Separable multiple-piece frame assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11383845-B2
Application number	US-201816970940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2018
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

A separable multiple-piece frame assembly (100) for a passenger seat of a vehicle includes a first spreader portion (101) with an inner face, a second spreader portion (201) with an inner face, a plurality of attachments (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) for releasably attaching the first spreader portion (101) and the second spreader portion (201), and an attached configuration. In the attached configuration, the inner face of the first spreader portion and the inner face of the second spreader portion are in contact with one another.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A separable multiple-piece frame assembly for a passenger seat of a vehicle, the separable multiple-piece frame assembly comprising:
a first spreader portion with a first face;
a second spreader portion with a second face;
a plurality of attachments for releasably attaching the first spreader portion and the second spreader portion;
an attached configuration, wherein the first face of the first spreader portion and the second face of the second spreader portion are in contact with one another; and
an armrest assembly comprising a single armrest having a fitting that is sandwiched between the first spreader portion and the second spreader portion in the attached configuration.

2. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attachments comprise at least one of fasteners and clamps.

3. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
a first portion of a forward lateral member extends from the first spreader portion in a direction opposite from the first face of the first spreader portion; and
a second portion of the forward lateral member extends from the second spreader portion in a direction opposite from the second face of the second spreader portion.

4. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
a first portion of an aft lateral member extends from the first spreader portion in a direction opposite from the first face of the first spreader portion; and
a second portion of the aft lateral member extends from the second spreader portion in a direction opposite from the second face of the second spreader portion.

5. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a forward coupler, wherein, in the attached configuration, the forward coupler extends between (i) an interface of the first portion of the forward lateral member and the first spreader portion and (ii) an interface of the second portion of the forward lateral member and the second spreader portion; and
an aft coupler, wherein, in the attached configuration, the aft coupler extends between (i) an interface of the first portion of the aft lateral member and the first spreader portion and (ii) an interface of the second portion of the aft lateral member and the second spreader portion.

6. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 5 , wherein the forward coupler comprises:
a hollow cylindrical member that is disposed within the forward lateral member; and
a fastener for securing the forward coupler relative to the first spreader portion passes through a full diameter of the forward coupler and a full diameter of the forward lateral member.

7. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first spreader portion comprises a seat pan portion and a seat back portion; and
the second spreader portion comprises a seat pan portion and a seat back portion.

8. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of attachments comprise:
at least two seat pan fasteners attaching the seat pan portion of the first spreader portion to the seat pan portion of the second spreader portion; and
at least two seat back fasteners attaching the seat back portion of the first spreader portion to the seat back portion of the second spreader portion.

9. The separable multiple-piece frame assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least two seat pan fasteners comprise at least one of (i) a fastener located under an interface with a forward lateral member and (ii) a fastener located under an interface with an aft lateral member.

10. A passenger seat comprising:
a separable multiple-piece frame assembly comprising (i) a first spreader portion with a first face and (ii) a second spreader portion with a second face;
a forward lateral member comprising:
a first portion attached to the first spreader portion and extending away from the first spreader portion in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first face of the first spreader portion; and
a second portion attached to the second spreader portion and extending away from the second spreader portion in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the second face of the second spreader portion;

an aft lateral member comprising:
a first portion attached to the first spreader portion and extending away from the first spreader portion in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first face of the first spreader portion; and
a second portion attached to the second spreader portion and extending away from the second spreader portion in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the second face of the second spreader portion, wherein:
the separable multiple-piece frame assembly comprises provisions for removably attaching the first spreader portion and the second spreader portion;
the separable multiple-piece frame assembly comprises an attached configuration, wherein the first face of the first spreader portion and the second face of the second spreader portion are in contact with one another; and

an armrest assembly comprising a single armrest having a fitting that is sandwiched between the first spreader portion and the second spreader portion in the attached configuration.

11. The passenger seat of claim 10 , wherein the separable multiple-piece frame assembly comprises a plurality of attachments for releasably attaching the first spreader portion and the second spreader portion.

12. The passenger seat of claim 10 , further comprising:
a forward coupler, wherein, in the attached configuration, the forward coupler extends between (i) an interface of the first portion of the forward lateral member and the first spreader portion and (ii) an interface of the second portion of the forward lateral member and the second spreader portion; and
an aft coupler, wherein, in the attached configuration, the aft coupler extends between (i) an interface of the first portion of the aft lateral member and the first spreader portion and (ii) an interface of the second portion of the aft lateral member and the second spreader portion.

13. The passenger seat of claim 12 , wherein the forward coupler comprises:
a hollow cylindrical member that is disposed within the forward lateral member; and
a fastener for securing the forward coupler relative to the first spreader portion passes through a full diameter of the forward coupler and a full diameter of the forward lateral member.

14. The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein:
the first spreader portion comprises a seat pan portion and a seat back portion; and
the second spreader portion comprises a seat pan portion and a seat back portion.

15. The passenger seat of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of attachments comprise:
at least two seat pan fasteners attaching the seat pan portion of the first spreader portion to the seat pan portion of the second spreader portion; and
at least two seat back fasteners attaching the seat back portion of the first spreader portion to the seat back portion of the second spreader portion.

16. The passenger seat of claim 15 , wherein the at least two seat pan fasteners comprise at least one of (i) a fastener located under an interface with the forward lateral member and (ii) a fastener located under an interface with the aft lateral member.

17. A method of assembling a passenger seat comprising:
providing a separable multiple-piece frame assembly comprising a first spreader portion with a first face and a second spreader portion with a second face;
attaching a fi

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Sikorski Jeffrey L
• Waters Kevin M
• Stewart Christopher D
• Augot Delphine F

Classifications

• B64D11/0693 Primary

  Width modification of seat assemblies, e.g. for class modification · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0648 Primary

  Lower frame constructions · CPC title

• B60R2011/0014

  Arm-rests · CPC title