Aircraft seat

• US 8,585,146 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3861589 Canada Inc.
• Original Assignee: 3861589 Canada Inc.
• Inventors: Giasson, Brigitte, Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US12/643,599
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 297/378.1, 297/378.11, 297/378.12, 297/378.13, 297/378.14, 297/344.1, 297/344.21, 297/344.18, 248/421
• US Class Current: 297/344.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0747 the opening of the cross section being oriented in a direction different from the vertical, e.g. transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0642 Adjustable headrests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0644 Adjustable arm 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 aircraft seat having a seat tracking mechanism constructed of interlocking boxes, a seat suspension system having webbed netting, a retractable armrest, a movable headrest and a movable leg rest. The headrest has wings which extend outward from the side of the headrest to increase the size of the headrest.

Claims

1. A seat tracking mechanism for an aircraft seat which comprises:

a) an outer box having end rails and opposed side rails surrounding an interior of the outer box with an outer track on each side rail;

b) an inner box positioned in the outer box completely within the interior of the outer box and having end rails and side rails with an inner track on each end rail and wheels mounted on the side rails adjacent to and in contact with the outer track on each side rail of the outer box; and

c) a center box positioned in the inner box having end rails and side rails with wheels mounted on the end rails adjacent and in contact with the inner track on each end rail of the inner box.

2. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the outer track has a first track spaced apart and aligned with a second track.

3. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the outer track has an angled shape.

4. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein a perimeter of the wheels of the inner box have a v-shaped groove.

5. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the outer track has a first track spaced apart and parallel to a second track, wherein the wheels of the inner box have a first wheel spaced apart horizontally and vertically from a second wheel and wherein the first wheel is adjacent and in contact with the first track and the second wheel is adjacent and in contact with the second track.

6. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein a keeper is mounted on the side rails of the inner box adjacent the wheels and is configured to contact the outer track.

7. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein a swivel mechanism is mounted in the center box.

8. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 7 wherein a leg base is connected to the swivel mechanism.

9. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 7 wherein the swivel mechanism has an upper plate with a center opening and holes and configured to be connected to the aircraft seat;

an inner ring having a center opening and positioned adjacent the upper plate;

spacers having a first end and a second end with a center bore extending therebetween and mounted on the upper plate so that the first end is adjacent the upper plate and the center bore of the spacers is aligned with the holes in the upper plate; and

a lower ring having a center opening and positioned adjacent the second end of the spacers.

10. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 9 wherein the center opening of the upper plate has gear teeth.

11. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 9 wherein a locking mechanism having a plunger pin is mounted adjacent the upper plate on a side opposite the inner ring, wherein the upper plate has holes spaced between a perimeter of the upper plate and the center opening and wherein to lock the swivel mechanism, the plunger pin of the locking mechanism is moved into one of the holes in the upper plate.

12. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 9 wherein the center box has a bottom wall with an opening, and wherein the upper plate is positioned in the center box with the center opening adjacent the opening in the bottom wall.

13. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 12 wherein the inner ring is spaced between the upper plate and the bottom wall.

14. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 12 wherein the lower ring is adjacent a side of the bottom wall of the center box opposite the upper plate.

15. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 12 wherein the spacers extend through the opening in the bottom wall.

16. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the center box is positioned completely within the interior of the outer box.

17. A seat tracking mechanism for an aircraft seat which comprises:

a) an outer box having end rails and opposed side rails with an outer track on each side rail;

b) an inner box positioned in the outer box and having end rails and side rails with an inner track on each end rail and with a set of wheels having a first wheel spaced apart horizontally and vertically from a second wheel mounted on the side rails adjacent to and in contact with the outer track on each side rail of the outer box; and

c) a center box positioned in the inner box having end rails and side rails with wheels mounted on the end rails adjacent and in contact with the inner track on each end rail of the inner box.

18. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 17 wherein each side rail of the inner box has a first set of wheels spaced apart from a second set of wheels.

19. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 18 wherein a keeper is mounted on an outer surface of the side rail spaced between the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels and wherein the keeper extends outward from the side rail and has a first flange and a second flange which are spaced apart from the outer surface of the side rails and which extend in opposite directions parallel to the outer surface of the side rail.

20. A seat tracking mechanism for an aircraft seat which comprises:

a) an outer box having end rails and opposed side rails, the side rails having outer tracks and surrounding an interior of the outer box;

b) an inner box slidably positioned completely in the interior of the outer box and having end rails and side rails, the side rails having wheels which contact the outer tracks of the side rails of the outer box; and

c) a center box slidably positioned in the inner box and having end rails and side rails, the center box configured to move laterally in the inner box and the inner box configured to move longitudinally in the outer box.

21. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 20 wherein the center box is positioned completely within the interior of the outer box.

22. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 21 wherein a swivel mechanism is positioned in the center box.

29. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 21 wherein a swivel mechanism is positioned in the center box.

23. A seat tracking mechanism for an aircraft seat which comprises:

a) an outer box having end rails and opposed side rails surrounding an interior of the outer box;

b) an inner box slidably positioned completely in the interior of the outer box and having end rails and side rails;

c) a center box slidably positioned in the inner box and having end rails and side rails;

d) a swivel mechanism mounted in the center box; and

e) a leg base connected to the swivel mechanism.

24. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 23 wherein the leg base has a center section with a center opening and is configured to be mounted on a seat base of the aircraft seat and having legs extending outward at an angle from the center section.

25. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 24 wherein the leg base has four (4) legs.

26. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 24 wherein the center section has a substantially circular shape with the legs spaced apart a substantially equal distance around the center section.

27. The seat tracking mechanism of claim 24 wherein the leg base is a single, molded monolithic piece.

28. A seat tracking mechanism for an aircraft seat which comprises:

a) an outer box having end rails and opposed side rails with an outer track on each side rail;

b) an inner box positioned in the outer box and having end rails and side rails surrounding an interior of the inner box, with an inner track on each end rail and wheels mounted on the side rails adjacent to and in contact with the outer track on each side rail of the outer box; and

c) a center box positioned completely within the interior of the inner box having end rails and side rails with wheels mounted on the end rails adjacent and in contact with the inner track on each end rail of the inner box.