Passenger seat having side sleep support assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683093-B2
Application number	US-201715716693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2017
Priority date	Oct 19, 2016
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

An aircraft passenger seat configured to facilitate ergonomic alignment of a passenger while in a sleeping position, including a seat bottom; and a seatback including a central opening corresponding to a shoulder region of a passenger, and a sleep support assembly mounted within the central opening, the sleep support assembly including an adjustable support member spanning a central portion of the seatback, where the adjustable support member is configured for at least one of translation and deformation; where, when the seat bottom is aligned with the seatback in a lie-flat seating position, a load provided by the shoulder region of the passenger, at least in a side-sleeping position, causes translation and/or deformation of the adjustable support member toward a floor of an aircraft cabin, thereby facilitating ergonomic alignment of the spine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft passenger seat configured to facilitate ergonomic alignment of an occupant, the aircraft passenger seat comprising:
a seat bottom; and
a seatback comprising:
a seatback frame;
a back portion at least partially surrounded by the seatback frame, the back portion defining a recess having two lateral sides, and the back portion including a respective edge at each of the two lateral sides of the recess; and
a sleep support assembly mounted to the back portion and spanning at least the recess, the sleep support assembly including:
an adjustable support member configured for at least one of translation and deformation;
at least one actuator configured to cause at least one of the translation and deformation of the adjustable support member; and
a controller configured to actuate the at least one actuator;

wherein, the seatback has at least an upright position in which the seatback is at angle to the seat bottom and a reclined position in which the seatback is aligned with the seat bottom, and wherein the controller, when the seatback moves to the reclined position, actuates the at least one actuator to cause the adjustable support member to at least one of translate and deform to receive a shoulder of a side lying occupant of the aircraft passenger seat at a great depth, thereby facilitating ergonomic spinal alignment.

2. The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support member comprises a diaphragm; and wherein the sleep support assembly further includes a plurality of fasteners attaching the diaphragm, at each of the two lateral sides of the recess, to a respective edge of the back portion, the plurality of fasteners applying tension to the diaphragm.

3. The passenger seat according to claim 2 , wherein the diaphragm is a fabric diaphragm.

4. The passenger seat according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to cause adjustment of one or more of the plurality of fasteners to cause the adjustable support member to at least one of translate and deform.

5. The passenger seat according to claim 4 , wherein:
the controller is configured to cause adjustment of at least one of the plurality of fasteners through signals issued to the at least one actuator; and
wherein, when the seatback is in the reclined position, the controller is configured to control at least one of shape and density of the sleep support assembly through actuation of the at least one actuator for supporting ergonomic alignment of a spine of an occupant of the aircraft passenger seat.

6. The passenger seat according to claim 5 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises: at least one pressure sensor configured to detect an amount of pressure an occupant is placing on one or more regions of the seatback; wherein the controller is configured to adjust the plurality of fasteners based on signals received from the at least one pressure sensor.

7. The passenger seat according to claim 6 , further comprising an adjustable headrest, wherein: the at least one pressure sensor comprises a headrest-mounted pressure sensor configured to detect an amount of pressure a head of an occupant is placing on the headrest; and the controller is configured to adjust the headrest based on signals received from the headrest-mounted pressure sensor.

8. The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises an inflatable bladder configured to inflate, thereby modifying a contour of at least one of the adjustable support member and a surface of the seatback.

9. The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises at least one support configured to support a spine of an occupant at the reclined position of the seatback.

10. The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support member comprises a panel connected to the seatback using a plurality of spring members, wherein, in the reclined position of the seatback, the plurality of spring members are configured to allow displacement of the panel toward a floor of an aircraft cabin.

11. The passenger seat according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of spring members comprise a plurality of adjustable shocks.

12. The passenger seat according to claim 1 , further comprising a cushion assembly disposed between a portion of a surface of the seatback and the sleep support assembly.

13. The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support member is generally rectangular in shape.

14. A system for facilitating ergonomic positioning of a passenger in a lie-flat position of a passenger seat, the system comprising:
a passenger seat comprising:
a seat bottom;
a seat back including:
a seatback frame;
a back portion at least partially surrounded by the seatback frame, the back portion defining a recess having two lateral sides, and the back portion including a respective edge at each of the two lateral sides of the recess; and
a sleep support assembly mounted to the back portion and spanning at least the recess, the sleep support assembly including:
an adjustable support member configured for at least one of translation and deformation:
 at least one actuator configured to cause at least one of the translation and deformation of the adjustable support member; and
 a controller configured to actuate the at least one actuator;
wherein, the seatback has at least an upright position in which the seatback is at an angle to the seat bottom and a reclined position in which the seatback is aligned with the seat bottom, and wherein the controller, when the seatback moves to the reclined position, actuates the at least one actuator to cause the adjustable support member to at least one of translate and deform to receive a shoulder of a side-lying occupant of the aircraft passenger seat at a great depth, thereby facilitating ergonomic spinal alignment.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller comprises circuitry configured to receive at least one of a user setting and sensor data; and
responsive to the at least one of the user setting and the sensor data, control the at least one actuator to adjust the adjustable support member.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the sleep support assembly comprises at least one pressure sensor configured to detect pressure an occupant applies to one or more regions of the seat back; and
receiving the at least one of the user setting and the sensor data comprises receiving signals from the at least one pressure sensor.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on the signals from the at least one pressure sensor, determine a position of an occupant,
wherein controlling the one or more actuators comprises adjusting at least one inflatable member to support ergonomic alignment of a spine of an occupant.

18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a user interface including a plurality of user-selectable controls, wherein each of the plurality of user-selectable controls are configured to cause actuation of a portion of the at least one actuator.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the adjustable support member comprises a fabric held in tension across the recess.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Udriste Daniel I
• Bunea Catalin
• Lawson Bobby W

Classifications

• B60N2/7011

  of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics · CPC title

• B64D11/0641 Primary

  Seats convertible into beds · CPC title

• B64D11/0647

  Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features · CPC title

• B60N2/643

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

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · CPC title