Seat track mounted passenger interface

• US 6,601,798 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cawley, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holzen, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US09/943,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 291/411.2, 291/411.45, 291/417.3
• US Class Current: 244/118.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0224 Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/242 Bus seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0696 Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails

Abstract

A seat track mounted passenger interface device is provided. The device includes a base removably coupled to an aircraft seat track. A riser coupled to the base extends generally vertically away from the seat track. An interface head coupled to the distal end of the riser is located adjacent a passenger seat bottom cushion. One or more jacks and/or sockets are disposed within the interface head. Electrical leads interconnect the jacks and/or sockets with a power source. The electrical leads extend from the interface head, through the riser and base, and then through the seat track raceway.

Claims

1. An interface device for an aircraft comprising:

an interface base adapted to be coupled to a seat track unit disposed within said aircraft;

an interface riser coupled to said interface base, said interface riser being a reconfigurable flexible tube; and

an interface head coupled to said interface riser.

2. The interface device of claim 1 wherein said interface base further comprises a hollow cup-shaped member including wall members that are laterally spaced apart from said seat track upon coupling said base to said seat track.

3. The interface device of claim 1 further comprising an electrical cable extending through a raceway of said seat track and adapted to connect to said interface head.

4. The interface device of claim 3 wherein said cable extends through said base.

5. The interface device of claim 4 wherein said cable extends through said riser.

6. The interface device of claim 1 wherein said interface head includes at least one of a jack and a socket.

7. The interface device of claim 6 wherein said at least one of a jack and a socket includes one of a data port, an auxiliary power unit, and an audio control.

8. An aircraft seating arrangement comprising:

a passenger compartment including a floor;

a seat track longitudinally disposed on said floor relative to said passenger compartment;

at least one seat including a frame, said frame being coupled to said seat track; and

at least one passenger interface device coupled to said seat track at a position which is one of fore and aft of said frame.

9. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 8 wherein said passenger interface device terminates at an interface head located adjacent a seat bottom of said at least one seat.

10. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 9 wherein said interface head is located proximate a front lower edge of said seat bottom.

11. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 9 wherein said interface head is located proximate a rear lower edge of said seat bottom.

15. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 8 wherein said at least one passenger interface device further comprises:

a hollow cup-shaped base including wall members laterally spaced apart from said seat track;

a tubular riser coupled to said interface base and projecting away from said floor; and

an interface head coupled to a distal end of said interface riser.

16. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 15 wherein said interface riser further comprises a cylindrical tube which is flexible.

17. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 15 wherein said interface riser further comprises a cylindrical tube which is rigid.

18. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 15 further comprising an electrical cable extending through a raceway of said seat track, between one of said wall members of said base and said seat track, through said hollow cup-shaped base, through said tubular riser and connected to said interface head.

19. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 18 wherein said interface head is located adjacent a seat bottom of said at least one seat.

20. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 19 wherein said interface head is located proximate a front lower edge of said seat bottom.

21. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 19 wherein said interface head is located proximate a rear lower edge of said seat bottom.

22. The aircraft seating arrangement of claim 17 wherein said base is slidable along said seat track.

12. An aircraft interface device comprising:

a seat track mountable base;

a cylindrical, hollow riser extending from said base; and

an interface head coupled to a distal end of said riser and adapted to be located adjacent a lower edge of a seat bottom.

13. The interface device of claim 12 wherein said base further comprises a hollow cup-shaped member including wall members adapted to be laterally spaced apart from said seat track after said base is mounted to said seat track.

14. The interface device of claim 13 wherein said base and said tubular riser define a continuous volume adapted to accommodate a cable therein.

23. An interface device for an aircraft comprising:

a seat track unit disposed within said aircraft;

an interface base independently and directly coupled to said seat track unit;

an interface riser coupled to said interface base; and

an interface head coupled to said interface riser.