Privacy Partition, System and Method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018099753-A1
Application number	US-201615290082-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2016
Priority date	Oct 11, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A privacy partition having a frame covered in fabric having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration that defines a perimeter. The privacy partition include a first connector that selectively connects a portion of the privacy partition to a portion of a seat. The first connector may connect the privacy partition to an aft seat and the privacy partition may include a second connect that selectively connects a portion of the privacy partition to a portion of a fore seat. The privacy partition may be flexible to remain attached to the fore and aft seat in any degree of recline. The privacy partition may be selectively connected to a slip cover positioned over the seat back of a seat. The privacy partition may be selectively connected to slip covers over the seatback of fore and aft seats. The frame of the privacy partition may be a flexible wire.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A privacy partition comprising:
a frame covered in fabric, the frame having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein in the expanded configuration the frame defines a perimeter; and at least a first connector, wherein the at least the first connector selectively connects a portion of the privacy partition to a portion of a seat.

2 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , wherein the at least the first connector further comprises a hook and loop fastener, a snap, an elastic strap, a fabric tie, a clamp, a string, a button, a button hole, a clip, a buckle, a clasp, a ring, a slide, a d-ring, a side-release buckle, or a cord.

3 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , further comprising at least a second connector, wherein the seat connected by the at least the first connector is an aft seat and wherein the at least the second connector selectively connects a portion of the privacy partition to a portion of a fore seat, the frame covered in fabric extending between the aft seat and the fore seat.

4 . The privacy partition of claim 3 , wherein the privacy partition is flexible to remain attached to the fore and aft seats in any degree of recline of the fore and aft seats.

5 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , further comprising a first slip cover positioned over a seatback of the seat, wherein the at least the first connector selectively connects the portion of the privacy partition to the first slip cover.

6 . The privacy partition of claim 5 , further comprising at least a second connector and a second slip cover positioned over a seatback of a fore seat, wherein the first slip cover is positioned over an aft seat, and wherein the at least the second connector selectively connects a portion of the privacy partition to the second slip cover.

7 . The privacy partition of claim 5 , wherein the first slip cover further comprises a cutout configured to permit access to a tray table latch.

8 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a wire.

9 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , wherein the frame covered in fabric further comprises a back, a top, a front, a left side, and a right side.

10 . The privacy partition of claim 8 , further comprising at least one selectively closable opening in the top, at least one selectively closable opening in the left side, and at least one selectively closable opening in the right side.

11 . The privacy partition of claim 8 , further comprising at least one selectively closeable opening in the front configured to permit ingress of a tray table from an adjacent seat.

12 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , further comprising an aesthetic pattern on at least an interior surface of the fabric.

13 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , wherein the at least the first connector is connected to an interior portion of the privacy partition.

14 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , wherein the at least the first connector is connected to an exterior portion of the privacy partition.

15 . The privacy partition of claim 1 , wherein the seat is a seat on an airplane, train, bus, or boat.

16 . A privacy partition system for an aircraft comprising:
an aft seat; a fore seat; and a frame covered in fabric that has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein in the expanded configuration the fabric extends between the aft seat and the fore seat to define a perimeter for a privacy partition that is selectively connected to both the aft seat and the fore seat.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the frame is flexible to remain connected to the fore and aft seats in any degree of recline of the fore and aft seats.

18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a first slip cover over the aft seat and a second slip cover over the fore seat, wherein the privacy partition connects to the aft seat via the first slip cover and wherein the privacy partition connects to the fore seat via the second slip cover.

19 . A method comprising:
coupling fabric over a frame, the frame having an expanded configuration that defines a perimeter and a collapsed configuration, wherein the frame with the fabric in the expanded configuration provides a privacy partition; and coupling at least a first connector to the privacy partition to connect the privacy partition to a first seat.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising coupling at least a second connector to the privacy partition to connect the privacy partition to a second seat, wherein the privacy partition extends between the first seat and the second seat.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hall Jr Curtis L
• Lutz Melissa Holt
• Hall Tania D

Classifications

• B64D11/0606 Primary

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

• B60N2/90

  Details or parts not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60N2/44

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic