Aircraft passenger seat and seat swivel assembly

• US 9,493,242 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace Incorporated (Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Oleson, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, ALEXANDER SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/335,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20130161990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.21, 297/344.22, 297/344.24, 297/344.26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0717 Rounded, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/146 characterised by the locking device
• 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: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly for an aircraft seating unit that includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart base rails, each including fore and aft fittings for connecting the base rails to an aircraft deck. The base rails define a transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails. A swivel assembly is mounted between the pair of base rails in the laterally-extending horizontal plane. The swivel assembly provides a low profile seat with a spar that forms a part of the swivel assembly and transfers loads from the seat efficiently to the aircraft deck. A slide assembly enables the seat occupant to slide the seat fore-and-aft and side-to-side independent of the rotation of the seat on the swivel.

Claims

1. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly for an aircraft seating unit, comprising:

(a) first and second transversely spaced-apart base rails, wherein a top surface of the first base rail and a top surface of the second base rail are horizontally aligned and define a horizontal plane therebetween;

(b) a swivel assembly mounted between the first and second base rails, the swivel assembly comprising a static swivel plate in which is mounted a rotatable swivel ring, the swivel plate having integrally formed first and second pairs of connecting members extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, the first pair of connecting members mounted against an underside of the first base rail and the second pair of connecting members mounted against an underside of the second base rail such that no portion of the swivel assembly extends above the horizontal plane, and the second pair of connecting members having a longer length than the first pair of connecting members such that the static swivel plate is positioned closer to the first base rail than to the second base rail; and

(c) a plurality of vertically oriented bushings attached to the swivel ring and extending above the horizontal plane.

2. The aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first pair of connecting members are received in locking apertures formed in the first base rail and the second pair of connecting members are received in locking apertures formed in the second base rail.

3. The aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the locking apertures comprise bolt holes extending through top and bottom surfaces of the first and second base rails which align with bolt holes defined through ends of the first and second pairs of connecting members.