Printed optimized TPMS structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12252255-B2
Application number	US-202318122019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2023
Priority date	Nov 11, 2022
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) is described. The TPMS is adjustable and tunable depending on desired breathability, vibration performance, weight reduction, pressure distribution, and the like. The TPMS may be used in a cushion of a passenger seat. The cushion may be used for one or more locations of the passenger seat, including a head rest cushion, a back rest cushion, a seat pan cushion, and the like. the TPMS may include a cylindrical gyroid. Each of the cushions may include multiple of the cylindrical gyroids.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A passenger seat comprising:
a seat back;
a seat pan; and
a cushion comprising:
one or more lattice structures, wherein the one or more lattice structures each comprise a triply periodic minimal surface, wherein the triply periodic minimal surface is formed of a plurality of unit cells, wherein the plurality of unit cells are periodic in cylindrical coordinates, wherein the triply periodic minimal surface comprises a cylindrical gyroid, wherein the one or more lattice structures each comprise a polymer, wherein the polymer is an elastomer, wherein the plurality of unit cells are defined by a radius dimension, an angular dimension, a height dimension, a radius repetition, an angular repetition, a height repetition, an inner radius, and a wall thickness, wherein the one or more lattice structures each comprise an indentation load deflection of between 20 and 80 pounds inclusive, wherein the one or more lattice structures is a plurality of lattice structures, wherein the plurality of lattice structures comprises a first set of lattice structures and a second set of lattice structures, wherein the first set of lattice structures each comprise a first outer diameter, wherein the second set of lattice structures each comprise a second outer diameter, wherein the first outer diameter is less than the second outer diameter, wherein the indentation load deflection for the first set of lattice structures is greater than the indentation load deflection for the second set of lattice structures.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness is at least 1 mm.

3. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical gyroid is open cell.

4. The passenger seat of claim 1 , comprising a head rest, wherein the cushion is a head rest cushion of the head rest, wherein the first set of lattice structures comprises a first subset and a second subset, wherein the second set of lattice structures are disposed between the first subset and the second subset.

5. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the cushion is a seat pan cushion of the seat pan, wherein the plurality of lattice structures comprises a third set of lattice structures, wherein the third set of lattice structures each comprise a third outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is less than the third outer diameter, wherein the indentation load deflection for the second set of lattice structures is greater than the indentation load deflection for the third set of lattice structures.

6. The passenger seat of claim 5 , wherein the first set of lattice structures comprises a first subset, wherein the first subset are disposed between the second set of lattice structures and the third set of lattice structures.

7. The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the first set of lattice structures comprises a second subset and a third subset, wherein the third set of lattice structures are disposed between the second subset and the third subset.

8. The passenger seat of claim 2 , wherein the angular repetition is between four and six inclusive.

9. The passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the height repetition is between one and two inclusive.

10. The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the radius dimension is between 0.75 inches and 1.25 inches inclusive.

11. The passenger seat of claim 10 , wherein an outer diameter of the is between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches inclusive.

12. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a first polymer, wherein the height repetition is at least two, wherein the one or more lattice structures each comprise at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises the first polymer, wherein the second layer comprises a second polymer, wherein the first polymer is different than the second polymer.

13. The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the triply periodic minimal surface comprises one of a schwarz minimal surfaces or a P-type surfaces.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Whyte Nicole Sluder
• Saldanha Nikhil Anthony
• Krishnamurthy Chirag
• Finlay Travis K
• Nekkar Gururaja
• Dempah Maxime
• Johnson Glenn A
• Dowty Mark B
• Parida Samikshya

Classifications

• B64D11/0647 Primary

  Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features · CPC title