Seat light systems and methods for aircraft cabins

A light system may comprise: a seat back housing configured to be coupled to a seat in an aircraft; a light assembly coupled to the seat back housing, the light assembly comprising: a main body at least partially disposed in the seatback housing in response to the light assembly being in a stowed state, the main body coupled to a joint and configured to move relative to the joint, and a light coupled to the main body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, India Provisional Patent Application No. 202141037641, filed Aug. 19, 2021 with DAS Code 06EC and titled “SEAT LIGHT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIRCRAFT CABINS,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to seat light systems and methods and, more particularly, to seat light systems and methods that for use in an aircraft cabin.

BACKGROUND

For passenger to read in an aircraft cabin, an overhead light is typically provided. The overhead light typically is located above and at a distance from the passenger. The overhead light may be inconvenient for co-passengers when the passenger turns on the light and/or when the passenger is using the light. Additionally, overhead reading lights have a limited range of illumination.

SUMMARY

A light system is disclosed herein. The light system may comprise: a seat back housing configured to be coupled to a seat in an aircraft; a light assembly coupled to the seat back housing, the light assembly comprising: a main body at least partially disposed in the seatback housing in response to the light assembly being in a stowed state, the main body coupled to a joint and configured to move relative to the joint, and a light coupled to the main body.

The light system may further comprise a tray and a latch, the tray configured to open in response to actuating the latch, the light configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the tray in response to the light being in an operable state and the tray being open. The light assembly may further comprise an intensity adjuster configured to adjust an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation of the light. The joint may comprise a ball and socket joint. The light assembly may be configured to transition from the stowed state to an operable state in response to pressing a portion of an outer surface of the main body. A housing of the light assembly and the seat back housing may be a monolithic component. A housing of the light assembly and the seat back housing may be distinct components. The housing may comprise an outer surface and a recess disposed in the outer surface, the main body configured to be at least partially disposed in the recess in response to being in the stowed state.

A seat back assembly is disclosed herein. The seat back assembly may comprise: a tray configured to transition from a first stowed state to an open state; a light assembly, comprising: a housing, a main body coupled to the housing via a joint, the main body configured to move relative to the housing via the joint, the main body configured to transition the light assembly from a second stowed state to an operable state, and a light coupled to the main body at an end distal to the joint, the light configured to emit electromagnetic radiation towards the tray with the tray being in the open state and the light assembly being in the operable state.

The light assembly may comprise an intensity adjuster configured to adjust an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation. The seat back assembly may further comprise a power source, the light electrically coupled to the power source. The seat back assembly may further comprise a monitor, the monitor electrically coupled to the power source. The joint may comprise a ball and socket joint. The housing may comprise an outer surface and a recess disposed in the outer surface, the main body configured to be at least partially disposed in the recess in response to being in the stowed state.

An aircraft is disclosed herein. The aircraft may comprise: a plurality of seats, each seat comprising: a tray configured to transition from a first stowed state to an open state, and a light assembly configured to direct an electromagnetic radiation toward the tray with the tray being in the open state and the light assembly being in an operable state.

In various embodiments, the light assembly comprises a main body coupled to a housing of a respective seat in the plurality of seats via a joint. The light assembly may be configured to transition from a second stowed state to an operable state in response to pressing an area of the main body. The joint may comprise a ball and socket joint. The aircraft may further comprise a power source for each row of seats in the plurality of seats, and wherein each seat in each row of seats includes the light assembly electrically coupled to the power source for the row of seats. The aircraft may further comprise a plurality of disconnect brackets, each disconnect bracket disposed between the light assembly and the power source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are seat light systems and methods for use in an aircraft cabin. In various embodiments, the seat light systems include a light assembly configured to couple to a seat back assembly. The light assembly may include a housing, a main body and a light. The main body may be configured to be housed in the housing in a stowed state and a portion of the main body may be disposed out of the housing in an open, or operable state. The light may be disposed in the body and oriented towards a seat back tray when the seat back tray is in an open state. In various embodiments, the light assembly may be configured for an occupant to adjust direction of the light and/or adjust an intensity of the light as described further herein.

In various embodiments, the light assembly disclosed herein may be configured to be retrofitted into current designs. In this regard, the light assembly may be a low cost solution that provides a more enjoyable experience for passengers by allowing adjustment of intensity of the light and/or preventing unenjoyable interactions with co-passengers, in accordance with various embodiments.

With reference toFIG.1, a cabin51of an aircraft50is shown, according to various embodiments. The aircraft50may be any aircraft such as an airplane, a helicopter, or any other aircraft. The aircraft50may include passenger service units (PSUs)10that control various functions for passengers55in the cabin51. Pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, may remain on surfaces of the cabin51, and these remaining pathogens may result in indirect contact transmission to other people (e.g., subsequent passengers). For example, the cabin51may include overhead bins52, passenger seats54for supporting passengers55, armrest56, lavatory surfaces, PEDs, and other structures/surfaces.

Referring now toFIG.2, a seat light system100for use in a cabin51of the aircraft50fromFIG.1is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the seat light system100is disposed in a seat assembly102. The seat light system100comprises a light assembly101. The light assembly101may be operably coupled to a seat back105. In various embodiments, the seat back105may include a housing, a portion of a seat54fromFIG.1, or the like. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard. In various embodiments, the light assembly101is disposed proximate a latch112. “Proximate” as disclosed herein refers to being spaced apart from, in accordance with various embodiments. The latch112may be configured to release a tray114, in accordance with various embodiments. In this regard, latch112may retrain the tray114in a closed state in response to the latch112being in a first position as illustrated. In various embodiments, by rotating the latch112, the tray114may be released and transition into an open state. Although illustrated as being configured to rotate, the latch112is not limited in this regard. For example, the latch112could comprise a push release, an automated release, or the like.

In various embodiments, the seat assembly102comprises a monitor116. The monitor116may be configured to display various media, such as movies, games, etc. In various embodiments, the monitor116is electrically coupled to a power source. In this regard, the light assembly101may be retrofitted into an existing seat assembly by electrically coupling the light assembly101to the power source configured to power monitor116as described further herein. Although illustrated as including the monitor116, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, a seat assembly102without a monitor116is within the scope of this disclosure.

In various embodiments, the light assembly101is coupled to the seat back105. In various embodiments, the seat back105includes a housing106. The housing106may house the light assembly101in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, a housing of the light assembly101is a distinct component from the housing106of the seat back105. In various embodiments, the housing of the light assembly101may be integral with the housing106(i.e., the housing of the light assembly101and the housing106of the seat back105may be a monolithic component or formed from a single-piece of material, as shown inFIG.5). The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

Although illustrated as having the light assembly101disposed vertically between the latch112and the monitor116, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the light assembly101may be disposed in any of a plurality of locations120disposed on the seat back105, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the light assembly101may be disposed in multiple locations on the seat back105.

Referring now toFIGS.3A and3B, the light assembly101from light system100ofFIG.2is illustrated in a stowed state (FIG.3A) and an operable state (FIG.3B), in accordance with various embodiments. A “stowed state” as defined herein refers to a position where a light230of the light assembly101is blocked by a housing210. An “operable state” as defined herein refers to a position where the light230of the light assembly101is at least partially exposed (i.e., configured to illuminate at least a portion of a surface).

The light assembly101comprises the housing210and a main body220, and a light230. The light230is coupled to the main body220and configured to illuminate a surface during use. The light230may comprise a light emitting diode (“LED”), an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent light, a halogen lamp, a fluorescent tube, a neon lamp, or the like. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

In various embodiments, the housing210comprises a recess212disposed in an outer surface214. Although illustrated as comprising a recess212defining a bottom surface, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the housing210could define a slot through the outer surface214, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the recess212may be at least partially defined by a wall216. In various embodiments, the wall216may be coupled to, or integral with, a flange218disposed at a top portion (i.e., distal to a bottom surface of the recess212) extending outward from the wall216. In various embodiments, the wall216and the flange218may define a shoulder. In this regard, the wall216and flange218may be configured to be press fit into a housing106of a seat back105fromFIG.1, in accordance with various embodiments. However, the present disclosure isn't limited in this regard, and any coupling means may be utilized to couple the housing210to the housing106of the seat back105fromFIG.2, such as via fasteners, adhesives, or the like.

In various embodiments, the recess212may define a first shape. In various embodiments, the first shape may be complimentary to at least a portion of the main body220. In this regard, the recess212may be configured to stow at least a portion of the main body220when the light assembly101is in the stowed state. In various embodiments, the main body220is coupled to the housing210via a joint240. In various embodiments, the joint240may comprise a ball and socket joint, a hinge joint, a pivot joint, a saddle joint or the like. In various embodiments, the joint240is a ball and socket joint. In this regard, the joint may facilitate movement in various directions about a center point of the ball in the ball and socket joint.

Referring now toFIG.4, the light assembly101during a transition from the stowed state to a fully opened state is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. A “fully opened state” as disclosed herein refers to the light230fromFIG.3Bbeing completely unobstructed by the housing210. In various embodiments, a user250may press on an area222of an outer surface224to transition the light assembly101from the stowed state (FIG.3A) to the fully opened state (FIG.3B). In this regard, by pressing the area222, the main body220may pivot about the joint240, causing at least a portion of the main body220to extend outward of recess212of the housing210. Although illustrated as being manually operated, the present disclosure is not limited in this regard. For example, the light assembly101may be configured to transition from the stowed state to the fully opened state automatically, or vice versa. In various embodiments, a position of the light assembly101may be configurable through a user interface (e.g., on monitor216fromFIG.2), or the like.

Referring now toFIG.5, the light assembly101during operation is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, in the operable state, the light assembly101is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation output towards a surface (e.g., a tray114coupled to the seat back105). In various embodiments, the light assembly101is adaptable to direct light502in various directions to provide more user-friendly lighting option in a cabin50of an aircraft51fromFIG.1.

Referring now toFIG.6, a side view of a portion of the light assembly101is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments. The light assembly101may further comprise an intensity adjuster602, in accordance with various embodiments. The intensity adjuster602may be configured to adjust an intensity of the light230fromFIG.3B. In various embodiments, the intensity adjuster602may be configured to rotate about a central axis defined by the intensity adjuster602(e.g., by being rotatably interconnected with the main body220). In this regard, an intensity of the light230may vary proportionally to an angle of rotation relative to the central axis, in accordance with various embodiments. Although described with respect to a rotatable intensity adjuster602, the present disclosure isn't limited in this regard. For example, a sliding adjuster or the like is within the scope of this disclosure. In various embodiments, the light230fromFIG.3Bis housed within the intensity adjuster602.

Referring now toFIG.7, a process700for retrofitting a light assembly into a seat back of a seat on an aircraft is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. The process700comprises decoupling a seat back housing from a seat (e.g., passenger seat54) in a cabin50of an aircraft51fromFIG.1(step702). The seat back housing of step702does not include a light assembly therein. In various embodiments, decoupling the seat back housing105may include removing fasteners or the like.

In various embodiments, the process702further comprises removing a portion of the seat back housing to create an aperture (step704). Although illustrated as including step704, a pre-manufactured seat back housing may be utilized instead of step704, in accordance with various embodiments. The aperture704may be configured to receive a housing210of a light assembly101therein.

In various embodiments, the process700further comprises electrically coupling a light230in the light assembly101to a power source. In various embodiments, the power source is in electrical communication with a monitor216of the seat back assembly102fromFIG.2. In various embodiments, electrically coupling the light230to the power source may include splicing an electrical wire and coupling the spliced electrical wire to a terminal of the light230.

In various embodiments, the process700further comprises coupling the light assembly101to the seat back housing (step708). The light assembly101may be coupled via fasteners, press fit, adhesives, or the like.

In various embodiments, the process700further comprises coupling the seat back housing to the seat (step710). In various embodiments, the resultant seat assembly may be in accordance with seat assembly102fromFIG.2, in accordance with various embodiments. The process700may be repeated for a respective row of seats in an aircraft, where the power source is the same for each seat in a respective row, in accordance with various embodiments.

Referring now toFIG.8, a schematic view of an electrical system800for a row of seats in an aircraft cabin (e.g., cabin50fromFIG.1) is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the electrical system800comprises a power supply unit810, a plurality of lights (lights822,824,826), a plurality of monitors (monitors832,834,836), and a plurality of disconnect brackets (disconnect brackets842,844,846,848). The disconnect brackets may be configured to disconnect electricity from a light to the power supply unit (e.g., disconnect bracket844may disconnect electricity from the light822to the power supply unit810). In various embodiments, a disconnect bracket842may be configured to disconnect all electrical components from the power supply unit810, in accordance with various embodiments. In this regard the disconnect brackets842,844,846,848may facilitate maintenance of a respective electrical component, or all electrical components, in accordance with various embodiments.

In various embodiments, the process700may result in electrical system800. For example, in response to step706, a respective disconnect bracket may be installed (e.g., disconnect bracket844), resulting in a light230of a light assembly101being electrically coupled to the power supply unit810, in accordance with various embodiments.