CROSS REFERENCE DATA This application claims the priority of United States provisional patent application No. 62/310,859 filed on March 21, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to transformable rooms, and more particularly to a removable seats system for transformable theatre-type rooms. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide removable seats in transformable multi-purpose rooms. For example, some rooms are used both as theatre rooms wherein rows of seats are provided in a gradually rising amphitheatre type configuration, and as conference rooms or show rooms wherein no seats are required and wherein the floor needs to be flat. To accommodate such multi-purpose rooms, removable seats systems have been incorporated into the rooms to allow the seats to be removed and installed according to the daily purpose of the room.

One problem with known removable seats is how to fix the seats. If they are fixed to the platforms, the platforms need to be able to support the load of the seats additionally loaded with people; and the holes made in the platforms to accommodate the seat support feet need to be somehow covered when the floor panels are devoid of seats. Further, the seat members need to be attached to the platforms to avoid the seats from moving as people use them, which can be time-consuming.

To avoid holes in the platforms or attaching seats to the platforms, some prior art devices have proposed pivotable seats systems where seats pivot from a stowed position under the platform, to an operative position over the platform. A support plate extends in a gap between adjacent platforms to link the seats to the pivoting mechanism. The problem with this kind of system is twofold: the space between platforms needs to be wider to accommodate the support plate, which is not ideal when the seats are stowed; and this kind of system does not accommodate rooms where the platforms are curved to have a concentric disposition towards the stage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of displacing a seat member between operative and concealed positions in a removable seats system comprising first and second platform members comprising respective first and second floor panels carried by respective first and second platform support and displacement mechanisms that support said first and second floor panels spacedly over ground and that allow selective relative vertical displacement of said first and second floor panels in horizontally adjacent respective first and second spaces, said seat member comprising a row of seats comprising at least one seat and a seat supporting structure supporting said row of seats, said removable seats system further comprising a transversal seat displacement mechanism carried by one of said seat member, said first platform member and a combination thereof that allows said seat member to be displaced transversely towards and away from said first space, said seat member being movable between said operative position in which said seat supporting structure is carried by said first platform member and in which said row of seats is located above said first floor panel, and said concealed position in which said seat supporting structure is carried by said first platform member and in which said row of seats is located under said first floor panel,

wherein said method comprises transversally displacing said seat member with said transversal seat displacement mechanism from said first space towards said second space, engaging said seat member with said second platform member, vertically relatively displacing said first and second platform members such that said seat member is vertically displaced with respect to said first platform member, transversely displacing said seat member with said transversal seat displacement mechanism from said second space towards said first space, and releasing said seat member from said second platform member.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises, between the step of engaging said seat member with said second platform member and the step of vertically relatively displacing said first and second platform members such that said seat member is vertically displaced with respect to said first platform member, the step of :

releasing said seat supporting structure from said first platform member; and, between the step of transversely displacing said seat member with said transversal seat displacement mechanism from said second space towards said first space and the step of releasing said seat member from said second platform member, the step of:

engaging said seat support structure with said first platform member such that said seat member is carried by said first platform member. In one embodiment, said step of engaging said seat member with said second platform member comprises vertically relatively displacing said first and second platform members such that said seat member becomes carried by and over said second floor panel, and wherein the step of releasing said seat member from said second platform member comprises vertically relatively displacing said first and second platform members such that said seat member becomes vertically spaced from said second floor panel.

In one embodiment, said transversal seat displacement mechanism comprises a trolley releasably engageable on said first platform support and displacement mechanism, a rack attached to said seat supporting structure attachment part, with said trolley relatively movable with respect to said rack, and a transversal actuator to selectively relatively move said trolley with respect to said rack, and wherein said step of transversely displacing said seat member with said transversal seat displacement mechanism from said first space towards said second space and said step of transversely displacing said seat member with said transversal seat displacement mechanism from said second space towards said first space are accomplished by relatively displacing said trolley along said rack by means of said transversal actuator.

In one embodiment, said seat supporting structure comprises at least one attachment part releasably attachable to said first platform member and at least one stanchion extending between said seat supporting structure and said attachment part, wherein said first floor panel comprises at least one aperture on an edge thereof that is horizontally adjacent to said second space, said aperture extending away from said second space, said method further comprising the step of installing said seat member in said operative position, said installing comprising, during the step of engaging said seat support structure with said first platform member such that said seat member is carried by said first platform member, the step of releasably attaching said attachment part of said seat supporting structure to said first platform member under said first floor panel and sliding said stanchion into said aperture such that said stanchion extends within said aperture and said row of seats is located above said first floor panel when said seat member is in said operative position.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of stowing said seat member in said concealed position, said stowing comprising, during the step of engaging said seat support structure with said first platform member such that said seat member is carried by said first platform member, the step of releasably attaching said attachment part of said seat supporting structure to said first platform member under said first floor panel such that said row of seats is located entirely under said first floor panel when said seat member is in said concealed position.

In one embodiment, the step of installing further comprises releasably locking said seat member to said first platform member with a locking mechanism.

In one embodiment, the step of vertically relatively displacing said first and second platform members such that said seat member is vertically displaced with respect to said first platform member further comprises guiding said seat member with a guide that is attached to said first platform member such that said seat member remains attached to said first platform member when it is moved between said operative and concealed positions.

The invention further relates to a removable seats system comprising:

• first and second platform members comprising respective floor panels carried by respective first and second platform support and displacement mechanisms that support said floor panels spacedly over ground and that allow selective relative vertical displacement of said first and second floor panels in horizontally adjacent respective first and second spaces;

• a seat member associated to said first platform, said seat member comprising a row of seats comprising at least one seat and a seat supporting structure supporting said row of seats; and

• a transversal seat displacement mechanism carried by one of said seat member, said first platform member and a combination thereof, said transversal seat displacement mechanism allowing said seat member to be displaced towards and away from said first space; wherein said seat member is movable relative to said first platform member between an operative position in which said row of seats is located above said first floor panel for allowing persons to sit on said at least one seat and in which said first attachment part of said seat supporting structure is carried by said first platform member under said first floor panel; and a concealed position in which said row of seats is carried by said first platform member and is stowed entirely under said first floor panel; and wherein said seat member is displaceable relative to said first platform member between said operative and concealed positions by said seat member being engaged by said second platform member and by a relative vertical displacement of said first and second platforms to vertically move said seat member relative to said first platform.

In one embodiment, said first floor panel comprises at least one aperture on an edge thereof that is horizontally adjacent to said second platform space, said aperture extending away from said second space, and wherein said seat supporting structure comprises at least one attachment part releasably attachable to said first platform member and at least one stanchion extending between said seat supporting structure and said attachment part, with said stanchion of said seat supporting structure extending through said aperture when said seat member is in said operative position.

In one embodiment, said first aperture has the shape of a narrow slot and said first stanchion has the shape of a flat plate.

In one embodiment, said transversal seat displacement mechanism comprises a trolley releasably engageable on said first platform support and displacement mechanism, a rack attached to said seat supporting structure attachment part, with said trolley relatively movable with respect to said rack, and a transversal actuator to selectively relatively move said trolley with respect to said rack.

In one embodiment, the removable seats system further comprises a releasable locking mechanism for releasably locking said seat member to said first platform when it is in said operative position.

In one embodiment, said seat member is attached to and vertically movable along a guide fixed to said first platform member such that said seat member remains attached to said first platform member during the displacement of said seat member between said operative and concealed positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a partial top view and a partial cross - sectional side elevation, both schematic, showing a transformable room in which the removable seats system of the present invention (only partly shown) is installed;

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views taken from the rear of two platform members and one seat member of the removable seats system of the present invention, with the seat member in its concealed position, respectively showing the two platform members in a first position where the platform members are level and a second position where the platform members are vertically offset;

Figures 5-14 are schematic side elevations of the top portion of the removable seats system shown in figures 3-4, sequentially showing the displacement of a seat member between its concealed position and its operative position;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the area circumscribed by circle XV in Figure 11;

Figures 16 is a rear perspective view, at an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the seat member and its corresponding platform member;

Figure 17 is an enlarged view of the area circumscribed by circle XVII in Figure 16, partly exploded to show the rack and actuator of the transversal seat displacement mechanism;

Figure 18 is an a side elevation of the elements shown in Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a bottom rear perspective view of a portion of a seat member installed on a platform member, with the seat member being clamped to the platform;

Figure 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamping mechanism of Figure 20;

Figure 21 is similar to Figure 20 but shows the seat member in a released condition; and

Figures 22-25 are cross-sectional schematic side elevations of the top portion of the removable seats system according to an alternate embodiment, sequentially showing the displacement of a seat member between its concealed position and its operative position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1-2 show a removable seats system 50 according to the present invention that is usable in amphitheatres or the like for use in a room 30 to be transformed for example from an amphitheatre mode with floor and seats being disposed in a gradually rising configuration from the front to the rear of the room, to a flat floor mode with the floor being uniformly flat and with no seats being provided on top of the floor. Customization of this transformable room can also be made, for example to have more or less theater seats, by providing a flat floor area near the stage of the amphitheatre for accommodating an orchestra, with the gradually rising theater seats being disposed beyond this orchestra pit area; or any other non-gradually rising platform configurations where floor platforms are disposed according to specific needs.

Figures 1-2 further show that transformable room 30 comprises a front stage area 32, a central pit 34 wherein removable seats system 50 (only partly and schematically shown in Figures 1-2) is installed, and a rear raised floor section 38. Removable seats system 50 comprises a number of seat members 56 each comprising a row of seat 58 that in turn comprises a number of seats 60as detailed hereinafter. Seat members 56 are each associated to a vertically movable platform member 52. Platform member 52 comprises a floor panel 53 that is supported spacedly over ground and is vertically movable to allow the seat member 56 to be positioned at a selected vertical height when installed atop a floor panel 53. For example, seat members 56 can be positioned as shown in figure 2 in a gradually rising amphitheatre configuration; where it can be further seen that the two frontmost floor panels 53 are devoid of seat members 56 and are positioned at a same height as that of stage area 32. Any other suitable configuration could also be envisioned for platform members 52 and seat members 56.

Rear non-movable floor section 38 is provided at the rear end of transformable room 30, where additional seat members 40 can be installed that do not cooperate with removable seats system 50. Non-movable floor section 38 can be disposed at such a height to contribute to the gradually rising amphitheatre disposition in pit area 34 with a rearmost highest seat member 40.

Figures 3-15 show two adjacent platform members 52, 52 of room 30.

In Figures 3-15, the first platform member 52 is further identified with letter A and is frontwardly located in room 30 relative to the second platform member 52 that is further identified with letter B. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each platform member 52 comprises a floor panel 53 as mentioned hereinabove, and further comprises a ground-resting platform support and displacement mechanism 74 for supporting and vertically moving each floor panel 53 over ground. Each ground-resting platform support and displacement mechanism 74 comprises a pair of vertical actuators 76 that rest on the ground. Vertical actuators 76, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, are push actuators commercially sold under the trademark Spiralift™ by GALA SYSTEMS INC. located in St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada. Other suitable alternate vertical actuators such as hydraulic cylinders could alternately be used.

Vertical actuators 76 carry respective C-shaped posts 78 that are in turn attached underneath each floor panel 53 to a horizontal beam 80. Beam 80 carries floor panels 53 by means of connector rods 82.

Ground-resting platform support and displacement mechanism 74 further comprises vertical guides in the form of a pair of first articulated linkages 84 that carry respective I-shaped posts 86 that are in turn attached underneath floor panel 53 to horizontal beam 80.

Ground-resting platform support and displacement mechanism 74 further comprises vertical guides in the form of a second linkage 88 that carries a straight post 90 that is attached underneath floor panel 53 to horizontal beam 80.

Floor panel 53 of each platform member 52 can consequently be moved vertically through the selective actuation of vertical actuators 76, and is guided in this vertical movement and prevented from horizontal deviation in either one of the two horizontal axes respectively by the first and second linkages 84, 84, 88 to allow floor panel 53 to be supported over ground and to be moved vertically with a maximum stability that prevents the floor panel from swaying, notably when people walk on it.

Other alternate embodiments (not shown) allowing floor panels 53 to be vertically displaced can be envisioned.

With reference to the first and second platform members 52-A, 52-B shown in figures 3-15, ground-resting support and displacement mechanisms 74, 74 engage floor panels 53, 53 and allow selective relative vertical displacement of first and second floor panels 53, 53 in horizontally adjacent respective first and second spaces. These first and second spaces are defined as the vertical volume within which the first and second floor panels 53, 53 are displaceable: the first and second spaces consequently each have the width and length of floor panel 53 and a height corresponding at least to the vertical displacement capacity of floor panel 53.

Each floor panel, for example first floor panel 53, comprises first and second apertures 55, 55 on an edge 57 thereof that is horizontally adjacent to the second platform space, or in other words the edge 57 of first platform member 52-A on which first and second apertures 55, 55 are disposed is adjacent to second platform 52-B when both platforms are level. First and second apertures 55, 55 are in the form of narrow openings or slots and extend away from the second space into the first floor panel 53.

Although two apertures 55, 55 are shown on each floor panel 53, it is envisioned that a single one or more than two apertures could be provided instead. It is further envisioned that the apertures could be wider or of different shape to accommodate wider or differently shaped stanchions. If wider apertures are made in floor panel 53, removable covers could be provided for installation in these apertures when the stanchions do not extend therethrough.

Removable seats system 50 further comprises a seat member 56 associated to first platform member 52-A. The seat member associated with second platform member 52-B is not shown in Figures 3-21 for simplicity and to avoid concealing other elements.

As mentioned hereinabove, seat member 56 comprises a row of seats 58 comprising at least one seat, such as a number of seats 60 as shown in the drawings, that are mounted atop a horizontal seat support bar 66. Support feet 68 are fixed under seat support bar 66.

Seat member 56 further comprises a seat supporting structure 62 supporting the row of seats 58. Seat supporting structure 62 comprises first and second attachment parts 70, 70 releasably attachable to first platform member 52. Seat supporting structure 62 also comprises first and second stanchions 72, 72 extending between the row of seats 58 and first and second attachment parts 70, 70.

Removable seats system 50 further comprises first and second seat supports 90 and 92 that are carried by platform member 52 and that are each capable of releasably carrying a corresponding seat member 56 as detailed hereinafter. More particularly, a pair of second seat supports 92, 92 are fixed to horizontal beam 80 and more particularly to support plates 93 fixed to horizontal beam 80; while a pair of first seat supports 90, 90 are fixed to support bars 94, 94 that are in vertical alignment with second seat supports 92, 92 and that are fixed to and downwardly depend from horizontal beam 80, and more particularly from support plates 93. Braces 96, 96 reinforce support bars 94, 94.

Each seat support 90, 92 comprises a pair of closely adjacent plates within which an upwardly opened notch 90a, 92a is provided.

Both first and second seat supports 90, 92 could alternately be fixed to the ground, for example on independent support structures; or could be fixed to support structures that are attached to and depend from floor panel 53. These configurations are considered equivalent to fixing the seat supports 90, 92 elsewhere on the platform member 52. Also, first seat supports 90 could be offset relative to second seat supports 92, instead of being vertically aligned, for example to accommodate certain seat member configurations.

Figures 15-21 show that each attachment part 70 comprises a rack 100 that comprises a guide bar 102 to which is attached a toothed bar 104. A platform engaging-wheel 106 is rotatably fixed at a rear end of rack 100.

Attachment part 70 also comprises a trolley 110 that is movable along rack 100. Trolley 110 comprises a frame 112 that has spaced-apart frame plates 114, 116 that carry between them four guiding rollers, namely upper guiding rollers 118, 120 and lower guiding rollers 122, 124. Rack 100 extends between the pair of upper guiding rollers 118, 120 and the pair of lower guiding rollers 122, 124 such that rack 100 is movable within frame 112 and is guided in this movement by rollers 118, 120, 122, 124. All rollers have axles that engage frame 112, and upper front roller 118 has an axle 118a that extends through and beyond frame plates 114, 116.

A toothed wheel 126 is mounted to trolley frame 112 between lower guiding rollers 122, 124 and its axle is operatively connected to a reduction box 128 that is in turn operatively connected to a motor 130 controlled by a control box 132. Reduction box 128, motor 130 and control box 132 are also carried by trolley frame 112. A flexible wire sheath 134 that contains power and communication wires (not shown) is connected to control box 132.

Upon motor 130 being selectively activated to rotate toothed wheel 126 in a desired direction, relative displacement of rack 100 and trolley 110 is achieved as further detailed later. A transversal seat displacement mechanism carried by seat member 56 is consequently defined by rack 100, trolley 110 and motor 130 for allowing seat member 56 to be moved towards and away from said first space. Stanchion 72 comprises a flat vertical plate that extends between attachment part 70 and seat member 56, and more particularly between a stanchion support plate 140 and horizontal seat support bar 66. Stanchion support plate 140 is in turn attached to rack 100 by means of a telescopic guide post 142.

A locking mechanism in the form of a clamping mechanism 150 is further provided on removable seats system 50. More particularly clamping mechanism 150 comprises a clamping piston 152 attached between stanchion support plate 140 and rack 100 parallel to telescopic guide post 142. Clamping piston 152 is controlled by a piston motor 154 to selectively control its extraction and retraction.

Clamping mechanism 150 also comprises a vertical clamping rod 156 mounted to a flange 158 attached to frame plate 114 of trolley frame 112. When seat member 56 is installed atop floor panel 53, clamping rod 156 is aligned with a corresponding abutment bar 160 that is fixed to horizontal support beam 80 by means of support 92.

In use, seat member 56 is removably engageable on first platform member 52-A in an operative position in which its row of seats 58 is located above floor panel 53 for allowing persons to sit on seats 60, in which first attachment part 70 of seat supporting structure 62 is carried by first platform member 52 under floor panel 53 and in which stanchion 72 of seat supporting structure 62 extends through first aperture 55.

Seat member 56 can also be removed from its operative position to be stowed under floor panel 53 in a concealed position wherein it is carried by platform member 52-A and is located entirely underneath floor panel 53.

To displace seat member between its operative and concealed positions according to the present invention, seat member 56, initially in either one of its operative or concealed position, is transversally displaced with the transversal seat displacement mechanism formed by trolley 110 movable relative to rack 100 by means of its actuating motor 130, from said first space towards said second space. Seat member 56 can then be vertically displaced relative to first platform member 52-A by relatively displacing first and second platform members 52-A, 52-B. Seat member 56 is then transversely displaced with transversal seat displacement mechanism 100, 110, 130 from said second space towards said first space, before seat member 56 being released from second platform member 52-B.

More specifically, Figures 5-14 sequentially show the displacement of one seat member 56 from its stowed to its operative position on its corresponding platform member 52-A. In figure 5, seat member 56 rests in its stowed position underneath its corresponding floor panel 53 by means of its trolley 110 engaging and carried by first seat support 90 with the axle of top 118a of top front wheel 118 being nested within notch 90a and with trolley frame 112 pivotally abutting with abutment pins 170, 170 against seat support 90. The floor panel 53 of the rearwardly adjacent platform member 52-B is level with that of the seat member's corresponding platform member 52-A. In this configuration, the floor formed with both floor panels 53, 53 is devoid of seat members and may be used as desired.

Both platforms 52, 52 are then moved relative to one another, and more particularly the rearwardly adjacent platform member 52-B is moved downwardly as shown in figure 6 until it is entirely below the level of seat member 56. It is understood that either or both platforms 52-A, 52-B could be moved to obtain this relative movement.

As shown in figure 7, the trolley motor 132 is then activated and, with trolley 110 remaining engaged with first seat support 90 due to the engagement of axle 118a within notch 90a, rack 100 and the entire seat member 56 is moved away from the corresponding platform member 52-A towards the adjacent platform member 52-B until seat member 56 is located above floor panel 53 of platform 52-B.

As shown in figure 8, the adjacent platform member 52-B is then moved slightly upwardly until it engages and lifts seat member 56 of a distance at least sufficient for the trolley's axle 118a to clear the first seat support notch 90a. Floor panel 53 of platform member 52-B will abut against platform engaging-wheel 106 for this engagement of platform member 52-B against seat member 56; and also against a support foot 175 (only shown in figure 21).

As shown in figure 9, trolley motor 132 is then activated again and, with trolley 110 now disengaged from first seat support 90, trolley 110 is free to move along rack 100 towards seat member 56 and the adjacent platform member 52-B just enough to clear the vertical position of the overlying second seat support 92.

As shown in figure 10, the adjacent platform member 52-B is then lifted, carrying seat member 56 with it, until trolley 110 becomes generally horizontally aligned with second seat support 92 underneath the seat member's corresponding platform member 52-A. As shown in figures 11 and 15, trolley 110 is then moved towards second seat support 92 along rack 100 until its axle 118a becomes vertically aligned over the second seat support notch 92a.

As shown in figure 12, the adjacent platform member 52-B is then lowered until the trolley axle 118a engages the second seat support notch 92a. The adjacent platform member 52-B is then further lowered, and with axel 118a engaged in notch 92a, trolley frame 112 will pivot until it abuts against second seat support 92. This allows seat member 56 to disengage and be released by platform member 52-B as the latter is lowered, and seat member 56 now becomes carried by second seat support 92 of the seat member's corresponding platform 52-A.

As shown in figure 13, seat member 56 is then moved horizontally towards its corresponding platform member 52-A into its operative position by activating the trolley motor 132. To accomplish this, rack 100 is forced to move through trolley 110 due to the engagement of trolley 110 within second seat support 92 that prevents trolley 110 from moving, and consequently carries the entire seat member 56 with it.

To move seat member 56 into its operative position with the row of seats 58 located entirely above floor panel 53, stanchions 72, 72 slide within and engage apertures 55, 55 made in the rear edge of platform member 52-A that is adjacent to the second space. This engagement of stanchions 72 within apertures 55 is further shown in greater detail in Figure 21 that corresponds to the status of Figure 13.

To allow the advance of rack 100, horizontal beam 80 has a hole (concealed in the drawings) that accommodates rack 100 to allow it to pass therethrough.

As shown in Figure 14, once in its operative position, seat member 52 will be locked and clamped onto its corresponding floor panel 53 by forcing clamping piston 152 to pull seat member down against floor panel 53 until support feet 68 rest atop floor panel. Concurrently, clamping rod 156 will be forced upwardly against abutment bar 160. There results a stable locked engagement of seat member 56 with respect to floor panel 53.

As also shown in Figure 14, the adjacent and corresponding platform members 52-B, 52-A may then be moved relative to each other to have them become level once again, for example by moving the adjacent platform member 52-B upwardly. It is understood that the adjacent platform member 52-B could be positioned otherwise, for example it could be raised higher than the seat member's corresponding platform member 52-A if gradually rising rows of seats are desired to form a conventional theatre configuration.

The inverse steps described above can be accomplished to move seat member 56 from its operative to its stowed position: the locking mechanism is released by extracting clamping piston 152; trolley motor 132 is activated to move seat member away from its platform member 52-A; the adjacent platform 52-B raises seat member 56 until its axle 118a releases notch 92a; trolley 110 moves towards seat member 56 along rack 100; platform 52-B is lowered until trolley becomes generally aligned with lower support 90; trolley 110 moves towards lower support 90 until its axle 118a becomes vertically aligned over notch 90a; platform 52-B is lowered until axle 118a engages notch 90a and trolley frame pivots to abut against lower support 90, platform 52-B thereby releasing seat member 56; trolley motor 132 activates to pull rack 100 and seat member 56 into the first space of platform member 52-A, in the stowed position of seat member 56.

A stowage space is consequently defined for seat member 56 under first floor panel 53. Posts 78, 86, 91 help avoid contact between seat member 56 and linkages 84, 88 and push actuators 76 by spacing floor panel 53 from linkages 84, 88 and push actuators 76.

It is noted that in the operative position of seat member 56, attachment part 70 is located entirely below floor panel 53 and is consequently concealed. The row of seats 58 is however of course located above floor panel 53. The stanchions 72 allow the weight of seat members 56 to be supported by the underlying platform support and displacement mechanism 54, until the locking mechanism is activated at which point the weight of seat members 56 become supported by the floor panel 53 itself through support feet 68. The location of the apertures 55 at the rear edge of floor panel 53 helps avoid high heels or other elements getting stuck, since they are partly covered by the seats 60 themselves. There is no attachment of the seat member 56 to the floor panel 53 itself. With the stanchions 72 extending through apertures 55, two adjacent platforms 52, 52 can be very closely adjacent, reducing the space between two platforms compared to systems where the seat member supporting element extends between the floor panels. It is noted that it is likely that a very small gap could exist between the two platforms, to avoid friction or actual abutment between the platforms when they are vertically displaced with respect to one another. They are, however, still considered essentially horizontally adjacent.

Other suitable transversal displacement mechanisms including transversal actuators or manual actuators capable of moving seat member transversally, including horizontally or in an inclined fashion, could also be envisioned.

An advantageous feature of the present invention is that it allows a seat member 56 to be vertically displaced by using an adjacent platform member 52-B, thereby not requiring the use of a distinct dedicated vertical actuator to enable the vertical displacement of the seat member 56 between its stowed and operative positions.

Concerning the rearmost platform member 52, the rear raised floor section 38 can be used to allow its seat member 56 to be vertically relatively displaced by this rearmost platform member 52 by picking up or releasing the seat member on or from the rear floor section 38.

Figures 22-25 show an alternate embodiment of a removable seats system 300 according to the invention that operates essentially like the above-described embodiment except as noted hereinafter.

Removable seats system 300 of this alternate embodiment also allows a seat member 302 to be moved between a stowed position underneath its corresponding platform member 304 as shown in figure 20, and an operative position where the row of seats 306 is located above the floor panel 308 as shown in figure 23. Figures 22-25 sequentially show the steps accomplished to obtain this result, and these are similar to the steps described above for figures 5-14.

However, in the case of the embodiment shown in figures 22-25, the row of seats remains engaged with its corresponding platform 304 at all times, in that there is a vertical guide rail 310 that downwardly depends from the platform floor panel 308 along which the transversal seat displacement mechanism 312 is displaceable. More particularly, the seat displacement mechanism comprises a carriage 314 that has guide wheels (concealed in the drawings) that engage guide rail 310. Carriage 314 in turn carries a powered telescopic arm 316 at the opposite end of which a seat supporting structure 318 is installed. The row of seats 306 rests on seat supporting structure 318. By extending or retracting telescopic arm 316 with a horizontal actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder, the seat member 302 can be moved horizontally.

A stanchion 319 linked the seat supporting structure and the row of seats, and extends through an aperture (not shown) made in the rear edge of floor panel 308. In this embodiment, the first seat support corresponds to an abutment shoulder 320 located at the lowermost positon of guide rail 310 on which carriage 314 abuts. The second seat support corresponds to an upper rail 322 attached under the platform floor panel 308, with a support wheel (not shown, but having an axle at 324) engaging upper rail 322 in the operative position of seat member 302.

Also, it is noted that in this embodiment the adjacent platform member 304 is moved in a single step to a level where the seat member 302 will be horizontally displaced and supported thereon. This is accomplished by lowering the adjacent platform member 304 from its position shown in figure 22 to its position shown in figure 23, and then by extracting the telescopic arm 316 to move the seat member 302 over the adj acent platform member 304 with a seat member support wheel 326 allowing the immediate engagement and support of seat member 302 over the adjacent platform floor panel 308.

The system of the present invention is advantageous notably over prior art systems where the seat members are pivoted between their stowed and operative positions. Indeed, these prior art systems are limited to platforms floor panels having a straight configuration; however many theatre rooms have rows of seats, and corresponding floor panels, that are curved, being concentrically oriented towards the theatre scene at the front of the room. In such cases, pivoting seat members cannot be contemplated because of the geometry of these curved floor panels. The system of the present invention, on the contrary, is usable on floor panels of both curved and straight configurations.