Seat for a transport vehicle or craft, in particular an aircraft

• US 7,063,387 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Societe Industrielle Et Commerciale De Materiel Aeronautique
• Original Assignee: Societe Industrielle Et Commerciale De Materiel Aeronautique
• Inventors: Herault, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARRETT, ERIKA P
• Application Number:
  US10/832,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 297/411.33, 297/411.32, 297/411.38, 297/117, 297/115
• US Class Current: 297/411.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/753 movable to an inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/773 Longitudinal adjustment
• 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 11/0646 Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat for a transport vehicle or craft, the seat including a support structure (1) and at least one armrest (2) comprising a rest element (4) mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first pivot (7) to tilt between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat. The strut is L-shaped with a first arm (5) hinged at its free end about the first pivot and extending substantially rearwards from the first pivot when the strut is in the in-use position, and a second arm (6) extending substantially upwards when the strut is in the in-use position, and the rest element is hinged to the free end of the second arm of the strut about a second transverse axis (9).

Claims

1. A seat for a transport vehicle or craft,

the seat including a support structure and at least one armrest comprising a rest element mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first pivot to tilt the armrest between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat, wherein said strut is L-shaped with first and second arms forming a unitary one-piece member, said first arm being hinged at its free end remote from said second arm about said first pivot and extending substantially rearwards from said first pivot when said strut is in the in-use position, and substantially forwards from said first pivot when said strut is in the retracted position and said second arm extending substantially upwards when the strut is in the in-use position, and substantially downwards when the strut is in the retracted position, and that said rest element is hinged to the free end of said second arm of the strut about a second pivot.

2. A seat according to claim 1, in which said rest element is provided with a recess for receiving said second arm when said strut is in the retracted position.

3. A seat according to claim 1, provided with first locking means for locking the armrest in the in-use position.

4. A seat according to claim 3, in which said first locking means comprise a transverse finger mounted at the rear part of the rest element for cooperating with a locking lever hinged on said support structure.

5. A seat according to claim 4, wherein said transverse finger engages a hook-shaped notch of said locking lever.

6. A seat according to claim 5, provided with an unlocking button slideably mounted to move on said support structure for moving said locking lever.

7. A seat according to claim 3, including second locking means for locking the armrest in the retracted position.

8. A seat according to claim 7, in which said second locking means comprise a lever hinged to said strut that engages a transverse finger mounted on a rear end of said rest element, and a recess mounted on said support structure for receiving a front end of said rest element for preventing the armrest as locked in this way from pivoting about said first pivot.

9. A seat according to claim 1, in which said strut is provided with passageways for at least one cable which may be an electrical cable or a mechanical control cable.

10. A seat according to claim 1, in which an abutment on said rest element is provided for preventing said rest element from pivoting about said second pivot in the direction in which the armrest is pivoted into the in-use position.

11. A seat for a transport vehicle or craft,

the seat including a support structure and at least one armrest comprising a rest element mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first pivot to tilt the armrest between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat, wherein said strut is L-shaped with a first arm hinged at its free end about said first pivot and extending substantially rearwards from said first pivot when said strut is in its in-use position, and substantially forwards from said first pivot when said strut is in its retracted position and a second arm extending substantially upwards when the strut is in its in-use position, and substantially downwards when the strut is in its retracted position, and that said rest element is hinged to the free end of said second arm of the strut about a second pivot, the seat being provided with first locking means for locking the armrest in the in-use position, said first locking means comprising a transverse finger mounted on a rear end of said rest element engaging a hook-shaped end of a first lever hinged to said support structure about a third pivot, the seat including second locking means for locking the armrest in the retracted position, said second locking means comprising a second lever hinged to said first arm of said strut about a fourth pivot and provided at its free end with a setback that engages said transverse finger.

12. A seat for a transport vehicle or craft,

the seat including a support structure and at least one armrest comprising a rest element mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first pivot to tilt the armrest between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat, wherein said strut is L-shaped with a first arm hinged at its free end about said first pivot and extending substantially rearwards from said first pivot when said strut is in the in-use position, and substantially forwards from said first pivot when said strut is in the retracted position and a second arm extending substantially upwards when the strut is in the in-use position, and substantially downwards when the strut is in the retracted position, and that said rest element is hinged to the free end of said second arm of the strut about a second pivot, and the seat being provided with first and second locking means for locking the armrest in the in-use and retracted positions, respectively.

13. A seat according to claim 12, in which said second locking means comprise a lever hinged to said strut that engages a transverse finger mounted on a rear end of said rest element, and a recess mounted on said support structure for receiving a front end of said rest element for preventing the armrest as locked in this way from pivoting about said first pivot.