PASSENGER SEAT WITH SUSPENDED SEAT DIAPHRAGM

• US 20200130847A1
• Filed: 12/14/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Lozano Segura, Rafael, Green, Jeremy, Waters, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,836,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/043 of tubular non-circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2209 by longitudinal displacement of the cushion, e.g. back-rest hinged on the bottom to the cushion and linked on the top to the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7005 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0288 Adjustable seat width
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0639 with features for adjustment or converting of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0647 Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0648 Lower frame constructions

Abstract

Described are passenger support assemblies for a passenger seat, including an expandable inner frame that attaches the passenger support assembly with a seat frame and an expansion mechanism that allows the expandable inner frame to change in width, and an outer frame that includes two side frame elements connected with the expandable inner frame and extending beyond the expandable inner frame, the outer frame configured to change in width in response to a change in width of the expandable inner frame. A diaphragm can held in tension by the two side frame elements of the outer frame to define a seating surface.

Claims

1. A passenger support assembly for a passenger seat, the assembly comprising:

an expandable inner frame comprising attachment elements configured to attach the passenger support assembly with a seat frame and an expansion mechanism configured to allow the expandable inner frame to change in width;

an outer frame comprising two side frame elements connected with the expandable inner frame and extending beyond the expandable inner frame, the outer frame configured to change in width in response to a change in width of the expandable inner frame; and

a diaphragm held in tension by the two side frame elements of the outer frame to define a seating surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment elements are configured to connect directly to a pair of tubular supports of the seat frame at a seat bottom position.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment elements comprise a sliding linkage configured to allow the expandable inner frame to slidingly attach with the seat frame so that, when the assembly is attached to the seat frame, the assembly can articulate forward and aft with respect to the seat frame.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the attachment elements further comprise an articulating linkage positioned at an aft extent of the assembly and configured to attach the assembly with a lower extent of a passenger seat back.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the seating surface defined by the diaphragm is adjustable by at least 8.9 cm (3.5 inches), preferably at least 12.7 cm (5 inches), in response to varying the width of the outer frame.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the seating surface defined by the diaphragm is adjustable in width from 39.4 cm to 47 cm (15.5 to 18.5 inches), preferably from less than 38 cm to at least 50 cm (15-20 inches).

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a elastomeric polymer mesh.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises an elastomeric substrate bonded to a polymer, leather, or fabric surface layer.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the diaphragm further comprises first and second metal coils connected therewith at first and second ends of the diaphragm; and

the diaphragm is connected with the first and second side frame elements by insertion of the first and second metal coils within slots in the first and second side frame elements, respectively.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the outer frame further comprises a front outer frame element and a rear outer frame element positioned between the two side frame elements and orthogonal to the two side frame elements at a forward position and an aft position, respectively; and

the diaphragm is further connected with the outer frame at the front outer frame element and rear outer frame element.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the diaphragm is removably connected with the front outer frame element and rear outer frame element by one or more removable touch fasteners, and removably connected with the outer frame by being slidingly attached slots in the two side frame elements.

12. A passenger seat, comprising:

a seat frame configured to attach to a passenger compartment floor; and

a passenger support assembly connected with the seat frame, the passenger support assembly comprising;

an expandable inner frame comprising attachment elements configured to attach the passenger support assembly with the seat frame and an expansion mechanism configured to allow the expandable inner frame to change in width;

an outer frame comprising two side frame elements connected with the expandable inner frame and extending beyond the expandable inner frame, the outer frame configured to change in width in response to a change in width of the expandable inner frame; and

a diaphragm held in tension by the two side frame elements of the outer frame to define a seating surface.

13. The passenger seat of claim 12, wherein the passenger support assembly is a seat bottom assembly.

14. The passenger seat of claim 13, wherein the seat frame comprises a pair of tubular supports and the attachment elements are adjustably attached to each other along the pair of tubular supports such that a width of the expandable inner frame can be varied by moving the attachment elements toward or away from each other along the pair of tubular supports.

15. The passenger seat of claim 12, wherein the passenger support assembly is an articulating seat bottom assembly, and further comprising:

an articulating linkage connected with the expandable inner frame and with the seat frame, the articulating linkage configured to allow the passenger support assembly to articulate with respect to the seat frame.

16. The passenger seat of claim 12, further comprising a seat back connected with the seat frame, the seat back comprising first and second side tracks and a second diaphragm held in tension between the first and second side tracks to define a seat back surface.

17. A method of installing a passenger support assembly in a passenger seat, the method comprising:

connecting an expandable inner frame with a seat frame of a passenger seat assembly by connecting attachment elements of the expandable inner frame with the seat frame;

connecting an outer frame comprising first and second side frame elements with the expandable inner frame;

connecting a diaphragm with the first and second side frame elements of the outer frame; and

expanding the expandable inner frame and outer frame until the outer frame places the diaphragm in tension, such that the diaphragm forms a seating surface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

attaching front and rear outer frame elements with the first and second side frame elements and orthogonal to the first and second side frame elements; and

attaching the diaphragm with the front and rear outer frame elements.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

connecting the expandable inner frame with the seat frame comprises slidingly connecting each of the attachment elements with a pair of tubular supports of the seat frame; and

expanding the expandable inner frame comprises separating the attachment elements from each other along the pair of tubular supports.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein connecting the diaphragm with the first and second side frame elements of the outer frame comprises:

sliding opposite first and second ends of the diaphragm through respective first and second slots in the first and second side frame elements of the outer frame until the diaphragm spans substantially all of a length of the outer frame.