NON-UNIFORM TUBES FOR AIRCRAFT FURNITURE

Described are non-uniform tubes (104) for a furniture unit for an aircraft. The non-uniform tubes can include a first end (108), a second end (110), a wall (112), and a tube central axis (118). The second end may be opposite from the first end, and the wall can extend from the first end to the second end. The wall can include an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface defines a cavity (120) extending from the first end to the second end. The non-uniform tubes can include a first portion (124) between the first end and the second end. The cavity can include a cavity central axis (122), and, in the first portion (124), the cavity central axis (122) may be offset from the tube central axis (118).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to an furniture units for an aircraft cabin arrangement, and, more particularly, to tubes for such furniture units.

BACKGROUND

Passenger vehicles, such as aircraft, buses, trains, ships, and automobiles, often include one or more furniture units, which may include, but is not limited to, a passenger seat, a crew seat, an ottoman, a table, a galley module, a sanitary module; a storage module, etc. For example, a passenger vehicle may include passenger seats as furniture units in which passengers may be seated and otherwise use during travel. Furniture units may include one or more tubes, which may be structural or non-structural. Traditionally, such tubes, whether structural or non-structural, have had a uniform profile and construction.

SUMMARY

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, non-uniform tubes for a furniture unit of an aircraft can include a first end, a second end, and a wall. The second end may be opposite from the first end. The non-uniform tubes can include a tube central axis. The non-uniform tubes can include a first portion between the first end and the second end. The wall can extend from the first end to the second end. The wall can include an inner surface and an outer surface in which the inner surface defines a cavity extending from the first end to the second end. The cavity can include a cavity central axis, and, in the first portion, the cavity central axis may be offset from the tube central axis.

In some embodiments, the central cavity may be offset from, and parallel to, the tube central axis. In certain embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include a second portion between the first end and the second end in which, in the second portion, the central cavity axis may be collinear with the tube central axis. In various embodiments, a distance from the first end to the second end may be a length of the non-uniform tube, the outer surface can define an outer dimension along the length of the non-uniform tube, and the outer dimension may be constant along the length of the non-uniform tube.

In some embodiments, a distance between the inner surface and the outer surface may be a thickness of the wall, and in the first portion and in a crosswise direction, the thickness of the wall may be non-uniform about the tube central axis. In certain embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include a second portion between the first end and the second end, and in the second portion and in a crosswise direction, a thickness of the wall may be non-uniform about the tube central axis. In some embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include a second portion between the first end and the second end, and in the second portion, the cavity central axis may be offset from the tube central axis and may be offset from the central cavity axis of in the first portion.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a non-uniform tube for a furniture unit of an aircraft can include a first end, a second end, and a tubular wall. A direction from the first end to the second end may be a length of the non-uniform tube, and a crosswise direction can extend perpendicular to the length. The tubular wall can extend from the first end to the second end. The non-uniform tube can include a tube central axis extending from the first end to the second end, and the non-uniform tube can include a first portion along the length of the non-uniform tube. A thickness of the tubular wall may be non-uniform about the tube central axis in the first portion and in the crosswise direction.

In various embodiments, the tubular wall can include a cavity extending from the first end to the second end, the cavity can include a cavity central axis, and along the length of the non-uniform tube, at least a portion of the cavity central axis may not be collinear with the tube central axis. In certain embodiments, the first portion of the non-uniform tube can include the portion of the cavity central axis that is not collinear with the tube central axis. In some embodiments, the thickness of the tubular wall in the first portion and in the crosswise direction can include a first maximum thickness and a first minimum thickness, the non-uniform tube can include a second portion along the length of the non-uniform tube. A thickness of the tubular wall may be non-uniform about the tube central axis and can include a second maximum thickness and a second minimum thickness in the second portion and in the crosswise direction. The first maximum thickness of the first portion may be different from the second maximum thickness of the second portion.

In various embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include an outer dimension along the length of the non-uniform tube, and the outer dimension may be constant along the length of the non-uniform tube. In certain embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include an outer dimension along the length of the non-uniform tube, and the outer dimension may be varied along the length of the non-uniform tube.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a non-uniform tube for a furniture unit of an aircraft can include a first end, a second end, and a wall. The second end may be opposite from the first end. The wall can extend from the first end to the second end. The wall can include an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface can define an outer dimension and the inner surface can define an inner dimension. The inner dimension may not be constant along a length of the non-uniform tube between the first end and the second end. A central axis of the inner surface may not be constant along the length of the non-uniform tube.

In some embodiments, the outer dimension may be constant along the length of the non-uniform tube between the first end and the second end. In various embodiments, the outer dimension may not be constant along the length of the non-uniform tube between the first end and the second end. In certain embodiments, the central axis of the inner surface may be a cavity central axis, the non-uniform tube can include a tube central axis extending from the first end to the second end, and at least a portion of the cavity central axis may not be collinear with the tube central axis.

In some embodiments, at least two portions of the cavity central axis between first end and the second end may not be collinear with the tube central axis. In various embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include a first portion between the first end and the second end, and the wall can include a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness in the first portion and in a crosswise direction. In certain embodiments, the non-uniform tube can include a second portion between the first end and the second end, and the wall can include a uniform thickness in the second portion and in the crosswise direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “forward,” and “aft,” among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing but are not intended to imply any particular configuration.

The described embodiments of the invention provide non-uniform tubes for furniture units of an aircraft. Furniture units of an aircraft may include, but are not limited to, a passenger seat, a crew seat, an ottoman, a table, a console, a wall, a support structure, a galley module, a sanitary module, a storage module. As such, while the non-uniform tubes are discussed herein with respect to a passenger seat as the furniture unit, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the non-uniform tubes may be used in other furniture units and/or furniture units for other passenger vehicles as desired.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a furniture unit that is a passenger seat100, and the passenger seat100includes a non-uniform tube104according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The passenger seat100includes a frame102that may include various components that provide support for a passenger in the passenger seat100. Various components include, but are not limited to, leg assemblies, spreaders, seat backs, arm rests, etc. In certain embodiments, the frame102includes at least one non-uniform tube104, and in certain embodiments, the passenger seat100includes two or more non-uniform tubes104. As such, while two non-uniform tubes104are illustrated, the passenger seat100may include any number of non-uniform tubes as desired, including a single non-uniform tube104or more than two non-uniform tubes104. Moreover, the particular non-uniform tubes104illustrated should not be considered limiting, and other portions of the frame102may include a non-uniform tube104as desired.

A fully assembled passenger seat100may include various cushioning (not shown), a bottom seat pan (not shown), in-flight entertainment equipment, tray tables, and/or other components as desire. Optionally, the passenger seat100includes a bottom frame component106, which may be, but does not have to be, a non-uniform tube similar to the non-uniform tubes104. In some embodiments, the bottom frame component106is a baggage bar.

As best illustrated inFIGS.2-8, each tube104may be a non-uniform tube, meaning that a characteristic and/or dimension of the non-uniform tube104is not uniform along a length of the non-uniform tube104and/or in a crosswise direction of the non-uniform tube104(i.e., a direction perpendicular to the length of the non-uniform tube104). As a non-limiting example, the non-uniform tube104may include a variable inner diameter such that in the crosswise direction, a wall thickness of a portion of the non-uniform tube is different from the wall thickness of another portion of the non-uniform tube. As another non-limiting example, the non-uniform tube104may have a central cavity, and an axis of the central cavity along the length of the non-uniform tube104may be offset from and/or not parallel to a central axis of the tube104. As a further non-limiting example, an outer diameter or dimension of the tube104may be constant along the length of the non-uniform tube104and/or may be varied along the length of the tube104. The non-uniform tubes104described herein may provide include improved strength, improved stiffness, improved inertia, and/or other improved performance indicators compared to traditional non-uniform tubes. In some cases, the tubes104described herein may provide the same strength as existing tubes but with less material. The non-uniform tubes104described herein may optionally provide improved absorption and/or dispersion of forces received from a dynamic event or from other uses of the passenger seat100. In certain embodiments, the non-uniform tubes104described herein may be installed on the passenger seat100without drilling holes or otherwise damaging the passenger seat100. In some embodiments, the non-uniform tubes104described herein may optionally be optimized to withstand various loads that may occur when used, such as a 16G force and/or a 14G force. In various embodiments, the non-uniform tubes104described herein may conform to, or exceed, the AS 8049 (Rev. C) standard for 14G and 16G testing. The non-uniform tubes104described herein may also be used in static conditions and/or non-structural conditions as desired.

The non-uniform tubes104described herein made from any suitable material as desired. In some non-limiting examples, the non-uniform tubes104may be metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and/or steel, although in other embodiments, the non-uniform tubes104may be made from other metals and/or non-metallic materials as desired, such as plastics, composites, combinations of materials, etc. The non-uniform tubes104may be formed via various suitable techniques as desired. Optionally, the non-uniform tubes104may be formed without machining/via a non-machining process.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the non-uniform tube104includes a first end108and a second end110in which the second end110is opposite the first end108. A distance between the first end108and the second end110is the length of the non-uniform tube104, and a direction perpendicular to the length of the non-uniform tube104is the crosswise direction. A tube central axis118extends in the direction from the first end108to the second end110. While the tube104is illustrated as linear or straight, in other embodiments the tube104may be bent or otherwise non-linear.

A wall112extends from the first end108to the second end110and includes an outer surface114and an inner surface116(see, e.g.,FIG.3). In certain embodiments, and as illustrated inFIG.2, the wall112has an outer dimension defined by the outer surface114. Each of the outer and inner dimension may be, but does not have to be, a crosswise dimension, such as, but not limited to, a diameter, a height, or a width. For purposes of this disclosure, “dimension” and “diameter” are used interchangeably. In some embodiments, the outer dimension is constant and/or uniform along the length of the non-uniform tube104. In other embodiments, the outer dimension may be varied and/or non-uniform along the length of the non-uniform tube104. As a non-limiting embodiment, the outer dimension of a first portion of the non-uniform tube104along the length of the non-uniform tube104may be less than or greater than the outer dimension of a second portion of the non-uniform tube104along the length of the non-uniform tube104.

As best illustrated inFIGS.3-8, the inner surface116of the non-uniform tube104defines a cavity120that may extend from the first end108to the second end110. For any given portion of the cavity120in the crosswise direction, the cavity120includes a cavity central axis122. In certain embodiments, the non-uniform tube104is non-uniform such that the cavity central axis122may be aligned with the tube central axis118or offset from the tube central axis118.FIGS.3,4, and6illustrate portions of the non-uniform tube104where the cavity central axis122is aligned (or collinear) with the tube central axis118, andFIGS.5and7illustrate portions of the non-uniform tube104where the cavity central axis122is offset from the tube central axis118. In addition to being collinear or offset with respect to the tube central axis118, the cavity central axis122may also extend parallel to the tube central axis118or may extend such that the cavity central axis122is not parallel (e.g., extends at a non-zero angle) to the tube central axis118.

The cavity120may have various shapes, profiles, and/or portions both along the length of the non-uniform tube104and in the crosswise direction. As some non-limiting examples,FIG.3illustrates the cavity120at the first end108having a first profile and shape, andFIG.4illustrates the cavity120at the second end110having a second profile and shape that is more ovoid compared to the first end108.FIG.5illustrates a first portion124of the non-uniform tube104between the first end108and the second end110where the cavity120has a first profile and shape that is similar in shape to the cavity120at the first end108but smaller in size compared to the cavity120at the first end108.FIG.6illustrates a second portion126of the non-uniform tube104between the first end108and the second end110where the cavity120has a second profile and shape that is similar to the profile and shape of the cavity120at the first end108.FIG.7illustrates a third portion128of the non-uniform tube104between the first end108and the second end110where the cavity120has a third profile and shape that is angled, smaller, and more ovoid compared to the cavity120at the first end108. The cavity shapes and profiles illustrated inFIGS.2-8are provided merely as examples and should not be considered limiting on the disclosure. Moreover, the portions illustrated should not be considered limiting on the disclosure and reference to “first” and “second” is not intended to refer to any particular order, but rather just implies that the portions are different. In other embodiments, the non-uniform tube104may have various other cavities and/or tube portions having other shapes, sizes, orientations, etc. as desired.

Referring toFIGS.2-8, a distance in the crosswise direction between the inner surface116and the outer surface114is a wall thickness of the non-uniform tube, and in certain embodiments, the wall thickness of the non-uniform tube104may be non-uniform in the crosswise direction and/or along the length of the non-uniform tube104. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the non-uniform tube104may have a uniform thickness.

The following description referring toFIGS.3-7makes reference to various exemplary wall thicknesses, and it will be appreciated that the wall thickness(es) in one figure may be the same as or different from the wall thickness(es) in another figure. As some non-limiting examples,FIG.3illustrates the first end108of the non-uniform tube104having a uniform wall thickness140andFIG.6illustrates the second portion126of the non-uniform tube104having a uniform wall thickness134, which may be, but does not have to be, the same thickness as the wall thickness140.

As another non-limiting example,FIG.4illustrates the second end110of the non-uniform tube104that includes a non-uniform wall thickness and has at least two different wall thicknesses136,138, where the wall thickness138is less than the wall thickness136.FIG.4illustrates additional wall thickness that may be greater than or equal to the wall thickness136, less than or equal to the wall thickness138, or a thickness that is between the wall thickness136and the wall thickness136.

As another non-limiting example,FIG.5illustrates the first portion124of the non-uniform tube104that includes a non-uniform wall thickness and has at least two different wall thicknesses130,132, where the wall thickness132is less than the wall thickness130.FIG.5illustrates additional wall thickness that may be greater than or equal to the wall thickness130, less than or equal to the wall thickness132, or a thickness that is between the wall thickness130and the wall thickness132.

As another non-limiting example,FIG.6illustrates the third portion128of the non-uniform tube104that includes a non-uniform wall thickness and has at least two different wall thicknesses142,144, where the wall thickness144is less than the wall thickness142.FIG.6illustrates additional wall thickness that may be greater than or equal to the wall thickness142, less than or equal to the wall thickness144, or a thickness that is between the wall thickness142and the wall thickness144.

FIG.9illustrates the wall thicknesses of the entire non-uniform tube104(as well as the cavity120) and shows how the wall thicknesses may be uniform or non-uniform, and the cavity120may have various shapes, orientations, and positions of its central axis as desired. The layout illustrated inFIG.9should not be considered limiting, and non-uniform tubes may have various combinations and/or arrangements of wall thicknesses and the cavity along the length of the non-uniform tube as desired.

A collection of exemplary embodiments are provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as “Examples” providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These examples are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these examples but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

Example 1. A non-uniform tube for a furniture unit for an aircraft, the non-uniform tube comprising: a first end; a second end opposite from the first end; and a wall extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the wall comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a cavity extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the cavity comprises a cavity central axis, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a tube central axis, and wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a first portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein, in the first portion, the cavity central axis is offset from the tube central axis.

Example 2. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein, in the first portion, the central cavity is offset from and parallel to the tube central axis.

Example 3. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a second portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein, in the second portion, the central cavity axis is collinear with the tube central axis.

Example 4. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein a distance from the first end to the second end is a length of the non-uniform tube, wherein the outer surface defines an outer dimension along the length of the non-uniform tube, and wherein the outer dimension is constant along the length of the non-uniform tube.

Example 5. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein a distance between the inner surface and the outer surface is a thickness of the wall, and wherein, in the first portion and in a crosswise direction, the thickness of the wall is non-uniform about the tube central axis.

Example 6. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a second portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein, in the second portion and in a crosswise direction, a thickness of the wall is non-uniform about the tube central axis.

Example 7. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a second portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein, in the second portion, the cavity central axis is offset from the tube central axis and offset from the central cavity axis of in the first portion.

Example 7.a. An aircraft furniture unit comprising the non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the aircraft furniture unit comprises a passenger seat.

Example 7.b. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube is bent or non-linear between the first end and the second end.

Example 8. A non-uniform tube for a furniture unit for an aircraft, the non-uniform tube comprising: a first end; a second end, wherein a direction from the first end to the second end is a length of the non-uniform tube, and wherein a crosswise direction extends perpendicular to the length; and a tubular wall extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a tube central axis extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a first portion along the length of the non-uniform tube, and wherein, in the first portion and in the crosswise direction, a thickness of the tubular wall is non-uniform about the tube central axis.

Example 9. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the tubular wall comprises a cavity extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the cavity comprises a cavity central axis, and wherein along the length of the non-uniform tube, at least a portion of the cavity central axis is not collinear with the tube central axis.

Example 10. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the first portion of the non-uniform tube comprises the portion of the cavity central axis that is not collinear with the tube central axis.

Example 11. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the thickness of the tubular wall in the first portion and in the crosswise direction comprises a first maximum thickness and a first minimum thickness; the non-uniform tube comprises a second portion along the length of the non-uniform tube; in the second portion and in the crosswise direction, a thickness of the tubular wall is non-uniform about the tube central axis and comprises a second maximum thickness and a second minimum thickness; and wherein the first maximum thickness of the first portion is different from the second maximum thickness of the second portion.

Example 12. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises an outer dimension along the length of the non-uniform tube, and wherein the outer dimension is constant along the length of the non-uniform tube.

Example 13. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises an outer dimension along the length of the non-uniform tube, and wherein the outer dimension is varied along the length of the non-uniform tube.

Example 14. A non-uniform tube for a furniture unit for an aircraft, the non-uniform tube comprising: a first end; a second end opposite from the first end; and a wall extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the wall comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface defines an outer dimension and the inner surface defines an inner dimension, wherein the inner dimension is not constant along a length of the non-uniform tube between the first end and the second end, and wherein a central axis of the inner surface is not constant along the length of the non-uniform tube.

Example 15. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the outer dimension is constant along the length of the non-uniform tube between the first end and the second end.

Example 16. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the outer dimension is not constant along the length of the non-uniform tube between the first end and the second end.

Example 17. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the central axis of the inner surface is a cavity central axis, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a tube central axis extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein at least a portion of the cavity central axis is not collinear with the tube central axis.

Example 18. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein at least two portions of the cavity central axis between first end and the second end are not collinear with the tube central axis.

Example 19. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a first portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein, in the first portion and in a crosswise direction, the wall comprises a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness.

Example 20. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combination of examples, wherein the non-uniform tube comprises a second portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein, in the second portion and in the crosswise direction, the wall comprises a uniform thickness.

Example 21. The non-uniform tube of any of the preceding or subsequent examples or combinations of examples, wherein the furniture unit is a passenger seat.