Modular seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10787262-B2
Application number	US-201816055339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2018
Priority date	Sep 5, 2017
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular seat for aircraft. The system has a frame that is able to be interconnected with other frames laterally. Since each lateral frame has the same pivot points (when viewed from the side), the linked seats rotate together. The seats also include buckle lugs which enable a particular seat to be used on either side of the aircraft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a first seat frame and a second seat frame each including: (i) a base which is configured to be selectively securable to an aircraft floor, (ii) a translatable seat portion supported by the base, and (iii) a back portion;
a removable common linking member spanning across to secure the translatable seat portions together;
the translatable seat portions and back portions for each of the first and second frames being configured to move together between a first mode and a second mode upon the administration of a force applied to only the translatable seat portion of the first frame, the linking member causing the second translatable seat portion to move in concert with the first translatable seat portion when transitioning between the first and second modes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the common linking member is secured across the front of each of the translatable seat portions for the first and second frames.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the common linking member is a bar that is receivable into receptacles formed into each of the first and second translatable seat portions, the bar, when secured, causing the seat portions to solely connect the first and second frame members.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the first translatable seat portion includes a release system comprising:
a handle mechanically connected to a pin, actuation of the handle resulting in the pin being unseated from an aperture created in the first seat base enabling a forward translation of the first translatable seat portion.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first and second seat portions each have a glide-guiding arrangement comprising front and rear glide tracks created between the first and second seat portions and first and second frames respectively, the glide-guiding arrangement terminating forward movement of the first and second seat portions using one of a forward track end and a rear track end.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the seat backs of each of the first and second frame members comprise:
an upper pair of laterally opposed seat-back beams interconnected by some transversely-extending members;
a lower pair of laterally opposed seat-back beams interconnected by other transversely-extending members, a lower portion of each of the lower beams being pivotally connected to a rear portion of the translatable seat portion;
a first pair of laterally opposed arms together presenting: (i) a first pivot point at a back upper fixed point on the chair base; (ii) a second pivot point near a middle area of each lower beam; and (iii) a third pivot point at a lower portion of the upper beams; and
a second pair of laterally opposed arms creating a lower pivot point at an upper portion of each of the lower beam members, and an upper pivot point on the upper beam at a location that is above the third pivot point created by the first pair of laterally opposed arms.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mode enables the first and second frames to support one or more cushions in a seating position, and the second mode enables the first and second frames to support the one or more cushions such that they present a substantially horizontal resting surface for a bed.

8. A seat for aircraft, the seat comprising:
a frame removably attachable to from a floor of the aircraft;
a first set of seat belt lugs on the frame, each including an aperture, the apertures configured to receive the pins of a set of seat belts;
a second set of seat belt lugs on the frame, each including an aperture for receiving the set of seat belts;
the first set of seat belt lugs being acutely angled in a first direction accommodating the use of the set of seat belts when the seat is installed on a first side of the aircraft, and the second set of seat belt lugs being acutely angled in a second direction accommodating the set of seat belts when the seat is installed on a second side of the aircraft.

9. The seat of claim 8 wherein the seat is transformable between a first upright mode and a second collapsed bed mode.

10. A system for supporting an aircraft occupant, the system including a first frame, the first frame being convertible from an upright seat mode into a bed mode, the frame comprising:
a base which is configured to be secured to an aircraft floor;
a translatable seat portion configured to be moved in and out; and
a seat back including upper and lower portions, the seat back being mechanically connected to the translatable seat portion, the upper and lower portions being configured to rotate together on a plurality of hinge points thus collapsing to level the seat back when the translatable seat portion is moved out.

11. The system of claim 10 comprising:
a linking member which, when installed, spans between and connects the frame to a second frame, the second frame being substantially structurally and functionally the same as the first frame.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second frames are both actuated by a release system coupled with an administration of a force applied to the translatable seat portion of one of the first and second frames.

13. The system of claim 12 , and the linking member, after actuating the release system, causes the second frame to move in concert with the first frame when transitioning between the seat and bed modes.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of hinge points of the first frame are substantially axially in line with the plurality of hinge points of the second frame, allowing the first frame and second frame to move together when transitioning between the seat and bed modes.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein:
the upper portion of the seat back includes an upper pair of laterally opposed seat-back beams interconnected by some transversely-extending members;
the lower portion of the seat back includes a lower pair of laterally opposed seat-back beams interconnected by other transversely-extending members, a lower portion of each of the lower beams being pivotally connected to a rear portion of the translatable seat portion;
a first pair of laterally opposed arms together presenting: (i) a first pivot point at a back upper fixed point on the chair base; (ii) a second pivot point near a middle area of each lower beam; and (iii) a third pivot point at a lower portion of the upper beams; and
a second pair of laterally opposed arms creating a lower pivot point at an upper portion of each of the lower beam members, and an upper pivot point on the upper beam at a location above the third pivot point created by the first pair of laterally opposed arms.

16. The system of claim 10 , the frame configured to, when introduced into bed mode, support a cushion arrangement such that a substantially horizontal resting area is presented.

Assignees

• Textron Aviation Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Ward Barry John

Classifications

• A47C17/34

  Joining seats, chairs, or couches to form beds · CPC title

• B64D11/0648 Primary

  Lower frame constructions · CPC title

• A47C17/1756

  by pivoted linkages · CPC title

• B64D11/0641 Primary

  Seats convertible into beds · CPC title

• B64D11/0639

  with features for adjustment or converting of seats · CPC title