Footrest

• US 8,434,825 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Wesselink, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANMER, LAURIE K
• Application Number:
  US13/313,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 297/14, 297/423.1, 244/122.R, 244/118.6, 296/75, 296/189
• US Class Current: 297/423.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0649 Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A footrest is provided that includes a footplate element, an upper swing arm, and a lower swing arm, which footrest can be arranged on a wall that faces a seat, and allows several seating positions.

Claims

1. A footrest comprising:

a footplate element;

an upper swing arm; and

a lower swing arm;

wherein the footplate element comprises at least a first surface area;

wherein a first end of the upper swing arm in the region of an upper edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by an upper pivot joint;

wherein the lower swing arm in the region of a lower edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by a lower pivot joint;

wherein the upper edge of the first surface area is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the lower edge of the first surface area;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the lower swing arm;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the first surface area;

wherein a second end of the upper swing arm comprises an upper pivot bearing;

wherein a second end of the lower swing arm comprises a lower pivot bearing;

wherein the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing are adapted for attaching the footrest to a wall;

wherein the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint, the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint, the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing extend so as to be essentially parallel to each other; and

wherein the footplate element can be rotated in such a manner that the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing, the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint are situated in a shared plane.

2. The footrest of claim 1, further comprising:

a further upper swing arm;

a further lower swing arm; and

wherein the footplate element comprises a second surface area that is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the first surface area; and

wherein the further upper swing arm, the further lower swing arm and the second surface area are in each case correspondingly arranged symmetrically relative to the upper swing arm, to the lower swing arm and to the first surface area.

3. The footrest of claim 1, wherein at least one pivot bearing and/or at least one pivot joint of the footrest are/is adapted for being lockable in a predeterminable number of positions.

4. The footrest of claim 1, wherein at least one pivot bearing and/or at least one pivot joint of the footrest comprises an electric motor.

5. The footrest of claim 1, wherein the footplate element comprises a footplate profile, wherein the footplate profile is adapted for essentially preventing any slipping from the footplate element.

6. The footrest of claim 1, wherein the footplate element can be rotated in such a manner that a rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and a rotary axis of the lower pivot joint are essentially positioned on a shared plane with a rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and a rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing.

7. The footrest of claim 1, wherein the footplate element can be rotated in such a manner that the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing, the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing are situated in a first shared plane and that the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint are situated in a second shared plane;

and

wherein the first shared plane and the second shared plane intersect.

8. An item of equipment for an aircraft, comprising:

a wall; and

a footrest, the footrest comprising;

a footplate element;

an upper swing arm;

a lower swing arm; and

wherein the footplate element comprises at least a first surface area;

wherein a first end of the upper swing arm in the region of an upper edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by an upper pivot joint;

wherein the lower swing arm in the region of a lower edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by a lower pivot joint;

wherein the upper edge of the first surface area is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the lower edge of the first surface area;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the lower swing arm;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the first surface area;

wherein a second end of the upper swing arm comprises an upper pivot bearing;

wherein a second end of the lower swing arm comprises a lower pivot bearing;

wherein the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing are adapted for attaching the footrest to a wall;

wherein the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint, the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint, the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing extend so as to be essentially parallel to each other;

wherein the footplate element can be rotated in such a manner that the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing, the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint are situated in a shared plane; and

wherein the footrest by at least one of the pivot bearings is attached to the wall.

9. The item of equipment of claim 8, wherein in the case of attachment of the footrest by at least the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing to the wall, a distance between the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing is greater than the length of the first surface area.

10. The item of equipment of claim 8, wherein the wall comprises a recess, wherein the footrest can be arranged so as to be located in the recess of the wall in an essentially planar manner.

11. The item of equipment of claim 8, wherein the footrest is coupled to the wall in an essentially planar manner, and wherein in a folded-in state of the footplate element a space is provided between the footplate element and a floor.

12. A seat arrangement, comprising:

a wall;

a seat; and

a footrest, the footrest comprising;

a footplate element;

an upper swing arm; and

a lower swing arm;

wherein the footplate element comprises at least a first surface area;

wherein a first end of the upper swing arm in the region of an upper edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by an upper pivot joint;

wherein the lower swing arm in the region of a lower edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by a lower pivot joint;

wherein the upper edge of the first surface area is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the lower edge of the first surface area;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the lower swing arm;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the first surface area;

wherein a second end of the upper swing arm comprises an upper pivot bearing;

wherein a second end of the lower swing arm comprises a lower pivot bearing;

wherein the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing are adapted for attaching the footrest to a wall;

wherein the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint, the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint, the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing extend so as to be essentially parallel to each other;

wherein the footplate element can be rotated in such a manner that the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing, the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint are situated in a shared plane;

wherein the wall comprises a wall surface that essentially faces the seat;

wherein by the pivot bearings the footrest is arranged in such a manner on the wall surface facing the seat that a movement of the footplate element of the footrest away from the wall reduces a distance between the seat and the footplate element.

13. An aircraft with at least one of:

(i) a footrest, the footrest comprising;

a footplate element;

an upper swing arm; and

a lower swing arm;

wherein the footplate element comprises at least a first surface area;

wherein a first end of the upper swing arm in the region of an upper edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by an upper pivot joint;

wherein the lower swing arm in the region of a lower edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by a lower pivot joint;

wherein the upper edge of the first surface area is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the lower edge of the first surface area;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the lower swing arm;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the first surface area;

wherein a second end of the upper swing arm comprises an upper pivot bearing;

wherein a second end of the lower swing arm comprises a lower pivot bearing;

wherein the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing are adapted for attaching the footrest to a wall;

wherein the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint, the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint, the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing extend so as to be essentially parallel to each other,

wherein the footplate element can be rotated in such a manner that the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing, the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint and the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint are situated in a shared plane;

(ii) an item of equipment for an aircraft, comprising;

a wall; and

a footrest, the footrest comprising;

a footplate element;

an upper swing arm; and

a lower swing arm;

wherein the footplate element comprises at least a first surface area;

wherein a first end of the upper swing arm in the region of an upper edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by an upper pivot joint;

wherein the lower swing arm in the region of a lower edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by a lower pivot joint;

wherein the upper edge of the first surface area is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the lower edge of the first surface area;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the lower swing arm;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the first surface area;

wherein a second end of the upper swing arm comprises an upper pivot bearing;

wherein a second end of the lower swing arm comprises a lower pivot bearing;

wherein the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing are adapted for attaching the footrest to a wall;

wherein the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint, the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint, the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing extend so as to be essentially parallel to each other;

wherein the footrest by at least one of the pivot bearings is attached to the wall, and

(iii) a seat arrangement, comprising;

a wall;

a seat; and

a footrest, the footrest comprising;

a footplate element;

an upper swing arm; and

a lower swing arm;

wherein the footplate element comprises at least a first surface area;

wherein a first end of the upper swing arm in the region of an upper edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by an upper pivot joint;

wherein the lower swing arm in the region of a lower edge of the first surface area is rotatably arranged on the first surface area by a lower pivot joint;

wherein the upper edge of the first surface area is arranged so as to be essentially parallel to the lower edge of the first surface area;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the lower swing arm;

wherein the length of the upper swing arm is shorter than the length of the first surface area;

wherein a second end of the upper swing arm comprises an upper pivot bearing;

wherein a second end of the lower swing arm comprises a lower pivot bearing;

wherein the upper pivot bearing and the lower pivot bearing are adapted for attaching the footrest to a wall;

wherein the rotary axis of the upper pivot joint, the rotary axis of the lower pivot joint, the rotary axis of the upper pivot bearing and the rotary axis of the lower pivot bearing extend so as to be essentially parallel to each other;

wherein the wall comprises a wall surface that essentially faces the seat;

wherein by the pivot bearings the footrest is arranged in such a manner on the wall surface facing the seat that a movement of the footplate element of the footrest away from the wall reduces a distance between the seat and the footplate element.