Pilot sleeper seat with integrated rudder controls and lockout function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12420934-B2
Application number	US-202318133345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2023
Priority date	Apr 11, 2023
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A seat system for an aircraft including a pilot seat configured to operate in a piloting mode and in a rest mode. The pilot seat includes a dual function component configured to function as a flight controller when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode and a rest surface when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode. The piloting mode and the rest mode are mutually exclusive operating modes. The seat system further includes a control system in electronic communication with the pilot seat and configured to activate the flight controller when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode, deactivate the flight controller when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode. The pilots seats may be utilized in a two-pilot aircraft to provide provisions for pilot rest in an aircraft cockpit.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A pilot seat, comprising:
a frame;
a seat bottom mounted to the frame;
a seat back mounted to the frame;
a lower leg and foot rest assembly mounted to the frame, the lower leg and foot rest assembly comprising:
a first subassembly including a first lower leg support and a first rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a first linear slide; and
a second subassembly including a second lower leg support and a second rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a second linear slide;
wherein the first and second subassemblies are independently adjustable; and

a controller configured to operate the pilot seat in a piloting mode and a rest mode, wherein the piloting mode and the rest mode are mutually exclusive operating modes of the pilot seat, and wherein:
when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode, the first and second subassemblies are operable as flight controllers; and
when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode, the first and second subassemblies are inoperable as flight controllers.

2. The pilot seat according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second subassemblies are position adjustable in each of the piloting mode and the rest mode, and wherein the first and second subassemblies are position adjustable to a greater extent when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode and compared to when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode.

3. The pilot seat according to claim 1 , wherein, when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode, at least one of translational and rotational movements of the first and second rudder pedals are configured to be communicated to a flight control system of an aircraft.

4. The pilot seat according to claim 1 , wherein the lower leg and foot rest assembly further comprises a fixed middle portion positioned between the first and second subassemblies.

5. The pilot seat according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to enable minimum seat recline functionality when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode, and enable maximum seat recline functionality when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode.

6. A cockpit layout for a two-pilot aircraft, comprising:
first and second pilot seats each comprising:
a frame;
a seat bottom mounted to the frame;
a seat back mounted to the frame;
a lower leg and foot rest assembly mounted to the frame, the lower leg and foot rest assembly comprising:
a first subassembly including a first lower leg support and a first rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a first linear slide; and
a second subassembly including a second lower leg support and a second rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a second linear slide;
wherein the first and second subassemblies are independently adjustable; and

a controller configured to operate the first and second pilot seats in a piloting mode and a rest mode, wherein the piloting mode and the rest mode are mutually exclusive operating modes of the first and second pilot seats, and wherein:
when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their respective piloting mode, the first and second subassemblies are operable as flight controllers;
when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their respective rest mode, the first and second subassemblies are inoperable as flight controllers; and
when one of the first and second pilot seats is operating in the rest mode the other of the first and second pilot seats is precluded from operating in the rest mode.

7. The cockpit layout according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second subassemblies are position adjustable in each of the piloting mode and the rest mode, and wherein the first and second subassemblies are position adjustable to a greater extent when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode and compared to when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode.

8. The cockpit layout according to claim 6 , wherein, when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their respective piloting mode, at least one of translational and rotational movements of the first and second rudder pedals are configured to be communicated to a flight control system of an aircraft.

9. The cockpit layout according to claim 6 , wherein the lower leg and foot rest assembly further comprises a fixed middle portion positioned between the first and second subassemblies.

10. The cockpit layout according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to enable minimum seat recline functionality when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their piloting mode, and enable maximum seat recline functionality when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their respective rest mode.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Dowty Mark B

Classifications

• B64C13/044

  operated by feet, e.g. pedals · CPC title

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0641

  Seats convertible into beds · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64C13/12

  Dual control apparatus · CPC title