Aircraft passenger seat center console unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017015420-A1
Application number	US-201615282447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 26, 2014
Publication date	Jan 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, an aircraft seating group has first and second laterally-adjacent passenger seats; a center console positioned between the first and second passenger seats; a center console disposed between the first and second laterally-adjacent passenger seats and having a shelf for supporting a handheld electronic device at approximately an eye level of a passenger in the first passenger seat. The center console may further include a retention system to maintain the electronic device in the shelf in a position allowing the passenger to comfortably view the screen of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aircraft seating group, comprising:
first and second laterally-adjacent passenger seats; a center console positioned between the first and second laterally-adjacent passenger seats, wherein the center console comprises a vertical partition positioned substantially between a headrest region of the first passenger seat and a headrest region of the second passenger seat, and a shelf extending horizontally along the vertical partition above an arm rest of the first passenger seat and below the headrest region of the first passenger seat; wherein the shelf is configured to supporting a handheld electronic device at approximately an eye level of a passenger in the first passenger seat.

2 . The aircraft seating group of claim 1 , further comprising a rear shell positioned behind at least the first passenger seat, wherein the center console is affixed to the rear shell.

3 . The aircraft seating group of claim 2 , wherein the center console is releasably mounted to the rear shell.

4 . The aircraft seating group of claim 2 , wherein the rear shell is a rear privacy shell spanning the aircraft seating group.

5 . The aircraft seating group of claim 2 , wherein the rear shell is configured to recline with the seat back of the first passenger seat.

6 . The aircraft seating group of claim 1 , wherein the center console comprises an upper console portion and a power console portion, wherein
the upper console portion comprises the vertical partition and the shelf, and the lower console portion comprises the arm rest of the first passenger seat.

7 . An aircraft seating apparatus, comprising:
a rear privacy shell configured for positioning behind at least a first passenger seat first and second passenger seat laterally-adjacent to the first passenger seat; and a center console affixed to the rear privacy shell wherein the center console is disposed for positioning between the first and second passenger seats, the center console comprising
a vertical partition disposed for positioning substantially between a headrest region of the first passenger seat and a headrest region of the second passenger seat, and
a shelf extending horizontally along a first face of the vertical partition, wherein the shelf is disposed for positioning above an arm rest of the first passenger seat and below the headrest region of the first passenger seat;
wherein the shelf is configured to support a handheld electronic device at approximately an eye level of a passenger in the first passenger seat.

8 . The aircraft seating apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the shelf comprises a joint mechanism proximate the rear privacy shell, wherein the shelf is deployable from a vertical position substantially aligned with the rear privacy shell to a horizontal position along the vertical partition.

9 . The aircraft seating apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the joint mechanism is mounted to the rear privacy shell.

10 . The aircraft seating apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the center console comprises a second shelf extending horizontally along an opposing face of the vertical partition, wherein
the second shelf is disposed for positioning above an arm rest of the second passenger seat and below the headrest region of the second passenger seat; and the second shelf is configured to support another handheld electronic device at approximately an eye level of another passenger in the second passenger seat.

11 . A center console for mounting above an armrest of a first passenger seat and between a headrest region of the first passenger seat and a second passenger seat laterally-adjacent to the first passenger seat, the center console comprising:
a vertical partition configured to extend between the first passenger seat and the second passenger seat; and a shelf extending horizontally from the vertical partition;
wherein the shelf, upon mounting, is configured to support a handheld electronic device at approximately an eye level of a passenger in the first passenger seat.

12 . The center console of claim 11 , wherein the shelf is configured to be slid from a drawn-in position to a drawn-out position, wherein
in the drawn-in position the shelf is fully retracted proximate the rear shell, and in the drawn-out position the shelf protrudes along the vertical partition.

13 . The center console of claim 11 , wherein the shelf comprises a bottom panel with at least two upwardly extending sidewalls, each sidewall disposed along a respective side of the bottom panel.

14 . The center console of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls includes a cable passage for allowing a cable to pass therethrough.

15 . The center console of claim 11 , wherein a roof panel extends along a top of the vertical partition.

16 . The center console of claim 15 , wherein at least one auxiliary control is mounted on the roof panel.

17 . The center console of claim 15 , wherein the at least one auxiliary control includes at least one of a passenger light, a passenger sign, an air vent nozzle, a call button, an audio speaker, an electrical port, and a data port.

18 . The center console of claim 15 , wherein the deployable shelf has a deployable handle at one end thereof for moving the deployable shelf between the stowed and deployed positions.

19 . The center console of claim 11 , further comprising a retention system for releasably retaining the handheld electronic device.

20 . The center console of claim 19 , wherein the retention system comprises a horizontal arm connected to a vertical tensioner, wherein the vertical tensioner is configured to generate a pulling force on the arm to clamp the electronic device between the arm and the shelf.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Henshaw Robert J
• Kruse Mark A
• Hisata Suzuko

Classifications

• B64D11/0646

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

• B64D11/0626

  with individual temperature or ventilation control · CPC title

• B64D11/00152

  Seat back fixtures for removable monitors, e.g. tablet computers · CPC title

• B64D11/0624

  Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply · CPC title

• B64D11/0606 Primary

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