Multi-place seats

• US 3,910,632 A
• Filed: 02/15/1974
• Issued: 10/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Rene Marechal
• Original Assignee: Robert Rene Marechal
• Inventors: Marechal, Robert Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelmachter, Barry L.
• Application Number:
  US05/443,024
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 244/122R,118P 296/64,65R 297/191,194,378,417,232,422,450,355,113,451,117,146,163
• US Class Current: 297/232
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/124 Separate chairs, connectible together into a row
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/68 Arm-rest tables ; or back-rest tables
• 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 2/753 movable to an inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• 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 11/0638 with foldable tables, trays or cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0644 Adjustable arm rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0646 Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests

Abstract

A multi-place seat for use in aircraft comprises back-rests independently pivotal about a fixed lower axis and a movable upper axis. Intermediate arm-rests and a central front table are retractable into the back-rests, these arm-rests and the table also being pivotal about the fixed lower axis and a movable upper axis. The upper pivotal axes of the back-rests, the arm-rests and the table can be moved into alignment.

Claims

1. In a multi-place seat, fixed support means, transverse shaft means carried by the support means said transverse shaft means having a pivotal axis, a plurality of adjacent back-rests pivotal individually about said shaft means, a plurality of arm-rests including at least one intermediate each adjacent pair of back-rests, means mounting at least the intermediate arm-rests for pivotal movement, whereby said arm-rests can be raised, said mounting means comprising, upwardly extending rod means associated with each said intermediate arm-rest, the lower end of said rod means being pivotal about an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the back-rests, and the upper end of said rod means being pivotally connected to the arm-rest, first abutment means rigid with the said fixed support means for limiting forward pivotal movement of the rod means, second abutment means rigid with the arm-rest and the rod means for limiting pivotal movement of the arm-rest relative to the rod means, and third abutment means rigid with the back-rest for limiting rearward unitary movement of the rod means and the arm-rest when the arm-rest is in a raised position.

2. A seat according to claim 1, comprising at least three said back-rests, said seat further comprising front table means, an intermediate one of said back rests having a cavity across its entire width to receive the front table means, the height of said cavity, being equal to the length of said pivotal arm-rests, means mounting said front table means for pivotal movement, said mounting means comprising, upwardly extending second rod means, said second rod means being equal in length to said rod means, the lower end of said second rod means being pivotal about an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the back-rests, and the upper end of said second rod means being pivotally connected to said front table means, pivotal movement of said front table means with respect to said second rod means being limited by abutment means.

3. A seat according to claim 2 further comprising, pivotal support means linking the back-rests to the shaft means, said pivotal support means being equal in length to the first mentioned and second rod means, fourth abutments rigid with the fixed support means for limiting forward pivotal movement of said pivotal support means, and fifth abutment means on said pivotal support means for limiting rearward pivotal movement of the back-rests.

4. A seat according to claim 1, further comprising rear table means mounted on the rear surface of each of said back-rests, said rear table means having a bottom edge, and means mounting each of said rear table means for movement between extended and retracted positions, said rear table mounting means comprising, upwardly extending aRms of substantially L-shape upwardly extending levers of substantially C-shape, the lower ends of the levers being pivotal about an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the back-rests, the upper ends of the levers being connected to the lower ends of a respective said arm-rest, the distance between the two said ends of the levers being equal to the length of said rod means, and the upper ends of the arms being pivotally connected to the bottom edge of the rear table means, sixth abutment means on said fixed support for limiting rearward pivotal movement of the levers, and seventh abutment means on the arm-rests and the levers for limiting rearward movement of the arm-rests.

5. A seat according to claim 4, wherein the mounting means for the rear table means further comprises, finger means rigid with at least one of said levers, and spring means extending between the finger means and the fixed support means, to counterbalance the weight of the rear table means and the arms.

6. In a multi-place seat, a fixed support means;

transverse shaft means carried by the support means, said transverse shaft means having a pivotal axis A;

a plurality of adjacent back rests each of which has a front and a back and each of which comprises;

a lower portion pivotal individually about said shaft means, and an upper portion pivotably attached to said lower portion and pivotable about a pivotal axis B, said axis B being spaced from said axis A;

a plurality of arm rests including at least one intermediate each adjacent pair of back rests;

means mounting at least the intermediate arm rests for pivotal movement, whereby said arm rests can be raised to a raised position, said mounting means comprising;

upwardly extending rod means associated with each said intermediate arm rest, the lower end of said rod means being pivotally attached to the transverse shaft means and thus being pivotal about axis A, and the upper end of said rod means being pivotally connected to the arm rest, the distance between the pivotal connection of the arm rest to the rod and axis A being the same as the distance between axis A and axis B, whereby the said pivotal connection of the arm rest to the rod is coaxial with the axis B when the arm rest is in its raised position;

a shelf mounted at the back of each said back rest movable between an open and a closed position;

each said shelf being attached to at least one pivotally mounted leg having two ends by means of a mounting arm, said mounted leg at one end being pivotally attached to said mounting arm and the pivotal attachment of the one end to the mounting arm being coaxial with axis B when the shelf is in its closed position;

the other end of each said mounted leg being pivotally attached to the transverse shaft means and thus being pivotal about axis A;

first abutment means rigid with the said fixed support means for limiting forward pivotal movement of the rod means, second abutment means rigid with the arm rest and the rod means for limiting pivotal movement of the arm rest relative to the rod means, and third abutment means rigid with the back rest for limiting rearward unitary movement of the rod means and the arm rest when the arm rest is in a raised position.

7. A seat according to claim 6, comprising at least three said back rests, said seat further comprising front table means, an intermediate one of said back rests having a cavity across its entire width to receive the front table means, the height of said cavity, being equal to the length of said pivotal arm rests, means mounting said front table means for pivotal movement, said mounting means comprising, upwardly extending second rod means, said second rod means being equal in length to said rod means, the lower end of said second rod means being pivotal about an axis coincident with the pivotal axis A of the back rests, and the upper end of said second rod means being pivotally connected to said front table means about an axis coincident with axis B, pivotal movement of said front table means with respect to said second rod means being limited by abutment means.