Seat divider sail

A vertical seat blocking/divider device includes a seat back connector and a seat cushion connector. The vertical seat blocking/divider device is disposed on the center of an aircraft seat to block occupancy of the aircraft seat and establish a barrier between neighboring seats. In a further aspect, the vertical seat blocking/divider device includes a spring element to apply a force to the fabric of the seat blocking/divider device. In a further aspect, the vertical seat blocking/divider device may include armrest connectors on opposing surfaces so that the vertical seat blocking/divider device can be disposed between occupied seats to create a barrier between passengers.

BACKGROUND

In aircraft cabins, seats are disposed closely together to achieve a certain passenger density. Likewise, storage space is highly utilized by in-cabin amenities and passenger baggage storage. There are limited facilities for blocking an aircraft seat so that it cannot be used or placing a barrier between passengers to help with social distancing such as for limiting contagions. It would be desirable to have a solution for blocking aircraft seats and limiting inter-passenger exposure without damaging any seats. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have such as device that would be easily installed, movable, light weight, low cost, cleanable, and easily stowed when not in use. Furthermore, the device should not require recertification of the seat, and should meet existing flammability requirements.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a vertical seat blocking/inter-passenger divider device having a seat back connector and a seat cushion connector. The vertical seat blocking/divider device is disposed on the center of an aircraft seat to block occupancy of the aircraft seat and establish a barrier between neighboring seats. In a further aspect, the vertical seat blocking/divider device includes a spring element to apply a force to the fabric.

In a further aspect, the vertical seat blocking device may include armrest connectors on opposing surfaces so that the vertical seat blocking/divider device can be disposed between occupied seats to create a barrier between passengers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a vertical seat blocking device having a seat back connector and a seat cushion connector. The vertical seat blocking device is disposed on the center of an aircraft seat to block occupancy of the aircraft seat and establish a barrier between neighboring seats. In a further aspect, the vertical seat blocking device includes a spring element to apply a force to the fabric.

Referring toFIG.1, a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider106is shown. Aircraft seats100comprising a seat back102and a seat cushion104may need to be blocked from use from time to time. Furthermore, in certain circumstances, neighboring passengers may need to be positively separated by one or more aircraft seat widths. For those circumstances, an aircraft seat blocker/divider106provided. The aircraft seat blocker/divider106is disposed vertically in a middle portion of an aircraft seat100. Such disposition prevents any passenger from using the aircraft seat100and may provide a barrier between neighboring passengers.

Referring toFIG.2, a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider206is shown. An aircraft seat blocker/divider206comprises a fabric body, a seat back attachment element208configured to releasably engage the seat back202, and a seat cushion attachment element210configured to releasable engage the seat cushion. In at least one embodiment the seat cushion attachment element210comprises one or more upright retention bodies having a surface that abuts the top surface of the seat cushion and a surface that abuts the fabric body. The one or more upright bodies define an orthogonal relationship between the fabric body and the seat cushion. Likewise, the seat back attachment element208may comprise similar bodies to define an orthogonal relationship between the fabric body and the seat back. In at least one embodiment, each of the seat back attachment element208and seat cushion attachment element210may comprise hooks configured to surround a top surface of a headrest and an anterior surface of the seat cushion respectively. A spring element disposed in the fabric body may maintain tension in such hooks. In at least one embodiment, an elastic cord or bungie cord may attach a bottom portion of the fabric body to a portion of the aircraft seat structure below.

The aircraft seat blocker/divider206is disposed vertically in a middle portion of an aircraft seat200. Such disposition prevents any passenger from using the aircraft seat200and may provide a barrier between neighboring passengers.

Referring toFIG.3, a perspective, environmental, detail view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider306is shown. An aircraft seat blocker/divider306is connected to a seat back via a midline strap308attached to a top portion of fabric body and configured to go over a superior surface of the headrest and a lateral strap310configured to surround the headrest along lateral surfaces. In at least one embodiment, the midline strap308may engage the lateral strap310along a posterior surface of the seat back.

Referring toFIG.4, a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider406is shown. An aircraft seat blocker/divider406comprises a fabric body, a seat back attachment element408configured to releasably engage the seat back402, and a seat cushion attachment element410configured to releasable engage the seat cushion404. In at least one embodiment the seat cushion attachment element410comprises a midline strap surrounds the seat cushion404front-to-back such that a portion of the midline strap passes between the seat cushion404and the seat back402. The midline strap maintains the fabric body in an upright orientation without internal support from a spring element.

Referring toFIG.5, a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider506is shown. An aircraft seat blocker/divider506comprises a fabric body, seat back attachment elements508,510configured to releasably engage the seat back502, and a seat cushion attachment element512configured to releasable engage the seat cushion504. In at least one embodiment the seat cushion attachment element512comprises a midline strap surrounds the seat cushion504front-to-back such that a portion of the midline strap passes between the seat cushion504and the seat back502. The midline strap maintains the fabric body in an upright orientation without internal support from a spring element.

The seat back attachment elements508,510comprise a midline strap508that passes over a superior surface of the headrest while a lateral strap510surrounds the headrest along lateral surfaces. The midline strap508and lateral strap510engage each other along a posterior surface of the seat back. In at least one embodiment, the midline strap508and lateral strap510define a harness that wraps around the headrest and is secured via hook-and-loop fabric.

Embodiments with a midline strap508along the headrest and a midline strap as the seat cushion attachment portion512may be releasable, temporary, and require no modification to the aircraft seat, but also be sufficiently attached to the aircraft seat as to prevent casual disengagement.

Referring toFIG.6, a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider606is shown. An aircraft seat blocker/divider606comprises a fabric body, a seat cushion attachment element610configured to releasable engage the seat cushion604, and a spring element614disposed along the periphery of the fabric body to apply an expansive force to the fabric body. The expansive force maintains the form of the fabric body, potentially even when attached to the aircraft seat only by a seat cushion attachment element610. Furthermore, the fabric body may define a headrest engagement portion that may be inserted under the headrest where appropriate for the aircraft seat600. The spring element614may extend into such headrest engagement portion.

In at least one embodiment, the spring element614allows a top portion of the fabric body to extend up to, or above the seat back headrest such that the fabric body would form a barrier between passengers, even when a passenger's head extends above the headrest. Furthermore, the spring element614maintains the fabric body extending from the seat back while also being easily deformable so as to not hinder passenger egress.

Referring toFIG.7, a perspective, environmental view of an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft seat blocker/divider702is shown. An aircraft seat blocker/divider702comprises a fabric body, a spring element704disposed along the periphery of the fabric body to apply an expansive force to the fabric body, and one or more armrest engaging elements706, each configured to surround an armrest708of an aircraft seat700. When disposed between aircraft seats700, the fabric body may or may not be able to engage neighboring seat backs and seat back cushions. To maintain the fabric body in position, and in an upright orientation, the armrest engaging elements706disposed on opposing surfaces of the fabric body go over neighboring armrests708and create a barrier between neighboring aircraft seats700.

In at least one embodiment, a friction element may be disposed on the fabric body, configured to be placed between neighboring seat cushions. The friction element may be held in place via friction and maintain the position and orientation of the fabric body. Alternatively, the friction element may comprise a bottom portion of the fabric body.

Referring toFIGS.8A-8C, view of an aircraft seat blocker/divider800in various states of folding for stowage. The aircraft seat blocker/divider800comprises one or more wire spring elements802,804disposed in peripheral edges of a fabric body. The spring elements802,804maintain the fabric body in an upright orientation when in use, and also allow the aircraft seat blocker/divider800to be folded for stowage. For example, the aircraft seat blocker/divider800may be folded from a deployed configuration (FIG.8A) to a folded configuration (FIG.8C).

A device according to the exemplary embodiments described herein may be all textile or textile with spring wire guides that can attach to the center of the aircraft seat and form a seat blocker and passenger divider. It may also be attached to either side of the aircraft seat so that it can function only as a passenger divider. It can be multiple sizes based on available space and seat specifications.

The device may be easily attached to the center, inboard, or outboard side of the aircraft seat and easily movable to other locations. It is light weight, low cost, cleanable and takes up minimal storage space when not in use. Because it is flexible, it will collapse with the seat during impact and therefore not cause a change to the head strike profile. It may be manufactured out of aviation fabric/textile material so will meet flammability requirements. The device does not provide any resistance to seat backrest break forward features.

It is believed that the inventive concepts disclosed herein and many of their attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description of embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the broad scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein or without sacrificing all of their material advantages; and individual features from various embodiments may be combined to arrive at other embodiments. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. Furthermore, any of the features disclosed in relation to any of the individual embodiments may be incorporated into any other embodiment.