US 20140159444A1

( 19) United Sta tes

( 12) Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion ( 10) Pub. N o. : US 2014/0159444 A1
G uer ing ( 43 ) Pub. D a te: Jun. 12, 2014
( 54) SEATIN G D EVICE COMPRISIN G A ( 52) vs . C] .
FORWARD -FOLD ABLE BACKREST CPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B64D 11/06 ( 2013 . 01) ; A47C 1/121
( 2013 . 01) ; A47C 7/46 ( 2013 . 01)
( 71) Applica nt: Air bus Oper a tim s ( 5A5) , Toulous e USPC 297/195. 11;297/3 53 ;297/3 3 1;297/28 4. 4;
( FR)
297/ 23 2
( 72) Inventor : Ber na r d G uer ing , Montr a be ( FR)
( 22) Filed: D ec. 9, 2013
( 3 0) For eig n Applica tion Pr ior ity D a ta A s ea ting device With r educed bulk , f or ex a m ple f or a n a ir
cr a f t. Th is s ea ting device com pr is es a ba ck r es t Wh ich
D ec. 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . des cr ibes a cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent towa r ds th e f r ont
Publica tion Cla s s i? ca tion a nd upwa r ds of th e device Wh en th e s ea ting device is br oug h t
to th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion. A s ea ting s tr uctur e is pr ovided
( 51) Int_ CL com pr is ing a bea r ing piece on Wh ich a r e ? x ed, s ide by s ide, a
B64D 11/06 ( 200601) plur a lity of s ea ting devices With r educed bulk . An a ir cr a f t is
A4 7C 7/46 ( 2006. 01) pr ovided com pr is ing a s ea ting device With r educed bulk
A4 7C 1/121 ( 2006. 01) m ounted in its ca bin.
12
Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Jun. 12, 2014 Sh eet 1 0f 2 US 2014/0159444 A1
US 2014/0159444 A1 Jun. 12, 2014 Sh eet 2 0f 2 Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion
US 2014/0159444 A1
SEATIN G D EVICE COMPRISIN G A
FORWARD -FOLD ABLE BACKREST
CROSS-REFEREN CES TO RELATED
APPLICATION S
[ 0001] Th is a pplica tion cla im s th e bene? t of th e Fr ench
pa tent a pplica tion N o. 12 61917 ? led on D ec. 12, 2012, th e
entir e dis clos ur es of wh ich a r e incor por a ted h er ein by wa y of
r ef er ence.
BACKG ROUN D OF THE IN VEN TION
[ 0002] Th e pr es ent invention r ela tes to a s ea ting device
with r educed bulk , f or ex a m ple f or a n a ir cr a f t.
[ 0003 ] In th e a er ona utica l s ector , s om e s o-ca lled low
cos t a ir lines s eek to incr ea s e th e num ber of pa s s eng er s tr a ns
por ted on ea ch ? ig h t, a nd m or e pa r ticula r ly on s h or t-h a ul
link s , in or der to m a x im ize th e r etur n on th e us e of th e a ir cr a f t.
[ 0004] To th a t end, a nd by us ing th e s a m e a ir cr a f t or a n
a ir cr a f t of s im ila r ca pa city , th e num ber of s ea ts in th e ca bin
m us t be incr ea s ed.
[ 0005] In a ll ca s es , th is incr ea s e in th e num ber of s ea ts is
a ch ieved to th e detr im ent of th e com f or t of th e pa s s eng er s .
[ 0006] In ef f ect, to incr ea s e th e num ber of ca bin s ea ts , th e
s pa ce a llotted to ea ch pa s s eng er m us t be r educed.
[ 0007] However , th is r educed com f or t r em a ins toler a ble f or
th e pa s s eng er s in a s m uch a s th e ? ig h t la s ts only one or a f ew
h our s .
[ 0008 ] Accor ding to a ? r s t s olution a im ing to incr ea s e th e
num ber of ca bin s ea ts , it is pos s ible to r educe th e s ea ting
width a llotted to ea ch pa s s eng er in or der to pla ce a n a ddi
tiona l s ea t in th e width of th e ca bin.
[ 0009] Th is ? r s t s olution h a s a lr ea dy been pur s ued, a nd it is
now no long er pos s ible to f ur th er r educe th e s ea ting width ,
pa r ticula r ly in econom y cla s s .
[ 0010] Accor ding to a s econd s olution a im ing to incr ea s e
th e num ber of ca bin s ea ts , it is pos s ible to r educe th e dis ta nce
a va ila ble between two s ea ts , th a t is to s a y th e dis ta nce needed
f or th e leg s of th e pa s s eng er .
[ 0011] Th is s econd s olution h a s a ls o been pur s ued h ith er to,
a nd it is dif ? cult to continue to f ur th er r educe th is dis ta nce
between th e s ea ts beca us e of th e incr ea s e in th e a ver a g e s ize
of th e pa s s eng er s .
[ 0012] Accor ding to a th ir d s olution a im ing to incr ea s e th e
num ber of ca bin s ea ts , th e des ig n of th e s ea ts h a s to be
optim ized s o th a t th ey pr es ent th e s m a lles t pos s ible bulk .
[ 0013 ] Th is th ir d s olution h a s a ls o been pur s ued by th e
eng ineer s of th e a er ona utica l s ector .
[ 0014] Wh ile developing th es e th r ee s olutions a im ing to
incr ea s e th e num ber of ca bin s ea ts , th e eng ineer s beca m e
a wa r e th a t it wa s becom ing incr ea s ing ly dif ? cult f or th e pa s
s eng er s to a cces s th e s ea ting pla ces loca ted a t th e end of a r ow
of s ea ts , on th e window s ide.
[ 0015] Th is a cces s dif ? culty is m a inly due to th e r educed
dis ta nce between two s ea ts , a nd m or e s peci? ca lly to th e
r educed dis ta nce between th e s ea ting of a ? r s t s ea t a nd th e
ba ck r es t of a noth er s ea t s itua ted in f r ont of th e ? r s t.
[ 0016] Als o, th e dif ? culty in a cces s ing th e s ea ting pla ces
s itua ted a t th e end of a r ow a ls o s tem s f r om th e pr es ence of th e
a r m r es ts .
[ 0017] Als o, to r em edy s uch a cces s di? iculties , it is com
m on pr a ctice, in a n a ir cr a f t or in oth er people tr a ns por t m ea ns ,
to pr ovide s ea ts with a r m r es ts a nd a s ea ting th a t ca n be r a is ed,
Jun. 12, 2014
th a t is to s a y r ota tiona lly m ounted s o a s to be a ble to be
r etr a cted upwa r ds towa r ds th e ba ck r es t of th e s ea t.
[ 0018 ] Th is k nown s olution m eets its lim its wh en s eek ing
to incr ea s e th e num ber of s ea ts in a n a ir cr a f t ca bin.
[ 0019] In pr a ctice, des pite th e m a ny enh a ncem ents m a de to
th e a ir cr a f t s ea ts , th e r etr a cted-up s ea ting s till h a s a cer ta in
th ick nes s wh ich r em a ins cum ber s om e f or a cces s to th e s ea t
ing pla ces s itua ted a t th e end of a r ow, on th e window s ide.
[ 0020] Fur th er m or e, s ince th e ba ck r es t of th e s ea ts with
r a is a ble a r m r es ts a nd s ea ting r em a ins ? x ed, it does not m a k e
it pos s ible to f r ee up a ny a cces s to th e s ea ting pla ces s itua ted
beh ind.
SUMMARY OF THE IN VEN TION
[ 0021] Th us , th e pr es ent invention a im s to m itig a te th e
dr a wba ck s of th e pr ior a r t.
[ 0022] To th is end, th e invention pr opos es a s ea ting device
with r educed bulk f or a n a ir cr a f t.
[ 0023 ] Th is s ea ting device com pr is es a s uppor t s uppor ting
a s ea ting a nd a ba ck r es t, a nd th is s ea ting device ca n a s s um e
dif f er ent con? g ur a tions of us e of f er ing a s ea ting pla ce, a s
well a s a r etr a cted con? g ur a tion of f er ing a r educed bulk .
[ 0024] Als o, th is s ea ting device is ch a r a cter ized in th a t its
ba ck r es t des cr ibes a cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent towa r ds
th e f r ont a nd upwa r ds of th e device wh en th e s ea ting device is
br oug h t to th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0025] By vir tue of th es e k inem a tics , th e ba ck r es t m a k es it
pos s ible to widen th e a cces s to th e s ea ting pla ces s itua ted
beh ind wh en th e s ea ting device is in th e r etr a cted con? g ur a
tion.
[ 0026] It a ls o becom es pos s ible, by vir tue of th is pa r ticula r
m obility of th e ba ck r es t, to f ur th er r educe th e dis ta nce
between dif f er ent r ows of s ea ting devices in a n a ir cr a f t ca bin.
[ 0027] By vir tue of th e cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent
towa r ds th e f r ont a nd upwa r ds of th e device wh en th e s ea ting
device is r etr a cted, th e ba ck r es t is loca ted in th e ver tica l
ex tens ion of th e s uppor t wh en th e s ea ting device is in th e
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0028 ] Fur th er m or e, th e s ea ting r ota tiona lly tilts s o th a t its
f r ont end is m oved downwa r ds a nd towa r ds th e r ea r , a nd its
r ea r end is m oved upwa r ds a nd towa r ds th e f r ont wh en th e
s ea ting device is r etr a cted.
[ 0029] Th us , th e s ea ting is loca ted between th e ba ck r es t
a nd th e s uppor t, s ubs ta ntia lly in th e ver tica l ex tens ion of
th es e two elem ents , wh en th e s ea ting device is in th e r etr a cted
con? g ur a tion.
[ 003 0] To obta in th es e m ovem ents of th e ba ck r es t a nd of
th e s ea ting , th e s ea ting a nd th e ba ck r es t of th e s ea ting device
a r e m ounted on a def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m .
[ 003 1] In m or e deta il, th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m com
pr is ing a f r ont s ta y a nd a r ea r s ta y link ed by a top s ta y a nd a
bottom s ta y , th e f r ont s ta y a nd th e r ea r s ta y a r e f or m ed r es pec
tively by th e s uppor t a nd by th e ba ck r es t, a nd th e s ea ting is
? x ed to th e top s ta y of th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m .
[ 003 2] In or der to r educe th e bulk of th e s ea ting device in
th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion a nd to r educe th e dis ta nce needed
to a ccom m oda te th e leg s of th e pa s s eng er s between two r ows
of s ea ting devices , th e s ea ting ta k es th e f or m of a m otor cy cle
ty pe s a ddle.
[ 003 3 ] Still with a view to r educing th e bulk of th e s ea ting
device in th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion, th e ba ck r es t ta k es th e
f or m of a s im ple lum ba r s uppor t h eld a t th e end of a n a r m .
[ 003 4] Fur th er m or e, th e s ea ting ca n of f er a r ota tiona l
m obility a bout a ver tica l a x is r ela tive to th e s uppor t, a nd th e
US 2014/0159444 A1
s uppor t ca n incor por a te m ea ns f or a dj us ting th e s ea ting
h eig h t, th es e f ea tur es m a k ing it pos s ible to indir ectly r educe
th e dis ta nce needed between two r ows of s ea ting devices .
[ 003 5] To a dd to th e s ea ting com f or t of th e pa s s eng er , th e
s ea ting device com pr is es a r a is a ble a r m r es t with a n a r m r ota
tiona lly m ounted a bout a n a x is of th e s uppor t.
[ 003 6] Adva nta g eous ly , th is a r m r es t com pr is es a s uppor t
elem ent f or a f or ea r m m ounted on a s lidewa y a t th e end of th e
r ota r y a r m , wh ich m a k es it pos s ible to pr es s th e s uppor t
elem ent onto th e a r m to m inim ize th e bulk of th e a r m r es t once
th e la tter is r a is ed.
[ 003 7] Th e pr es ent invention a ls o cover s a s ea ting s tr uctur e
com pr is ing a bea r ing piece, pr ef er a bly a tube, on wh ich a r e
? x ed, s ide by s ide, a plur a lity of s ea ting devices , a s well a s a n
a ir cr a f t com pr is ing a s ea ting device.
BRIEF D ESCRIPTION OF THE D RAWIN G S
[ 003 8 ] Oth er f ea tur es a nd a dva nta g es will em er g e f r om th e
f ollowing des cr iption of th e invention, a des cr iption wh ich is
g iven pur ely a s a n ex a m ple, in lig h t of th e a ppended dr a wing s
in wh ich :
[ 003 9] FIG . 1 is a per s pective view of a s ea ting s tr uctur e
com pr is ing a plur a lity of s ea ting devices , th is view illus tr a t
ing th e invention,
[ 0040] FIG . 2 a nd FIG . 3 a r e s ch em a tic views r es pectively
r epr es enting a s ea ting device in th e s ea ting con? g ur a tion a nd
in th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion, th es e views illus tr a ting th e
invention,
[ 0041] FIG . 4 is a s ide view of a plur a lity of r ows of s ea ting
devices , th is view illus tr a ting th e invention,
[ 0042] FIG . 5 is a per s pective view f r om a bove of a plur a l
ity of r ows of s ea ting devices , th is view illus tr a ting th e inven
tion.
D ETAILED D ESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBOD IMEN TS
[ 0043 ] As illus tr a ted in FIG . 1, th e pr es ent invention r ela tes
to a s ea ting device 10 with r educed bulk .
[ 0044] Th is s ea ting device 10 is pa r ticula r ly intended f or
us e in a n a ir cr a f t ca bin to r eceive a m a x im um num ber of
pa s s eng er s 12.
[ 0045] Obvious ly , th is a er ona utica l a pplica tion is non-lim
iting , a nd th e s ea ting device 10 a ccor ding to th e invention
could per f ectly well be us ed in oth er tr a ns por t m ea ns in wh ich
th e a im is to tr a ns por t a m a x im um num ber of pa s s eng er s ,
s uch a s coa ch es or tr a ins .
[ 0046] As is k nown, th e s ea ting device 10 com pr is es a
s uppor t 14 s uppor ting a s ea ting 16 a nd a ba ck r es t 18 .
[ 0047] Accor ding to th e invention, th e s ea ting device 10
ca n a s s um e dif f er ent con? g ur a tions of us e of f er ing a s ea ting
pla ce, s uch a s th a t illus tr a ted by FIG . 2, a nd a r etr a cted
con? g ur a tion of f er ing a r educed bulk , th is r etr a cted con? g u
r a tion being illus tr a ted in FIG . 3 .
[ 0048 ] Mor e pr ecis ely , a con? g ur a tion of us e of th e device
10 of f er s a s ubs ta ntia lly h or izonta l s ea ting 16, th e dif f er ent
con? g ur a tions of us e being link ed to th e h eig h t a dj us tm ent
a nd to th e r ota tiona l a dj us tm ent of th e device 10 a bout a
ver tica l a x is , a s deta iled la ter .
[ 0049] Th us , wh en th e s ea ting device 10 is br oug h t to th e
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion, its ba ck r es t 18 is m oved towa r ds th e
f r ont F of th e device 10.
Jun. 12, 2014
[ 0050] By vir tue of th is m ovem ent towa r ds th e f r ont F, th e
ba ck r es t 18 m a k es it pos s ible to f r ee up a cces s to th e s ea ting
pla ces s itua ted a t th e r ea r R of th e device 10.
[ 0051] Mor e s peci? ca lly , th e ba ck r es t 18 des cr ibes a cir cu
la r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent TC towa r ds th e f r ont F a nd
upwa r ds U of th e device 10 wh en th e s ea ting device 10 is
br oug h t to th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0052] Cir cula r tr a ns la tion s h ould be under s tood to m ea n
th a t th e invention intends th e ba ck r es t 18 to des cr ibe a pla na r
m ovem ent s uch th a t a ll th e points of th e ba ck r es t 18 h a ve
cir cula r tr a j ector ies of th e s a m e r a dius but of dif f er ent center s .
[ 0053 ] Th is cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent m a k es it pos
s ible to m a inta in th e ba ck r es t 18 in th e s a m e s ubs ta ntia lly
ver tica l pos ition r eg a r dles s of th e con? g ur a tion a s s um ed by
th e device 10.
[ 0054] Th us , r eg a r dles s of th e con? g ur a tion a s s um ed by
th e device 10, th e ba ck r es t 18 pr ovides th e pa s s eng er with a
lum ba r s uppor t.
[ 0055] Ver tica l s h ould be under s tood to m ea n a dir ection
th a t g oes f r om th e bottom D of th e device 10 to th e top U of
th e device 10, a nd h or izonta l s h ould be under s tood to m ea n
a dir ection th a t g oes f r om th e r ea r R of th e device 10 to th e
f r ont F of th e device 10.
[ 0056] Pr ef er a bly , th e ba ck r es t 18 des cr ibes a cir cula r
tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent TC in a m edia n pla ne PM of th e
device 10, th e m edia n pla ne PM s epa r a ting th e device 10 into
two h a lves , r ig h t a nd lef t.
[ 0057] By vir tue of th is pa r ticula r m ovem ent TC, th e ba ck
r es t 18 is loca ted s ubs ta ntia lly in th e ver tica l ex tens ion of th e
s uppor t 14, wh ich r educes th e bulk E of th e device in th e
r etr a cted pos ition.
[ 0058 ] Still by vir tue of th is cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ove
m ent TC, th e ba ck r es t 18 is m oved a wa y f r om th e s uppor t 14
to a llow th e s ea ting 16 to be r etr a cted.
[ 0059] In pr a ctice, a ccor ding to th e invention, th e s ea ting
16 r ota tiona lly tilts RT a bout a n a x is 20 of th e s uppor t 14 s o
th a t its f r ont end 22 is m oved downwa r ds D a nd towa r ds th e
r ea r R of th e device 10, a nd its r ea r end 24 is m oved upwa r ds
U a nd towa r ds th e f r ont F of th e device 10 wh en th e s ea ting
device 10 is br oug h t to th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0060] By vir tue of th is r ota tion RT, th e s ea ting 16 is
loca ted between th e ba ck r es t 18 a nd th e s uppor t 14 wh en th e
s ea ting device 10 is in th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion, wh ich
r educes th e bulk E of th e device in th e r etr a cted pos ition.
[ 0061] To m inim ize th is bulk E of th e device in th e r etr a cted
pos ition, th e s ea ting 16 is loca ted pa r tia lly in th e ver tica l
ex tens ion of th e ba ck r es t 18 a nd of th e s uppor t 14 wh en th e
s ea ting device 10 is in th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0062] Pr ef er a bly , th e s ea ting 16 des cr ibes its r ota tiona l
m ovem ent RT in a m edia n pla ne PM of th e device 10, th e a x is
of r ota tion 20 being a t r ig h t a ng les to th e m edia n pla ne PM.
[ 0063 ] In a pr ef er r ed a r r a ng em ent of th e s ea ting device 10,
th e s ea ting 16 a nd th e ba ck r es t 18 of th e s ea ting device 10 a r e
m ounted on a def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26.
[ 0064] Th is def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26 m a k es it pos s ible
to obta in, m ech a nica lly a nd in a com pa ct m a nner , th e s peci? c
m ovem ents of th e s ea ting 16 a nd of th e ba ck r es t 18 des cr ibed
a bove.
[ 0065] Th is def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26 com pr is es a f r ont
s ta y 28 a nd a r ea r s ta y 3 0 link ed by a top s ta y 3 2 a nd a bottom
s ta y 3 4.
[ 0066] Mor e s peci? ca lly , th e f r ont s ta y 28 is link ed by a top
f r ont h ing e 3 6 to th e top s ta y 3 2, th e f r ont s ta y 28 is link ed by
a bottom f r ont h ing e 3 8 to th e bottom s ta y 3 4, th e r ea r s ta y 3 0
US 2014/0159444 A1
is link ed by a top r ea r h ing e 40 to th e top s ta y 3 2, a nd th e r ea r
s ta y 3 0 is link ed by a bottom r ea r h ing e 42 to th e bottom s ta y
3 4.
[ 0067] In a pr ef er r ed a r r a ng em ent of th e s ea ting device 10,
th e f r ont s ta y 28 a nd th e r ea r s ta y 3 0 a r e f or m ed r es pectively
by th e s uppor t 14 a nd by th e ba ck r es t 18 . Th er e is th us
obta ined a ver y com pa ct a r r a ng em ent of th e def or m a ble pa r
a llelog r a m 26, a nd cons eq uently of th e s ea ting device 10.
[ 0068 ] Still in a pr ef er r ed a r r a ng em ent of th e s ea ting device
10, th e s ea ting 16 is ? x ed to th e top s ta y 3 2 of th e def or m a ble
pa r a llelog r a m 26.
[ 0069] Th e a x is 20 of th e s uppor t 14 a bout wh ich th e s ea t
ing 16 r ota tiona lly tilts RT is th er ef or e th e top f r ont h ing e 3 6
of th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26.
[ 0070] In com pa r is on to a n a s s em bly on a s lidewa y , th e
def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26 does not r eq uir e a ny ? x ed g uid
ing piece lik ely to r em a in beh ind th e ba ck r es t 18 wh en th e
s ea ting device 10 is in th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0071] Adva nta g eous ly , th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26
com pr is es r etur n m ea ns , s uch a s a s pr ing , f or r etur ning to th e
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
[ 0072] In a ddition to th is a r r a ng em ent of th e device 10, th e
invention pr ovides f or th e s ea ting 16 to ta k e th e f or m of a
m otor cy cle-ty pe s a ddle 44, th e s h a pe of th is s a ddle 44 being
vis ible in FIG . 1.
[ 0073 ] Th is s a ddle 44 com pr is es a f r ont pa r t 46 th a t is
th inner th a n its r ea r pa r t 48 a nd r a is ed r ela tive to th e r ea r pa r t
48 .
[ 0074] Th is s a ddle 44, of f er ing a better h old f or a pa s s eng er
12 by vir tue of its r a is ed f r ont pa r t 46, m a k es it pos s ible to
r a is e th e s ea ting 16 f ur th er by com pa r is on with th e a ir cr a f t
s ea ts with a pa r a llelepipeda l s ea ting .
[ 0075] By f ur th er r a is ing th e s ea ting 16, a nd a s FIG S. 1 a nd
4 illus tr a te, th e leg s of th e pa s s eng er 12 a r e les s r etr a cted a nd
r eq uir e les s s pa ce in r ela tion to th e s ea t in f r ont.
[ 0076] D es pite th is f ur th er r a is ing of th e s ea ting , th e pa s
s eng er is s ea ted, a nd not s ta nding .
[ 0077] As FIG . 4 illus tr a tes , in or der to a da pt th e s ea ting
device 10 to pa s s eng er s 12 of dif f er ent m or ph olog ies , th e
s uppor t 14 incor por a tes a dj us tm ent m ea ns , s uch a s a m a nu
a lly contr olled s pr ing cy linder s y s tem , f or a dj us ting th e s ea t
ing h eig h t H16.
[ 0078 ] Th e s ea ting h eig h t H16 is de? ned between th e
g r ound S, f or ex a m ple th e ? oor of a n a ir cr a f t ca bin, a nd th e
s ea ting 16.
[ 0079] Th e a dj us tm ent of th e s ea ting h eig h t H16 indir ectly
m a k es it pos s ible to r educe th e neces s a r y dis ta nce D N
between two r ows of s ea ting devices 10.
[ 008 0] In pr a ctice, th is a dj us tm ent ena bles ea ch pa s s eng er
to a da pt th e s ea ting h eig h t H16 to h is or h er m or ph olog y , a nd
th is a voids pr oviding a n ex ces s ive neces s a r y dis ta nce D N f or
pa s s eng er s of la r g e s ize by a voiding h a ving th em s ea ted too
low.
[ 008 1] To r e? ne th e com f or t of th e pa s s eng er 12, th e s ea t
ing 16 ca n a ls o of f er a r ota tiona l m obility MR, f or ex a m ple by
a f ew tens of deg r ees , a bout a ver tica l a x is A16 r ela tive to th e
s uppor t 14.
[ 008 2] Th is r ota tiona l m obility MR of th e s ea ting 16 a bout
a ver tica l a x is A16 a ls o indir ectly m a k es it pos s ible to r educe
th e neces s a r y dis ta nce D N between two r ows of s ea ting
devices 10.
[ 008 3 ] In pr a ctice, th e r ota tion MR of th e s ea ting 16
ena bles th e pa s s eng er to ? nd a m or e er g onom ic pos ition s o
th a t h e or s h e does not h a ve to f eel too clos e to h is or h er
Jun. 12, 2014
neig h bor in f r ont, a nd, th is r ota tion MR a ls o ena bles th e
pa s s eng er s to m ove wh ile being s ea ted to f r ee up th e pa s s a g e
to th e s ea ting pla ces s itua ted clos e to th e window.
[ 008 4] Accor ding to th e invention, th e ba ck r es t 18 ta k es th e
f or m of a lum ba r s uppor t 50 h eld a t th e end of a n a r m 52.
[ 008 5] In a pr ef er r ed a r r a ng em ent of th e s ea ting device 10,
th e bottom pa r t 54 of th e a r m 52 cons titutes th e r ea r s ta y 3 0 of
th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m 26.
[ 008 6] As illus tr a ted in FIG . 1, th e lum ba r s uppor t 50,
pos s ibly pa dded, f ollows a cur ved pr o? le in a tr a ns ver s a l
pla ne PT of th e s ea ting device 10 s o a s to clos ely f ollow th e
a na tom y of th e ba ck of a pa s s eng er , th e tr a ns ver s a l pla ne PT
s epa r a ting th e device 10 into two h a lves , top a nd bottom , a nd
being a t r ig h t a ng les to th e m edia n pla ne PM.
[ 008 7] In a m inim a l but s uf ? cient va r ia nt, th e lum ba r s up
por t 50 h a s a h eig h t H50 of ten or s o centim eter s , a nd a
th ick nes s E50 of a f ew centim eter s .
[ 008 8 ] Th is m inim a l va r ia nt of th e lum ba r s uppor t 50 obvi
ous ly m a k es it pos s ible to lim it th e bulk E of th e s ea ting
device 10, nota bly by com pa r is on with th e a ir cr a f t s ea ts with
pa r a llelepipeda l ba ck r es t of th e pr ior a r t.
[ 008 9] To com plem ent th e com f or t of a pa s s eng er 12, a nd
a s illus tr a ted in FIG . 4, th e s ea ting device 10 com pr is es a
r a is a ble a r m r es t 56 with a n a r m 58 r ota tiona lly m ounted
a bout a n a x is A58 th a t is ? x ed r ela tive to th e s uppor t 14.
[ 0090] In a k nown m a nner , th e r a is a ble a r m r es t 56 is
m ounted a long s ide th e s ea ting 16. Als o, in th e ca s e of a
plur a lity of s ea ting devices 10 f or m ing a r ow, a s FIG . 1
illus tr a tes , a r a is a ble a r m r es t 56 is pr ovided on ea ch s ide of
ea ch s ea ting device 10.
[ 0091] Pr ef er a bly , th e a x is A58 of r ota tion of th e a r m 58 is
per pendicula r to th e m edia n pla ne PM of th e device 10.
[ 0092] However , th e a x is A58 of r ota tion of th e a r m 58 is
dis tinct f r om th e a x is 20 of r ota tion of th e s ea ting 16.
[ 0093 ] Th e a r m r es t 56 com pr is es a s uppor t elem ent 60 f or
a f or ea r m of a pa s s eng er 12 m ounted on a s lidewa y 62 a t th e
top end 64 of th e a r m 58 .
[ 0094] Adva nta g eous ly , th e s liding of th e s uppor t elem ent
60 r ela tive to th e a r m 58 de? nes th e inclina tion I of th e
s uppor t elem ent 60 r ela tive to th e a r m 58 , a nd it m a k es it
pos s ible to k eep th e s uppor t elem ent 60 in a s ubs ta ntia lly
h or izonta l pos ition.
[ 0095] Fur th er m or e, th e r ota tion of th e a r m r es t 56 in com
bina tion with th e s lidewa y 62 m a k es it pos s ible to a dj us t th e
des ir ed h eig h t H56 of th e a r m r es t. Als o, by r ota ting th e a r m
58 of th e a r m r es t 56 to a lower pos ition, th e s lidewa y 62
m a k es it pos s ible to k eep th e a r m r es t 56 in a us ea ble pos ition
s itua ted clos e to th e s ea ting 16.
[ 0096] Still by vir tue of th e s lidewa y 62, th e s uppor t ele
m ent 60 ca n be pr es s ed onto th e a r m 58 to m inim ize th e bulk
E56 of th e a r m r es t 56 wh en it is r a is ed.
[ 0097] Th e pr es ent invention a ls o cover s a s ea ting s tr uctur e
66, illus tr a ted in FIG . 1, com pr is ing a bea r ing piece 68 , pr ef
er a bly a tube, on wh ich a r e ? x ed, s ide by s ide, a plur a lity of
s ea ting devices 10 s o a s to f or m a r ow R1 of s ea ting pla ces .
[ 0098 ] Adva nta g eous ly , th e s uppor ts 14 of th e dif f er ent
s ea ting devices 10 a r e incor por a ted in th is bea r ing piece 68
a nd th e r a is a ble a r m r es ts 56 a r e dir ectly r ota tiona lly m ounted
on th e bea r ing piece 68 .
[ 0099] Th e invention a ls o cover s a n a ir cr a f t com pr is ing a
s ea ting device 10 m ounted in its ca bin.
[ 0100] For ex a m ple, a n a ir cr a f t com pr is es a plur a lity of
s ea ting s tr uctur es 66 m ounted one beh ind th e oth er in its
US 2014/0159444 A1
ca bin s o a s to f or m a plur a lity of r ows ( R1, R2, R3 , R4, R5,
etc. ) of s ea ting pla ces , a s r epr es ented in FIG . 5.
[ 0101] To th is end, th e bea r ing piece 68 of ea ch s ea ting
s tr uctur e 66 is m ounted on th e ? oor 70 of th e a ir cr a f t ca bin via
connecting r ods 72, a nd a la ter a l a r m 74 link ing th e bea r ing
piece 68 to th e s tr uctur e of th e a ir cr a f t in or der to ta k e up th e
tor s iona l f or ces to wh ich th e la tter is s ubj ected.
[ 0102] Als o, it ca n be s een th a t, by com pa r is on with th e
a ir cr a f t s ea ts of th e pr ior a r t, th e s ea ting device 10 a ccor ding
to th e invention of f er s a r educed bulk both wh en it is in us e
a nd wh en it is r etr a cted.
[ 0103 ] Fur th er m or e, it is pos s ible to r educe th e neces s a r y
dis ta nce D N between two r ows of s ea ting pla ces wh ile pr e
s er ving th e com f or t of th e pa s s eng er s , both wh en th ey a r e
s ea ted a nd wh en th ey a r e a cces s ing th eir pla ce.
[ 0104] To g ive s om e idea , by vir tue of th e des ig n of th e
s ea ting device 10 a ccor ding to th e invention, it is pos s ible to
obta in f our r ows of s ea ting pla ces in th e leng th in wh ich only
th r ee r ows of a ir cr a f t s ea ts a ccor ding to th e pr ior a r t wer e a ble
to be ins ta lled.
[ 0105] As is a ppa r ent f r om th e f or eg oing s peci? ca tion, th e
invention is s us ceptible of being em bodied with va r ious a lter
a tions a nd m odi? ca tions wh ich m a y dif f er pa r ticula r ly f r om
th os e th a t h a ve been des cr ibed in th e pr eceding s peci? ca tion
a nd des cr iption. It s h ould be under s tood th a t I wis h to
em body with in th e s cope of th e pa tent wa r r a nted h er eon a ll
s uch m odi? ca tions a s r ea s ona bly a nd pr oper ly com e with in
th e s cope of m y contr ibution to th e a r t.
1. A s ea ting device with r educed bulk com pr is ing :
a s uppor t s uppor ting a s ea ting a nd a ba ck r es t,
th e s ea ting device h a ving a plur a lity of con? g ur a tions of
us e of f er ing a s ea ting pla ce a nd being m ova ble to a
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion of f er ing a r educed bulk ,
th e ba ck r es t being a r r a ng ed to m ove towa r ds a f r ont of th e
s ea ting device wh en th e s ea ting device is m oved to th e
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion,
th e ba ck r es t des cr ibing a cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent
towa r ds th e f r ont a nd upwa r ds r ela tive to th e device
wh en th e s ea ting device is m oved to th e r etr a cted con
? g ur a tion.
2. Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e s ea ting r ota tiona lly tilts a bout a n a x is of th e
s uppor t s o th a t its f r ont end is m oved downwa r ds a nd towa r ds
th e r ea r of th e device, a nd its r ea r end is m oved upwa r ds a nd
towa r ds th e f r ont of th e device wh en th e s ea ting device is
m oved to th e r etr a cted con? g ur a tion.
3 . Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e s ea ting a nd th e ba ck r es t of th e s ea ting device
a r e m ounted on a def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m .
4. Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
3 , wh er ein th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m com pr is es a f r ont
Jun. 12, 2014
s ta y a nd a r ea r s ta y link ed by a top s ta y a nd a bottom s ta y , th e
f r ont s ta y a nd th e r ea r s ta y being f or m ed r es pectively by th e
s uppor t a nd by th e ba ck r es t, a nd th e s ea ting being ? x ed to th e
top s ta y of th e def or m a ble pa r a llelog r a m .
5. Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e s ea ting ta k es th e f or m of a m otor cy cle-ty pe
s a ddle.
6. Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e ba ck r es t ta k es th e f or m of a lum ba r s uppor t
h eld a t th e end of a n a r m .
7. Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e s ea ting h a s a r ota tiona l m obility a bout a ver
tica l a x is r ela tive to th e s uppor t.
8 . Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e s uppor t incor por a tes m ea ns f or a dj us ting th e
s ea ting h eig h t.
9. Th e s ea ting device with r educed bulk a ccor ding to cla im
1, wh er ein th e s ea ting device com pr is es a r a is a ble a r m r es t
with a n a r m r ota tiona lly m ounted a bout a n a x is th a t is ? x ed
r ela tive to th e s uppor t, th e a r m r es t com pr is ing a s uppor t ele
m ent f or a f or ea r m of a pa s s eng er m ounted on a s lidewa y a t a
top end of th e a r m .
10. A s ea ting s tr uctur e com pr is ing a bea r ing piece on
wh ich a r e ? x ed, s ide by s ide, a plur a lity of s ea ting devices s o
a s to f or m a r ow of s ea ting pla ces , th e s ea ting devices ea ch
com pr is ing :
a s uppor t s uppor ting a s ea ting a nd a ba ck r es t,
th e s ea ting device h a ving a plur a lity of con? g ur a tions of
us e of f er ing a s ea ting pla ce a nd being m ova ble to a
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion of f er ing a r educed bulk ,
th e ba ck r es t being a r r a ng ed to m ove towa r ds a f r ont of th e
s ea ting device wh en th e s ea ting device is m oved to th e
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion,
th e ba ck r es t des cr ibing a cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent
towa r ds th e f r ont a nd upwa r ds r ela tive to th e device
wh en th e s ea ting device is m oved to th e r etr a cted con
? g ur a tion.
11. An a ir cr a f t com pr is ing a t lea s t one s ea ting device
m ounted in its ca bin, th e s ea ting device com pr is ing :
a s uppor t s uppor ting a s ea ting a nd a ba ck r es t,
th e s ea ting device h a ving a plur a lity of con? g ur a tions of
us e of f er ing a s ea ting pla ce a nd being m ova ble to a
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion of f er ing a r educed bulk ,
th e ba ck r es t being a r r a ng ed to m ove towa r ds a f r ont of th e
s ea ting device wh en th e s ea ting device is m oved to th e
r etr a cted con? g ur a tion,
th e ba ck r es t des cr ibing a cir cula r tr a ns la tiona l m ovem ent
towa r ds th e f r ont a nd upwa r ds r ela tive to th e device
wh en th e s ea ting device is m oved to th e r etr a cted con
? g ur a tion.