Seat assembly and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11478084-B2
Application number	US-202016983624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2020
Priority date	Aug 3, 2020
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A system may include a seat assembly. The seat assembly may include a seat base, a seat portion mounted to the seat base, and an armrest assembly configured to be in an up position or a down position. The armrest assembly may include a handle operable by a user to lock or unlock at least one functionality of at least one adjustable seat assembly feature. Operation of the handle may be configured at least to: unlock the at least one functionality of at least one adjustable seat assembly feature while locking the armrest assembly from moving between the up position and the down position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a seat assembly, comprising:
a seat base;
a seat portion mounted to the seat base; and
an armrest assembly configured to be in an up position or a down position, the armrest assembly comprising:
a handle operable by a user to lock or unlock at least one functionality of at least one adjustable seat assembly feature;
a top link;
a middle link;
a bottom link; and
a lock rod, the handle pivotably coupled to the top link, the middle link pivotably coupled to the top link and the seat portion, the bottom link pivotably coupled to the top link and the seat portion, the lock rod pivotably coupled to the middle link;

wherein operation of the handle is configured at least to: unlock the at least one functionality of the at least one adjustable seat assembly feature while locking the armrest assembly from moving between the up position and the down position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable seat assembly feature comprises at least one of an adjustable leg rest, an adjustable backrest, a track, or a swivel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat assembly is an aircraft seat assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a curved arm, wherein the armrest assembly further comprises a cable, wherein the cable is coupled to the handle and extends lengthwise along the middle link.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the armrest assembly further comprises a tensioner and a spring, the tensioner pivotably coupled to the middle link, the tensioner coupled to the cable and the spring, the spring coupled to the tensioner and the middle link, the tensioner configured to maintain a tension of the cable and to act as an armrest motion lock while unlocking the at least one functionality of the at least one adjustable seat assembly feature.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the middle link has a cable guide at one end, wherein the cable extends lengthwise along the middle link, around the cable guide, and to the tensioner.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the tensioner includes a toothed portion.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the armrest assembly further comprises an armrest attachment pin member extending from the middle link, wherein the armrest attachment pin member includes a corresponding toothed portion, the toothed portion of the tensioner configured to engage or disengage with the corresponding toothed portion based at least on an amount of an extension or a contraction of the spring.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tensioner prevents slack in the cable.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the bottom link includes a cam slot, wherein the lock rod includes a pin configured to move within the cam slot of the bottom link.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the cam slot includes two positions for the pin of the lock rod for locking or unlocking the armrest assembly in the up position or the down position.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the cam slot is heart-shaped.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the armrest assembly further comprises a shroud.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one adjustable seat assembly feature comprises a track and a swivel, wherein the seat base comprises the track and the swivel, wherein the seat assembly is an aircraft seat assembly.

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Sharpe Jason M
• Doughty Kyle D

Classifications

• B60N2/06

  slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) · CPC title

• F16C1/12

  Arrangements for transmitting movement to or from the flexible member · CPC title

• A47C7/541 Primary

  of adjustable type (adjustable arm-rests of reclining or easy chairs A47C1/03) · CPC title

• B60N2/767

  Angle adjustment · CPC title

• A47C3/18

  Chairs or stools with rotatable seat (adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24) · CPC title