Abstract:
A legrest assembly including a calf support hinged to a forward end of a seat frame and moveable between a stowed configuration generally vertically disposed below the forward end of the frame and a deployed configuration inclined above the stowed configuration, a foot support movable with and telescopically connected to the calf support, and a foot rest pivotally connected to the foot support and pivotable between a stowed configuration substantially parallel to the foot support and a deployed configuration extending outward from the foot support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/300,519 filed Feb. 2, 2010 and entitled “DEPLOYABLE LEGREST”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a legrest assembly for a passenger seat, and more particularly, to a deployable legrest assembly including tensioned fabric diaphragm surfaces that are deployed and stowed under forces applied by a seated passenger. 
     Airline passengers in all sections of an aircraft desire comfort whether they are seated in first-class, coach, or budget-seating areas. Aircraft designers and commercial operators are therefore challenged to provide as many comfortable amenities as space and financial constraints will permit, and these constraints are particularly critical in the more densely seated sections of an aircraft. 
     Improvements are needed in legrests for aircraft passenger seats. Legrests that support all portions of a passenger&#39;s legs and feet are needed while space restraints must be observed particularly with regard to providing a legrest that can be stowed into a compact configuration. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a deployable legrest assembly for a passenger seat having a frame with a forward end is provided herein. The legrest assembly generally includes a calf support platform, a foot support platform, and a foot rest. The calf support platform is pivotally connected to the forward end of the frame. The calf support platform has a stowed configuration in which the calf support platform is generally vertically disposed below the forward end of the frame, and a deployed configuration in which the calf support platform is inclined at an angle above that of the stowed configuration. The foot support platform is movably connected to the calf support platform and travels with the calf support platform as the calf support platform is moved between its stowed and deployed configurations. The foot support platform telescopically extends from the calf support platform. The foot rest is pivotally connected to the foot support platform and is pivotable between a stowed configuration essentially parallel to the foot support platform and a deployed configuration extending outward from the foot support platform. 
     In another embodiment, a legrest assembly for a passenger seat is provided herein including a calf support adapted to be hinged to a forward end of a seat frame and moveable between a stowed configuration generally vertically disposed below the forward end of the frame and a deployed configuration inclined above the stowed configuration, a foot support movably connected to the calf support and travelling with the calf support between the deployed and stowed configurations, the foot support telescopically extendable from the calf support, and a foot rest pivotally connected to the foot support and pivotable between a stowed configuration substantially parallel to the foot support and a deployed configuration extending outward from the foot support. 
     In a further embodiment, the calf support includes a pair of laterally spaced rails interconnected through at least one plate member that maintains the rails in their relative lateral spacing. 
     In further embodiment, the calf support further includes a fabric diaphragm attached at its opposing lateral sides to the rails. 
     In a further embodiment, the rails include integral tabs extending from each of the rails that hold a retaining rod received in a longitudinally extending sleeve of the fabric diaphragm. 
     In a further embodiment, the legrest includes a lockable gas spring cylinder connected at one end to the seat frame and at another end to the calf support, wherein the cylinder biases the calf support toward the deployed configuration. 
     In a further embodiment, the foot support includes a pair of laterally spaced rails interconnected through at least one plate member that maintains the rails in their relative lateral spacing, and a fabric diaphragm attached at its opposing lateral sides to the rails. 
     In a further embodiment, the legrest includes an armature that facilitates movement of the foot support relative to the calf support, the armature including a swing arm that hinges about a shoulder joint defined at a pivot point that pivotally connects an upper end of the swing arm to the at least one plate member of the calf support. 
     In a further embodiment, the swing arm includes an upper arm member and a lower arm member connected together by a rigid elbow joint coordinating movement of the upper and lower arm members in separate parallel planes. 
     In a further embodiment, the legrest includes a roller rotatably attached to a distal end of the lower arm member and trapped in a lateral slot defined between first and second plate members of the foot support, the roller traveling longitudinally with the foot support and laterally along the slot as the foot support extends and retracts relative to the calf support. 
     In a further embodiment, the legrest includes a lockable gas spring cylinder connected at one end to the at least one plate member of the calf support and at another end to the upper arm member between the shoulder joint and the rigid elbow joint, wherein the cylinder is biased in the direction toward the stowed configuration of the foot support. 
     In another embodiment, an aircraft passenger seat is provided herein including a seat frame having a forward end, and a deployable legrest assembly including a calf support hinged to the forward end of the seat frame and moveable between a stowed configuration generally vertically disposed below the forward end of the seat frame and a deployed configuration inclined above the stowed configuration, a foot support movably connected to the calf support and travelling with the calf support between the deployed and stowed configurations, the foot support extendable from the calf support, and a foot rest pivotally connected to the foot support and pivotable between a stowed configuration substantially parallel to the foot support and a deployed configuration extending outward from the foot support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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 drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of two adjacent passenger seats, each having a deployable legrest according to one embodiment of the present invention, with one of the two seats having its legrest deployed and the other having its legrest stowed; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the passenger seats of  FIG. 1  with each of the deployable legrests stowed; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a legrest according to one embodiment of the invention shown in its deployed configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the internal hardware of the legrest of  FIG. 3  shown in the deployed configuration; and 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the internal hardware of the legrest of  FIG. 3  shown in the stowed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, passenger seats  10 A and  10 B are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each having a deployable legrest  30  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , the legrest of seat  10 A is shown in its deployed configuration and the legrest of seat  10 B is shown in its stowed configuration. In  FIG. 1 , the legrest  30  of seat  10 A is deployed to support the legs and feet of a seated passenger. In  FIG. 2 , both legrests  30  are shown in their stowed configurations with seats  10 A and  10 B in their upright configurations to support seated passengers and to permit the entry and exit of passengers from the seats. As detailed in the following descriptions, the legrest  30  advantageously deploys and stows without motors or other powered actuators. In alternative embodiments, legrest motion may be powered. 
     The legrest  30  includes a calf support  40  that deploys by hinging outward from the frame  12  of the seat  10 A. The calf support  40  includes a pair of laterally spaced rails  42  ( FIGS. 4-5 ) that hinge at their upper ends about a fixed axis of rotation, such as pins  44 , which pivotally attach the rails to the frame  12  of the seat  10 A on opposing lateral sides of the calf support  40 . Upper and lower base plates  46  and  48  are connected at their opposing lateral ends to the rails  42 . The base plates  46 ,  48  maintain the rails  42  in their relative lateral spacing and provide rigidity to the calf support  40 , which hinges as a rigid assembly about the pins  44 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the calf support  40  includes a stretched diaphragm  50  attached at its opposing lateral sides to the rails  42 . The diaphragm  50  may be constructed of a woven fabric, a flexible sheet, or other material. At each lateral side of the calf support  40 , integral extensions of the rails  42  form tabs  56  that hold a retaining rod  58 . Lateral side portions of the diaphragm  50  wrap around the retaining rod  58  and are sewn to the diaphragm  50  to form longitudinally extending sleeves in which the rod  58  is positioned and by which the diaphragm is attached to the rail  42 . The diaphragm  50  defines a pliable comfortable support for the calves of a passenger when the calf support  40  is deployed. 
     A lockable gas spring cylinder  54  ( FIG. 3 ) is connected at one end to the frame  12  of the seat  10  and at another end to the lower base plate  48  of the calf support  40 . The cylinder  54  extends as the calf support  40  swings away from the seat frame  12  and is compressed as the calf support  40  is stowed. The cylinder  54  forcibly extends when released, such as by the pressing of an armrest-mounted button by the passenger or other control. In the case of an armrest-mounted control, the passenger may hold the button depressed until the preferred position of the calf support  40  is reached, and then releases the button to lock the cylinder  54  and fix the position of the calf support  40 . Thus, the cylinder  54  biases the calf support  40  toward deployment away from the frame  12  and thereby forcibly assists the raising of the calf support  40  against gravity as the calf support  40  is deployed. The passenger stows the calf support  40  by applying forces to overcome the cylinder  54  while holding down the armrest-mounted button. The cylinder  54  is compressed by forces applied by the legs of the passenger as the calf support  40  is stowed. By storing energy from the work done by the passenger in stowing the calf support  40 , the cylinder  54  is prepared to forcibly extend to deploy the calf support  40  upon the next pressing of the armrest-mounted button or other release. 
     The legrest  30  further includes a foot support  60  that deploys by extending telescopically from the calf support  40 . The foot support  60  in its stowed configuration resides substantially within the calf support  40  between the diaphragm  50  and the base plates  46  and  48 . The foot support  60  generally travels with the calf support  40  as the calf support hinges about the pins  44  ( FIG. 3 ). The foot support  60  includes a pair of laterally spaced rails  62  (FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 ) that engage the calf support  40  and move longitudinally relative to the rails  42  as the foot support  60  extends from and stows within the calf support  40 . Base plates  64 ,  66  and  68  ( FIG. 4 ) are connected at their opposing lateral ends to the rails  62 . The base plates maintain the rails  62  in their relative lateral spacing and provide rigidity to the foot support  60 , which extends as a rigid assembly from the calf support  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the foot support  60  includes a stretched diaphragm  70  attached at its opposing lateral sides to the rails  62 . The diaphragm  70  defines a pliable comfortable support for the ankles and feet of a passenger when the foot support  60  is deployed. The diaphragm  70  may be constructed of a woven fabric, flexible sheet, or other material. At each lateral side of the foot support  60 , integral extensions of the rail  62  form tabs that hold a retaining rod. Lateral side portions of the diaphragm  70  wrap around the retaining rod and are sewn to the diaphragm to form longitudinally extending sleeves in which the retaining rod is positioned and by which the diaphragm  70  is attached to the rail  62 . 
     The legrest  30  further includes a foot rest  120  that deploys by hinging outward from the foot support  60 . The foot rest  120  is pivotally attached at its opposing sides to laterally spaced brackets  122  at a fixed axis of rotation, such as pivot pins  124  ( FIG. 3 ). The brackets  122  permit the foot rest  120  to pivot about the pins  124  between a stowed configuration ( FIG. 2 ) and a deployed configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). In the stowed configuration ( FIG. 2 ), the generally planar foot rest is disposed approximately parallel to the diaphragm  70  of the foot support  60 . In the deployed configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ), the foot rest  120  is disposed approximately at a right angle relative to the diaphragm  70 . The brackets  122  are connected to distal ends of the rails  62  of the foot support  60  and extend outward from the rails  62  to provide space for the calf support diaphragm  50 , which is disposed between the foot rest  120  and the foot support diaphragm  70  when the foot rest  120  and foot support  60  are placed in their stowed configurations as shown in  FIG. 2 . At each lateral side of the foot rest  120 , the bracket  122  and pivot pin  124  ( FIG. 3 ) define a friction hinge that permits the passenger to pivot the foot rest  120  to a desired angle and then generally maintains the foot rest at that angle. 
     In order to begin deploying the foot support  60  after a preferred position of the calf support  40  is reached, a passenger first pivots the foot rest  120  outward from the foot support  60  and calf support  40 , for example by using the heels of his or her feet. The passenger then presses a second armrest-mounted button or actuates another control to permit movement of the foot support  60  relative to the calf support  40  while pressing on the foot rest  120  with the feet to extend the foot support  60  from its stowed configuration. The button is held down until the preferred extension of the foot support  60  is reached, and then the button is released to lock the foot support  60  relative to the calf support  40 . Thus, the amount of extension of the foot support  60  from the calf support  40  is selectable by the seated passenger. 
     An armature  80  ( FIG. 5 ) facilitates the movements of the foot support  60  relative to the calf support  40 . The armature includes a swing arm  82  that hinges about a shoulder joint  84  defined at a fixed axis or rotation, such as bolt  86 , that pivotally connects an upper end of the swing arm  82  to the base plate  46  of the calf support  40 . The swing arm  82  includes an upper arm member  88  and a lower arm member  92  rigidly connected together by a rigid elbow joint  94 . The upper arm member is generally disposed aft of the base plate  46  while the lower arm member  92  is generally disposed forward of the base plates  46  and  48 . The rigid elbow joint  94  extends between the base plates  46  and  48  and rigidly coordinates movements of the upper and lower arm members  88  and  92  in separate parallel planes. The rigid elbow joint  94 , and the upper and lower arm members  88  and  92  are portions of a single-piece element described individually herein for clarity. 
     A roller  96  ( FIG. 4 ) is rotatably attached to the distal end of the lower arm member  92  and is trapped in a lateral slot  98  defined between the base plates  64  and  66  of the foot support  60 . As the foot support  60  is extended from the stowed configuration of  FIG. 5  to the deployed configuration of  FIG. 4 , the roller  96  travels longitudinally with the foot support and laterally along the slot  98 . Due to the rigidity of the elbow joint  94 , the entire swing arm  82  pivots about the shoulder joint  84  as the foot support  60  extends and withdraws and as the roller  96  travels longitudinally with and laterally along the slot  98 . Foot support rails  62  may carry rollers that facilitate movement and maintain contact between rails  62  and calf support rails  42  during deployment. The rollers may be guided within tracks to prevent rotational movement between calf support  40  and foot support  60 . 
     A lockable gas spring cylinder  104  ( FIG. 5 ) is connected at one end to the lower base plate  48  of the calf support and at another end to the upper arm member  88  between the shoulder joint  84  and the rigid elbow joint  94 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder  104  has a shaft extending from a cylinder body  106  and a spring  108 . Other examples within the scope of these descriptions have other constructions. The cylinder  104  is compressed as the foot support  60  is extended from the stowed configuration of  FIG. 5  to the deployed configuration of  FIG. 4 , and extends as the foot support  60  is returned to the stowed configuration. The cylinder  104  is biased toward its extended configuration, which corresponds to the stowed configuration of the foot support  60 , and thereby forcibly assists the raising of the foot support  60  against gravity as the foot support  60  is returned to the stowed configuration of  FIG. 5 . The cylinder  104  is compressed by forces applied by the feet of the passenger on the foot rest  120  as the foot support  60  is deployed. By storing energy from the work done by the passenger in deploying the foot support  60 , the cylinder  104  is prepared to forcibly stow the foot support  60  upon the next pressing of the second armrest-mounted button or other control. 
     The foregoing has described a deployable legrest for a passenger seat. 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.