Abstract:
An armrest assembly for a passenger seat is arranged so as to allow sharing of a common armrest by side-by-side seated passengers. The armrest assembly may include a laterally-moveable upper panel, a deployable auxiliary armrest, and/or a raised extension armrest.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/529,686 filed Dec. 15, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/589,297, filed Jul. 20, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to vehicle seating and more particularly to a tourist/coach class aircraft seating arrangement. Aircraft seating is typically divided into various classes, for example first class, business class, and coach or tourist class. For each class of seating, an individual passenger is allotted a preselected amount of space (both area and volume). First-class seats provide the most individual space, and also may include features to improve comfort, such as fully reclining sleeper functions. In contrast, the tourist/coach class is provided with a relatively small amount of space, in order to provide the most efficient transportation and lowest cost. However, this space limitation can produce passenger discomfort or possibly even physical ailments, and also makes it difficult for a passenger to find a comfortable position in which to sleep on long flights.  
         [0003]     Because the space for coach-class seating is limited, it is especially important that a passenger&#39;s personal space be protected from intrusion from other passengers. However, prior art coach class seats are typically arranged such that passengers seated side-by side must share an a single armrest. Although there is theoretically adequate space for each passenger&#39;s arm to be comfortably supported, the prior art armrest arrangement tends to lead to conflicts between passengers as each tries to assert control of the single armrest.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle passenger seat which allows passengers seated side-by-side to effectively share an armrest space  
         [0005]     It is another object the invention to provide a passenger seat which allows passengers to place their arms in an overlapping position  
         [0006]     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an armrest assembly for a passenger seat including a horizontally-extending armrest; and a top cap disposed on an upper surface of the armrest, including: a lower panel adapted to support a seated passenger&#39;s arm; and an upper panel adapted to support a seated passenger&#39;s arm, wherein the upper panel is moveable between a stowed position aligned with the lower panel, and a deployed position wherein the upper panel is laterally displaced from the lower panel so as to increase the effective width of the armrest.  
         [0007]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the upper panel at least partially overlaps the lower panel in the deployed position.  
         [0008]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the upper panel and the lower panel have substantially the same width and length.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment of the invention, an armrest assembly for a passenger seat includes a horizontally-extending armrest; and at least one auxiliary armrest having a length less than a length of the armrest. The auxiliary armrest is disposed on a left or right side of a forward end of the armrest. The auxiliary armrest is moveable between a lowered position; and a raised position in which the auxiliary armrest provides support for a portion of a passenger&#39;s arm.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the armrest assembly further includes means for selectively retaining the auxiliary armrest in the lowered or raised position.  
         [0011]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the armrest assembly further includes: at least one extension armrest including: a support member having a length less than a length of the armrest; and an upwardly-extending stem which positions the support member in a raised position above a rear end of the armrest.  
         [0012]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the extension armrest is moveable between the raised position and a lowered position in which the support member rests against an upper surface of the armrest.  
         [0013]     According to another embodiment of the invention, and armrest assembly for a passenger seat includes a horizontally-extending armrest; and at least one extension armrest including a support member having a length less than a length of the armrest; and an upwardly-extending stem which positions the support member in a raised position above a rear end of the armrest .  
         [0014]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the extension armrest is moveable between the raised position, and a lowered position in which the support member rests against an upper surface of the armrest. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger seat set including a translating armrest assembly;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the passenger seat set of  FIG. 1 , showing a armrest thereof in a deployed position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of passenger seat unit incorporating a folding armrest; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of a passenger&#39;s arm placed on the armrest of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4B  is another top view of a passenger&#39;s arm placed on the armrest of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4C  is another top view of a passenger&#39;s arm placed on the armrest of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of passenger seat unit incorporating a dual-level armrest unit; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is another perspective of the passenger seat unit of  FIG. 5 ; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a passenger seat set  10  including a translating armrest. The seat set  10  includes two seats  12  and  14  which are collectively provided with three arm rests  16 ,  18 , and  20 , each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs  22  and  22 ′ and seat bottoms  24  and  24 ′. The seats  12  and  14  are supported by a frame  26 . The frame  26  is mounted on legs  28  and  30  that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.  
         [0025]     In the illustrated example, the armrests  16 ,  18 , and  20  each include translating top caps  32 ,  32 ′ and  32 ″. As they are identical in construction, only the top cap  32  will be described in detail. The top cap  32  has a stationary, generally planar lower panel  34  and a moveable upper panel  36 . The perimeter of the upper panel  36  is substantially the same size and shape as the bottom panel  34 . Either or both of the lower and upper panels  34  and  36  may be padded or upholstered. The upper panel  36  is mounted to the armrest  18  (for example using rails or other known structures) so that it may be moved sideways from its stowed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , to an extended position, shown in  FIG. 2 . In the extended position, the upper panel  36  greatly increases the total usable width of the shared armrest  18 . This reduces competition between adjacent passengers for the available armrest space and promotes harmony between the passengers. At the same time, the overall width of the basic armrest structure positioned underneath the top cap  32  is not increased, and therefore the thigh space allotted to each passenger is not reduced. The moveable upper panel  36  may move either left or right from the stowed position, and if desired an electric actuator or other means may be provided for moving the upper panel  36  under power.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4 A- 4 C illustrate a passenger seat set  110  including folding auxiliary armrests. The seat set  1   10  includes two seats  112  and  114  which are collectively provided with three arm rests  116 ,  118 , and  120 , each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs  122  and  122 ′ and seat bottoms  124  and  124 ′. The seats  112  and  114  are supported by a frame  126 . The frame  126  is mounted on legs  128  and  130  that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.  
         [0027]     One or more of the armrests  116 ,  118 , and  120 , in particular the center armrest  18 , are provided with auxiliary armrests  132   a - 132   d . The auxiliary armrests  132   a - 132   d  are folded down against the sidewalls of the armrests  116 ,  118 , and  120 , out of the passenger&#39;s way, when not in use. Auxiliary armrest  32   d  is shown in this position in  FIG. 3 . When needed, the auxiliary armrests  132   a - 132   d  can be folded upward into a raised position to provide extra support for the passenger&#39;s arm. Auxiliary armrests  132   a ,  132   b , and  132   c  are shown in this position in  FIG. 3 . A suitable mechanism, such as a friction lock, is provided to hold the auxiliary armrest  132   a  in the raised position.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate the use of the auxiliary armrest  132   a , which is representative of the auxiliary armrests  132   b - 132   d , in more detail. As shown in  FIG. 4A , it is possible for a passenger to use only a portion of a conventional armrest  16 , for example when attempting to share that armrest  16  with another passenger, by placing his or her forearm “F” in an angled position. However, the passenger&#39;s hand “H” will be unsupported in this situation. The auxiliary armrest  132   a , shown folded in  FIG. 4B  and raised in  FIG. 4C , provides support for the passenger&#39;s hand H. Furthermore, because the auxiliary armrest  132   a  is relatively short in the longitudinal direction, and mounted at the front end of the armrest  16 , is naturally encourages the passenger to place his or her forearm “F” in an angled position which frees up space on the remainder of the armrest  16  for an adjacent passenger&#39;s elbow and forearm.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a passenger seat set  210  including folding two-tiered armrests. The seat set  210  includes two seats  212  and  214  which are collectively provided with three arm rests  216 ,  218 , and  220 , each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs  222  and  222 ′ and seat bottoms  224  and  224 ′. The seats  212  and  214  are supported by a frame  226 . The frame  226  is mounted on legs  228  and  230  that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.  
         [0030]     One or more of the armrests  216 ,  218 , or  220 , in particular the center armrest  218 , are provided with extension armrests  232 ,  231 ′, and  232 ″. The extension armrests  232 ,  232 ′, and  232 ″ are identical in construction, accordingly only the extension armrest  232  will be described in detail. The extension armrest  232  is attached to the upper surface of the center armrest  218  near its rear end. The extension armrest  232  comprises a relatively flat support surface  234 , which may be padded or upholstered as desired, and an upright stem  236 . The stem  236  may be extended or retracted as needed to move the support surface  234  from a lowered position, shown in  FIG. 5 , to a raised position, shown in  FIG. 6 . Means are provided for retaining the stem  236  in the raised or lowered positions as desired, or the stem  236  may be fixed. In the raised position, the extension armrest  232  provides a space for the elbow of a passenger. An adjacent passenger can then place his or her elbow on the upper surface of the center armrest  218 , underneath the arm of the first passenger. This allows side-by-side passengers to share the same lateral space provided while each passenger&#39;s arm is comfortably supported without conflict. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the extension armrests  232 ,  232 ′ and  232 ″ may be used in conjunction with auxiliary armrests  238   a - 238   d  similar in construction to the auxiliary armrests  132   a - 132   d  described above.  
         [0031]     The foregoing has described a seating arrangement having a plurality of armrests which may be shared between passengers. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.