Adjustable seats

• US 20020175547A1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Weber Aircraft LP (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Bentley, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,742,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/316
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 33/0007 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0638 with foldable tables, trays or cup holders
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

Adjustable seats and components thereof are detailed. The seats, particularly (although not exclusively) useful in commercial aircraft, permit substantial angular recline without the corresponding rearward linear movement necessarily occurring in conventional seats. The seats additionally may have discontinuous, or non-integral, seat bottoms, with the heights of the forward portions of the bottoms being adjustable mechanically. Tray tables optionally associated with the seats further omit any central slot and may define one or more pivot axes in locations different than exist in conventional seats.

Claims

1. A seat comprising:

a. a backrest; and

b. a seat bottom comprising;

i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and

ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion.

2. A seat according to claim 1 further comprising a hydrolock connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom.

3. A seat according to claim 2 further comprising at least one track and follower assembly, at least a portion of the assembly being connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom.

4. A seat according to claim 3 in which the assembly comprises at least one roller as a follower, further comprising a bell crank connected to both the hydrolock and the roller.

5. A seat according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. a member (i) connected to or integrally formed with the backrest and (ii) having a slot defined therein, and

b. a tray table comprising at least one pin adapted to be received by the slot when the tray table is stowed.

6. A seat according to claim 5 in which the pin is retractable, away from the slot, to permit the tray table to be released for use.

7. A seat according to claim 1 in which (i) the seat bottom has first and second sides and (ii) the backrest and the seat bottom define an interface, further comprising means, including a plurality of track and follower assemblies on the first side forward of the interface, for permitting the seat bottom to translate forward.

8. A seat comprising:

a. a seat bottom; and

b. a backrest connected to or integrally formed with the seat bottom and adapted to rotate through an angle from an upright position to a reclined position while moving rearward a linear distance, the amount of the rearward linear distance being related to the amount of angular rotation such that, if the angle is approximately 16°

, the rearward linear distance is substantially less than approximately 7.40 inches.

9. A seat according to claim 8 in which, as the backrest rotates rearward from the upright position, the seat bottom moves forward.

10. A seat according to claim 8 in which, if the angle is approximately 16°

, the rearward linear distance is less than approximately 4.50 inches.

11. A seat according to claim 9 in which the seat bottom comprises:

a. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and

b. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion.

13. A seat according to claim 12 in which each track and follower assembly comprises a track and a roller received by and capable of travelling in the track.

14. A seat according to claim 12 further comprising a base frame to which at least the seat bottom is connected.

16. A seat according to claim 15 in which the pin is retractable so as to disengage from the slot for use.

17. A seat according to claim 16 further comprising a manually-operable knob, rotation of which either retracts or extends the pin.

18. A seat according to claim 15 in which the backrest is moveable and, when the tray table is stowed and the backrest moves, the pin changes position within the slot.

20. A seat according to claim 19 further comprising means for latching the tray table to the frame.

12. A seat comprising:

a. a generally vertically-oriented backrest adapted to rotate from an upright position to a reclined position;

b. a generally horizontally-oriented seat bottom connected to or integrally formed with the backrest and defining first and second opposed sides, the seat bottom translating forward as the backrest rotates from the upright position to the reclined position; and

c. a plurality of track and follower assemblies protruding from each of the first and second opposed sides.

15. A seat comprising:

a. a backrest having at least one member protruding rearward therefrom and defining a slot; and

b. a tray table comprising at least one pin adapted to be received by the slot for stowage.

19. A seat comprising:

a. a backrest having at least one member protruding rearward therefrom and defining a slot;

b. a seat bottom connected to or integrally formed with the backrest;

c. a base frame connected to the seat bottom;

d. a frame connected to at least one of the backrest, seat bottom, or base frame; and

e. a tray table adapted to be latched to the frame for stowage.