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Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theatersReserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060232110, Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to the field of structures that house public events such as stadiums and arenas for sporting contests and theaters for the presentation of plays. Most specifically, it relates to an apparatus and system to limit the use of reserved seats to those having a specific ticket for that particular seat for that particular event at that particular time. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] The overwhelming majority of the events staged in arenas, stadiums, and theaters involve the sales of reserved seats that are priced according to their proximity to the event itself. Thus it is well known that at a football stadium the highest priced tickets are next to the field and at the fifty yard line. The operators of the structures in which such events are staged frequently employ ushers or other crowd control personnel to guide attendees to their reserved seats before the beginning of the event. These people also serve the function before the event of preventing people from accessing reserved seats for which they lack a ticket. However, some time after an event has commenced, ushers or other crowd control people leave the structure resulting in few, if any, personnel policing access to unoccupied reserved seats by those lacking a ticket for same. [0005] It is frequently a source of some aggravation to the proprietors of these facilities and also to their patrons that during the course of a public event that people who not have paid for premium seating occupy the premium seats when it becomes clear which seats are not in use. The present invention provides an apparatus and method of use to terminate the unauthorized use of reserved seats in public facilities. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Bearing in mind the foregoing, this is a principal object of the present invention to control on a positive real time basis access to reserved seats in public facilities such as arenas, stadiums and theaters. [0007] A related object of the invention to be able to guarantee to patrons who pay for premium seating that their seating areas will be limited to use by like patrons. [0008] Another object of the invention is to encourage greater sales of premium seating because premium seating areas can no longer be accessed without the same being the subject of full payment therefor. [0009] An additional object of the invention is to ensure that tickets can not be reused for the same seat at a subsequent event because seating designations are changed following the termination of the first event. [0010] Another object of the invention is to ensure that all ticket readers discharge their tickets upon conclusion of the event. [0011] Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following descriptions and the appended drawings. [0012] In accordance with the principal aspect of the invention, there is provided a reserved seat in which the pivoting seating portion can be locked in an upraised position, which lock can be unlocked using a ticket having appropriate indicia to be deciphered by a ticket reader in the arm of the seat. The system is preferably controlled by an electronic lock system utilizing a central computer. [0013] More specifically, the first component is that the seat includes a seating portion pivotable about a pivot axis with a lower position in which the seat can be occupied and a upper or raised position where it cannot. Coupled with this is a resilient urging means which will raise the seat to its upper position when it is not held down by being occupied or otherwise as provided with this invention. [0014] The next component is a lock schematically disposed between the seat frame and the pivotable seat. The lock is arranged such that when the seat is raised it is locked into position and cannot be lowered unless the user presents proper authorization. The invention preferably includes an electronic lock system controlled by a computer such as is employed in hotels. The electronic lock system controls the locks on all of the reserved seats in the facility in the same manner as guest room doors are controlled in a hotel, including the fact that the locks are changed for each reserved seat randomly by the computer after each event. The next component is a ticket reader that is disposed in one arm of the seat. This includes a slot that is analogous to the slot in a hotel guest room door into which a key card is inserted. The ticket reader further includes the additional function of a ticket spitter to discharge any tickets left in the ticket readers after the event has terminated. Another aspect includes tickets containing indicia such as bar codes which are read by the ticket reader in the arm seat. While this indicia could be magnetic strips as used in hotel key cards, a less expensive alternative is the preferred embodiment in the form of bar codes or the like, considering that the used tickets will almost inevitably all be discarded after the event. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Various other features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art and from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: [0016] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a theater chair that includes the inventive locking means and which is shown in the seat down occupied position. [0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a theater chair that includes the inventive locking means and which is shown in the seat up unoccupied and locked position. [0018] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view showing the ticket reader slot and the connecting mechanism between the chair seat and the lock. [0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective schematic view of the linkage between the pivotable seat and the locking means. [0020] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective schematic view of the locking means showing a rack and pinion driven locking plate and electronic lock. [0021] FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the rack and pinion driven locking plate taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and showing the plate in the unlocked position. Continue reading about Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters... Full patent description for Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Stackable stool Next Patent Application: External covering material for motor vehicle, motor vehicle seat, and apparatus for producing the seat Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Reserved seat control apparatus and system for arenas, stadiums and theaters patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.63984 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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