Aircraft passenger accomodation system

• US 5,425,516 A
• Filed: 07/01/1994
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul H. Daines
• Original Assignee: Paul H. Daines
• Inventors: Daines, Paul H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US08/269,753
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 105/315, 105/316, 105/322
• US Class Current: 244/118.6
• 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 11/0606 with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like class dividers B64D11/0023
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06395 characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds

Abstract

An aircraft passenger accomodation system providing rows of side-by-side seat assemblies for passengers, with the seats operable to provide alternating rows of elevated partially reclining seats and alternate rows of fully reclining seats to provide lounges or beds for some of the passengers and with access to each of the seats regardless of the status of the seat and its location in the aircraft.

Claims

1. A passenger accomodation unit comprising

a plurality of side by side and aligned front to rear elevated partially reclining seat assemblies facing in a first direction and each having a space therbeneath;

a lay-down seat assembly arranged to face in said first direction and positioned behind each elevated reclining seat assembly and including a lounge seat with a support seat, and a fully reclining seat back pivotally connected to said support seat;

means for moving each said support seat down and in said first direction towards the elevated partially reclining seat assembly aligned therewith, whereby a person on the lounge seat may be supported in a substantially fully reclined position, with his legs extending into the space beneath the elevated recling seat assembly, by the support seat and the reclining back seat; and

corridor means providing a walkway extending between each fully reclined back of each said side by side lay-down seat assembly and aligned, elevated, partially reclining, side by side seats therebehind.

2. A passenger accomodation unit as in claim 1, further including

partition means separating said corridor means and the elevated reclining seat behind.

3. A passenger accomodation unit as in claim 2, wherein said partition has a handrail on an upper edge thereof.

4. A passenger accomodation unit as in claim 3, wherein said partition extends upwardly and is angled rearwardly towards said elevated reclining seat behind and away from the lay-down seat assembly to terminate in said handrail.

5. A passenger accommodation system as in claim 4, wherein:

means in the space beneath the elevated reclining seat assembly forms an extension of the support seat when the support seat is moved fully down and towards the reclining seat assembly.

6. A passenger accomodation unit as in claim 5, wherein the means in the space beneath the elevated reclining seat forming an extension comprises a bolster, movable between a raised position against the elevated reclining seat and a lowered position forming a continuation of the support seat.