Arrangements of lie flat seats with oblique front row

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377983-B2
Application number	US-202318119005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2023
Priority date	Mar 8, 2023
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure provides layouts of columns of lie flat passenger seats for an aircraft cabin. Each column includes a first row, such as a front row, including at least one oblique seat, a second row including at least one forward facing seat, and at least one further row including at least one forward facing seat. None of the seat rows, other than the first rows, include an oblique seat. Each seat is configured to adjust between an upright condition and a lie flat condition, nest with at least one other seat, and utilize a forward footwell formed in a console associated with another seat or a monument. The oblique first row provides a space savings in the cabin layout as compared to conventional layouts wherein all seats are oriented forward facing.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A layout for a column of lie flat passenger seats for an aircraft passenger cabin, comprising:
a first row including at least one oblique seat;
a second row positioned directly aft of the first row and including at least one forward facing seat;
a third row positioned directly aft of the second row and including at least one forward facing seat positioned laterally offset relative to the at least one forward facing seat of the second row; and
a fourth row positioned directly aft of the third row and including at least one forward facing seat positioned laterally offset relative to the at least one forward facing seat of the third row and laterally aligned relative to the at least one forward facing seat of the second row;
wherein:
the first row is a front row of the column and has a shorter longitudinal length, measured from a forward end to an aft end of the first row, than a longitudinal length of each of the second, third, and fourth rows, measured from a forward end to an aft end of each of the second, third, and fourth rows;
none of the second row, the third row, the fourth row, and any additional row positioned aft of the fourth row includes an oblique seat; and
each of the at least one oblique seat and the at least one forward facing seat of each of the second row, the third row, and the fourth row is configured to adjust between an upright condition and a lie flat condition; and
when in the lie flat condition, each of the at least one oblique seat and the at least one forward facing seat of each of the second row, the third row, and the fourth row is configured to nest with at least one other seat.

2. The layout according to claim 1 , wherein:
the column is a center column configured to be positioned between two longitudinal aisles oriented parallel to an aircraft longitudinal axis;
the first row includes two oblique seats; and
the two oblique seats are oriented in a toes-out or a toes-in configuration.

3. The layout according to claim 2 , wherein:
the second row includes two forward facing seats positioned side-by-side;
the third row includes two forward facing seats positioned spaced apart; and
the fourth row includes two forward facing seats positioned side-by-side.

4. The layout according to claim 3 , further comprising a partition wall positioned aft of each of the first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row.

5. The layout according to claim 2 , wherein a portion of each of the two oblique seats, when in the lie flat condition, extends into a footwell space formed in a monument positioned forward of the front row.

6. The layout according to claim 2 , further comprising a partition positioned between the two oblique seats, the partition configured to adjust between an extended condition and a retracted condition.

7. The layout according to claim 1 , further comprising a console positioned to one side of each of the at least one oblique seat of the first row, the at least one forward facing seat of the second row, the at least one forward facing seat of the third row, and the at least one forward facing seat of the fourth row.

8. The layout according to claim 7 , further comprising a footwell formed in the console.

9. A layout for a passenger cabin of an aircraft, comprising:
a first longitudinal aisle oriented parallel to an aircraft longitudinal axis;
a second longitudinal aisle oriented parallel to the aircraft longitudinal axis;
a starboard column of lie flat seats positioned to one side of the first longitudinal aisle;
a port column of lie flat seats positioned to one side of the second longitudinal aisle; and
a center column of lie flat seats positioned between the first longitudinal aisle and the second longitudinal aisle;
wherein:
a first row of each of the starboard column and the port column includes a single oblique seat oriented in a toes-out or a toes-in configuration;
a second row, positioned directly aft of the first row, of each of the starboard column and the port column includes a single forward facing seat;
at least two additional consecutive rows, positioned directly aft of the second row, of each of the starboard column and the port column includes a single forward facing seat;
a first row of the center column includes two oblique seats oriented in a toes-out or a toes-in configuration;
a second row of the center column includes two forward facing seats;
at least two additional consecutive rows of the center column, positioned directly aft of the second row, includes at least two forward facing seats; and
none of the second row, the at least two additional consecutive rows, and any additional row positioned aft of the at least two additional consecutive rows of any of the starboard column, the port column, and the center column includes an oblique seat; and
the first row of each of the starboard column, the port column, and the center column is a front row of the respective column and has a shorter longitudinal length, measured from a forward end to an aft end of the first row, than a longitudinal length of each of the second and at least two additional rows, measured from a forward end to an aft end of each of the second and at least two additional rows.

10. The layout according to claim 9 , wherein:
the layout further includes a monument positioned forward of the front row of each of the starboard column, the port column, and the center column, each monument including a footwell.

11. The layout according to claim 9 , wherein, in the center column, the two forward facing seats of the second row are positioned side-by-side, and the two forward facing seats of each of the at least two additional consecutive rows are positioned side-by-side or spaced apart in alternating rows.

12. The layout according to claim 9 , further comprising, in each of the starboard column, the port column, and the center column, a partition wall positioned aft of each of the first row, the second row, and the at least two additional consecutive rows.

13. The layout according to claim 9 , further comprising a partition positioned between the two oblique seats in the center column, the partition configured to adjust between an extended condition and a retracted condition.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Dowty Mark B
• Ruiz Lara Oscar

Classifications

• B64D11/0646

  Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0601 Primary

  Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight · CPC title

• B64D11/0604

  including a bed, e.g. cocoon type passenger seat modules · CPC title

• B64D11/0605

  including tables or desks · CPC title

• B64D11/0641 Primary

  Seats convertible into beds · CPC title