Seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular

Abstract

1. A seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular

Description

The invention relates to a seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having seat components such as a seat element, a backrest retained by a backrest structure, and control and functional elements.

Seats of this type have been disclosed. For example, the applicant describes in DE 100 19 484 one such seat in the form of a modem aircraft passenger seat. In such seats provided for lengthy travel periods several control and functional elements are present which serve in part to optimize the seat comfort afforded the seat occupant and in part to perform functions relating to flight operation. The elements increasing comfort are represented, for example, by adjustment mechanisms for movable seat components, such as mechanisms for adjustment of the tilt of the backrest and/or a leg rest. Mechanisms which may be operated by the seat occupant to control lighting, audio, or video devices, air conditioning devices and the like are also customarily present.

Installation of a correspondingly large number of such seat components results in relatively complex configuration of such seats. On the other hand, however, a compact, light-weight configuration is of decisive importance for such seats provided for passenger transportation, especially for aircraft passenger seats for commercial aviation.

With respect to these requirements, the object of the invention is to create a seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, the configuration of which facilitates the installation of the pertinent control and functional elements.

It is claimed for the invention that this object is attained by a seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having the characteristics specified in claim 1 in its entirety.

In that, as claimed for the invention, a structural element, which by design is present as an indispensable component of the seat structure, is used in the added function of delivery of energy to supply functional or control elements of the seat, simplification of the configuration of the components to be integrated into the seat is achieved. In addition, use of the cavity of the hollow section of the backrest structure as a guide for transmission of energy to connected elements by no means results in structural weakening of the hollow section, that is, the backrest structure, so that structural simplification is not achieved to the detriment of the structural strength which is to be required for seats of this type for absorption of the forces occurring in the event of a crash.

The cavity of the hollow section may be provided as a guide for lines for transmission of electric and/or mechanical energy to electric or mechanical functional or control elements.

In one especially advantageous exemplary embodiment the cavity of the hollow section is provided as a guide for delivery of a flowable medium. It may be a question in this instance in particular of a line for delivery of air, a line extending through the cavity of the hollow section to an air outlet nozzle, preferably for delivery of fresh air.

In one especially advantageous embodiment the hollow section forming the backrest structure is in the form of a one-piece frame component bent so as to be U-shaped the sides of which extend along the side edges of the associated backrest and the transverse strip of which connecting the sides is associated with the upper edge area of the backrest.

In this instance an opening extending into the interior of the hollow section for connection of a source of air may be provided on one of the sides of the frame component in the area of its lower end adjacent to the seat element. The source of air may be represented by an air pump positioned on the seat element below the seat surface, by preference a radial blower which may be operated by an electric motor, the outlet side of the blower being connected by way of a hose line to the opening in the side of the frame component.

In one advantageous embodiment of the seat a branch permitting discharge of air from the cavity of the hollow section and leading to an air outlet nozzle may be provided on the transverse strip connecting the sides of the frame component and extending along the upper edge area of the backrest.

In the instance of seats provided in a succession of rows of seats, as is the case especially with aircraft passenger seats, the air outlet nozzle may be mounted on the rear side of the backrest of the seat so that the air outlet is oriented rearward, and accordingly the outlet nozzle functions as a fresh air nozzle for the seat immediately to the rear. By preference a control element which may be operated by a seat occupant to control the discharge of air may be provided on the rear side of the backrest spatially coordinated with the outlet nozzle.

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 presents a perspective diagonal view of a row of three seats mounted on as seating of an aircraft in accordance with the exemplary embodiment to be described here;

FIG. 2 a rear view of the row of seats shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 a perspective view in the form of a highly simplified diagram only of some structural elements and interior structural components of the exemplary embodiment.

The invention will be described below as an example on the basis of an aircraft passenger seat. The solution claimed for the invention need not, however, be limited to use with aircraft passenger seats; in principle it may also be applied to any seat, including ones used in overland and nautical vehicles.

FIG. 1 presents a greatly simplified diagram of a row of seats 1 forming part of the seating of an aircraft for commercial aviation and containing three seats positioned side by side, ones corresponding to the exemplary embodiment of the invention to be described here. FIG. 1 shows the row 1 of seats as seen diagonally from the front. The components of the seats are identified by the reference numeral 3. The inclination of the backrests, identified by 5, relative to the seat element 3 may be adjusted by a tilting mechanism not shown and may be controlled by actuation of a push button 11 positioned on an arm rest 7 which extends longitudinally and forms a lateral limit of the respective seat area and which optionally may be pivoted or folded down. A side bracket 19 on which is mounted a reading light 9 pointing obliquely downward is positioned on the upper edge 15 of each backrest 5. A storage compartment for a life vest which, in the manner customary for aircraft passenger seats, is situated beneath the seat element 3, is designated as 45.

FIG. 2 presents a view in diagram form of the rear side of the row of seats 1 of FIG. 1. As is customary for aircraft passenger seats, a folding tabletop 13 is mounted on the rear side of the backrest 5. A flat screen monitor 17 mounted between the upper edge 15 of the backrest 5 and the tabletop 13 is designated as 17. The bracket 19 having the reading light 9 on its front side has on its rear side shown in FIG. 2 a fresh air outlet nozzle 21. Mounted diagonally below the outlet nozzle 21 is a rotary switch 23 by means of which the air discharged from the outlet nozzle 21 may be controlled. Display elements below the rotary switch 23 that provide displays relating to flight operation are designated as 25.

FIG. 3 illustrates delivery of energy for supplying the outlet nozzle 21 with fresh air. For the sake of greater clarity, only the structural elements required for explanation of the principle of the solution claimed for the invention are shown in FIG. 3, specifically, a tubula main traverse support 27 mounted above the cabin floor, a rear transverse support 29, which forms the support for the seat element not shown, and longitudinal supports 31, of which only the pair is shown which is associated with the seat positioned on the left shown in FIG. 3 and on which the adjustable-angle backrest is mounted (mounting mechanism not shown).

The backrest structure has a one-piece frame component 33 bent so as to be U-shaped having a closed hollow section, with sides 35 extending longitudinally and a cross-web 37 connecting them on the upper edge 15 of the backrest. The cavity of the hollow section of the frame component 33 forms a pipeline by way of which the outlet nozzle 21 is supplied with air. For this purpose there is on the side of the upper cross-web 37 a branch 39 by way of which air discharges from the cavity of the hollow section and may be delivered, with a control valve (not shown) which may be operated by the switch 23 inserted between them, by way of the branch 39 to the outlet nozzle 21. Air enters at the lower end of the side 35 of the frame component 33 positioned on the right in FIG. 3, by way of a connection opening to which is connected a hose line 41 which extends to the discharge side of an air pump in the form of a radial blower 43 operated by an electric motor.

In the instance of the seat shown positioned on the right in FIG. 3 the blower 43 is positioned below the seat surface in the central area above the storage compartment 45 for a life vest conventionally mounted on the underside of the seat. Such configuration of the blower 43 is not mandatory. Depending on the design circumstances, the blower 43 may also be installed to the side of the central area so that the central area is available at option for an electric and/or electronic device 47 which is connected by cabling 49 to corresponding electric/electronic devices such as a display screen, audio system, lighting system, and the like.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment described here the cavity of the hollow section forming the frame component 33 is used as an air duct, while electric energy is transmitted by means of separate cabling 49. The interior of the hollow section may, of course, also be used as a duct for cabling in place of or in addition to use as an air duct. Conduction of mechanical energy may also be provided in the hollow sections, for example, by means of operating cables or Bowden cables.

Supply of the outlet nozzles 21 with fresh air drawn in by means of the associated blower 43 from the area below the seat element 3 and delivered to the nozzle 21 could also be replaced by supply of the outlet nozzle 21 by way of the hollow section of the frame component 33 from a central air conditioning assembly of the respective vehicle/aircraft, for example, by conducting air by way of the pipe of the main transverse support 27, and air could be delivered from it over a flexible branch line to the hollow section of the frame component 33.

The hollow section forming the frame component 33 is produced by a conventional extrusion process. In the event of use as a line for air the cavity of the profile is, of course, sealed, with the exception of the air intake point and the air outlet point (branch 39).

Claims

1. A seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having seat components such as a seat element (3), a backrest (5) retained by a backrest structure (33), and control (23) and functional (21) elements, characterized in that at least one main component of the backrest structure is in the form of a hollow section (33) and in that the cavity of such hollow section (33) is provided as guide for delivery of energy to at least one functional (21) or control element requiring supply of energy.

2. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity of the hollow section (33) is provided as guide for lines for transmission of electric and/or mechanical energy to electric or mechanical functional or control elements.

3. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity of the hollow section (33) is provided as duct for delivery of a flowable medium to a functional element (21) which may be operated by such flowable medium.

4. The seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cavity of the hollow section (33) is provided as duct for delivery of air to an air outlet nozzle (21).

5. The seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hollow section is in the form of a one-piece frame component (33) bent so as to be U-shaped, the sides (35) of which component extend along the side edges of the associated backrest (5) and the cross-web (37) connecting the sides (35) of which component extending crosswise is associated with the upper edge area (15) of the backrest (5).

6. The seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the sides (35) of the frame component (33) has, in the area of its lower end adjacent to the seat element (3), an opening leading into the interior of the hollow section (33) for connection of an air source (43).

7. The seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein there is provided on the cross-piece (37) connecting the sides (35) of the frame component (33) a branch (39) permitting discharge of air from the cavity of the hollow section (33), which branch (39) leads to an air outlet nozzle (21).

8. The seat as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air outlet nozzle (21) is provided on the rear side of the backrest (5) of the seat for discharge of air to the rear in relation to the direction of travel (direction of flight).

9. The seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein the discharge of air from the nozzle (21) may be controlled by means of a control element (23) positioned on the rear side of the backrest (5).

10. The seat as claimed in claims 4, wherein an air source (43), which is positioned on the seat element (3) below the seat surface is connected by a flexible line (41) to the interior of the hollow section (33).

11. The seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein there is provided as air source a radial blower (43) which may be actuated by an electric motor, the outlet side of which radial blower (43) being connected by a hose line to the cavity of the hollow section (33).