Systems and methods for securing seats within a vehicle cabin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567086-B2
Application number	US-201414489059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2014
Priority date	Sep 17, 2014
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A system for securing seats within a cabin of a vehicle may include at least one seat fitting assembly including at least one seat-mounting member having at least one seat-connecting hole configured to receive at least one fastener that secures a portion of a vehicle seat to the at least one seat-mounting member. The seat-connecting hole(s) is configured to be variably adjusted between a plurality of mounting positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for securing seats within a cabin of a vehicle, the system comprising:
at least one seat fitting assembly including at least one seat-mounting member having at least one seat-connecting hole configured to receive at least one fastener that secures a portion of a vehicle seat to the at least one seat-mounting member, wherein the at least one seat-connecting hole is configured to be variably adjusted relative to the at least one seat fitting assembly between a plurality of mounting positions,
wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly is configured to couple the vehicle seat to at least one seat track within the cabin of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting positions are separated by fractional distances.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fractional distances are less than 1″.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises first and second seat fitting assemblies, wherein the first and second seat fitting assemblies comprise first and second seat-mounting members, respectively, including first and second seat-connecting holes, respectively, wherein the first seat-connecting hole is located at a first location on the first seat-mounting member, wherein the second seat-connecting hole is located at a second location on the second seat-mounting member, wherein the first and second locations differ in relation to a respective central vertical axis of each of the first and second seat-mounting members.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises third and fourth seat fitting assemblies, wherein the first and second seat fitting assemblies comprise third and fourth seat-mounting members, respectively, including third and fourth seat-connecting holes, respectively, wherein the third seat-connecting hole is located at a third location on the third seat-mounting member, wherein the fourth seat-connecting hole is located at a fourth location on the fourth seat-mounting member, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth locations differ in relation to the respective central vertical axis of each of the first and second seat mounting members and a different respective central vertical axis of each of the third and fourth seat-mounting members.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises first and second seat fitting assemblies, wherein the first and second seat fitting assemblies comprise first and second seat-mounting members, respectively, including first and second seat-connecting holes, respectively, wherein the first seat-mounting member is located at a first distance from a trailing end of the first seat fitting assembly, wherein the second seat-mounting member is located at a second distance from a trailing end of the second seat fitting assembly, and wherein the first distance differs from the second distance.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises third and fourth seat fitting assemblies, wherein the third and fourth seat fitting assemblies comprise third and fourth seat-mounting members, respectively, including third and fourth seat-connecting holes, respectively, wherein the third seat-mounting member is located at a third distance from a trailing end of the third seat fitting assembly, wherein the fourth seat-mounting member is located at a fourth distance from a trailing end of the fourth seat fitting assembly, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth distances differ from one another.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises first and second seat fitting assemblies, wherein the first and second seat fitting assemblies comprise first and second seat-mounting members, respectively, including first and second seat-connecting holes, respectively, wherein the first seat-mounting member is positioned at a first angle with respect to a first base, and wherein the second seat-mounting member is positioned at a second angle with respect to a second base, wherein the first angle differs from the second angle.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of inserts, wherein each of the plurality of inserts has one of a plurality of seat-connecting holes at a different position, wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly includes a single seat fitting assembly having a single seat-mounting member defining a channel configured to receive one of the plurality of inserts, wherein the plurality of inserts may be selectively inserted and removed from the channel.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises a single seat fitting assembly having a plurality of targets spaced apart from one another, wherein each of the plurality of targets provides a target for forming the at least one seat-connecting hole.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises a track-engaging base removably secured to a seat-engaging mount that includes the at least one seat-mounting member, wherein the seat-engaging mount is selectively movable in relation to the track-engaging base, wherein the track-engaging base is configured to be fixedly secured to the seat track.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises at least one position code that indicates a mounting position of the at least one seat-connecting hole.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one seat track having mounting openings regularly spaced at fixed distances; and
the vehicle seat that includes at least one attachment member that secures to the at least one seat track through the at least one seat fitting assembly.

14. A method for securing seats within a cabin of a vehicle, the method comprising:
variably adjusting at least one seat-connecting hole of at least one seat-mounting member of at least one seat fitting assembly relative to the at least one seat fitting assembly between a plurality of mounting positions,
wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly is configured to couple a vehicle seat to at least one seat track within the cabin of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of mounting positions are separated by fractional distances that are less than 1″.

16. A seat-securing system configured to be positioned within a cabin of an aircraft, the system comprising:
at least one seat track having mounting openings regularly spaced at fixed 1″ distances;
at least one seat fitting assembly including at least one seat-mounting member having at least one seat-connecting hole, wherein the at least one seat-connecting hole is configured to be variably adjusted relative to the at least one seat fitting assembly between a plurality of mounting positions, wherein the plurality of mounting positions are separated by fractional distances that are less than 1″; and
an aircraft seat that includes at least one attachment member that secures to the at least one seat track through the at least one seat fitting assembly.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one seat fitting assembly comprises first, second, third, and fourth seat fitting assemblies, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth seat fitting assemblies comprise first, second, third, and fourth seat-mounting members, respectively, including first, second, third, and fourth seat-connecting holes, respectively, wherein the first seat-connecting hole is located at a first location on the first seat-mounting member, wherein the s

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Siegmeth Jeff S

Classifications

• B64D11/0696 Primary

  Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails · CPC title

• B60P7/0815

  Attachment rails or trellis · CPC title

• B60N2/01516

  with locking mechanisms · CPC title