U.S. patent application number 14/282356 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-26 for seat pan closure mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMI INDUSTRIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is AMI INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Timothy Brownsberger, Chad R. Pacheco.
Application Number | 20150336675 14/282356 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53264484 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150336675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pacheco; Chad R. ; et
al. |
November 26, 2015 |
SEAT PAN CLOSURE MECHANISM
Abstract
A seat closure and retention system comprising a spring, a
retention device, a seat, and a housing is disclosed herein. The
system may include a tapered ramp surface configured such that as
the anchoring device, such as a spring loaded device, approaches a
notch and/or bowl shaped portion based on movement of the seat from
a substantially horizontal portion to a substantially vertical
position. Stated another way, in response to the pin and/or ball of
anchoring device making contact with the tapered ramp surface a
damper effect is achieved.
Inventors: |
Pacheco; Chad R.; (Colorado
Springs, CO) ; Brownsberger; Timothy; (Colorado
Springs, CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AMI INDUSTRIES, INC. |
Colorado Springs |
CO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AMI INDUSTRIES, INC.
Colorado Springs
CO
|
Family ID: |
53264484 |
Appl. No.: |
14/282356 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/313 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 11/0691 20141201;
B64D 11/064 20141201 |
International
Class: |
B64D 11/06 20060101
B64D011/06 |
Claims
1. A cabin attendant seat system comprising: a housing; a seat
pivotally coupled to the housing; a spring coupled between the
housing and the seat configured to bias the seat to a stowed
position; and a retention device coupled to a side surface of the
seat configured to engage a shaped housing, wherein the retention
device comprises a spring-loaded device and the shaped housing
comprises a tapered ramp.
2. (canceled)
3. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 1, wherein the spring
loaded device is a ball plunger.
4. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 3, wherein the ball
plunger is configured to function as a damper.
5. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 3, wherein a location
of a ball of the ball plunger is determined by a position of the
ball plunger along the tapered ramp.
6. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 1, wherein the tapered
ramp is positioned substantially adjacent to a notch and a curved
surface substantially adjacent to the notch.
7. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 6, wherein the curved
surface is configured to guide the seat from a first angle greater
than 90 degrees as measured from a horizontal deployed position to
a second angle that is at least one of less than or equal to 90
degrees.
8. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 6, wherein a location
of the notch determines the stowed position of the seat.
9. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 1, further comprising a
second retention device.
10. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 1, wherein the seat is
self-closing.
11. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 1, wherein the
retention device is configured to retain the seat in the stowed
position in response to a failure of the spring.
12. The cabin attendant seat system of claim 1, wherein the spring
is pre-loaded while the seat is in the stowed position.
13.-15. (canceled)
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat closure mechanism,
and more specifically, to a seat self-closing and retention system
and method.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, commercial aircraft cabin attendant seats (CAS)
are required to be self-closing and remain closed so the CAS does
not interfere and/or block egress from the aircraft. This has
typically been accomplished by using a flat or coiled torsion
spring combined with a hydraulic damper. The spring provides the
closing force, and the damper controls the rate of closure to
prevent abrupt motion which can be noisy and possibly cause injury.
An improved system is desirable.
SUMMARY
[0003] In various embodiments, a seat closure and retention system
comprising a spring, a retention device, a seat, and a housing is
disclosed herein. The system may include a tapered ramp surface
configured such that as the anchoring device, such as a spring
loaded device, approaches a notch and/or bowl shaped portion based
on movement of the seat from a substantially horizontal portion to
a substantially vertical position. Stated another way, in response
to the pin and/or ball of anchoring device making contact with the
tapered ramp surface a damper effect is achieved.
[0004] According to various embodiments, a cabin attendant seat
system may include a substantially stationary housing relative to
the seat from which the seat is hingeably attached, a spring
coupled between the housing and the seat configured to bias the
seat to a stowed position, and an retention device coupled to a
side surface of the seat configured to engage a shaped housing. The
shaped housing may include a steeply curved surface and/or a
tapered ramp.
[0005] According to various embodiments, a method may include
moving a hinged cabin attendant seat from a deployed position
towards a stowed position via a torsion spring. The method may
include dampening the movement of the hinged cabin attendant seat
as the seat moves from the deployed position to the stowed position
by interfacing a ball of a ball plunger with a ramp. The ball
plunger may be housed on the seat and/or a surface coupled to the
seat. The method may include anchoring the seat in a desired stowed
position by engaging the ball of the ball plunger in a notch
substantially adjacent to the ramp.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly
pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the
specification. A more complete understanding of the present
disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the
detailed description and claims when considered in connection with
the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like
elements.
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a CAS seat closure and retention system
with the seat in a stowed position according to various
embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the CAS seat closure and
retention system of FIG. 1 with the seat in a deployed position
according to various embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the CAS seat closure
and retention system of FIGS. 1 and 2 according to various
embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a close up view of an anchoring device of
the CAS seat closure and retention system according to various
embodiments;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a CAS seat closure and retention system
with the seat in a deployed position according to various
embodiments;
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the CAS seat closure and
retention system of FIG. 1 with the seat in a stowed position
according to various embodiments; and
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of retention system 100
elements according to various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein
makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary
embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary
embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those
skilled in the art to practice the inventions, it should be
understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical
changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in
accordance with this invention and the teachings herein. Thus, the
detailed description herein is presented for purposes of
illustration only and not of limitation. The scope of the invention
is defined by the appended claims. For example, the steps recited
in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any
order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented.
Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments,
and any reference to more than one component or step may include a
singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached,
fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable,
temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment
option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar
phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.
[0015] Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural
embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step
may include a singular embodiment or step.
[0016] According to various embodiments and with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2, a seat 120 closure and retention system 100 comprising
force application mechanism, such as a spring 150, a retention
device 175, a seat 120, and a housing 135 is depicted. FIG. 1
depicts the seat 120 in a stowed position. FIG. 2 depicts the seat
120 in a deployed position. The spring 150 may be configured to
move a deployed seat 120 to a stowed position. For instance, the
spring 150 may be a torsion spring. As depicted in FIGS. 1-3,
spring 150 may be a generally flat length of material, such as a
stainless steel length of material, which is configured to be fixed
on one side, such as with a bushing 310 and anchored to the seat
120 pan by a second securing device 130, such as a bolt or screw.
In this way, one side of spring 150 is fixed to a non-moving
housing 135, such as seat side panel 140, relative to the moving
seat 120 while the other side of spring 150 is attached to the
rotating seat 120. In response to torque exerted on spring 150
during rotation of seat 120 relative to housing 135, seat 120 moves
seat 120 from the stowed position to the deployed position. Energy
is stored in the spring 150 during the exertion of such torque. In
response to the removal of torque exerted on spring 150, spring 150
causes seat 120 to retract back to the stowed position.
[0017] Retention device 175 may be any desired device configured to
temporarily retain seat 120 in a stowed position. For instance, as
depicted in FIGS. 1-4, retention device 175 may comprise a spring
loaded device such as a spring loaded ball plunger and/or simple
detent mechanism. The spring loaded device may encapsulate a
spring, such as a coil spring, in a body and comprise a plunger tip
or ball on one end. This configuration enables accurate and
repeatable end forces. Spring loaded devices may be configured for
use where side loading is experienced. Spring loaded devices may
provide repeatable projection of the plunger tip or ball. The
retention device 175 may be configured to interface with a shaped
housing 125.
[0018] According to various embodiments and with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2, retention device 175 may be coupled to a side panel 140 of
seat 120. For instance, the face of side panel 140 may be oriented
substantially normal to the face of seat 120. In this way, as the
seat 120 returns from a substantially horizontal level to the
substantially vertical stowed position, a retention device 175
anchored on the side panel 140 may move in concert with the
movement of the seat 120 for engagement with a shaped housing 125.
Stated another way, the retention device 175 may move such that it
aligns with a shaped housing 125. Retention device 175 may be
configured to move in a same hinged arc of travel as the seat 120.
Shaped housing 125 may be any shape such that it forms a suitable
location for contact with retention device 175.
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of the elements of FIGS. 1
and 2. For instance, spring 150 may be coupled to housing 135 via a
bushing 310, such as a metal bushing, coupled to a second bushing
315, such as a plastic bushing, which may be accessed by a keying
feature 380 in the housing 135. Bushing 310 may also be configured
to facilitate the arc path pivoting movement of seat 120. Seat 120
may pivot on a second metal bushing 312 configured to interface
with a second plastic bushing 319.
[0020] According to various embodiments and with reference to FIG.
4, shaped housing 125 may comprise a tapered ramp 185 surface
configured such that as the retention device 175, such as a spring
loaded device, approaches a notch 195 and/or bowl shaped portion
based on movement of the seat 120 from a deployed position to a
stowed position the ball shaped plunger tip may make contact with
and gradually extend from its housing as the ball shaped plunger
tip travels along the tapered ramp 185. In response to the pin
and/or ball of retention device 175 making contact with the tapered
ramp 185 surface, the speed of the self-closing seat 120 may be
reduced. The friction of the tapered ramp 185 may act to counter or
dissipate the kinetic energy of the seat 120. Stated another way,
in response to the pin and/or ball of retention device 175 making
contact with the tapered ramp 185 surface, a damper effect is
achieved. In this way, the seat 120 closure to the stowed position
is slowed until the seat path of travel reaches a desired stowed
position. Similarly, movement from the stowed position to a
deployed position may be similarly damped as the retention device
175 makes contact with the tapered ramp 185 surface until the pin
is substantially and/or fully retracted within its housing.
[0021] A notch 195 and/or bowl shaped portion of shaped housing 125
may determine the desired seat 120 stowing location. For instance,
the depth of the notch 195 and/or bowl shaped portion of the shaped
housing 125 is configured such that the tip of the retention device
175 is fully deployed. In response to the retention device 175
being fully deployed a force must be applied to both overcome a
pre-load on the spring 150 and unseat the deployed retention device
175. In this way, seat 120 may remain stowed until pulled down from
its stowed position and be biased to return to its stowed position
without additional intervention (e.g., self-closing). An indicator,
such as an audible indicator, visual indicator, and/or physical
indicator may indicate that the retention device 175 is positioned
a desired position, such as the fully stowed position. According to
various embodiments, retention device 175 may comprise a secondary
locking function, such as a safety that may be disengaged prior
permitting the seat 120 to be moved from the stowed position to the
deployed position. Seat 120 closure and retention system 100 may
comprise a secondary locking mechanism to be disengaged prior
permitting the seat 120 to be moved from the stowed position to the
deployed position (as depicted in FIG. 7). In various embodiments,
seat 120 closure and retention system 100 may comprise a secondary
locking mechanism to retain the seat 120 in the deployed
position.
[0022] According to various embodiments and with continued
reference to FIG. 4, the shaped housing 125 may further comprise a
steeply curved ramp 190 and/or surface past the notch 195 and/or
bowl shaped stowed position, configured such that the tip of the
retention device 175 may travel past the notch 195 and/or bowl
shaped portion. The steeply curved ramp 190 may aid in directing
the anchoring device back towards the notch 195 and/or bowl shaped
portion to achieve the desired stowing position. This steeply
curved ramp 190 may be configured to reduce the noise of the
anchoring device fully deploying and present a cushioning to the
seat 120 path of travel. In this way, steeply curved ramp 190,
located beyond the notch 195 with respect to the tapered ramp 185.
The steeply curved ramp 190 may be configured to guide the seat 120
from an angle greater than 90 degrees as measured from the
horizontal deployed position of the seat 120 to an angle that is
less than or equal to 90 degrees.
[0023] FIG. 5 depicts an example of the CAS in a deployed position.
Steeply curved ramp 190 and/or the tapered ramp 185 may be
configured to direct the movement of the seat 120 towards the
desired stowed position as depicted in FIG. 6. According to various
embodiments, a plurality of retention devices 175 may be utilized
on two opposite sides of the seat 120 to engage with two generally
parallel housings 135. In this way, the size of the retention
device 175 and/or the spring 150 may be reduced. Moreover, a second
retention device 175 may act as a fail-safe should one retention
device 175 fail to operate as intended. Unlike conventional CAS
systems, a hydraulic damper is rendered redundant based on the
reduced spring 150 size and utilization of retention devices
175.
[0024] According to various embodiments, retention device 175 may
be configured to retain seat 120 in any desired location between
deployed and stowed. Additionally, a detent system and/or
additional shaped housings 125 may be used to temporarily stow the
seat 120 in additional positions.
[0025] According to various embodiments, the lower spring 150
tension increases the spring 150 life-span. Seat 120 is safer and
quieter operation as compared to conventional CAS systems due to
the lower forces used to close the seat 120 in retention system
100. The seat 120 is easier and safer to assemble due to not having
to wind the spring 150 as tightly as conventional systems. Spring
150 may be anchored by bushing 310 safely by hand. Retention device
175 may be configured to retain the seat 120 closed in the event of
a spring 150 failure. Retention system 100 is a lower cost design
than conventicle CAS systems with fewer points of failure.
[0026] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described herein with regard to specific embodiments.
Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various Figures
contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional
relationships and/or physical couplings between the various
elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional
functional relationships or physical connections may be present in
a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to
problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage,
or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be
construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements
of the inventions. The scope of the inventions is accordingly to be
limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which
reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean
"one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or
more." Moreover, where a phrase similar to "at least one of A, B,
or C" is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be
interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B
alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an
embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may
be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B
and C, or A and B and C.
[0027] Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the
detailed description herein, references to "various embodiments",
"one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an example embodiment", etc.,
indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not
necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or
characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily
referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection
with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge
of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or
characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not
explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be
apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the
disclosure in alternative embodiments.
[0028] Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the
present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public
regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is
explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be
construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112 (f) unless the
element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for." As used
herein, the terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variation
thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that
a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of
elements does not include only those elements but may include other
elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,
article, or apparatus.
* * * * *