Contoured class divider

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017283061-A1
Application number	US-201615291863-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 12, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin includes a panel positioned between an aft seat and a forward seat, the panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of the forward seat and configured to enhance space utilization. The contoured class divider may include an articulation system to articulate at least a portion of the panel from a first position (normal operation) to a second position (emergency landing). The contoured class divider may provide up to an additional 12 inches of space which can be used to reduce seat pitch (and thereby enhance passenger comfort) or increase the number of rows of seats on a given aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, the contoured class divider comprising:
a panel positioned adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward seat, the panel having a contoured shape for receiving the back of the forward seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position, the panel extending substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to a lower support assembly,
wherein the lower support assembly supports a lower edge of the panel above a floor of the aircraft cabin such that passenger in the aft seat can stow luggage beneath the forward seat; and
means to articulate the panel from a rearward position during normal operation to a forward position during emergency landing.

2 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the means to articulate includes a friction pin.

3 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the means to articulate includes a spring biasing the divider into the forward or rearward position.

4 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the means to articulate articulates the panel to the forward position when the panel is subjected to a dynamic load of greater than 16 G.

5 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the lower support system includes at least one pivot.

6 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the lower support system is mounted in a floor track of the cabin.

7 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes two segments which pivot relative to one another.

8 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel is located within one inch of the at least one forward passenger seat when the at least one forward passenger seat is in a take-off taxi and landing (TTOL) operational position.

9 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes at least one means for mitigating head impact.

10 . The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel and the at least one forward seat are configured to share loads during emergency landing.

11 . A method for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, the method comprising:
positioning a panel of a contoured class divider adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward seat, the panel having a contoured shape for receiving the back of the forward seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position; fixing a lower support assembly of the contoured class divider to a structure of a floor of the cabin, wherein the panel extends substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to the lower support assembly,
wherein the lower support assembly supports a lower edge of the panel above a floor of the aircraft cabin such that passenger in the aft seat can stow luggage beneath the forward seat; and
connecting an upper edge of the panel to an articulation mechanism, wherein
the articulation mechanism causes the panel to articulate during emergency landing from a rearward position used during normal operation to a forward position, and
upon connection, the panel extends substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to the lower support assembly.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the upper edge of the panel is connected to the articulation mechanism via a friction pin extending upward from the upper edge of the panel.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the articulation mechanism is configured to withstand deceleration of less than 16 G without articulating the panel.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lower support system includes at least one pivot.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the structure of the floor of the cabin is a floor track.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein positioning the panel comprises positioning the panel in the rearward position within one inch of a recline position of the at least one forward passenger seat.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein positioning the panel comprises positioning the panel in the rearward position within a head impact zone of an aft-seated passenger in the at least one aft passenger seat, wherein the panel comprises at least one head impact zone protection feature.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one head impact zone protection feature comprises energy absorbing material embedded in a portion of the panel within the head impact zone.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein positioning the panel comprises positioning the panel such that, upon articulation, the panel is positioned to contact the at least one forward seat.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
prior to positioning the panel, removing a conventional class divider from between the at least one forward passenger seat and the at least one aft passenger seat; and relocating the at least one aft passenger seat at least 4 inches closer to the at least one forward passenger seat than a seat mounting position for use with the conventional class divider.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Papke Robert
• Caflin Shawn
• Mckee Jefferey
• Skelly Trevor
• DILIANI Mario

Classifications

• B64D11/0606

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

• B64D11/0023 Primary

  Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation · CPC title

• B64D11/0636

  Personal storage means or waste disposal bags · CPC title