Monocoque and semi-monocoque passenger seats with ergonomic design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11654807-B2
Application number	US-201916560477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2019
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

Described are ergonomic passenger seats that may include monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs, cellular suspension cushions, and tray tables with support arms that may be located within the interior volume of the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat backs when in their stowed positions. The passenger seats offer enhanced passenger comfort and space while providing a lightweight, simple to manufacture design. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may form integral parts of passenger seats to support additional loads without need for heavy, complex structures. The space within the monocoque or semi-monocoque seat back may then be used for storage or suspension cushions that offer improved comfort with a lighter seat frame. Monocoque and semi-monocoque seat backs may also facilitate the adoption of several other seating mechanisms, such as new seat mounts that allow for improved seat motion that allows for passenger recline with reduced impingement on other passengers' space.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An aircraft seat configured to have an upright position and a reclined position, the aircraft seat comprising:
a seat pan; and
at least one spreader coupled to the seat pan, wherein the at least one spreader comprises:
a forward track having a first end and a second end and positioned at a forward portion surface of the at least one spreader, wherein the forward track is continuously slanted forwardly and upwardly between the first end of the forward track and the second end of the forward track;
an aft track aft of the forward track, the aft track having a first end and a second end and positioned at a rearward portion surface of the at least one spreader, wherein the aft track is continuously slanted forwardly and downwardly between the first end of the aft track and the second end of the aft track;
at least one aperture configured to receive a seat tube of the aircraft seat; and
a seat belt attachment point;
wherein each track is positioned forward of a rear surface of a seat back of the aircraft seat and arranged so that the first end of the forward track is a portion of the forward track most proximate to the rear surface and the first end of the aft track is a portion of the aft track most proximate to the rear surface,
wherein the at least one aperture is spaced away from each track,
wherein a floor of an aircraft is defined as a horizontal reference plane, the first end of the forward track and the second end of the forward track are at a vertical position above a vertical position of the second end of the aft track,
wherein the second end of the forward track is configured to be positioned at a vertical position above a vertical position of the seat belt attachment point, and
wherein repeated movement of the aircraft seat between the upright position and the reclined position causes a rocking motion of the aircraft seat such that a position of the seat back is fixed relative to a position of the seat pan during the rocking motion.

2. The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spreader does not provide additional structure above the seat pan.

3. The aircraft seat of claim 1 , further comprising a forward sliding member that slides within the forward track and an aft sliding member that slides within the aft track.

4. The aircraft seat of claim 3 , wherein when the forward sliding member slides within the forward track and the aft sliding member slides within the aft track, the aircraft seat is moved between the upright position and the reclined position.

5. The aircraft seat of claim 4 , wherein in the reclined position, the aircraft seat is displaced downward and forward with respect to the upright position.

6. A low rise spreader for a passenger seat having a seat pan and a seat back, the low rise spreader comprising:
a forward end;
an aft end;
a first track between the forward end and the aft end, the first track comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first track is continuously slanted forwardly and upwardly between the first end of the first track and the second end of the first track;
a second track between the forward end and the aft end and between the first track and the aft end, the second track comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the second track is continuously slanted forwardly and downwardly between the first end of the second track and the second end of the second track;
at least one aperture configured for coupling the low rise spreader to a seat tube,
wherein the at least one aperture is spaced away from each track; and

a seat belt attachment point;
wherein a floor of an aircraft is defined as a horizontal reference plane, the first end of the first track and the second end of the first track are at a vertical position above a vertical position of the second end of the second track,
wherein, for each of the first track and the second track, the first end is a portion of the track most proximate to the aft end,
wherein the low rise spreader is a unitary piece such that the first track, the second track, and the at least one aperture are integrally formed within the low rise spreader, and
wherein the second end of the first track is configured to be positioned at a vertical position above a vertical position of the seat belt attachment point relative to the floor of the aircraft.

7. The low rise spreader of claim 6 , wherein the low rise spreader is coupled to the seat tube of the passenger seat via the at least one aperture.

8. The low rise spreader of claim 6 , wherein the passenger seat further comprises a first sliding member and a second sliding member, wherein the first sliding member slides within the first track and the second sliding member slides within the second track to provide the rocking motion.

9. The low rise spreader of claim 8 , wherein during the rocking motion, the passenger seat is displaced downward and forward into a reclined position.

10. An aircraft seat comprising:
a seat pan;
a single piece spreader coupled to the seat pan, wherein the single piece spreader comprises:
a forward end;
an aft end;
a first track between the forward end and the aft end, the first track comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first track is continuously slanted forwardly and upwardly between the first end of the first track and the second end of the first track;
a second track having a first end and a second end; the second track being between the first track and the aft end, wherein the second track is continuously slanted forwardly and downwardly between the first end of the second track and the second end of the second track; and
a seat belt attachment point,
wherein a floor of an aircraft is defined as a horizontal reference plane, the first end of the first track and the second end of the first track are at a vertical position above a vertical position of the second end of the second track,
wherein, for each of the first track and the second track, the first end is more proximate to the aft end of the single piece spreader than the second end,
wherein the first track is configured to receive a first sliding member and the second track is configured to receive a second sliding member such that the first sliding member is slidable within the first track and the second sliding member is slidable within the second track, and
wherein the second end of the first track is configured to be positioned at a vertical position above a vertical position of the seat belt attachment point relative to the floor of the aircraft.

11. The aircraft seat of claim 10 , wherein the single piece spreader further comprises at least one aperture, wherein the single piece spreader is coupled to a seat tube via the at least one aperture.

12. The aircraft seat of claim 10 , wherein the single piece spreader does not provide additional structure above the seat pan.

13. The aircraft seat of claim 10 , wherein the aircraft seat comprises an upright position and a reclined position, and wherein in the reclined position, the aircraft seat is displaced downward and forward with respect to the upright position.

14. The aircraft seat of claim 10 , wherein the first track and the second track are disposed on an inside surface of the single piece spreader.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Le Nguyen Tien Phuc
• Mansouri Reza
• Parker C Michael
• Sikorski Jeffrey L

Classifications

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title

• B60N2/80

  Head-rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0649

  Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight · CPC title

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B60N2/64

  Back-rests {or cushions (B60N2/2222 takes precedence)} · CPC title