Patent ID: 8403415
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. A passenger seat recline mechanism, comprising: a seat back and a seat pan pivotally connected at a rearward end of the seat pan; a seat base having first and second non-intersecting seat path guide slots having diverging rearwards ends, convergent mid-sections, and diverging forward ends, and wherein the forward end of the first seat path guide slot is positioned vertically above its mid-section; a seat pan drive rail translatable relative to the seat base and pivotally connected at a forward end thereof to a forward end of the seat pan; a translation guide assembly having spaced-apart first and second guides that travel in the first and second guide slots, respectively, such that the translation guide assembly rotates as it travels from the diverging rearward ends to the diverging forward ends of the first and second seat path guide slots such that the seat pan first increases and then decreases its inclination as the seat back reclines relative to the seat pan from an upright position to a horizontal position, the translation guide assembly further being pivotally connected to the rearward end of the seat pan; and a seat back drive link pivotally interconnecting the translation guide assembly with the seat back; wherein movement of the drive rail with respect to the seat base causes movement of the seat pan and movement of the translation guide assembly with respect to the first and second guide slots to adjust seat back and seat pan angles.