Telescoping powered seat track cover

• US 20060097109A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Laib, Trevor M., Feist, Samuel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.6
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0696 Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails

Abstract

A seat track cover having telescopically engaged first and second portions that enables an overall length of the seat track cover to be adjusted as needed to cover a portion of a seat track that separates two adjacent seats mounted to the seat tracks. A cable can be routed within the first and second portions to enable electrical or optical signals to be conducted between data/power connection ports on the seats. One embodiment includes mating conductive elements formed along the lengths of each of the first and second portions.

Claims

1. A seat track cover for covering a seat track extending between first and second seats, the seat track cover comprising:

a first elongated portion defining a channel;

a second elongated portion having dimensions enabling it to be telescopically engaged within the channel of the first elongated portion, wherein an overall length of the seat track cover can be adjusted to approximately match a distance of the seat track separating the first and second seats; and

a conductor mounted to at least one of said first portion and said second portion and extending from said first portion to said second portion.

3. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein said conductor has a first connector located in said first portion and a second connector located in said second portion.

4. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises:

a first upper portion;

first side walls; and

a tab that defines a first slot and a second slot between said tab and said first side walls;

wherein said second portion further comprises;

a second upper portion;

second side walls; and

a lower portion;

wherein said second portion is seated within said first portion such that said second upper portion is seated within said first upper portion, said first side walls are positioned between said second side walls and said slots, and said tab is seated above said lower portion.

5. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises a plurality of first fingers and said second portion comprises a plurality of second fingers;

and

wherein said first fingers interlock with said second fingers when said seat track cover is in the first position and the second position.

6. The seat track cover of claim 5, wherein said first fingers include a recess and said second fingers include a protrusion;

and

wherein said recess receives said protrusion to maintain said first portion and said second portion in substantial vertical alignment.

7. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein said first portion includes at least one power bus contact extending substantially the length of said first portion and said second portion includes a connector block having at least one coupler that slidably cooperates with said contacts as said cover is moved between the first position and the second position.

8. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein said first portion includes a first seat leg shroud to accommodate a rear seat leg of the first seat and said second portion includes a second seat leg shroud to accommodate a front seat leg of the second seat.

9. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein said second portion further includes a false upper portion having a width that approximates a width of a first upper portion of said first portion.

10. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elongated portions include members adapted to engage with a portion of at least one of the seat track and a floor proximate to the seat track to releasably secure the first and second elongated portions to at least one of said seat track and said floor.

11. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first elongated portion and said second elongated portion are secured to one of the first and second seats.

12. The seat track cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first elongated portion and said second elongated portion are rotatably secured to one of the first and second seats.

2. (canceled)

13. A seat track cover for covering portions of a seat track between a first seat and a second seat comprising:

an upper portion;

side walls depending from said upper portion;

a first elongated portion;

a second elongated portion; and

a conductive cable mounted to said seat track cover and extending the length of said seat track cover to conduct at least one of current and data across said seat track cover;

wherein the overall length of said seat track cover is adjustable between a first length and a second length to accommodate the distance between the first seat and the second seat, the first length providing said seat track cover with an overall length that is greater than the second length; and

wherein said second portion extends from said first portion to a greater distance when said cover is at the first length then when said cover is at the second length.

15. The seat track cover of claim 13, wherein said first portion comprises:

a first upper portion;

first side walls; and

a tab that defines a first slot and a second slot between said tab and said first side walls;

wherein said second portion further comprises;

a second upper portion;

second side walls; and

a lower portion;

wherein said second portion is seated within said first portion such that said second upper portion is seated within said first upper portion, said second side walls are positioned between said first side walls and said slots, and said tab is seated above said lower portion.

16. The seat track cover of claim 13, wherein said first portion comprises a plurality of first fingers and said second portion comprises a plurality of second fingers;

and

wherein said first fingers interlock with said second fingers when said cover is at the first length and the second length.

17. The seat track cover of claim 16, wherein said first fingers include a recess and said second fingers include a protrusion;

and

wherein said recess receives said protrusion to maintain said first portion and said second portion in substantial vertical alignment.

18. The seat track cover of claim 13, wherein said first portion includes at least one power bus contact extending substantially the length of said first portion and said second portion includes a connector block having at least one coupler that slidably cooperates with said contacts as said cover is moved between the first length and the second length.

19. The seat track cover of claim 13, wherein said first portion includes a first seat leg shroud to accommodate a rear seat leg of the first seat and said second portion includes a second seat leg shroud to accommodate a front seat leg of the second seat.

20. The seat track cover of claim 13, further comprising at least one flange extending from said side walls;

wherein said flange cooperates with at least one of the seat track and a floor approximate to said seat track.

21. The seat track cover of claim 13, wherein at least one of said first elongated portion and said second elongated portion is pivotally secured to one of the first seat and the second seat.

14. (canceled)

22. A method for covering exposed portions of a seat track that supports first and second spaced apart seats, the method comprising:

forming a cover having first and second portions that telescopically engage with one another so that an overall length of the cover can be adjusted as needed to approximate a distance of an exposed portion of the seat track that separates the two seats;

forming a portion of at least one of the first and second portions with a member that releasably engages a portion of at least one of the seat track and a floor approximate to the seat track; and

installing a cable within the cover such that a first connector of the cable is mounted at an end of the first portion and a second connector of the cable is mounted at an end of the second portion, the cable operable to conduct at least one of data and current.

23. (canceled)

24. A method for covering exposed portions of a seat track that supports first and second spaced apart seats, the method comprising:

forming a cover having first and second portions that telescopically engage with one another so that an overall length of the cover can be adjusted as needed to approximate a distance of an exposed portion of the seat track that separates the two seats;

mounting a conductive cable to the cover; and

rotatably mounting at least one of the first portion and the second portion to one of the first and second seats.