BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:
FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a group of passenger seats constructed according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a pair of passenger seats constructed according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the seat pair of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is rear view of the seat pair of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a grouping of passenger seats constructed according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the passenger seat grouping of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the passenger seat grouping of Figure;
FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the passenger seat grouping of FIG. 5;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of the passenger seat grouping of FIG. 5;
FIG. 10 is a schematic side of the passenger seat grouping of FIG. 5;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of a portion of the passenger seat grouping of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of an exemplary cabin arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a group of passenger seat units 10 which are arranged in seat pairs 11 each having first and mirror-image oriented seat units 10A and 10B with a center unit 13 disposed therebetween. The seat units 10 are substantially identical to each other, and include seat backs 12A, 12B (the upper portions of which define separate or integral headrests 14A, 14B) seat bottoms 16A, 16B, leg rests 18A, 18B, and spaced-apart arm rests 20, which may be movable between an “up” or “extended” position and a “down” or “retracted” position. The seat units 10 are supported by frames which are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.
Privacy shells 24 are provided which enclose the back and sides of the seat backs 12. The privacy shells 24 are configured to permit the occupant to see over and around the shells 24 when sitting upright, but to be shielded from view from the sides when in other positions.
The center unit 13 has a recess disposed in a central rear portion thereof which is sized to accommodate the feet of passengers seated in both seat units 10A and 10B of a given seat pair 11. A foot divider 30 is disposed in the recess and serves to keep the individual passenger's feet separate by forming two foot wells 26A and 26B. Ottomans 27A and 27B are positioned within foot wells 26A and 26B respectively and include elevated support surfaces 28A and 28B for receiving a passengers' feet in certain seating positions that are described in more detail below. Thus, the passengers in seat units 10A and 10B effectively share a space approximately equal to what would be allotted to one passenger in conventional arrangements, yet each passenger retains “ownership” of his or her portion of that space.
Each seat unit 10 is provided with appropriate movable components, actuators, and controls to enable a passenger seated therein to put the seat unit 10 into various configurations including an upright or “seated” configuration, a fully reclined “lie-flat” or “sleeping” configuration in which the seat unit 10 serves as a bed, and a number of intermediate configurations.
In FIGS. 1-3, seat units 10A and 10B are shown in the upright position for landing and takeoff, dining, working and video viewing. The leg rests are folded down, the seat bottoms 16A and 16B are generally horizontal and translated as far rearward as possible (in cases where they are movable), and the seat backs 12A and 12B are substantially upright.
In FIGS. 5-8, Seat unit 10A is shown in a partially reclined position, with the seat back 12A is angled rearward. In this position the occupant is supported along the entire body length in a comfortable semi-reclining position with the head elevated above the rest of the body and with the legs comfortably flexed at the knees. Seat unit 10B is shown in a fully reclined “lie-flat” or “sleeping” position. The occupant is permitted to fully recline with the head only very slightly above the remainder of the body. In this position, the support surface 28B is aligned with plane of the leg rest 18B, seat back 12B, and seat bottom 16B to collectively form a sleeping surface. Additional seat units 10A′ and 10B′, identical in construction to the seat units 10A and 10B, are shown in the upright position described above.
As indicated above seat units 10 are arranged in seat pairs 11. Two seat pairs 11, denoted as a rear pair 11 and a front pair 11′, are depicted in FIGS. 5-8. Each seat unit 10 is disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis “L” of the aircraft. This is best seen in FIGS. 9-11. The seat unit 10A is disposed at a first angle “A” while the seat unit 10B is disposed at an opposing second angle “B”, to form essentially a “V” shape. The magnitudes of angles “A” and “B” may be equal or different. Preferably, angles “A” and “B” are generally equal and are between about 10 degrees and about 20 degrees. More preferably, angles “A” and “B” are between about 13 degrees and about 17 degrees. In the illustrated embodiment, angles “A” and “B” about 15 degrees. The effect of the angling is to “point” the passengers seated side-by-side in seat units 10A and 10B so that their feet share the foot well 26′ of the forwardly-disposed center unit 13′ and to offset the associated Ottomans 27A and 27B in a lateral direction, so they can be positioned in a side-by-side arrangement. The overall length consumed by the seat pairs 11 and 11′ when “telescoped,” or “nested,” in this manner is less than the sum of their individual lengths.
As shown in FIG. 8, the seat pairs 11 may include service features for the individual passengers such as television or video monitors 32; literature storage 34; a retractable privacy divider 36; additional forward and side storage spaces 38, 40, and 42; and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the retractable primary divider 36 extends the length of the center console between the seat units 10A and 10B.
FIG. 12 illustrates a how the seat units 10 described above may be disposed in an aircraft cabin 44. In this arrangement, several of the seat pairs 11 are placed in telescoped columns 46 aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Any number of these seat pairs 11 can be placed throughout the cabin 44 to make longer or shorter columns, and the columns 46 may be aligned at any angle desired relative to the aircraft's longitudinal axis (e.g. the columns 46 may be rear-facing). A number of different specific cabin arrangements are possible while incorporating the telescoped V-shaped configuration described above and these arrangements are equally applicable to other types of vehicles besides aircraft.
The seat units 10 are uniquely configured so as to maximize usage of space within the cabin of the aircraft, to promote a sense of privacy of passengers, and to facilitate conversation between two passengers in a seat pair 11. In this regard, the telescoped configuration reduces the overall length required for a given number of seat pairs 11 positioned in rows. The inward angle of each seat unit 10 in a seat pair 11 promotes privacy by positioning passengers such that their line of sight is directed away from passengers seated in adjacent seat pairs 11. This arrangement can also promote conversation between passengers seated within a seat pair 11 by positioning them in a more conventional conversational pose, i.e. generally directed toward each other. When conversation is not desired, a passenger within the seat unit 10A of a seat pair 11 can utilize retractable privacy divider 36 to separate themselves from a passenger in the seat unit 10B.
The foregoing has described a passenger seating arrangement having telescoped seat pairs. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.
Patent Application
20070246981
