Sleep systems for aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10899458-B2
Application number	US-201815985387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2018
Priority date	May 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

Sleep systems for aircraft are disclosed. An example sleep system includes a seat having a first headrest. A lateral sleep apparatus is positioned adjacent the seat. The lateral sleep apparatus includes a second headrest and a cradle coupled to the second headrest. The cradle includes a first attachment assembly and a second attachment assembly. The first attachment assembly is to couple the cradle to a support structure of a cabin of an aircraft and the second attachment assembly is to couple the cradle to the seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sleep system for use with aircraft comprising:
a seat including a first headrest; and
a lateral sleep apparatus positioned adjacent the seat, the lateral sleep apparatus including:
a second headrest; and
a cradle coupled to the second headrest, the cradle including a first attachment assembly and a second attachment assembly, the first attachment assembly to couple the cradle to a support structure of a cabin of an aircraft and the second attachment assembly to couple the cradle to the seat.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment assembly is to enable movement of the second headrest between a first lateral position and a second lateral position different than the first lateral position when the seat moves between an upright position and a reclined position.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first attachment assembly includes a track and a slider.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the track is to couple to the support structure and the slider is attached to the cradle, the track is to slidably receive the slider to enable the cradle to move relative to the support structure between a first end of the track and a second end of the track opposite the first end when the seat moves between the upright position and the reclined position.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second attachment assembly is to maintain an elevation of the second headrest relative the first headrest when the seat moves between the upright position and the reclined position.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second attachment assembly includes a track, a slider and a pivot.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the cradle includes a seat mounting interface to couple to the seat, the seat mounting interface including a slot to receive the track.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the slot has a longitudinal axis that is at an angle relative to vertical.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the track is to slidably receive the slider, the slider to move between a first end of the track and a second end of the track opposite the first end when the seat moves between the upright position and the reclined position.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the pivot is coupled to the slider, the pivot is to rotate relative to the slider between a first rotational position and a second rotational position when the seat moves between the upright position and the reclined position.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is at least one of a fuselage wall or a divider.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cradle includes a first portion offset relative to a second portion and a transition to couple the first portion and the second portion, the transition to engage a support ledge of the support structure.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lateral sleep apparatus includes an adjustor to enable movement of the second headrest relative to the cradle between a lowered position and an extended position.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is a divider having a plurality of panels, each panel defining a pocket, the lateral sleep apparatus to be positioned in the pocket of the panel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the pocket defines a support ledge to support the lateral sleep apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the cradle is to couple to the support ledge of the divider.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein a first portion of a first panel and a second portion of a second panel adjacent the first panel define the pocket.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first panel is positioned between the second panel and a third panel, and wherein the support ledge includes a track positioned a first partition formed between the first panel and the second panel and a second partition formed between the first panel and the third panel.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the divider is to divide a cabin in a first section defining a first plurality of seats and a second section defining a second plurality of seats, wherein a first pocket of a first panel is to orient toward the first section of the cabin and a second pocket of a second panel adjacent the first panel is to orient toward the second section opposite the first section.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure of the cabin includes a modular divider positionable in the cabin, the modular divider to divide the cabin into a first section and a second section, the modular divider defining pockets to be oriented toward at least one of the first section or the second section, the lateral sleep apparatus to couple to a support ledge formed by a corresponding pocket.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the first attachment assembly is to couple the cradle to the support ledge, the first attachment assembly including a first track and a first slider, the first track to couple to a channel of the support ledge and the slider to couple to a rear surface of the cradle such that the first slider engages the first track when the cradle is supported by the support ledge, and wherein the second attachment assembly to couple the cradle to the seat, the second attachment assembly including a second track, a second slider and a pivot, the second track to couple to a slot formed in a seat mounting interface of the cradle, the slider to couple to the second track and the pivot to couple to the slider, the pivot to attach to a side surface of the seat, the first attachment assembly and the second attachment assembly to enable the lateral sleep apparatus to translate relative to the support ledge when the seat moves between an upright position and a reclined position.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Aung Nyein Chan
• Armstrong Mark
• De Bono Arthur
• Napper Robbie

Classifications

• B64D11/0639 Primary

  with features for adjustment or converting of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0604 Primary

  including a bed, e.g. cocoon type passenger seat modules · CPC title

• B64D11/0606 Primary

  with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like (class dividers B64D11/0023) · CPC title

• B64D11/0642 Primary

  Adjustable headrests · CPC title

• B60N2205/30

  Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces · CPC title