Passenger seat

• US 9,656,583 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• 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: Terleski, Timothy W., Gaither, Larry Richard, Patel, Chirag
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US14/455,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20140346828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 297340, 297341, 297342, 297316, 297317
• 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 pan assembly comprising;

(i) a reclining mechanism;

(ii) a seat frame comprising at least one track comprising a reclining path and a sleeper path;

(iii) a diverter pivotally coupled to the at least one track adjacent an opening to the reclining path and an opening to the sleeper path;

(iv) a sleeper selection control coupled to the diverter and configured to pull the 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; and

(v) at least one pivot bar coupled to an aft end of the seat pan assembly;

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

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

(d) wherein the at least one pivot bar is positioned within the at least one track so that a circumferential surface of the at least one pivot bar maintains contact with a side of the at least one track when the at least one pivot bar is positioned in the reclining path and when the at least one pivot bar is positioned in the sleeper path.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the sleeper selection control is a button, a knob, a side lever, a lever, a slide, or a latch.

3. 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 diverter is positioned to substantially block the opening to the sleeper path;

(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 diverter is positioned to substantially block the opening to the reclining path; and

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

4. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the reclining mechanism is a gas spring.

5. The passenger seat of claim 1, further comprising a lever comprising at least two legs, wherein a first leg of the at least two legs is coupled to the diverter via a linkage, and a second leg of the at least two legs is coupled to a first end of a cable, wherein a second end of the cable is coupled to the sleeper selection control.

6. The passenger seat of claim 5, wherein the cable comprises a telescoping configuration.

12. The seat pan assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a telescoping configuration.

7. A seat pan assembly comprising:

(a) a reclining mechanism;

(b) a seat frame comprising at least one track comprising a reclining path and a sleeper path;

(c) a diverter pivotally coupled to the at least one track adjacent an opening to the reclining path and an opening to the sleeper path;

(d) a sleeper selection control coupled to the diverter and configured to pull the 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; and

(e) at least one pivot bar coupled to an aft end of the seat pan assembly, wherein the at least one pivot bar is positioned within the at least one track so that a circumferential surface of the at least one pivot bar maintains contact with a side of the at least one track when the at least one pivot bar is positioned in the reclining path and when the at least one pivot bar is positioned in the sleeper path.

8. The seat pan assembly of claim 7, wherein the sleeper selection control is a button, a knob, a side lever, a lever, a slide, or a latch.

9. The seat pan assembly of claim 7, wherein the reclining mechanism is configured to:

(a) adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly when the diverter is positioned to substantially block the opening to the sleeper path; and

(b) adjust the forward position of the seat pan assembly and a rotated position of the aft end of the seat pan assembly.

10. The seat pan assembly of claim 7, wherein the reclining mechanism is a gas spring.

11. The seat pan assembly of claim 7, further comprising a lever comprising at least two legs, wherein a first leg of the at least two legs is coupled to the diverter via a linkage, and a second leg of the at least two legs is coupled to a first end of a cable, wherein a second end of the cable is coupled to the sleeper selection control.

13. A seat pan assembly comprising:

(a) a reclining mechanism;

(b) a seat frame comprising at least one track comprising a reclining path and a sleeper path;

(c) a diverter pivotally coupled to the at least one track adjacent an opening to the reclining path and an opening to the sleeper path;

(d) a push/pull-type cable arrangement is coupled to the diverter; and

(e) at least one pivot bar coupled to an aft end of the seat pan assembly, wherein the at least one pivot bar is positioned within the at least one track so that a circumferential surface of the at least one pivot bar maintains contact with a side of the at least one track when the at least one pivot bar is positioned in the reclining path and when the at least one pivot bar is positioned in the sleeper path.

14. The seat pan assembly of claim 13, wherein the reclining mechanism is configured to:

(a) adjust a forward position of the seat pan assembly when the diverter is positioned to substantially block the opening to the sleeper path; and

(b) adjust the forward position of the seat pan assembly and a rotated position of the aft end of the seat pan assembly.

15. The seat pan assembly of claim 13, wherein the reclining mechanism is a gas spring.

16. The seat pan assembly of claim 13, wherein the push/pull-type cable arrangement comprises a telescoping configuration.