Aircraft passenger accommodation unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12420930-B2
Application number	US-202017787887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2020
Priority date	Jan 3, 2020
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

The invention provides an aircraft passenger accommodation unit comprising a seat, a shell defining an opening, and a door. The door is translatable along a first path across the opening between a closed position in which passenger egress through the opening is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between a seat and an aisle. The door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path. The invention also provides a door arrangement and a method of using a door.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft passenger accommodation unit for location in an aircraft cabin adjacent to an aisle, the unit comprising:
(i) a seat;
ii) a shell, at least partially surrounding the seat, wherein the shell defines an opening that allows a passenger to egress between the aisle and the seat;
(iii) a door for providing variable access through the opening between the aisle and the seat, wherein the door is translatable along a first path in a first direction across the opening between a closed position in which passenger access through the opening is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the seat and the aisle through the opening,
wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first, raised, configuration and a second, dropped, configuration,
wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and,
wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path, wherein the first path and the second path are discrete paths;
(iv) a first support mechanism, wherein the first support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the first configuration, wherein the first support mechanism comprises a first guide mechanism arranged to guide translation of the door along the first path; and
(v) a second support mechanism, wherein the second support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the second configuration; wherein the second support mechanism comprises a second guide mechanism, and the second guide mechanism comprises a guide track arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the second path.

2. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 1 , wherein the first path is parallel to the second path.

3. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 1 , wherein the first guide mechanism comprises a first guide track arranged to guide the translation of the door as the door is translated along the first path.

4. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 3 , wherein the first guide track is provided on the shell.

5. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 1 , wherein the first support mechanism comprises a release mechanism, moveable between a retaining position, in which the door is retainable in the first configuration, and a released position, in which the door is released from the first configuration.

6. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 5 , wherein, when the release mechanism is in the released position, the door is translatable from the first configuration to the second configuration.

7. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 5 , comprising a release handle, wherein actuation of the release handle is operable to cause the release mechanism to move from the retaining position to the released position.

8. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 7 , wherein the release handle is connected to the release mechanism by a release cable.

9. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 1 , wherein the second guide track is provided on the shell.

10. A door arrangement for an aircraft passenger accommodation unit, the door arrangement being for providing variable access through an opening of the aircraft passenger accommodation unit, wherein the door arrangement comprises:
a panel;
a door translatable with respect to the panel along a first path in a first direction across the opening between a closed position in which passenger egress between an aisle and a seat is partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the aisle and the seat through the opening,
wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first, raised, configuration and a second, dropped, configuration,
wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and,
wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path, and wherein the first path and the second path are discrete paths;

wherein the door arrangement further comprises:
a first support mechanism, wherein the first support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the first configuration, wherein the first support mechanism comprises a first guide mechanism arranged to guide translation of the door along the first path; and
a second support mechanism, wherein the second support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the second configuration; wherein the second support mechanism comprises a second guide mechanism, and the second guide mechanism comprises a guide track arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the second path.

11. A method of using a door arrangement of an aircraft passenger accommodation unit, the door arrangement comprising:
a panel; and
a door translatable with respect to the panel along a first path in a first direction across an opening between a closed position in which passenger egress between an aisle and a seat is partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the aisle and the seat through the opening,
wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first, raised, configuration and a second, dropped, configuration,
wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and,
wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path, and wherein the first path and the second path are discrete paths;

wherein the door arrangement further comprises:
a first support mechanism, wherein the first support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the first configuration, wherein the first support mechanism comprises a first guide mechanism arranged to guide translation of the door along the first path; and
a second support mechanism, wherein the second support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the second configuration; wherein the second support mechanism comprises a second guide mechanism, and the second guide mechanism comprises a guide track arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the second path,

the method comprising the step of using the aircraft passenger accommodation unit or door arrangement.

12. The method of claim 11 , further, comprising the steps of:
(i) translating the door along the first path in the first direction across the opening;
ii) translating the door in the second direction transverse to the first direction, from the first configuration to the second configuration; and
iii) translating the door in the second configuration, across the opening, along a second path, to provide variable access through an opening between the aisle and the seat.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
iv) translating the door in the second direction transverse to the first direction from the second configuration to the first configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, prior to step (iv) performing the step of:
v) moving a release mechanism from a retaining position to a released position.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Gb Ltd

Inventors

• Neale Lee
• Pearce Clive

Classifications

• B64D2011/0046

  Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures · CPC title

• B64D11/0602 Primary

  Seat modules, i.e. seat systems including furniture separate from the seat itself · CPC title

• E05D15/48

  allowing alternative movements ({E05D15/0604 takes precedence } ; for vertically-sliding wings E05D15/22) · CPC title

• B64C1/1438

  of the sliding type · CPC title

• B64D11/0606 Primary

  with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like (class dividers B64D11/0023) · CPC title