Aircraft seat track anchor fitting

• US 6,260,813 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: November Whiskey, Inc.
• Original Assignee: November Whiskey, Inc.
• Inventors: Whitcomb, Newell E
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Best, Christian M.
• Application Number:
  US09/480,611
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/118.6, 244/131, 244/129.1, 244/122.R, 244/122.AH, 248/503.1, 410/104, 410/105, 410/116, 410/115, 410/101
• US Class Current: 248/503.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0696 Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/045 specially adapted for fastening in channels, e.g. sliding bolts, channel nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/187 with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels channel nuts per se F16B37/045

Abstract

A fitting for anchoring an aircraft seat to a track mounted to the floor of the aircraft is provided. The fitting is removably mounted to the seat and includes a generally rectangular elongate base having flange-like extensions running longitudinally thereof. The base has symmetric slide bearings affixed thereto, one at each end thereof, and overlaying the base, dimensioned so that the base with attached bearings is slidably insertable into the slot of the track. When the seat is mounted to the track, the symmetric bearings are in contact with the upper inside surfaces of the slot within the track, providing relative ease of slidable movement thereof when required.

Claims

1. A composite fitting for anchoring an aircraft seat to and within a slotted track mounted to the floor of the aircraft, the fitting comprising:

an elongate base, generally rectangular in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions, and having symmetric, flange-like extensions extending outwardly from said base transversely on both sides thereof and at either end thereof and running longitudinally along said base,

said base having symmetric bearings, one each affixed to said base at either end thereof, each bearing extending transversely over said base and base extensions and sized so as to enable said base and base extensions with affixed bearings to be slidably insertable into the slot of said track,

said fitting having, additionally, mounting means for removably affixing said fitting to said aircraft seat such that, when the seat is mounted and affixed to said track by said fitting, the surfaces of said symmetric bearings contact the upper inside surfaces of the slot within said track, providing relative ease of slidable movement thereof when required.

2. The fitting of claim 1 wherein said means for affixing the fitting to the seat includes an internally threaded opening in said elongate base and a threaded cylindrical stud threadably attached to said base and extending through a through-hole in the frame of said seat and being affixed thereat by an anchoring nut.

3. The composite fitting of claim 1 wherein said base is constructed of steel.

4. The composite fitting of claim 1 wherein said bearing is constructed of a plastic.

7. The fitting of claim 1 adapted for use as seat anchors for the Aerostar PA 60 aircraft.

5. A composite fitting for anchoring an aircraft seat to and within a slotted track mounted to the floor of the aircraft, the fitting comprising:

an elongate base, generally rectangular in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions, and having symmetric, flange-like extensions extending outwardly from said base transversely on both sides thereof and at either end thereof and running longitudinally along said base,

said base having symmetric bearings, one each affixed to said base at either end thereof, each bearing extending transversely over said base and base extensions and sized so as to enable said base and base extensions with affixed bearings to be slidably insertable into the slot of said track,

said fitting having, additionally, mounting means for removably affixing said fitting to said aircraft seat such that, when the seat is mounted and affixed to said track by said fitting, the surfaces of said symmetric bearings contact the upper inside surfaces of the slot within said track, providing relative ease of slidable movement thereof when required,

wherein the bearing material is a material selected from the class consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene and acetal.

6. A composite fitting for anchoring an aircraft seat to and within a slotted track mounted to the floor of the aircraft, the fitting comprising:

an elongate base, generally rectangular in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions, and having symmetric, flange-like extensions extending outwardly from said base transversely on both sides thereof and at either end thereof and running longitudinally along said base,

said base having symmetric bearings, one each affixed to said base at either end thereof, each bearing extending transversely over said base and base extensions and sized so as to enable said base and base extensions with affixed bearings to be slidably insertable into the slot of said track,

said fitting having, additionally, mounting means for removably affixing said fitting to said aircraft seat such that, when the seat is mounted and affixed to said track by said fitting, the surfaces of said symmetric bearings contact the upper inside surfaces of the slot within said track, providing relative ease of slidable movement thereof when required,

wherein said base is steel and said bearing is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.