Monocoque and semi-monocoque passenger seats with ergonomic design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10442330-B2
Application number	US-201515317527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

Described are ergonomic passenger seats that may include monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs, cellular suspension cushions, and tray tables with support arms that may be located within the interior volume of the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs when in their stowed positions. The passenger seats offer enhanced passenger comfort and space while providing a lightweight, simple to manufacture design. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may form integral parts of passenger seats to support additional loads without need for heavy, complex structures. The space within the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat back may then be used for storage or suspension cushions that offer improved comfort with a lighter seat frame. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may also facilitate the adoption of several other seating mechanisms, such as new seat mounts that allow for improved seat motion that allows for passenger recline with reduced impingement on other passengers' space.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A semi-monocoque seat back comprising:
a forward panel, wherein the forward panel comprises a forward concave face and a forward convex face;
an aft panel, wherein the aft panel comprises an aft concave face and an aft convex face;
an internal baffle disposed between and completely supported by the forward panel and the aft panel;
a forward panel mating perimeter; and
an aft panel mating perimeter, wherein the forward panel mating perimeter comprises complementary geometry to the aft panel mating perimeter, wherein:
the forward panel mating perimeter is affixed to the aft panel mating perimeter such that the forward concave face and the aft concave face substantially enclose a volume;
an entirety of the internal baffle is disposed within the volume; and
the internal baffle comprises a unitary component with (i) an upper portion at least partially disposed adjacent to a headrest area of the semi-monocoque seat back and (ii) a lower portion disposed between the upper portion and a pivot axis of the semi-monocoque seat back.

2. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the forward panel mating perimeter and the aft panel mating perimeter form a butt joint.

3. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 2 , further comprising a backing member, wherein the backing member reinforces the butt joint of the forward panel mating perimeter and the aft panel mating perimeter.

4. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the forward panel mating perimeter and the aft panel mating perimeter form at least one from the group of a lap joint, a splice joint, and a scarf joint.

5. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the internal baffle comprises an integrated monitor surround.

6. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the internal baffle comprises an integrated stowage pocket.

7. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , further comprising at least one integrated armrest mounting point.

8. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the forward panel comprises a composite.

9. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein:
the internal baffle is attached to both the forward panel and the aft panel;
the internal baffle is stationary; and
the internal baffle does not attach to a frame structure of the semi-monocoque seat back.

10. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the aft panel comprises a composite.

11. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein:
the upper portion of the internal baffle comprises an upper outer flange defining an opening facing in a forward or aft direction, wherein the upper outer flange surrounds a solid panel on a forward side of the upper portion; and
the lower portion of the internal baffle comprises an lower outer flange defining an opening facing in the forward or aft direction, wherein the lower outer flange surrounds an opening in the lower portion.

12. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , further comprising a foam fill within at least a portion of the volume, wherein the semi-monocoque seat back does not include a frame structure.

13. A semi-monocoque seat back comprising:
a structural skin comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface;
the interior surface of the structural skin defining a substantially enclosed volume; and
an internal baffle disposed within the substantially enclosed volume at a position spaced from a lower end of the structural skin, wherein:
the exterior surface of the structural skin is configured to provide a surface geometry of the semi-monocoque seat back;
the internal baffle comprises at least one from the group of an integrated monitor surround and an integrated stowage pocket; and
the structural skin completely supports the internal baffle relative to a pivot mechanism for pivoting the seat back and the structural skin substantially supports loads imposed on the semi-monocoque seat back.

14. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 13 , wherein the structural skin comprises a composite.

15. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 13 , wherein the internal baffle comprises a unitary component with (i) an upper portion at least partially disposed adjacent to a headrest area of the semi-monocoque seat back and (ii) a lower portion disposed between the upper portion and a pivot axis of the semi-monocoque seat back.

16. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 13 , wherein:
the internal baffle is attached to both a forward panel of the structural skin and to an aft panel of the structural skin;
the internal baffle is stationary; and
the internal baffle does not attach to a frame structure of the semi-monocoque seat back.

17. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 13 , wherein the internal baffle comprises an outer flange in a forward or aft direction.

18. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 13 , further comprising a foam fill within at least a portion of the substantially enclosed volume, wherein the semi-monocoque seat back does not include a frame structure.

19. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 13 , further comprising at least one integrated armrest mounting point.

20. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the aft panel comprises an outer flange extending in a forward direction that forms the aft concave face.

21. The semi-monocoque seat back of claim 1 , wherein the forward panel comprises an outer flange extending in an aft direction that forms the forward concave face.

22. A semi-monocoque seat back comprising:
a forward panel;
an aft panel; and
a one-piece internal baffle disposed between and completely supported by the forward panel and the aft panel, wherein:
the forward panel and the aft panel substantially enclose a volume;
an entirety of the internal baffle is disposed within the volume;
the internal baffle comprises at least one from the group of an integrated monitor surround and an integrated stowage pocket; and
the internal baffle comprises an outer flange defining an opening facing in a forward or aft direction.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Le Nguyen Tien Phuc
• Mansouri Reza
• Parker C Michael
• Sikorski Jeffrey L

Classifications

• B64D11/0649

  Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight · CPC title

• B60N3/004

  of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/643 Primary

  shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B60N2/682

  Joining means · CPC title