Seat pan articulation mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850648-B2
Application number	US-201916364935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	Mar 26, 2019
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An articulation mechanism for coupling a pivoting backrest to a traveling seat pan frame includes a first link having a first end section attachable to a pivoting backrest, and a second end section connected to the first end section, the second end section having multiple holes. A second link has a first end section and a second end section connected together, the first end section of the second link having at least one hole aligned with one of the multiple holes of the second section of the first link, the second end section of the second link is pivotally attachable to a seat pan frame. A fastener pivotally attaches the second link to the first link via the at least one hole of the second link and the selected aligned one of the multiple holes of the second end section of the first link based on a hole combination chosen to achieve a predetermined ratio of backrest recline to seat pan travel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An articulation mechanism for coupling a pivoting backrest to a traveling seat pan frame, the mechanism comprising:
a first link having a first end section attachable to a pivoting backrest, and a second end section connected to the first end section, the second end section having multiple holes;
a second link having a first end section and a second end section connected together, the first end section of the second link having multiple holes, wherein one of the multiple holes of the first end section of the second link is alignable with one of the multiple holes of the second end section of the first link, the second end section of the second link pivotally attachable to a seat pan frame; and
a fastener pivotally attaching the second link to the first link via the one of the multiple holes of the first end section of the second link and the aligned one of the multiple holes of the second end section of the first link.

2. The articulation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the multiple holes of the second end section of the first link are spaced with increasing distance from the first end section of the first link.

3. The articulation mechanism of claim 2 , wherein, when the first end section of the first link is attached to a pivoting backrest, and the second end section of the second link is pivotally attached to a seat pan frame, each of the multiple holes of the first and second links, when the first and second links are pivotally attached, corresponds to a predetermined ratio of backrest recline to seat pan travel.

4. The articulation mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the second end section of the first link is linear.

5. The articulation mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the first link comprises a linear middle section by which the second end section of the first link is connected to the first end section of the first link; and wherein the second end section of the first link is connected to the middle section of the first link by a bend junction.

6. The articulation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the multiple holes in the first end section of the second link are spaced with increasing distance from a terminus of the first end section of the second link.

7. The articulation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first end section of the second link is linear.

8. The articulation mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the second link comprises a linear middle section by which the second end section of the second link is connected to the first end section of the second link; and wherein the second end section of the second link is connected to the middle section of the second link by a bend junction.

9. The articulation mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the second end section of the second link has a ring surrounding a hole for pivotally attaching the second link to a seat pan frame.

10. The articulation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second end section of the second link has a ring surrounding a hole for pivotally attaching the second link to a seat pan frame, the ring lying in a plane that is parallel to and offset from a plane in which the first end second of the second link extends.

11. A passenger seat assembly, comprising:
at least one stationary frame element;
a backrest pivotally attached to the at least one stationary frame element;
a seat pan frame movable relative to the at least one stationary frame element; and
an articulation mechanism coupling the seat pan frame to the backrest, the articulation mechanism comprising:
a first link having a first end section, a linear second end section, and a linear middle section connecting the first end section and the linear second end section, the first end section fixedly attached to the backrest, the linear second end section having multiple holes, and the linear second end section connected to the linear middle section by a bend junction; and
a second link pivotally attached to the seat pan frame and pivotally attachable to the first link by way of any one of the multiple holes,
wherein each of the multiple holes, when the first and second links are pivotally attached, corresponds to a predetermined ratio of backrest recline to seat pan travel.

12. The articulation mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the second link has one or more holes for pivotally attaching the second link to the first link.

13. The articulation mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the second link has a plurality of holes, the second link having a linear section along which the plurality of holes are spaced.

14. The articulation mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of holes are spaced along the linear section of the second link with increasing distance from a terminus of the second link.

15. The articulation mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the second link has a ring surrounding a hole for pivotally attaching the second link to a seat pan frame.

16. The articulation mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the second link has a first end section by which the second link is pivotally attachable to the first link, and wherein the ring is disposed in a plane that is parallel to and offset from a plane in which the first end section of the second link extends.

17. An articulation mechanism for coupling a pivoting backrest to a traveling seat pan frame, the mechanism comprising:
a first link having a first end section configured to attach to a pivoting backrest, and a second end section connected to the first end section, the second end section having at least one hole; and
a second link having a first end section having multiple holes and a second end section configured to pivotally attach to a seat pan frame,
wherein the at least one hole of the first link can align with any one of the multiple holes of the second link to pivotally attach the second link to the first link, and
wherein each particular one of the multiple holes of the second link corresponds to a particular predetermined ratio of backrest recline to seat pan frame travel.

18. The articulation mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the multiple holes of the second link are spaced with increasing distance from a terminus of the second link.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Finlay Travis K
• Wenger Brian P
• Kash James Stephen

Classifications

• B64D11/0639 Primary

  with features for adjustment or converting of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/0284

  Adjustable seat-cushion length (B60N2/0224 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/2209 Primary

  by longitudinal displacement of the cushion, e.g. back-rest hinged on the bottom to the cushion and linked on the top to the vehicle frame · CPC title

• B64D11/064 Primary

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/682

  Joining means · CPC title