Abstract:
A passenger seat for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seat back mounted to a frame. The passenger seat includes at least one storage feature. One of the storage features may be a storage unit positioned underneath the seat bottom which is moveable between a first position in which the unit is readily accessible by a seated passenger, and a second position in which the unit is held upright or against a lower side of the seat bottom to reduce the intrusion of the unit into the under-seat space. Another storage feature may be a recess formed in the upper part of the seat bottom. The recess is covered by a moveable lid which forms part of the seating surface when closed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/008,684 filed Dec. 9, 2004; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/589,297 filed Jul. 20, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/529,686, filed Dec. 15, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to vehicle seating and more particularly to tourist or coach class aircraft seating. Aircraft seating is typically divided into various classes, for example first class, business class, and coach or tourist class. For each class of seating, an individual passenger is allotted a preselected amount of space (both area and volume). First-class seats provide the most individual space, and also may include features to improve comfort, such as fully reclining sleeper functions. In contrast, the tourist/coach class is provided with a relatively small amount of space, in order to provide the most efficient transportation and lowest cost. 
     Passengers also typically bring carry-on baggage or other personal items on to airline flights. These items must be stored in available spaces, such as underneath the seat in front of the passenger&#39;s seat. However, given the already limited space, storage of items in these areas decreases the room available for the passenger to achieve different seating positions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle passenger seat which allows a passenger to store and retrieve various items underneath his or her seat. 
     It is another object the present invention to provide a seat bottom for a passenger seat having a built-in storage compartment. 
     These and other objects are met by the present invention, which in one embodiment provides a passenger seat including a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; a seat bottom carried by the frame for supporting a passenger; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; and a storage unit disposed underneath the seat bottom, the storage unit having an access opening disposed at a front end thereof. The storage unit is mounted so as to be moveable between a first position in which the access opening is readily accessible by a passenger seated on the seat bottom, and a second position in which the container is held against a lower surface of the seat bottom so as to reduce the intrusion of the container into a space defined by the seat bottom and the frame. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit is generally rectangular and includes opposed top and bottom walls, opposed side walls, and a rear wall disposed opposite the access opening. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the front end of the storage unit is pivotally mounted to the seat bottom. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes a releasable latch operable to selectively retain the storage unit in the first position. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes wherein said releasable latch includes a release handle disposed so as to be reachable by a passenger seated on the seat bottom and operably connected to the latch so as to release the latch in response to movement of the handle. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes means for selectively retaining the storage unit in the first position. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a passenger seat for a vehicle includes a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; a seat bottom disposed on the frame for supporting a passenger, the seat bottom having a recess formed therein which is accessible from an upper surface of the seat bottom; and a lid disposed over the recess. The lid is moveable between a closed position in which an upper surface of the lid forms a seating surface; and an open position in which the recess is accessible. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a rear end of the lid is pivotally attached to the seat bottom. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recess extends downward into a front face of the seat bottom to improve access thereto. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lid includes a downwardly-extending front panel. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lid includes at least one finger slot formed therein. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the lid has upholstery material or padding disposed thereon. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a passenger seat includes a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; a seat bottom carried by the frame for supporting a passenger; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; and a storage unit disposed underneath the seat bottom. The storage unit has an access opening disposed at an upper end thereof. The storage unit is moveable between a first position in which the access opening is readily accessible by a passenger seated on the seat bottom, and a second position in which the storage unit is held in an upright orientation underneath the seat bottom with the front wall substantially flush with a front edge of the seat bottom. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit is generally rectangular and includes opposed front and rear walls, opposed side walls, and a bottom wall disposed opposite the access opening. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the bottom end of the storage unit is pivotally mounted adjacent the floor. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes means for selectively retaining the storage unit in the first position. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat includes a handle disposed so as to be reachable by a passenger seated on the seat bottom. 
    
    
     
       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 drawing figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger seat set having an under-seat storage unit; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the passenger seat set of  FIG. 1 , showing a storage unit thereof in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the passenger seat incorporating a storage unit in a raised position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of the storage unit of  FIG. 4  in a lowered position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a passenger seat set having an in-seat storage compartment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the passenger seat set of  FIG. 5  showing a storage compartment lid in an open position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a passenger seat set including an alternative under-seat storage unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a passenger seat set  10  including an under-seat storage unit. The seat set  10  includes two seats  12  and  14  which are collectively provided with three arm rests  16 ,  18 , and  20 , each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs  22  and  22 ′ and seat bottoms  24  and  24 ′. The seats  12  and  14  are supported by a frame  26 . The frame  26  is mounted on legs  28  and  30  that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type. For illustrative purposes, the under-seat storage unit feature is only shown in detail with respect to the seat  12 , however it will be understood that another storage unit may also be implemented on the other seat  14 . 
     The storage unit  32  comprises a container having an access opening  34  at its front end  36 , opposed top and bottom walls  38  and  40 , opposed side walls  42  and  44 , and a rear wall  46  at its aft end  48 . The storage unit  32  is mounted under the seat bottom  24  and is accessible by a seated passenger by reaching under the seat cushion for storage of small items, indicated generally at  50 . In order to improve the accessibility of the storage unit  32  for loading and unloading, it may be tilted downward as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In the illustrated example, this motion is facilitated by mounting the storage unit  32  to the seat bottom  24  by a laterally-extending hinge  52  attached to the top wall  38  near the front end  36 . 
     The illustrated storage unit  32  includes a latching mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted release handle  54 , a connecting rod  56 , a latch  58  including a hook  60 , and a return spring  62 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hook  62  engages a slot  64  in the seat bottom  24  to hold the storage unit  32  in a position parallel to the seat bottom  24 , which minimizes the intrusion of the storage unit  32  into the space below the seat bottom  24 . The latch  58  is held in this latched position by the return spring  62 . The storage unit  32  may be pivoted downward to improve access for loading and unloading as shown in  FIG. 4  by pivoting the release handle  54  forward, in turn causing the connecting rod  56  to pull the latch  58  to a released position, disengaging the hook  60  from the slot  64 . It will be understood that the method of mounting the storage unit  32  as well as securing it may be varied to suit a particular application, so long as the unit can be selectively held in a position in which it is disposed out of the way of the space underneath the seat bottom  24 , to minimize its intrusion into that space and leave room for a passenger&#39;s feet or storage of other objects. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a passenger seat set  110  including an in-seat storage compartment. The seat set  110  includes two seats  112  and  114  which are collectively provided with three arm rests  116 ,  118 , and  120 , each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs  122  and  122 ′ and seat bottoms  124  and  124 ′. The seats  112  and  114  are supported by a frame  126 . The frame  126  is mounted on legs  128  and  130  which are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type. 
     The storage compartment, denoted  132 , comprises a recess  134  built into the upper surface of the seat bottom  124 . The recess  134  is defined by one more side panels  136  and a bottom panel  138 . The front edge  140  of the recess  134  may extend downward into the front face  142  of the seat bottom  124  to improve access. The storage compartment  132  may be used for storage of small items, indicated generally at  144 . A lid  146  is provided which is hinged to the seat bottom  124 , in this case near the back of the seat bottom  124 . The lid  146  covers and encloses the recess  134  in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 15  and provides access to the recess  134  when it is pivoted upward to the open position as shown in  FIG. 16 . The lid  146  comprises a top panel  148  which conforms to the profile of the seat bottom  124 . The upper surface of the top panel  148  may be covered in padding and/or upholstery as desired. An optional front panel  150  is connected to the top panel  148  and serves to cover the front face  142  of the seat bottom  124 . The top panel  148  may include means for opening the lid  146 , such as the finger slot  152  illustrated. Other means for opening the lid  146 , such as a handle attached thereto (not shown), may also be provided. If desired means of a known type (not shown) may be provided for latching and/or locking the lid  146  in the open or closed positions. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a passenger seat set  210  including an alternative under-seat storage unit. The seat set  210  is identical to the seat set  10  and includes two seats  212  and  214  which are collectively provided with three arm rests  216 ,  218 , and  220 . The seats  212  and  214  include seat backs  222  and  222 ′ and seat bottoms  224  and  224 ′. The seats  212  and  214  are supported by a frame  226  which is mounted on legs  228  and  230  that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type. Storage units  232  and  232 ′ are mounted underneath seats  212  and  214 , respectively. The storage units  232  and  232 ′ are substantially identical in construction. 
     Each storage unit  232  and  232 ′ comprises a container having an access opening  234  at its upper end, opposed back and front walls  238  and  240 , opposed side walls  242  and  244 , and a bottom wall  246 . The storage units  232  and  232 ′ are pivotally mounted to the seat set  210 , for example using a shaft  248 , a portion of which is visible in  FIG. 7 . The storage units  232  and  232 ′ are disposed in a generally upright position under the seat bottom  224 , aligned with the front edge thereof so that the front wall  240  is substantially flush with the front edge of the seat bottoms  224  and  224 ′, respectively. In this position, small items contained in the storage units  232  and  232 ′, indicated generally at  250 , are prevented from falling out. In this upright position, the storage unit  232  itself does not interfere with the leg room of a passenger seated in seat  212 , and only minimally impacts the storage and foot area underneath the seat bottom  224 . 
     The storage unit is loaded or unloaded by first tilting it forward about the shaft  248 . A small tab or handle  252  may be provided for this purpose. In  FIG. 7 , storage unit  232 ′ is shown tilted forward. In this position, the access opening  234  is accessible by the passenger. Means (not shown) may be provided both for keeping the storage unit  232  in an upright position when not being loaded or unloaded, and for preventing it from pivoting too far forward when opened. 
     The foregoing has described a seating arrangement having one or more storage features. 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, the invention being defined by the claims.