Passenger sleeper seat

• US 6,352,309 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX), B/E Aerospace Incorporated (Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace Incorporated (Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beroth, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELL, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US09/483,006
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 297/354.13, 297/284.11, 297/423.41, 297/423.44, 297/67
• US Class Current: 297/354.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• 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 11/0636 Personal storage means or waste disposal bags
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

A sleeper seating unit for an aircraft, and including a primary seat having a seat frame for being stationarily-mounted to the aircraft deck, a seat back for being selectively moved by a seat occupant among fully upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions, a scat bottom for moving between retracted and extended positions in coordination with the seat back, and an ottoman for being positioned on the deck forward of the primary seat. The ottoman has a top cushion positioned on a top surface thereof and a leg rest cushion positioned on a side of the ottoman facing the primary seat. The leg rest cushion is movable between positions wherein when the primary seat is in an upright position, the leg rest cushion is positioned at an angle to engage and support the bottom of the feet, and when the primary seat is in a reclined position, the leg rest cushion is in a generally horizontal position adjacent to and forming an extension of the seat bottom.

Claims

1. A sleeper seating unit for an aircraft, and comprising:

(a) a primary seat, including;

(i) a seat frame for being stationarily-mounted to the aircraft deck,

(ii) a scat back for being selectively moved by a seat occupant among fully upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions;

(iii) a seat bottom for moving between retracted and extended positions in coordination with the seat back;

(b) an ottoman for being positioned on the deck forward of the primary seat, said ottoman having a top cushion positioned on a top surface thereof and a leg rest cushion positioned on a side of said ottoman facing said primary seat;

(c) said leg rest cushion movable between positions wherein;

(i) when the primary seat is in an upright position, the leg rest cushion is positioned at an angle to engage and support the bottom of the feet; and

(ii) when the primary seat is in a reclined position, the leg rest cushion is in a generally horizontal position adjacent to and forming an extension of the seat bottom.

2. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 1, wherein said ottoman is mounted for fore and aft movement relative to said primary seat.

3. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 2, wherein the leg rest cushion of the ottoman is pivoted for movement between its positions.

4. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 1, wherein when the primary seat is in the semi-reclined position, the leg rest cushion is elevated above the position of the leg rest cushion when the seat is in the fully reclined position for providing support for the leg behind the knee of the occupant.

5. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 1, wherein said primary seat includes a stationary privacy shell enclosing rear and sides of the seat back.

6. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 1, wherein said primary seat includes a bolster for supporting the back of the leg and knee of the occupant when in the upright and semi-reclined positions.

7. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 6, wherein the bolster is mounted for articulating movement between a support position supporting the back of the leg and knee of the occupant when in the semi-reclined and upright positions and a retracted position below the seat bottom and the adjacent leg rest cushion of the ottoman when the primary seat is in the fully reclined positions.

8. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 7, and including motor control means for moving the seat back, seat bottom, ottoman and ottoman leg rest cushion in response to occupant commands.

9. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 2, wherein the ottoman is mounted relative to the primary seat whereby the ottoman moves closer to the primary scat as the primary seat reclines and further away from the primary seat as the primary seat moves to its upright position.

10. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 9, wherein said leg rest cushion of the ottoman is pivotally-mounted for movement between stowed, intermediate and raised positions.

11. A sleeper seating unit according to claim 1, wherein said ottoman includes therein a storage compartment for storage of the occupant'"'"'s personal effects, and further wherein said leg support cushion comprises a door for said storage compartment.