Reclining passenger seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017174345-A1
Application number	US-201515127436-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 22, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is a passenger seat that includes a seat back with a lower portion disposed adjacent to the seat bottom, and recline mechanism configured to move the passenger seat between an upright position and a reclined position. The recline mechanism may move the passenger seat in two directions. The recline mechanism may include a plurality of corresponding members configured to interface with a plurality of elongate motion members.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat bottom; a seat back with a lower portion disposed adjacent to the seat bottom; and a recline mechanism configured to move the passenger seat between an upright position and a reclined position, wherein the recline mechanism moves the passenger seat in two directions.

2 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the recline mechanism is configured to move both the seat bottom and the seat back.

3 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the recline mechanism comprises:
a spreader; and a plurality of elongate motion members.

4 . The passenger seat of claim 3 , wherein the seat bottom and the seat back comprise a plurality of corresponding members configured to interface with the plurality of elongate motion members.

5 . The passenger seat of claim 4 , wherein:
the plurality of elongate motion members comprise slots and the plurality of corresponding members comprise rollers; and each roller is configured to slide through one of the slots.

6 . The passenger seat of claim 4 , wherein an interface between the plurality of elongate motion members and the plurality of corresponding members comprises at least one of (a) rails and sliding fittings, (b) telescoping slides, (c) ball bearings, and (d) rack and pinion.

7 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein, when moving from the upright position to the reclined position, the two directions are downward and toward the front with respect to the passenger seat.

8 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein, when moving from the reclined position to the upright position, the two directions are upward and toward the rear with respect to the passenger seat.

9 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein, when in the reclined position, at least a portion of the passenger seat is located further forward in comparison to the upright position.

10 . The passenger seat of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of elongate motion members each comprise a curved motion path.

11 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat bottom; a seat back with a lower portion disposed adjacent to the seat bottom; and a recline mechanism configured to move the passenger seat between an upright position and a reclined position using a kinematic linkage with at least two non-parallel elongate motion paths.

12 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein the recline mechanism is configured to move both the seat bottom and the seat back.

13 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein the kinematic linkage comprises:
a spreader; and at least two elongate motion members that correspond to the at least two non-parallel elongate motion paths.

14 . The passenger seat of claim 13 , wherein the seat bottom and the seat back comprise a plurality of corresponding members configured to interface with the at least two elongate motion members.

15 . The passenger seat of claim 14 , wherein the at least two elongate motion members comprise slots and the plurality of corresponding members comprise rollers, where each roller is configured to slide through one of the slots.

16 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein, when moving from the reclined position to the upright position, the recline mechanism is configured to move the passenger seat downward and toward the front with respect to the passenger seat.

17 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein, when in the reclined position, at least a portion of the passenger seat is located further forward in comparison to the upright position.

18 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat bottom; a seat back with a lower portion disposed adjacent to the seat bottom; and a recline mechanism configured to move the seat bottom and the seat back between an upright position and a reclined position using a kinematic linkage with at least two non-parallel elongate motion paths to move the passenger seat in two dimensions.

19 . The passenger seat of claim 18 , wherein the kinematic linkage comprises:
a spreader; and at least two elongate motion members that correspond to the at least two non-parallel elongate motion paths.

20 . The passenger seat of claim 18 , wherein, when in the reclined position, at least a portion of the passenger seat is located further forward in comparison to the upright position.

Assignees

• Zodiac Seats Us Llc

Inventors

• Murnan Justin K
• Parker Ty
• Kinard Marc W
• Smith Josh T
• Bucher Andreas
• Allen John D
• Reyes Raul G
• Driscoll Hollie C

Classifications

• B64D11/0646

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

• B64D11/064 Primary

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · 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

• B64D11/0641

  Seats convertible into beds · CPC title