Vehicle seat tubing having variable wall thickness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016176527-A1
Application number	US-201615058907-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2016
Priority date	Apr 8, 2009
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Tubular bodies for use in frames for seats of vehicles such as aircraft are described. A tube can include a sidewall that has a variable thickness along the length of the tube. The variable thickness of the sidewalls can result in the tube having a variable inner diameter along the length of the tube. The tube may also include a variable outer diameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A frame for an aircraft seat, the frame comprising:
a wall of a tubular body, the wall comprising a first portion having a first wall thickness and a second portion having a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness, wherein the first portion defines an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter defined by the second portion.

2 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein the wall of the tubular body further comprises a third portion having an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of at least one of the first portion or the second portion.

3 . The frame of claim 2 , wherein the third portion is the same thickness as the second wall thickness.

4 . The frame of claim 2 , wherein the third portion defines an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the second portion.

5 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is made from at least one of aluminum or steel.

6 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is made from a cold form drawing process.

7 . An tubular body comprising:
a first portion having a first wall thickness; and a second portion having a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness, wherein the first portion defines an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter defined by the second portion, and wherein the tubular body is a component of a frame for a seat capable of being disposed in a vehicle.

8 . The tubular body of claim 7 , further comprising a third portion having an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of at least one of the first portion or the second portion.

9 . The tubular body of claim 8 , wherein the third portion is the same thickness as the second wall thickness.

10 . The tubular body of claim 8 , wherein the third portion is capable of preventing the tubular body from decoupling from another component of the frame.

11 . The tubular body of claim 7 , wherein the tubular body is made from at least one of aluminum or steel.

12 . The tubular body of claim 7 , wherein the tubular body is made from a cold form drawing process.

13 . The tubular body of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

14 . An seat comprising a frame, the seat being for an aircraft, the frame comprising a tubular body, the tubular body comprising:
a first portion having a first wall thickness; a second portion having a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness, wherein the first portion defines an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter defined by the second portion; and a third portion having an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of at least one of the first portion or the second portion.

15 . The seat of claim 14 , wherein the third portion is the same thickness as the second wall thickness.

16 . The seat of claim 14 , wherein the tubular body is made from at least one of aluminum or steel.

17 . The seat of claim 14 , wherein the tubular body is made from a cold form drawing process.

18 . The seat of claim 14 , wherein the third portion is capable of preventing the tubular body from decoupling from another component of the frame.

Assignees

• C&D Zodiac Inc

Inventors

• Le Gary Tien
• Krikorian Aram Aris

Classifications

• B64D11/0696

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

• B64D11/0648 Primary

  Lower frame constructions · CPC title

• B64D11/0649

  Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight · CPC title

• B64D11/06

  Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats (crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04) · CPC title

• B60N2/68

  Seat frames · CPC title