U.S. patent application number 11/059314 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-25 for aircraft passenger seat row.
Invention is credited to Baumann, Jurgen, Erb, Andreas, Pilgram, Christian.
Application Number | 20050184566 11/059314 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34706904 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050184566 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baumann, Jurgen ; et
al. |
August 25, 2005 |
Aircraft passenger seat row
Abstract
1. Aircraft passenger seat [row]. 2. The invention relates to an
aircraft passenger seat row having a) at least three seats (10, 12,
14), b) a seat frame (16) common to all seats and having a front
transverse spar (18) and a rear transverse spar (20) in parallel
with the front spar which spars are rigidly connected by means of
seat pedestals (22) so as to be stationary in relation to each
other, c) cushion carriers (26) supporting seat element cushions
(24), d) seat dividers (28) supported by both transverse spars (18,
20) and mounted at the ends of the row of seats and between the
seats, e) backrests (30) the inclined position of which may be
adjusted and which are pivotably connected to the seat dividers
(28), and f) arm rests (32), preferably at both ends of the row of
seats and between the seats (10, 12, 14), the last-named arm rests
(32) being pivotably mounted on at least one guide web (34)
extending in parallel with the transverse spars (18, 20) and
supported by seat dividers (28) mounted between the seats (10, 12,
14), a center seat (12) of a row of seats having between adjacent
seats (10, 14) a separating element (36) which, when in a non-use
position, is mounted at least partly in the area of the associated
seat pedestals (22) for this center seat (12) and, when in a use
position, is mounted at least partly above the seat dividers (28),
and it being possible to move the separating element (36) between
the positions named by means of a pivot mechanism (38).
Inventors: |
Baumann, Jurgen;
(Bodman-Ludwigshafen, DE) ; Erb, Andreas; (Wangen,
DE) ; Pilgram, Christian; (Langenargen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROYLANCE, ABRAMS, BERDO & GOODMAN, L.L.P.
1300 19TH STREET, N.W.
SUITE 600
WASHINGTON,
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
34706904 |
Appl. No.: |
11/059314 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/248 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 11/064 20141201;
B64D 11/0638 20141201; B64D 11/0644 20141201; B64D 11/0693
20130101; B64D 11/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/248 |
International
Class: |
A47C 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 18, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 008 877.2 |
Claims
1. An aircraft passenger seat row having a) at least three seats
(10, 12, 14), b) a seat frame (16) common to all seats and having a
front transverse spar (18) and a rear transverse spar (20)
positioned in parallel with the front spar which spars are rigidly
connected by means of seat pedestals (22) so as to be stationary in
relation to each other, c) cushion carriers (26) supporting seat
element cushions (24), d) seat dividers (28) supported by both
transverse spars (18, 20) and mounted at the ends of the row of
seats and between the seats, e) backrests (30) the inclined
position of which may be adjusted and which are pivotably connected
to the seat dividers (28), and f) arm rests (32), preferably at
both ends of the row of seats and between the seats (10, 12, 14),
these last-named arm rests (32) being pivotably mounted on at least
one guide web (34) extending in parallel with the transverse spars
(18, 20) and supported by seat dividers (28) mounted between the
seats (10, 12, 14), characterized in that a center seat (12) of a
row of seats has between adjacent seats (10, 14) a separating
element (36) which, when in a non-use position, is mounted at least
partly in the area of the associated seat pedestals (22) for this
center seat (12) and, when in a use position, is mounted at least
partly above the seat dividers (28) and in that the separating
element (36) may be moved between the positions named by means of a
pivot mechanism (38).
2. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the separating element (36) is a table element which when
in the non-use position assumes an essentially vertical position
and when in the use position an essentially horizontal position in
relation to the respective seat (12).
3. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
wherein the pivot mechanism (38) has at least one pivotably mounted
pivot lever (40) configured to be angular one end of which is
pivotably connected to the seat frame or parts (18) of such frame
and is pivotably connected by its other end to parts of the
separating elements (36).
4. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in claim 1 or 2,
wherein the pivot mechanism (38) has a set of parallelogram rods
the upper end of the guide rod of which points forward in the
non-use position and rearward in the use position.
5. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in one of claims
2 to 4, wherein, in the non-use position, the usable table surface
(42) of the table element faces away from the seat frame (16) in
the direction of the surroundings or in the direction of the seat
frame (16).
6. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in claim 5,
wherein, when the table surface (42) faces the surroundings such
table surface (42) is covered by a shell-like cover in the non-use
position, which shell-like cover is pivotably connected to at least
one seat pedestal (22).
7. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in one of claims
1 to 6, wherein the separating element (36) is mounted by way of a
catch or lock mechanism (46) when in the use position to stationary
parts of the associated seat, of the respective guide rod (34) in
particular, so that it may be latched or locked, on the pivotably
mounted associated arm rest (32) or on support elements of the seat
which extend in parallel or coaxially with the respective guide web
(34).
8. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in one of claims
1 to 7, wherein at least the center pivotable arm rests (32) when
in their pivoted-up position are an integral component of what is
then a couch-like backrest (30) made up of at least thee
consecutive seats (10, 12, 14) positioned side by side, at least if
the individual backrests (30) are in their upright adjustment
position.
9. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in one of claims
1 to 8, wherein the separating element (36) is moved automatically
by means of at least one energy accumulator (50) from its non-use
position after initiation or actuation at least partly in the
direction of its use position.
10. The row of aircraft passenger seats as claimed in one of claim
1 to 9, wherein the separating element (36) has support elements
(48) in the form of arm rests at its opposite ends facing the
adjacent seats (10, 14) of a center seat (12).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an aircraft passenger seat row
having
[0002] a) at least three seats,
[0003] b) a seat frame common to all seats and having a front
transverse spar and a rear transverse spar positioned in parallel
with the front spar, which spars are rigidly connected by means of
seat pedestals so as to be stationary relative to each other,
[0004] c) cushion carriers supporting seat element cushions,
[0005] d) seat dividers supported by both transverse spars and
mounted at the ends of the row of seats and between the seats,
[0006] e) backrests the inclined position of which may be adjusted
and which are pivotably connected to the seat dividers, and
[0007] f) arm rests, preferably at both ends of the row of seats
and between the seats, these arm rests being pivotably mounted on
at least one guide web extending in parallel with the transverse
spars and supported by the seat dividers mounted between the
seats.
[0008] A seat row which may be converted from a configuration with
three seats of normal width to a configuration with two seats of
greater width has been disclosed (EP 0 322 930 A2). In the event of
conversion to the configuration with two seats of greater width,
the two arm rests positioned between the seats are to be moved from
their mounts and a wide center arm rest is to be folded out of the
cushion of the backrest of the center seat. Consequently, the
conversion is costly. In addition, storage space is needed for the
removable arm rests.
[0009] It has also been disclosed (EP 0 530 900 A1) for a row of
aircraft passenger seats that, before the conversion of a
configuration with three seats to a configuration with two seats,
the two center arm rests may be pivoted backward so that a layout
free of gaps is obtained when the three seats are pushed together
behind the supporting structure of the backrest of the center seat.
An arm rest made up of the cushion of the backrest of the center
seat is folded out for each of the two seats of greater width.
Conversion is relatively time-consuming in this instance as
well.
[0010] In addition, a row of aircraft passenger seats has been
disclosed (EP 0 530 923 A1) in which, for an adjustment of the
distance between the seats, the arm rests are positioned in
parallel with each other and with the rods extending to the
transverse spars as guide webs which are supported on seat dividers
provided between the seats. A control rod is secured to the
respective adjacent outer seat by means of which the arm rest
remains oriented toward the center of the intervening space
independently of the adjustable intervening space between the
backrests. It is a disadvantage of this solution that it is
suitable only for seat rows in which only the intervening space
between the seats is modified and not the number of these
seats.
[0011] In the row of aircraft passenger seats disclosed of the type
referred to in the foregoing (EP 0 530 920 A1), the arm rests
provided between the seats also are supported by guide webs
extending in the longitudinal direction of the transverse spars.
Their displacement on these guide webs in the form of rods, is
effected, however, by means of a flexible pulling element which is
connected on one side to the arm rest and on the other to a
longitudinal carrier which necessarily is displaced in the
direction transverse to that of the seats on conversion of the row
of seats to and from one with three seats of normal width to a row
of seats with two seats of greater width. Not only is the force
applied for seat displacement relatively great in the case of this
row of aircraft passenger seats, but it is also a disadvantage that
the mounting of the center arm rest is design-intensive, relatively
difficult, and cost-intensive.
[0012] It has accordingly already been proposed for a row of
aircraft passenger seats (disclosed in DE 43 29 452 C2) that, in
order to avoid the use of additional structural elements for
mounting the arm rests, the latter be mounted on a tube-like guide
rod by way of which the individual backrests are connected to seat
dividers mounted between the seats. Although the lever gearing
employed in the disclosed solution for displacement of the arm
rests ensures that the drive is characterized by very low friction,
so that the force expended for displacement of the seats and arm
rests is kept as small as possible, the conversion effort involved
still is to be rated as high and, despite the improvements made,
the solution disclosed is cost-intensive in application and
difficult, a situation known to be regarded as highly
disadvantageous in the area of aviation, in which it is desired to
conserve every gram of weight in order to increase the payload.
[0013] On the basis of this state of the art the object of the
invention is accordingly to create a row of aircraft passenger
seats which, despite simplicity of design and low weight, permits
conversion from seats of a specific width to seats of another
usable width, along with reduction of the time required for such
conversion. This object is attained by a row of aircraft passenger
seats having the features specified in claim 1 in its entirety.
[0014] In that, as specified in the characterizing part of claim 1,
a center seat of a row of seats between adjacent seats has a
separating element which is mounted in a non-use position at least
partly in the area of the associated seat pedestals for this center
seat and in a use position at least partly above the seat divider,
and in that the separating element may be moved between the
positions in question by means of a pivot mechanism, a row of
so-called economy-class aircraft passenger seats comprising three
seats may be converted to a two-seat business-class row of aircraft
passenger seats in which the seats are suitably widened.
[0015] First of all, the center arm rests in the row of aircraft
passenger seats are pivoted up, this resulting in actually usable
widening of the two outer seats, and the center seat in the row of
aircraft passenger seats is in effect occupied in that, the
separating element is pivoted up from the non-use position as
outlined into the use position and the usable seating surface of
this center seat is covered and to this extent makes it impossible
for a potential seat occupant (aircraft passenger) to be seated in
this center seat. If the separating element is in its use position,
that is, locked in position above the seating area of the center
seat, the seat occupants on the outer ends of the row of aircraft
passenger seats are in their respective seats distinctly separated
from each other, a situation which may impart to these passengers
the subjective impression that ample space is provided, as is
desired in the context of the business class. In addition to the
actual seat widening already referred to for the two outer seats of
a row of aircraft passenger seats, the separately usable seating
area made wider by the separating element in the use position is to
this extent shown to advantage and, depending on the configuration
of the separating element, this element may equally be used by the
occupants of the opposite seats.
[0016] In practical application, when necessary, an appropriate
service crew converts the row of economy-class aircraft passenger
seats in advance of a flight to the row of business-class aircraft
passenger seats, so that when a seat occupant enters the airplane
in the business class he finds that the seat widening has already
been effected and that he himself need not do anything. Conversely,
the service crew pivots the separating element back to its non-use
position if the row of business-class seats is to be converted to a
row of economy-class aircraft passenger seats with three seats
positioned side by side. The row of aircraft passenger seats
claimed for the invention need not be restricted to seat
configurations with three seats positioned side by side; the row of
seats may in this instance comprise a greater number of seats
placed side by side, a seat with the separating element being
present in alternating sequence between each seat provided as a
business-class seat. It is also possible, however, to produce, by
way of two adjacent seats with separating elements, a central
separation of two seats of a row of four, the two outermost seats
then forming the business-class seat with wider seating
surface.
[0017] In one especially preferred embodiment of the row of
aircraft passenger seats claimed for the invention, the separating
element is a table element which in the non-use position assumes an
essentially vertical position and in the use position an
essentially horizontal position relative to the respective seat.
The business-class seat occupant consequently has additional table
surface available to him.
[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the row of aircraft
passenger seats claimed for the invention, the pivot mechanism has
at least one pivotably connected pivot lever configured to be
angular which is pivotably connected at one end to the seat frame
or parts of this frame and at the other end pivotably connected to
parts of the separating element. The respective pivot mechanism
with pivot lever configured to be angular makes it possible to
effect the pivoting process for the separating element with
especially great saving of space.
[0019] In different preferred different embodiment of the row of
aircraft passenger seats claimed for the invention, however, the
pivot mechanism may also consist of a set of rods in the form of a
parallelogram the upper end of the guide rod of which points
forward in the non-use position and rearward in the use position.
To this extent the separating element may also be pivoted from its
non-use position to the use position and vice versa and conserve
space.
[0020] As an alternative, in a different embodiment of the row of
aircraft passenger seats claimed for the invention, provision may
also be made such that the separating element is stored below the
seat surface, in particular the surface of the center seat, in a
receptacle and then be removed from this receptacle and locked on
the center seat in the use position. The pivot solutions in
question present the advantage that installation space below the
seat surface is not required, so that life jackets or the like
provided for an emergency may be stored there and be readily
accessible.
[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the row of aircraft
passenger seats claimed for the invention, in the non-use position
the usable table surface of the table element points away from the
seat frame toward the surroundings or in the direction of the seat
frame. In addition, provision preferably is made such that, when
the table surface points toward the surroundings this surface is
covered in the non-use position by a shell-like cover which is
pivotably connected to at least one seat pedestal. The usable table
surface may accordingly be protected from damage and fouling. After
the table element has been cleared, the shell-like cover is pivoted
back to its base position, so that the leg room freely available to
the business-class seat occupant is not restricted.
[0022] In another, especially preferred, embodiment of the row of
aircraft passenger seats claimed for the invention, the separating
element may be locked or latched in the use position by a lock or
latch mechanism to stationary parts of the associated seat, the
respective guide web in particular, to which the associated arm
rest is pivotably connected. The possibility also exists of locking
or latching on so-called support elements of the seat which extend
in parallel or coaxially with the respective guide web of the arm
rest. As a result, the separating element, especially in the form
of the table element, is connected to stationary structural
components of the seat in the use position, this ensuring largely
quiet and secure fastening of the separating element. Consequently,
the separating element does not give way in the use position, for
example, should a seat occupant support himself on the separating
element when leaving his seat.
[0023] In another, preferred, embodiment of the row of aircraft
passenger seats claimed for the invention at least the center
pivoting arm rests when in their pivoted-up position are an
integral part of what is then a couch-like backrest formed by at
least three consecutive seats positioned side by side, at least if
the individual backrests are set in their upright position. When
the seat surface is widened, the seating comfort of the
business-class seat occupant consequently is not disturbed by the
pivoted-up arm rests, provision preferably being made such that the
arm rests have suitable cushioning on their lower side.
[0024] In another, preferred, embodiment of the row of aircraft
passenger seats claimed for the invention, the separating element
is automatically moved by means of at least one energy accumulator
(tension spring) from its non-use position after release or
actuation at least partly in the direction of its use position;
this helps reduce the expenditure of effort by the service crew and
also increases the ease of assembly, since the separating element
then no longer need be raised from a lowermost non-use
position.
[0025] By preference provision is also made such that the
separating element has on its opposite ends, facing the adjacent
seats of a center seat, support elements in the form of arm rests.
The business-class seat occupant has a part of the separating
element available as arm rest to increase his comfort.
[0026] The row of aircraft passenger seats claimed for the
invention is described in greater detail below on the basis of two
exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawing, in which, in
diagrams not drawn to scale and in a perspective view
[0027] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the row of aircraft
passenger seats claimed for the invention having a separating
element, in the non-use position and in the use position,
[0028] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show the essential components of the
center seat of a second embodiment of the row of aircraft passenger
seats with the separating element in different positions.
[0029] The first embodiment of a row of aircraft passenger seats
claimed for the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has at least three
seats 10, 12, 14 with a seat frame 16 common to all the seats which
has a front transverse spar 18 and a rear transverse spar 20 in
parallel with it. The two transverse spars 18, 20 are configured in
particular as hollow tubes of a light alloy or aluminum. These
transverse spars 18, 20 are rigidly connected to each other by seat
pedestals 22 so as to be stationary, only one seat pedestal being
shown in FIG. 2, for the sake of greater simplicity of
illustration. In addition, the row of aircraft passenger seats has
cushion carriers 26 supporting seat element cushions 24, the seat
element cushion of the seat element proper not being shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, again for the sake of greater clarity of illustration.
Seat dividers 28 are also present between the respective seats;
they are supported on the two transverse spars 18, 20 and are
mounted on the seats on the end side. The seat divider 28 at the
very front, as viewed in the line of sight to FIGS. 1 and 2, has
been omitted for the sake of greater simplicity of presentation.
The respective seat 10, 12, 14 is provided with a backrest 30 the
incline position of which may be adjusted in the conventional
manner and consequently is not described in detail here. As is
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective backrest 30 is in its
upright position, which corresponds, for example, to the take-off
and landing position of the row of aircraft passenger seats. In
addition, arm rests 32 are present; in FIGS. 1 and 2 they are shown
in their pivoted-up position. If the row of aircraft passenger
seats as viewed in the line of sight to FIGS. 1 and 2 should be in
contact with a cabin wall, on the left side, for example, the arm
rest may also be omitted from the outside of the seat on the far
left. By preference the possibility is provided of pivoting the
individual arm rests 32 along a guide rod carried by the seat
dividers 28, the guide rod being divided into guide webs 34 so that
each arm rest 32 has an independent pivoting segment associated
with it.
[0030] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the center seat 12 of a row of
seats has, between two adjacent seats 10, 14 a separating element
36 which is situated in a non-use position (cf. FIG. 1) at least to
some extent in the area of the associated seat pedestals 22 for
this center seat 12 and in a use position (cf. FIG. 2) at least to
some extent above the seat divider 28. In addition, the separating
element 36 may be pivoted to and from the positions in question by
means of a pivot mechanism designated as a whole as 38. The
separating element 36 is in these exemplary embodiments configured
as a table element which, when in the non-use position, assumes an
essentially vertical position (FIG. 1) and which, when in the use
position (FIG. 2), assumes an essentially horizontal position in
relation to the respective seat 12. The pivot mechanism 38 has two
pivot levers 40 which are pivotably connected at one of its ends to
the upper side of the front transverse spar 18 and at its other end
is pivotably connected to a longitudinal side of the separating
element 36. If the separating element shown in FIG. 1 is in its
non-use position, the two pivot levers 40 extend in approxiimation
along the longitudinal side of the separating element 36 and at
their upper end are bent at an angle so that they are fitted over
the transverse spar 18 for the center seat 12, preferably during
assembly. It is also to be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the usable
table surface 42 of the table element when in the non-use position
faces away from the seat frame 16 toward the surroundings.
Provision may accordingly be made such that the table surface 42
facing the surroundings is covered by a shell-like cover (not
shown) when it is in the non-use position in order to prevent
damage to or fouling of the table surface 42. By preference the
shell-like cover not shown is pivotably connected to at least one
seat pedestal 22 by way of the lower transverse rod 44. If the
separating element 36 is in its use position, the shell-like cover
may be pivoted up into its covering position so as not to restrict
the leg room in the floor area of the row of aircraft passenger
seats.
[0031] The separating element 36 has catch or lock mechanisms 46
projecting upward or downward on both sides which in the form of
jaws overlap the pivot-like support elements as a component of the
guide webs 34 as soon as the separating element 36 is in its use
position shown in FIG. 2. The respective support elements may also
be in the form of a guide rod or segments of such a rod or extend
in parallel or coaxially with this rod or its segments as
independent structural elements 34. Provided that at least the
center pivotable arm rests 32 are an integral components of the
backrests 30 when in their pivoted-up position, a sort of couch
made up of at least three seats 10, 12, 14 positioned side by side
in a row is formed at least when the backrests are in the upright
position.
[0032] The non-use position in FIG. 1 shows the layout of the row
of aircraft passenger seats in the economy-class configuration, in
which all three seats may be occupied by seat occupants. If the
separating element 36 is in its use position as illustrated in FIG.
2, the center seat 12 is not available for occupation and the seat
width of the inner and outer seats 10 and 14 is correspondingly
increased by the pivoted-up center arm rests 32. In addition, the
separating element 36 may also have at its opposite ends support
elements 48 which perform the function of the otherwise customary
pivoted-down arm rests 32.
[0033] To the extent that the other embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and
following corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2, the same reference numbers for the same structural elements and
structural groups used for the first exemplary embodiment are
employed for the second embodiment. What has been presented in the
description up to this point also applies to the other embodiment
shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0034] For the sake of greater clarity of illustration only the
center seat 12 is shown and the seat element cushion 24 for the
backrest 30 is omitted for the row of aircraft passenger seats in
the second embodiment. In addition, the arm rests 32 are not shown
in the illustration. The pivot levers 40 of the pivot mechanism 38
are configured to be equal-sided and overlap the upper area of the
transverse spar 18 in the non-use position in FIG. 3. The
respective solution dispenses with a cover, since the usable table
surface 42 does not face the surroundings in the non-use position
but the seat frame 16 with its seat pedestals 22. Another
difference is that the catch and lock mechanism 46 when in the
non-use position faces the floor on which the respective seat is
set in the upright position above the seat frame 16.
[0035] By means of an energy accumulator in the form of two tension
springs 50 the separating element 36 is pivoted when the
accumulator is actuated from its non-use position shown in FIG. 3
counterclockwise to an intermediate position shown in FIG. 4 so
that the usable table surface 42 previously positioned inside
appears facing the observer as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the
catch and lock mechanism 46 is also pivoted upward, the movement
being supported by drop arms 52. The pretensioned tension springs
50 are accordingly released in the respective rotary or pivot
movement for the separating element 36. In another pivot movement
the separating element may now be pivoted by way of the pivot lever
40 to its use position illustrated in FIG. 5 and the catch and lock
mechanism 46 in turn engages the associated guide webs 34 between
the seat dividers 28 of the seat 12. The process of initiating the
intermediate pivoting movement from the position shown in FIG. 3 to
the position shown in FIG. 4 may now be started centrally by an
operator of a service crew, for example, by way of a spring-loaded
draw-button (not shown) on the side facing the aisle side of the
respective row of aircraft passenger seats. The last pivoting
movement from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 4 to the use
position shown in FIG. 5 may be effected simply by hand. Side
support elements 48 on the separating element 36 may also serve as
arm rests in this solution. Pivoting from the use position shown in
FIG. 5 to the non-use position shown in FIG. 3, in turn, now takes
place in reverse order, the tension springs 50 being tensioned for
a repeated automatic initiation process when the non-use position
is reached.
[0036] The row of aircraft passenger seats claimed for the
invention makes it possible to convert an economy-class row of
aircraft passenger seats with three seats to and from a
business-class row of aircraft passenger seats and to effect
corresponding widening of the seats, an additional table surface
being made available between the two business-class seats as a
result of the conversion. In place of configuration of the
separating element 36 in the form of a table element, yet other
options become available for configuration of the separating
element 36, such as configuration of this element 36 as a laminar
separating element in order to ensure separation of the
business-class seats of a row of aircraft passenger seats,
something which may contribute to an increase in the privacy of the
seat occupant.
* * * * *