B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Bombardier Inc.

Takata Protection Systems, Inc.

Michael L Oleson

Arjun Koustubhan

John Iossifidis

Alfredo Suarez

Moises Perez

Hau Phuc Ho

Anatoly Starikov

Pete C Meister

Michael J Farvet

Raghavendra Kottem

Andrew J Shutter

David Savard

Dave L Guyton

Norman Shimizu

Mark E Deevey

A self-supporting berthing platform system is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of articulated panels including a first panel coupled to a second panel via at least one hinge assembly. The plurality of articulated panels may be configured to pivot between at least one of an upright position and a berth position. The system may include a hinge reinforcement assembly including a first reinforcement member and a second reinforcement member. The hinge reinforcement assembly may further include a flange. The system may include a panel reinforcement assembly including a first panel reinforcement member coupled to the first panel and a portion of at least one seatback frame and a second panel reinforcement member sub-assembly coupled to the second panel. The second panel reinforcement member sub-assembly may include at least one panel leg and at least one support block.

Self supporting berthing platform system for aircraft seats

A vertical adjustment system for an aircraft seat is disclosed. The vertical adjustment system may include an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly may include an actuator configured to provide a vertical height adjustment for the aircraft seat. The actuation assembly may include a release mechanism configured to couple to a rotatory portion of the swivel plate. The actuation assembly may include a plurality of vertical stabilizer rods coupled to a portion of the tracking plate. The actuation assembly may include a pillow block assembly. The pillow block assembly may include a plurality of pillow blocks coupled to a portion of the swivel plate. The pillow block assembly may include a plurality of rollers coupled to a portion of the plurality of pillow blocks. The plurality of rollers may be configured to provide stability along the vertical stabilizer rods when the actuator provides the vertical height adjustment.

Vertical adjustment system for an aircraft seat

A plinth attachment system for attachment to at least one track includes: a first plate having a first side configured for mounting to a longitudinally extending track, and a first mounting feature for mounting a first structure; and a second plate having a first side configured for mounting to the track, and a second mounting feature for mounting a second structure. When mounted on the track, at least one interlinking feature of the first side of the first plate and at least one interlinking feature of the first side of the second plate interlock at the track, and, the first mounting feature and second mounting feature are aligned at essentially equivalent longitudinal positions.

Interlinked plinth attachment system for aircraft seats

A gravity-assisted tracking base assembly for an aircraft seat includes base rails mounted to floor tracks in an aircraft cabin by floor track fittings in fixed positions, the base rails connected by a tracking member for providing longitudinal tracking while minimizing added height. The base rails include tracking slots extending longitudinally, and the tracking member includes tracking elements translatable forward and backward along the tracking slots, allowing an aircraft seat mounted to the tracking member to translate forward and backward relative to the base. The tracking member includes a locking mechanism for locking the tracking member and seat in intermediate positions within the tracking slots. The tracking slots may be oriented slightly downward from the horizontal to allow for gravity-assisted tracking or to counteract the nose-up flight angles associated with cruising altitude, providing for easier seat tracking.

Gravity-assisted tracking base assembly for aircraft seat

A tracking base assembly for an aircraft seat includes base rails mounted to floor tracks in an aircraft cabin by floor track fittings in fixed positions, the base rails connected by a tracking member for providing longitudinal tracking while minimizing added height. The base rails include tracking slots extending longitudinally, and the tracking member includes tracking elements translatable forward and backward along the tracking slots, allowing an aircraft seat mounted to the tracking member to translate forward from a retracted configuration into an extended or berthing configuration (and backward to the retracted configuration). The tracking member includes a locking mechanism for locking the tracking member and seat in intermediate positions within the tracking slots. The tracking slots may be oriented slightly downward from the horizontal to allow for gravity-assisted tracking or to counteract the nose-up flight angles associated with cruising altitude, providing for easier seat tracking.

Tracking base assembly for aircraft seat

A three-place aircraft divan configured to be installed side-facing in an aircraft and track between an upright sitting position and a berth position. Seat bottom and backrest portions of the divan are movably supported on a static frame and track together. The divan includes inflatable passenger restraints at each seat place and a leg flail prevention device at one end of the frame triggered to actuate in response to an event sensed by a mechanical crash sensor. The inboard leg arrangement of the divan accommodates the installation of two containers for containing high-capacity life rafts under the seat bottom frame, among other equipment.

Three-place berthing aircraft divan

An aircraft seat with tilt-shift functionality includes a backrest frame pivotably mounted to the seat frame, the backrest frame having rollers set into its upright end that translate through slots in the seat frame and lateral slots in its forward end capable of accepting sliders attached to the seatpan. When a passenger leans backward in the seat, tilting the backrest frame backward and downward, a shift linkage below the backrest frame translates the backward tilt to a forward shift of the seatpan forward to enhance the comfort of the passenger. The aircraft seat may further be capable of longitudinal and lateral translation as well as a full 360-degree swivel.

Work-and-dine aircraft seat with tilt and shift articulation

The dynamic retention system may include at least one plunger assembly including a plunger base coupled to a base assembly of an aircraft seat and a spring-loaded plunger coupled to a seat frame. The spring-loaded plunger may be configured to contact the plunger base. The dynamic retention system may include at least one hook receptacle coupled to the base assembly, and at least one structural hook coupled to the seat frame. The at least one hook receptacle may be configured to receive the at least one structural hook responsive to the spring-loaded plunger contacting the plunger base. The seat frame may be coupled to the base assembly via an actuation assembly. The aircraft seat may be actuatable between a first position and at least a second position.

Dynamic retention system for an aircraft seat

A stowable harness fan assembly for a low-back divan is disclosed. In embodiments, the stowable harness fan assembly includes one or more vertical support members, a horizontal support member, and a repositionable harness fan. The horizontal support member is coupled to the one or more vertical support members. The horizontal support member includes an opening and a pivot disposed at one end of the opening. The repositionable harness fan is coupled to the horizontal support member by the pivot and is at least partially disposed within the opening so that the repositionable harness fan can rotate between an open (e.g., raised) configuration and a closed (e.g., stowed) configuration with respect to the opening.

Stowable harness fan assembly for a low-back divan

A multi-stage seatback extension system is disclosed. In embodiments, the multi-stage seatback extension system includes a backrest base assembly, an extendable backrest assembly, and an extendable headrest assembly. The extendable backrest assembly is moveably coupled to the backrest base assembly such that it can be pulled away from the backrest base assembly or pushed toward the backrest base assembly. The extendable headrest assembly is coupled to the extendable backrest assembly so that the headrest assembly can also be extended (or retracted). In this regard, the extendable backrest assembly and the headrest assembly implement a multi-stage (e.g., two stage or more) seatback extension system.

Multi-stage seatback extension system

A linkage extension system and method for holding an extendable portion of a seat in a desired position while the extendable portion translates from a retracted to an extended position and any intermediate position. A coupled damper produces a holding force to counter gravity or other forces which cause the translation of the seat extension away from a desired position. The linkage extension system is self-powered and operates within the enclosed portion of the seat.

Linkage extension system with damped motion

A slouching aircraft divan transitions between discrete upright, slouched, and berthed configurations. The divan has a seatpan including rollers which travel along roller slots in frame rails connecting the front and rear legs: from the upright configuration, the seatpan tracks forward and down to a midpoint corresponding to the slouched configuration and then forward and up to the berthed configuration. The back follower panel tracks with the seatpan along backrest slots, curving rearward as it tracks down to allow the back follower panel to track maximally forward, and the seatpan and backrest cushions to berth flat and parallel to the floor. The divan uses one-way damping devices to regulate the speed with which the seatpan tracks forward and down from the upright configuration to the slouched configuration and to provide a cushion when the seatpan tracking ends at the midpoint of the roller slot, when the slouched configuration is achieved.

Slouching divan with damped motion

In a preferred embodiment, a tilt-recline force adjusting apparatus for an aircraft passenger seat configured for a tilt-recline positioning includes a first spring having a first axis to urge a seat back into an upright position, the first spring arranged to compress as the seat is manually reclined, a helper spring having a second axis parallel to the first axis, the helper spring arranged to assist or counteract the first spring, an adjustment mechanism coupled to the helper spring to increase or decrease a force exerted by the helper spring to assist or counteract the first spring, and a weight sensing mechanism coupled to the adjustment mechanism and operable to actuate the adjustment mechanism in direct proportion to a weight of a seated passenger, whereby the force exerted on the aircraft seat to urge the seat back into an upright position is greater for a heavier seated passenger.

Aircraft seat with occupant weight sensing mechanism to adjust tilt-recline force

A weight sensing mechanism for an aircraft seat pan configured to adjust seat pan recline force and including a gas spring arranged between a fixed seat frame member and a movable seat pan member, the gas spring arranged to compress as the seat pan reclines in response to a load on the seat pan, and unloads upon removal of the load on the seat pan to assist in returning the seat pan to upright, and a helper spring positioned forward of and coaxially with the gas spring arranged to deflect under any load on the seat pan. A recline-capable seat pan assembly including a passenger body weight sensing mechanism.

A seating arrangement includes a seat with a seating surface and a top bunk disposed adjacent to the seat. The seat and the top bunk are configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the seat accommodates a user in a seated position and the top bunk is stowed. In the second configuration, the seat and the top bunk form a bunk bed configured to accommodate users in prone positions. In the first configuration, the seating surface is disposed at a first predetermined height. In addition, in the second configuration, the seating surface is disposed at a second predetermined height that is lower than the first predetermined height.

Growing community of inventors

Parkland, FL, United States of America

Michael L Oleson