Tracking system for an aircraft seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12337972-B2
Application number	US-202318218423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2023
Priority date	Jul 25, 2022
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An aircraft seat may include an integrated tracking system. The tracking system may include at least one track foot and one or more roller bearings. The track foot may include one or more axles and be able to interface with a portion of an aircraft seat track. The one or more roller bearings may be coupled to the one or more axles of the track foot and interface with a top surface of the aircraft seat track to aid in the translation of the aircraft seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tracking system for an aircraft seat, the tracking system comprising:
a track foot configured to interface with a portion of a track of the aircraft seat, the track foot including two or more clevis features extending in a vertical direction from the track foot, wherein the two or more clevis features include at least a first clevis feature and a second clevis feature, the track foot including two or more axles, the two or more axles including at least a first axle and a second axle, wherein the first axle extends horizontally outward from the first clevis feature in a first direction and the second axle extends horizontally outward from the second clevis feature in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
two or more roller bearings configured to couple to the two or more axles of the track foot, wherein the two or more roller bearings include at least a first roller bearing configured to couple to the first axle and a second roller bearing configured to couple to the second axle, wherein the first roller bearing and the second roller bearing are coplanar, wherein the first roller bearing is horizontally offset from the second roller bearing by a distance, the two or more roller bearings configured to interface with a top surface of the track of the aircraft seat, wherein the first roller bearing interfaces with a first side of the top surface of the track and the second roller bearing interfaces with a second side of the top surface of the track opposite the first side.

2. The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein one or more retaining clips are configured to couple to an end portion of the two or more axles outside of the two or more roller bearings.

3. The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein the track foot is rotationally coupled to a seat structure of the aircraft seat via at least one attachment pin such that the track foot is allowed to rotate about the at least one attachment pin in response to the aircraft seat being rolled.

4. The tracking system of claim 3 , wherein the two or more clevis features are configured to receive the at least one attachment pin, the at least one attachment pin being configured to insert through a hole in each of the two or more clevis features.

5. The tracking system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the track foot, the two or more clevis features, and the two or more axles are manufactured as a single component.

6. An aircraft seat, the aircraft seat comprising:
a track,
a seat structure positioned beneath the aircraft seat and configured to couple the aircraft seat to the track, the track being configured to fix itself to a floor of an aircraft;
a plurality of tracking systems,
each tracking system coupled to an outer corner portion of the seat structure, each tracking system comprising:
a track foot configured to interface with a portion of the track, the track foot including two or more clevis features extending in a vertical direction from the track foot, wherein the two or more clevis features include at least a first clevis feature and a second clevis feature, the track foot including two or more axles, the two or more axles including at least a first axle and a second axle, wherein the first axle extends horizontally outward from the first clevis feature in a first direction and the second axle extends horizontally outward from the second clevis feature in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
two or more roller bearings configured to couple to the two or more axles of the track foot, wherein the two or more roller bearings include at least a first roller bearing configured to couple to the first axle and a second roller bearing configured to couple to the second axle, wherein the first roller bearing and the second roller bearing are coplanar, wherein the first roller bearing is horizontally offset from the second roller bearing by a distance, the two or more roller bearings configured to interface with a top surface of the portion along the track, wherein the first roller bearing interfaces with a first side of the top surface of the track and the second roller bearing interfaces with a second side of the top surface of the track opposite the first side.

7. The aircraft seat of claim 6 , wherein one or more retaining clips are configured to couple to an end portion of the two or more axles outside of the two or more roller bearings.

8. The aircraft seat of claim 6 , wherein an outer corner portion of the seat structure includes one or more attachment slots configured to receive at least one attachment pin.

9. The aircraft seat of claim 8 , wherein the track foot is rotationally coupled to the seat structure via the at least one attachment pin such that the track foot is allowed to rotate about the at least one attachment pin in response to the aircraft seat being rolled.

10. The aircraft seat of claim 9 , wherein the two or more clevis features are configured to receive the at least one attachment pin, the at least one attachment pin being configured to insert through a hole in each of the two or more clevis features.

11. The aircraft seat of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the track foot, the two or more clevis features, and the two or more axles are manufactured as a single component.

12. The aircraft seat of claim 6 , wherein the track includes one or more attachment slots throughout a length of the track to couple with the track foot.

13. The aircraft seat of claim 6 , wherein the seat structure includes four tracking systems of the plurality of tracking systems coupled to each outer corner portion of the seat structure, the four tracking systems being positioned at an outermost portion of each outer corner portion of the seat structure.

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Marutzky Kyler J

Classifications

• B64D11/0648

  Lower frame constructions · CPC title

• B60N2/01591

  with wheels coupled to the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/01575

  key sliding inside the vehicle floor or rail · CPC title

• B60N2/01516

  with locking mechanisms · CPC title

• B64D11/0696 Primary

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