Bleacher deck interlock apparatus and method

1. An apparatus to prevent relative vertical movement of adjacent decking tiers of a retractable bleacher that includes at least a first decking tier and a second decking tier, wherein the retractable bleacher is reconfigurable between an open configuration in which the retractable bleacher is fully extended and a closed configuration in which the first decking tier and the second decking tier are stacked vertically, the apparatus comprising:

a first engagement member secured to the first decking tier;

a second engagement member secured to the second adjacent decking tier;

wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member are configured and cooperative to provide a rigid connection between the first tier and the second tier which prevents relative vertical movement of the second decking tier with respect to the first decking tier when the retractable bleacher is fully extended in the open configuration,

wherein the rigid connection mechanically secures the first tier against both upward and downward vertical movement relative to the second tier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first decking tier includes a first decking stabilizer secured to the first decking tier, the first decking stabilizer having a forward end and a rearward end and a rear support portion extending to a distal end from the rearward end of the first decking stabilizer, the first engagement member comprising a pawl secured to the distal end of the rear support portion; and

the second decking tier including a second decking stabilizer secured to the second decking tier, the second decking stabilizer disposed at a height above the first decking stabilizer, the second decking stabilizer having a forward end and rearward end and moveable longitudinally in a direction parallel to the first decking stabilizer and at a height above the first decking stabilizer; wherein the second engagement member comprises a capture bracket secured to the forward end of the second decking stabilizer.

3. A deck interlock mechanism for a retractable bleacher having at least a first decking tier and a second decking tier, the retractable bleacher being reconfigurable between an open configuration in which the retractable bleacher is fully extended and a closed configuration in which the first decking tier and the second decking tiers are stacked vertically, the deck interlock mechanism comprising:

a first decking stabilizer associated with the first decking tier, the first decking stabilizer having a forward end and a rearward end, and a rear support portion extending vertically from the rearward end of the first decking stabilizer;

a pawl having a pawl finger, the pawl mounted to an upper end of the rear support portion wherein the pawl finger has a downward facing inclined surface and the pawl has at least one upward facing pawl shoulder;

a second decking stabilizer associated with the second decking tier disposed at a height above the first decking tier, the second decking stabilizer having a forward end and rearward end;

a capture bracket mounted to the forward end of the second decking stabilizer, the capture bracket having an upward facing inclined surface and a bottom surface,

wherein the pawl and the capture bracket are configured such that when the retractable bleacher is fully extended, the downward facing inclined surface of the pawl finger is in abutting engagement with the upward facing inclined surface of the capture bracket and at least a portion of the bottom surface of the capture bracket is in abutting engagement with the at least one upward facing pawl shoulder to prevent vertical movement of the second decking tier with respect to the first decking tier.

4. An apparatus to prevent relative vertical movement of adjacent decking tiers of a retractable bleacher, wherein the adjacent decking tiers include at least a first decking tier and a second decking tier, wherein the retractable bleacher is reconfigurable between an open configuration in which the retractable bleacher is fully extended and a closed configuration in which decking tiers are stacked vertically, the apparatus comprising:

a first engagement member secured to the first decking tier;

a second engagement member secured to the second decking tier, wherein the second decking tier is adjacent to the first decking tier and vertically above the first decking tier;

wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member are configured to provide an interlock between the first tier and the second tier which prevents relative vertical movement of the second decking tier with respect to the first decking tier when the retractable bleacher is fully extended in the open configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a rear support portion extending upward from a rearward end of the first decking tier, wherein the first engagement member comprises a pawl secured to a upper end of the rear support portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a first decking stabilizer secured to the first decking tier, wherein the first decking stabilizer comprises the rear support portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a first decking frame structure secured to the first decking tier, wherein the first decking frame structure comprises the rear support portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first engagement member comprises a pawl finger and at least one shoulder surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second engagement member comprises a capture bracket secured to a forward end of the second decking tier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the capture bracket comprises at least one flange.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second decking tier includes a second decking stabilizer secured to the second decking tier, the second stabilizer disposed at a height above the first decking tier, the second decking stabilizer having a forward end and a rearward end and moveable longitudinally in a direction generally parallel to the second decking stabilizer and at a height above the first decking tier.

12. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first engagement member comprises a first inclined surface and a downwardly facing surface,

wherein the second engagement member comprises a second inclined surface and an upwardly facing surface, and

wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member are configured to cause the downwardly facing surface and the upwardly facing surface to mate in an abutting relation when the retractable bleacher is fully extended in the open configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first inclined surface is an upwardly facing sloped shoulder and the second inclined surface is a downwardly facing inclined surface of a flange.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first inclined surface is a downwardly facing sloped surface of a pawl and the second inclined surface is an upwardly facing inclined surface of a capture bracket.

15. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the interlock mechanically secures the first tier against both upward and downward vertical movement relative to the second tier and secures the second tier against both upward and downward vertical movement relative to the first tier.