Wide spreader bar and lift-up seat spreader bar for seat legs

• US 7,182,292 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Laib, Trevor M, Mitchell, Bradley J, Henley, James T, Feist, Samuel J, Callahan, Kevin S, Howard, Daniel J
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/898,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/122.R, 244/131, 244/129.1, 439/210, 439/110, 439/131, 174/10, 174/70.R, 174/74.R, 174/209, 174/15.7, 297/344.1, 297/217.4, 296/63.13
• US Class Current: 244/122.00R
• 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 having a seat leg assembly for use on a mobile platform, especially on an aircraft. The seat comprises a front seat leg, a rear seat leg, and a spreader bar coupled to and extending between the front seat leg and the rear seat leg. The spreader bar has a door. The door is movable between a closed position in which the door prevents access to areas beneath the spreader bar and an open position in which the door permits access to areas beneath the spreader bar. In this manner, the open door allows an installer to grasp electrical cabling beneath the spreader bar and feed the cabling through a hole in the door so that the cable can be connected a connection point on or adjacent to the seat track.

Claims

1. A seat comprising:

a seat leg assembly, said seat leg assembly including;

a front seat leg;

a rear seat leg;

a spreader bar extending between said front seat leg and said rear seat leg, said spreader bar having an opening at an intermediate portion of a length thereof; and

a door adapted to cover said opening, said door having a width generally in accordance with a width of said spreader bar and disposed to be generally longitudinally aligned with said spreader bar when said door is secured to said spreader bar in a closed position;

wherein said door is movable between said closed position in which said door prevents access to areas beneath said spreader bar and an open position in which said door permits access to areas beneath said spreader bar.

2. The seat of claim 1, wherein said door includes a hinge that extends along a width of said spreader bar to permit the movement between the closed position and the open position.

3. The seat of claim 1, wherein said door includes a hinge that extends along a length of said spreader bar to permit the movement between the closed position and the open position.

4. The seat of claim 1, wherein said spreader bar further includes a stationary portion having a recessed track and said door includes a pair of rails that cooperate with said recessed track to permit movement of said door between the open position and the closed position.

5. The seat of claim 1, wherein said door includes a locking feature to secure said door in the closed position.

6. The seat of claim 1, wherein said door is entirely removed from said spreader bar when in the open position.

7. The seat of claim 1, wherein said door includes a hole that extends through the door that is operable to permit passage of a cable through said door.

8. The seat of claim 1, wherein said spreader bar further comprises edges that extend downward from said spreader bar toward a passenger cabin floor to which said seat leg assembly is mounted.

9. The seat of claim 1, wherein said spreader bar further comprises a stationary portion that does not move with said door;

and

wherein said stationary portion includes a hole that extends through said stationary portion and is operable to permit passage of a cable through said stationary portion.

10. A seat comprising:

a seat base;

a seat leg assembly extending from said seat base including;

a front seat leg;

a rear seat leg;

a spreader bar extending between said front seat leg and said rear seat leg, said spreader bar including;

a door portion having a width generally in accordance with a width of said spreader bar and disposed to be generally longitudinally aligned with said spreader bar when said door is secured to said spreader bar in a closed position;

a first stationary portion;

a second stationary portion; and

an opening between said first stationary portion and said second stationary portion;

wherein said door is movable between said closed position in which said door covers said opening and an open position in which said door at least partially exposes said opening.

11. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door includes a hinge that extends along a width of said spreader bar to permit the movement between the closed position and the open position.

12. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door includes a hinge that extends along a length of said spreader bar to permit the movement between the closed position and the open position.

13. The seat of claim 10, wherein said first and said second stationary portions include a recessed track and said door includes a pair of rails that cooperate with said recessed track to permit movement of said door between the open position and the closed position.

14. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door includes a locking feature to secure said door in the closed position.

15. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door is entirely removed from said spreader bar when in the open position.

16. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door includes a hole that extends through said door that is operable to permit passage of a cable through said door.

17. The seat of claim 10, wherein said spreader bar further comprises edges that extend downward from said spreader bar toward a floor to which said seat leg assembly is mounted.

18. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door is secured to said spreader bar with a lanyard.

19. The seat of claim 10, wherein said door includes a hole that extends through at least one of said first stationary portion and said second stationary portion, said hole operable to permit passage of a cable.

20. A method of forming a seat, comprising:

forming two spaced apart legs for supporting a seat portion;

forming a spreader bar between the two legs;

forming an opening at an intermediate portion of a length of the spreader bar; and

forming a door on the spreader bar that covers the opening and has a width generally in accordance with a width of the spreader bar, and is disposed to be generally longitudinally aligned with the spreader bar when the door is secured to the spreader bar in a closed position, the door being movable between an open position to permit access to areas beneath the spreader bar to connect a cable extending beneath the spreader bar to a connection point on or adjacent to the seat track, and the closed position to restrict access to the areas beneath the spreader bar.