Passenger seat

• US 8,439,435 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Gaither, Larry Richard, Terleski, Timothy W., Patel, Chirag
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US13/025,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 297/118, 297/317, 297/318, 297/322, 297/340, 297/341, 297/342, 297/343, 297/316
• US Class Current: 297/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/242 Bus seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0649 Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

Described are passenger seats having a seat pan assembly with reclining and tilting mechanisms, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat pan assembly. The reclining mechanism is configured to adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly and the rotation of the seat back between upright and reclining positions. The tilting mechanism is configured to rotate an aft end of the seat pan relative to the pan frame and deploy the lumbar mechanism.

Claims

1. A passenger seat comprising:

(a) a seat pan assembly comprising a reclining mechanism and a tilting mechanism;

(b) a seat back pivotally coupled to an aft end of the seat pan assembly;

(c) a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat pan assembly; and

(d) a seat frame comprising at least one track comprising a reclining path and a sleeper path,

wherein at least one pivot bar is coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly and is configured to slidingly couple to the at least one track,

wherein a diverter is coupled to the at least one track and configured to rotate between a position substantially blocking an opening to the reclining path and a position substantially blocking an opening to the sleeper path.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1, further comprising a sleeper selection control that is configured to rotate the diverter into the position substantially blocking the opening to the reclining path.

3. The passenger seat of claim 2, wherein the sleeper selection control is a button, a knob, a side lever, a lever, a slide, or a latch.

4. The passenger seat of claim 1, further comprising a release mechanism that is configured to rotate the diverter into the position substantially blocking the opening to the sleeper path.

5. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the reclining mechanism is configured to:

(a) adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly when the reclining path is open;

(b) adjust the forward position of the seat pan assembly, a rotated position of the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and rotate the lumbar mechanism relative to the seat back when the sleeper path is open; and

(c) rotate the seat back between upright and reclining positions.

6. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to:

(a) rotate an aft end of a seat pan relative to a pan frame; and

(b) rotate the lumbar mechanism relative to the seat back.

7. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the reclining mechanism is configured to:

(a) adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly; and

(b) rotate the seat back between upright and reclining positions.

8. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the tilting mechanism and the reclining mechanism are configured to operate independently of one another.

9. A method of positioning a passenger seat, wherein the passenger seat comprises (i) a seat pan assembly, (ii) a seat back pivotally coupled to an aft end of the seat pan assembly, and (iii) a seat frame comprising at least one track having a reclining path and a sleeper path;

the method comprising;

(a) actuating a sleeper selection control to select the sleeper path;

(b) actuating a reclining mechanism to transition the passenger seat into a sleeper position; and

(c) actuating the sleeper selection control to rotate a diverter into a position substantially blocking an opening to the reclining path.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising actuating a release mechanism that rotates the diverter into a position substantially blocking an opening to the sleeper path.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising actuating the reclining mechanism to transition the passenger seat into a reclining position.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and the seat pan assembly, wherein actuating the reclining mechanism rotates the lumbar mechanism forward.