Passenger Seat Having Side Sleep Support Assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018105274-A1
Application number	US-201715716693-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 27, 2017
Priority date	Oct 19, 2016
Publication date	Apr 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aircraft passenger seat configured to facilitate ergonomic alignment of a passenger while in a sleeping position, including a seat bottom; and a seatback including a central opening corresponding to a shoulder region of a passenger, and a sleep support assembly mounted within the central opening, the sleep support assembly including an adjustable support member spanning a central portion of the seatback, where the adjustable support member is configured for at least one of translation and deformation; where, when the seat bottom is aligned with the seatback in a lie-flat seating position, a load provided by the shoulder region of the passenger, at least in a side-sleeping position, causes translation and/or deformation of the adjustable support member toward a floor of an aircraft cabin, thereby facilitating ergonomic alignment of the spine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aircraft passenger seat configured to facilitate ergonomic alignment of a passenger while in a sleeping position, comprising:
a seat bottom; and a seatback comprising
a central opening corresponding to a shoulder region of a passenger, and
a sleep support assembly mounted within the central opening, the sleep support assembly including
an adjustable support member spanning a central portion of the seatback,
wherein the adjustable support member is configured for at least one of translation and deformation;

wherein, when the seat bottom is aligned with the seatback in a lie-flat seating position, a load provided by the shoulder region of the passenger, at least in a side-sleeping position, causes the at least one of the translation and deformation of the adjustable support member toward a floor of an aircraft cabin, thereby facilitating ergonomic alignment of the spine.

2 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support member comprises:
a flexible diaphragm spanning a central portion of the sleep support assembly; and a plurality of fasteners applying tension to the flexible diaphragm in at least one of a latitudinal direction and a longitudinal direction of the seatback.

3 . The passenger seat according to claim 2 , wherein the flexible diaphragm comprises a flexible fabric.

4 . The passenger seat according to claim 2 , wherein the adjustable support member further comprises at least one actuator, each actuator of the at least one actuator configured to cause adjustment of one or more of the plurality of fasteners.

5 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises an inflatable bladder configured to inflate, thereby modifying a contour of at least one of the adjustable support member and a passenger-facing surface of the seatback.

6 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises at least one support configured to support a spine of the passenger when the passenger is in a back sleeping position.

7 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises at least one support configured to support a spine of the passenger when the passenger is in a side sleeping position.

8 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support member comprises a panel connected to the seatback using a plurality of spring members, wherein, in a lie-flat position, the plurality of spring members are configured to allow displacement of the panel toward the floor of the aircraft cabin.

9 . The passenger seat according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spring members comprise a plurality of adjustable shocks.

10 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises:
a controller configured to cause adjustment of at least one of the plurality of fasteners through signals issued to the at least one actuator; and wherein, when the seat bottom is aligned with the seatback in a lie-flat seating position, the controller is configured to control shape and/or density of the sleep support assembly through actuation of the one or more actuators for supporting ergonomic alignment of a spine of the passenger.

11 . The passenger seat according to claim 10 , wherein the sleep support assembly further comprises:
at least one pressure sensor configured to detect an amount of pressure the passenger is placing on one or more regions of the seatback; wherein the controller is configured to adjust the plurality of fasteners based on signals received from the at least one pressure sensor.

12 . The passenger seat according to claim 11 , further comprising an adjustable headrest, wherein:
the at least one pressure sensor further comprises a headrest-mounted pressure sensor configured to detect an amount of pressure a head of the passenger is placing on the headrest; and the controller is configured to adjust the headrest based on signals received from the headrest-mounted pressure sensor.

13 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , further comprising a cushion assembly disposed between a portion of a passenger-facing surface of the seatback and the side support assembly.

14 . The passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support member is generally rectangular in shape.

15 . A system for facilitating ergonomic positioning of a passenger in a lie-flat position of a passenger seat, the system comprising:
a passenger seat comprising
a seat bottom, and
a seat back including
a central opening corresponding to a shoulder region of a passenger, and
a sleep support assembly mounted within the central opening, the sleep support assembly including
an adjustable support member spanning a central portion of the seatback,
wherein the adjustable support member is configured for at least one of translation and deformation,

wherein, when the seat bottom is aligned with the seatback in a lie-flat seating position, a load provided by the shoulder region of the passenger, at least in a side-sleeping position, causes the at least one of the translation and deformation of the adjustable support member toward a floor of an aircraft cabin, thereby facilitating ergonomic alignment of the spine; and
at least one actuator configured to cause at least one of translation and deformation of the adjustable support member.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a controller comprising circuitry configured to receive at least one of a user setting and sensor data; and
responsive to the at least one of the user setting and the sensor data, control one or more actuators of the at least one actuator to adjust the adjustable support member.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the sleep support assembly comprises at least one pressure sensor configured to detect pressure the passenger applies to one or more regions of the seat back; and receiving the at least one of the user setting and the sensor data comprises receiving signals from the at least one pressure sensor.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on the signals from the at least one pressure sensor, determine a sleeping position of the passenger,
wherein controlling the one or more actuators comprises adjusting at least one inflatable member to support ergonomic alignment of a spine of the passenger in the sleeping position.

19 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a user interface including a plurality of user-selectable controls, wherein each of the plurality of user-selectable controls are configured to cause actuation of a portion of at least one actuator.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the adjustable support member comprises a flexible fabric stretched across the central portion of the seat back.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Udriste Daniel I
• Bunea Catalin
• Lawson Bobby W

Classifications

• B60N2/7011

  of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics · CPC title

• B60N2/643

  shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/34

  into a bed · CPC title

• B64D11/0642

  Adjustable headrests · CPC title

• B64D11/0647

  Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features · CPC title