Abstract:
Multi-function, adjustable seats and methods and systems for their manufacture and utilization are disclosed. Such seats are especially, although not exclusively, designed for use in commercial aircraft in response to consumer requests for enhanced comfort during long-haul flights. In addition to providing rocking motion, the seats have bottoms whose lengths are adjustable and provide stowable tables adapted not only to permit vertical adjustment, but also to tilt out of a horizontal plane and latch in an as-tilted position to function as a rest for a book, magazine, computer, or other object. Digital control technology, including a touch screen or similar device, may be employed to actuate features of the disclosed seats.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to adjustable seats adapted to perform multiple functions and more particularly (although not exclusively) to aircraft passenger seats designed to enhance passenger comfort and facilitate aspects of their adjustment by passengers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Consideration of passenger comfort and convenience is a significant component of seat design. As the numbers of long- or extended-range aircraft (and other vehicles) grow in commercial fleets, passengers increasingly expend substantial amounts of time positioned in such seats. Passengers amenable to providing monetary value in exchange for enhanced comfort during long-range travel additionally have increased, as has availability of “frequent flyer” awards in which enhanced comfort is an advertised or corresponding benefit. Airlines and other commercial transportation companies thus continue to attempt to discern methods of improving the comfort and convenience of passengers as part of their overall operations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,923 to Bilezikjian describes certain features of existing seats used typically in upper-class cabins. As noted at column 1, lines 25-30 of the Bilezikjian patent: 
     Business class and first class seats may be provided with a console with personal storage compartments, compartments for cocktail trays, and the like. A first class sleeper seat may include additional features such as a video monitor, an extendable leg rest, and other features for passenger comfort and convenience. 
     One such other feature provided in some reclinable seats is an elevatable seat bottom linked to each corresponding back. U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,898 to Dixon, et al. discloses a specific linkage assembly for interconnecting the bottom and back of such a seat so as purportedly to provide a ratio of seat back movement to seat bottom movement of greater than 1:1. According to the Dixon, et al. patent, the complex linkage assembly includes not only two pivot members, but also a “hip-joint pivot connection” and a link bar connected to both the seat frame and at least one pivot member. With the linkage assembly, the associated seat is designed so that it 
     provides greater comfort to the occupant and prevents or minimizes dishevelment of clothing during travel caused by shirttails being pulled from trousers or skirts as the seat back pivots. 
     See Dixon, et al., col. 1, 11. 16-19. 
     Another feature incorporated into numerous commercial aircraft seats is a table stowable in an armrest of the seats. U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,552 to Harris details an exemplary table of this type, which in use is adapted to move angularly in a horizontal plane should, for example, a passenger need to depart his or her seat temporarily while the table is deployed. The Harris patent does not, however, expressly address any tilting or adjustment of the height of the table vertically while in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides multi-function, adjustable seats and methods and systems for their manufacture and utilization. In addition to providing “rocking” motion with an assembly less complex than that of the Dixon, et al. patent, seats of the present invention may enhance passenger comfort by having bottoms whose lengths are adjustable, allowing passengers to match the effective lengths of their seat bottoms more closely with the lengths of their upper legs. Tables stowable in the seats additionally are adjustable vertically, moving food or other substances or materials closer to mouths and further from legs of seat occupants (or vice-versa) as desired, and may be tilted out of a horizontal plane and latched to function as, for example, a book, magazine, or computer rest. Each of these aspects of the seats and systems of the invention is intended to improve comfort-related performance of seats used commercially for transportation, whether in aircraft, land-based vehicles, or otherwise. 
     Additional features of seats of the present invention may include independently (or cooperatively) adjustable headrests, legrests, backrests, and lumbar supports. Adjustment of these components may occur manually, electrically, or otherwise as appropriate or desired. Moreover, if any portions of the adjustments are to be actuated electrically, a touch-screen or similar graphical user interface or digital electronic display may be employed in place of tactile analog or digital switches conventionally utilized for analogous operations. 
     In some embodiments of seats of the present invention, the touch-screen may be a control panel in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or similar device. Such device may be programmed to provide protocol for passenger interaction with the seat control actuators and scroll-down or multi-screen menus of options for managing adjustment of the seat. The device as well may support at least temporary storage of personalized settings for various adjustments, allowing a passenger to return the seat to a specific position upon command. 
     Individual digital control panels consistent with the invention additionally may be linked electronically to either or both of the passenger entertainment system and cabin communication system of an aircraft or other vehicle. Doing so would allow requests for attendants to be made merely by activating an appropriate portion of the control panel; reading lights and individualized air conditioning systems could be controlled by touch screen too. These control panels thus could substitute not only for the dedicated entertainment monitors currently prevalent in long-range aircraft, but also for the myriad buttons, switches, and manual valves in use today. They could as well be programmed to provide diagnostic information should any portion of a seat not perform as expected. Static or dynamic advertising, duty-free shopping, credit card purchases, or other information or interaction further could be furnished through the touch-screen technology, which additionally could operate as part of any telephone or similar apparatus intended to provide communication between passengers and remote locales. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide multi-function seats for commercial aircraft and other use. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide adjustable seats and methods and systems for their manufacture and utilization. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide seats having bottoms whose lengths are adjustable, enhancing passenger comfort by allowing effective lengths of seat bottoms more closely to match lengths of upper legs of passengers. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide stowable tables which both are adjustable vertically and may be tilted out of a horizontal plane in use. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide electronic actuation of various features of seats, such actuation possible using, for example, digital, programmable touch-screen technology. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide seats capable of motion similar to rocking, at least in that their seat bottoms may be elevated when corresponding seat backs recline, using less-complex mechanisms than heretofore employed. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the remainder of the text and the drawings of this application. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of an exemplary seat consistent with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of the exemplary seat of FIG. 1 shown with the seat bottom in an unextended position. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of the exemplary seat of FIG. 1 shown with the seat bottom in an extended position. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an extension mechanism for the seat bottom of the seat of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of the exemplary seat of FIG. 1 shown with a table in a tilted position. 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate mechanism for providing tilting of the table of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of the exemplary seat of FIG. 1 showing vertical adjustment of the table of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational, substantially-schematicized view of an exemplary mechanism for providing the vertical adjustment of the table of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of the exemplary seat of FIG. 1 showing aspects of its frame when in a generally upright position. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational, substantially-schematicized view of the exemplary seat of FIG. 1 showing aspects of its frame when reclined. 
     FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary sequence and options presented by menus of an electronic, touch screen controller associated with the seat of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of a seat  10  of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, seat  10  may include headrest  14 , back  18 , and bottom  22 , the latter two of which may be connected by any suitable mechanism  26 . Additionally detailed are legrest  28  and exterior portions of frame  30  of seat  10 , which may be used to secure seat  10  to the floor of an aircraft or other vehicle or object. Also either included as part of frame  30  or connected thereto may be armrest  34 , with a similar (although not necessarily identical) such armrest  34  being deployed on the side of seat  10  opposite that shown in FIG.  1 . Those skilled in the art will, of course, recognize that seats and seating systems of the prevent invention need not be configured exactly as shown in FIG. 1 but rather may have fewer or greater components or appear other than as illustrated therein. 
     Nevertheless, FIG. 1, together with FIGS. 2-4, detail certain features of bottom  22  of seat  10 . Included as part of bottom  22  are portions  38  and  42 , the former denominated “fixed” portion  38  for purposes of this explanation (although it too may be moveable relative to frame  30 ) and the latter referred to as “extendable” portion  42 . FIG. 1 details extendable portion  42  in both its unextended and extended positions, showing that in at least one embodiment of seat  10  an extension of approximately four inches is preferred. 
     Illustrated in FIG. 2 is extendable portion  42  of bottom  22  when in its unextended position. In such position extendable portion  42  typically abuts fixed portion  38 , so that bottom  22  forms a continuous support for the distance defined by points A and B. As both portions  38  and  42  of bottom  22  usually are cushioned, they can provide a comfortable surface for a human passenger HP 1  seated thereon. If the length of the upper leg UL 1  of passenger HP 1  approximates the distance defined by points A and B (as is illustrated in FIG.  2 ), substantially that entire length will be directly supported by bottom  22  with portion  42  in the unextended position. 
     By contrast, shown in FIG. 3 is a human passenger HP 2 , the length of whose upper leg UL 2  is significantly greater than the distance defined by points A and B. Absent extension of portion  42 , therefore, seat bottom  22  cannot readily support the portion of upper leg UL 2  of passenger HP 2  adjacent and underneath his or her knee K. This result is contrary to preferences of passengers dimensioned like passenger HP 2 , as failure of conventional seat bottoms to support the entire lengths of their upper legs UL 2 —and particularly areas adjacent knees K—can diminish their feelings of well being, particularly during long-haul travel. 
     Accordingly, extendable portion  42  of bottom  22  is adapted to extend, manually or otherwise, upon demand of the occupant of seat  10 . Such extension is shown in FIG. 3, with the effective length of bottom  22  no longer being the distance between points A and B, but instead defined by the (greater) distance between points A and C. This greater distance more closely approximates the length of upper leg UL 2  of passenger HP 2  than does the lesser distance between points A and B, thus providing support for areas of upper leg UL 2  adjacent knees K. Although in some embodiments of seat  10  extension of portion  42  may create a gap G between it and fixed portion  38  of bottom  22 , such gap G is positioned so as minimally to interfere with the supporting function of the bottom  22 . 
     Extension of portion  42  may occur using any suitable mechanism. FIG. 4 details one such extension mechanism  46  connecting portions  38  and  42 , with one or more shafts  50  of extendable portion  42  insertable into corresponding recesses  54  in fixed portion  38 . Included as part of mechanism  46  may be bars  58  attached directly or indirectly to portions  38  and  42  and to cams or other devices  62  connected to fixed portion  38  of bottom  22 . Pulling outward on extendable portion  42  imparts rotation to devices  62 , allowing movement of bars  58 . Clutches or couplings  66  additionally may be included as part of mechanism  46 , particularly should extension of portion  42  intermediate points B and C be desired. 
     FIGS. 5-8 show features of seat  10  relating to table assembly  70  thereof. Consistent with the disclosure of the Harris patent, for example, such table assembly  70  often may be stowed in a compartment  74  within an armrest  34  of seat  10 . In some vehicles table assembly  70  may be connected to the reverse of seat back  18 , however, or elsewhere as necessary or desired. Although such alternate connections for table assembly  70  are not preferred for the present invention, they nonetheless are contemplated hereby and would not necessarily preclude deployment of many of the innovative features described herein. 
     A principal conventional use of equipment like table assembly  70  is as a horizontal platform on which food, beverage, and other objects and substances may be placed. Table assembly  70  is adapted to function as such a platform and, when necessary, to be stowed in compartment  74 . It thus may pivot in some or all of the manners described in the Harris patent for positioning as a horizontal platform. 
     Unlike many existing tables, however, table assembly  70  comprises not merely a single platform, but rather an upper section  78  and a base  82 . When table assembly  70  functions as a platform, upper section  78  may rest atop base  82 , with both components being horizontal. Although upper section  78  and base  82  need not be identically sized, base  82  typically should be configured so as (and have dimensions adequate) to support upper section  78  in use. 
     Shown in FIG. 5 as part of table assembly  70  is arm  86 . Such arm  86  may connect base  82  to underside  90  of upper section  78 , fitting into an appropriately shaped channel in underside  90  when both upper section  78  and base  82  are horizontal. Upper section  78  and base  82  additionally may be connected so as to allow upper section  78  to pivot about one or more points P at their respective first ends  94  and  98 . 
     Grasping second end  102  of upper section  78  and pulling the upper section  78  toward the occupant of seat  10  hence would cause it to pivot about points P, effectively rotating upper section  78  to a position other than horizontal. If arm  86  is allowed to move along either underside  90  or base  82  and latch at various locations, upper section  78  can be tilted away from the horizontal as desired and induced to remain in place. Upper section  78  of table assembly  70  may thus function not just as the horizontal platform of conventional tables, but also as a non-horizontal rest for books, magazines, computers, or other objects. 
     FIG. 6 generically illustrates a rachet assembly  104  which may be used as part of table assembly  70  either instead of or in addition to arm  86 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous mechanisms suitable for tilting upper section  78  and latching it in a desired position exist and that any may be utilized consistent with the present invention. FIG. 6 additionally depicts ledge  106  which may be formed at first end  94  of upper section  78  to help support an object placed thereon when upper section  78  is tilted. 
     Yet another feature associated with table assembly  70  is its adjustability vertically, unlike tables currently deployed in aircraft and other vehicles. Such adjustability is portrayed generally in FIG. 7, with table assembly  70  illustrated in each of two limiting positions P 1  and P 2 . Position P 1  of table assembly  70  is typical for conventional tables, with the plane of upper surface  78  being more or less coincident with (or slightly above) that of armrest  34 . This position P 1  is acceptable for many uses of a table when the corresponding seat is upright, as discernable distance usually exists vertically between the knees K of a passenger and the underside of the table. 
     Position P 1  is, however, often unsatisfactory when the corresponding seat is reclined, as the act of reclining the seat reduces to an unacceptable level the distance between the table and the passenger&#39;s knees K (or upper legs). Table assembly  70  is thus designed to adjust upward (as far as position P 2 ) to increase this distance as the occupant of seat  10  desires. Upward vertical adjustment additionally decreases the distance between upper surface  78  and the head or mouth of the passenger (especially when seat  10  is upright), which may be advantageous or desirable in certain instances. 
     In some embodiments of seat  10 , the distance between positions P 1  and P 2  is approximately three inches. Table assembly  70  may be adjustable more or less than this amount, however, without being inconsistent with the scope of the invention. It too may be adjustable to points intermediate positions P 1  and P 2  if necessary or desired. 
     As with tilting of upper section  78 , any of multiple methods and mechanisms may be utilized to permit adjustment of table assembly  70  vertically. FIG. 8 illustrates, again generically, one acceptable mechanism  110  embedded within compartment  74 . Shaft  114 , by which table assembly  70  is attached to mechanism  110 , may utilize expansion of a spring  118  to cause table assembly  70  to adjust upward above position P 1 . A button  122  or other device may be used to actuate mechanism  110  as, for example, by releasing compression of spring  118 . Pushing downward on table assembly  70  could recompress spring  118  as, perhaps, could the act of stowing table assembly  70  within compartment  74 . 
     FIGS. 9-10 detail various internal portions of frame  30  of seat  10 . Frame  30  may include many components described in the Bilezikjian patent, including stirrups  124  into which stretcher tubes  126 A and  126 B may be fitted. Front and rear legs  130  and  134 , respectively, of frame  30  may be connected by horizontal struts  138 A and  138 B and secured to the floor of a fuselage, vehicle, or other object either directly or, preferably, indirectly using track fittings  140 . Strut assembly  142 , having both horizontal and vertical components, may be interposed between struts  138 A and  138 B for reinforcement of frame  30 . 
     Shown as well in FIGS. 9-10 is a fixed point  146  of a lateral axis about which back  18  and bottom  22  pivot when back  18  is reclined. Point  146  is intended to be adjacent or in the vicinity of the hip of the occupant of seat  10 . It therefore approximates the point and axis about which the occupant&#39;s legs move relative to his or her torso, improving ergonometric performance of seat  10 . Stated differently, ease and effectiveness of recline of seat  10  is achieved by having designed the seat  10  with reference to the centers of gravity of typical passengers to be seated therein. 
     During pivoting of back  18  and bottom  22 , roller  150 , whose position likewise is fixed relative to the remainder of frame  30 , is received in various locations within elongated slot or channel  154 . In FIG. 9, for example, roller  150  is positioned at end  158 A of channel  154  when back  18  is upright and bottom  22  in its most-horizontal state. In FIG. 10, by contrast, channel  154  has moved so that roller  150  is positioned at opposite end  158 B of the channel  154  when back  18  is fully reclined. Utilizing the fixed roller  150  and fixed pivot points  146  provides a less-complex alternative to the linkage assembly of the Dixon, et al. patent, omitting many of the components thereof. 
     FIG. 11, lastly, depicts icons  200  or other pictorial aspects of menus viewable on a pre-programmed (or programmable) LCD touch-screen or other device. The device, through appropriate interface circuitry  204 , may connect to motors or other equipment useful for adjusting aspects of seat  10 . It additionally may be programmed to display a main menu  208 , which in FIG. 11 illustrates portions of seat  10  to which adjustments may be made. Depending on the passenger&#39;s response to the display of main menu  208 , any of secondary menus  212 A-E may be displayed. 
     For example, should a passenger desire to adjust legrest  28 , he or she can contact the touch-screen device in the area of main menu  208  depicting legrest  28 . Doing so causes menu  212 A to appear, with (in the version of FIG. 11) triangular controls presenting the options available for adjusting the legrest  28 . A separate triangular control in the upper right-hand corner of menu  212 A permits return to main menu  208 . 
     Likewise, appropriate responses of a passenger to the display of main menu  208  can cause menu  212 B to appear and permit control of adjustments to back  18 , including lumber support  216  of FIGS. 2-3. Secondary menu  212 C permits control of the height of table assembly  70  and extension of bottom  22 , while menu  212 D controls adjustment of headrest  14 . As from menu  212 A, return to main menu  208  is possible from each of menus  212 B- 212 D. 
     Secondary menu  212 E permits magnetic (or other) storage within the device of preferred adjustments of the passenger to seat  10 . Storing a passenger&#39;s preferences may be useful in situations where seat  10  must be returned to an upright, unadjusted position temporarily (as, for example, for an intermediate landing and take-off in a multi-segment flight). Return to main menu  208  is also possible from this menu  212 E. 
     Persons skilled in the relevant field will understand that menus  208  and  212 A-E may differ from those pictured in FIG.  11  and may include greater or lesser functionality as desired. Other devices alternatively may be used to actuate motors associated with seat  10 . Adjustments of seat  10  may in some cases be made manually, moreover, without control by any electronic or other device. 
     As noted earlier, individual digital control panels consistent with the invention may be linked (for both audio and video) to either or both of the passenger entertainment system and cabin communication system of an aircraft or other vehicle. The panels thus could substitute for dedicated monitors presently mounted within armrests of seats in many aircraft. Having such a device could also permit passengers to communicate with stations or persons outside the vehicle in which seat  10  is placed through connection with, for example, an in-flight or other suitable telephone system. 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Those so skilled recognize as well that words such as “upright,” “horizontal,” and “vertical” need not always require exact perpendicularity of any sort relative to a reference location, but rather allow for some non-normality in the relationships described. Finally, incorporated herein by this reference are the entireties of the Bilezikjian, Dixon, et al., and Harris patents discussed in preceding sections of this application.