COMFORT PILOT SEAT KINEMATICS

• US 20170341752A1
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats Co.
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats France (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Verny, Christian, Demigny, Baptiste, Martin, Guillerault, Kryzysztof, Kulig
• Granted Patent: US 10,669,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03205 having adjustable and lockable inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/10 tiltable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/16 height-adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1814 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1839 pivoting about an axis located in an intermediate position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1842 pivoting about an axis located in the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0648 Lower frame constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0689 specially adapted for pilots

Abstract

Described are adjustable seats having a lower portion of a back rest attached to a seat frame having an upper frame and a lower frame. A pivot axis is positioned at an upper end of the lower portion of the back rest, and an upper portion of the back rest is pivotally attached to the pivot axis. The location of the pivot axis is configured to be positioned below a person'"'"'s shoulders when the person is seated in the adjustable seat. The upper portion of the back rest is also pivotally adjustable relative to the lower portion of the back rest. A seat pan having a front portion pivotally coupled to a rear portion can be attached to the upper frame. An actuation mechanism is configured to simultaneously control a vertical height of the upper frame and a rotational position of the front portion of the seat pan.

Claims

1. An adjustable seat comprising:

a lower portion of a back rest attached to a seat frame, wherein an upper end of the lower portion of the back rest comprises a pivot axis;

an upper portion of the back rest pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the back rest at the pivot axis;

wherein the location of the pivot axis is configured to be positioned below a person'"'"'s shoulders when the person is seated in the adjustable seat;

wherein the upper portion of the back rest is pivotally adjustable relative to the lower portion of the back rest.

2. The adjustable seat of claim 1, wherein the seat frame comprises an upper frame pivotally coupled to a lower frame.

3. The adjustable seat of claim 2, further comprising a seat pan comprising a rear portion and a front portion pivotally coupled to the rear portion, wherein the rear portion is attached to the upper frame.

4. The adjustable seat of claim 3, further comprising an actuation mechanism that is configured to simultaneously control a vertical height of the upper frame and a rotational position of the front portion of the seat pan.

5. The adjustable seat of claim 3, wherein the lower portion of the back rest is pivotally coupled to the upper frame at a location below the seat pan and is configured to pivotally adjust between an upright and a relaxed position.

6. The adjustable seat of claim 5, wherein the lower pivot location results in a rearward movement of a cushion reference point when the lower portion of the back rest is in the relaxed position.

7. The adjustable seat of claim 3, wherein the rear portion is slidably coupled to the upper frame.

8. The adjustable seat of claim 3, wherein a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs are pivotally coupled to the upper frame and the lower frame.

9. The adjustable seat of claim 8, wherein each front leg comprises an eccentric cam having an outer surface in mating contact with a lower surface of the front portion.

10. An adjustable seat comprising:

a seat frame comprising an upper frame pivotally coupled to a lower frame;

a seat pan comprising a rear portion and a front portion pivotally coupled to the rear portion, wherein the rear portion is attached to the upper frame; and

an actuation mechanism that is configured to simultaneously control a vertical height of the upper frame and a rotational position of the front portion of the seat pan.

11. The adjustable seat of claim 10, wherein a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs are pivotally coupled to the upper frame and the lower frame.

12. The adjustable seat of claim 11, wherein each front leg comprises an eccentric cam having an outer surface in mating contact with a lower surface of the front portion.

13. The adjustable seat of claim 10, further comprising a lower portion of a back rest pivotally coupled to the upper frame at a location below the seat pan and configured to pivotally adjust between an upright and a relaxed position.

14. The adjustable seat of claim 13, wherein the lower pivot location results in a rearward movement of a cushion reference point when the lower portion of the back rest is in the relaxed position.

15. The adjustable seat of claim 13, further comprising an upper portion of the back rest pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the back rest via a pivot axis located at an upper end of the back rest, wherein the location of the pivot axis is configured to be positioned below a person'"'"'s shoulders when the person is seated in the adjustable seat.

16. The adjustable seat of claim 10, wherein the rear portion is slidably coupled to the upper frame.