Structural assembly for passenger seat and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023322138-A1
Application number	US-202118021383-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2021
Priority date	Aug 19, 2020
Publication date	Oct 12, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A structural shroud for a passenger seat assembly includes a hollow body having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, and a central cavity between the first end and the second end. In certain embodiments, the structural shroud may include a magnesium alloy and/or an aluminum alloy, and may be formed via casting, forging, and/or additive manufacturing, among others. In some embodiments, a base frame assembly for a passenger seat assembly includes a monolithic base frame having a first leg portion and a first tube portion integrally formed with the first leg portion.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A method of producing a spreader assembly for a passenger seat assembly, the method comprising:
forming an upper spreader comprising a central cavity extending through the upper spreader via at least one of forging or casting a magnesium alloy into, wherein the upper spreader is hollow and includes at least one opening providing access to the central cavity; and joining the upper spreader with a lower spreader, wherein the lower spreader is configured to receive at least one seat beam tube, and wherein the upper spreader extends away from the lower spreader such that an end of the upper spreader is spaced apart from the lower spreader.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the upper spreader comprises forming at least one of a table stop or a table pivot with the upper spreader.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein joining the upper spreader with a lower spreader comprises attaching the upper spreader to an interface of the lower spreader.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the upper spreader comprises forging or casting a first shroud, forging or casting a second shroud separately from the first shroud, and joining the first shroud with the second shroud.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the upper spreader comprises forming the upper spreader with a wall thickness of 0.40 inches.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the upper spreader further comprises forming a secondary component with the upper spreader via additive manufacturing.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the secondary component comprises at least one of a table stop or a table pivot.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower spreader comprises an aluminum alloy.

11 . A method of producing a passenger seat assembly, the method comprising:
forming a structural shroud by casting or forging an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy into a first portion of the structural shroud and forming a second portion of the structural shroud via additive manufacturing, wherein the second portion comprises a lattice structure; and joining the structural shroud with a secondary component of the passenger seat assembly.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the structural shroud is an upper spreader, wherein the secondary component is a lower spreader configured to receive at least one seat beam tube, and wherein joining the structural shroud with the secondary component comprises attaching the structural shroud to the lower spreader such that the structural shroud extends away from the lower spreader such that an end of the upper spreader is spaced apart from the lower spreader.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the structural shroud comprises forming the structural shroud with a central cavity extending through the structural shroud.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the structural shroud is an armrest, and wherein the secondary component is a spreader.

15 . A structural shroud for a passenger seat assembly, the structural shroud comprising a hollow body comprising a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, and a central cavity between the first end and the second end, wherein a wall thickness of the structural shroud is less than 0.08 inches, and wherein the structural shroud comprises a magnesium alloy.

16 . The structural shroud of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the structural shroud comprises a lattice structure.

17 . The structural shroud of claim 15 , wherein the structural shroud is an upper spreader that is connectable with a lower spreader that is configured to receive at least one seat beam tube.

18 . The structural shroud of claim 15 , wherein the wall thickness is 0.04 inches.

19 . The structural shroud of claim 15 , wherein the structural shroud is an armrest.

20 . The structural shroud of claim 15 , wherein a secondary component is integral with the structural shroud, and wherein the secondary component comprises at least one of a table pivot or a table stop.

21 - 40 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Mansouri Reza
• Tranier Romain

Classifications

• B60N2002/684

  the back rest being mounted or joined with an easy attachment system to the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/682 Primary

  Joining means · CPC title

• B60N3/004

  of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest · CPC title

• B64D11/0644 Primary

  Adjustable arm rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0649

  Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight · CPC title