Seat system with adaptively adjustable seating surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12030644-B2
Application number	US-202217657915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2022
Priority date	Apr 4, 2022
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A seat system includes a base support structure having at least one flat seat support surface, a seat pan support structure movably coupled to the base support structure and having at least one contoured seat support surface, and a back rest support structure movably coupled to the base support structure. The back rest support structure includes a primary frame having at least one flat back support surface, and an articulating frame movably coupled to the primary frame and having at least one contoured back support surface. The seat system also includes a back rest cushion having an occupant-facing back rest surface, and an articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members movably coupled together to define a bottom surface of the back rest cushion opposing the occupant-facing back rest surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat system comprising:
a base support structure comprising at least one flat seat support surface;
a seat pan support structure movably coupled to the base support structure, the seat pan support structure comprising at least one contoured seat support surface;
a seat cushion comprising:
an occupant-facing seat surface; and
an articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members movably coupled together to define a bottom surface of the seat cushion opposing the occupant-facing seat surface of the seat cushion; and

an electronically controlled actuation system that is activatable to adjust the seat system between an upright position and a flat position inclusive;
wherein the at least one contoured seat support surface supports the seat cushion when the seat system is in the upright position, such that the articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one contoured seat support surface; and
wherein the at least one flat seat support surface supports the seat cushion when the seat system is in the flat position, such that the articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one flat seat support surface.

2. The seat system of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronically controlled actuation system is activatable to adjust the seat system into a reclined position between the upright position and the flat position; and
the at least one contoured seat support surface supports the seat cushion when the seat system is in the reclined position, such that the articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one contoured seat support surface.

3. The seat system of claim 2 , further comprising a powered neck support component controlled to automatically move in concert with adjustment of the seat system into the reclined position.

4. The seat system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a leg rest support structure movably coupled to the base support structure; and
a leg cushion supported by the leg rest support structure.

5. The seat system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a back rest support structure movably coupled to the base support structure; and
a back rest cushion supported by the back rest support structure.

6. The seat system of claim 5 , wherein:
the back rest support structure comprises:
a primary frame comprising at least one flat back support surface; and
an articulating frame movably coupled to the primary frame, the articulating frame comprising at least one contoured back support surface;

the back rest cushion comprises:
an occupant-facing back rest surface; and
an articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members movably coupled together to define a bottom surface of the back rest cushion opposing the occupant-facing back rest surface;

the at least one contoured back support surface supports the back rest cushion when the seat system is in the upright position, such that the articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one contoured back support surface; and
the at least one flat back support surface supports the back rest cushion when the seat system is in the flat position, such that the articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one flat back support surface.

7. The seat system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an ottoman component controlled to automatically move in concert with adjustment of the seat system into the flat position.

8. The seat system of claim 1 , wherein:
when the seat system is adjusted into the upright position, the at least one contoured seat support surface causes a portion of the seat cushion to bulge such that the occupant-facing seat surface exhibits a convex side profile shape; and
when the seat system is adjusted into the flat position, the portion of the seat cushion flattens onto the at least one flat seat support surface such that the occupant-facing seat surface exhibits a nominally flat side profile shape.

9. The seat system of claim 1 , wherein:
the electronically controlled actuation system is activatable to adjust a tilt angle of the seat cushion by pivoting the seat pan support structure relative to the base support structure.

10. A seat system comprising:
a base support structure;
a back rest support structure movably coupled to the base support structure, the back rest support structure comprising:
a primary frame comprising at least one flat back support surface; and
an articulating frame movably coupled to the primary frame, the articulating frame comprising at least one contoured back support surface;

a back rest cushion comprising:
an occupant-facing back rest surface; and
an articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members movably coupled together to define a bottom surface of the back rest cushion opposing the occupant-facing back rest surface; and

an electronically controlled actuation system that is activatable to adjust the seat system between an upright position and a flat position inclusive;
wherein the at least one contoured back support surface supports the back rest cushion when the seat system is in the upright position, such that the articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one contoured back support surface; and
wherein the at least one flat back support surface supports the back rest cushion when the seat system is in the flat position, such that the articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one flat back support surface.

11. The seat system of claim 10 , wherein:
the electronically controlled actuation system is activatable to adjust the seat system into a reclined position between the upright position and the flat position; and
the at least one contoured back support surface supports the back rest cushion when the seat system is in the reclined position, such that the articulating arrangement of back rest cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one contoured back support surface.

12. The seat system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a leg rest support structure movably coupled to the base support structure; and
a leg cushion supported by the leg rest support structure.

13. The seat system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a seat pan support structure movably coupled to the base support structure; and
a seat cushion supported by the seat pan support structure.

14. The seat system of claim 13 , wherein:
the seat pan support structure comprises at least one contoured seat support surface;
the seat cushion comprises:
an occupant-facing seat surface; and
an articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members movably coupled together to define a bottom surface of the seat cushion opposing the occupant-facing seat surface of the seat cushion;

the at least one contoured seat support surface supports the seat cushion when the seat system is in the upright position, such that the articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one contoured seat support surface; and
at least one flat seat support surface of the base support structure supports the seat cushion when the seat system is in the flat position, such that the articulating arrangement of seat cushion support members physically adapts to comply with the at least one flat seat support surface.

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• O'Hara Timothy
• Guthrie Joe
• Davis Allen
• Kincaid Kyle
• Mallette Jeremiah

Classifications

• A47C1/03294

  slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers · CPC title

• B60N2/34

  into a bed · CPC title

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/06395

  characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment · CPC title