Coupling assembly

• US 9,758,248 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats US LLC (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Procter, John, Westerink, Rik
• Primary Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US14/698,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20150246645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 29718804, 29718805, 29718806, 2971882
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0252 for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00152 Seat back fixtures for removable monitors, e.g. tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00153 Monitors mounted on or in the seat other than the seat back
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Described are portable electronics device coupling assemblies including a cradle configured to electronically couple and releasably engage a portable electronics device, and an adaptor configured to electronically couple and releasably engage the cradle to a passenger seat. Other examples may include a passenger seat having an electronics port configured to electronically couple to the portable electronics device, and a receptacle coupled to the electronics port and configured to releasably engage the portable electronics device. As examples, the portable electronics device may be a tablet computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a handheld video game system, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop computer, a DVD player, data or audio-video media, or a multi-media enabled device.

Claims

1. A passenger seat for use by a user to releasably mount a portable electronics device coupling assembly to the passenger seat, the portable electronics device coupling assembly configured to secure a portable electronics device so that the user may couple the portable electronics device to the passenger seat for hands-free use, the passenger seat comprising:

a passenger seat back configured to couple with an on-board entertainment system;

an electro-mechanical coupling location mounted to the passenger seat, the electro-mechanical coupling location comprising;

an electronics port configured to receive an adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly to electronically couple to the adaptor, the electronics port configured to deliver power through the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly to the portable electronics device coupled with the portable electronics device coupling assembly, and configured to provide bidirectional data transmission through the adaptor between the portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system; and

a receptacle configured to mechanically couple and releasably engage with a mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly, the receptacle releasably engaging with the mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly during normal user operation;

wherein the electronics port is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data through the adaptor between the portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system such that the portable electronics device may receive content from the on-board entertainment system for output by a portable electronics device display;

wherein the portable electronics device coupling assembly is configured to electronically couple the portable electronics device to the electronics port and releasably engage the portable electronics device with the receptacle of the passenger seat, the portable electronics device coupling assembly releasably engaging the portable electronics device with the receptacle of the passenger seat during normal user operation; and

wherein the portable electronics device coupling assembly comprises a modular cradle configured to be adjustable by a user to substantially conform to a shape of the portable electronics device.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is located on and mounted to a passenger seat back.

3. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the portable electronics device is a tablet computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a handheld video game system, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop computer, a portable DVD player, or a portable data or audio-video media, or a multi-media enabled device.

4. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly is configured to be inserted into the electro-mechanical coupling location of the passenger seat along an insertion axis, and wherein the adaptor rotatably couples to the electro-mechanical coupling location of the passenger seat such that the user may rotate the adaptor relative to the electro-mechanical coupling location so as to rotate a coupled portable electronics device about the insertion axis of the adaptor to rotate the coupled portable electronics device between portrait and landscape orientations.

5. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the cradle includes an aperture positioned about an insertion axis of the adaptor, wherein the adaptor couples with the cradle at the aperture, and wherein the aperture is positioned on the cradle so that the aperture is centered relative to the received portable electronics device.

6. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the on-board entertainment system comprises an on-board entertainment display mounted to the passenger seat back, and wherein the electronics port is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system such that the portable electronics device may transmit data for display to the on-board entertainment display.

7. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the on-board entertainment system comprises internet access, and wherein the internet access of the on-board entertainment system provides content for transmission to the portable electronics device for display to a portable electronics device display.

8. A passenger seat for use by a user to releasably mount a portable electronics device coupling assembly to the passenger seat, the portable electronics device coupling assembly configured to secure a portable electronics device so that the user may couple the portable electronics device to the passenger seat for hands-free use, the passenger seat comprising:

a passenger seat base;

a passenger seat backrest;

an electro-mechanical coupling location comprising;

an electronics port configured to receive an adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly to electronically couple to the adaptor, the electronics port configured to deliver power through the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly to a portable electronics device coupled with the portable electronics device coupling assembly, and configured to provide bidirectional data transmission through the adaptor between the coupled portable electronics device and an on-board entertainment system; and

a receptacle defining an insertion axis for receiving a mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly, the receptacle configured to mechanically support and releasably engage with the mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly received along the insertion axis, wherein the mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly is rotatable within the receptacle when mounted and supported therein such that a user may rotate the received portable electronics device coupling assembly to rotate the coupled portable electronics device between portrait and landscape orientations.

9. The passenger seat of claim 8, wherein the electro-mechanical coupling location is on the passenger seat backrest.

10. The passenger seat of claim 8, further comprising a deployment arm, and wherein the electro-mechanical coupling location is on the deployment arm.

11. The passenger seat of claim 10, wherein the deployment arm is pivotally coupled to a passenger seat arm.

12. The passenger seat of claim 10, wherein the deployment arm is pivotally coupled to a passenger seat back.

13. The passenger seat of claim 10, wherein the deployment arm is pivotally coupled to a tray table.

14. A passenger seat for use by a user to releasably mount a portable electronics device coupling assembly to the passenger seat, the portable electronics device coupling assembly configured to secure a portable electronics device so that the user may couple the portable electronics device to the passenger seat for hands-free use, the passenger seat comprising:

a passenger seat back configured to couple with an on-board entertainment system;

an electro-mechanical coupling location mounted to the passenger seat, the electro-mechanical coupling location comprising;

an electronics port configured to receive an adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly to electronically couple to the adaptor, the electronics port configured to deliver power through the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly to the portable electronics device coupled with the portable electronics device coupling assembly, and configured to provide bidirectional data transmission through the adaptor between the portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system; and

a receptacle configured to mechanically couple and releasably engage with a mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly, the receptacle releasably engaging with the mounting device of the portable electronics device coupling assembly during normal user operation;

wherein the electronics port is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data through the adaptor between the portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system such that the portable electronics device may receive content from the on-board entertainment system for output by a portable electronics device display;

wherein the portable electronics device coupling assembly is configured to electronically couple the portable electronics device to the electronics port and releasably engage the portable electronics device with the receptacle of the passenger seat, the portable electronics device coupling assembly releasably engaging the portable electronics device with the receptacle of the passenger seat during normal user operation; and

wherein the adaptor of the portable electronics device coupling assembly is configured to be inserted into the electro-mechanical coupling location of the passenger seat along an insertion axis, and wherein the adaptor rotatably couples to the electro-mechanical coupling location of the passenger seat such that the user may rotate the adaptor relative to the electro-mechanical coupling location so as to rotate a coupled portable electronics device about the insertion axis of the adaptor to rotate the coupled portable electronics device between portrait and landscape orientations.

15. The passenger seat of claim 14, wherein the receptacle is located on and mounted to a passenger seat back.

16. The passenger seat of claim 14, wherein the portable electronics device is a tablet computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a handheld video game system, a personal digital assistant, a palmtop computer, a portable DVD player, or a portable data or audio-video media, or a multi-media enabled device.

17. The passenger seat of claim 14, wherein the on-board entertainment system comprises an on-board entertainment display mounted to the passenger seat back, and wherein the electronics port is configured to provide bidirectional transmission of data between the received portable electronics device and the on-board entertainment system such that the portable electronics device may transmit data for display to the on-board entertainment display.

18. The passenger seat of claim 14, wherein the on-board entertainment system comprises internet access, and wherein the internet access of the on-board entertainment system provides content for transmission to the portable electronics device for display to a portable electronics device display.