Passenger seat privacy headrest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494101-B2
Application number	US-201715684843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2017
Priority date	Aug 23, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, a privacy headrest assembly is configured to provide privacy to a passenger in an aircraft passenger seat, including a headrest mount portion having at least one attachment assembly configured to secure the privacy headrest assembly to at least one of a headrest and a seat frame of the passenger seat, and a privacy extension portion including a privacy shield slideably connected to at least one shell member, where the privacy shield is configured to deploy in a forward direction from a stowed position to an operational position, where, in the stowed position, the privacy shield is substantially enclosed within the at least one shell member, and, in the operational position, the privacy shield is disposed between a head of a passenger of the passenger seat and a head of another passenger in an adjacent passenger seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A privacy headrest assembly configured to provide privacy to a passenger seat, the privacy headrest assembly comprising:
a laterally extending mount portion positionable between a forward-facing side of an upper portion of a seat frame and a rearward-facing side of a headrest forward of the seat frame;
an attachment assembly connected to a rearward side of the laterally extending mount portion, the attachment assembly attachable to a complementing mounting bracket secured to the forward facing side of the upper portion of the seat frame;
a privacy extension portion connected to a lateral end of the mount portion and extending forward therefrom for extending forward beyond a forward-facing side of the headrest, the privacy extension portion including a first shell and a second shell;
a privacy shield slideably connected to the privacy extension portion to deploy in a forward direction from a stowed position to an operational position, wherein:
in the stowed position, the privacy shield is substantially enclosed within the privacy extension portion between the first shell and the second shell; and
in the operational position, at least a portion of the privacy shield is disposed forward of the privacy extension portion.

2. The privacy headrest assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a track by which the privacy shield is slideably connected to the privacy extension portion, wherein the track includes a horizontal rail positioned along the privacy extension portion and configured to support and guide the privacy shield.

3. The privacy headrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the privacy shield is rigidly formed.

4. The privacy headrest assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a connecting portion connecting the headrest mount portion to the privacy extension portion.

5. The privacy headrest assembly of claim 4 , wherein, in the stowed position, the privacy shield is disposed in part in a portion of the connecting portion.

6. An aircraft passenger seat, comprising:
a seat frame having a forward side;
a mounting bracket secured to the forward side of the seat frame;
a headrest mounted on the seat frame; and
a privacy headrest extension assembly comprising: a mount portion having a rearward side and an attachment assembly connected to the rearward side, the attachment assembly attached to the mounting bracket such that the mount portion is positioned at least partially between the forward side of the seat frame and the head rest, the mount portion extending laterally from at least one lateral side of the headrest, a privacy extension portion connected to a lateral end of the mount portion and extending forward therefrom beyond a forward side of the headrest, the privacy extension portion including a first shell and a second shell, and a privacy shield slideably connected to the privacy extension portion to deploy in a forward direction from a stowed position to an operational position,
wherein:
in the stowed position, the privacy shield is substantially enclosed within the privacy extension portion between the first shell and the second shell; and
in the operational position, at least a portion of the privacy shield is disposed forward of the privacy extension portion.

7. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the privacy extension portion extends in part substantially perpendicular from a lateral axis of the headrest, wherein at least one of the privacy extension portion a and a portion of the privacy shield comprises a padded surface, and wherein the privacy headrest extension assembly is configured to support up to 15 pounds of static load.

8. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 7 , wherein:
a connection portion of the privacy headrest extension assembly connects the mount portion to the privacy extension portion;
the connection portion extends in part substantially in line with the lateral axis of the headrest and curves around to a perpendicularly-extending portion; and
at least a portion of the privacy shield is flexible such that the portion of the privacy shield is configured to stow within a curved portion of the connection portion.

9. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the privacy headrest extension assembly comprises a reading light.

10. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the attachment assembly is releasably attached to the mounting bracket.

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Wilson Cody
• Poole David
• Kreitz Iii Michael
• Liptrap John

Classifications

• B60N2/809

  vertically slidable · CPC title

• B64D11/0642 Primary

  Adjustable headrests · CPC title

• B64D11/0646

  Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests · CPC title

• B60N2/885 Primary

  provided with side-rests · CPC title

• B60N2/879

  with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers · CPC title