Patent Application
20190300173
The present disclosure relates generally to bulkheads for dividing passenger seating classes, and more particularly, to a bulkhead partition design that provides an open storage compartment for an aft positioned row of seats.
Cabins in passenger aircraft are typically divided into various sections (“class sections”) for various reasons. For example, a cabin may have premium class seating at the forward end of the passenger cabin and economy class seating behind the premium class seating. Classes are typically divided at the boundary between class sections by a bulkhead extending from floor to ceiling, and in the aisle by a curtain. Premium class seating typically includes larger, more comfortable seats, a less dense seating arrangement commensurate with the level of luxury of the seats. Economy class seating typically includes smaller seats and a more dense seating arrangement. For example, economy class rows may include three seats, while an equal length row in a premium class may include only two seats.
For most partitions that are typically employed, the presence of the partition precludes the passengers in the front-most row of seats of the economy class from utilizing the space under the seats in the row in front of them—the last row of premium class seats—for storage of luggage or personal items, or for positioning their feet. This lack of under-seat storage places additional demand for the storage space provided in the overhead bins, which may be inadequate. As such, there is a need for alternative bulkhead partition designs, particularly ones that allow for more efficient use of space while maintaining separation between the classes of seating.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a bulkhead partition, and to related passenger seating arrangements and methods. The bulkhead partition includes an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion having a compartment that provides additional storage and/or foot space.
In one or more aspects, the present disclosure provides an aircraft, and/or a passenger seating arrangement for a passenger cabin of an aircraft, comprising a first row of seats, a second row of seats, and a bulkhead partition. The first row of seats is in a forward section of the passenger cabin. The second row of seats is disposed behind the first row of seats in a rearward section of the passenger cabin. The bulkhead partition is disposed between the first row of seats and the second row of seats. The bulkhead partition comprises an upper section and a lower section. The upper section extends upwardly between the first row of seats and the second row of seats. The lower section is disposed below the upper section. The lower section extends forwardly from the upper section and underneath the first row of seats. The lower section forms a compartment underneath the first row of seats. The lower section comprises a forward compartment wall, a first compartment lateral wall, an upper compartment wall, and a rear opening. The forward compartment wall is disposed forward of the compartment and forwardly bounds the compartment. The first compartment lateral wall is disposed on a first lateral side of the compartment and bounds the first lateral side of the compartment. The upper compartment wall is disposed above the compartment and upwardly bounds the compartment. The upper compartment wall extends from, and connects, the upper section to the forward compartment wall. The rear opening provides access to the compartment from the second row of seats.
In some aspects, the lower section further comprises a second compartment lateral wall disposed on a second lateral side of the compartment and bounding the second lateral side of the compartment. In some aspects, the lower section further comprises a base compartment wall affixed to a floor of the passenger cabin, with the base compartment wall extending horizontally and rearwardly from the forward compartment wall.
In one or more other aspects, the present disclosure provides a bulkhead partition for a passenger cabin having a first row of seats and a second row of seats disposed behind the first row of seats. The bulkhead partition comprises an upper section and a lower section. The upper section extends upwardly. The lower section is disposed below the upper section. The lower section extends forwardly from the upper section. The lower section comprises a compartment, a forward compartment wall, a first compartment lateral wall, an upper compartment wall, and a rear opening. The forward compartment wall is disposed forward of the compartment and forwardly bounds the compartment. The first compartment lateral wall is disposed on a first lateral side of the compartment and bounds the first lateral side of the compartment. The upper compartment wall is disposed above the compartment and upwardly bounds the compartment. The upper compartment wall extends from, and connects, the upper section to the forward compartment wall. The compartment is rearwardly open at the rear opening. The lower section is configured to extend beneath the first row of seats when the bulkhead partition is disposed between first row of seats and the second row of seats.
In some aspects of the bulkhead partition, the lower section further comprises a second compartment lateral wall disposed on a second lateral side of the compartment and bounding the second lateral side of the compartment. In some aspects of the bulkhead partition, the lower section further comprises a base compartment wall configured to be affixed to a floor of the passenger cabin, with the base compartment wall extending horizontally and rearwardly from the forward compartment wall.
In one or more other aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of providing additional storage in a passenger cabin having a first row of seats and a second row of seats disposed behind the first row of seats. Such a method includes providing a bulkhead partition. The bulkhead partition comprises an upper section and a lower section. The upper section extends upwardly. The lower section is disposed below the upper section. The lower section extends forwardly from the upper section. The lower section comprises a compartment, a forward compartment wall, a first compartment lateral wall, an upper compartment wall, and a rear opening. The forward compartment wall is disposed forward of the compartment and forwardly bounds the compartment. The first compartment lateral wall is disposed on a first lateral side of the compartment and bounds the first lateral side of the compartment. The upper compartment wall is disposed above the compartment and upwardly bounds the compartment. The upper compartment wall extends from, and connects, the upper section to the forward compartment wall. The compartment is rearwardly open at the rear opening. The lower section is configured to extend beneath the first row of seats when the bulkhead partition is disposed between the first row of seats and the second row of seats. The method also includes securing the bulkhead partition between the first row of seats and the second row of seats such that: 1) the upper section extends upwardly between the first row of seats and the second row of seats; 2) the lower section extends forwardly from the upper section and underneath the first row of seats; and 3) the rear opening provides access to the compartment from the second row of seats. In some aspects, the securing the bulkhead partition includes affixing the bulkhead partition to the floor of the passenger cabin and/or the ceiling of the passenger aircraft passenger cabin. In some aspects, the method includes, prior to the securing, detaching an existing bulkhead partition so that the bulkhead partition described herein may be installed as an upgrade and/or replacement.
The features, functions and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various aspects or may be combined in yet other aspects further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and the drawings.
Having thus described variations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a bulkhead partition, and to related passenger seating arrangements and methods. The bulkhead partition includes an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion having a compartment that provides additional storage and/or foot space. The bulkhead partition is intended for use with aircraft, and finds particular utility in passenger aircraft.
Referring to
The lower section 60 is disposed below the upper section 52. The lower section 60 extends forwardly from the upper section 52. This forward extension is so that a portion of the lower section 60 extends underneath the first row of seats 32 when the bulkhead partition 50 is mounted in position. The lower section 60 forms a compartment 62, which, when installed, is disposed underneath the first row of seats 32. The lower section 60 includes a forward compartment wall 64, a first compartment lateral wall 68, an upper compartment wall 66, and a rear opening 72. The forward compartment wall 64 is disposed forward of the compartment 62 and forwardly bounds the compartment 62. The first compartment lateral wall 68 is disposed on a first lateral side of the compartment 62 and bounds the first lateral side of the compartment 62. In
The forward compartment wall 64, and the first and second compartment lateral walls 68,68b are solid, and/or formed by mesh, and/or formed by webbing, and/or any combination thereof. Thus, in some aspects, the forward compartment wall 64 is solid, and the first compartment lateral wall 68 is webbing. In some aspects, both the forward compartment wall 64 and the first compartment lateral wall 68 are solid. In some aspects, the forward compartment wall 64 extends continuously along substantially all of a forward perimeter of the compartment 62. In some aspects, the first compartment lateral wall 68 extends continuously along substantially all of a first lateral side perimeter of the compartment 62.
In some aspects, the lower section 60 further includes a base compartment wall 70 disposed below the compartment 62. The base compartment wall 70 is advantageously affixed to a floor of the passenger cabin 20, such as by suitable fasteners. The base compartment wall 70 extends horizontally and rearwardly from the forward compartment wall 64. In some aspects, the base compartment wall 70 has a length (in side view) LB similar to the upper compartment wall 66, such that the rear opening 72 is defined between the upper compartment wall 66 and the base compartment wall 70. In some aspects, the base compartment wall 70 has a different length, for example being shorter than the upper compartment wall 66, so that the rear opening 72 is defined between the upper compartment wall 66 and a theoretical rearward projection of the base compartment wall 70.
In some aspects, the forward compartment wall 64 and/or the upper compartment wall 66 and/or the base compartment wall 70 include one or more suitable notches or recessed areas for accommodating the support structure 36 for the first row of seats 32. In some aspects, these notch(es) or recessed area(s) wholly or partially subdivide the compartment 62 in two or more sub-compartment areas (not shown).
In some aspects, the upper section 52 is fitted with amenities 80 that face and serve the second row of seats 42. The amenities 80, in some aspects, include one or more of: one or more tray tables 82, and/or one or more video monitors 84, and/or one or more storage pockets 86. In some aspects, the upper section 52 is fitted with a number of like amenities 80 equal in number to the number of seats in the second row of seats 42. In some aspects, the number of like amenities 80 are more or less than the number of seats in the second row of seats 42. In some aspects, the bulkhead partition 50 supports a curtain or other movable divider that is selectively positionable to visually close of an aisle in the passenger cabin 20.
In some aspects, the upper section 52 of the bulkhead partition 50 is affixed to the ceiling 22 of the passenger cabin 20. For example, the upper section 52 may include attachment flanges 54 for accepting fasteners to affix the upper section 52 to the ceiling 22. In some aspects, the bulkhead partition 50 is affixed to both the ceiling 22 and the floor 24 of the passenger cabin 20, and extends therebetween.
The bulkhead partition 50 provides a compartment 62, which is intended to be used for storage of baggage and other personal items, typically belonging to one or more passengers sitting in the second row of seats 42. In addition, the compartment 62 may be used for positioning such passenger's feet. One or both of these functionalities are achieved by the bulkhead partition 50. In some aspects, the bulkhead partition 50 forms no portion of the support structure 36 for the first row of seats 32, and maintains a boundary between the forward and rearward sections 30,40 of the passenger cabin 20. Further, in some aspects, no portion of the bulkhead partition 50 extends farther forward than forwardmost portion of the first row of seats 32, so that the bulkhead partition 50 does not extend into the space intended for use by the passengers of the forward section 30.
The bulkhead partition 50 facilitates a method 200 of providing additional storage in the passenger cabin 20. Such a method 200 includes providing (step 210) the bulkhead partition 50 with the compartment 62 in the lower section 60, as described above. The method 200 also includes securing (step 220) the bulkhead partition 50 between the first row of seats 32 and the second row of seats 42 such that: 1) the upper section 52 extends upwardly between the first row of seats 32 and the second row of seats 42; 2) the lower section 60 extends forwardly from the upper section 52 and underneath the first row of seats 32; and 3) the rear opening 72 provides access to the compartment 62 from the second row of seats 42. In some aspects, the securing the bulkhead partition 50 includes affixing the bulkhead partition 50 to the floor 24 of the passenger cabin 20 and/or the ceiling 22 of the passenger cabin 20.
Note that the bulkhead partition 50, and/or the associated passenger seating arrangement 26, and/or method 200, can be used during original manufacture of an aircraft 10, or during repair and/or maintenance of the aircraft 10. For example, an existing aircraft, having a conventional bulkhead partition, may be serviced by following a method 200 that includes detaching (step 190) the existing conventional bulkhead partition from the aircraft 10, and providing (step 210) the bulkhead partition 50 with the compartment 62 in the lower section 60, as described above, and then securing (step 220) the bulkhead partition 50 between the first row of seats 32 and the second row of seats 42, as described above and optionally in the same location as the detached (old) bulkhead partition. Note that the providing (step 210), in some aspects, occurs prior to the detaching (step 190); in other aspects, the providing (step 210) occurs after or concurrent with the detaching (step 190). Such a servicing would achieve providing additional storage in the passenger cabin 20, by providing the bulkhead partition 50 described herein as an upgrade and/or replacement.
The bulkhead partition 50 may be formed of any suitable material, such as metals, polymer materials, composite materials, or combinations thereof. Additionally, passenger facing surfaces of the bulkhead partition may fully or partially covered with suitable paint, graphics, and/or fabric for a desired aesthetic appearance.
The present disclosure may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the disclosure. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
