Flat sandwich panel articulating bottom pan

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022135232-A1
Application number	US-201917435676-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	May 5, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described are passenger seat bottom assemblies that include a layered seat bottom assembly formed of a first face sheet, a lightweight core layer, and a second face sheet bonded together, preferably in a flat or substantially flat arrangement. The core layer can be a honeycomb structure, e.g. a metal or aluminum honeycomb, or a foam, that confers a high strength and stiffness to the seat bottom assembly with minimal forming and minimal weight.

First claim

1 . A seat bottom assembly for a passenger seat, the seat bottom assembly comprising:
a first face sheet; a core material bonded with the first face sheet; and a second face sheet bonded with the core material opposite the first face sheet; wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet each have a thickness of less than 0.25 cm (0.1 in); and wherein the seat bottom assembly is configured to connect with a seat frame.

2 . The seat bottom assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first face sheet, the core material, and the second face sheet are planar.

3 . The seat bottom assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of sliding connectors attached to a bottom side of the seat bottom assembly and configured to slidingly connect the seat bottom assembly with a seat assembly frame.

4 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet comprise planar sheets of a metal, polymer, or composite.

5 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet comprise aluminum sheets or fiber reinforced polymer composite sheets.

6 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises a honeycombed metal structure, preferably a honeycombed aluminum structure.

7 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises a lightweight polymer foam, composite foam, metal honeycomb, or aramid honeycomb.

8 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of each of the first face sheet and the second face sheet is less than 0.025 cm (0.01 in).

9 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the core material has a thickness of less than 7.6 cm (3.0 in).

10 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet are permanently bonded to the core material.

11 . The seat bottom assembly of any of claim 1 , wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet are bonded with the core material by a pressure and/or temperature sensitive adhesive.

12 . A method of installing a seat bottom assembly in a passenger seat, the method comprising:
slidingly connecting a layered seat bottom assembly with a seat frame of a passenger seat assembly by one or more sliding connectors, the layered seat bottom assembly comprising:
a first face sheet,
a core material bonded with the first face sheet; and
a second face sheet bonded with the core material opposite the first face sheet;
wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet each have a thickness of less than 0.25 cm (0.1 in); and
connecting the layered seat bottom assembly with a reclinable seat back of the passenger seat assembly by a pivoting connector; and
assembling a seat cushion with the layered seat bottom assembly to form a passenger seat bottom.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
operably connecting a recline lock to the layered seat bottom assembly oriented such that the recline lock can resist or permit motion of the layered seat bottom assembly in response to actuation of the recline lock.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein slidingly connecting the layered seat bottom assembly with the seat frame comprises bonding the layered seat bottom assembly with the one or more sliding connectors and attaching the one or more sliding connectors to the seat frame.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein slidingly connecting the layered seat bottom assembly with the seat frame comprises attaching the layered seat bottom assembly to the one or more sliding connectors by one or more attachment elements that pass through the layered seat bottom assembly, and attaching the one or more sliding connectors to the seat frame.

16 . A passenger seat, comprising:
a seat frame configured to attach to a passenger compartment floor; and a seat bottom assembly connected with the seat frame, the seat bottom assembly comprising:
a first face sheet,
a core material bonded with the first face sheet; and
a second face sheet bonded with the core material opposite the first face sheet; and
wherein the first face sheet and the second face sheet each have a thickness of less than 0.25 cm (0.1 in).

17 . The passenger seat of claim 16 , further comprising a seat back assembly pivotally connected with the seat frame, wherein:
the seat bottom assembly is slidingly connected with the seat frame such that the seat bottom assembly can articulate with respect to the seat frame in response to force induced by a passenger; and the seat bottom assembly is pivotally connected with the seat back assembly.

18 . The passenger seat of claim 16 , wherein:
the first face sheet and the second face sheet comprise planar metal sheets; and the core material comprises a metal honeycomb.

19 . The passenger seat of any of claim 16 , wherein the seat bottom assembly is operably connected with the seat frame by a recline lock assembly, the recline lock assembly configured to prevent or permit articulation of the seat bottom assembly with respect to Page 7 the seat frame in response to actuation of the recline lock assembly by a user.

20 . The passenger seat of any of claim 16 , further comprising a substantially flat seat cushion connected with an upper surface of the first face sheet.

21 . The passenger seat of any of claim 16 , wherein the first face sheet, the core material, and the second face sheet are planar.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Mansouri Reza
• Tranier Romain
• Parker Charles Michael
• Ramarathnam Gokul

Classifications

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B32B3/08 Primary

  characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)} · CPC title

• B60N2/72

  Attachment or adjustment thereof · CPC title

• B32B15/18

  comprising iron or steel {(B32B15/011, B32B15/012 and B32B15/013 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B32B27/365

  comprising polycarbonates · CPC title