Passenger seat

• US 8,827,365 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• 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): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US13/432,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 297/340, 297/341, 297/342, 297/316, 297/317
• US Class Current: 297/342
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02 the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/242 Bus seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 33/00 Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0644 Adjustable arm rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0646 Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0649 Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

Describes are passenger seats including a seat pan assembly with a reclining mechanism, a seat back pivotally coupled to the aft end of the seat pan assembly, and a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back and/or the seat pan assembly. As examples, the seat pan assembly includes at least one track having a reclining path and a sleeper path, and a sleeper selection control configured to pull a diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the reclining path and to push the diverter into a position substantially blocking the opening to the sleeper path. In certain cases, the seat pan assembly also includes a tilting mechanism with a fixed component and a variable component adjustably engaged with each other.

Claims

1. A passenger seat comprising:

(a) a seat back;

(b) a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back; and

(c) a forward tracking seat pan assembly comprising;

(i) a pan frame comprising an aft end pivotally coupled to the seat back and a forward end pivotally coupled to a seat frame;

(ii) a seat pan pivotally coupled to the pan frame;

(iii) a tilting mechanism comprising a fixed component coupled to the pan frame and a variable component coupled to the seat pan, wherein the fixed component and the variable component are engaged with each other via a plurality of interlocking teeth, wherein movement of the variable component adjusts a magnitude of an angle between the seat pan and the pan frame; and

(iv) a reclining mechanism coupled to the seat frame and the pan frame, wherein the reclining mechanism comprises an adjustable portion that adjusts a forward position of the pan frame relative to the seat frame;

wherein the tilting mechanism and the reclining mechanism are configured to operate independently of one another.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interlocking teeth are arranged on a planar surface of a mounting plate within each of the fixed component and the variable component.

3. The passenger seat of claim 1, further comprising an actuation cable coupled to the variable component, wherein the actuation cable is configured to apply a pulling force to the variable component to disengage the variable component from the fixed component.

4. The passenger seat of claim 3, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to allow the seat pan to pivot relative to the pan frame when the pulling force is applied to the variable component.

5. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to lock the seat pan into position relative to the pan frame when the variable component is engaged with the fixed component.

6. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interlocking teeth are arranged on a circumferential surface of a mounting plate within each of the fixed component and the variable component.

7. The passenger seat of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment knob is coupled to the fixed component, wherein the adjustment knob is configured to apply a frictional force to the fixed component.

8. The passenger seat of claim 7, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to allow the seat pan to pivot relative to the pan frame when the frictional force applied to the fixed component is reduced until the fixed component is free to rotate.

9. The passenger seat of claim 7, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to lock the seat pan into position relative to the pan frame when the frictional force applied to the fixed component is increased until the fixed component is prevented from rotating.

10. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein movement of the variable component of the tilting mechanism adjusts a position of the lumbar mechanism relative to the seat back.

11. A passenger seat comprising:

(a) a seat back;

(b) a lumbar mechanism coupled to the seat back; and

(c) a forward tracking seat pan assembly comprising;

(i) a pan frame comprising an aft end pivotally coupled to the seat back and a forward end pivotally coupled to a seat frame;

(ii) a seat pan pivotally coupled to the pan frame;

(iii) a tilting mechanism comprising a fixed component coupled to the pan frame and a variable component coupled to the seat pan, wherein the fixed component and the variable component are adjustably engaged with each other, wherein movement of the variable component adjusts a magnitude of an angle between the seat pan and the pan frame; and

(iv) a reclining mechanism coupled to the seat frame and the pan frame, wherein the reclining mechanism comprises an adjustable portion that adjusts a forward position of the pan frame relative to the seat frame;

wherein the tilting mechanism and the reclining mechanism are configured to operate independently of one another.