Aircraft seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190426-A1
Application number	US-201715461905-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 17, 2017
Priority date	Oct 7, 2011
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a seat pan and a backrest. The seat pan and the backrest are positionable with respect to one another such that the seat is configurable into at least one of a taxi, takeoff and landing position, a napping position, and a sleeping position. A swivel is disposed beneath and supporting the seat, permitting the seat to rotate about a pivotal axis. Base tracking is disposed beneath and supporting the seat, permitting the seat to move in a lateral and a longitudinal direction. A first control is provided to lock and unlock movement of the seat in at least one of the lateral and the longitudinal directions. A second control is provided to lock and unlock the swivel. The swivel is permitted to be unlocked while movement of the seat in the lateral and the longitudinal direction is locked.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle seat, comprising:
a seat comprising
a seat pan, having a seat pan front edge and a seat pan rear edge;
a backrest, having a backrest top edge and a backrest bottom edge, wherein the backrest bottom edge is articulately disposed adjacent to the seat pan rear edge and wherein the seat pan and the backrest are positionable with respect to one another such that the seat is configurable into at least one of a taxi, takeoff and landing position, a napping position, and a sleeping position;
a swivel disposed beneath and supporting the seat, permitting the seat to rotate about a pivotal axis; and
base tracking disposed beneath and supporting the seat, permitting the seat to move in a lateral and a longitudinal direction;
a first control being provided to lock and unlock movement of the seat in at least one of the lateral and the longitudinal directions; and a second control being provided to lock and unlock the swivel, wherein the swivel is permitted to be unlocked while movement of the seat in the lateral and the longitudinal direction is locked.

2 . The seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third control positioned beneath the seat pan, the third control being a manual override.

3 . The vehicle seat of claim 2 , wherein the third control is a foot-actuated lever.

4 . The seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lumbar cushion, with a lumbar cushion top edge and a lumbar cushion bottom edge, wherein the lumbar cushion bottom edge is articulately disposed adjacent to the seat pan rear edge and the lumbar cushion top edge is articulately disposed adjacent to the backrest bottom edge.

5 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second controls locks and unlocks a recline mechanism that permits adjustment of a recline position.

6 . The vehicle seat of claim 5 , wherein both the first and second controls lock and unlock the recline mechanism.

7 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the first and second controls are finger-actuated levers.

8 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the first and second controls are electrical switches.

9 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor disposed at least within the seat pan, the pressure sensor being configured to detect a weight of an occupant of the seat.

10 . A method of operating the seat according to claim 9 , in an aircraft, comprising:
detecting the weight of the occupant; detecting if the aircraft is in a taxi, takeoff, and landing mode of operation; and if the aircraft is not in the taxi, takeoff, and landing mode of operation, receiving input from the second control, thereby permitting the seat to transition from the taxi, takeoff and landing position to the napping position or any position intermediate thereto.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
locking the seat when the weight of the occupant fails to exceed a minimum threshold weight.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
if the aircraft is not in the taxi, takeoff, and landing mode of operation, also receiving input from the second control, thereby permitting the seat to swivel.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
if the aircraft is not in the taxi, takeoff, and landing mode of operation, receiving input from the first control, thereby permitting the seat to move at least one of laterally or longitudinally with respect to a centerline of the aircraft.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
if the aircraft is not in the taxi, takeoff, and landing mode of operation, receiving input from the third control, thereby permitting the seat to transition to the sleeping position.

15 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat pan front edge defines a first pivot point and the seat pan rear edge defines a second pivot point.

16 . The seat of claim 15 , wherein the first pivot point remains in a substantially fixed position for the taxi, takeoff and landing position, the napping position, and the sleeping position.

17 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises a headrest, having a headrest top edge and a headrest bottom edge, wherein the headrest bottom edge is articulately disposed adjacent to the backrest top edge and wherein the seat pan, the backrest, and the headrest are positionable with respect to one another such that the seat is configurable into at least one of a taxi, takeoff and landing position, a napping position, and a sleeping position.

18 . The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises first and second armrests disposed on either side of the seat pan.

19 . The vehicle seat of claim 18 , wherein the first control is positioned in the first armrest.

20 . The vehicle seat of claim 18 , wherein the second control is positioned in the second armrest.

21 . A vehicle seat, comprising:
a seat comprising
a seat pan, having a seat pan front edge and a seat pan rear edge;
a backrest, having a backrest top edge and a backrest bottom edge, wherein the backrest bottom edge is articulately disposed adjacent to the seat pan rear edge and wherein the seat pan and the backrest are positionable with respect to one another such that the seat is configurable into at least one of a taxi, takeoff and landing position, a napping position, and a sleeping position;
base tracking disposed beneath and supporting the seat, permitting the seat to move in a lateral and a longitudinal direction; and
a swivel supporting the seat pan and disposed between the base tracking and the seat pan, permitting the seat to rotate about a pivotal axis; and
a first control being provided to lock and unlock movement of the seat in at least one of the lateral and the longitudinal directions; and a second control being provided to lock and unlock the swivel, wherein the swivel is permitted to be unlocked while movement of the seat in the lateral and the longitudinal direction is locked.

Assignees

• Bombardier Inc

Inventors

• Erhel Philippe

Classifications

• B64D11/0696

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

• G01G19/4142

  for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems (electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015) · CPC title

• B64D11/0641

  Seats convertible into beds · CPC title

• B64D11/0636

  Personal storage means or waste disposal bags · CPC title

• G01G19/414

  using electronic computing means only · CPC title