U.S. patent application number 14/360971 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-30 for cinema structure and a method for constructing a cinema structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to IMAGE LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas ANDERSON, IMAGE LIMITED. Invention is credited to Thomas Anderson.
Application Number | 20140318028 14/360971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48536196 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140318028 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Thomas |
October 30, 2014 |
CINEMA STRUCTURE AND A METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A CINEMA
STRUCTURE
Abstract
A cinema structure (1) comprises an auditorium (12) defined
between a floor (2), a ceiling (3), front and rear walls (5,8) and
side walls (10), which is of length (L) similar to its width (W)
and of height (H.sub.1) approximately half its width (W). A screen
(14) which is substantially the width and height of the auditorium
(14) is located adjacent the front wall (5). Rows (17) of seats
(18) are tiered upwardly rearwardly at an angle of approximately
22.5.degree.. The front row (17a) of seats (18) is located on the
floor (2), while the second and subsequent rows (17) of seats (18)
are mounted on corresponding plinths (20). The rearmost plinth
(20a) is located adjacent the rear wall (8) and is spaced apart
downwardly from the ceiling (3) a height (H.sub.2) of approximately
2 metres. A projector (24) in a projector housing (23) is located
centrally on the rearmost plinth (20) within the auditorium (12),
and a lens port (22) of the projector (24) is located at a level of
approximately 0.5 metre below the ceiling 3.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Thomas; (Dublin,
IE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ANDERSON; Thomas
IMAGE LIMITED |
Douglas, Isle of Man |
|
US
IM |
|
|
Assignee: |
IMAGE LIMITED
Douglas, Isle of Man
IM
ANDERSON; Thomas
Dublin
IE
|
Family ID: |
48536196 |
Appl. No.: |
14/360971 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
December 3, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IE2012/000052 |
371 Date: |
May 28, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/8 ;
52/745.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 3/30 20130101; E04H
3/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/8 ;
52/745.06 |
International
Class: |
E04H 3/30 20060101
E04H003/30; E04H 3/22 20060101 E04H003/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2011 |
IE |
S2011/0533 |
Claims
1.-136. (canceled)
137. A cinema structure comprising a floor, a ceiling spaced apart
above the floor, a front wall extending between the floor and the
ceiling, and a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall extending
between the floor and the ceiling and defining with the front wall,
the floor and the ceiling an auditorium, the auditorium being of
length from the front wall to the rear wall not more than 1.2 times
the width of the auditorium along the front wall, the auditorium
being of height between the floor and the ceiling adjacent the
front wall being in the range of 0.4 times the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall to 0.6 times the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall, a screen being located adjacent
the front wall, and being of length along the front wall
substantially similar to the width of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall, and of height substantially similar to the height of
the auditorium adjacent the front wall, a plurality of rows of
seats located in the auditorium, some of the rows of the seats
being mounted on respective plinths, the plinths of the respective
rows being tiered generally upwardly towards the rear wall and
having upwardly facing surfaces on which the seats of the
respective rows are mounted, the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of a back row of the row of the seats being spaced apart
downwardly from the ceiling a distance in the range of 2 metres to
3 metres, a front row of the rows of the seats being located on the
floor of the cinema structure, and a projector being located on the
plinth of the back row of the seats with a lens port of the
projector located at a level below the ceiling in the range of 0.25
times the distance between the ceiling and the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of the back row of the seats to 0.75 times
the distance between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of
the plinth of the back row of the seats.
138. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the length
of the auditorium from the front wall to the rear wall lies in the
range of 0.8 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall to 1.2 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall, and preferably, the length of the auditorium from the front
wall to the rear wall lies in the range of 0.9 times the width of
the auditorium adjacent the front wall to 1.1 times the width of
the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and advantageously, the
length of the auditorium from the front wall to the rear wall is
substantially similar to the width of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall.
139. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of seats is
spaced apart downwardly from the ceiling a distance in the range of
2 metres to 2.5 metres, and preferably, the upwardly facing surface
of the plinth of the back row of seats is spaced apart downwardly
from the ceiling a distance of approximately 2 metres, and
advantageously, the width of the plinth of each row of seats from
the front of the plinth to the rear of the plinth lies in the range
of 0.9 metres to 1.5 metres, and preferably, the width of the
plinth of each row of seats from the front of the plinth to the
rear of the plinth lies in the range of 1 metre to 1.3 metres, and
advantageously, the width of the plinth of each row of seats from
the front of the plinth to the rear of the plinth is approximately
1 metre.
140. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of a second row of the seats
is at a height above the floor of the cinema structure in the range
of 0.55 metres to 0.65 metres, and preferably, the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of the second row of the seats is at a height
above the floor of the cinema structure in the range of 0.58 metres
to 0.62 metres, and advantageously, the upwardly facing surface of
the plinth of the second row of the seats is at a height above the
floor of the cinema structure of approximately 0.6 metres, and
preferably, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of each one
of a third and subsequent rows of the seats to the back row of the
seats is at a height above the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of the immediately forward row of the seats in the range of
0.55 metres to 0.65 metres, and preferably, the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of each one of the third and subsequent rows
of the seats to the back row of the seats is at a height above the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the immediately forward
row of the seats in the range of 0.58 metres to 0.62 metres, and
advantageously, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of each
one of the third and subsequent rows of the seats to the back row
of the seats is at a height above the upwardly facing surface of
the plinth of the immediately forward row of the seats of
approximately 0.6 metres, and preferably, the plinth of the back
row of the seats is located adjacent the rear wall, and
advantageously, the front row of the seats is located in the
auditorium so that the seat in the centre of the front row or the
location at which a seat in the centre of the front row would be
located is spaced apart perpendicularly from the screen a distance
not less than 0.3 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall, and preferably, the rows of the seats are equi-spaced
apart from each other.
141. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the rows
of the seats define a tiering angle with the floor of the cinema
structure lying in the range of 21.degree. to 40.degree., and
preferably, the tiering angle defined by the rows of the seats with
the floor of the cinema structure lies in the range of 21.degree.
to 30.degree., and advantageously, the tiering angle defined by the
rows of the seats with the floor of the cinema structure is
approximately 22.5.degree..
142. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the height
of the auditorium adjacent the front wall lies in the range of 0.45
times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall to 0.55
times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and
preferably, the height of the auditorium adjacent the front wall
lies in the range of 0.48 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall to 0.52 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall, and advantageously, the height of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall is approximately 0.5 times the
width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and preferably,
the ceiling of the cinema structure extends substantially parallel
to the floor of the cinema structure, and advantageously, the floor
of the cinema structure extends substantially horizontally.
143. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the height
of the screen lies in the range of 0.4 times the width of the
auditorium to 0.6 times the width of the auditorium, and
preferably, the height of the screen lies in the range of 0.45
times the width of the auditorium to 0.55 times the width of the
auditorium, and advantageously, the height of the screen is
approximately 0.5 times the width of the auditorium.
144. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the screen
defines a substantially horizontally extending lower edge, the
lower edge of the screen being located not more than 200 mm above
the floor, and preferably, the lower edge of the screen is located
not more than 100 mm above the floor, and advantageously, the lower
edge of the screen is located adjacent the floor.
145. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the lens
port of the projector is located at a level below the ceiling in
the range of 0.4 times the distance between the ceiling and the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of the seats
to 0.6 times the distance between the ceiling and the upwardly
facing surface of the plinth of the back row of the seats, and
preferably, the lens port of the projector is located at a level
below the ceiling of approximately 0.5 times the distance between
the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the
back row of the seats.
146. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the
projector is located in a housing located on the plinth of the back
row of the seats, and preferably, the housing in which the
projector is located comprises a sound attenuating housing, and
advantageously, the projector is located substantially centrally on
the plinth of the back row of the seats relative to the width of
the auditorium.
147. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which at least
one aisle is located extending along one side of the auditorium
from the back row of the seats towards the front wall adjacent
corresponding ends of the rows of the seats, and preferably, a pair
of aisles are provided extending along respective sides of the
auditorium from the back row of the seats towards the front wall
adjacent the corresponding ends of the rows of the seats, and
advantageously, a pair of spaced apart side walls extend between
the floor and the ceiling, and between the front and rear walls at
respective opposite ends thereof, and preferably, the side walls
extend substantially parallel to each other, and advantageously,
each side aisle is defined between the adjacent side wall and the
adjacent ends of the rows of the seats, and preferably, each of the
rows of the seats with the exception of the front and second rows
and the back row thereof extend continuously, and preferably, a
central gap is defined in the back row of the seats for
accommodating the projector therein, and advantageously, a central
gap is located in the front and second rows of seats for
accommodating at least one wheelchair.
148. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 137 in which the width
of the auditorium adjacent the front wall thereof lies in the range
of 5 metres to 15 metres, and preferably, the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall thereof lies in the range of 7.5
metres to 12.5 metres, and advantageously, the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall thereof is approximately 10
metres.
149. A method for constructing a cinema structure, the method
comprising providing a floor, providing a ceiling spaced apart
above the floor, providing a front wall extending between the floor
and the ceiling, and providing a rear wall spaced apart from the
front wall extending between the floor and the ceiling and defining
with the front wall, the floor and the ceiling an auditorium, the
front and rear wall being located so that the auditorium is of
length from the front wall to the rear wall not more than 1.2 times
the width of the auditorium along the front wall, the height of the
auditorium between the floor and the ceiling adjacent the front
wall being in the range of 0.4 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall to 0.6 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall, locating a screen adjacent the front wall,
the screen being of length along the front wall substantially
similar to the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and
of height substantially similar to the height of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall, locating a plurality of rows of seats in
the auditorium mounted on upwardly facing surfaces of respective
plinths, tiering the plinths of the respective rows of the seats
generally upwardly towards the rear wall with the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of a back row of the row of the seats being
spaced apart downwardly from the ceiling a distance in the range of
2 metres to 3 metres, locating a front row of the rows of seats on
the floor of the cinema structure, and locating a projector on the
plinth of the back row of seats with a lens port of the projector
located at a level below the ceiling in the range of 0.25 times the
distance between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of the back row of seats to 0.75 times the distance between
the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the
back row of seats.
150. A cinema structure comprising a floor, a ceiling spaced apart
above the floor, a front wall extending between the floor and the
ceiling, a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall extending
between the floor and the ceiling and defining with the front wall,
the floor and the ceiling an auditorium, a screen located in the
auditorium adjacent the front wall, a plurality of rows of seats
located in the auditorium, the rows of seats being tiered upwardly
towards the rear wall, a back row of the seats being mounted on a
plinth defining an upwardly facing surface on which the seats of
the back row are supported, the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of the back row of seats being at a level below the ceiling
of not less than 2 metres, and a projector located within the
auditorium mounted on the plinth of the back row of seats having a
lens port, the lens port being at a level below the ceiling of not
less than 500 mm from the ceiling.
151. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 150 in which the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of seats is
at a level below the ceiling in the range of 2 metres to 3 metres,
and preferably, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the
back row of seats is at a level below the ceiling in the range of 2
metres to 2.5 metres, and advantageously, the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of the back row of seats is at a level below
the ceiling of approximately 2 metres, and preferably, the level of
the lens port of the projector below the ceiling lies in the range
of 0.25 times the spacing between the ceiling and the upwardly
facing surface of the plinth on which the back row of seats is
mounted to 0.75 times the spacing between the ceiling and the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth on which the back row of
seats is mounted, and preferably, the level of the lens port of the
projector below the ceiling lies in the range of 0.3 times the
spacing between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth on which the back row of seats is mounted to 0.6 times the
spacing between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth on which the back row of seats is mounted, and
advantageously, the level of the lens port of the projector below
the ceiling is approximately 0.5 times the spacing between the
ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth on which the
back row of seats is mounted.
152. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 150 in which the
projector is located substantially centrally on the plinth of the
back row between the respective opposite ends of the back row of
seats, and preferably, the projector is located in a housing, the
housing being located in the auditorium and mounted on the plinth
of the back row of seats, and advantageously, the housing for the
projector comprises a sound attenuating housing, and preferably, a
gap is provided between the seats of the back row of seats to
accommodate the projector therebetween, and advantageously, at
least one seat is removed from the back row of seats to form the
gap for accommodating the projector, and preferably, at least two
seats are removed from the back row of seats to form the gap for
accommodating the housing, and advantageously, four seats are
removed from the back row of seats to form the gap to accommodate
the projector and the housing therefor.
153. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 150 in which at least
one aisle offset from a centre line of the auditorium extending
perpendicularly to the screen is provided for accommodating patrons
to the rows of the seats, and preferably, a pair of side aisles are
provided, the respective side aisles being offset on respective
opposite sides of the centre line of the auditorium, and
advantageously, each side aisle is located adjacent corresponding
ends of the rows of seats, and preferably, no centre aisle is
provided, and advantageously, a pair of spaced apart side walls are
provided extending between the front wall and the rear wall
adjacent respective opposite ends thereof, and preferably, the side
walls extend parallel to each other, and advantageously, the side
walls extend perpendicularly from the front wall, and preferably,
the front and rear walls extend parallel to each other, and
advantageously, each side aisle is located adjacent a corresponding
side wall, and preferably, each side aisle is located between the
corresponding side wall and corresponding ends of the rows of the
seats.
154. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 150 in which the
tiering angle at which the rows of seats are tiered makes an angle
with the floor in the range of 21.degree. to 40.degree., and
preferably, the tiering angle at which the rows of seats are tiered
makes an angle with the floor in the range of 21.degree. to
30.degree., and advantageously, the tiering angle at which the rows
of seats are tiered makes an angle with the floor of approximately
22.5.degree., and preferably, the rows of seats are located spaced
apart from each other a constant pitched distance, and
advantageously, the pitched distance at which adjacent rows of
seats are spaced apart from each other lies in the range of 0.9
metres to 1.5 metres, and preferably, the pitched distance at which
adjacent rows of seats are spaced apart from each other lies in the
range of 1 metre to 1.3 metres, and advantageously, the pitched
distance at which adjacent rows of seats are spaced apart from each
other lies in the range of 1 metre to 1.2 metres, and preferably,
the pitched distance at which adjacent rows of seats are spaced
apart from each other is approximately 1 metre, and advantageously,
the front row of the seats is located on the floor.
155. A cinema structure as claimed in claim 150 in which the
ceiling extends substantially parallel to the floor, and
preferably, the floor extends substantially horizontally, and
advantageously, the front row of seats is located relative to the
screen so that the perpendicular distance from the screen to a
position in the front row which is occupied or would be occupied by
a centre seat of the front row is not less than 0.3 times the width
of the auditorium, and preferably, the height of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall lies in the range of 0.4 times the width of
the auditorium adjacent the front wall to 0.6 times the width of
the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and advantageously, the
height of the auditorium adjacent the front wall lies in the range
of 0.45 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall
to 0.55 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall,
and preferably, the height of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall is approximately 0.5 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall.
156. A method for constructing a cinema structure, the method
comprising providing a floor, providing a ceiling spaced apart
above the floor, providing a front wall extending between the floor
and the ceiling, providing a rear wall spaced apart from the front
wall extending between the floor and the ceiling and defining with
the front wall, the floor and the ceiling an auditorium, providing
a screen located in the auditorium adjacent the front wall,
providing a plurality of rows of seats located in the auditorium,
tiering the rows of seats upwardly towards the rear wall, mounting
a back row of the seats on a plinth defining an upwardly facing
surface on which the seats of the back row are supported, the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of seats
being located at a level below the ceiling of not less than 2
metres, and mounting a projector within the auditorium on the
plinth of the back row of seats with a lens port of the projector
being at a level below the ceiling of not less than 500 mm from the
ceiling.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a cinema structure and to a
method for constructing a cinema structure, and in particular,
though not limited to a cinema structure of the size of a studio
cinema, and to a method for constructing a cinema structure of the
size of a studio cinema.
[0002] Cinemas and cinema structures comprising an auditorium
within which motion pictures are projected by a projector onto a
screen for viewing by patrons in the auditorium are well known. In
general, a screen is located adjacent a front wall of the
auditorium, and images of motion pictures are projected by a
projector onto the screen. The projector is located in a projection
room outside the auditorium behind a rear wall of the auditorium,
and the motion picture is projected by the projector through a port
formed in the rear wall of the auditorium. Seating in the
auditorium typically is tiered in a generally upwardly direction
from the screen. However, in general, patrons sitting in the seats
in the auditorium of cinemas known heretofore when viewing images
of the motion picture on the screen do not obtain a particularly
pleasant intimate viewing experience, in that in general, they do
not feel part of the action of the motion picture. This is largely
due to the construction of such cinemas.
[0003] In cinemas known heretofore, in general patrons sitting in
the front few rows of the auditorium must view the images on the
screen at a particularly uncomfortable angle. In general, such
patrons sitting in the front few rows of an auditorium are forced
to angle their heads backwards in order to view the images on the
screen, since such patrons must view the screen at an angle looking
upwardly. This is uncomfortable for the patron. In general in
cinemas known heretofore patrons do not have a clear line of sight
to the entire area of the screen when seated. In general, the lower
portion of the screen is very often obstructed by one or more
patrons sitting in one or more rows of seats in front of a patron.
Again, this is undesirable. Additionally, shadows of portions of
the body and head of patrons are commonly projected onto the
screen, where a patron stands up from a seat, or is walking to or
from a seat. This is particularly undesirable. These problems with
cinemas known heretofore tend to combine to prevent a patron having
a pleasant and intimate viewing experience. In an attempt to
overcome the problem of the obstruction of a patron's view of the
screen by other patrons and to prevent shadows of patrons being
projected onto the screen, the screen is located on an upper
portion of the front wall of the cinema with a lower edge of the
screen spaced between two and three metres above the floor of the
cinema. This further aggravates the discomfort of patrons sitting
in the first few rows of an auditorium viewing the images on the
screen.
[0004] In the motion picture industry there is a trend towards
cinemas and cinema structures with smaller auditoriums,
particularly for showing specialist motion pictures and for showing
first-run motion pictures after they have had their initial showing
in cinemas with relatively large auditoriums. These problems with
auditoriums of cinemas known heretofore manifest themselves to a
more serious extent in smaller cinemas and in particular in
relatively small studio cinemas and cinema structures.
[0005] There is therefore a need for a cinema structure and a
method for constructing a cinema structure which addresses at least
some of the problems of cinema structures known heretofore.
[0006] The present invention is directed towards providing such a
cinema structure and a method for constructing a cinema
structure.
[0007] According to the invention there is provided a cinema
structure comprising a floor, a ceiling spaced apart above the
floor, a front wall extending between the floor and the ceiling,
and a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall extending between
the floor and the ceiling and defining with the front wall, the
floor and the ceiling an auditorium, the auditorium being of length
from the front wall to the rear wall not more than 1.2 times the
width of the auditorium along the front wall, the auditorium being
of height between the floor and the ceiling adjacent the front wall
being in the range of 0.4 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall to 0.6 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall, a screen being located adjacent the front
wall, and being of length along the front wall substantially
similar to the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and
of height substantially similar to the height of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall, a plurality of rows of seats located in
the auditorium, some of the rows of the seats being mounted on
respective plinths, the plinths of the respective rows being tiered
generally upwardly towards the rear wall and having upwardly facing
surfaces on which the seats of the respective rows are mounted, the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of a back row of the row of
the seats being spaced apart downwardly from the ceiling a distance
in the range of 2 metres to 3 metres, a front row of the rows of
the seats being located on the floor of the cinema structure, and a
projector being located on the plinth of the back row of the seats
with a lens port of the projector located at a level below the
ceiling in the range of 0.25 times the distance between the ceiling
and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of
the seats to 0.75 times the distance between the ceiling and the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of the
seats.
[0008] Preferably, the length of the auditorium from the front wall
to the rear wall lies in the range of 0.8 times the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall to 1.2 times the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall. Advantageously, the length of
the auditorium from the front wall to the rear wall lies in the
range of 0.9 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall to 1.1 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall. Ideally, the length of the auditorium from the front wall to
the rear wall is substantially similar to the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall.
[0009] In one aspect of the invention the upwardly facing surface
of the plinth of the back row of seats is spaced apart downwardly
from the ceiling a distance in the range of 2 metres to 2.5 metres.
Preferably, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back
row of seats is spaced apart downwardly from the ceiling a distance
of approximately 2 metres.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention the width of the plinth
of each row of seats from the front of the plinth to the rear of
the plinth lies in the range of 0.9 metres to 1.5 metres.
Preferably, the width of the plinth of each row of seats from the
front of the plinth to the rear of the plinth lies in the range of
1 metre to 1.3 metres. Advantageously, the width of the plinth of
each row of seats from the front of the plinth to the rear of the
plinth lies in the range of 1 metre to 1.2 metres. Ideally, the
width of the plinth of each row of seats from the front of the
plinth to the rear of the plinth is approximately 1 metre.
[0011] In another embodiment of the invention the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of a second row of the seats is at a height
above the floor of the cinema structure in the range of 0.55 metres
to 0.65 metres. Preferably, the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of the second row of the seats is at a height above the
floor of the cinema structure in the range of 0.58 metres to 0.62
metres. Advantageously, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth
of the second row of the seats is at a height above the floor of
the cinema structure of approximately 0.6 metres.
[0012] In another embodiment of the invention the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of each one of a third and subsequent rows of
the seats to the back row of the seats is at a height above the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the immediately forward
row of the seats in the range of 0.55 metres to 0.65 metres.
Preferably, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of each one
of the third and subsequent rows of the seats to the back row of
the seats is at a height above the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of the immediately forward row of the seats in the range of
0.58 metres to 0.62 metres. Advantageously, the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of each one of the third and subsequent rows
of the seats to the back row of the seats is at a height above the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the immediately forward
row of the seats of approximately 0.6 metres.
[0013] In another embodiment of the invention the plinth of the
back row of the seats is located adjacent the rear wall.
[0014] In another embodiment of the invention the front row of the
seats is located in the auditorium so that the seat in the centre
of the front row or the location at which a seat in the centre of
the front row would be located is spaced apart perpendicularly from
the screen a distance not less than 0.3 times the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall.
[0015] Preferably, the rows of the seats are equi-spaced apart from
each other.
[0016] In another embodiment of the invention the rows of the seats
define a tiering angle with the floor of the cinema structure lying
in the range of 21.degree. to 40.degree.. Preferably, the tiering
angle defined by the rows of the seats with the floor of the cinema
structure lies in the range of 21.degree. to 30.degree..
Advantageously, the tiering angle defined by the rows of the seats
with the floor of the cinema structure is approximately
22.5.degree..
[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention the height of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall lies in the range of 0.45 times
the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall to 0.55 times
the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall. Preferably,
the height of the auditorium adjacent the front wall lies in the
range of 0.48 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall to 0.52 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall. Advantageously, the height of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall is approximately 0.5 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall.
[0018] In one embodiment of the invention the ceiling of the cinema
structure extends substantially parallel to the floor of the cinema
structure. Advantageously, the floor of the cinema structure
extends substantially horizontally.
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention the height of the
screen lies in the range of 0.4 times the width of the auditorium
to 0.6 times the width of the auditorium. Preferably, the height of
the screen lies in the range of 0.45 times the width of the
auditorium to 0.55 times the width of the auditorium.
Advantageously, the height of the screen is approximately 0.5 times
the width of the auditorium.
[0020] In one embodiment of the invention the screen defines a
substantially horizontally extending lower edge, the lower edge of
the screen being located not more than 200 mm above the floor.
Preferably, the lower edge of the screen is located not more than
100 mm above the floor. Advantageously, the lower edge of the
screen is located adjacent the floor.
[0021] In another aspect of the invention the lens port of the
projector is located at a level below the ceiling in the range of
0.4 times the distance between the ceiling and the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of the back row of the seats to 0.6 times the
distance between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of the back row of the seats. Advantageously, the lens port
of the projector is located at a level below the ceiling of
approximately 0.5 times the distance between the ceiling and the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of the
seats.
[0022] In another embodiment of the invention the projector is
located in a housing located on the plinth of the back row of the
seats. Preferably, the housing in which the projector is located
comprises a sound attenuating housing. Advantageously, the
projector is located substantially centrally on the plinth of the
back row of the seats relative to the width of the auditorium.
[0023] In another aspect of the invention at least one aisle is
located extending along one side of the auditorium from the back
row of the seats towards the front wall adjacent corresponding ends
of the rows of the seats. Preferably, a pair of aisles are provided
extending along respective sides of the auditorium from the back
row of the seats towards the front wall adjacent the corresponding
ends of the rows of the seats.
[0024] In another embodiment of the invention a pair of spaced
apart side walls extend between the floor and the ceiling, and
between the front and rear walls at respective opposite ends
thereof. Preferably, the side walls extend substantially parallel
to each other.
[0025] In one aspect of the invention each side aisle is defined
between the adjacent side wall and the adjacent ends of the rows of
the seats.
[0026] In another aspect of the invention each of the rows of the
seats with the exception of the front and second rows and the back
row thereof extend continuously.
[0027] In one embodiment of the invention a central gap is defined
in the back row of the seats for accommodating the projector
therein.
[0028] In another embodiment of the invention a central gap is
located in the front and second rows of seats for accommodating at
least one wheelchair.
[0029] In one embodiment of the invention the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall thereof lies in the range of 5
metres to 15 metres.
[0030] In another embodiment of the invention the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall thereof lies in the range of 7.5
metres to 12.5 metres.
[0031] In a further embodiment of the invention the width of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall thereof is approximately 10
metres.
[0032] Additionally, the invention provides a method for
constructing a cinema structure, the method comprising providing a
floor, providing a ceiling spaced apart above the floor, providing
a front wall extending between the floor and the ceiling, and
providing a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall extending
between the floor and the ceiling and defining with the front wall,
the floor and the ceiling an auditorium, the front and rear wall
being located so that the auditorium is of length from the front
wall to the rear wall not more than 1.2 times the width of the
auditorium along the front wall, the height of the auditorium
between the floor and the ceiling adjacent the front wall being in
the range of 0.4 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall to 0.6 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall, locating a screen adjacent the front wall, the screen
being of length along the front wall substantially similar to the
width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall, and of height
substantially similar to the height of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall, locating a plurality of rows of seats in the auditorium
mounted on upwardly facing surfaces of respective plinths, tiering
the plinths of the respective rows of the seats generally upwardly
towards the rear wall with the upwardly facing surface of the
plinth of a back row of the row of the seats being spaced apart
downwardly from the ceiling a distance in the range of 2 metres to
3 metres, locating a front row of the rows of seats on the floor of
the cinema structure, and locating a projector on the plinth of the
back row of seats with a lens port of the projector located at a
level below the ceiling in the range of 0.25 times the distance
between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth
of the back row of seats to 0.75 times the distance between the
ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back
row of seats.
[0033] The invention also provides a cinema structure comprising a
floor, a ceiling spaced apart above the floor, a front wall
extending between the floor and the ceiling, a rear wall spaced
apart from the front wall extending between the floor and the
ceiling and defining with the front wall, the floor and the ceiling
an auditorium, a screen located in the auditorium adjacent the
front wall, a plurality of rows of seats located in the auditorium,
the rows of seats being tiered upwardly towards the rear wall, a
back row of the seats being mounted on a plinth defining an
upwardly facing surface on which the seats of the back row are
supported, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back
row of seats being at a level below the ceiling of not less than 2
metres, and a projector located within the auditorium mounted on
the plinth of the back row of seats having a lens port, the lens
port being at a level below the ceiling of not less than 500 mm
from the ceiling.
[0034] In one embodiment of the invention the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of the back row of seats is at a level below
the ceiling in the range of 2 metres to 3 metres. Preferably, the
upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the back row of seats is
at a level below the ceiling in the range of 2 metres to 2.5
metres. Advantageously, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth
of the back row of seats is at a level below the ceiling of
approximately 2 metres.
[0035] In one embodiment of the invention the level of the lens
port of the projector below the ceiling lies in the range of 0.25
times the spacing between the ceiling and the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth on which the back row of seats is mounted to
0.75 times the spacing between the ceiling and the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth on which the back row of seats is mounted.
Preferably, the level of the lens port of the projector below the
ceiling lies in the range of 0.3 times the spacing between the
ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth on which the
back row of seats is mounted to 0.6 times the spacing between the
ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth on which the
back row of seats is mounted. Advantageously, the level of the lens
port of the projector below the ceiling is approximately 0.5 times
the spacing between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of
the plinth on which the back row of seats is mounted.
[0036] In another embodiment of the invention the projector is
located substantially centrally on the plinth of the back row
between the respective opposite ends of the back row of seats.
Preferably, the projector is located in a housing, the housing
being located in the auditorium and mounted on the plinth of the
back row of seats.
[0037] In another embodiment of the invention the housing for the
projector comprises a sound attenuating housing.
[0038] In a further embodiment of the invention a gap is provided
between the seats of the back row of seats to accommodate the
projector therebetween. Preferably, at least one seat is removed
from the back row of seats to form the gap for accommodating the
projector. Advantageously, at least two seats are removed from the
back row of seats to form the gap for accommodating the housing.
Ideally, four seats are removed from the back row of seats to form
the gap to accommodate the projector and the housing therefor.
[0039] In a further embodiment of the invention at least one aisle
offset from a centre line of the auditorium extending
perpendicularly to the screen is provided for accommodating patrons
to the rows of the seats.
[0040] In another embodiment of the invention a pair of side aisles
are provided, the respective side aisles being offset on respective
opposite sides of the centre line of the auditorium. Preferably,
each side aisle is located adjacent corresponding ends of the rows
of seats.
[0041] In another embodiment of the invention no centre aisle is
provided.
[0042] In a further embodiment of the invention a pair of spaced
apart side walls are provided extending between the front wall and
the rear wall adjacent respective opposite ends thereof.
Preferably, the side walls extend parallel to each other.
Advantageously, the side walls extend perpendicularly from the
front wall.
[0043] In another embodiment of the invention the front and rear
walls extend parallel to each other.
[0044] Preferably, each side aisle is located adjacent a
corresponding side wall.
[0045] Advantageously, each side aisle is located between the
corresponding side wall and corresponding ends of the rows of the
seats.
[0046] In another embodiment of the invention the tiering angle at
which the rows of seats are tiered makes an angle with the floor in
the range of 21.degree. to 40.degree.. Preferably, the tiering
angle at which the rows of seats are tiered makes an angle with the
floor in the range of 21.degree. to 30.degree.. Advantageously, the
tiering angle at which the rows of seats are tiered makes an angle
with the floor of approximately 22.5.degree..
[0047] In a further embodiment of the invention the rows of seats
are located spaced apart from each other a constant pitched
distance. Advantageously, the pitched distance at which adjacent
rows of seats are spaced apart from each other lies in the range of
0.9 metres to 1.5 metres. Preferably, the pitched distance at which
adjacent rows of seats are spaced apart from each other lies in the
range of 1 metre to 1.3 metres. Preferably, the pitched distance at
which adjacent rows of seats are spaced apart from each other lies
in the range of 1 metre to 1.2 metres. Ideally, the pitched
distance at which adjacent rows of seats are spaced apart from each
other is approximately 1 metre.
[0048] In another embodiment of the invention the front row of the
seats is located on the floor.
[0049] In one aspect of the invention the ceiling extends
substantially parallel to the floor.
[0050] Advantageously, the floor extends substantially
horizontally.
[0051] In another embodiment of the invention the front row of
seats is located relative to the screen so that the perpendicular
distance from the screen to a position in the front row which is
occupied or would be occupied by a centre seat of the front row is
not less than 0.3 times the width of the auditorium.
[0052] In a further embodiment of the invention the height of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall lies in the range of 0.4 times
the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall to 0.6 times
the width of the auditorium adjacent the front wall. Preferably,
the height of the auditorium adjacent the front wall lies in the
range of 0.45 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall to 0.55 times the width of the auditorium adjacent the front
wall. Advantageously, the height of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall is approximately 0.5 times the width of the auditorium
adjacent the front wall.
[0053] Further the invention provides a method for constructing a
cinema structure, the method comprising providing a floor,
providing a ceiling spaced apart above the floor, providing a front
wall extending between the floor and the ceiling, providing a rear
wall spaced apart from the front wall extending between the floor
and the ceiling and defining with the front wall, the floor and the
ceiling an auditorium, providing a screen located in the auditorium
adjacent the front wall, providing a plurality of rows of seats
located in the auditorium, tiering the rows of seats upwardly
towards the rear wall, mounting a back row of the seats on a plinth
defining an upwardly facing surface on which the seats of the back
row are supported, the upwardly facing surface of the plinth of the
back row of seats being located at a level below the ceiling of not
less than 2 metres, and mounting a projector within the auditorium
on the plinth of the back row of seats with a lens port of the
projector being at a level below the ceiling of not less than 500
mm from the ceiling.
[0054] The advantages of the invention are many. The cinema
structure according to the invention overcomes a large number of
the problems of cinema structures known heretofore, in that the
cinema structure according to the invention provides an auditorium
in which patrons are provided with a pleasant, intimate, immersive
viewing experience of a motion picture in the auditorium of the
cinema structure. In particular, the patrons seated in the
auditorium of the cinema structure according to the invention are
provided with a viewing experience in which they virtually become
immersed and a part of the action of the motion picture to the
extent that such patrons are provided with an experience whereby
they feel as if they are participating in the action of the motion
picture. In fact, it has been found that the patrons in the
auditorium of the cinema structure according to the invention are
provided with a highly immersive viewing experience whereby the
patrons feel as though they become part of the action of the motion
picture. Patrons seated in the auditorium of the cinema structure
according to the invention, in general, are provided with an
uninterrupted view of the entire screen, irrespective of the seat
in the auditorium in which the patron is seated. The view of the
patrons of the entire screen is not interrupted by any other patron
seated in the auditorium, and thus, the patron has a clear line of
sight of the entire screen. This is achieved by virtue of the
construction of the cinema and the tiering of the rows of seats,
and by the location of the rows of the seats relative to the
screen.
[0055] Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that the screen extends
substantially the width of the auditorium and the height of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall, the patrons in the auditorium
are provided with the highly immersive viewing experience, whereby
the patrons feel as though they have become a part of the action of
the motion picture. Additionally, by virtue of the fact that the
plinth of the back row of the seats is located at a level whereby
the upwardly facing surface of the plinth is spaced apart
downwardly from the ceiling of the cinema a distance of between two
metres and three metres, and preferably, two metres or closer to
two metres, the capacity of the auditorium is maximised without
interfering with the immersive viewing experience provided to the
patrons. The location of the projector on the plinth of the back
row of the seats allows the cinema structure to be constructed in
the available space such that the capacity of the auditorium is
maximised.
[0056] By locating the projector with the lens port at a level
below the ceiling of between 0.25 and 0.75 times the spacing
between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth
of the back row of the seats, the projection of the image onto the
screen is optimised.
[0057] Additionally, by providing the auditorium with one side
aisle or a pair of side aisles, there is no need for a central
aisle, and accordingly, patrons approaching and leaving their
respective rows of seats approach and leave the rows of seats by
the side aisle or aisles, thereby avoiding interference with the
image of the motion picture on the screen, which would otherwise be
caused by shadows of patrons walking to or from their seats along a
centre aisle. A further advantage of providing one or a pair of
side aisles for accommodating patrons to and from their seats is
that downwardly directed lighting may be provided on the side walls
adjacent steps of the side aisle or aisles for illuminating any
steps in the side aisle or aisles, and such downwardly directed
lighting does not affect the viewing experience of the patrons.
[0058] The invention will be more clearly understood from the
following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, which
are given by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0059] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cinema structure according to
the invention,
[0060] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the
cinema structure of FIG. 1,
[0061] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a cinema structure according to
another embodiment of the invention,
[0062] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the
cinema structure of FIG. 3,
[0063] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a cinema structure also
according to the invention, and
[0064] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the
cinema structure of FIG. 5.
[0065] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2
thereof, there is illustrated a cinema structure according to the
invention, indicated by the reference numeral 1, which in this
embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable as a studio
cinema for showing specialised motion pictures and first-run motion
pictures after their first-run in a first-run cinema. The cinema
structure 1 comprises a floor 2, and a ceiling 3 spaced apart above
the floor 2. A front wall 5 extends upwardly from the floor 2 to
the ceiling 3 at a front end 6 of the cinema structure 1, and a
rear wall 8 spaced apart from the front wall 5 extends upwardly
from the floor 2 to the ceiling 3 adjacent a rear end 9 of the
cinema structure 1. The front and rear walls 5 and 8, respectively,
extend parallel to each other. A pair of spaced apart parallel side
walls 10 extend upwardly from the floor 2 to the ceiling 3 and
between the front and rear walls 5 and 8. The side walls 10 extend
perpendicularly from the front and rear walls 5 and 8, and define
with the front and rear walls 5 and 8 and the floor 2 and ceiling 3
an auditorium 12.
[0066] In this embodiment of the invention the length L of the
auditorium 12 between the front wall 5 and the rear wall 8 is
substantially similar to the width W of the auditorium 12 between
the side walls 10, so that in plan view the area of the floor 2 of
the auditorium 12 is square. The floor 2 defines a horizontal
plane, as does the ceiling 3, and the height H.sub.1 of the
auditorium 12 from the floor 2 to the ceiling 3 is approximately
half the width W of the auditorium 12.
[0067] A screen 14, onto which images of the motion picture are
projected, is mounted adjacent the front wall 5 and extends
substantially the width W of the auditorium 12 from one side wall
10 to the other side wall 10, and extends substantially the height
H.sub.1 of the auditorium 12 from the floor 2 to the ceiling 3. In
this embodiment of the invention the screen 14 defines a
horizontally extending lower edge 15 which is located approximately
20 mm to 50 mm above the floor 2 of the cinema structure 1 in order
to avoid damage to the lower edge 15 of the screen 14, and also to
avoid collection of dust thereon adjacent the lower edge 15 of the
screen 14.
[0068] A plurality of equi-spaced apart rows 17 of seats 18 are
provided in the auditorium 12 and are tiered generally upwardly
towards the rear wall 8. A front row 17a of the rows 17 of the
seats 18 is located on the floor 2 of the auditorium 12. The second
row 17b of the seats 18 and each subsequent row 17 of the seats 18
are mounted on respective plinths 20, which are tiered upwardly
rearwardly to produce the tiering of the rows 17 of the seats 18.
The rows 17 of the seats 18 and the plinths 20 when viewed in plan
are slightly arcuate, and when viewed from the screen 14 are
concave. A back row 17c of the seats 18 is located adjacent the
rear wall 8 on a rearmost plinth 20a of the plinths 20, which is
also located adjacent the rear wall 8. Each plinth 20 defines an
upwardly facing surface 21 on which the corresponding row 17 of the
seats 18 is mounted. In this embodiment of the invention the
upwardly facing surface 21 of the rearmost plinth 20a is spaced
apart downwardly from the ceiling 3 a height H.sub.2, which in this
embodiment of the invention is 2 metres. The plinths 20 are
supported on a support structure 25 which comprises a plurality of
inclined joists 27 supported on upstanding members 28 which extend
upwardly from the floor 2 to the joists 27.
[0069] The width w.sub.1 of each plinth 20 from a front edge of the
plinth 20 to a rear edge of the plinth in this embodiment of the
invention is approximately 1 metre. The height h.sub.1 of the
upwardly facing surface 21 of the plinth 20b of the second row 17b
of the seats 18 above the floor 2 is approximately 500 mm. The
upwardly facing surface 21 of the plinths 20 of the third row 17d
of the seats 18, and each subsequent row 17 of the seats is at a
height h.sub.2 above the upwardly facing surface 21 of the
immediately adjacent forward plinth 20 of approximately 500 mm.
Accordingly, the provision of the plinths 20 to be of width w.sub.1
of approximately 1 metre, and the heights h.sub.1 and h.sub.2 of
the upwardly facing surface 21 of each plinth 20 above the floor 2
or the upwardly facing surface 21 of its immediately forward plinth
20 of approximately 500 mm results in the rows 17 of the seats 18
being tiered upwardly at an angle .alpha. to the floor 2 of
approximately 22.5.degree.. The rows 17 are spaced apart from each
other a horizontal pitch distance which corresponds to the width
w.sub.1 of the upwardly facing surface 21 of each plinth 20, which
in this case is approximately 1 metre.
[0070] A sound attenuating housing 23 is mounted within the
auditorium 12 centrally on the rearmost plinth 20a for housing a
projector 24 which is supported on the rearmost plinth 20a for
projecting images of the motion picture onto the screen 14. The
projector 24 may be an analogue or a digital projector, however, in
this embodiment of the invention the projector is a digital
projector. The projector 24 is mounted centrally between the side
walls 10 on the rearmost plinth 20a within the auditorium 12 in the
housing 23 at a level so that the centre of a lens port 22 of the
projector 24 is at a level of approximately 500 mm below the
ceiling 3, which is 0.25 times the height H.sub.2 of the spacing
between the upwardly facing surface 21 of the rearmost plinth 20a
and the ceiling 3. A port 26 in the housing 23 accommodates the
image beam from the projector 24 through the housing 23. A gap 29
is provided centrally in the back row 17c of the seats 18 by
removing four of the seats to accommodate the housing 23 and the
projector 24 in the auditorium 12.
[0071] A central gap 33 is left in the front row 17a of the seats
18 and the second row 17b of the seats 18 and a portion of the
plinth 20b of the second row 17b of the seats 18 by removing seven
of the seats 18 from the front row 17a adjacent the centre thereof
and seven of the seats 18 from the second row 17b of the seats 18
and a central portion 30 of the plinth 20b of the second row 17b of
the seats 18. The central gap 33 in the front and second rows 17a
and 17b of the seats 18 is provided in order to provide spaces 31
on the floor 2 to accommodate wheelchairs 32 on the floor 2. Two
seats 34 are provided on the floor 2 in the central gap 33 adjacent
the wheelchair spaces 31.
[0072] The front row 17a of the seats 18 are located in the
auditorium 12 so that a centre one of the seats in the front row
17a or a location in the front row 17c of the seats 18 which would
be occupied by a centre seat of the front row 17c is spaced apart
from the screen 14 a perpendicular distance d of approximately 0.3
times the width of the screen 14, which is approximately 0.3 times
the width W of the auditorium 12. The perpendicular distance d from
the screen 14 to the centre seat of the front row or the location
which would be occupied by the centre seat is measured to the
centre of a seating portion of the seat.
[0073] Side aisles 35 are located on each side of the auditorium 12
between the side walls 10 and adjacent ends 36 of the rows 17 of
the seats 18, and extend rearwardly up to the back row 17c of the
seats 18. The side aisles 35 are stepped with two steps 37 provided
on each of the plinths 20 from the plinth 20b of the second row 17b
of the seats 18 to the penultimate plinth 20c of the penultimate
row 17e of the seats 18. Two steps 38 are also provided on the
floor 2 adjacent the plinth 20b of the second row 17b of the seats
18. The width w.sub.2 of each side aisle 35 from the corresponding
side wall 10 is approximately 1 metre. A door 39 in one of the side
walls 10 adjacent the front end 6 of the cinema structure 1 is
provided to the auditorium 12 for accommodating patrons in and out
of the auditorium 12.
[0074] In this embodiment of the invention the length L of the
auditorium 12 is approximately 10 metres, the width W of the
auditorium 12 is approximately 10 metres, and the height H.sub.1 of
the auditorium 12 is approximately 5 metres. The centre seat of the
front row 17a of the seats 18 or its location is located at a
perpendicular distance d of approximately 3 metres from the screen
14. With these dimensions, it is possible to locate seven rows 17
of seats 18 in the auditorium 12, and with the exception of the
front row 17a, the second row 17b and the back row 17c of the seats
18, each row 17 comprises thirteen seats 18. The first and second
rows 17a and 17b each comprise six seats 18, while the back row 17c
comprises thirteen seats 18. This, thus, provides the auditorium
with seventy-seven seats 18, thus producing a cinema structure 1
with a capacity for seventy-seven patrons plus two wheelchair
spaces 31 and two seats 34 for carers.
[0075] By providing the rows 17 of seats 18 at the tiering angle of
approximately 22.5.degree., and by locating the front row 17a of
seats 18 with the centre seat a perpendicular distance d of 3
metres from the screen 14, and by providing the upwardly facing
surfaces 21 of the plinths 20 to be of width w.sub.1 of
approximately 1 metre, with a cinema structure having an auditorium
12 of length L of approximately 10 metres, which is similar to the
width W of the auditorium 12, the plinth 20a of the back row 17c of
the seats 18 is located with the upwardly facing surface 21 thereof
at a level spaced apart downwardly from the ceiling 3 the height
H.sub.2 of 2 metres, when the height H.sub.1 of the auditorium 12
is approximately half the width W of the auditorium 12.
[0076] This allows the seating capacity of the auditorium to be
maximised while providing the patrons seated in the seats 18 and 34
with a pleasant intimate immersive viewing experience.
[0077] By locating the projector 24 with the lens port 22 at a
level approximately 500 mm from the ceiling 3, and at a
perpendicular distance of approximately 9 metres from the screen,
the vertical angle .theta. at which the image beam is projected
from the lens port 22 to the screen 14 is approximately 30.degree..
With the rearmost plinth 20a, which is the highest of the plinths
20, being 2 metres from the ceiling 3, the projected image beam
from the lens port 22 of the projector 24 to the screen 14 remains
uninterrupted by patrons, unless a patron stands up from his or her
seat 18.
[0078] Additionally, with the rows 17 of the seats 18 at the
tiering angle of approximately 22.5.degree., and with the centre
seat of the front row 17a of the seats 18 or its location spaced
apart a perpendicular distance from the screen 14 the distance d of
approximately 3 metres, the line of sight of each patron in each
row 17 of seats 18 to the lower edge 15 of the screen 14 is
uninterrupted by any patron sitting in any of the seats 18 in any
of the rows 17 in front of that patron. Furthermore, patrons
sitting in the front row 17a of seats 18 view the screen with a
vertical viewing angle .gamma..sub.1 of approximately 69.degree.,
and patrons in the back row 17c of seats 18 view the screen 14 with
a vertical viewing angle .gamma..sub.2 of approximately 29.degree..
The patrons in the seats of the second row 17b to the back row 17c
of the seats 18 have a vertical viewing angle .gamma. decreasing
from the value y.sub.1 of approximately 69.degree. of the patrons
in the seats 18 of the front row 17a to the value y.sub.2 of
approximately 29.degree. of the patrons in the back row 17c.
Accordingly, patrons in all rows 17 of seats 18 in the auditorium
12 are provided with a pleasant, intimate and immersive viewing
experience whereby they become immersed in the motion picture and
feel as though they are part of the action of the motion picture
due to the fact that their view of the screen is uninterrupted by
other patrons, and they are essentially oblivious to the existence
of other patrons in the auditorium 12. The pleasant, intimate and
immersive viewing experience provided to the patrons is further
enhanced by the fact that the screen 14 extends substantially the
width W of the auditorium and substantially the height H.sub.1 of
the auditorium.
[0079] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a
cinema structure according to another embodiment of the invention,
indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. The cinema
structure 50 according to this embodiment of the invention is
substantially similar to the cinema structure 1 described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and similar components are identified
by the same reference numerals. The main difference between the
cinema structure 50 and the cinema structure 1 is that the cinema
structure 50 is slightly smaller than the cinema structure 1, in
that the length L of the cinema structure 50 is slightly less than
the width W of the cinema structure 1, and in this embodiment of
the invention is of length L approximately 8.5 metres. The width W
of the cinema structure 50 is similar to the width of the cinema
structure 1, and accordingly, is approximately 10 metres.
Accordingly, in this embodiment of the invention the length of the
cinema structure is approximately 0.85 times the width of the
cinema structure.
[0080] Because of the fact that the length L of the cinema
structure is 8.5 metres, the number of rows 17 of seats 18 in the
auditorium 12 of the cinema structure 50 is one less than the
number of rows 17 of seats 18 in the cinema structure 1.
Additionally, the upwardly facing surface 21 of the plinth 20a of
the back row 17c of the seats 18 is at a level H.sub.2 of
approximately 2.5 metres below the ceiling 3. The heights h.sub.1
and h.sub.2 of the upwardly facing surfaces 21 of the plinths 20
above the floor 2 and above an immediately forward plinth 20 are
500 mm. The width of each plinth 20 is 1 metre, and thus, the
respective rows 17 of seats 18 are spaced apart a constant pitch
distance of 1 metre.
[0081] The front row 17a of the seats 18 is located in the
auditorium 12 so that the location which would be occupied by a
centre seat of the front row 17a of seats 18 is located at a
perpendicular distance from the screen 14 of approximately 3
metres.
[0082] The tiering angle of the rows 17 of seats 18 is
approximately 22.5.degree., and accordingly, patrons in the front
row view the screen with a vertical viewing angle .gamma..sub.1 of
approximately 73.degree., while patrons in the back row 17c of
seats 18 view the screen 14 with a vertical viewing angle
.gamma..sub.2 of approximately 34.degree..
[0083] The image beam is projected by the projector 23 at a
vertical angle .theta. of approximately 36.degree..
[0084] Otherwise, the cinema structure 50 and its use is similar to
the cinema structure 1, and produces substantially similar benefits
and advantages as the cinema structure 1.
[0085] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is illustrated a
cinema structure according to another embodiment of the invention,
indicated generally by the reference numeral 60. The cinema
structure 60 is somewhat similar to the cinema structure 1
described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and where relevant,
similar components are identified by the same reference numerals.
The main difference between the cinema structure 60 and the cinema
structure 1 is in the length of the auditorium 12 of the cinema
structure 60. In this embodiment of the invention the auditorium of
the cinema structure 60 is of length L approximately 1.5 times the
width W of the auditorium 12. The width of the auditorium 12 is 10
metres.
[0086] However, in the cinema structure 60 the upwardly facing
surface 21 of the plinth 20a of the back row 17c of seats 18 is
located at a level H.sub.2 of 2 metres below the ceiling 3 of the
cinema structure 60. The projector 24 is located in the sound
attenuating housing 23 centrally on the upwardly facing surface 21
of the plinth 20a of the back row 17c of seats 18 with the lens
port 22 of the projector 24 at a level of 500 mm below the ceiling
3 of the cinema structure 60.
[0087] The tiering angle of the rows 17 of seats 18 is
approximately 22.5.degree..
[0088] Patrons seated in the seats 18 of the front row 17a view the
screen 14 with a vertical viewing angle .gamma..sub.1 of
approximately 73.degree., while patrons seated in the back row 17c
of seats 18 view the screen 14 with a vertical viewing angle
.gamma..sub.2 of approximately 28.degree..
[0089] The image beam is projected from the projector 23 at a
vertical angle .theta. of approximately 30.degree..
[0090] It has been found that the cinema structure 60 according to
this embodiment of the invention also provides a pleasant, intimate
and immersive viewing experience to the patrons whereby the patrons
feel as though they have become a part of the action of the motion
picture. It is believed that by locating the plinths 20a of the
back rows 17c of seats 18 at a level H.sub.2 of approximately 2
metres below the ceiling permits maximum allowable tiering of the
rows 17 of the seats 18, thereby ensuring that the line of sight of
each patron to the lower edge 15 of the screen 14 is unobstructed
by patrons sitting in forward rows of seats. Furthermore, since the
screen occupies substantially the entire width and height of the
auditorium adjacent the front wall 5, the pleasant, intimate and
immersive viewing experience of the patrons in the auditorium 12 of
the cinema structure 60 is further enhanced. Additionally, by
providing the upwardly facing surface 21 of the plinth 20 of the
back row 17c of seats 18 at a level of 2 metres below the ceiling
3, as well as allowing the viewing experience of the patrons to be
pleasant, intimate and immersive, also allows maximising of the
number of seats 18 and the number of rows 17 in the auditorium 12
of the cinema structure 60, and in turn thereby maximises the
capacity of the auditorium 12 of the cinema structure 60.
[0091] The provision of the cinema structure as described with
reference to the cinema structures 1 and 50 of FIGS. 1 to 4 with
the auditorium being of length L which is equal to the width of the
auditorium, and the height H.sub.1 of the auditorium adjacent the
front wall thereof to be approximately half the width of the
auditorium provides many advantages. In particular, it provides an
auditorium in which the patrons experience a highly pleasant,
intimate and immersing viewing experience. A particularly important
advantage of providing the height H.sub.1 of the auditorium to be
approximately half the width of the auditorium allows the screen to
occupy the entire front wall of the auditorium, since the ideal
aspect ratio of a motion picture screen is 2:1, in other words, the
ideal width of a motion picture screen should be twice its height.
By virtue of the screen occupying the entire area of the front wall
of the auditorium contributes to producing the pleasant, intimate
and immersive viewing experience.
[0092] With regard to the cinema structures 1 and 50 which have
been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, it has been found
that even when the height of the auditorium is not equal to half
the width of the auditorium, an acceptable viewing experience is
achievable once the height of the auditorium lies in the range of
0.4 times the width of the auditorium to 0.6 times the width of the
auditorium, although the closer the height of the auditorium
approaches half the width of the auditorium, the viewing experience
is further enhanced.
[0093] The provision of the cinema structure with an auditorium of
length substantially equal to the width of the auditorium produces
a particularly intimate type of auditorium which ensures that the
maximum distance a patron is from the screen is less than the width
of the auditorium. This further enhances the viewing experience.
However, it has been found that even when the length of the
auditorium is greater than the width of the auditorium, an
acceptable viewing experience is achieved once the length of the
auditorium lies within the range of 0.8 times the width of the
auditorium to 1.2 times the width of the auditorium.
[0094] Tiering the rows of seats at a tiering angle relative to the
floor of the auditorium of approximately 22.5.degree. provides a
particularly important advantage of the invention, in that the line
of sight of the patrons to the lower edge of the screen, even when
the screen extends the width and height of the auditorium, is
uninterrupted by other patrons seated in the auditorium. In other
words, each patron has a clear line of sight to the lower edge of
the screen once all the patrons remain seated in the auditorium.
This aspect of the invention is further enhanced by locating the
front row of the seats a distance from the screen such that the
perpendicular distance from the screen of the seat in the centre of
the front row, or the position which would be occupied by the seat
in the centre of the front row is not less than 0.3 times the width
of the auditorium. By providing each patron with a clear line of
sight to the lower edge of the screen, each patron has a full and
uninterrupted view of the entire screen. This further enhances the
pleasant, intimate and immersive viewing experience of the
patrons.
[0095] By providing the plinth of the back row of seats with the
upwardly facing surface of that plinth at a level between 2 and 3
metres below the ceiling, permits the maximum seating capacity of
the auditorium to be achieved, while at the same time not adversely
affecting the pleasant, intimate and immersive viewing experience
of the patrons.
[0096] By locating the projector in the auditorium on the plinth of
the back row of seats further enhances the utilisation of the
available space for the cinema structure, and thus permits the
cinema structure to be provided with the maximum seating capacity.
By providing the projector in a sound attenuating housing located
on the plinth of the back row of seats within the auditorium
ensures that the pleasant, intimate and immersive viewing
experience of the patrons remains unaffected.
[0097] Pitching the rows of seats at a horizontal pitch distance
from each other of approximately 1 metre further enhances the
comfort of the patrons in the cinema structure. Indeed, it has been
found that the horizontal pitch distance at which the rows of seats
are located in the auditorium may lie within the range of 0.9
metres to 1.5 metres without adversely affecting the pleasant,
intimate and immersive viewing experience of the patrons.
[0098] By providing the projector with its lens port at a level of
not less than 500 mm below the ceiling, and preferably, at a level
below the ceiling of between 0.25 and 0.75 times the spacing
between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the back row
of seats permits the image beam of the motion picture to be
projected from the projector onto the screen at an angle which
minimises and effectively eliminates distortion of the images of
the motion picture projected onto the screen. This further enhances
the pleasant, intimate and immersive viewing experience of the
patrons.
[0099] By providing the plinth of the back row of seats with the
upwardly facing surface thereof at a level of between 2 and 3
metres below the level of the ceiling, and by locating the
projector on the plinth of the back row of seats with the lens port
of the projector at a level of between 0.25 and 0.75, the spacing
between the ceiling and the upwardly facing surface of the plinth
of the back row of seats, and preferably, at a level of 500 mm
below the ceiling, obstruction of the beam of images of the motion
picture projected by the projector onto the screen is avoided by
patrons seated in the seats, and thereby there is no danger of a
shadow of a seated patron being projected onto the screen.
[0100] Turning now to the cinema structure 60 described with
reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the cinema structure 60 of FIGS. 5
and 6 even where the length of the auditorium exceeds 1.2 times the
width of the auditorium, and in the case of the cinema structure 60
the length of the auditorium is approximately 1.5 times the width
of the auditorium, it has been found that beneficial advantages can
be achieved by providing the back row of seats on a plinth having
an upwardly facing surface which is at a level of between 2 and 3
metres below the ceiling. By so locating the upwardly facing
surface of the plinth of the back row of seats relative to the
ceiling, the seats in the auditorium can be tiered at a reasonable
angle sufficient to minimise obstruction by forwardly seated
patrons of the lines of sight of rearwardly seated patrons of the
lower edge of the screen. Furthermore, by locating the projector
centrally on the plinth of the back row of seats, and by locating
the projector with the lens port thereof at a level of
approximately half a metre below the ceiling, substantially
undistorted images of the motion picture are projected onto the
screen. Furthermore, with this relationship between the plinth of
the back row of seats and the level of the lens port of the
projector, interference by patrons with the beam of images
projected by the projector onto the screen by seated patrons is
avoided. Accordingly, even in cinema structures in which the length
of the auditorium exceeds 1.2 times the width of the auditorium, it
has been found that patrons can still enjoy a pleasant, intimate
and immersive viewing experience in the auditoriums of such cinema
structures once the plinth of the back row of seats is located at a
level of between 1 and 3 metres below the ceiling, and the
projector is located centrally on the plinth of the back row of
seats, with the lens port of the projector at a level of
approximately 500 mm below the ceiling.
[0101] As well as providing the pleasant, intimate and immersive
viewing experience, locating the plinth of the back row of seats
and the lens port of the projector as discussed also permits the
capacity of the auditorium to be maximised, and the available space
for the cinema structure to be optimised.
[0102] While the cinema structures have been described as
comprising an auditorium 12 of specific dimensions, and rows of
seats tiered at a specific angle, it will be appreciated that
cinema structures of other dimensions and with tiering angles of
other values may be provided. The limits of these dimensions and
angles are discussed in the specification. However, the length of
the auditorium of cinema structures according to the invention
should lie within the range of 0.8 times the width of the
auditorium to 1.2 times the width of the auditorium in the case of
the cinema structures 1 and 50 of FIGS. 1 to 4. Additionally, the
tiering angles of the rows of seats in the auditorium of cinema
structures according to the invention should lie between 21.degree.
and 40.degree.. Additionally, the spacing of the upwardly facing
surface of the rearmost plinth below the ceiling should not exceed
3 metres, and preferably, should lie between 2 metres and 3 metres,
and in order to maximise the seating capacity of the auditorium,
the spacing of the upwardly facing surface of the rearmost plinth
below the ceiling should be approximately 2 metres.
* * * * *