Aircraft seat with synchronised back rest and leg rest

• US 20030189360A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Seats France (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Societe Industrielle Et Commerciale De Materiel Aeronautique
• Inventors: Laurent, Ligonniere
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/83
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0606 with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like class dividers B64D11/0023
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

A seat (1) for a vehicle such as an aircraft, comprising a back rest structure (3) and a squab structure (2) mounted so as to pivot with respect to the back rest structure (3), a structure (5) supporting the squab structure (2) and the back rest structure (3), the back rest structure (3) being connected to the support structure (5) by a pivot connection (10), and a leg rest (4) connected by a pivot connection (6) to the front end of the squab structure (2), characterised in that it comprises mechanical synchronisation means (15) able to synchronise the movements of the back rest structure (3) and of the leg rest (4), the said mechanical synchronisation means (15) being connected:

to the back rest structure (3) by a pivot connection (23) situated at a distance from the pivot connection (10) between the back rest structure (3) and the support structure (5), between the said pivot connection (10) and the bottom end (12) of the back rest structure,

to the leg rest (4) by a pivot connection (24) situated close to the pivot connection (6) between the leg rest and the squab structure, at a certain distance from the latter, and

to the squab structure (2) by a pivot connection (A) situated close to the pivot connection (6) between the leg rest and the squab structure, at a certain distance from the latter.

Claims

1. A seat (1) for a vehicle such as an aircraft, comprising a back rest structure (3) and a squab structure (2) mounted so as to pivot with respect to the back rest structure (3), a structure (5) supporting the squab structure (2) and the back rest structure (3), the back rest structure (3) being connected to the support structure (5) by a pivot connection (10), and a leg rest (4) connected by a pivot connection (6) to the front end of the squab structure (2), characterised in that it comprises mechanical synchronisation means (15) able to synchronise the movements of the back rest structure (3) and of the leg rest (4), the said mechanical synchronisation means (15) being connected:

to the back rest structure (3) by a pivot connection (23) situated at a distance from the pivot connection (10) between the back rest structure (3) and the support structure (5), between the said pivot connection (10) and the bottom end (12) of the back rest structure,

to the leg rest (4) by a pivot connection (24) situated close to the pivot connection (6) between the leg rest and the squab structure, at a certain distance from the latter, and

to the squab structure (2) by a pivot connection (A) situated close to the pivot connection (6) between the leg rest and the squab structure, at a certain distance from the latter.

2. A seat according to claim 1, characterised in that the mechanical synchronisation means (15) comprise:

at least one connecting piece (20) comprising three articulation shafts (A, B, C), a first articulation shaft (A) being connected to the squab structure close to the pivot connection (6) between the leg rest (4) and the squab structure (2), at a certain distance from the latter;

at least one connecting rod (21), one end of which is pivotally connected to a second articulation shaft (B) of the said connecting piece (20) and the other end of which is pivotally connected (23) to the back rest structure (3) at a distance from the pivot connection (10) between the back rest structure (3) and the support structure (10), between the said pivot connection (10) and the bottom end (12) of the back rest structure (3);

at least one link (22), one end of which is pivotally connected to a third articulation shaft (C) of the said connecting piece (20) and the other end of which is pivotally connected (24) to the leg rest (4) close to the pivot connection (6) between the leg rest and the squab structure, at a certain distance from the latter.

3. A seat according to claim 2, characterised in that the articulation shafts of the connecting piece (20) extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seat.

4. A seat according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the three articulation shafts (A, B, C) of the connecting piece (20) are not situated in the same plane.

5. A seat according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the connecting piece (20) has a substantially triangular shape, the three articulation shafts (A, B, C) each being situated in a corner of the said piece (20).

6. A seat according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the back rest structure (3) comprises side uprights (11), the bottom end (12) of at least one upright being pivotally connected to the connecting rod (21).

7. A seat according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the link (22) is a load-limiting ram.

8. A seat according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the connecting rod (21) extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the seat, the link (22) extending in a substantially vertical plane containing the connecting rod (21).

9. A seat according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the mechanical synchronisation means (15) comprise two assemblies each formed by a connecting rod (21), a link (22) and a connecting piece (20), each disposed on one side of the seat.

10. A seat according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises a foot rest (30) able to move in translation with respect to the leg rest (4), and an actuator (31) controlling the translation of the said foot rest.

11. A seat according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the support structure comprises a movable top part (5a) supporting the squab structure (2) and a fixed bottom part (5b), the said top part (5a) being able to move in translation with respect to the bottom part (5b) in the longitudinal direction of the seat, the back rest structure being pivotally connected to the said top part (5a).

12. A seat according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that it comprises at least one actuator (25) controlling the inclination of the back rest structure (3) with respect to the support structure (5).

13. A seat according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that it comprises at least one actuator (26) controlling the inclination of the squab structure (2).

14. A seat according to claim 13 when it depends on claim 2, characterised in that one end of the actuator (26) controlling the inclination of the squab structure (2) is pivotally connected to the said first articulation shaft (A) of the connecting piece (20) and the other end of the said actuator (26) is pivotally connected to the front part of the support structure (5).

15. A seat according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that it comprises means (40) of controlling the inclination of the back rest structure and of the squab structure.

16. A seat according to claim 15 when it depends on claims 10 to 14, characterised in that the control means comprise an electronic control box (41) cooperating with the control actuators (25, 26) and also cooperating with means (42) able to be actuated by the user in order to adjust the position of the seat (1).

17. A seat according to claim 16, characterised in that the adjustment of the movements of the various movable elements (2, 3, 4) of the seat is achieved by regulating the control box (41) and/or the actuators (25, 26).