Synchronous Seat Recline Mechanism

• US 20130134758A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burkley U. Kladde
• Original Assignee: Burkley U. Kladde
• Inventors: Kladde, Burkley U.
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/354.12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/024 the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable and lockable inclination
• 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 11/0601 Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• 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 seat for use in an aircraft having a floor is provided. The seat has a support assembly, a seat, a seat back pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly, and an occupant back support having an upper portion and lower portion pivotally coupled to the seat back at the upper portion. A pivot link pivotally couples to the rear portion of the seat at a first end and pivotally couples to the lower portion of the occupant back support at a second end. The pivot link causes the lower portion of the occupant back support to move downwardly and forward relative to the seat as the seat back moves from the upright position to the reclined position.

Claims

1. A seat for use in an aircraft having a floor comprising a support assembly adapted to be secured to the floor, a seat, a seat back pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly, and an occupant back support having an upper portion and lower portion pivotally coupled to the seat back at the upper portion, a pivot link pivotally coupled to the rear portion of the seat at a first end and pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the occupant back support at a second end for causing the lower portion of the occupant back support to move downwardly and forward relative to the seat as the seat back moves from the upright position to the reclined position.

2. The seat of claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes a mid-support beam element.

3. The seat of claim 2, wherein a bottom frame link pivotably couples the seat to the mid-support beam element.

4. The seat of claim 3, further comprising a pivotal connection between the seat and the seat back.

5. The seat of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seat bottom frame.

6. The seat of claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises a seat back beam.

7. The seat of claim 1, wherein a bottom-back frame link couples the seat to the seat back.

8. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a vertical adjustment assembly for movement of the seat between an upper position and a lower position.

9. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a recline adjustment assembly for movement of the seat back and seat between the upright position and the reclined position.

10. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a seat angle adjustment assembly for adjustment of the angle of the seat relative to the support assembly.

11. A seat for use in an aircraft, comprising a support assembly having a mid-support beam element, a seat having a seat bottom frame, a seat back including a seat back beam pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly and an occupant back support having an upper portion and lower portion pivotally coupled to the seat back at the upper portion, a pivot link pivotally coupled to the rear portion of the seat at a first end and pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the occupant back support at a second end for causing the lower portion of the occupant back support to move downwardly and forward relative to the seat as the seat back moves from the upright position to the reclined position.

12. The seat of claim 11, wherein a bottom frame link pivotably couples the seat bottom frame to the mid-support beam element.

13. The seat of claim 12, further comprising a pivotal connection between the seat and the seat back.

14. The seat of claim 11, wherein a bottom-back frame link couples the seat to the seat back.

15. The seat of claim 11, further comprising a vertical adjustment assembly for movement of the seat between an upper position and a lower position.

16. The seat of claim 11, further comprising a recline adjustment assembly for movement of the seat back and seat between the upright position and the recline position.

17. The seat of claim 11, further comprising a seat angle adjustment assembly for adjustment of the angle of the seat relative to the support assembly.

18. A seat comprising:

a support assembly having a mid-support beam element;

a seat having a seat bottom frame and a bottom frame link pivotably coupling the seat bottom frame to the mid-support beam element;

a seat back having a seat back beam pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly, a pivotal connection between the seat and the seat back, and an occupant back support having an upper portion and lower portion pivotally coupled to the seat back at the upper portion; and

a pivot link pivotally coupled to the rear portion of the seat at a first end and pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the occupant back support at a second end for causing the lower portion of the occupant back support to move downwardly and forward relative to the seat as the seat back moves from the upright position to the reclined position.

19. The seat of claim 18, further comprising a vertical adjustment assembly for movement of the seat between an upper position and a lower position.

20. The seat of claim 18, further comprising a recline adjustment assembly for movement of the seat back and seat between the upright position and the recline position.