AIRCRAFT SEAT CONFIGURATION AND ARRANGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150298812A1
• Filed: 10/28/2013
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats Co.
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats France (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Ducreux, Christophe, Cailleteau, Jeremy, Herault, Patrick, Jasny, Franck, Roy, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 9,856,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/005 Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles , e.g. dismountable auxiliary seatsB60N2/02 takes precedence ; for railway vehicles B61D1/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01 Arrangement of seats relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/242 Bus seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/345 by adding parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/91 Panels between front seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-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 11/0606 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 11/0642 Adjustable headrests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0647 Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to passenger aircraft seats. The disclosure focuses on a seat unit arrangement (10) for a cabin and seat units that provide different comfort positions. In some embodiments, a side cushion (14) forms part of a bed surface when the seats are converted to a bed position. In some embodiments, a bed extension (30) is deployed from a stowed position to form a part of the bed surface. In some embodiments, a seat backrest (22) does not form part of the bed surface when the seat unit is in the bed position. In some embodiments, a lounge position is provided when the seat backrest rotates toward a side cushion. In such an embodiment, the passenger may be positioned toward the side cushion such that the passenger may comfortably rest their legs on the side cushion without converting the seat to a bed position.

Claims

1. A passenger seat arrangement comprising:

a passenger seat that provides a plurality of different positions, the plurality of different positions including a bed position and an upright position, the bed position providing a bed surface being formed at least by a seat pan and one or more bed extensions; and

wherein the one or more bed extensions do not form part of a seat surface or a footrest when the passenger seat is in the upright position.

2. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 1, wherein the passenger seat comprises a seat backrest;

and wherein the seat backrest does not form part of the bed surface when the passenger seat is in the bed position.

3. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 1, wherein the passenger seat comprises a seat backrest;

and wherein a bottom portion of the seat backrest comprises a headrest cushion, the headrest cushion moveable to a deployed position to provide a headrest when the passenger seat is in the bed position and moveable to a stowed position when the passenger seat is in another position.

4. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bed extension is stored under a seat pan;

and wherein the passenger seat further comprises a footrest and a seat mechanism for deploying the footrest and the bed extension in order to convert the passenger seat to the bed position.

5. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a side cushion positioned laterally and forward of the passenger seat.

6. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 5, wherein the passenger seat backrest is rotatable towards the side cushion so as to provide a lounge position.

7. The passenger seat arrangement of any of claim 5, wherein a bed surface comprises the seat pan, the one or more bed extensions, and the side cushion.

8. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a passenger to avoid conversion of the seat from the bed position to the upright position when a passenger is not seated.

9. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of passenger seats oriented substantially in an axis of a cabin, the seats arranged such that the seats have a herringbone bed arrangement.

10. A passenger seat arrangement comprising:

a passenger seat comprising a seat backrest and a seat pan;

a side cushion positioned laterally and forward of the passenger seat; and

wherein the seat backrest is rotatable between a forward facing position and a second position, the second position facing toward the side cushion.

11. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10, wherein the seat backrest rotates relative to the seat pan when the seat backrest rotates between the forward facing position and the second position.

12. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10, wherein the seat backrest and the seat pan rotate together when the seat backrest rotates between the forward facing position and the second position.

13. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10, wherein the seat backrest comprises a lower backrest and an upper backrest, and wherein the lower backrest is rotatable between the forward facing position and the second position separately from the upper backrest.

14. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 13, wherein the lower backrest is coupled with the seat pan and wherein the upper backrest is coupled with a privacy shell.

15. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 14, wherein the upper backrest is rotatable relative to the privacy shell.

16. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10, wherein the passenger seat is moveable between an upright position and a bed position, the bed position providing a substantially horizontal bed surface;

and

wherein the bed surface includes a bed extension, and wherein the bed extension does not form part of a seat surface or a footrest when the seat is in the upright position.

17. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 10, wherein the seat backrest does not form part of the bed surface.

18. A passenger seat arrangement for a cabin defined by cabin walls, the passenger seat arrangement comprising:

a column of seat units adjacent to a cabin wall, the seat units comprising a passenger seat and a side cushion positioned laterally and forward of the passenger seat, the side cushion and the passenger seat defining a footwell forward of the passenger seat; and

wherein the side cushions are positioned lateral of the passenger seat on a side toward the cabin wall.

19. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 18, further comprising a second column of seat units separated from the other column of seat units by an aisle;

the seat units of the second column comprising a passenger seat and a side cushion positioned laterally and forward of the passenger seat, the side cushion and the passenger seat defining a footwell forward of the passenger seat; and

wherein the seat unit footwells of the first column and the seat unit footwells of the second column are accessible from the aisle.

20. The passenger seat arrangement of claim 18, wherein at least one of the seat units is moveable from an upright position to a bed position or a lounge position;

the bed position providing a substantially horizontal bed surface, the bed surface comprising at least the side cushion and the seat pan;

the lounge position providing a seat backrest rotatable from a forward facing position to a second position, the second position facing toward the side cushion.

21. A passenger seat arrangement comprising:

a passenger seat comprising a seat backrest and a seat pan;

a side cushion positioned laterally and forward of the passenger seat;

the passenger seat providing a plurality of different positions, the plurality of different positions including a bed position and an upright position, the bed position providing a bed surface being formed at least by the seat backrest, the seat pan, and the side cushion; and

wherein the seat pan accommodates a movement of passenger seat backrest as the passenger seat from the upright position to the bed position by either;

extending into a recess of a seat unit directly in front of the passenger seat or retracting a retractable portion of the seat pan so as to reduce a length of the seat pan as the passenger seat moves from the upright position to the bed position.