Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Passenger or crew accommodation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-10-23
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Passenger or crew accommodation
C297S354130, C297S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305644
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an aircraft cabin seat configuration with enhanced ingress and egress for the occupant of the seat adjacent the window of the aircraft. The application also discloses a sleeper seat which permits enhanced ingress and egress for the window-side passengers. The size and spacing of the seats renders the configuration most suitable for first class areas of the aircraft. The configuration is particularly suitable for the first class cabins of large, long-haul aircraft such as Boeing 747's. However, similar configurations are also useable in other long-haul aircraft such as Boeing 767's and 777's.
The cabin configuration disclosed in this application utilizes a “sleeper” seat. Such types of seats are known, and typically involve a structure which combines a seat back with a seat bottom which has telescoping segments which extend outwardly as the seat back reclines. These extending segments also generally function as leg or foot supports when the seat is in the upright or semi-reclined position. The combined length of the reclined seat back and the extended seat bottom segments are intended to provide sleeping surface.
One particular problem encountered in prior art sleeper seats is that the length and configuration of the inboard aisle seat, when in the reclined sleeping position traps the occupant of the outboard window seat in the seat by blocking access to the aisle. This is a significant problem, particularly on long-haul flights during which passengers may wish to sleep for several hours without being disturbed.
Of course, this problem could be solved merely by placing the seats so far apart that access to each seat is possible no matter what seating configuration is used. However, this is an impractical solution given the necessity of fitting a given amount of passenger load within a given space. In addition, too great a distance between adjacent seats prevents conversation and social interaction between passengers traveling together.
The invention according to this application provides a unique seating arrangement in which adjacent seats are relatively close together, and in which the inboard aisle seat occupant can sit in an upright, semi-reclined or fully reclined sleep position without blocking the outboard window seat occupant from the aisle. This is done while maintaining an adequate number of seats in a predefined space, such as the first class cabin of a long haul passenger jet such as a Boeing 747.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a seat configuration for an aircraft cabin.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration for an aircraft cabin which provides enhanced ingress and egress for a seat occupant seated adjacent an aircraft window side of the aircraft outboard of a seat adjacent an aisle in the aircraft cabin.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration for an aircraft cabin wherein the occupant of a window seat can ingress to and egress from the seat without disturbing the occupant in the adjacent aisle seat.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration for an aircraft cabin wherein the occupant of a window seat can ingress to and egress from the scat without disturbing the occupant in the adjacent aisle scat while the aisle seat is in any seating position.
It is another object of the invention to provide a scat configuration wherein the seat is reclinable to a sleeping position.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration which includes an ottoman positioned in front of a primary seat as a combination foot and leg rest.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration which utilizes an ottoman which functions as a footrest when the primary seating unit is in an upright position.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration which utilizes an ottoman as a combination foot and leg rest when the primary seat is in semi-reclined and fully reclined positioned.
It is another object of the invention to provide a seat configuration which utilizes an ottoman as a storage area for the occupant in the primary seat.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a passenger seat configuration for an aircraft cabin having a fuselage wall with windows therein and an aisle for permitting movement within the cabin. The configuration includes an outboard seating unit for being positioned adjacent the fuselage wall of the aircraft, the outboard seating unit having a primary seat formed of a seat back and seat bottom, and a forwardly spaced-apart ottoman movable with respect to each other to define upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions. An inboard seating unit is provided for being positioned adjacent the at least one aisle and between the inboard seating unit and the aisle, the inboard seating unit having a primary seat formed of a seat back and a seat bottom, and a forwardly spaced-apart, free-standing ottoman movable with respect to each other to define upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions, the primary seat and ottoman of the inboard seating unit being positioned aft of the primary seat and ottoman of the outboard seating unit. The ottoman of the outboard seating unit and the ottoman of the inboard seating unit are independently movable relative to each other whereby the outboard ottoman is movable to a position relative to any position of the inboard ottoman to thereby provide space between the inboard ottoman and outboard ottoman for the outboard passenger to ingress to and egress from the outboard primary seat between the inboard ottoman and outboard ottoman and forward of the inboard ottoman to the aisle. The ottoman of the outboard seating unit is mounted for a greater degree of movement forwardly away from the outboard primary seat than is the ottoman of the inboard seating unit relative to the inboard primary seat.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the outboard seating unit and the inboard seating unit each have a pitch of 92 inches.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the outboard ottoman is mounted for 20 inches of fore and aft movement, and the inboard ottoman is mounted for 14 inches of fore and aft movement.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the primary seats includes a privacy shell positioned around the back and sides of the scat back.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the privacy shell is stationarily-mounted for movement of the scat back relative thereto among upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat bottom of the outboard and inboard primary seats each move in a forward direction as the seat back reclines and the ottomen of the respective outboard and inboard seating units move aft into engagement with its respective seat bottom to form a fully reclined sleeping surface.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each ottoman includes a stanchion supporting a table.
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Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
B E Aerospace, Inc.
Jakel Kevin
Jordan Charles T.
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