Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Passenger or crew accommodation
Patent
1991-10-07
1993-03-16
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Passenger or crew accommodation
297237, 297238, 297125, B64D 1106
Patent
active
051937654
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to seating for use in aircraft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scheduled airline carriers, as distinct from charter operators, offer three classes of seating, namely first, business and economy.
In order to maximise profitability scheduled airline operators arrange the seating in the aircraft based on predicted load factors, as between these three classes. Business class accommodation is recognized by all major carriers as the highest profit earner, and therefore the need arises for a high degree of flexibility as regards the provision of the number of business class seats to be provided on any particular route, because demand for such seats depends to a large extent on the route taken. For example, demand for business class accommodation on the London to New York run is high while that between London and Bombay for instance is normally low.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an aircraft seat which can be easily converted from an economy class seat sitting three persons, to a business class seat for occupance by two persons.
According to the invention there is provided a convertible aircraft seat comprising a seat frame, a plurality of sitting positions providable on said frame, each of which includes a separate seat back portion attached to said frame, a pair of arm dividers mounted for adjustable movement on said frame from a first position whereat to define a middle sitting position between two outer adjacent sitting positions, and a second position whereat said arm dividers are closer together to eliminate said middle sitting position and increase the width of said two outer adjacent sitting positions, and first means for adjusting the width of the seat back portions of said outer adjacent sitting positions to correspond to the widths thereof determined by the position of said arm dividers on said frame, and second means for adjusting the seat back portion of said middle sitting position to permit said adjustment of the seat back portions of the outer adjacent sitting positions by said first means.
Advantageously the seat-back portion of each outer adjacent seat is comprised of a main seat back frame to which is attached a pair of inter-engageable shell sections, one of which is slidable with respect to and within the other between two fixed positions thereby to vary the width of the said seat back portion.
To each shell structure is attached a length of foam padding forming the two outer limits of the respective seat back portion between which may be inserted a removal length of foam padding of a size corresponding respectively to a closed interengaged position of the seat shell sections forming an enconomy class seat, and a pulled apart position of the seat shell sections forming a business class seat.
The seat back portion forming the middle sitting position in the economy class configuration of the seat, may comprise a foam padded seat back cover removably mounted over a central frame section, attached to the main seat frame. The central frame section is of lesser width than the width of the chosen economy class middle sitting position, such that with the foam padded cover removed the arm dividers may be moved towards one another to eliminate the middle sitting position and widen the two outer sitting positions to business class dimensions.
The central frame section of the middle sitting position may be provided with a tray hinged thereto which, in the folded-up position corresponding to the three seater economy class configuration of the convertible seat, is held within the foam padded seat back cover mounted over the central frame section.
Thus in the two seater business class configuration with the arm dividers moved to the said second fixed position, the tray may be folded down between the arm dividers for use by passengers sitting in the two outer adjacent seats.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION O
REFERENCES:
patent: 3374032 (1968-03-01), Del Giadize
patent: 3743351 (1973-07-01), Harris
patent: 4533175 (1985-08-01), Brennan
patent: 4768832 (1988-09-01), Dain
patent: 4881702 (1989-11-01), Slettebak
Bayliss Brian S.
Simpson Leslie J.
Ellis Christopher P.
Magerik Ltd.
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
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