AIRCRAFT WITH MULTIPLE DOORS AND MULTIPLE ZONES

• US 20200130837A1
• Filed: 09/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Cabin, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Safran Cabin, Inc. (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Scoley, Ian Geoffrey, Schuttera, Christopher, Savian, Scott, Heimbach, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 10,919,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1415 Cargo doors, e.g. incorporating ramps
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1423 Passenger doors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/143 of the plug type
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0016 the lift during taking-off being created by free or ducted propellers or by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• 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 11/062 Belts or other passenger restraint means for passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0627 Seats combined with storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0636 Personal storage means or waste disposal bags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0638 with foldable tables, trays or cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0689 specially adapted for pilots

Abstract

An aircraft that includes a body that defines a cabin interior, front and back rows of seats positioned in the passenger zone, a forward door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and an aft door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The cabin interior includes a pilot zone, a passenger zone positioned aft of the pilot zone, and a cargo zone positioned aft of the passenger zone. The pilot zone and the front row of seats are accessible and the back row and cargo zone are inaccessible from an exterior of the body when the aft door is in the closed position and the forward door is in the open position. The back row and cargo zone are accessible and the pilot zone and the front row of seats are inaccessible from the exterior of the body when the aft door is in the open position and the forward door is in the closed position.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

a body that defines a cabin interior, wherein the cabin interior includes a pilot zone, a passenger zone positioned aft of the pilot zone, and a cargo zone positioned aft of the passenger zone,

front and back rows of seats positioned in the passenger zone,

a forward door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and

an aft door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the pilot zone and the front row of seats are accessible and the back row and cargo zone are inaccessible from an exterior of the body when the aft door is in the closed position and the forward door is in the open position, and wherein the back row and cargo zone are accessible and the pilot zone and the front row of seats are inaccessible from the exterior of the body when the aft door is in the open position and the forward door is in the closed position.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the body includes a side opening, wherein in their closed positions, the forward and aft doors are positioned in the side opening, wherein the side opening includes a pilot zone access portion, a front row access portion, a back row access portion and a cargo zone access portion.

3. The aircraft of claim 2 wherein in the closed position, the forward door blocks access to the pilot zone access portion and the front row access portion, wherein in the closed position, the aft door blocks access to the back row access portion and the cargo zone access portion.

4. The aircraft of claim 3 wherein the forward door pivots in one of a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, and wherein the aft door pivots in the other of the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction.

5. The aircraft of claim 2 further comprising a divider member that separates the cargo zone from the passenger and pilot zones, wherein the divider member separates the passenger zone from the cargo zone such that a passenger in the passenger zone cannot access the cargo zone when the aft door is in the closed position.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the cargo zone includes a shelf therein that is pivotable between a stowed and a deployed position, wherein when the shelf is in the deployed position the cargo zone is divided into upper and lower storage sections.

7. The aircraft of claim 6 wherein the divider member includes a ledge, and wherein in the deployed position the shelf rests on the ledge.

8. The aircraft of claim 4 wherein in the open position the forward and aft doors define a protected area therebetween.

9. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the aircraft is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

10. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the front row includes a first front seat and a second front seat, wherein the first and second front seats are angled away from one another, wherein the first front seat is angled outwardly such that it forms a first acute angle with the longitudinal axis, wherein the second front seat is angled outwardly such that it forms a second acute angle with the longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second acute angles are approximately the same, wherein the back row includes a first back seat and a second back seat, wherein the first and second back seats are angled away from one another, wherein the first back seat is angled outwardly such that it forms a third acute angle with the longitudinal axis, wherein the second back seat is angled outwardly such that it forms a fourth acute angle with the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third and fourth acute angles are the approximately same.

11. The aircraft of claim 10 further comprising:

a front bench seat assembly that includes the first front seat and second front seat, wherein the front bench seat assembly includes a center portion that separates the first front seat from the second front seat, wherein the center portion includes a front edge and a rear edge, and wherein the front edge has a greater dimension than the rear edge, and

a back bench seat assembly positioned aft of the front bench seat assembly, wherein the back bench seat assembly includes the first back seat and second back seat, wherein the back bench seat assembly includes a center portion that separates the first back seat from the second back seat, wherein the center portion includes a front edge and a rear edge, and wherein the front edge has a greater dimension than the rear edge.

12. The aircraft of claim 11 wherein the center portion of the front bench seat assembly includes a drawer that is movable between an open and a closed position, wherein the drawer includes a front edge and a rear edge, and wherein the front edge has a greater dimension than the rear edge.

13. The aircraft of claim 11 wherein the center portion of the front bench seat assembly includes a cover that is movable between an open and a closed position, wherein the cover includes a front edge and a rear edge, and wherein the front edge has a greater dimension than the rear edge.

14. The aircraft of claim 12 wherein a first foot space is defined on a first side of the pilot zone, and wherein a second foot space is defined on a second side of the pilot zone.

15. An aircraft comprising:

a body that defines a cabin interior and includes a side opening, wherein the cabin interior includes a pilot zone, a passenger zone positioned aft of the pilot zone, and a cargo zone positioned aft of the passenger zone,

a divider member that separates the cargo zone and the passenger zone,

front and back rows of seats positioned in the passenger zone,

a forward door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and

an aft door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the forward door pivots in one of a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, and wherein the aft door pivots in the other of the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction, wherein in their closed positions, the forward and aft doors are positioned in the side opening, wherein the pilot zone and the front row of seats are accessible and the back row and cargo zone are inaccessible from an exterior of the body when the aft door is in the closed position and the forward door is in the open position, and wherein the back row and cargo zone are accessible and the pilot zone and the front row of seats are inaccessible from the exterior of the body when the aft door is in the open position and the forward door is in the closed position,

wherein the side opening includes a pilot zone access portion, a front row access portion, a back row access portion and a cargo zone access portion, wherein in the closed position, the forward door blocks access to the pilot zone access portion and the front row access portion, wherein in the closed position, the aft door blocks access to the back row access portion and the cargo hold access portion,

wherein the divider member separates the passenger zone from the cargo zone such that a passenger in the passenger zone cannot access the cargo zone when the aft door is in the closed position,

wherein in the open position the forward and aft doors define a protected area therebetween, and

wherein the aircraft is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

16. The aircraft of claim 15 wherein the cargo zone includes a shelf therein that is pivotable between a stowed and a deployed position, wherein when the shelf is in the deployed position the cargo zone is divided into upper and lower storage sections.

17. The aircraft of claim 16 wherein the divider member includes a ledge, and wherein in the deployed position the shelf rests on the ledge.