Seating Arrangement

• US 20120298798A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Henshaw, Suzuko Hisata
• Inventors: Henshaw, Robert J., Hisata, Suzuko
• Granted Patent: US 9,266,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• 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 11/0606 with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like class dividers B64D11/0023
• 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 3-seat seating grouping is presented that includes a center seat configured for vertical translation from a lower position to a raised position when converted from an upright to an inclined mode. The center seat can be disposed between an aft-facing seating assembly and a fore-facing seating assembly, and be configured to overlap both when in a lie-flat position. Non-overlapping footspace can be shared between a center passenger and an aft-facing passenger. When upright, a center seat can be at the same height as a non-translating aft- or fore-facing seat, reducing loads on a seat track during aircraft take-off. Seats within the 3-seat group can be angled or aligned with respect to cabin longitudinal axis. A plurality of 3-seat groups can be combined in various orientations to span a cabin. Groups can be arranged to mirror each other to maximize seating directed to an aisle.

Claims

1. A seating arrangement, comprising:

a fore-facing seating assembly;

an aft-facing seating assembly;

a center seating assembly positioned between said fore- and aft-facing assemblies comprising a center seat configured to vertically translate from a lower position to a raised position when converted from an upright to a lie-flat mode; and

wherein said fore-facing seating assembly, said aft-facing seating assembly and said center seating assembly are configured to form a three-seat group in which a portion of said fore-facing lower seating assembly is configured to underlap said center seating assembly when extended in a lie-flat position.

2. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein said aft-facing seating assembly is convertible between an upright and a lie-flat mode.

3. The seating arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a footrest partition structure disposed between said center seating assembly and said aft-facing seating assembly and configured with a foot compartment for accommodating feet of an occupant of said aft-facing seating assembly.

4. The seating arrangement of claim 3, wherein said footrest partition structure is configured for non-overlapping sharing of footspace between an occupant of said center seating assembly and an occupant of said aft-facing seating assembly.

5. The seating arrangement of claim 3, wherein said footrest partition structure is configured with a lower leg support configured to cooperate with said center vertically translating seat to form a bed.

6. The seating arrangement of claim 1, wherein said vertically translating seat is configured to translate horizontally while transitioning from an upright to a lie-flat position.

7. The seating arrangement of claim 1 wherein said center seat in an upright position is configured to be at substantially the same height as a non-translating seat of said fore-facing assembly.

8. An aircraft seating assembly, comprising:

a seat elevation and support structure (SESS);

a seat coupled to said SESS; and

wherein said SESS is configured to vertically translate said seat from a lower upright position to a raised lie-flat position.

9. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 8, wherein said SESS comprises a frame and a translation means.

10. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 9, wherein said translation means comprises a linear actuator.

11. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 9, wherein said translation means cooperates with a seat pan articulation member to vertically translate said center seat.

12. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 8, wherein said seat is configured to cooperate with a lower leg support to form a passenger bed when in said lie-flat position.

13. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 8, wherein said lower leg support is coupled to said seat bottom.

14. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 8, wherein said seat in a lie-flat mode is angled at a cruise compensation angle with respect to a horizontal plane to compensate for aircraft nose up cruise angle.

15. The aircraft seating assembly of claim 8, wherein said seat is configured for horizontal translation.

16. An aircraft seating arrangement comprising:

a first fore-facing seat;

a second fore-facing seat adjacent to said first fore-facing seat;

a first aft-facing seat a second aft-facing seat adjacent said first aft-facing seat;

a first center seat configured for vertical translation from a lower position to a raised position when converted from an upright to a lie-flat position, positioned between said first fore-facing seat and said first aft-facing seat;

and a second center seat configured for vertical translation from a lower position to a raised position when converted from an upright to a lie-flat position, positioned between said second fore-facing seat and said second aft-facing seat, and adjacent said first center seat.

17. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 16, wherein at least one of said fore-facing seats is angled with respect to an aircraft longitudinal axis.

18. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 16, wherein at least one of said aft-facing seats is aligned with an aircraft longitudinal axis.

19. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 16, wherein at least one of said first and second center seats is angled with respect to an aircraft longitudinal axis.

20. The seating arrangement of claim 16, further comprising a partition structure positioned between said first center seat and said first aft-facing seat, and configured with a foot compartment for receiving feet of an occupant of said first aft-facing seat.

21. The seating arrangement of claim 16 wherein said partition structure is configured with at least one step for facilitating passenger egress.

22. The seating arrangement of claim 16, wherein said partition structure comprises a movable privacy panel for facilitating center passenger egress.

23. The seating arrangement of claim 16 wherein said center seats and said fore-facing seats are substantially the same height above an aircraft floor when in a take-off position.