U.S. patent application number 15/245829 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for seating arrangement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, Inc.. Invention is credited to Celyn M. Evans, Kris Houghton, Kevin R. Kwiatkowski.
Application Number | 20180056815 15/245829 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61241457 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180056815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kwiatkowski; Kevin R. ; et
al. |
March 1, 2018 |
SEATING ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
An improved seating system is provided for vehicles, including
military vehicles. Center-facing seats are staggered to provide for
a narrow vehicle profile, improved ingress and egress, and
increased blast survivability. Seats may be reclined or reclinable,
and seats may have seat pans upwardly movable away from a center
aisle between rows of seats to increase an effective width of the
aisle for improved ingress and egress.
Inventors: |
Kwiatkowski; Kevin R.; (Ann
Arbor, MI) ; Houghton; Kris; (Plymouth, MI) ;
Evans; Celyn M.; (Milford, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication, Inc. |
New Hudson |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Pratt & Miller Engineering and
Fabrication, Inc.
New Hudson
MI
|
Family ID: |
61241457 |
Appl. No.: |
15/245829 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 7/042 20130101;
B60N 2/3047 20130101; B60N 2/4242 20130101; F41H 7/046 20130101;
B60N 2/01 20130101; B60N 2/42736 20130101; B60N 2/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/01 20060101
B60N002/01; B60N 2/20 20060101 B60N002/20; B60N 2/30 20060101
B60N002/30; B60R 7/14 20060101 B60R007/14; B60N 2/22 20060101
B60N002/22; B60N 2/50 20060101 B60N002/50; F41H 7/04 20060101
F41H007/04 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
[0001] This disclosure was made in part with Government support.
The Government may have certain rights in the disclosure.
Claims
1. A narrow-profile vehicle, comprising: a first row of spaced
apart seats facing center; a second row of spaced apart seats
opposite the first row, the second row also facing center, wherein
each seat in the first row is directly across from space between
seats in the second row and each seat in the second row is directly
across from space between seats in the first row; and each seat in
each row being reclineable to an angle of at least about 45 degrees
from a vertical axis.
2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seats are reclineable from
about 15 to about 40 degrees from a vertical axis.
3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seats are reclined from
about 5 to about 45 degrees from a vertical axis.
4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seats are crew seats or
squad seats and are reclined from about 20 to about 30 degrees from
a vertical axis.
5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of a vehicle
frame is V-shaped at an angle akin to the recline angle of the
seat.
6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seats are mounted to a floor
suspended from a vehicle structure.
7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the floor is covered at least in
part with a blast mat.
8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an
interior surface of the vehicle is covered with an energy absorbing
material.
9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein seats in at least one of the
first or second row each have seat pans upwardly pivotable away
from a center aisle, the center aisle being between the first and
the second row of seats.
10. A vehicle, comprising: a first row of a plurality of spaced
apart reclined seats facing center; a second row of a plurality of
spaced apart reclined seats opposite the first row, the second row
also facing center, wherein each seat in the first row is directly
across from space between seats in the second row and each seat in
the second row is directly across from space between seats in the
first row, each space between seats including a structure for
stowage of gear; an aisle between the first row and the second row;
and a plurality of seat pans of at least one seat in at least one
of the first or second row are biased upwardly, thereby increasing
an effective width of the aisle for ingress and egress when
unoccupied.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the structure for stowage
comprises a securement mechanism for a weapon.
12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein each seat is reclined from
about 5 to about 45 degrees from a vertical axis.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein each seat has an adjustable
reclining mechanism.
14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the seats are mounted to a
floor suspended from a vehicle structure.
15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the vehicle includes walls
angled to accommodate the recline angle of the seats.
16. A vehicle, comprising: a first row of spaced apart seats facing
center, the seats having seat pans biased upwardly; a second row of
spaced apart seats opposite the first row, the second row also
facing center and having seat pans biased upwardly, wherein each
seat in the first row is directly across from space between seats
in the second row and each seat in the second row is directly
across from space between seats in the first row; each space
between seats comprises a structure or compartment for stowage of
gear; and each seat in each row being reclined at an angle of from
about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees from a vertical axis.
17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the seats are mounted to a
floor suspended from a vehicle hull.
18. The vehicle of claim 17 further including a blast mat on the
floor.
19. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the vehicle has walls angled to
accommodate the recline angle of the seats.
20. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the structure for stowage
comprises a securement mechanism for a weapon.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to seating structures, including
those that may be used with vehicles such as military vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Conventionally, where vehicles accommodate multiple
center-facing passengers in a vehicle, seating architecture has
been provided so that passengers are seated across from one another
such that their legs are at least partially interlocked. It may be
desirable to develop a seating configuration to permit an even more
narrow profile for the vehicle. This includes, for example,
military vehicles, where a narrow vehicle profile may increase
mobility through narrow pathways, minimize the vehicle as a target
for enemy fire, and/or provide for improved blast performance.
[0004] Improvements to vehicle structures for mitigating blasts are
always in need, as are improvements that may increase passenger
safety, ease of ingress and egress, and survivability. Staggered
seating, alone or in synergistic combination with other vehicle
structure, may bring about one or more advantageous results.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exemplary narrow-profile military vehicle with
staggered seating;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an exemplary narrow-profile military vehicle with
staggered seating;
[0007] FIG. 3 is an exemplary vehicle including staggered
seating;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a view of an exemplary seat directly across from
stowage space; and
[0009] FIG. 5 is a view of an exemplary seat directly across from
stowage space.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] All figures and examples herein are intended to be
non-limiting; they are mere exemplary iterations and/or embodiments
of the claims appended to the end of this description.
Modifications to structure, materials, the order of steps in
procedures, etc., are contemplated.
[0011] Generally, staggering seats rather than having seats
directly facing and opposing one another provides a vehicle with a
more narrow profile. A narrow vehicle profile may increase mobility
through, for example, urban environments having narrow streets and
pathways. A narrow profile may increase blast performance through,
for example, a lower roll inertia. A narrow profile may also permit
multiple different vehicle suspension combinations to be
implemented, including one or more of multi-wheeled and track
configurations. Additionally, a narrow profile minimizes a vehicle
signature from at least certain angles, minimizing exposure as a
target. Smaller than conventional seats, including seats with
advanced ergonomic designs, may also lead to a lighter, more
navigable vehicle.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, vehicle 10 has a narrow profile. A
plurality of seats are arranged in a staggered manner, so that
seats 20a with backs toward one wall 5, in a first row, are not
directly across from seats 20b with backs toward wall 6, in a
second row. Some or all of seats 20 have a reclined position, which
may mitigate passenger injury risk. Some or all of seats 20a and
20b may permanently be in a reclined position, while some or all of
seats 20a and 20b may be adjustable to various positions including
a reclined position. In some embodiments, none of seats 20a or 20b
has a reclined position.
[0013] Staggered seats 20a and 20b permit vehicle 10 to have an
especially narrow profile, since leg room is provided in spaces 25
between seats 20. Spaces 25 may also be include stowage space. That
is, aisle 18 may shrink in width dimension to a degree that,
without a flippable or pivotable seat pan on seats 20, aisle 18
would be difficult to navigate for purposes of ingress and
egress.
[0014] Spaces 25 may permit passengers to sit across from one
another without interlocking legs. For at least this reason, spaces
25 may reduce the risk that soldiers flail into one another during,
for example, a blast or rollover event. Spaces 25, in combination
with a plurality of reclined or reclineable seats 20 may provide a
synergistic result for mitigation of risk of injury. Without being
bound by theory, the reclining seats permit a vehicle hull to be
smaller and to take an angled shaped that may be favorable to blast
mitigation from, for example, IEDs. Hulls are the main frame or the
main body of a vehicle such as a ship or a tank. Unexpectedly, a
staggered seating arrangement in combination with reclined seats
and vehicle hulls shaped to accommodate the reclined seats resulted
in lower jump height in blast events.
[0015] Additionally, spaces 25 may increase ease of ingress and
egress for soldiers by making storage of gear easy to put away or
secure and easy to free or disengage. Spaces 25 may accommodate
gear and may be equipped with securement mechanisms for gear.
Indeed, spaces 25 permit more gear to be stored inside vehicles
than in conventional vehicles.
[0016] The sizing and spacing of the seats 20a and 20b and spaces
25 may vary, depending on the shape and size of the vehicle to
minimize opportunity for passenger feet and knees to run into each
other, especially during a blast event.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary, non-limiting hull 15
for a vehicle 10 is shown with a first row of seats across from a
second row of seats such that seats 20a are not directly across
from seats 20b. Rather, individual seats 20 are across from spaces
25. In one embodiment, the aisle 18 has a width (from a
center-facing edge of seat pan 21 to a center-facing edge of seat
pan 21 of seat 20b) in a lower portion of aisle 18 (from the seats
20 down) of about 20 inches. As shown in FIG. 2, seat pans 21
support seats 20 in vehicle 10. Seat pans 21 may fold or flip or
otherwise move away from the aisle 18 to increase the effective
width of aisle 18, thereby increasing ease of ingress/egress. The
effective width of aisle 18 may be varied depending on the profile
of vehicle 10, and may differ at leg level from the effective width
at shoulder level.
[0018] In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3, the height of
aisle 18 may vary due to the presence of energy absorbing material
30 on the inner surface of the ceiling of vehicle 10 or on top
surface of a blast mat 32. In at least some portions of the hull
15, a ballistic liner 34 may cover at least a portion of an
interior surface of the hull 15. Ballistic liners may range in
thickness and location. In some embodiments, a ballistic liner 34
may be between an interior surface of hull 15 and energy absorbing
material 30.
[0019] Energy absorbing material 30 may be made from any of a
number of materials and may take any of a number of shapes. For
example, rigid polyurethane foam shaped in negative stiffness (NS)
honeycomb arrangements may be used. Energy absorbing material 30
may comprise lightweight aluminum honeycomb such as PLASCORE
CRUSHLITE. Ballistic liners 34 may be made from any of a number of
materials, some of which are available through Sioux Manufacturing
Corporation (SMC) of North Dakota or BMI Defense Systems of Texas.
Ballistic liners 34 may be light weight, and may include woven and
non-woven materials, KEVLAR, and flame-resistant materials or
coatings. Blast mats 32 may be made from any of a number of
materials, including thermoplastic polyurethane. Blast mats 32
available through Skydex Technologies of Colorado may be suitable,
as well as blast mats 32 available through US Youth Sports of
Missouri.
[0020] In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3, seats 20a and 20b
are mounted on a floor 50 that is isolated from direct contact with
hull 15 by its mounting apparatus including, on one side, component
members 51a, 51b, 51c, and on the opposite side, component members
52a, 52b and 52c. Isolated floor 50 has a sufficient clearance from
an interior surface of hull 15. Passengers in seats 20a and 20b
have a sufficient head clearance to accommodate fully adorned
soldiers of various sizes. Passenger in seat 20b may have his or
her H-point (where the passenger pivots, through the hip) a
sufficient distance above the upper surface of the floor to
accommodate soldiers of various sizes.
[0021] Passenger in seat 20b is shown has having a reclined
position of 20 degrees clockwise from the vertical of the H-point,
the H-point being the origin. The leg angle is shown as being 5
degrees counter-clockwise from the horizontal of the H-point, the
H-point being the origin. That is, in the example, there is a 105
degree angle between the back angle and the leg angle. This
position is an exemplary one for a squad seat for ingress and
egress. For riding in seat 20b, an exemplary recline position may
be about 30 degrees clockwise from the vertical of the H-point, and
the leg angle may be about 15 degrees clockwise from the horizontal
of the H-point. That is, in this example, there is a 105 degree
angle between the back angle and the leg angle. Different recline
angles are contemplated, including a range of from about 5 or 15 to
about 40 or 45 degrees from the vertical for crew and squad seats.
The crew and squad seats may be fixed in a reclined position or may
be adjustable. The angle between the back angle and the leg angle
can range from about 95 to about 110 degrees. Other configurations
and angles of recline angles are contemplated. The shape of the
hull accommodates the angle by which the seats are reclined.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, vehicle 10 is shown to illustrate what
is across from a seat 20a with seat pan 21 supporting seat cushion
22. In this non-limiting example, space 25 (as numbered in FIG. 1)
includes stowage compartments 60, 62 and 64 for gear or other items
to be secured. Additionally, securement device 66 provides a
mechanism to contain weapons, including during travel. In the
depicted embodiment, a gun is stowed and pointed in a downward
direction.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, seat pans 21 can be pivoted or flipped
or folded away from the aisle to increase the effective aisle width
during ingress and egress activity. Many mechanisms for upward
pivoting and holding may be implemented, including but not limited
to spring loaded mechanisms. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary seat 20a for
seat cushion 22 having an exemplary seat pan 21 folded and
releasably held in an upright position so the effective width of
aisle 18 (as labeled in FIG. 1) is increased. Seat pan 21 can
optionally be biased to remain in the upright position unless or
until occupied using any of a number of mechanisms.
[0024] Although the steps of the above-described processes have
been exemplified as occurring in a certain sequence, such processes
could be practiced with the steps performed in a different order.
It should also be understood that certain steps could be performed
simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain
steps could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of the
processes are provided for the purpose of illustration, and should
not limit the claimed invention.
[0025] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above
description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive.
Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided
would be apparent upon reading the disclosure. For example, it is
contemplated that spacing and sizing of seats could be adjusted for
ergonomics or to standardize to about 90% of the military
population. It is also contemplated that indirect driving methods
such as driving through providing input to screens, yokes and/or
seat movement could be integrated with the described seating
arrangements. The scope of the invention should be determined with
reference to the appended claims along with the full scope of
equivalents. It is intended that future developments will occur,
and that embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods will
incorporate and be incorporated with such future developments.
[0026] Use of singular articles such as "a," "the," "said" together
with an element means one or more of the element unless a claim
expressly recites to the contrary.
* * * * *