Seat for a transport vehicle or craft, in particular an aircraft

• US 20040217642A1
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe Industrielle Et Commerciale De Materiel Aeronautique
• Original Assignee: Societe Industrielle Et Commerciale De Materiel Aeronautique
• Inventors: Herault, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,063,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/411.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/753 movable to an inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/773 Longitudinal adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0646 Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat for a transport vehicle or craft, in particular an aircraft, the seat including a support structure (1) and at least one armrest (2) comprising a rest element (4) mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first transverse axis (7) to tilt between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat. Said strut is L-shaped with a first arm (5) hinged at its free end about said first axis and extending substantially rearwards from said first axis when said strut is in its in-use position, and a second arm (6) extending substantially upwards when the strut is in its in-use position, and said rest element is hinged to the free end of said second arm of the strut about a second transverse axis (9).

Claims

1. A seat for a transport vehicle or craft, in particular an aircraft, the seat including a support structure and at least one armrest comprising a rest element mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first transverse axis to tilt between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat, wherein said strut is L-shaped with a first arm hinged at its free end about said first axis and extending substantially rearwards from said first axis when said strut is in its in-use position, and substantially forwards from said first axis when said strut is in its retracted position and a second arm extending substantially upwards when the strut is in its in-use position, and substantially downwards when the strut is in its retracted position, and that said rest element is hinged to the free end of said second arm of the strut about a second transverse axis.

2. A seat according to claim 1, in which said rest element is provided with a recess behind said second axis, which recess is suitable for receiving said second arm when said strut is in its retracted position.

3. A seat according to claim 1, provided with first locking means for locking the armrest at least when said strut is in the in-use position.

4. A seat according to claim 3, in which said first locking means comprise means for locking the rear portion of the rest element to said support structure.

5. A seat according to claim 4, in which said locking means for locking the rear portion of the rest element to said support structure comprise a transverse finger mounted on the rear end of said rest element, and organized to co-operate with hook-shaped of a first lever hinged to said support structure about a third transverse axis.

6. A seat according to claim 5, provided with an unlocking button mounted to move on said support structure so as to move said first lever.

7. A seat according to claims 1, including second locking means for locking the armrest at least when the strut is in the retracted position.

8. A seat according to claim 7, in which said second locking means comprise means for locking said rest element to said strut, and securing means for preventing the armrest as locked in this way from pivoting about said first transverse axis.

9. A seat according to claim 8, in which said securing means comprise a recess for receiving the front end of said rest element, which recess is integral with said support structure.

10. A seat according to claim 1, in which said strut is provided with passageways for at least one cable which may be an electrical cable or a mechanical control cable.

11. A seat according to claim 1, in which an abutment is provided for acting when the rest element is in the in-use position to prevent said rest element from pivoting about said second transverse axis in the direction in which the armrest is put into the in-use position.

12. A seat according to claim 11, in which said abutment is adjustable.

13. A seat for a transport vehicle or craft, in particular an aircraft, the seat including a support structure and at least one armrest comprising a rest element mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first transverse axis to tilt between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat, wherein said strut is L-shaped with a first arm hinged at its free end about said first axis and extending substantially rearwards from said first axis when said strut is in its in-use position, and substantially forwards from said first axis when said strut is in its retracted position and a second arm extending substantially upwards when the strut is in its in-use position, and substantially downwards when the strut is in its retracted position, and that said rest element is hinged to the free end of said second arm of the strut about a second transverse axis, the seat being provided with first locking means for locking the armrest at least when said strut is in the in-use position, said first locking means comprising means for locking the rear portion of the rest element to said support structure and comprising a transverse finger mounted on the rear end of said rest element, and organized to cooperate with hook-shaped end of a first lever hinged to said support structure about a third transverse axis, the seat including second locking means for locking the armrest at least when the strut is in the retracted position, said second locking means comprising a second lever hinged to said first arm of said strut about a fourth transverse axis and provided at its free end with a setback organized to co-operate with said transverse finger.