CRADLE RECLINE MECHANISM FOR AIRCRAFT PASSENGER SEAT
First Claim
1. A cradle recline mechanism for an aircraft passenger seat, comprising:
- a means for guiding a seat bottom of the aircraft passenger seat forward and lower as the seat bottom moves from an upright sitting position to a cradle recline sitting position, wherein the means for guiding lowers a rear portion of the seat bottom more than a front portion of the seat bottom, causing the seat bottom to angle upwards from a bottom edge of the seat back;
a pivoting attachment mechanism attaching a seat back of the passenger seat to the seat bottom, such that the seat back moves forward and lower with the seat bottom;
a seat support disposed behind the seat back, wherein the seat support maintains an aftmost position of the seat back during movement of the seat back into the cradle recline sitting position; and
a means for counterbalancing passenger weight to return the passenger seat to the upright sitting position and for preventing over-acceleration into the cradle recline sitting position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a preferred embodiment, a cradle recline mechanism for an aircraft passenger seat includes a guide mechanism for guiding a seat bottom of the aircraft passenger seat forward and lower as the seat bottom moves from an upright sitting position to a cradle recline sitting position, where a rear portion of the seat bottom is lowered more than a front portion of the seat bottom, causing the seat bottom to angle upwards from a bottom edge of the seat back. A seat back of the passenger seat may be pivotably connected to the seat bottom such that it is pulled forward and down with the movement of the seat bottom, with the recline angle determined by a rigid support mechanism disposed behind the seat back. Passenger weight may be counterbalanced using a moveable control mechanism such as a locking gas spring.
30 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A cradle recline mechanism for an aircraft passenger seat, comprising:
-
a means for guiding a seat bottom of the aircraft passenger seat forward and lower as the seat bottom moves from an upright sitting position to a cradle recline sitting position, wherein the means for guiding lowers a rear portion of the seat bottom more than a front portion of the seat bottom, causing the seat bottom to angle upwards from a bottom edge of the seat back; a pivoting attachment mechanism attaching a seat back of the passenger seat to the seat bottom, such that the seat back moves forward and lower with the seat bottom; a seat support disposed behind the seat back, wherein the seat support maintains an aftmost position of the seat back during movement of the seat back into the cradle recline sitting position; and a means for counterbalancing passenger weight to return the passenger seat to the upright sitting position and for preventing over-acceleration into the cradle recline sitting position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An aircraft passenger seat, comprising:
-
left and right spreaders; a seat pan mounted between the left and right spreaders; a seat back pivotably attached to the seat pan; a fixed seat back support positioned aft of the seat back; and a set of rollers configured to roll along roller racks, each roller rack including a first end positioned higher than a second end; wherein the seat pan is mounted to the left and right spreaders via the set of rollers and the roller racks such that, upon moving from an upright sitting position to a reclined sitting position, the rollers move from the first ends of the roller racks to the second ends of the roller rack to lower the seat pan from an upper position to a lower position, wherein a rear portion of the seat bottom is lower than a front portion of the seat bottom in the reclined sitting position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification