Modular leg assembly for passenger seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11584274-B1
Application number	US-202117467006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 3, 2021
Priority date	Sep 3, 2021
Publication date	Feb 21, 2023
Grant date	Feb 21, 2023

Abstract

Described are modular leg assemblies for passenger seats. The modular leg assemblies can include a universal first leg member, a universal second leg member, a size specific member, and a universal seat frame tube receptor. The universal first leg member may be coupled to a first seat track fitting. The universal second leg member may be coupled to a second seat track fitting. The size specific member may be coupled to the universal first leg member and to the universal second leg member. At least one of the universal second leg member or the universal seat frame tube receptor can include a set of attachment points for coupling the universal seat frame tube receptor to the universal second leg member.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A modular leg assembly for a passenger seat, the modular leg assembly comprising:
a universal first leg member couplable to a first seat track fitting;
a universal second leg member couplable to a second seat track fitting;
a size specific member couplable to the universal first leg member and the universal second leg member; and
a universal seat frame tube receptor, wherein at least one of the universal second leg member or the universal seat frame tube receptor comprises a plurality of attachment points for coupling the universal seat frame tube receptor to the universal second leg member;
wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is configured to be used for a plurality of distances between the universal first leg member and the universal second leg member.

2. The modular leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is couplable to the universal second leg member via at least one of the plurality of attachment points using at least one of a fastener or a rotary joint.

3. The modular leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attachment points enable the modular leg assembly to be used for a plurality of distances between the first seat track fitting and the second seat track fitting.

4. The modular leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein the universal first leg member is couplable to a first seat tube, and the universal seat frame tube receptor is couplable to a second seat tube.

5. The modular leg assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of attachment points enable the modular leg assembly to be used for a plurality of distances between the first seat track fitting and the second seat track fitting while maintaining a set distance between the first seat tube and the second seat tube.

6. The modular leg assembly of claim 4 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is rotatable about the second seat tube when coupled to the second seat tube.

7. The modular leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor forms an energy absorber for the modular leg assembly.

8. The modular leg assembly of claim 7 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is formed of H1150 steel to increase an energy absorption of the universal seat frame tube receptor.

9. The modular leg assembly of claim 1 , wherein the size specific member is replaceable with a second size specific member couplable to the universal first leg member and the universal second leg member.

10. A method of assembling a modular leg assembly comprising a universal first leg member, a universal second leg member, a size specific member, and a universal seat frame tube receptor, wherein at least one of the universal second leg member or the universal seat frame tube receptor comprises a plurality of attachment points, the method comprising:
coupling the universal first leg member to a first seat track fitting;
coupling the universal second leg member to a second seat track fitting;
coupling the size specific member to the universal first leg member and the universal second leg member;
coupling the universal seat frame tube receptor to the universal second leg member via at least one of the plurality of attachment points; and
determining which of the at least one of the plurality of attachment points to couple the universal seat frame tube receptor to the universal second leg member at based on a distance between the first seat track fitting and the second seat track fitting.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling the universal seat frame tube receptor to the universal second leg member via at least one of the plurality of attachment points using at least one of a fastener or a rotary joint.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling the universal first leg member to a first seat tube, and coupling the universal seat frame tube receptor to a second seat tube.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of attachment points enable the modular leg assembly to be used for a plurality of distances between the first seat track fitting and the second seat track fitting while maintaining a set distance between the first seat tube and the second seat tube.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor forms an energy absorber for the modular leg assembly.

15. A passenger seat comprising a modular leg assembly comprising:
a universal first leg member couplable to a first seat track fitting;
a universal second leg member couplable to a second seat track fitting;
a size specific member couplable to the universal first leg member and the universal second leg member; and
a universal seat frame tube receptor, wherein at least one of the universal second leg member or the universal seat frame tube receptor comprises a plurality of attachment points for coupling the universal seat frame tube receptor to the universal second leg member;
wherein the universal first leg member is couplable to a first seat tube, the universal seat frame tube receptor is couplable to a second seat tube, and the universal seat frame tube receptor is configured to be used for a plurality of distances between the first seat track fitting and the second seat track fitting while maintaining a set distance between the first seat tube and the second seat tube.

16. The passenger seat of claim 15 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is couplable to the universal second leg member via at least one of the plurality of attachment points using at least one of a fastener or a rotary joint.

17. The passenger seat of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of attachment points enable the modular leg assembly to be used for a plurality of distances between the first seat track fitting and the second seat track fitting.

18. The passenger seat of claim 15 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor forms an energy absorber for the modular leg assembly.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is formed of H1150 steel to increase an energy absorption of the universal seat frame tube receptor.

20. The passenger seat of claim 18 , wherein the universal seat frame tube receptor is formed of H1150 steel to increase an energy absorption of the universal seat frame tube receptor.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc
• Safran Seats USA LL C

Inventors

• Mansouri Reza

Classifications

• B64D11/0696

  Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails · CPC title

• B60N2/42

  the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats (for protecting children B60N2/26; arm-rests B60N2/75; head-rests B60N2/888) · CPC title

• B60N2/682 Primary

  Joining means · CPC title

• B60N2/005

  Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04}) · CPC title

• B64D11/0619

  with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash · CPC title