
connector. The motor actuator may provide rotational power to the screw shaft
according to
the electrical power received from the electrical controller. For example, if
the user operates
the switches to lift the chair, the motor actuator receives electrical power
of a first polarity to
rotate the screw shaft in a first direction. If the user operates the switches
to lower the chair,
the motor actuator receives electrical power of a second polarity to rotate
the screw shaft, the
rotary actuator, or linear actuator in a second direction.
[0097] The rate at which the motor actuator lifts and lowers the chair may be
directly
dependent upon the DC voltage received from the transformer through the
electrical
controller. In the preferred embodiment, the DC voltage is 27 volts. The
current drawn by the
motor actuator, however, may be proportional to the load upon the chair. If
the chair is
empty, the motor actuator requires relatively low current. If the chair is
loaded with a person,
the motor actuator requires higher current. Conventionally, motor actuators
receive a
particular power input to control the lift and lowering functions. As the load
upon the chair
increases, the motor actuator draws more current. Because power is a product
of voltage and
current (P=VI), the voltage of the motor actuator decreases proportionately as
current draw
increases. As voltage decreases, the lift rate of the chair decreases
proportionately. Therefore,
it can be seen that the lift and/or lower rates of conventional power-assisted
chairs were
extremely dependent upon the load on the chair at any particular time.
[0098] In contrast, the transformer of the present invention is operable to
output a generally
constant DC voltage regardless of the current draw from the motor actuator.
One such
transformer available is InSeat Solutions' AC/DC adaptor, model number 15541
Class II
power transformer, which outputs a 12 volt AC supply and a 27 volt DC supply.
If the motor
actuator draws more current due to a heavier load upon the chair, the
transformer adjusts
automatically to maintain a generally constant DC voltage output of 27 volts
to the motor
actuator. The motor actuator receives a constant voltage regardless of the
current draw.
Therefore, the motor actuator may provide constant rotational power to the
screw shaft,
rotary actuator, or linear actuator. In this manner, the power-assisted chair
of the present
invention may provide generally constant lift and lowering rates independent
of the load on
the chair. Further, the power-assisted chair of the present invention is able
to provide constant
26
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TSS005PCT2
lift and lowering rates for loads up to 500 hundred pounds with a single
motor.
[0099] The required time to complete a full lift or lower cycle is dependent
upon the lift or
lower rate of the motor, and therefore is further dependent upon the voltage
output of the
transformer. Because the DC voltage supply of the transformer is generally
constant, lift and
lower cycles will be consistent regardless of the weight of the person using
the chair. For
example, slight voltage drops due to extremely heavy loads may cause the lift
cycle to have a
slightly longer duration, and the lower cycle to have a slightly shorter
duration. Although
cycle times may vary slightly due to factors such as increased heat due to
higher current draw
and other process variables, a person using the chair may expect generally
uniform lift and
lower cycle times.
[0100] Additionally, the electrical control system is operable to selectively
control power to
the heating pads, cooling devices, and/or massage devices during lift and
lower operations of
the motor actuator, which allows the transformer to maintain a Class II
rating. For example, if
the user operates the switches to lift or lower the chair while the heating
pads, cooling
devices, and/or message devices are "on," the electrical controller may turn
off power to the
heating pads, cooling devices and/or massage devices. Once the lift or lower
operation is
complete, the electrical controller will restore power to the heating pads,
cooling devices
and/or massage devices. In this manner, the electrical controller directs
power solely to the
motor actuator during lift and lower operations, which allows the motor
actuator to receive
the maximum power available.
[0101] The electrical control system may include other electrical components,
such as a
vibratory massage device, an air pillow massage device, or other devices as
are known in the
art. The additional devices may operate on the 12 volt AC supply in a fashion
similar to the
heating pads, cooling devices and/or massage devices. Correspondingly, the
electrical
controller may disable power to the additional devices during motor lift and
lower operations.
[0102] An electrical power supply may be configured as "smart" power supply
such that, for
example, a maximum power, drawn from a power supply, may be automatically
limited by
controlling a number of recliner chairs that can be operated at any given
time. For example,
when a power supply is being operated near a maximum limit, recliner chairs,
that are
connected to the power supply and not yet being operated, are disabled until a
power draw
from an associated power supply is reduced (e.g., operation of a previously
operated recliner
chair is ceased). Alternatively, or additionally, operation of a previously
operated recliner
chair may be automatically suspended if, for example, an occupant of another
recliner chair,
27
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that is connected to the power supply, initiates return of the chair to an
upright position.
Accordingly, if an occupant of a recliner chair needs to exit the chair for
any reason (e.g., an
emergency) that chair will operate and any other chair that is being reclined
may cease to
operate. Alternatively, or additionally, any given powered recliner chair
within a venue, or
all powered recliner chairs within the venue, may be configured to
automatically move to any
predetermined position (e.g., a fully upright position, a fully reclined
position, or any position
there between) in the event of an emergency. Notably, notification of an
emergency situation
within a venue may be initiated via a central alarm (e.g., a manually operated
fire alarm, a
carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, etc.), a sound detector (e.g., a
gunshot detector, a
scream detector, etc.), and/or via a personal electronic device (e.g., a
mobile telephone, a
portable data assistant, a laptop computer, or any other portable electronic
device that is
communicatively coupled to a venue emergency notification system).
[0103] Similarly, operation of a group of recliner chairs, that are connected
to a common
power supply, may be automatically staggered such that any given sub-group of
recliner
chairs may be automatically delayed (e.g., to reduce inrush current ¨ 10mS
delay), or
operation may be alternated, such that a maximum power limit of the associated
power
supply is not exceeded. Thereby, a group of recliner chairs, that are
connected to a smart
power supply, may be automatically controlled to not exceed a power supply
maximum.
[0104] A "smart power supply system" may include a power supply (e.g.,
transformer 796a,
796c, 796d) and a controller (e.g., controller 490a, 490b, 590a, 590b,
1300a,b, 1700a-hj-n,p-
r), and may include controlling/activating/deactivating any given recliner
chair(s) by
communicating between chairs, monitoring chair(s) status, (e.g., such things
as recline
position and travel direction) and may predict/anticipate chair(s) power
requirements
including accessories such as heat, message, etc. to enable/disable/prioritize
recliner chair
power consumption. Such a smart power supply system may control inherent power
peaks,
that may occur during normal operation, or less critical action in a manner to
minimize power
consumption while optimizing associated recliner chair user experience.
[0105] Additionally, or alternatively, a controller (e.g., controller 490a,
490b, 590a, 590b,
1300a,b, 1700a-hj-n,p-r) may include controlling/activating/deactivating any
given actuator
within a given recliner chair or group of recliner chair(s). For example, a
controller may
include at least one remote control input that may, for example, initiate a
sequence of
operation of associated actuators. In a particular example, a chair assembly
may include a
first actuator configured to reorient a chair back, a second actuator
configured to reorient a
28
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TSS005PCT2
chair seat, a third actuator configured to reorient a chair foot rest (an
"ottoman"), a fourth
actuator configured to reorient a chair head rest, a fifth actuator configured
to reorient (e.g.,
lift) the chair assembly, a combination thereof, or any sub-combination
thereof. The chair
assembly may also include a local control associated with each of the
actuators and/or a
single local control that activates any combination of the actuators in
response to a user
activating the local control. In any event, when a use activates the remote
control (or the
remote control is activated automatically, e.g., a venue emergency system, a
venue ticketing
system, a venue cleaning system, etc.), a group of actuators within a given
chair, or group of
chairs, may sequentially reorient respective chair portions (e.g., a chair
back, a chair seat, a
chair foot rest, a chair head rest, a chair lift, etc.). The controller may be
configured such that
activation of a local control may override activation of a remote control.
Similarly, a chair
controller may include at least one chair safety sensor input, and the
controller may be
configured to inhibit reorientation of at least a chair portion (e.g., a chair
back, a chair seat, a
chair foot rest, a chair head rest, a chair lift, etc.) in at least one
direction when the respective
chair safety sensor input is activated.
[0106] As an example, a controller may be configured such that activation of a
remote
control first reorients a foot rest to a closed orientation, next reorients a
chair back to an
upright orientation, and then reorients a chair seat to a desired orientation.
Activation of a
local control and/or a chair safety sensor may inhibit reorientation of at
least a respective
portion of a chair or group of chairs.
[0107] A controller may include a local control input that, when activated by
a chair
occupant, sequentially reorients portions of the respective chair (e.g., a
chair back, a chair
seat, a chair foot rest, a chair head rest, a chair lift, etc.). Thereby, when
the chair occupant
activates the local control (either momentarily or sustained), the individual
chair portions
sequentially reorient accordingly.
[0108] Turning to Figs. 4A-4C, a powered chair control assembly 400a-c may
include a
controller (e.g., a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application
specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a discrete component electrical circuit, a field-programmable
gate array
(FPGA), a micro-controller, etc.) 490a, 490b, a local controller 470c, a
wireless data receiver
485b, and an actuator 460b. The actuator 460b may be either a linear actuator
or a rotary
actuator. The local controller 470c may be similar to the local controller
270a, 270b, 270c of
Figs. 2A-C, respectively. The local controller 470c may include, for example,
a chair back
upright button 471c, a chair back recline button 477c, a chair seat upright
button 472c, a chair
29
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TSS005PCT2
seat upright button 476c, a chair foot-rest upright button 474c, and/or a
chair foot-rest recline
button 475c. The chair controller 470c may include, for example, a first
button to move the
respective chair between an upright position (e.g., a chair position as
illustrated in Fig. 2A)
and a reclined position (e.g., a chair position as illustrated in Fig. 2B).
Alternatively, a chair
controller 470c may include a plurality of functions, such as, individual
buttons associated
with independently controlling a chair back 215, a lower lumbar support 220, a
chair seat
225, a foot-rest 230, and/or an arm-rest 235. Additionally, a chair controller
470c may
include an audio output connector, a power output connector, lighting, a
microphone, a
speaker, etc. Alternatively, a chair controller 470c may be similar to a
portable computing
device (e.g., portable computing device 169 of Fig. 1) that facilitates a
plurality of chair
controls and/or venue interaction.
[0109] The controller 490a, 490b may include a reclined chair position
indicator 497a, 497b
and/or an upright chair position indicator 498a, 498b. The controller 490a,
490b may further
include a first connector receptacle 491a, a second connector receptacle 492a,
a third
connector receptacle 493a, a forth connector receptacle 491b, a fifth
connector receptacle
492b, a sixth connector receptacle 493b, a seventh connector receptacle 494b,
and/or an
eighth connector receptacle 495b. The controller 490a, 490b may also include a
battery
496b. While not shown in Figs. 4A or 4B, the controller 490a, 490b and/or the
actuator 460b
may include a plurality of sensors (e.g., limit switches, proximity sensors,
motion sensors,
temperature sensors, occupancy sensors, pressure sensors, strain gauges, etc.)
and/or lighting
(e.g., light emitting diodes).
[0110] With reference to Figs. 5A-5C, a powered chair control assembly 500a-c
may include
a controller (e.g., a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application
specific integrated
circuit (ASIC), a discrete component electrical circuit, a field-programmable
gate array
(FPGA), a micro-controller, etc.) 590a, 590b, a local controller 570c, a
wireless data receiver
585b, a first actuator 560b, and a second actuator 565b. The first actuator
560b and/or the
second actuator 565b may be either a linear actuator or a rotary actuator. The
local controller
570c may be similar to the local controller 270a, 270b, 270c of Figs. 2A-C,
respectively. The
local controller 570c may include, for example, a chair back upright button
571c, a chair back
recline button 578c, a chair seat upright button 572c, a chair seat upright
button 577c, a chair
foot-rest upright button 573c, a chair foot-rest recline button 576c, a head-
rest upright button
574c, and/or a head-rest recline button 575c. The chair controller 570c may
include, for
example, a first button to move the respective chair between an upright
position (e.g., a chair
Date Regue/Date Received 2023-03-14
TSS005PCT2
position as illustrated in Fig. 2A) and a reclined position (e.g., a chair
position as illustrated in
Fig. 2B). Alternatively, a chair controller 570c may include a plurality of
functions, such as,
individual buttons associated with independently controlling a headrest, a
chair back 215a-c,
a lower lumbar support 220a-c, a chair seat 225a-c, a foot-rest 230a-c, and/or
an arm-rest
235a-c. Additionally, a chair controller 570c may include an audio output
connector, a power
output connector, lighting, a microphone, a speaker, etc. Alternatively, a
chair controller
570c may be similar to a portable computing device (e.g., portable computing
device 169 of
Fig. 1) that facilitates a plurality of chair controls and/or venue
interaction.
101111 The controller 590a, 590b may include a reclined chair position
indicator 597a, 597b
and/or an upright chair position indicator 598a, 598b. The controller 590a,
590b may further
include a first connector receptacle 591a, a second connector receptacle 592a,
a third
connector receptacle 593a, a forth connector receptacle 591b, a fifth
connector receptacle
592b, a sixth connector receptacle 593b, a seventh connector receptacle 594b,
and/or an
eighth connector receptacle 595b. The controller 590a, 590b may also include a
battery
596b. While not shown in Figs. 5A or 5B, the controller 590a, 590b and/or the
actuator 560b
may include a plurality of sensors (e.g., limit switches, proximity sensors,
motion sensors,
temperature sensors, occupancy sensors, pressure sensors, strain gauges, etc.)
and/or lighting
(e.g., light emitting diodes).
[0112] Turning to Figs. 6A-6C, a local chair control assembly 600a-c may
include a chair
control housing 670a-c, a chair recline button 671a-c, and/or a chair upright
button 672a-c.
The local chair control assembly 600a-c may include, for example, a first
button to move the
respective chair between an upright position (e.g., a chair position as
illustrated in Fig. 2A)
and a reclined position (e.g., a chair position as illustrated in Fig. 2B).
Alternatively, a local
chair control assembly 600a-c may include a plurality of functions, such as,
individual
buttons associated with independently controlling a headrest, a chair back
215a-c, a lower
lumbar support 220a-c, a chair seat 225a-c, a foot-rest 230a-c, and/or an arm-
rest 235a-c.
Additionally, a local chair control assembly 600a-c may include an audio
output connector, a
power output connector, lighting, a microphone, a speaker, etc. Alternatively,
a local chair
control assembly 600a-c may be similar to a portable computing device (e.g.,
portable
computing device 169 of Fig. 1) that facilitates a plurality of chair controls
and/or venue
interaction. The local chair control assembly 600a-c may be similar to, for
example, the local
chair control 270a-c.
[0113] A controller may be included in one or more locations per row of
chairs, per section
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of chairs, and may be set to control all A chair locations in a respective row
of chairs and/or
section of chairs. Alternatively or additionally, a controller may be included
in one or more
locations per row of chairs or per section and may be set to control all A and
B chair,
respectively, locations in that row and section. Any given chair may be, for
example, similar
to any one of the recliner chairs 210a-c, 300a-d of Figs. 2A-C or 300a-d,
respectively, or a
group of recliner chairs 210a-c. Control Z may control all configurations.
Various controller
location and control options. The related control may extend and/or retract
associated
reclining chair mechanism. For example, individual chair location control may
be provided
using an electrical switch (e.g., switch 270a-c of Figs. 2A-C or 600a-c of
Figs.6A-C) per
chair. Alternatively or additionally, row control may be provided by way of an
assigned
master or multiple master controllers in the row. A studio control may be
proved to control
of all chairs by a central control. Alternatively, a studio control may
control any and all
locations in all rows and sections. Optionally, an end of row controller A
location may
control all A locations in the row per section. Yet optionally, a second from
end controller
may control all B locations in the row per section. Yet alternatively, one or
more A
controller locations may control all other A locations in a row per section
1310b. Yet further
optionally, one or more B controller locations may control all other B
locations in the row per
section. Even further, an end of row controller location may control all
locations in the row
per section.
[0114] A remote controller (e.g., a studio control 900 of Fig. 9) may be
communicatively
connected to a local control (e.g., an A controller, a B controller, or a
controller located
within each chair) via a hardwired network and/or a wireless network. A
hardwired network
and/or a wireless network may be bi-directional (i.e., the remote controller
may send data to
the A controller, the B controller, or the controller located within each
chair, and the A
controller, the B controller, or the controller located within each chair may
send data to the
remote controller). Alternatively, each chair may include a control module
(e.g., control
module 790a-d of Figs. 7A-D) that is in unidirectional communication with a
master
controller (e.g., a studio controller, an A controller, or a B controller).
101151 At least one first powered recliner chair may be assigned to a first
control group (e.g.,
control group A) by at least one of: a first pin and shorting block, a first
push button, a first
hardwired connection, a first circuit board with a hardwired connection, or a
first entry in a
memory (e.g., an IP address). At least one second powered recliner chair may
be assigned to
a second control group (e.g., control group A) by at least one of: a second
pin and shorting
32
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block, a second push button, a second hardwired connection, a second circuit
board with a
hardwired connection, or a second entry in a memory. A pin and shorting block
may be
included within a control module (e.g., control module 790a-d of Figs. 7A-D).
A push button
may be, for example, part of a chair retract/recline push button assembly
(e.g., push button
671c or push button 672c of Fig. 6C) or may be a push button incorporated into
a control
module (e.g., control module 790a-d of Figs. 7A-D). For example, a hole may be
provided in
a cover of the control module 790a-d and a push button may be incorporated on
an associated
circuit board within the control module 790a-d. In any event, each powered
recliner chair,
within any given venue, may be provided with a unique identification relative
to any other
chair within the venue. While both control group A and control group B may be
located in a
common room (e.g., a single theater), control group A may be in a first room
(e.g., a first
theater) and control group B may be in a second room (e.g., a second theater).
[0116] With reference to Figs. 7A-E, example recliner chairs and related
control components
700a-d are depicted. Any given recliner chair 700a-d may be similar to, for
example, any one
of the recliner chairs from the group of recliner chairs 210a-c of Figs. 2A-C,
or a group 210a-
c of recliner chairs. The recliner chair 700a may include a reclining control
mechanism 727a,
a control module 790a, and a transformer 796a having an electrical connector
791a. The
recliner chair 700b may include a control module 790b having proximate chair
interconnections 793b, 795b, a remote control module connection 792b, and a
local control
switch connection 794b. The recliner chair 700c may include an electric power
transformer
796c, an actuator 760c, a control module 790c, a control module/actuator
connector 793c, a
transformer/control module connector 791c, and a local control switch
connector 794c. The
recliner chair 700d may include an electric power transformer 796d, an
actuator 760d, a
control module 790d, a control module/actuator connector 793d, a
transformer/control
module connector 791d, and a local control switch connector 794d. The recliner
chair 700b
may include a control module 790b having a battery 796b, a first actuator
connector 794b, a
second actuator connector, a first proximate chair connector 793b, and a
second proximate
chair connector 791b. A control module 790a may include a transparent cover
and at least
one light (e.g., lights shown in Figs. 17A-H, J-N and P-R). The light 1499h
may, for
example, be illuminated while the associated chair 1400h is in a theater
cleaning position.
Any given control module 790a-d may be, for example, similar to any one of the
control
modules 490a, 490b, 590a, 590b. Any given actuator 760d may be, for example,
similar to
any one of the actuators 460b, 560b, 565b. Any given control module 790a-d may
include a
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headrest orientation relay, a chair recline relay output, a chair upright
relay output, an
ottoman reorientation relay, an emergency relay output, a lighting relay
output, a combination
thereof, or any sub-combination thereof.
[0117] Any given controller may be configured to control a single chair row,
such that all
chairs extend and/or retract via a single input. Alternatively or
additionally, any given
controller may be configured to control a single chair row, such that every
other chair extend
and/or retract via a single input. Alternatively or additionally, any given
controller may be
configured to control an entire theater control, such that all chairs in a
theater extend and/or
retract via a single input. Alternatively or additionally, any given
controller may be
configured to control an entire theater, such that every other chair extend
and/or retract via a
single input.
[0118] As shown in Fig. 7E, an associated electrical supply cord 700e may be
configured to
provide daisy chained high voltage power, low voltage power, and/or control
between
recliner chairs to facilitate ease of installation. For example, a first chair
may be plugged into
the high voltage power via a male plug7Ole and then extended to electrical
power/control
outlet 703e-706e for proximate chairs. A chair may have multiple powered
outlets, such as
an extension cord or power strip that other chairs may be plugged into. This
may allow a
chair to feed power/control to other chairs, for example, in a row of chairs,
thereby,
eliminating multiple and expensive power/control outlets for each individual
chair. An
electrical power/control outlet 702e-706e may be incorporated into any given
chair, for
example, in a top of an arm box, on a front vertical surface of the chair or
arm box, on an
inside surface of an arm box adjacent to a local chair control switch, etc. An
associated
electrical power circuit may be routed down a row of chairs (e.g, row of
chairs 210a-c of
Figs. 2A-C) and may be T'ed 707e into chair power outlets/control/isle
lights/heaters/etc.
[0119] A first electrical supply cord 700e may be configured, for example,
such that a male
plug 701e is connectable to an electric power outlet (e.g., 110Vac, 120Vac,
220Vac, 240Vac,
etc.), a first female socket 702e may be located proximate a first chair in a
row of chairs, a
second female socket 703e may be located proximate a second chair, and so on
with female
sockets 704e-706e down the row of chairs. The first chair may, for example, be
next the
second chair in a row, or there may be a chair, or group of chairs, between
the first chair and
second chair. A second electrical supply cord 700e may be configured, for
example, such
that a male plug 701e is connectable to an outlet of a power supply (e.g.,
12Vdc, 24Vdc,
27Vdc, 48Vdc, etc.), and may have a first female socket 702e located proximate
a first chair
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in a row of chairs to provide electricity to a first actuator, or first
actuators in the first chair, a
second female socket 703e may be located proximate a second chair, and so on
with female
sockets 704e-706e down the row of chairs to provide electricity from the power
supply to an
actuator, or actuators, in each chair. A third electrical supply cord 700e may
be configured,
for example, such that a plug 701e is connectable to a data outlet (e.g., an
Ethernet outlet, a
USB outlet, a RS-232 outlet, a RS-422 outlet, etc.), and may extend alongside
the first and/or
second electrical supply cord. The first, second, and/or third electrical
supply cords may be
combined into a single cable having multiple outlets (e.g., a 110Vac outlet, a
24Vdc outlet,
and a data outlet) proximate at least some chairs in a row of chairs.
[0120] A mechanical mechanism may be provided in addition to, or in lieu of,
the automatic
mechanisms (e.g., controller/actuator) to reclining any given chair or a group
of chairs via an
interlocked mechanical mechanism. For example, a "C" clamp may be include that
may be
positioned over an aim of a chair and may activate a switch (extend or retract
based on clamp
position). Thus, a system for applying a force to activate the switch may be
provided, such
that a reactive force may be contained within the arm that contains the
switch. Alternatively,
a rod may be provided that may extend between chair arms to activate a switch
(extend or
retract based on rod position). Thus, a system may be provided for applying a
force to
activate the switch such that a reactive force is contained within the chair.
Such a system may
make it unnecessary for the operator to wait while each chair
extends/retracts.
[0121] A less sophisticated mechanical system may be provided where a person
walks down
a row of chairs and applies a mechanical device to extend/retract each chair.
The less
sophisticated mechanical system may be a standalone system or may be
integrated along with
a powered extend/retract system.
[0122] Turning to Fig. 7C, a reclining chair 700c may include a leg rest 730c,
a first arm rest
735c, and a second arm rest 737c. The second arm rest 737c may be movable
(flip up aiin)
attached to, for example, the back of the chair and/or an associated arm box.
Alternatively, a
chair may have a movable arm 737c attached to an atm box. Attaching the second
armrest
737c to the back may keep the arm rest in line with the back preventing the
interference with
an adjacent chair occupant. A reclining chair 700c may, for example, be
installed at an end
of a row, next to an aisle, to facilitate use of the reclining chair 700c by a
physically impaired
individual (i.e., by incorporating a reclining chair 700c, an associated
installation may satisfy,
for example, adults with disability (ADA) requirements). As an alternative to
connecting a
pivotal arm rest to a chair back, any given aim rest may be hingedly attached
to an associated
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arm box and/or chair assembly at a front or rear of the arm box. Any given arm
rest may
include a quick removal feature such that the aiiit rest may be replaced in an
event where the
arm rest, or an arm rest covering, is, for example, damaged. As an
alternative, or
additionally, a recliner chair 700c may include wheels (e.g., retractable
wheels as shown in
Figs. 10A and 10B of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 62/631,457) such
that, for
example, the chair 700c may be rolled into position for access by a physically
impaired
individual.
101231 Any given reclining chair may include a "pillow top" configured to
cover at least a
portion of a respective chair (e.g., a foot rest, a leg rest, a chair seat, a
chair arm, a chair back,
and/or a head rest). A seat and/or back pillow top may be attached to an
adjacent seat or
back, respectively, thereby, creating a gap filler between the seat and back
which may
prevent items (e.g., personal items or trash) from falling below the seating
surfaces.
Alternatively, a gap filler(s) may not be part of a pillow top. A gap filler
may be configures
as: a gap filler with a temporary or permanent connection between a seat
and/or back; a gap
filler with a temporary or permanent connection between the chair arm boxes
and/or other
members; or a gap filler as made from an at least partially permeable member
which may be
configured to assist in determining which items are allowed to fall thru the
chair while other
items are limited from falling. An example of items that may be permitted to
fall through are
popcorn kernels or liquids, while keeping items of such as cell phones, money,
etc. from
falling below the seating surface. An alternative gap filler example may allow
liquids to pass
thru, while items such as popcorn kernels, cell phones, etc. are not allowed
to fall thru. Any
given reclining chair theater system may include passages or openings under
the reclining
chairs that allow items to move to an area of easier access.
101241 A pillow top (e.g., a foot rest pillow top, a leg rest pillow top, a
chair seat pillow top,
a chair arm pillow top, a chair back pillow top, and/or a head rest pillow
top) may be
removable. Alternatively, or additionally, any/all pillow tops may include a
fireproof (or fire
resistant) and/or bullet proof material (e.g., carbon fiber composite
material, Kevlar, Lexan,
grapheme, composite material, wire mesh, anti-ballistic material, etc.). Thus,
in emergency
circumstances a chair occupant may remove a respective pillow top (or pillow
tops) and use
the pillow top(s) for personal protection. Notably, notification of an
emergency situation
within a venue may be initiated via a central alarm (e.g., a manually operated
fire alarm, a
carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, etc.), a sound detector (e.g., a
gunshot detector, a
scream detector, etc.), and/or via a personal electronic device (e.g., a
mobile telephone, a
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portable data assistant, a laptop computer, or any other portable electronic
device that is
communicatively coupled to a venue emergency notification system).
[0125] In addition to including a fireproof and/or anti-ballistic material as
described above, a
removable pillow top may include arm sleeves, straps, handholds, etc. such
that the
removable pillow top is easy for an individual to carry and/or use as a
shield. In addition to,
or as an alternative to, a removable pillow top a chair seat, a chair back,
and/or a chair arm
may include fireproof and/or anti-ballistic material fixed to the chair.
Accordingly, the chair
itself may provide protection from fires and/or bullets.
[0126] Chairs may include an arm box having a cub holder, a top side panel, a
front panel, a
bottom side panel, a back panel, an access opening, support structures, and a
wire way
passage. An aini box with a wire routing channel(s) may include some or all of
the following:
assist in passage of wires such as switch controls from inside to outside of
the arm box; assist
in passage of wires from one side of the arm box to the other side; cross
brace; constructed of
member which do not provide structure; contain members which provide strain
relief;
members which are inserted from each side of the arm box and thus forming a
wire
management path; openings on one or more surfaces to allow additional wires or
items to
enter the wire management path; openings which have movable members; members
positions
such that the members limit entry of undesirable items such as fluids;
provision for a cover
over one or more sides to allow an arm box with such wire management path to
be covered so
the arm box may be used in situations where access from one or both or no
sides is required;
and/or isolated path ways. A reclining chair may include wire management
features to
manage wires between arm boxes and with the recliner mechanism. Any given
reclining
chair system may include a Smart power system mounted either internal to an
arm box or
external to the arm box.
[0127] Power wiring may be provided to a row of powered chairs via, for
example, a plug in
cord having a three prong plug on a first end, at least one receptacle on a
second end, and a
series of "Y" (or "T") female receptacles, connected to the cord, between the
three prong
plug on the first end and the receptacle on the second end. Each female
receptacle may
include, for example, a fuse and/or a circuit breaker for electrical
protection of chair
assemblies, and other electrical devices, that are plugged into the respective
receptacle.
[0128] A host of different circuit board configurations may be employed in any
given
recliner chair installation. For example, a circuit board may have 2-inputs
and 2-outputs. An
interconnection may connect in line between a local control switch and a motor
(e.g.,
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actuator) and may carry electric current that controls the motor/actuator.
Additionally, CAT-5
cables may be included that carry control signals between chairs when a chair
is in normal
mode. A patron's local control switch actions (extend or retract) may be
passed thru our
control module thru the CAT-5 cables. When a chair system is put into
"clean/maintenance"
mode signals may be passed thru the CAT-5 cable to allow a master chair to
control other
chairs.
[0129] Locations of a circuit board and/or transformer may be attached to a
rear chair board.
Alternatively, a circuit board and/or transformer may be attached to a rear
motor/actuator
cross tube. A control circuit may be configured as a serial connection between
modules, may
be wired in parallel, or wires may be eliminated (or reduced) via wireless
communications.
[0130] A high voltage power connection may include a power strip/extension
cord plugged
into a high voltage feed with a receptacle end mounted on a rear cross tube,
or a rear board
adjacent to a transfornier. A transformer may be plugged into one outlet and
proximate
chair(s) may be plugged into other outlet(s). This approach may reduce a
number of
expensive outlets hardwired in an associated building, and may, employ an
associated high
voltage feed line pre-wired in a chair. A rear chair panel may be removable to
facilitate
cleaning and maintenance of a controller, actuator and/or recliner mechanisms.
[0131] Alternatively, or additionally, power and/or control wiring may extend
into a slot
under chair arm box, and may be secured in position using at least one of:
brackets holding
modular wiring in advantageous positions to avoid being disturbed during
associated
venue/chair cleaning; via a power supply (e.g., power supply 790b) being
secured in position;
a chair control being secured in position; routing wires through chair
structural members
(e.g., box beams and/or structural channels); and/or by preventing plugs from
being un-
plugged via restraining clamps. An electrical power and control assembly may
be configured
such that the panel is pre-assembled with an associated junction
box/distribution panel, a
power supply, a chair controller, and associated interconnecting cables, such
that the
electrical power and control assembly may be quickly installed within an
associated powered
recliner chair without the need for skilled labor. Thereby, powered recliner
chair installation
time may be reduced and labor costs may be reduced when compared to powered
recliner
chairs that do not include pre-assembled electrical power and control panels.
A chair arm
box may be, for example, installed against a riser without a chair back
hitting the chair arm or
the riser when the recliner chair is reclined.
[0132] Any given power or data connector may be held in place via a finger, or
multiple
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fingers integrated into, for example, a chair recliner mechanism. Thereby,
screws and/or
similar fasteners are not required to retain the connectors in place. A
bracket may be
mounted on, for example, a rear of each powered recliner chair.
[0133] A first power supply may be configured to, for example, supply electric
power to a
first actuator in a first chair and a second actuator in a second chair. A
second power supply
may be configured to, for example, supply electric power to a third actuator
in a third chair
and a fourth actuator in a fourth chair. First electric power conductors may
extend from the
first power supply to the second power supply proximate second electric power
conductors
that extend from, for example, the first power supply to the second actuator.
Any given
power supply may provide electric power to, for example, up to ten chair
assemblies.
Electric power conductors extending between individual power supplies may
operate at a
higher voltage compared to electric conductors that extend from the power
supply to
associated actuators.
[0134] A method for controlling a plurality of powered recliner chairs may
include assigning
at least one first powered recliner chair to a first control group. The at
least one first powered
recliner chair may be assigned to the first control group by, for example, at
least one of: a
first pin and shorting block, a first push button, or a first entry in a
memory. The method may
further include assigning at least one second powered recliner chair to a
second control
group. The at least one second powered recliner chair may be assigned to the
second control
group by, for example, at least one of: a second pin and shorting block, a
second push button,
or a second entry in a memory. The method may also include causing the at
least one first
powered recliner chair to reorient to a first orientation in response to a
first remote control
input. The method may yet further include causing the at least one second
powered recliner
chair to reorient to a second orientation in response to a second remote
control input. The
first orientation may be independent of the second orientation. The first
orientation may be a
reclined orientation and the first control input is a venue cleaning input.
The second
orientation may be a reclined orientation and the first control input is a
venue cleaning input.
The first orientation may be an upright orientation and the first control
input is a venue
emergency input. The second orientation may be an upright orientation and the
first control
input is a venue emergency input.
[0135] The method may further include generating the first control input and
the second
control input in response to an automatic venue cleaning sequence. The method
may also
include energizing at least one first light source in response to the first
control input. The
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method may yet further include energizing at least one second light source in
response to the
second control signal. The method may also include automatically prohibiting a
second
powered recliner chair from starting to reorient at the same time that a first
chair starts to
reorient.
[0136] The method may be implemented by a processor (e.g., processor 164 of
Fig. 1)
executing a set of computer-executable instructions (e.g., the set of computer-
readable
instructions stored memory 165 of Fig. 1). Alternatively, the method 1900 may
be
implement by dedicated hardware (e.g., one or more discrete component
circuits, one or more
application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.).
[0137] Cup holders are often incorporated into venue seating (e.g., theater
seating,
auditorium seating, sports arena seating, concert hall seating, etc.). A cup
holder may be
incorporated into an associated chair or may be attached to, for example, a
back of chair that
is located in front of an associated chair. Cup holders may be retrofitted to
an associated
seating installation subsequent to the corresponding chairs being installed.
The cup holders
of the present disclosure may provide flexible installation. A cup holder of
the present
disclosure may be securely attached to an associated chair or may be attached
to, for
example, a back of chair that is located in front of an associated chair.
[0138] An accessory tray assembly (e.g., a snack tray, a writing tray, a snack
tray with cup
holder, etc.) of the present disclosure may be attached to a chair, in a field
installation,
without having to modify an associated chair. For example, an accessory tray
assembly of
the present disclosure may include a tray base that may drop into a space
nonnally occupied
by a cup holder and may be clamped to a chair arm box structure with, for
example, lock
dogs. Alternatively, attachment of the base may include screws instead of, or
in addition to,
clamp dogs.
[0139] Accessory tray load may be carried by bearings. The bearings may be
positioned to
carry loads and reduce tray movements. For example, a first bearing may be
place outboard
of a center portion of a tray base to reduce movement and increase load
carrying capabilities.
[0140] An accessory tray assembly attachment mechanism may be free of exposed
fasteners.
For example, associated fasteners may be hidden by a cup holder. An associated
cup holder
may be retained by a unique center plug and screw arrangement. Associated
attachment lock
dogs and/or screws may be accesses access holes in a tray support that are
aligned with
fasteners in a tray base.
[0141] An accessory tray assembly may, for example, incorporate 1/4 turn
locking dogs to
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simplify installation and removal. An accessory tray assembly may, for
example, incorporate
access windows to aid installation and tightening of lock dogs and/or screws.
An accessory
tray assembly may, for example, incorporate features to insure proper position
and function
of associated lock dogs and/or screws. An accessory tray assembly may, for
example, include
other items post attached to the arm box to aid attachment of the accessory
tray assembly to
the associated chair.
[0142] An accessory tray assembly may be left-handed, right-handed, or may be
ambidextrous. An accessory tray assembly may incorporate stops to limit
movement. An
accessory tray assembly may incorporate at least one biasing spring, or other
devise, to
automatically return the tray to a stored or open position. An accessory tray
assembly may
incorporate at least one locking mechanism configured to temporarily stop an
associated tray
in a closed, an opened, an intermediate position, any sub-combination thereof,
or a
combination thereof. An accessory tray assembly may incorporate a complex
shaped snack
tray support arm to minimize costs while providing superior strength compared
to known
trays. An accessory tray assembly may include an attachment having at least
one attachment
mechanism for removably securing the accessory tray within a receptacle of a
chair. An
accessory tray assembly may include drain holes for draining liquids that
enter the assembly.
An accessory tray assembly may include drain holes which serve as access holes
for snack
tray attachment features.
[0143] An accessory tray assembly may omit a cup holder, and the cup holder
may be
replaced with other feature(s). Any of the embodiments described to include a
cup holder
may similarly apply to these embodiments. An accessory tray assembly may
include features
to aid orientation of the snack tray during assembly. An accessory tray
assembly may include
features to aid the orientation of the snack tray during assembly to the
chair. An accessory
tray assembly may include a snack tray containing a support and table top
which may be
folded to minimize storage space and maximize use space. An accessory tray
assembly may
include a snack tray containing a support and table top which may be folded to
minimize
storage space and maximize use space. An accessory tray assembly may include
design to
include features to reduce, minimize or prevent spillage when in a closed
position. An
accessory tray assembly may include a snack tray containing a support and
table top
which may be folded to minimize storage space and maximize use space.
[0144] An accessory tray assembly may include design to include features to
communicate
tray position to a remote computing device. An accessory tray assembly may
include a snack
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tray containing display devices to communicate with customers and staff. An
accessory tray
assembly may include a snack tray which incorporates a means to automatically
recline or
partially recline an associated chair based on position of the snack tray. An
accessory tray
assembly may include a snack tray which may coordinate a snack tray position
and a chair
position. For example, cooperation between a tray position and a chair
position may be
accomplished mechanically, electromechanically, electrically or by other
means.
[0145] A chair may incorporate a tray which communicates with a chair control,
operational
system, ticketing systems and/or other entertainment and ordering systems, to
enhance venue
or customer experience. For example, features may include locking the tray in
a closed
position if a ticket is not purchased and/or signaling based on position. An
accessory tray
assembly may include display(s) that welcome customers, advertise specials,
etc. An
accessory tray assembly may incorporate devices to aid ordering of food or
services, etc. An
accessory tray assembly may include a tray which may open when an event occurs
such as an
end of show, a fire alarm sounds and/or may automatically close (partially or
fully) when an
associated seat is unoccupied.
[0146] A snack tray support may include features to aid or conceal wire
routing, switches,
displays or associated equipment to aid in the implementation of functions
described. An
accessory tray assembly may include a snack tray which may be powered to an
opened,
closed or intermediate position. An accessory tray assembly may include a
snack tray which
may be assisted by an energy storage device such as a spring move to an
opened, closed or
intermediate position. An accessory tray assembly may include a snack tray
which may be
assisted or resisted by a damper during movement to an opened, closed or
intermediate
position.
[0147] Turning to Fig. 8A, a chair assembly 800a may include a chair 805a
having a first cup
holder 810a and an accessory tray assembly 815a including a second cup holder
820a. The
accessory tray assembly 815a is shown in a non-use position. While the chair
805a is shown
as a powered recliner chair (e.g., as described in detail within the commonly
assigned patent
applications that are referenced above), any given chair 805a may be as
described in any
other commonly assigned patent applications referenced above, or may be any
other suitable
chair.
[0148] Operation of a powered recliner chair may be enabled when a ticket for
the particular
chair is purchased. Thereby, in venues that include both standard chairs and
powered recliner
chairs, a patron is unable to occupy a powered recliner chair without buying a
corresponding
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ticket. A venue cleaning system may include a remote control that reorients
only chairs that
were occupied (i.e., a ticket was purchased for the chair) subsequent to a
previous cleaning
and/or during a previous event. Thereby, reorientation of the chairs is
reduced when
compared to reorienting all chairs during each venue cleaning cycle.
[0149] Alternatively, or additionally, both standard chairs (e.g., chairs
without a powered
recliner feature, chairs having a manual recliner feature, stationary chairs,
rocker style chairs,
beam mounted chairs, etc.) and powered chairs (e.g., powered recliner chairs,
chairs with a
powered ottoman, etc.) may include at least one electrical power and/or at
least one data
outlet (e.g., a USB port, an Ethernet port, an RS-232 port, an RS-485 port, a
wireless
communication interface, etc.). For example, a chair may include a data outlet
that may
enable a chair occupant to interact with a gaming facility (e.g., betting,
gambling, etc.), a
facility concessions, a restaurant, a bar, etc., via an electronic device
(e.g., a smart phone, a
lap top computer, a personal data assistant, a dedicated facility electronic
device, etc.). In any
event, an electrical power outlet and/or a data outlet may be enabled for a
particular chair
when, for example, an individual buys an associated ticket. An electrical
power circuit
and/or data circuit may be extended from one chair to another as, for example,
described
elsewhere herein with respect to powered recliner chairs and/or as described
within other
patent applications/patents that are referenced (e.g., commonly assigned U.S.
Patent
Application S/Ns: 15/919,172, filed March 12, 2018; 15/919,176, filed March
12, 2018;
15/800,182, filed November 1, 2017; 15/675,865, filed August 14, 2017; and
15/710,768,
filed September 20, 2017. The present application is also related to commonly
assigned U.S.
Provisional Patent Application S/Ns: 62/631,457, filed February 15, 2018, and
62/477,421,
filed March 27, 2017).
[0150] A chair assembly may include a touch screen, or an associated device
(e.g., a smart
phone, a personal data assistant, a lap top computer, etc.) having a touch
screen, may be
configured to include a drag bar or swipe feature to extend and/or retract a
chair a desired
distance. All non-occupied powered recliner chairs within a given venue may be
automatically partially reclined such that the chair backs do not affect sight
lines of patrons
seated behind the non-occupied chairs. Alternatively, or additionally, chairs
that have not
been purchased may be partially reclined when patrons enter behind the un-
purchased chair.
This may help sight lines and identified purchased chairs.
[0151] A touch screen associated with a given chair may be configured to
include swipe
gestures to control the chair (e.g., half swipe = half open position); a pinch
to close the chair;
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preset chair position buttons; and/or a chair and/or venue may remember
customers favorite
positions/screen layouts (e.g., color scheme, button layouts etc.). A customer
ID may be
determined by tying into a point of sale system such that when a customer buys
a reserved
seat, the chair may be activated and with the given customer's favorite
control panel layout
and preset position buttons; allow a customer to enter a code (e.g., their
frequent movie goer
ID) to recall their favorite control panel layout and preset position buttons;
a finger print
reader; and/or a read card or dongle provided by theater.
101521 A "Welcome message" may be added to a screen (e.g., "This luxury
recliner is
reserved for CUSTOMER). Screen graphics may change orientation based on
whether a
given chair is occupied (e.g., graphics facing standing or seated customer). A
screen layout
may have buttons to tie into non-movie related services (e.g., have valet
parking bring my car
up, prepare my pre-ordered meal or snacks at local eatery, etc.). Available
buttons on a
screen may change with movie progress (e.g., during preshow food ordering
buttons, during
trailers, buttons to advance ordering of tickets of show on trailer, buttons
for services, such as
described above, at end of show, etc.).
101531 With reference to Fig. 8B, a chair assembly 800b may include a chair
805b having a
first cup holder 810b and an accessory tray assembly 815b including a second
cup holder
820b. The accessory tray assembly 815b is shown in an in-use position. While
the chair
805b is shown as a powered recliner chair (e.g., as described in detail within
the commonly
assigned patent applications that are referenced above), any given chair 805b
may be as
described in any other commonly assigned patent applications that is
referenced above, or
may be any other suitable chair.
[0154] Any given stack tray may be configured, for example, as shown and
described within
commonly assigned provisional patent application S/N: 62/689,237. Similarly,
any given cup
holder may be configured, for example, as shown and described within commonly
assigned
provisional patent application S/N: 62/689,237.
With reference to Fig. 9, a remote chair controller 900 may include a
plurality of buttons 910
proximate a housing cover 905. The remote chair controller 900 may further
include an
antenna 915 to provide a wireless communication link 920. The remote chair
controller 900
may be configured to control a powered recliner chair as, for example, any of
the powered
recliner chairs disclosed in commonly assigned patent applications: S/N:
62/143,079, entitled
POWERED CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC VENUES, ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED
CHAIRS, AND COMPONENTS FOR USE IN ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED
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CHAIRS, as filed on April 4, 2015; SIN: 62/149,596, entitled POWERED CHAIRS
FOR
PUBLIC VENUES, ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, AND
COMPONENTS FOR USE IN ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, as filed
on April 19, 2015; SIN: 62/159,791, entitled POWERED CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC VENUES,
ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, AND COMPONENTS FOR USE IN
ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, as filed on May 11,2015; SIN:
62/159,791, entitled POWERED CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC VENUES, ASSEMBLIES FOR
USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, AND COMPONENTS FOR USE IN ASSEMBLIES FOR
USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, as filed on May 11, 2015; S/N: 62/175,210, entitled
POWERED CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC VENUES, ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED
CHAIRS, AND COMPONENTS FOR USE IN ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED
CHAIRS, as filed on June 12, 2015; and No. PCT/US16/25803, entitled POWERED
CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC VENUES, ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS,
AND COMPONENTS FOR USE IN ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN POWERED CHAIRS, as
filed on April 3, 2016.
101551 In particular, a remote chair controller 900 may communicate with a
chair controller
(e.g., controller 800 of Fig. 8 of PCT/US16/25803), a local chair control
(e.g., local control
270 of Fig. 2 of PCT/US16/25803), a chair control module (e.g., control module
1490e of
Fig. 14E of PCT/US16/25803) to provide control of, for example, an individual
chair (e.g., a
chair 1200a of Fig. 12A of PCT/US16/25803) and/or a group of chairs (e.g.,
group of chairs
1300A of Fig. 13A of PCT/US16/25803). Fig. 13A depicts a controller 1305a,
that may be
included in one or more locations per row 1320a, 1325a, per section 1310a,
1315a, and may
be set to control all A chair 1335a locations in a respective row 1320a, 1325a
and section
1310a, 1315a. Alternatively or additionally, a controller 1305a may be
included in one or
more locations per row 1320a, 1325a per section and may be set to control all
A and B chair
1335a, 1330a, respectively, locations in that row 1320a, 1325a and section
1310a, 1315a.
Control Z 1305a may control all configurations. Various controller 1305a
location and
control options are depicted in Fig. 13B. The related control may extend
and/or retract
associated reclining chair mechanism. For example, individual chair location
control may be
provided using an electrical switch per chair. Alternatively or additionally,
row 1320a, 1325a
control may be provided by way of an assigned master or multiple master
controllers 1305a
in the row 1320b, 1322b, 1325b. A studio control 1340b may be proved to
control of all
chairs 1330b, 1335b by a central control 1305a. Alternatively, a studio
control 1340b may
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control any and all locations in all rows 1320b, 1322b, 1325b and sections
1310a, 1315a.
Optionally, an end of row controller 1305a A location may control all A
locations in the row
1320b, 1322b, 1325b per section 1310b. Yet optionally, a second from end
controller 1305a
may control all B locations in the row 1320b, 1322b, 1325b per section 1310b.
Yet
alternatively, one or more A controller 1305a locations may control all other
A locations in a
row 1320b, 1322b, 1325b per section 1310b. Yet further optionally, one or more
B controller
1305a locations may control all other B locations in the row 1320b, 1322b,
1325b per section
1310a, 1315a. Even further, an end of row controller 1305a location may
control all
locations in the row 1320b, 1322b, 1325b per section 1310a, 1315a. A remote
controller
(e.g., a studio control 1340b) may be communicatively connected to a local
control (e.g., an
A controller, a B controller, or a controller located within each chair) via a
hardwired
network and/or a wireless network. A hardwired network and/or a wireless
network may be
bi-directional (i.e., the remote controller may send data to the A controller,
the B controller,
or the controller located within each chair, and the A controller, the B
controller, or the
controller located within each chair may send data to the remote controller).
Alternatively,
each chair may include a control module that is in unidirectional
communication with a
master controller (e.g., a studio controller, an A controller, or a B
controller).
101561 As a particular example, each of the buttons 910 may be associated with
a given
theater (e.g., theater 1, theater 2, etc.) within a group of theaters.
Pressing button 1 for a
predetermined period of time (e.g., three seconds, five seconds, etc.) may
cause the remote
chair controller 900 to transmit an initiation signal to a chair control 800
to, for example,
cause a subset of chairs (e.g., A or B) of a group of chairs 1300a within
theater 1 to move to
either an upright orientation, a partially reclined orientation, or a reclined
orientation. This
functionality may provide access to a theater maintenance person for cleaning
at least a
portion of an associated theater. The chair control 800 may include a first
timer that causes
the chair control 800 to store a chair control sequence status in memory and
to exit the remote
control mode after a first period of time (e.g., five minutes, ten minutes,
fifteen minutes, etc.).
The chair control 800 may include a second timer that causes the chair control
800 to exit the
remote control mode and clear the chair control sequence status from memory
after a second
period of time (e.g., one-half hour, one hour, one and a half hours, etc.).
Single button 300
initiation may be considered to, for example, represent an "easy" mode.
[0157] A chair control may include at least one light (e.g., a light 1499h of
Fig. 14H of
PCT/US16/25803) that may, for example, provide feedback to an operator of the
remote chair
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controller 900 that the chair control has received a control signal from the
remote chair
controller. Alternatively, or additionally, a light 1499h may indicate whether
a chair or a
group of chairs has been left within a control sequence (e.g., a theater
cleaning mode).
[0158] A remote chair controller 900 may include a display (e.g, a liquid
crystal display, a
LED display, a vacuum fluorescent display, an OLED display, etc.) and/or may
be a smart
device (e.g., a tablet computer, a cellular phone, etc.). Thereby, a remote
chair controller 900
may be provided to an individual along with, for example, a ticket purchase to
provide chair
control and/or information. For example, a remote chair controller 900 may be
configured as
an information display for hearing impaired. A remote chair controller 900 may
include a
microphone, a voice recognition unit, and may display words and/or
words/characters
indicative of emotions associated with a current event (e.g., a movie, a
concert, a sporting
event, a play, etc.).
[0159] A chair control may be configured such that a local chair control 270a-
c may override
any control signal received from a remote chair controller (e.g., activation
of a local chair
control 270a-c may cause an associated chair to recline even though a remote
chair control
900 is sending, or has sent, a chair upright signal). A remote chair
controller 900 may be
configured such that pressing a sequence of buttons 910, or holding a
particular button 910
for a given time period, may initiate a pre-determined event. For example,
pressing a
sequence of buttons 910 may initiate a semi-automatic chair response, may
initiate only
chairs denoted as A, may initiate only chairs denoted as B, may initiate
control of an
individual chair within an associated venue, and/or may allow a user to change
an "easy"
mode function.
[0160] Alternatively, or additionally, a remote chair controller 900, a local
chair control
270a-c and/or a master venue controller (e.g., master control 1305a of Fig.
13A of
PCT/US16/25803) may be coordinated to provide particular functionality (e.g.,
turn on/off
associated lighting, call for assistance, indicate a chair associated with a
concession order,
etc.). For example, a remote chair controller 900 and/or a local chair control
270a-c may
allow a chair occupant and/or a venue operations person to interact with other
venue features
(e.g., participate in current raffles, participate in trivia games, order
concessions, order tickets
to other events, call for a valet service, etc.). A remote chair controller
900 and/or a local
chair control 270a-c may be configured to send signals to a master control
which may, in
turn, transmit signals to a chair control.
[0161] Turning to Fig. 10, a display 1000 may include an electrical circuit
board 1010 having
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a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 1011 and a display panel 1015
having a display
1020 incorporated within a display housing 1005. The display panel 1015 may be
glass with
the display 1020 etched on an associated surface of the glass. The LEDs 1011
may define an
edge lighting assembly. At least a portion of the LEDs 1011 may be controlled
similar to the
light 3299a as described above. Alternatively, or additionally, at least a
portion of the LEDs
1011 may remain on at least while ambient lighting within an associated venue
is dim. As
illustrated in Fig. 10, a display 1000 may define a row/seat identification
tag to be installed
on, for example, an end panel of a chair at an end of a given row of seats. A
display 1000
may be installed on an associated chair without display panel or with a blank
display panel
1015. In either event, a display panel 1015 may be incorporated into the
display 1000 after
the chair is installed within a venue. Thereby, the display may reflect any
desired
information.
[0162] The display 1000 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a vacuum
fluorescent
(VF) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, LEDs and light
pipes display,
and may provide a visual indicator to a venue patron. In any event, the
display 1000 may
communicate seat identity to the patron, theatre staff, etc. Alternately, or
additionally, the
display 1000 may communicate to the patron and aid the patron/staff in
locating their/a seat
and, thus, function as an "electronic usher." The patron may be given a device
(e.g., device
900 of Fig. 9) that may provide an indication, such as lights or vibrate when
the device is
adjacent to the patron's seat. The patron may be given a device 900 that may
provide an
indication, such as a light or in the seat such as light up the display 1000
or partially open
when the device 900 is adjacent to the patron's seat. Such a device 900 may
enable
associated chair functions, as paid for by the patron, when the device 900 is
adjacent/paired
to the associated chair. Different service tiers (e.g., chair motion, hearing
impaired
functionality, chair heating/cooling, chair massage, etc.) may be provided
based on payment.
[0163] A display assembly 1000 may include illumination of multiple light
sources that may
be controlled independently. For example, any given light source may be
automatically
controlled (e.g., dimmed, brightened, turned on, turned off, etc.) based on a
venue event, a
predetermined time, a motion sensor, etc. A display assembly 1000 may include
other
displays (e.g., chair is "sold", chair is not working, etc.). A display
assembly 1000 may
include a base that ships separately to an associated chair installation job
site. A display
assembly 1000 may include a display unit that ships separately to an
associated chair
installation job site, and may be customized for a particular application. A
display assembly
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1000 may allow for many display options including having a unit in which a
light pipe may
be inserted.
[0164] With referenced to Fig. 11, a powered recliner chair assembly 1100 may
include a
central chair frame 1105, a chair seat box structure 1110, a first arm box
1115, a second arm
box 1120, a power junction box 1125, a power inlet connection 1130, a power
outlet
connection 1135, and at least one actuator connector 1140. The chair seat box
structure 1110
may be movable, or removable, to facilitate access underneath the associated
assembly 1100.
Each arm box 1115, 1120 may include atm box quick attachment features 1121
configured to
cooperate with chair recliner mechanism structure quick attachment features
1106, 1107,
respectively, to facilitate installation, removal, and/or replacement of an
associated arm box
1115, 1120. For example, a pair of central chair frames 1105 may be secured in
place within
an associated venue spaced apart from one another such that an arm box 1115,
1120 may be
slid downward between the pair of central chair frames 1105 and secured in
place via the
respective arm box quick attachment features 1116, 1120 and the chair recliner
mechanism
structure quick attachment features 1106, 1107.
[0165] A chair recliner mechanism structure 1105 and/or an arm box 1115, 1120
may include
power cord rack features that receive a power inlet connection 1130 or a power
outlet
connection 1135 from a backside or a respective chair and retain the power
inlet connection
1130 and/or the power outlet connection 1135 up off an associated floor
surface. The power
cord rack features may be, for example, hook shape features that allow
installation of the
power inlet connection 1130 and/or the power outlet connection 1135, and/or
the arm boxes
1115, 1120 without unplugging the power inlet connection 1130 and/or the power
outlet
connection 1135 from an associated power junction box 1125. In fact, a series
of power inlet
connections 1130 and/or power outlet connections 1135 may be plugged into
respective
power junction boxes 1125 while laying, for example, on a floor behind a row
of associated
chairs, and subsequently the series of power inlet connections 1130 and/or
power outlet
connections 1135, along with respective power junction boxes 1125, may be set
in place with
the associated chair recliner mechanism structures 1105 and/or arm boxes 1115,
1120 set in
place.
[0166] A powered recliner chair may include a power supply having a battery
and a battery
charger. The battery charger may be configured to automatically charge the
battery during
periods of time in which an associated electric actuator motor is not in
operation. Thereby,
the power supply and battery may be configured to provide a constant voltage
to the electric
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actuator motor during times when, for example, several actuators, that are
connected to the
given power supply, are activated. The power supply may also include a
constant voltage
transformer that outputs a constant voltage regardless of current draw from
electric actuator
motor(s). The transformer may, for example, adjust automatically to maintain a
generally
constant DC voltage output to the electric actuator motor. In lieu of, or in
addition to, a
battery within a power supply, a battery charger and/or a battery may be
provided within any
given actuator. Any given chair assembly may be configured such that, for
example, when an
associated venue experiences an electric power outage, the chair assembly may
be reoriented
to an upright orientation, via electric power from a battery. Once the chair
assembly is
reoriented to an upright orientation, an associated chair control may disable
operation of the
chair assembly until the venue electric power is restored.
[0167] A chair seat box structure may interlock into an associated recliner
chair in a fashion
to allow the seat box to be restrained when occupied and to be moved into a
position to aid
cleaning. For example, bracket(s) may cooperate with member(s) of a recliner
mechanism or
items connected to the recliner mechanism to restrict undesirable seat
movement and noise
when the recliner is occupied, but allow for easy movement of the chair seat
when the
associated chair is unoccupied. Alternatively, a chair seat may be attach to
an associated
chair via a pillow top or other flexible member (e.g., a hinge mechanism). In
addition to, or
in lieu of, a powered recliner chair, or group of powered recliner chairs,
being reoriented
from an upright orientation to a reclined orientation as described herein and
within the patents
and patent applications that are referenced herein, a chair seat box structure
may include an
actuator that is configured to move the chair seat in response to a user
activating, for
example, a remote and/or local control button. Thereby, venue personnel may
access under
respective chairs for cleaning and/or servicing. As another alternative, or in
addition, a chair
may be pivotal with respect to, for example, a recliner mechanism structure
(RMS). For
example, at least a portion of the RMS may be fixed to an associated floor and
the remaining
portion of the chair assembly may pivot such that venue personnel may access
under
respective chairs for cleaning and/or servicing. An actuator may be included
to pivot the
chair relative the portion of the RMS.
[0168] A removable/movable chair seat frame may be, for example, hinged along
a front side
and an actuator may be provided to pivot the removable/movable chair seat
frame upward to
assist a chair occupant to stand up and exit the chair. An associated
removable/movable chair
seat frame control (e.g., a first set of user controls/displays, a second set
of user
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controls/displays and/or a third set of user controls/displays) may be
provided in, for
example, an arm box.
[0169] With reference to Figs. 12A and 12B, an aim box assembly 1200a, b may
include an
arm box 1205a, b, a first user interface/display 1210a, b, and a second user
interface/display
1215a, b. The first user interface /display 1210a, b and/or the second user
interface/display
1215a, b may include a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate
respective display
features. Any given light source may be manually or automatically controlled.
For example,
any given light source may be automatically controlled (e.g., dimmed,
brightened, turned on,
turned off, etc.) based on a venue event, a predetermined time, a motion
sensor, etc. Any
given second user interface/display 1215a may include an aperture to, for
example, receive or
allow access to an associated cup holder. Any given user interface may include
manual
controls for the light sources, chair recline/upright controls, a chair heater
control, a chair
massage control, etc.
[0170] As illustrated in Figs. 12A and 12B, the first user interface /display
1210a, b may be
angled toward a front of an associated venue and away from view of occupants
of chairs such
that, for example, a chair and/or row number may be illuminated and visible to
individuals
walking, yet without being visible to individuals that are seated. An area
light, or lights,
1216b may be incorporated within a second user interface/display 1215b to, for
example,
provide row and/or aisle illumination similar to light sources 910 of Fig. 9.
In any event, any
given light, or lights, 1216b may be manually or automatically controlled. For
example, any
given light source may be automatically controlled (e.g., dimmed, brightened,
turned on,
turned off, etc.) based on a venue event, a predetermined time, a motion
sensor, etc.
[0171] Any given light source may be manually or automatically controlled. For
example,
any given light source may be automatically controlled (e.g., dimmed,
brightened, turned on,
turned off, etc.) based on a venue event, a predetermined time, a motion
sensor, etc. Any
given user interface 1200a,b may include an aperture to, for example, receive
or facilitate
addition of a tray or to allow access to an associated cup holder. Any given
user interface
may include manual controls for the light sources, chair recline/upright
controls, a chair
heater control, a chair massage control, etc.
[0172] An area light, or lights, may be incorporated within a user interface
1100a,b to, for
example, provide row and/or aisle illumination similar to light sources 910 of
Fig. 9. In any
event, any given light, or lights, may be manually or automatically
controlled. For example,
any given light source may be automatically controlled (e.g., dimmed,
brightened, turned on,
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turned off, etc.) based on a venue event, a predetermined time, a motion
sensor, etc.
[0173] Any given user interface 1100a, b may include an ambient light sensor
to, for
example, automatically control light output of an associated light source
and/or display. For
example, during pre-show or non-movie times, venue lights may be on such that
a seat
number may automatically increase intensity. Alternatively, light control may
be
programmed thru an associated venue control network. In any event, a seat
number may be
bright when needed and dim when it gets dark during, for example, a show.
Alternatively, or
additionally, bright seat lights may be set during, for example, a bright
section of the show.
Any given user interface 1100a, b may incorporate a sensor to detect if an
associated chair is
occupied. Any given user interface 1100a, b may incorporate additional
controls such as
vibration, massage, call for food, emergency/assistance call, etc. Any given
user interface
1100a, b may incorporate chair extend retract controls on each side for a pair
of adjacent
chairs. For end of row chairs, a row side may include aisle lights, a row
number/letter, a seat
number, an ADA designation, an indicator when associated chairs are in a venue
cleaning
mode, a call light indicator for a patron/chair needing service in that row,
etc. Any given user
interface 1100a, b may be mounted flush with sides of an associated ami
box/flip up arm as
illustrated in Fig. 7C, and may extend wider than the arm box/flip up arm so
that features
such as down lighting or aisle lights may be incorporated. Any given user
interface 1100a, b
may include some or all of smart chair control features, such as smart power,
venue cleaning,
power modules, etc. Any given user interface 1100a, b may facilitate
modularization of an
associated recliner chair by enhancing standalone nature of the RMSs, arm
boxes, chair seats,
chair ottomans, chair backs, and/or headrests. Any given user interface 1100a,
b may
incorporate power supplies or power regulators for independent items such as
aisle lights,
tasks lights, cup holders, snack trays, call buttons, and/or features to
enhance patron
experience or venue operation. Any given user interface 1100a, b may
incorporate an optical
beam paired with beam/receiver module. The beam could originate in one chair
and go
across the seat width. An occupant in the chair may break the beam indicating
an occupant
present. The beam/receiver modules are available in many types for example a
garage door
opener safety close switch.
[0174] Any given user interface 1100a, b may include a clock or sleep timer(s)
configured to
automatically dim or shut off associated light sources/displays during times
when an
associated venue is not in operation. This can take a number of forms: turn
off/dim a light
source/display if an associated chair is not used for more than a
predetermined time (e.g., an
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hour, 3-hours, etc.). Any given user interface 1100a, b may incorporate
multiple timers and
actions. Automatic control may incorporate patterns, for example, turn off
every other row or
chair. Alternatively, the pattern can alternate, rotate, vary, during nottnal
times, for example,
every other chair user interface 1100a,b may dim for 5 minutes. A row number
may be
automatically turned on and an associated seat number turned off on
alternating chairs.
Which chair is "on" and "off' may be changed in some pattern such as by day,
venue
cleaning cycle (System can toggle at venue cleaning activation), etc. Any
given user interface
4400a, b may incorporate a global clock timer that sets on/off times.
[0175] Any given user interface 1100a, b may incorporate a wake up code in the
control
system to turn on/off displays until a next button push. Any given user
interface 1100a, b
may allow any chair in a particular venue to detect a button push on any other
chair and
react/wake up. Any given user interface 4400a, b may incorporate, for example,
a wifi
module to sync an internet time, a battery, a processor, a memory, and/or a
programming port
(e.g., a USB port, an RS-232 port, a RS-422 port, programming port 1706a of
Fig. 17A, etc.),
an audio port. Thereby, any given user interface 1100a, b may be configured to
provide all
chair control and/or user functions described herein. When a user interface
includes a
battery, the user interface may not require any external electrical
connections to facilitate
chair control and/or user functionality (i.e., user interface power may be
provided via the
battery and control data may be transmitted/received wireless).
[0176] Any given user interface 1100a, b may include a power connection (e.g.,
a direct
current (DC) connection and/or an alternating current connection) and/or a
data connection
(e.g., wired and/or wireless data connection). The power connection and/or the
data
connection may include any suitable plug/receptacle to facilitate user
interface installation,
removal and/or replacement.
[0177] Any given user interface 1100a, b may include a chair position sensor
that is
configured to sense an angle at which an associated chair is reclined.
Thereby, the user
interface 1100a, b may be programmed to limit an angle at which the given
chair may be
reclined. Thus, a chair that is installed adjacent a wall or a handicap
accessible area, for
example, may be programmed to recline less than other chairs in other areas of
a respective
venue.
[0178] Any given user interface 1100a, b may include switches, controls and
displays. For
example, a recliner control switch may be incorporated with remote venue
cleaning control
circuitry into a single circuit board. The combined control may be located in
an arm box
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and/or in a remote control positioned at, for example, a rear of an associated
chair. Locating
the controls in an arm box may provide improved control signal reception, may
allow
customization to an arm box and may make associated recliner structure less
custom. This
may reduce overall complexity and may speed installation. Furthermore,
locating controls in
an arm box may combine chair number, display, chair status such as
sold/available, etc., may
include a USB port or other input feature (wired or wireless) to, for example,
program a chair
assembly. For example, programing may include venue cleaning chair programing,
smart
power programing, setting display parameters such as chair number, row letter,
a chair
network ID such as IP address etc. Moreover, locating controls in an arm box
may combine
an AC to DC motor power supply with these items to reduce cost, components,
and/or
complexity.
101791 Any given user interface 1100a, b may be configured to monitor and/or
control
recline/retraction functions of an associated chair or associated chairs. For
example, a user
interface 1100a, b may be programmed to monitor a number of electrical pulses
applied to an
associated actuator and/or to monitor an amount of time the associated
actuator is activated.
Thereby, the user interface 1100a, b may be configured to limit chair
movement. For
example, a given chair may be configured to be installed in a venue with a row
spacing
particular row spacing, and a chair foot rest (or ottoman) movement may be
limited to ensure
a row egress that meets an associated fire code (e.g., twelve inches for chair
installations in
the United States, fourteen inches for chair installations in Canada, etc.).
Alternatively, or
additionally, a position sensor (e.g., a haul effect sensor, a limit sensor, a
linear rheostat, a
rotary rheostat, etc.) may be connected to a user interface input to provide a
chair position
feedback signal. In any event, a user interface 1100a, b (and/or chair
control) may be
configured to monitor/control a chair orientation. Similarly, chairs installed
in a back row of
a venue may include a chair back/head rest that does not recline as far back
as a chair
back/head rest of a chair installed in a front row of the venue. An associated
ottoman, on the
other hand, may extend the same for the chair in the back row and the chair in
the front row.
Thereby, a head of a chair occupant in the back row will remain more upright
when the
associated chair back/head rest is reclined when compared to a head of a chair
occupant in a
chair located in the front row.
101801 A number of electrical pulses applied to an actuator may be
proportional to an
associated actuator drive current. Alternatively, or additionally, a width of
pulses applied to
an actuator may be proportional to an associated actuator drive current. A
user interface
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1100a, b (or other control) may control an actuator based on a number of
electrical pulses
and/or a width of electrical pulses applied to an actuator drive motor. A user
interface 1100a,
b (or other control) may control an actuator based on a frequency of
electrical pulses applied
to an actuator drive motor. An actuator may be either a linear actuator or a
rotary actuator.
While an actuator/control as disclosed herein may be incorporated within a
powered recliner
chair, a similar actuator/control may be incorporated in any application
(e.g., two-
dimensional laser cutters, two-dimensional plasma cutters, two-dimensional
water jet cutters,
multi-axis machining systems, multi-axis robots, etc.).
101811 A user interface 1100a, b may include a touch screen display having a
plurality of
control button icons, with each control button icon being configured to result
in a respective
chair being oriented to a predetermined orientation when the respective
control button icon is
selected by a user. For example, a user may momentarily touch a particular
control button
icon and the respective chair will orient to a fully reclined orientation.
Activation of a second
control button icon may result in the associated chair being oriented to a
fully upright
orientation. Activation of a third control button icon may result in the
associated chair being
oriented to an orientation in between fully reclined and fully upright.
Activation of a forth
control button icon, and/or activation of a venue cleaning function, may cause
a plurality of
chairs in a given venue to reorient to an orientation that causes, for
example, associated foot
rests (or ottomans) and/or chair backs to extend into a row space otherwise
required when the
associated venue is occupied (i.e., when the venue is vacant, the chairs may
be reclined
further than when the venue is occupied). Thereby, the chairs may
simultaneously meet
respective fire codes and facilitate venue cleaning.
101821 By providing chair orientation monitoring and/or feedback, an
associated user
interface (and/or chair control) may be programmed to orient a chair relative
to differing
venue floor angles. Alternatively, or additionally, chair orientation data may
be acquired and
stored to, for example, enable venue designers to analyze preferred chair
orientations. Chair
orientation data may be used for design of venue chair layouts. In
circumstances where a
user interface is programmed to monitor chair orientation via application of
electric power to
an actuator, the user interface may detect variations in electric power (e.g.,
a spike when an
ottoman begins to move, a spike when a chair is fully reclined, a spike when a
chair is fully
upright, etc.) to, for example, set (or validate) a "known" (or current)
orientation.
Subsequently, the user interface (or chair control) may approximate chair
orientation based
on actuator activation time and/or power pulses.
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[0183] Additionally, or alternatively, by providing chair orientation
monitoring and/or
feedback, an associated user interface (and/or chair control) may be
programmed to orient a
group of chairs within a venue during emergency situations. For example, a
user interface
(and/or chair control) may automatically reorient chairs close to aisles
before chairs in a
center of a row when a fire alarm is activated. As another example, chairs may
be
automatically reoriented to a predetermined orientation between a fully
upright orientation
and a fully reclined orientation in response to an emergency notification.
[0184] In addition to a chair reorientation control, a user interface 1100a,b
may include a
chair heater control, a chair massage unit control, a chair lighting control,
a venue lighting
control, and/or a chair electric power management control. A user interface
1100a,b may be,
for example, communicatively coupled to a powered reclining chair site and/or
a venue
operations center (e.g., a powered reclining chair site 160, a venue
operations center 105, etc.
of Fig. 1) and may automatically control electric power usage. For example, a
user interface
4400a-d and/or a powered reclining chair site 160 may be configured to
automatically turn
off and/or limit electric power to at least one chair accessory (e.g., a chair
heater, a chair
cooling unit, a chair massage unit, a lighting unit, a chair electric power
outlet, a chair USB
port, etc.) when an associated chair, that is electrically connected to a
common electric power
supply, is being reoriented (i.e., when electric power is being applied to a
chair actuator).
[0185] A processor of a user interface 1100a,b may receive movie play data
(e.g., movie
queue data) from a processor (e.g., processor 167 of Fig. 1) of a powered
reclining chair site
160, and the processor of the user interface 1100a,b may automatically control
electric power
usage of a chair accessory based upon the movie play data. For example, the
processor of the
user interface 1100a,b may automatically turn off a chair accessory (e.g., a
chair heater, a
chair cooling unit, a chair massage unit, a chair electric power outlet, a
chair USB port, etc.)
based upon the movie play data (e.g., when no movie is playing).
Alternatively, or
additionally, the processor of the user interface 1100a,b may automatically
turn on a chair
accessory (e.g., a chair lighting unit, a chair information display, etc.)
based upon the movie
play data (e.g., when no movie is playing).
[0186] The processor 167 may automatically control a chair accessory (e.g., a
chair heater, a
chair cooling unit, a chair massage unit, a lighting unit, a chair electric
power outlet, a chair
USB port, etc.) and/or a chair actuator based on movie play data. For example,
the processor
167 may automatically turn off, or limit electric power, to a chair accessory
when a venue
cleaning system is activated (i.e., when a group of powered recliner chairs
are being
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reoriented via a remote control). Additionally, or alternatively, the
processor 167 may
automatically supply electric power to a chair accessory from an alternative
electric power
source (e.g., a solar panel, a battery, a capacitor, etc.) when a powered
recliner chair or group
of powered recliner chairs is/are being reoriented. Thereby, the processor 167
(or a processor
of a user interface 4400a-d) may automatically control an electrical power
demand and/or an
electric power supply.
101871 The processor 167 may control electric power usage on a macro level
based upon, for
example, movie play data, and any given user interface 4400a-d may control
electric power
usage on a micro level. For example, a processor 167 may enable operation of a
chair
accessory based upon the movie play data and a processor of a given user
interface 4400a-d
may automatically control electric power usage of the chair accessories based
upon, for
example, whether an occupant of the respective chair is activating an
associated chair
actuator. As a specific example, a chair actuator may draw approximately 0.8
Amperes at
110V. (approximately 88Watts) when the chair actuator is energized and a chair
heater may
draw approximately 200-400Watts when the chair heater is activated. By
disabling the chair
heater while the actuator is energized, the processor of the user interface
4400a-d may limit
overall electric power consumption to the maximum usage of any given chair
accessory or
chair actuator. Alternatively, or additionally, the processor of the user
interface 4400a-d
may vary electric power to any given chair accessory based upon which other
chair
accessories and/or chair actuator(s) are being activated.
[0188] In any event, the processor of the user interface 1100a,b may
automatically draw
electric power from an alternative electric energy source (e.g., a solar
panel, a generator, a
battery, a capacitor, an uninterruptable power supply, etc.) based upon which
chair
accessories and/or chair actuator(s) are being operated. For example, the
processor of the
user interface 1100a,b may automatically turn on/off a chair heater and/or
chair cooling unit
cyclically, such that a chair occupant does not feel any change in
temperature, when a chair
actuator is energized.
[0189] Turning to Fig. 14, a recliner mechanism structure assembly 1400 may
include a chair
seat frame 1400 movably supported by a recliner mechanism structure 1405, an
electrical
wire support, and an occupant sensor 1450. An electrical wire support may
include a
longitudinally extending slot for receiving at least one power and/or data
conductor. A
plurality of electrical wire supports may be configured such that associated
power and/or data
conductors may be, for example, laid out on a floor of a venue, behind a row
of powered
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recliner chairs, and subsequently inserted within the electrical wire
supports.
[0190] An occupant sensor 1450 may include a spring 1451 and/or a spring
material 1451
configured to, for example, move a portion of an associated chair (e.g., a
chair seat support
1100) such that an associated occupant sensor 1450 will indicate that an
occupant has exited
an associated chair. An occupant sensor 1450 may include a timer and a plug
connection.
The timer may be configured within an associated chair electrical system to,
for example,
prevent momentary activation of an associated occupant sensor 1450 (i.e., the
occupant
sensor 1450 may be activated for a predetermined time prior to indicating that
a chair is
occupied).
[0191] An occupant sensor may be incorporated into a smart control module
(SCM) in lieu of
pressure sensors. For example, an optical beam paired with beam/receiver
module may be
included. The beam could originate in one chair SCM and go across a seat
width. Thereby,
an occupant, in an associated chair, would break the beam indicating that the
occupant is
present.
[0192] An occupant sensor may be incorporated within an associated display to
detect if the
chair is occupied. A sensor may be included within a display to indicate when
an associated
power recliner chair is reclined and/or extended. For example, symbols may be
included
within a display to indicate whether an associated chair is oriented in a
reclined and/or non-
reclined orientation. A display may include, for example, recline preset
positions 1, 2, 3 and
4. A display may include an auto close button, an order call button, an
emergency call button
[0193] A chair may include features such as a massage feature, a vibration
feature, a volume
control for internal speakers, a USB or power port, a communications port,
etc. A side
display may be included and may be oriented toward a wall, an aisle, or
another chair with its
own controls. A display may include aisle lights, a row number/letter, an
adults with
disabilities (ADA) designation, an indicator when associated chairs are in a
venue cleaning
mode, a call light indicator for a patron/chair needing service in that row,
etc.
[0194] A remote control may, for example, include fifteen individual buttons:
1 extend, 2
retract, 3 retract all the way home, 4 go to 1/4 open, 5 go to 1/2 open, 6 go
to full extend, 7
under seat lights on/off, 8 isle light on/off, 9 all lights on/off, 13
calibrate, and 14 set full
extend position. After calibration a full extend soft stop may be set such
that movement of an
associated chairs does not ram into a hard stop. 1/4 and 1/2 open may be set
from an
associated hard stop. A chair may be manually move to a desired position and a
button may
be pushed to set the desired position. Subsequently, the associated seat will
not extend
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further than the set position using the extend on the seat switch (activation
of a remote may
still go all the way.
[0195] An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) may be incorporated into, for
example, a chair
arm box such that the assembly may be delivered to a venue pre-assembled.
Feedback from a
chair, or group of chairs, may be provided to a central venue system to
indicate chair
occupancy, chair overcurrent conditions, UPS status/health, chair orientation
status, etc. A
chair actuator current may be determined based on pulse width of an applied
electrical signal.
A power supply may supply power to a group of four, or more chairs. A position
sensor
(e.g., a global positioning sensor) may be included in a chair such that, for
example, a venue
system may automatically determine a physical location of the given chair
within the venue
and/or one chair may determine a relative location of another chair. At least
one energy
storage device may be connected to, for example, an output of an electric
power supply, or
may be incorporated within an uninterruptible power supply connected to an
input of the
electric power supply. The at least one energy storage device may include at
least one of: a
battery or a capacitor. The electric power supply and the at least one energy
storage device
may provide electric power to, for example, electric motors of respective
actuators.
[0196] Turning to Fig. 15, any given chair may include a heater assembly 1500
including
heating elements 1550, a temperature control 1551, a timer 1552, and a plug
1554. A heater
control (as described elsewhere herein) may control operation of the heater
based on a
temperature control input, a user input, a timer input, an occupancy sensor
input, etc.
[0197] With reference to Figs. 16A-C, an example mounting foot 1605a-c for use
in a
powered recliner chair assembly 1600a-c may include a long portion 1606a-c and
a short
portion 1608a-c. The long portion 1606a-c may be connected to the short
portion 1608a-c at,
for example, a ninety degree angle. The long portion 1606a-c may include first
slotted holes
1607a-c. The short portion 1608a-c may include second slotted holes 1609a-c.
[0198] When a mounting foot engagement pin 1611a of an associated powered
recliner chair
assembly 1600a-c is received within a first slotted hole 1607a-c, a respective
portion 1610a
of the powered recliner chair assembly 1600a-c is farther from an associated
chair support
surface than when the engagement pin 1611a of the associated powered recliner
chair
assembly 1600a-c is received within a second slotted hole 1609a-c. Thereby, a
height of the
associated powered recliner chair assembly 1600a-c may be changed by
reorienting
associated mounting feet 1605a-c. For example, a powered recliner chair
assembly 1600a-c
may be levely installed on a sloped chair support surface by orienting two
front mounting feet
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1605a-c with associated chair front engagement pins 1611a received within a
respective first
slotted hole 1606a-c and associated chair rear engagement pins 1611a received
within a
respective second slotted hole 1609a-c.
[0199] An arm box may include a pair of mounting brackets and an associated
RMS may
include a mating pair of mounting brackets configured to secure the arm box
proximate the
RMS. The arm box may, for example, be slid downward between two adjacent RMSs
subsequent to the RMSs being secured to an associated venue floor (i.e., each
RMS may
include a pair of mating mounting brackets and both sides of the arm box may
include a pair
of mounting brackets). Alternatively, or additionally, any given arm box may
include at least
one bracket (e.g., a hook shaped bracket and/or a tab) configured to engage,
for example, a
respective front arm box rest or a respective rear atm box rest. An arm box
may be
configured to slide into place from a front side or rear side between, for
example, two
proximate RMSs. Any given mounting bracket/mating mounting bracket, arm box
rest/hook
shaped bracket may be wedge shaped, snap fit, secured via a fastener (e.g., a
pin, a screw, an
interlock, etc.), and may be configured to increase a structural rigidity of a
cooperating
structure.
[0200] Any given mounting foot may be secured to an associated RMS via, for
example, two
fasteners. When packaging an RMS for shipment from a RMS assembly site to an
associated
venue, one of each pair of fasteners may be removed or loosened, and the
respective
mounting feet may be swiveled upward such that the mounting feet are above a
lower most
portion of the RMS, thereby, reducing associated package size and/or reducing
mounting foot
exposure to bending/damage. The mounting feet may be pivotally attached to a
respective
RMS via, for example, a hinge, and the mounting feet may simply be pivoted
from a shipping
orientation to an installation orientation. Any given mounting bracket/mating
mounting
bracket, arm box rest/hook shaped bracket may be configured to reduce shipping
package
size, reduce installation time/complexity, facilitate arm box
installation/removal/replacement,
increase structural strength/rigidity etc.
[0201] Any given RMS/arm box rests may be configured to accommodate various
chair
widths. For example, the arm box rests may be of sufficient dimension to allow
a respective
chair seat to extend beyond sides of an RMS and still an arm box will rest on
the arm box
rests. Alternatively, a width of any given RMS may be specifically matched to
a respective
chair width.
[0202] Any given RMS may include a mechanism (e.g., a cable between an ottoman
and an
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TSS005PCT2
actuator, an actuator extend hard stop, an actuator rotation hard stop, a gas-
charged piston
and actuator) to control movement of a chair back relative to movement of a
chair foot rest
(or ottoman). For example, when a chair is occupied the mechanism may cause
the chair
back to move further relative to the foot rest compare to when the chair is
being operated to,
for example, clean an associated venue. Thereby, the chair may comply with
fire codes while
facilitating venue cleaning. Any given RMS that includes mechanism to control
movement
of a chair back relative to movement of a chair foot rest (or ottoman) may
also include a
feature (e.g., a solenoid, a spring, etc.) to override the mechanism. Thereby,
a respective
chair may comply with fire codes while facilitating venue cleaning.
[0203] Alternatively, or additionally, a RMS may include a mechanism (e.g., a
cable between
an ottoman and an actuator, an actuator extend hard stop, an actuator rotation
hard stop, a
gas-charged piston and actuator, etc.) to control movement of a chair ottoman.
For example,
the chair ottoman may be limited in travel while chair back movement remains
unrestricted. The chair ottoman movement limiting mechanism may include
springs,
dampers or other devices that may reduce a peak loading of controlling
movement of an
associated powered recliner chair and/or movement of components of the chair
compared to
powered recliner chairs that do not include an ottoman movement limiting
mechanism.
[0204] A mounting foot may include an RMS attachment, an arm box rest, a chair
elevation,
and a floor attachment. Any given mounting feet may be configured to
facilitate adjustment
of an angle of a respective chair relative to a floor angle. For example, a
chair may be
leveled via adjustment of a pair of front mounting feet and a pair of rear
mounting feet.
[0205] Turning to Figs. 17A-H, J-N and P-R, a chair controller 1700a-h,j-n,p-r
may include a
processor 1705a with a programming port 1706a, an H-bridge 1720a connected to
an actuator
motor output 1740b, a chair control switch input 1735c, a low-power single
operational
amplifier 1750a, a battery 1760b, a light output 1755c, an auxiliary
communication connector
1760c, a communication input connector 1765c, a communication output connector
1770c, a
wireless interface module connector 1775c, an emergency stop (e.g., safety
switch) connector
1780c, an auxiliary board connector 1785d, a linear voltage regulator 1790f, a
buck regulator
1795g, and an auxiliary board power connector 17861. The chair controller
1700a-h,j-n,p-r,
or any portion(s) thereof, may be, for example, incorporated into a user
control 270a-c, a
controller 490a,b, 590a,b, 790a,b, a power supply 796a,b, a wireless data
receiver 485b, a
user interface 400c, 500c, 600a-c, 900, 1215a,b, 1300a,b, a display 1000,
1210a,b, or an
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actuator 460b, 560b, 565b, 760d. Thereby, the chair controller 1700a-h,j-n,p-r
may, or
appropriate portion(s) thereof, may perform any associated function as
described herein.
[0206] The letters A-M within circles shown on Fig. 17A denote connections to
similarly
labeled connections on Fig. 17B. The letters N-BB within circles shown on Fig.
17A denote
connections to similarly labeled connections on Fig. 17C. The letters CC
within a circle
shown on Fig. 17A denotes a connection to a similarly labeled connection on
Fig. 17D.
[0207] An auxiliary board (not shown in Figs. 17A-H, J-N and P-R) may be added
to
facilitate additional actuator motor connections 1740b, additional lighting
connections 1755c,
additional user interface selectors 1735c, etc. In any event, a chair
controller 1700a-h,j-n,p-r
may be configured to control a single chair, a portion of a single chair, a
group of chairs, or a
portion of a group of chairs.
[0208] The processor 1705a may be, for example, a part number PIC18F46K40 as
available
from Microchip Technology Incorporated, Chandler, Arizona, the entire content
of the
associated technical specifications is incorporated in its entirety herein by
reference. While
only one processor 1705a is shown, any number and type of processor(s) may be
incorporated. As shown with reference to Figs. 17A and 17B, the processor
1705a may
monitor and/or control a battery via battery connection 1760b. The processor
1705a may turn
on a thyrister (or transistor) Q2 to charge a battery. The processor 1705a may
turn on a
thyrister (or transistor) Q? to power a chair from a battery when, for
example, the processor
1705a detects that electric power to an associated venue has been interrupted.
[0209] The H-bridge 1720a may be, for example, a part number IFX9201 as
available from
Infineon Technologies A.G., Munich, Germany, the entire content of the
associated technical
specifications is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. While only
H-bridge 1720a
is shown, any number and type of H-bridge(s) may be incorporated depending on,
for
example, how may actuators are being controlled. Any given chair controller
1700m may
include an H-bridge 1720m having an internal power supply 1721m, control logic
1722m, an
electrical charge pump 1723m, a thyrister (or transistor) gate driver 1724m, a
current monitor
1725m, a temperature monitor 1726m, a thyrister bridge 1727m having four
thyristers
1728m-1731m, and a motor output 1740m (e.g., a chair actuator motor output).
[0210] With reference to Figs. 17N-R, a chair controller 1700n-r may include a
H-bridge
having a first thyrister 1728n-r, a second thyrister 1729n-r, a third
thyrister 1730n-r, a fourth
thyrister 1731n-r, interconnected with a motor 1741n-r. As illustrated in Fig.
17N, when the
first thyrister 1728n is gated on, the second thyrister 1729n is off, the
third thyrister 1730n is
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off, and the fourth thyrister 1731n is gated on, electrical current 1742n
flows through the first
thyrister 1728n, through the motor 1741n, and through the fourth thyrister
1731n, causing the
motor 1741n to rotate in a first direction. As illustrated in Fig. 17P, when
the first thyrister
1728p is gated on, the second thyrister 1729p is off, the third thyrister
1730p is off, and the
fourth thyrister 1731p is off, electrical current 1742p circulates through the
first thyrister
1728n, through the motor 1741n, and through a diode in parallel with the
second thyrister
1729p, to dissipate electrical energy. As illustrated in Fig. 17Q, when the
first thyrister
1728q is off, the second thyrister 1729q is gated on, the third thyrister
1730q is gated on, and
the fourth thyrister 1731n is off, electrical current 1742q flows through the
second thyrister
1729q, through the motor 1741q, and through the third thyrister 1730q, causing
the motor
1741q to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. As
illustrated in Fig. 17R,
when the first thyrister 1728r is off, the second thyrister 1729r is gated on,
the third thyrister
1730r is off, and the fourth thyrister 1731r is off, electrical current 1742r
circulates through
the second thyrister 1729r, through the motor 1741r, and through a diode in
parallel with the
first thyrister 1728r, to dissipate electrical energy.
[0211] The low-power single operational amplifier 1750a may be, for example, a
part
number AS321 as available from Diodes Incorporated, Plano, Texas, the entire
content of the
associated technical specifications is incorporated in its entirety herein by
reference. While
only one low-power single operational amplifier 1750a is shown, any number and
type of
low-power single operational amplifier(s) may be incorporated.
[0212] The linear voltage regulator 1790g may be, for example, a part number
LM7824CT as
available from Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA, the entire
content of
the associated technical specifications is incorporated in its entirety herein
by reference.
While only one linear voltage regulator 1790g is shown, any number and type of
linear
voltage regulator(s) may be incorporated.
[0213] The buck regulator 1795g may be, for example, a part number A0Z1282D1
as
available from Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Sunnyvale, CA, the entire content
of the
associated technical specifications is incorporated in its entirety herein by
reference. While
only one buck regulator 1795g is shown, any number and type of buck
regulator(s) may be
incorporated.
102141 As illustrate in Figs. 17A, 17C, 17E and 17H, a chair controller
1700a,c,e,h may
include various light controls (e.g., isle lights, user lights, under-chair
lights, user interface
lights, etc.). As specifically shown in Fig. 17E, a chair controller 1700e may
include, for
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example, a red light (e.g., a red LED) output, a green light (e.g, a green
LED) output, and a
blue light (e.g., a blue LED) output. The chair controller 1700e may be
configured to
independently control, for example, an intensity of each of the red, green and
blue to produce
any color of light (i.e., a mixture of RGB).
102151 An electric powered chair assembly control system may include a
controller having at
least one chair actuator output and at least one chair light output. The
system may also
include a user interface connected to the controller. The user interface may
include at least
one chair actuator user control and at least one chair light user control. The
system may
further include an electric power supply having an electric power supply input
and an electric
power supply output. The electric power supply may be mounted within a first
electric
powered chair assembly. A first set of electric wiring may extend from the
electric power
supply output to a first electric actuator mounted within the first electric
powered chair
assembly. A second set of electric wiring may extend from the electric power
supply output
to a first electric chair light mounted within the first electric powered
chair assembly. The
controller may be configured to control the first electric actuator, via the
at least one chair
actuator output, based on the at least one chair actuator user control. The
controller may be
configured to control the electric chair light, via the at least one chair
light output, based on
the at least one chair light user control and further based on at least one
of: a venue event, a
predetermined time, or a motion sensor. The controller may be configured to de-
energize the
chair light when the first electric actuator is energized.
102161 An electric powered chair assembly control system may include an
electric power
supply having an input and an output. The electric power supply may be mounted
within a
first electric powered chair assembly. An input voltage rating of the input
may be different
than an output voltage rating of the output. A first set of electric wiring
may be plugged into
the output of the electric power supply and may extend from the output of the
electric power
supply to a first receptacle having a first electric actuator mounted within
the first electric
powered chair assembly plugged into the first receptacle. A second set of
electric wiring may
extend from the output of the electric power supply to a second receptacle
having a second
electric actuator mounted within a second electric powered chair assembly
plugged into the
second receptacle. A third set of electric wiring may extend from the second
electric
powered chair assembly to the first electric powered chair assembly. The
electric power
supply may further include at least one of: an electric energy storage device
output or a chair
light output, and wherein the second receptacle is de-energized whenever the
first receptacle
64
Date Regue/Date Received 2023-03-14
TSSOO5PCT2
is energized.
[0217] An electric powered chair assembly control system a controller having
at least one
chair actuator output and at least one chair heater output. The system may
also include a user
interface connected to the controller. The user interface may include at least
one chair
actuator user control and at least one chair heater user control. The
controller may be
configured to control the first electric actuator, via the at least one chair
actuator output,
based on the at least one chair actuator user control. The controller may be
configured to
control the electric chair heater, via the at least one chair heater output,
based on the at least
one chair heater user control. The controller may be configured to de-energize
the first
electric chair heater when the first electric actuator is energized.
[0218] An electric powered chair assembly control system may include a
controller having at
least one chair actuator output and at least one chair electrical energy
storage device output.
The system may also include a user interface connected to the controller. The
user interface
may include at least one chair actuator user control and at least one chair
light user control.
The controller may be configured to control the first electric actuator, via
the at least one
chair actuator output, based on the at least one chair actuator user control.
The controller
may be configured to de-energize the at least one electrical energy storage
device output
based when the at least one chair actuator output is energized.
[0219] Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been explained in
relation to
its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that
many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
scope of the
present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or
claims will cover
such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the
invention.
Date Regue/Date Received 2023-03-14
