The application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2014 210 861.6, filed on Jun. 6, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to an aircraft seat incorporating a holding device, such as a drink holder and to a holding device, such as a drink holder.
Aircraft seats typically have different functionalities which can be used by a passenger sitting in the aircraft seat. In differing cabin layouts, the aircraft seat is spatially arranged at a relatively great spacing from further aircraft seats in the cabin of an aircraft. For example, this is the case in VIP layouts of aircraft where it is not possible to use the adjacent seats to site the different functionalities. In this respect, it is generally known to provide an aircraft seat with a drink holder.
Typical drink holders on aircraft seats are constructed such that they have a generally cylindrical receiving space in which a receptacle can be held; this is what is known as a cup holder. The base of such cup holders secures the receptacle downwards in a vertical direction, while a wall prevents the receptacle from slipping horizontally. Since high accelerations can occur in aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing, but also in the case of turbulence, the wall of the drink holder must be high enough to ensure that the receptacle is held securely in the cup holder. This results in a vertical expanse of the cup holder which does not meet the visually aesthetic demands of a premium aircraft layout and has a corresponding installation space requirement. The typical cup holder does not afford any security against the receptacle slipping out upwards in a vertical direction.
Furthermore, integration of the cup holder into an aircraft seat is very difficult due to the vertical expanse of the holder. In this respect, storing the drink holder in a mount in the aircraft seat, for example, is only possible by a complex construction of the cup holder itself or of the holding device with a plurality of cooperating parts which can lead to wear and thereby to increased expense during maintenance.
Drink holders known from the prior art are primarily suitable for receptacles such as cylindrical glasses, bottles or coffee cups which have a relatively low centre of gravity due to the mass distributed towards the planar base. Particularly in premium classes, passengers are also served drinks in receptacles which have a stem, a bowl and a foot; this category of receptacles includes, for example, champagne glasses or wine glasses. These receptacles are relatively tall and narrow due to the stem and to the bowl arranged thereabove. Furthermore, the bowl arranged above the stem produces an elevated centre of gravity which leads to an increased tilting tendency of the receptacle. Therefore, a receptacle of this type would easily slip or tilt in the receiving space of a drink holder according to the prior art, for example in a cup holder.
Thus, prior art aircraft seats with drink holders are not suitable for securely holding a receptacle which has a stem, a bowl, and a foot.
Embodiments of the invention elate to an aircraft seat incorporating a holding device, such as a drink holder and a holding device, such as a drinker holder. In specific embodiments, the holding device allows an improved retention of receptacles having a stem, a bowl, and a foot. According to specific embodiments, the holding device incorporates a holding plate that has a recess for receiving the receptacle in the region of the bowl, at least one peripheral region of the recess extending as far as an edge of the holding plate, the holding plate being arranged in the use position such that the recess is freely accessible. The holding plate with its recess thereby preferably functions as a drink holder. In this respect, the holding plate substantially extends in one plane, this plane being aligned as far as possible parallel to the surface of the aircraft seat in the use position. Thus, the drink holder has a very small installation space, so that it can be integrated inconspicuously into the design of the aircraft seat. The holding plate has a recess which is configured such that it can receive the receptacle in the region of the bowl. In the following, the term “receptacle” always relates to a receptacle having a bowl, a stem and a foot. The receptacle can thus be held positively by the recess near the centre of gravity of the receptacle. This means that the tilting moments acting on the receptacle are reduced and thus the receptacle is held securely in the recess. At least one peripheral region of the recess extends as far as the edge of the holding plate. Understood as the edge of the holding plate in this respect is a side face or a plurality of side faces which interconnect a first base surface of the holding plate with a second base surface of the holding plate. The holding plate thus has a certain height which is preferably less than 40 mm, more preferably less than 20 mm and particularly preferably less than 10 mm. The holding plate is preferably configured such that the length of the holding plate is greater than the height; in this respect, the ratio of length to height of the holding plate is preferably between 2 and 40, more preferably between 10 and 30. The stem, aligned substantially orthogonally to the holding plate, of the receptacle can be guided into the recess via the peripheral region. As soon as the stem is in the recess, the receptacle can be released so that the bowl is held by the recess. Preferably, the recess is formed by an opening in the holding plate and the peripheral region is formed by a groove which extends from the edge of the holding plate to the opening.
In an alternative embodiment, the shape of the recess can also merge into the shape of the peripheral region so that the peripheral region does not form a taper between the edge and the recess. Due to the small dimensions of the holding plate, said holding plate which is rotatably attached to the supporting platform can be moved into the parked position by simple mechanical means. In the use position, the holding plate is oriented such that the recess is freely accessible, i.e. the holding plate is held spatially only by the supporting platform. In specific embodiments, further holding means such as a base can be omitted thereby.
In specific embodiments, apart from the holding plate, the drink holder does not comprise any further elements that obstruct the accessibility of the recess. In the context of the invention, “freely accessible” is to be understood such that the recess is not restricted upwards or downwards. It is thereby possible for receptacles having relatively long stems and bowls of differing heights to be received in the recess. A further advantage of the aircraft seat according to the invention is provided by the fastening of the holding plate to the aircraft seat by the connecting device and the supporting platform. In addition to the ergonomically favourable movability of the holding plate, this fastening also produces a damping effect, so that only damped movements of the seat are transferred onto the holding plate. Movements by the passengers, for example while they are taking their seats in the aircraft, are at least partly compensated by this type of fastening, so that the receptacle remains in the rest position and the drink is prevented from spilling out of the receptacle.
In specific embodiments, the aircraft seat comprises at least one armrest, the movable supporting platform being arranged on or in the armrest. Due to the arrangement of the supporting platform on the armrest, it is possible to keep the holding plate in a position which can be easily reached by the passenger's hand.
The connecting device of the holding plate is preferably connected pivotally to the connecting socket of the supporting platform. In this respect, the rotational axis is oriented substantially orthogonally to the plane of the surface of the aircraft seat. Due to the pivoting movement of the holding plate with respect to the supporting platform and thereby with respect to the aircraft seat, the passenger can move the holding plate towards him so that he can place the receptacle in or remove it from the recess in an ergonomically favourable movement sequence. If the passenger wishes to leave his seat, he can move the holding plate away so that he is not prevented from standing up.
Immediately after the holding plate has been moved from the parked position into the use position, it is preferably in an initial position, being arranged therein such that the peripheral region is open through the recess substantially in an orthogonal direction to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft seat up to the edge of the holding plate. The initial position in this respect is the position adopted by the holding plate immediately after it has reached the use position. Thus, the initial position is preferably one of many use positions able to be adopted by the holding plate. The “longitudinal axis of the aircraft seat” is understood as meaning the straight-ahead viewing direction of the passenger sitting in the aircraft seat. The longitudinal axis of the aircraft seat usually runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. By arranging the peripheral region orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of the aircraft seat, the receptacle can be moved into or out of the recess only by a movement which is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. This embodiment is particularly advantageous, since during normal flight operation, the greatest forces act in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. This advantageous arrangement of the peripheral region can thus prevent the receptacle from falling out as a result of these forces. Furthermore, the receptacle is thereby moved into and out of the recess in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft seat, which is managed very easily by the occupant of the seat.
Preferably provided on the holding plate is a locking means, or locking mechanism, which can fully demarcate the peripheral region of the recess from the edge of the holding plate. In an open position of the locking mechanism, the receptacle can be moved into the recess via the peripheral region. The locking mechanism can then be moved into the closed position, so that it is no longer possible for the receptacle to be removed from the recess via the peripheral region. The foot of the receptacle is usually larger than the recess, so that the receptacle can also not be moved out of the recess by a vertical upwards movement. Thus, in the closed position of the locking mechanism, the receptacle is secured in all spatial directions and the recess is closed with respect to all peripheral directions. Thus, the receptacle can be prevented from flying out of the recess during turbulent flight phases and passengers can be protected from injury.
The locking mechanism can preferably be opened and closed by a rotational movement. The passenger or flight attendant can thus easily move the locking mechanism into a closed or open position. In this respect, the centre of rotation is preferably the recess.
A bevel is preferably provided on a contact surface of the holding plate against which the bowl rests when inserted. The bevel preferably has a round, convex or concave shape. The bevel is preferably provided on an edge of the recess which forms the transition to an upwardly directed base surface of the holding plate. Alternatively however, the bevel can also be provided on an edge of the locking mechanism, which edge forms the contact surface for the bowl; in this case, the locking mechanism is to be considered as a component of the holding plate. The bevel provides the advantage that the support surface between the bowl and the recess is increased and thereby the freedom of movement of the receptacle in the recess is reduced. Furthermore, due to the bevel the receptacle has to be raised slightly upwards in the vertical direction when it is removed from the recess, thereby providing a further safety advantage. Furthermore, the advantage is provided that the longitudinal axis of the receptacle is aligned orthogonally to the holding plate. The exact alignment of the receptacle in the holding plate is extremely important for a high-quality appearance, so that this alignment would have to be made personally by the flight attendant or passenger every time the receptacle is set down. Due to the bevel on the upper edge of the recess, the receptacle is automatically brought into a designated holding position, so that a manual alignment of the receptacle is unnecessary.
Furthermore, the shape of the bevel preferably corresponds to the receiving cross section of the receptacle. This is particularly advantageous if receptacles which all have an identical contour are going to be used in the cabin. Due to the shape of the bevel which corresponds to the surface of the bowl resting accordingly on the bevel, the receptacle can be held in a particularly safe manner in the recess.
According to embodiments of the invention, a holding device incorporates a holding plate, the holding plate having a recess for receiving the receptacle in the region of the bowl with at least one peripheral region of the recess extending as far as an edge of the holding plate, and the holding plate being aligned in the use position such that the recess is freely accessible.
In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. In the drawings:
Attached to the right-hand armrest 2 of the seat 1 is a supporting platform 3 which serves to connect a holding plate 9, shown in
Immediately after the holding plate 9 has moved out of the parked position into the use position, it adopts an initial position. The direction of the initial position is illustrated by way of example in
The holding plate 9 has a recess 12 which is used to hold a receptacle 8 which has a bowl 19, a stem 20 and a foot 21. The foot 21 can also be formed as a counterweight without a planar standing surface, as a result of which the actual function of a foot 21, namely setting down on a substantially planar plane, is not provided, but instead merely a downwards shift in the centre of gravity is produced. Furthermore, in addition to typical receptacles for drinks, attractively designed flower vases, for example, can also be placed in the holding plate 9. The recess 12 is configured such that it is smaller than the diameter of the bowl 19; the bowl 19 is thus held by the recess 12 against a contact surface. The recess 12 is preferably smaller than the diameter of the foot 21. Thus, the receptacle 8 cannot be inserted into or removed from the recess 12 from above. For this reason and for reasons of a more ergonomic movement when the receptacle 8 is set down, the recess 12 is open in at least one direction; i.e. a peripheral region 11 of the recess 12 extends as far as an edge 14 of the holding plate 9. The edge 14 is the surface located between two base surfaces 16 of the holding plate 9. Via the peripheral region 11, it is thus possible to guide the stem 20 in a vertical position into the recess 12 of the horizontally oriented holding plate 9. In this respect, the recess 12 is dimensioned such that the contact surface between the recess 12 and the receptacle 8 is as close as possible to the centre of gravity of the receptacle 8, preferably above the centre of gravity. When calculating the centre of gravity of the receptacle 8, the empty receptacle 8 is preferably assumed, more preferably a full level of the receptacle 8 with a drink is assumed and particularly preferably a half-full level of the receptacle 8 is assumed. The tilting moment acting on the receptacle 8 can be reduced by approximating the contact surface to the centre of gravity of the receptacle 8. A stable system is present if the contact surface is above the centre of gravity of the receptacle 8 so that, after being deflected by a tilting moment, the receptacle 8 automatically moves back into the vertical set position.
The aircraft seat 1 is usually installed with its longitudinal axis 7 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. In most cases, the installation direction of the aircraft seat 1 is selected such that the passenger is facing the direction of flight. In this installation direction, in the initial position of the holding plate 9, the peripheral region 11 is preferably presented in the direction of arrow 10 which is then oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 7 of the aircraft, see for example
In the embodiments shown in
It is also possible to operate the locking means 15 by an actuating means, or actuating mechanism. Consequently, the passenger does not personally have to perform the entire motion sequence of the locking means 15, but can conveniently control the locking means 15, for example by actuating a button. The locking means 15 then preferably moves via a spring-loaded mechanism or via an electronic actuator.
Alternatively, in the embodiments shown in
Any combinations of the embodiments of the holding plate 9 and of the locking means 15, illustrated in
An aircraft seat having a holding plate for receiving receptacles which have a stem, a bowl and a foot, wherein
the aircraft seat has at least one mount and a movable supporting platform,
the supporting platform has a mechanical connecting socket,
on the supporting platform, the holding plate is connected by a mechanical connecting device to the connecting socket of the supporting platform,
the supporting platform is movable with the holding plate out of a parked position into a use position,
in the parked position, the supporting platform is held with the holding plate in the mount, wherein
the holding plate has a recess for receiving the receptacle in the region of the bowl,
at least one peripheral region of the recess extending as far as an edge of the holding plate,
the holding plate being arranged such that the recess is freely accessible in the use position.
An aircraft seat according to Embodiment 1, wherein
the seat comprises at least one armrest,
the movable supporting platform being arranged on or in the armrest.
An aircraft seat according to either one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein
the connecting device of the holding plate is connected pivotally to the connecting socket of the supporting platform.
An aircraft seat according to any of the preceding Embodiments, wherein
immediately after moving from the parked position into the use position, the holding plate is in an initial position,
in the initial position, the holding plate being arranged such that the peripheral region is opened through the recess substantially in an orthogonal direction to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft seat as far as the edge of the holding plate.
An aircraft seat according to any of the preceding Embodiments, wherein
provided on the holding plate is a locking means which can fully demarcate the peripheral region of the recess from the edge of the holding plate.
An aircraft seat according to Embodiment 5, wherein
the locking means can be opened and closed by a rotational movement.
An aircraft seat according to any of the preceding Embodiments, wherein
a bevel is provided on the contact surface of the holding plate, against which the bowl rests in the inserted state.
An aircraft seat according to Embodiment 7, wherein
the shape of the bevel corresponds to the receiving cross section of the receptacle.
A holding device having a holding plate for receiving receptacles which have a stem, a bowl and a foot, wherein
the holding device has a supporting platform with a mechanical connecting socket,
on the supporting platform, the holding plate is connected by a mechanical connecting device to the connecting socket of the supporting platform, wherein
the holding plate has a recess for receiving the receptacle in the region of the bowl,
at least one peripheral region of the recess extending as far as an edge of the holding plate,
the holding plate being aligned such that the recess is freely accessible in the use position.
All patents, patent applications, provisional applications, and publications referred to or cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety, including all figures and tables, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification.
It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2014 210 861.6 | Jun 2014 | DE | national |