Passenger seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9908628-B2
Application number	US-201415037363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Nov 19, 2013
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

Described are seat units having a lower support structure with at least two leg supports, each leg support integrally formed into an arcuate shape, and an upper support structure having a seat pan and seat back integrally formed into a single component. Each leg support is coupled to at least two base frame tubes by insertion of each base frame tube through an aperture in each of the leg supports, wherein the aperture is shaped to prevent rotation of the leg support about a longitudinal axis of each of the at least two base frame tubes. Each seat support is coupled to the base frame tubes by insertion of each base frame tube through a slot in each of the upper support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat unit comprising:
at least one base frame tube;
a pair of seat supports;
a seat pan comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the seat pan being positioned between the pair of seat supports, wherein the rear portion of the seat pan is attached to the pair of seat supports and the front portion of the seat pan is detached from the pair of seat supports;
wherein the pair of seat supports are slidingly coupled to the at least one base frame tube so as to allow the pair of seat supports to rotate between a reclined position wherein the pair of seat supports are rotated toward a front of the seat unit relative to the at least one base frame tube, and an upright position wherein the pair of seat supports are rotated toward a rear of the seat unit relative to the at least one base frame tube;
wherein, when the pair of seat supports are rotated toward the front of the seat unit relative to the at least one base frame tube, the front portion of the seat pan is configured to bend downward to reduce pressure applied to a popliteal area on a backside of a passenger's upper leg when the passenger is seated in the seat unit.

2. The seat unit of claim 1 , wherein the seat supports are coupled to the at least one base frame tube via a slot in each of the seat supports, wherein each slot is shaped to slidingly engage with the at least one base frame tube.

3. The seat unit of claim 2 , wherein the slots are shaped to allow the pair of seat supports to rotate along a path that is defined by a shape of the slots.

4. The seat unit of claim 3 , wherein a first end of each slot corresponds to the reclined position of the seat unit, and a second end of each slot corresponds to the upright position of the seat unit.

5. The seat unit of claim 4 , further comprising a pair of arm rests, wherein each arm rest is coupled to a rear portion of each seat support.

6. The seat unit of claim 1 , further comprising a lower support structure comprising at least two leg supports, each leg support integrally formed into an arcuate shape.

7. The seat unit of claim 6 , wherein each of the at least two leg supports is coupled to at least one base frame tube by insertion of each of the at least one base frame tube through an aperture in each of the at least two leg supports, wherein each of the apertures is shaped to prevent rotation of the leg support about a longitudinal axis of the at least one base frame tube.

8. The seat unit of claim 1 , further comprising a seat back integrally formed with the seat pan as a single component.

9. The seat unit of claim 8 , wherein the seat back comprises a headrest that is configured to support a head of a passenger seated in the seat unit in the reclined position.

10. The seat unit of claim 8 , wherein the seat back comprises a curved design that is configured to contour to a shape of a back of the passenger seated in the seat unit.

11. A seat unit comprising:
a lower support structure comprising at least two leg supports, each leg support comprising a central portion, a front portion, and a rear portion, wherein the front portion and the rear portion extend downward from the central portion and are configured to couple to a seat track;
an upper support structure comprising at least two seat supports, each seat support comprising a central portion, a front portion, and a rear portion, wherein the front portion and the rear portion extend upward from the central portion;
a seat pan comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the seat pan being positioned between the at least two seat supports, wherein the rear portion of the seat pan is attached to the at least two seat supports and the front portion of the seat pan is detached from the at least two seat supports; and
at least two base frame tubes, wherein each of the at least two base frame tubes is coupled to the lower support structure and the upper support structure in a manner that allows the at least two seat supports to rotate between a reclined position wherein the at least two seat supports are rotated toward a front of the seat unit relative to the at least two base frame tubes, and an upright position wherein the at least two seat supports are rotated toward a rear of the seat unit relative to the at least two base frame tubes;
wherein, when the at least two seat supports are rotated toward the front of the seat unit relative to the at least two base frame tubes, the front portion of the seat pan is configured to bend downward to reduce pressure applied to a popliteal area on a backside of a passenger's upper leg when a passenger is seated in the seat unit.

12. The seat unit of claim 11 , wherein each of the at least two leg supports is integrally formed into an arcuate shape.

13. The seat unit of claim 11 , wherein the upper support structure further comprises a seat back integrally formed with the seat pan as a single component.

14. The seat unit of claim 13 , wherein the at least two seat supports are coupled to the at least two base frame tubes via at least two slots in each seat support, wherein the slots are shaped to allow the upper support structure to rotate along a path that is defined by a shape of the slots.

15. The seat unit of claim 14 , wherein a first end of each slot corresponds to the reclined position of the seat unit, and a second end of each slot corresponds to the upright position of the seat unit.

16. The seat unit of claim 15 , further comprising at least two arm rests, wherein each arm rest is coupled to the rear portion of each seat support.

17. The seat unit of claim 13 , wherein the seat back comprises a curved design that is configured to contour to a shape of a back of the passenger seated in the seat unit.

18. A method of operating a seat unit, the seat unit comprising an upper support structure comprising at least two seat supports, a seat pan, and a seat back integrally formed into a single component, wherein the seat pan comprises a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion being detached from the at least two seat supports, each seat support slidingly coupled to at least two base frame tubes, the method comprising:
actuating a recline mechanism;
rotating the upper support structure so that the at least two seat supports are rotated toward a front of the seat unit relative to the at least two base frame tubes, and the seat back is in a reclined position;
bending the front portion of the seat pan downward to reduce pressure applied to a popliteal area on a backside of a passenger's upper leg.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising a step of actuating the recline mechanism, and rotating the upper support structure so that the at least two seat supports are rotated toward a rear of the seat unit relative to the at least two base frame tubes, and the seat back is in an upright position.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising at least two arm rests, wherein each arm rest is coupled to a rear portion of each seat support.

Assignees

• Zodiac Seats Us Llc

Inventors

• Le Foek Phuc Nguyen Tien

Classifications

• B64D11/064 Primary

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• B64D11/0644

  Adjustable arm rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0647

  Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features · CPC title

• B64D11/0642

  Adjustable headrests · CPC title