Secure herringbone arrangement for the armrest of a seat, seat and two seat assembly provided with such an arrangement

• US 20090243352A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats Co.
• Original Assignee: SOCIETE INDUSTRIELLE ET COMMERCIALE DE MATERIEL AERONAUTIQUE SICMA AERO SEAT
• Inventors: Cailleteau, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/188.10
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01 Arrangement of seats relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/75 Arm-rests
• 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 11/0601 Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0604 including a bed, e.g. cocoon type passenger seat modules
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0646 Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests

Abstract

In herringbone seats of the prior art, armrests on the closed angle side form an obstacle for the passengers in the seat in case of a shock, since the latter are generally projected along the axis of the vehicle and thus towards the armrest thus creating a high risk of injury for the passenger in case of a shock. The present invention provides a secure herringbone arrangement for the armrest of a seat i.e. making it possible to reduce the risk of injuries caused by the armrest, in case of a shock. Therefore, the present invention provides to leave a space between the seating part structure and the armrest to enable the passenger on the seat to be projected along the axis of the airplane in case of a shock without hitting the armrest. More precisely, the aim of the invention is a herringbone arrangement for the armrest of a seat wherein the armrest is angularly shifted with respect to the seat, so as to form a free space (33) between the seat and the armrest. The present invention also relates to a seat and a seat assembly provided with such an arrangement.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A herringbone seat arrangement for an armrest of a seat in a passenger vehicle having an axis, wherein the armrest is angularly shifted with respect to a seating part structure, so as to leave a free space between the seat and the armrest, with the armrest having an axis substantially parallel to an axis of the passenger vehicle.

32. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 31, wherein the free space between the armrest and the seating part structure is V shaped.

33. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 31, wherein a storage pocket is integrated under the free space.

34. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 31, wherein the armrest includes a shock absorbing material.

35. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 31, wherein a part of the armrest is flexible.

36. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 31, wherein the armrest includes a support and a horizontal plate, with the horizontal plate being wider than the support, so that a part of the horizontal plate protrudes from the support on a side of the support which faces the seating part of the seat.

37. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 31, wherein the armrest is retractable.

38. An arrangement for an armrest according to claim 37, wherein the armrest is vertically retractable between a high position and a low position wherein a top of the armrest is flush with the seating part of the seat.

39. A herringbone seat for a passenger vehicle including at least one back and one seating part, with an axis angularly shifted with respect to an axis of the passenger vehicle and including at least one armrest on a closed angle side with respect to the axis of the vehicle, shifted according to the arrangement of claim 31.

40. A herringbone seat for a passenger vehicle according to claim 39, wherein a shelf is positioned on an open angle side of the seat.

41. A herringbone seat for a passenger vehicle according to claim 40, wherein the shelf includes several storage spaces.

42. A herringbone seat for a passenger vehicle according to claim 39, wherein the armrest has an external wall, and wherein a first shell surrounds the external wall of the armrest and the at least one back of the seat.

43. A herringbone seat according to claim 42, wherein a second shell surrounds the at least one back of the seat, the external wall of the armrest and the shelf.

44. A herringbone seat according to claim 42, wherein said shell is V shaped.

45. A herringbone seat according to claim 42, wherein the shell is made of a thermosetting material.

46. A herringbone seat according to claim 42, wherein the shell is formed in one piece.

47. A herringbone seat according to claim 42, wherein a video screen is integrated in a back face of the shell.

48. A herringbone seat according to claim 42, wherein footrests are integrated in a back face of the shell.

49. An assembly of two seats for a passenger vehicle, with the axis of at least one seat being angularly shifted with respect to an axis of the passenger vehicle, and each said seat including at least one armrest on a closed angle side shifted according to the arrangement of claim 31.

50. An assembly of two seats for a passenger vehicle according to claim 49, wherein a shell surrounds the two seat assembly.

51. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein the shell is made of a thermosetting material.

52. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein the shell surrounds the two seats in one piece.

53. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein the shell is composed of two parts, with each said part surrounding one of the seats, to produce individual seats and two seat assemblies on a single manufacturing line.

54. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein the seats include backs, and the shell having, at a back level, a height substantially equal to that of the back.

55. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein the seats include seating parts, with the shell having at an armrest level, a height substantially equal to that of the seating parts.

56. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein the at least one armrest has a front part surrounded by the shell.

57. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein a central shelf is positioned between the two seats.

58. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 57, wherein the shell has a reinforcement at the central shelf level, in order to increase available space at a back of the seat.

59. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 50, wherein video screens are integrated in a back face of the shell.

60. A two seat assembly for a passenger vehicle according to claim 58, wherein footrests are integrated in the reinforcement.