Swivel mechanism for vehicle seat

• US 9,428,276 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PAC Seating Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PAC Seating Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Marini, Hector Noel, Boyle, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): GABLER, PHILIP F
• Application Number:
  US14/626,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20160244170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0648 Lower frame constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0696 Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails

Abstract

A vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism connected between a seat frame and a seat base secured to a vehicle body. The swivel assembly can include a swivel axis around which the seat frame rotates and a tracking axis, approximately perpendicular to the swivel axis, along which the seat frame can translate. A guide plate can be disposed on the seat base and has a guide plate rail. A guide follower can be disposed on the seat frame having an engagement surface engaging the guide plate rail. As the seat frame swivels around the swivel axis, the guide follower is displaced along the translation axis, which causes at least the seat frame to displace in the same direction along the translation axis, to at least a first or a second clearance distance from the swivel axis, and the guide plate and the guide follower do not overlap along the swivel axis.

Claims

1. A vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism connected between a seat frame upon which an individual sits and a seat base which is secured to a vehicle body, the seat frame includes a deployable legrest;

the swivel assembly comprising;

a swivel axis around which the seat frame and the legrest rotate in relation to the seat base;

a tracking axis, approximately perpendicular to the swivel axis, along which the seat frame and the legrest can translate in relation to the seat base;

a guide plate, disposed on one of the seat base and the seat frame, comprising a guide plate rail;

a guide follower, disposed on the other of the seat base and the seat frame, comprising an engagement surface engaging the guide plate rail;

wherein as the seat frame swivels around the swivel axis, one of the guide plate and the guide follower is displaced along the translation axis, which causes at least the seat frame to displace in the same direction along the translation axis, to at least a first or a second clearance distance from the swivel axis, and

wherein the guide plate and the guide follower do not overlap along the swivel axis.

2. The vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism of claim 1, wherein the guide plate rail comprises:

a short rail along a first side of the guide plate; and

a long rail along a second side of the guide plate;

wherein the engagement surface of the guide plate alternately engages the short and long rails as the seat frame swivels around the swivel axis.

3. The vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism of claim 2, wherein the guide plate rail further comprises a rounded corner transitioning between the short rail and the long rail.

4. The vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface comprises:

a flat portion; and

a curved portion,

wherein when the flat portion contacts the engagement surface, the seat frame is disposed at the first clearance distance, and

wherein when the curved portion contacts the engagement surface, the seat frame is disposed at the second clearance distance.

5. The vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism of claim 4, wherein the guide plate rail comprises:

a short rail along a first side of the guide plate;

a long rail along a second side of the guide plate; and

a rounded corner transitioning between the short rail and the long rail;

wherein the engagement surface of the guide plate alternately engages the short and long rails as the seat frame swivels around the swivel axis,

wherein when the flat portion contacts the long rail, the seat frame is disposed at the first clearance distance,

wherein when the curved portion contacts the rounded corner, the seat frame is disposed at the second clearance distance, and

wherein when the flat portion contacts the short rail, the seat frame is disposed at a third clearance distance.

6. The vehicle passenger seat swivel mechanism of claim 5,

wherein the second clearance distance is greater than or equal to the first clearance distance, and

wherein the third clearance distance is less than or equal to at least one of the first or second clearance distances.

7. A swivel seat for an aircraft, comprising:

a seat top frame, comprising;

a seat frame;

a seat back frame connected to a first end of the seat frame;

a legrest frame connected to a second end of the seat frame, opposite the first end;

a seat bottom frame, comprising;

a seat base;

a seat support depending from a bottom side of the seat base and fixing the seat bottom frame to the aircraft;

a swivel assembly disposed between the seat top frame and the seat bottom frame, connecting the two, and permitting rotation of the seat top frame relative to the seat bottom frame, comprising;

a swivel axis around which the seat top frame rotates in relation to the seat bottom frame;

a tracking axis, approximately perpendicular to the swivel axis, along which the seat top frame can translate in relation to the seat bottom frame;

a guide plate, disposed on one of the seat base and the seat frame, comprising a guide plate rail;

a guide follower, disposed on the opposite of the seat base and the seat frame, comprising an engagement surface engaging the guide plate rail;

wherein as the seat top frame swivels around the swivel axis, one of the guide plate and the guide follower is displaced along the translation axis, which causes at least the seat frame to displace in the same direction along the translation axis, to at least a first or a second clearance distance from the swivel axis, and

wherein the guide plate and the guide follower do not overlap along the swivel axis.

8. The swivel seat of claim 7,

wherein the legrest frame is deployable between an extended and a stored configuration;

wherein in the stored configuration, when the seat frame swivels and moves between the first and second clearance distance, the stored configuration of the legrest frame is moved out of an interference position with the seat bottom frame.

9. The swivel seat of claim 7, wherein when the seat frame is displaced during rotation, the legrest frame and the seat back frame are displaced along with the seat frame.

10. The swivel seat of claim 9, wherein the seat frame further comprises a seat center axis,

wherein the seat center axis is coextensive with the swivel axis when the seat frame is not displaced, and

wherein the seat center axis is displaced from the swivel axis when the seat frame is displaced.

11. The swivel seat of claim 7, wherein the engagement surface comprises:

a flat portion having a flat portion length and a flat portion height; and

a curved portion having a curved portion length and a curved portion height,

wherein when the flat portion contacts the engagement surface, the seat frame is disposed at the first clearance distance, and

wherein when the curved portion contacts the engagement surface, the seat frame is disposed at the second clearance distance.

12. The swivel seat of claim 11, wherein the guide plate rail comprises:

a short rail along a first side of the guide plate;

a long rail along a second side of the guide plate; and

a rounded corner transitioning between the short rail and the long rail;

wherein the engagement surface of the guide plate alternately engages the short and long rails as the seat frame swivels around the swivel axis,

wherein when the flat portion contacts the long rail, the seat frame is disposed at the first clearance distance,

wherein when the curved portion contacts the rounded corner, the seat frame is disposed at the second clearance distance, and

wherein when the flat portion contacts the short rail, the seat frame is disposed at a third clearance distance.

13. The swivel seat of claim 11, wherein flat portion height is greater than the curved portion height.

14. The swivel seat of claim 11, wherein flat portion length is less than the curved portion length.