Retractable chair for an aircraft cabin

A retractable chair for an aircraft cabin which is connected in use to a wall of the cabin, and includes an articulated frame having a back and a seat; a support which is connected to the frame, and fitted such as to be mobile on the wall around an axis of rotation; and at least one covering stretched on the frame. The fact of pivoting the support relative to the wall makes it possible to be able to incline the back, which contributes towards improving the comfort of the chair.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a retractable chair designed for the on-board personnel of an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to a known configuration, a retractable chair comprises a back which is secured against a wall of an aircraft cabin, generally surmounted by a head-rest, and a seat which is fitted such as to pivot relative to a horizontal axis of pivoting positioned at the lower edge of the back, and integral with the wall. Thus, the seat is configured to occupy a retracted state, in which it is vertical and placed against the back, and a deployed state, in which it is horizontal, and allows a person to sit down.

This type of chair is convenient, since in the deployed state it provides a spare chair on which a person can strap himself in, in particular during the phases of landing or take-off, or when the aircraft is passing through an area of turbulence. In the retracted state, it frees the space occupied by the seat in the horizontal position, and allows people to pass by.

However, this type of chair with a fixed vertical back does not allow a person to relax.

In certain aircraft in general, designed for long-haul flights, there are cabins to allow the on-board personnel to sleep. These cabins have areas for lying down which are designed to allow people to sleep. However, these lying-down areas take up a relatively large amount of space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention may eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a retractable chair which allows a person to relax.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a retractable chair for an aircraft cabin which is connected in use to a wall of the cabin, characterised in that the retractable chair comprises:

an articulated frame comprising a back and a seat;

a support which is connected to the frame, and fitted such as to be mobile on the wall around an axis of rotation, between a retracted state in which the support is in the folded-back position, and a deployed state in which the support is in the pivoted position; and

at least one covering stretched on the frame;

the support12being produced in the form of a framework which comprises:

a first, approximately horizontal cross-member42on which the back14and the support12are connected;

two uprights44which each comprise an upper end44.1connected to the first cross-member42, and a second end44.2which is supported on the ground; and

a second cross-member46which connects the uprights44in the vicinity of their second end44.2.

The fact of pivoting the support relative to the wall makes it possible to be able to incline the back, which contributes to improving the comfort of the chair, and allows a person to relax.

According to another characteristic, the axis of rotation is vertical.

According to another characteristic, the retractable chair comprises:

at least one first articulation which is configured to allow:

the seat to pivot relative to the back, between an approximately vertical position and a position which is inclined around a first horizontal axis of pivoting, and to connect the support to the seat;

the back to pivot relative to the support, around a second horizontal axis of pivoting, between an approximately vertical position and an inclined position; and

a second articulation which connects the support and the wall forming the axis of rotation.

According to another characteristic, the retractable chair comprises at least one reinforcement configured to support the back in the inclined position, and/or at least one reinforcement configured to support the seat in the inclined position.

According to one configuration, the retractable chair comprises two spaced reinforcements positioned on lateral edges of the back, and two spaced reinforcements positioned on lateral edges of the seat.

According to one embodiment, each reinforcement is telescopic, and comprises a first end connected to the back or to the seat at a point spaced from the first or second axis of pivoting, and a second end connected to the support at a point spaced from the first or second axis of pivoting.

According to another characteristic, the retractable chair comprises at least one secondary support surface and at least one secondary articulation which connects the said secondary support surface to the back or to the seat, and is configured to allow the said secondary support surface to pivot relative to the back or to the seat, around a secondary axis of pivoting, which is substantially horizontal, and parallel to the first and second axes of pivoting.

According to another characteristic, at least one of the articulations comprises a mechanism for regulation of the angular position of at least one of the elements from amongst the back, the seat, or the secondary support surface(s).

According to one embodiment, the second cross-member is supported on the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a retractable chair10comprises:

a support12;

a back14;

a seat16;

at least one first articulation18, which connects the support12, the back14and the seat16, and is configured to allow:

the seat16to pivot relative to the support12, around a first, approximately horizontal axis of pivoting A18, between an approximately vertical position and an inclined position;

the back14to pivot relative to the support12, around a second, approximately horizontal axis of pivoting A20, between an approximately vertical position and an inclined position.

Thus, the back14and the seat16are mobile between a folded-back position, in which the back14and the seat16are in the vertical position, and placed against one another, and an unfolded position, in which the back14and the seat16are inclined, and form an angle of 90° or more.

The first and second axes of pivoting A18and A20coincide.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the retractable chair10also comprises a second articulation22, which connects the support12to a wall24, and is configured to allow the support12to pivot around a vertical axis of rotation A22, between a folded-back position in which the back14and the seat16are placed against the wall24, with the first and second axes of pivoting A18, A20being approximately parallel to the wall24, and a pivoted position in which the back14and the seat16are approximately perpendicular to the wall24, with the first and second axes of pivoting A18, A20being approximately perpendicular to the wall24.

Thus, the retractable chair10is configured to occupy a retracted state which corresponds to the folded-back position of the back14and the seat16, and to the turned-down position of the support12, and a deployed state which corresponds to the inclined position of the back14and of the seat16, and to the pivoted position of the support12.

According to a variant, in addition to the back14and the seat16, the retractable chair comprises:

a head-rest26and a third articulation28, which connects the head-rest26to the back14, with the head-rest26being situated opposite the seat26, and which articulation is configured to allow the head-rest26to pivot relative to the back12around a third axis of pivoting A28, which is approximately horizontal and parallel to the first and third axes of pivoting A18and A20; and/or

a leg-rest30and a fourth articulation32, which connects the leg-rest30to the seat16, with the leg-rest30being situated opposite the back14, and which articulation is configured to allow the leg-rest30to pivot relative to the seat16around a fourth axis of pivoting A32, which is approximately horizontal and parallel to the second axes of pivoting A18and A20.

According to another variant, in the presence of a leg-rest30, the retractable chair10comprises a foot-rest34and a fifth articulation36which connects the foot-rest34and the leg-rest30, with the foot-rest34being situated opposite the seat16, and which articulation is configured to allow the foot-rest34to pivot relative to the leg-rest30around a fifth axis of pivoting A36, which is approximately horizontal and parallel to the first and second axes of pivoting A18and A20.

Thus, in addition to the back14and the seat16, the retractable chair10can comprise at least one other secondary support surface26,30, and at least one secondary articulation28,32, which connects the said secondary support surface26,30to the back14or to the seat16, and is configured to allow the said secondary support surface26,30to pivot relative to the back14or to the seat16around a secondary axis of pivoting A28and A32, which is approximately horizontal and parallel to the first and second axes of pivoting A18and A20.

The back14, the seat16, the head-rest26, the leg-rest30or the foot-rest34comprise respectively a front face14Av,16Av,26Av,30Av,34Av corresponding to the face which is in contact with a person when the latter is installed in the retractable chair10, and a rear face14Ar,16Ar,26Ar,30Ar,34Ar corresponding respectively to the face opposite the front face.

The back14, the seat16, the head-rest26, the leg-rest30or the foot-rest34each comprise two lateral edges which intersect at the axes of pivoting A18, A20, A32, A36, with the references14b1and14b2for the back14,16b1and16b2for the seat16,26b1and26b2for the head-rest26,30b1and30b2for the leg-rest30, and34b1and34b2for the foot-rest34.

According to a preferred configuration shown inFIG. 2, in the retracted state the front face14Av of the back14is placed against the front face16Av of the seat16, the front face26Ar of the head-rest26is placed against the rear face14Ar of the back14, the rear face30Ar of the leg-rest30is placed against the rear face16Ar of the seat16, and the front face34Av of the foot-rest34is placed against the front face30Av of the leg-rest30.

In order to rigidify it, in particular in the deployed state, the retractable chair10comprises at least one reinforcement38configured to support the back14in the inclined position, and/or at least one reinforcement40configured to support the seat16in the inclined position. According to one configuration, the retractable chair10comprises two spaced reinforcements38, positioned on the lateral edges14b1and14b2of the back14, and two spaced reinforcements40, positioned on the lateral edges16b1and16b2of the seat16.

According to one embodiment, each reinforcement38is telescopic, and comprises a first end38.1connected to the back14at a point spaced from the second axis of pivoting A20, and a second end38.2connected to the support12at a point spaced from the second axis of pivoting A20. Each reinforcement40is telescopic, and comprises a first end40.1connected to the seat16at a point spaced from the first axis of pivoting A18, and a second end40.2connected to the support12at a point spaced from the first axis of pivoting A18.

According to one embodiment, the reinforcement38can consist of at least one lock which makes it possible to secure the chair on the wall24, and/or at least one secondary support, not represented in the figures, and positioned to support the back14, the seat16and/or the leg-rest30.

Advantageously, at least one of the articulations18,28,32,36comprises a mechanism for regulation of the angular position of at least one of the elements from amongst the back14, the seat16or one of the secondary support surfaces (the head-rest26, the leg-rest30or the foot-rest34).

In order to reduce the mass of the retractable chair10, the support12is made in the form of a framework which comprises:

a first, approximately horizontal cross-member42, spaced from the ground, and to which the back14and the seat16are connected;

two uprights44which are arranged at each of the ends of the first cross-member42, and each comprise an upper end44.1connected to the first cross-member42, and a second end44.2which is supported on the ground;

a second cross-member46which connects the uprights44in the vicinity of their second end44.2.

According to one configuration, the cross-member46is supported on the ground.

According to one embodiment, the second articulation22comprises at least one hinge which connects one of the uprights44of the support12the wall24.

In order to reduce the mass of the retractable chair10, the back14, the seat16, the head-rest26, the leg-rest30and the foot-rest34are made in the form of an articulated frame48(shown inFIGS. 3 to 8), on which at least one covering50is stretched which forms a surface on which a person can make himself comfortable.

This covering50consists of canvas, fabric or leather, and can be padded in at least one area, such as, for example, at the headrest26. According to one embodiment, a covering of this type can be made of plastic material, for example in the form of panels which can be embedded in the frame48.

According to one embodiment, the frame48comprises:

in order to form the back14, two first side-members52,52′ positioned on the lateral edges14b1and14b2of the back14, which comprise first ends connected to the first cross-member42of the support12by pivoting connections which form the second axis of pivoting A20, and second ends connected by a third cross-member54;

in order to form the seat16, two second side-members56,56′ positioned on the lateral edges16b1and16b2of the seat16, which comprise first ends connected to the first cross-member42of the support12by pivoting connections which form the first axis of pivoting A18, and second ends connected by a fourth cross-member58;

in order to form the leg-rest30, two third side-members60,60′ positioned on the lateral edges30b1and30b2of the leg-rest30, which comprise first ends connected to the fourth cross-member58of the seat16by pivoting connections which form the fourth axis of pivoting A32, and second ends connected by a fifth cross-member62;

in order to form the head-rest26, two fourth side-members64,64′ positioned on the lateral edges26b1,26b2of the head-rest26, which comprise first ends connected to the third cross-member54of the back14by pivoting connections which form the third axis of pivoting A28;

in order to form the foot-rest34, two fifth side-members66,66′ positioned on the lateral edges34b1,34b2of the foot-rest34, which comprise first ends connected to the fifth cross-member62of the leg-rest30by pivoting connections which form the fifth axis of pivoting A36.

The functioning of the retractable chair10is described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 8.

In the retracted state illustrated byFIG. 3, the back14and the seat16are in the folded-back, approximately vertical position, and the support12is in the folded-down position. The support12and the back14are placed against the wall24.

In a first stage, the support12pivots around the axis of rotation A22, such as to position it in the pivoted position, as illustrated inFIG. 4.

Subsequently, the back14pivots around the axis of pivoting A20, such as to position it in the inclined position, as illustrated inFIG. 5.

The seat16pivots around the axis of pivoting A18, such as to position it in the inclined position, as illustrated inFIG. 6.

Subsequently, the leg-rest30pivots around the axis of pivoting A32, such as to position it in the unfolded position, as illustrated inFIG. 7.

Finally, the head-rest26and the foot-rest34pivot respectively around axes of pivoting A28and A36, in order to position them in the unfolded position, as illustrated inFIG. 8.

In order to store the retractable chair in the retracted state, the preceding steps are reproduced in the reverse order.

According to another functioning mode, the support12and the back14remain placed against the wall24. Only the seat16is pivoted by 90° into the horizontal position. In this case, a retractable chair with the same configuration as in the prior art is obtained.

The invention is not limited to a retractable chair which is connected in use to a vertical wall. According to one embodiment, a retractable chair can be connected in use to a horizontal wall, such as, for example, the floor of an aircraft cabin. The second articulation22which connects the support12to the wall24can then be configured to allow the support12to pivot around an axis of rotation A22which is horizontal between a turned-down position, in which the frame48is placed against the wall24, and a pivoted position, in which the frame48is spaced from the wall24. The axes of pivoting A18and A20and the axis of rotation A22are then approximately parallel.