The Boeing Company

James T Henley

Bradley James Mitchell

Kevin Scott Callahan

Trevor Milton Laib

Samuel J Feist

Robert Thomas Johnson

Darrel E Santala

Martin R Grether

Daniel J Howard

Forrest Frantz

A method of providing power and/or data to a seat in a seating area. A power distribution system having a continuous power bus is used to supply power and/or data to seats in a mobile platform or fixed structure. The power distribution system generally includes a bus strip that, in a mobile platform, extends along a length of a passenger cabin and a connector operable to provide a connection between the bus strip and the passenger seats. Power and/or data can be transmitted between the bus strip and the passenger seats, via the connector, at any point along the bus strip, thus eliminating the need to run separate connections between the power and/or data source and each seat.

Continuous power bus for seat power

A power/data bus for conducting at least one of data and power signals to a variety of different locations on a mobile platform. The bus has a plurality of discrete connection ports, and at least one conductive cable. The power/data bus extends across an area where access to at least one of data and electricity is desired. The discrete connection ports are spaced apart at different locations along the power/data bus. The conductive cable extends through the power/data bus and is connected to at least one of the discrete connection ports. The conductive cable conducts at least one of power and data signals between the discrete connection ports and a data/power source. At least one of the connection ports are operable to cooperate with a connector of an external device to supply at least one of power and data signals to the external device. The power/data bus, when used in an aircraft passenger cabin, eliminates the need to extend individual data and/or power cables to or between each passenger seat group.

Seat power bus with discrete connection ports

A power distribution system having a continuous power bus to supply power and/or data to aircraft passenger seats in a mobile platform. The power distribution system generally includes a bus strip that extends along a length of the passenger cabin and a connector operable to provide a connection between the bus strip and the passenger seats. Power and/or data can be transmitted between the bus strip and the passenger seats, via the connector, at any point along the bus strip, thus eliminating the need to run separate connections between the power and/or data source and each passenger seat.

A seat having a seat leg assembly for use on a mobile platform, especially on an aircraft. The seat comprises a front seat leg, a rear seat leg, and a spreader bar coupled to and extending between the front seat leg and the rear seat leg. The spreader bar has a door. The door is movable between a closed position in which the door prevents access to areas beneath the spreader bar and an open position in which the door permits access to areas beneath the spreader bar. In this manner, the open door allows an installer to grasp electrical cabling beneath the spreader bar and feed the cabling through a hole in the door so that the cable can be connected a connection point on or adjacent to the seat track.

Wide spreader bar and lift-up seat spreader bar for seat legs

A cabling system and method for providing access to electrical power and/or data communications onboard a mobile platform is provided. A plurality of lower connectors are attached to a bottom side of a plurality of mobile platform floor panels. Each lower connector includes at least one lower connector coupling contact that is connected to a lower connector signal conduit. The lower connector signal conduits convey either electrical signals or data signals between each lower connector coupling contact and a signal source and/or a signal receiver. A plurality of upper connectors removably mate with the lower connectors. Each upper connector includes at least one upper connector coupling contact that removably couples with the lower connector coupling contact(s) of the mated lower connector. A plurality of upper connector signal conduits are connected to the upper connector coupling contacts and detachably connect to at least one user connection port and/or at least one seat electrical unit (SEU) accessible by a passenger seated in a passenger cabin of the mobile platform. Thus, a transmission path for the electrical and/or data signals is provided between the lower connectors and the user connection ports and/or the SEU's when the upper connectors are mated with the lower connectors.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

James T Henley