Expandable seat leg attachment fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017274999-A1
Application number	US-201515505765-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2015
Priority date	Sep 4, 2014
Publication date	Sep 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is an extendable joint ( 10,100 ) for attaching a passenger seat to a cabin floor or support structure. The extendable joint ( 10,100 ) exhibits behavior of a rigid mounting during normal usage, such as when carrying or securing passengers or luggage. However, if a force threshold is exceeded, such as with an emergency situation, the extendable joint ( 10,100 ) may lengthen to absorb energy applied from the cabin floor through the passenger seat and vice versa. Additional force damping mechanisms may also be incorporated into the joint to further absorb, distribute, or reduce loadings that may otherwise separate the passenger seat from the floor or support structure.

First claim

1 . An extendable joint comprising:
a first joint portion; a second joint portion; and a preload mechanism; wherein the preload mechanism stabilizes the extendable joint up to a threshold force and allows a relative motion between the first joint portion and the second joint portion beyond the threshold force.

2 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third joint portion; and a rotation joint; wherein the second joint portion and the third joint portion may rotate with respect to one another about the rotation joint.

3 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first slot in the first joint portion; and a second slot in the second joint portion.

4 . The extendable joint of claim 3 , wherein the first slot and the second slot comprise a curve matching an arc of motion of the extendable joint.

5 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , wherein the first joint portion is configured to telescope relative to the second joint portion.

6 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion form a double-lap joint.

7 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , wherein the preload mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a bolt, a friction washer, a shear fastener, a rip-through material, a crush material, a corrugated metal, a honeycomb, and a collapsible tube.

8 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , further comprising a rebound damping mechanism.

9 . The extendable joint of claim 8 , wherein the rebound damping mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a spring, a damper, a crushable component, a shear pin, friction, binding of the extendable joint, galling of the first joint portion, galling of the second joint portion, and a friction washer.

10 . The extendable joint of claim 1 , wherein:
the first joint portion comprises a front seat leg with a first slot and a first clearance recess; the second joint portion comprises an extension fixture with a second slot and a second clearance recess; and the preload mechanism comprises a bolt passing through the first slot and the second slot; wherein the bolt is torqued to a preload to prevent the relative motion of the front seat leg and the extension fixture up to the threshold force, the first clearance recess accommodates a portion of the extension fixture, and the second clearance recess accommodates a portion of the front seat leg.

11 . A passenger seat comprising:
a front seat leg comprising a first slot and a first clearance recess; a rear seat leg; a base member; a rear leg joint; an extension fixture comprising a second slot and a second clearance recess; and a preload mechanism; wherein the front seat leg and the extension fixture are coupled such that the first slot and the second slot are overlapping, the first clearance recess accepts a portion of the extension fixture, the second clearance recess accepts a portion of the front seat leg to form an extendable joint; wherein the preload mechanism prevents relative motion of the front seat leg and the extension fixture below a threshold force.

12 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein the base member is rotatably coupled to the extension fixture to allow rotation of the base member with respect to the extension fixture and the front seat leg.

13 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , further comprising a baggage loop configured to receive a baggage bar.

14 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein the front seat leg telescopes with respect to the extension fixture.

15 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , wherein the preload mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a bolt, a friction washer, a shear fastener, a rip-through material, a crush material, a corrugated metal, a honeycomb, and a collapsible tube.

16 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , further comprising a rebound damping mechanism.

17 . The passenger seat of claim 16 , wherein the rebound damping mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a spring, a damper, a crushable component, a shear pin, friction, binding of the extendable joint, galling of the front seat leg, galling of the extension fixture, and a friction washer.

18 . A method for preventing separation of a passenger seat from a cabin floor, the method comprising:
providing a joint between a front seat leg and the cabin floor; preloading the joint to prevent relative motion of the of the front seat leg and the cabin floor under normal conditions; and lengthening the joint such that the cabin floor and the front seat leg may partially separate in response to a force exceeding a threshold determined by the preloading of the joint.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising damping a rebound motion of the joint.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising providing a rotation joint between a base member and the cabin floor; and
rotating the base member relative to the cabin floor to prevent separation of the passenger seat from the cabin floor.

Assignees

• Zodiac Seats Us Llc

Inventors

• Alamgir Farhan
• Trimble Robert

Classifications

• B64D11/0619 Primary

  with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash · CPC title

• B60N2/005

  Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04}) · CPC title

• B64D25/04

  Seat modifications · 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

• B60N2/42736

  of the whole seat · CPC title