Kit of parts for assembling an aircraft seat unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11498683-B2
Application number	US-201916714672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2019
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

The invention provides a kit of parts for assembling an aircraft seat unit, comprising a frame with a slot, a panel for forming a shell of the aircraft seat unit and defining a footprint of the aircraft seat unit, having a first end and a second opposite end, the first end configured to be slid in and out of the frame slot to provide a variable dimension from the frame to second opposite end of the panel, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the panel within the frame slot, in a configuration providing a desired value of aircraft seat unit variable dimension. The invention also provides a plurality of such kits of parts, an aircraft seat unit and an aircraft cabin comprising a plurality of such aircraft seat units or made from such kit of parts, and methods of installing an aircraft seat unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A kit of parts for assembling an aircraft seat unit, the kit of parts comprising:
a frame provided with a slot, wherein the slot has a depth configurable to extend from a first lateral position to a second lateral position,
a panel for forming at least part of a shell of the aircraft seat unit and at least partially defining a footprint of the shell of the aircraft seat unit, the shell being independent from a seat back of a seat of the aircraft seat unit, the panel having a first end and a second opposite end, the first end being configured to be slid in and out of the frame slot so as to provide a variable width from the frame to the second opposite end of the panel, such that the footprint of the shell of the aircraft seat unit has a variable width, and
a fixing mechanism for fixing the panel within the frame slot, in a configuration providing a desired value of the aircraft seat unit variable width.

2. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an interior width of the frame slot is wider than an exterior thickness of the first end of the panel.

3. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the interior width of the frame slot is wider than the exterior thickness of the first end of the panel by 1 to 10 mm.

4. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame slot has a depth between 25 mm and 300 mm.

5. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame slot has a depth configurable to extend from a first height to a second height, so that the panel can be slid in and out of the frame slot so as provide a variable height of aircraft seat unit from the frame to the second opposite end of the panel.

6. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fixing mechanism is configurable to fix the panel at a plurality of locations within the frame slot.

7. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the kit of parts further comprises a seat, for being provided within the footprint of the aircraft seat unit.

8. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the kit of parts further comprises a piece of furniture, such as a side console, for being provided within the footprint of the aircraft seat unit.

9. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the footprint of the aircraft seat unit, at least partially defined by the panel, is substantially rectangular.

10. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the kit of parts is for assembling two adjacent first and second aircraft seat units, wherein:
the panel is for forming at least part of a shell of a first aircraft seat unit and at least partially defining a footprint of the first aircraft seat unit, the kit of parts further comprises a second panel forming at least part of a shell of a second aircraft seat unit and at least partially defining a footprint of the second aircraft seat unit,
the frame is provided with two slots, wherein a first end of the first panel is configured to be slid in and out of the first frame slot so as to provide a variable width from the frame to the second opposite end of the first panel, such that the footprint of a first aircraft seat unit has a variable width, and wherein a first end of the second panel is configured to be slid in and out of the second frame slot so as to provide a variable width from the frame to the second opposite end of the second panel, such that the second aircraft seat unit has a variable width,
the fixing mechanism is for fixing the first panel and the frame together in a configuration providing a desired value of the first aircraft seat unit variable width, and wherein the kit of parts further comprises a second fixing mechanism for fixing the second panel and the frame together in a configuration providing a desired value of the second aircraft seat unit variable width.

11. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the frame has a first portion providing the first slot and a second portion providing the second slot, and wherein the first and second portions are co-planar.

12. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the frame has a first portion providing the first slot and a second portion providing the second slot, and wherein the first and second portions are mounted at an angle to each other.

13. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first or second fixing mechanism comprises an insert member extending at least partially through both the frame and panel.

14. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and/or second panel comprises a sandwich structure of a honeycomb core structure and one or more skins.

15. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the kit of parts is for assembling a business class aircraft seat unit or a first class aircraft seat unit.

16. A plurality of kits of parts as claimed in claim 1 , for providing an aircraft cabin comprising a number of aircraft seat units.

17. An aircraft seat unit comprising a shell at least partially defining a footprint of the shell of the aircraft seat unit, the shell being independent from a seat back of a seat of the aircraft seat unit, and the shell comprising:
a frame provided with a slot with a given depth, wherein the depth configurable to extend from a first lateral position to a second lateral position,
a panel having a first end and a second opposite end, the first end being inserted in the frame slot such that the first end is provided only partway along the depth of the slot, wherein a depth of insertion of the first end determines a width of the footprint of the shell of the aircraft seat unit, and
a fixing mechanism fixing the first end relative to the frame.

18. An aircraft cabin comprising a plurality of aircraft seat units that are according to claim 17 .

19. An aircraft cabin according to claim 18 , wherein, in a row of aircraft seat units, two adjacent aircraft seat units of the row are made from a kit of parts.

20. A method of installing an aircraft seat unit, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a kit of parts according to claim 1 , and
fixing the frame and panel together in the configuration providing the desired value of the aircraft seat unit variable width.

21. A method of installing an aircraft seat unit, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a frame provided with a slot, wherein the slot has a depth configurable to extend from a first lateral position to a second lateral position,
providing a panel for forming at least part of a shell of the aircraft seat unit and at least partially defining a footprint of the shell of the aircraft seat unit, the shell being independent from a seat back of a seat of the aircraft seat unit, and the panel having a first end and a second opposite end, the first end being configured to be slid in and out of the frame slot so as to provide a variable width from the frame to the second opposite end of the panel, such that the footprint of the shell of the aircraft seat unit has a variable width,
providing a fixing mechanism for fixing the panel and the frame,
choosing a desired value of the aircraft seat unit variable width, and
fixing the frame and panel together in a configuration providing that desired value.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Gb Ltd

Inventors

• Wills Paul
• Woodington James

Classifications

• B64D11/0693

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

• B64D11/0601 Primary

  Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight · CPC title

• B64D11/0602 Primary

  Seat modules, i.e. seat systems including furniture separate from the seat itself · CPC title

• B60N2/02

  the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable (adjustable arm-rests B60N2/75; adjustable head-rests B60N2/806) · CPC title

• B64D2011/0046

  Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures · CPC title