Abstract:
A seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat, has seat components such as a seat part, a seat back ( 3 ), and a shell body ( 5 ). The shell body forms at least a partially rear enclosure ( 9 ) of the seat part and the seat back ( 3 ). With an adjusting mechanism, the seat part and the seat back ( 3 ) can be adjusted in position relative to one another and relative to the rear enclosure ( 9 ). The distance between the rear enclosure and the seat back ( 3 ) is variable. A cover assembly ( 31, 45 ) bridges a distance formed by the variable distance between the seat back ( 3 ) and enclosure ( 9 ) between formed gaps.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat, with seat components such as a seat part, a seat back, and a shell body forming at least a partially rear enclosure of the seat part and/or the seat back. The seat part and the seat back can be adjusted in position relative to one another and relative to the rear enclosure, with the distance between the rear enclosure and the seat back being variable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   Adjustable seats designed for modes of transportation for conveyance of passengers are known in the prior art. DE 100 19 484 A1, for example, discloses such a seat intended especially for use as an aircraft passenger seat in passenger aircraft. 
   On very long trips, such as on long-distance flights and for passages aboard a ship, for example, a ferry, a general object of aircraft or ferry outfitters to increase the comfort of the seat users and the passengers to be transported. Especially in first class and business class, the customer has the corresponding wishes to be satisfied. The trend includes the desire of passengers to be able to use the travel time for useful resting or for sleeping, for example, to effectively counteract fatigue phenomena at the destination in long-distance flights or the like. 
   To meet these demands, efforts are being made to configure the adjustment means and the interacting seat components such that diverse, individually triggerable adjustment positions especially for the seat part and seat back are made available to the seat occupant to adapt the overall seating system to his/her requirements. A comfortable resting or sleeping position can be made available to the seat occupant, in which the seat part in the travel direction (flight direction) is pushed comparatively far forward and the seat back can be tilted back low to the rear within the shell body. An essentially elongated shape necessarily arises for the shell body, with its rear area forming the rear enclosure of the seat back. 
   This design leads to seat configurations in which the seat part is in a position shifted correspondingly far forward and the seat back is in the upright starting position, as is prescribed in flight operation, for example, during taxiing, take-off and landing, where an intermediate space is caused between the rear enclosure and the seat back. This intermediate space forms a gap between the lower end area of the seat back and the adjacent wall areas of the shell body. The presence of a gap in this area leads to the fact that, beyond the edge of the rear enclosure on the shell body, there is the possibility of access to the area of the bearing structure of the seat part located underneath the bottom end of the seat back. In this area underneath the seat bottom, there are however the kinematics of the seat adjustment means, for example, upright seat legs or toggle lever arrangements which can pivot and which belong to the adjustment mechanism. This arrangement results in the danger that articles, such as drinking vessels, bottles, beverage cans, or the like which accidentally fall over the edge of the enclosure into the shell body pass through the gaps into the region of these kinematics and lead to malfunctions or damage the mechanisms. Additionally, there is the danger that individuals, for example, children at play, can reach into the gaps which have formed and possibly injure themselves on the moving parts of the kinematics. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat, in which the danger of malfunctions by damage to the seat kinematics as well as the possible danger of injury caused by that gap are prevented. 
   This object is basically achieved by a seat having a cover assembly which bridges the gap formed between the seat back and the rear enclosure on the shell body in the corresponding position settings. The danger that malfunctions will occur due to articles accidentally falling over the edge of the enclosure on the shell body into the interior and also the danger that an individual reaching into the shell body between the seat back and enclosure could be injured are then avoided. 
   To adapt to the variable size of the gap formed by the corresponding position settings, the cover assembly can have at least one cover element of variable shape or location. 
   In one advantageous exemplary embodiment, for this purpose a cover element is attached to a component articulated to the bearing structure of the seat part, is adjacent to the gap to be bridged, and can be moved relative to the rear enclosure on the shell body when a change in the position of the seat part is induced by the adjusting means. 
   The component bears this cover element, and can be a pivotable toggle lever belonging to a toggle lever arrangement that is a component of the seat kinematics, as is conventional in the seat systems under consideration. In these seat kinematics, a toggle lever coupled to the seat bottom of the seat part in the displacement motion of the seat part and seat back forward (travel or flight direction) executes a pivoting motion in which the cover element attached to it is raised out of a folded-down position such that it travels into the bridging position at least partially closing the gap which has formed. 
   In these exemplary embodiments, the cover assembly, in addition to the first cover element located on the toggle lever, can have a second cover element extending in the direction to this first cover element and attached to the wall part of the enclosure adjacent to the gap. In this connection, the first cover element and the second cover element each form a partial bridge of the gap. The cover elements are movable relative to one another when the size of the gap changes. 
   Preferably, the second cover element located on the enclosure is movably attached to the enclosure so that position changes arising for the first cover element when the position setting changes can follow. 
   The two cover elements can be thin plates, for example, of a plastic material of relative strength selected with respect to the required fire safety, or a metallic material. One plate overlaps the other. The extent of overlapping changes according to the respective size of the gap to be bridged. 
   In one especially simple design, the second cover element is mounted on the enclosure to be able to pivot around an axis extending in the transverse direction of the seat, and is pretensioned for non-positive contact with the overlapping point on the first cover element. 
   Instead of using plate-disc shaped cover elements, a flexible cover element can span the gap and can be anchored on the one hand to the seat part or seat back and on the other to the rear enclosure. 
   In this connection, it can be a tensionable strip or net structure which is rubber-elastically resilient. This strip or this net can be made such that it can be pulled out of a contracted configuration to a greater longitudinal extension when a corresponding gap, which is to be spanned by the flexible element, is formed with the corresponding position settings. 
   Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: 
       FIG. 1  is a highly schematic, simplified, side elevational view of a seat according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the form of an aircraft passenger seat, the initial position being shown in which the seat back is in the upright position setting (TTL position); 
       FIG. 2  is a cutaway, dismounted side elevational view, enlarged compared with  FIG. 1 , of structural elements of the seat part and the transition area to the seat back structure, the components of the seat kinematics belonging to the adjustment means being in the positions corresponding to the initial position shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view corresponding to  FIG. 2 , but with the components of the seat kinematics being in the positions corresponding to the position setting of the seat part shifted forward (in the flight direction); 
       FIG. 4  is a highly schematic, cutaway perspective view of the area located within the seat shell body between the seat kinematics found under the seat bottom and the rear inside wall part of the shell body, the position setting corresponding to  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a cover element of a second exemplary embodiment of a seat according to the present invention in the form of a rubber-elastically resilient strip shown in the stretched state; 
       FIG. 6  is an end elevational view in section along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are partial end elevational views of the areas labeled A and B, respectively, in  FIG. 6  which are enlarged compared to  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows in a highly schematically simplified view one exemplary embodiment of the seat of the present invention in the form of an aircraft passenger seat for increased comfort demands (for example, first-class or business-class). The seat part  1  and seat back  3  are partially encompassed by a shell body  5  forming a side and rear enclosure. As is apparent from  FIG. 1 , the shell body  5  is lengthened to the rear beyond the area of the seat back  3  located in the upright position setting and the rear area of the seat  1 . Seat back  3 , for transferring the seat into the resting or sleeping position, can then be tilted back so far that the upper end area of the seat back  3  is located within the rear enclosure formed by the shell body  5 . As can be seen most clearly from  FIG. 4 , the shell body  5  between its side walls  7  and the inner rear wall  9  extending down and forward and forming the rear enclosure forms enough interior space to tilt the seat back  3  so far to the rear into the shell body that a comparatively flat sleeping position is attained. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show details of the kinematics located as a component of the seat adjustment means underneath the seat bottom  11  and of the lower end region of the seat back  3 . Of the plurality of the mostly movable components in this regard, only those are described which are critical to the understanding of this present invention. They include a rear pair of upright legs with one side upright leg  13  each (only the upright leg  13  facing the viewer is shown) and a front pair of upright legs with side upright legs  15  (likewise only one shown). While the upright legs  13  of the rear pair are made in one piece and are articulated at  17  to the cabin deck and at  19  to the seat bottom  11 , the upright legs  15  of the front pair are not connected directly to the cabin deck. The front upright legs are each connected via one angle lever  21  to the cabin deck. The angle levers  21  belong to a differential gear which is not detailed here, and which causes vertical compensation in swiveling movements of the rear upright legs  13  which take place for position adjustment. The upright legs  15  are then coupled to the seat bottom  11  at  23  with their top end keep the seat bottom  11  free of tilting for position adjustments running longitudinally. With their other ends, the upright legs  11  are articulated to the pertinent angle lever  21  at  25 . The comparison of  FIGS. 2 and 3  for position adjustment of the seat bottom  11  forward shows the corresponding position change of the angle lever  21  and thus of the respective upright leg  15 . 
   In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , within the enclosure formed by the shell body  5  between the rear wall  9  and the lower end area  27  of the seat back  3  connected to the rear area of the seat bottom  11 , an intermediate space forms a gap  29 . As a comparison of  FIGS. 2 and 3  shows, the size of this gap  29  is variable depending on the seat setting of the seat part  11  and the seat back  3 , i.e., the size of the gap  29  increases to the front when the seat part  1  is moved, see  FIG. 3 , compared to the rear position setting of the seat part  1  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show a first exemplary embodiment of the seat of the present invention in which a cover means or cover assembly closes this gap  29  of variable size. The cover means has a first plate-like cover element  31  which, as  FIG. 4  shows best, is a plate body with a largely rectangular outline and with a width extending essentially over the entire interior of the shell body  5  between its side walls  7 . As  FIGS. 2 and 3  show, this cover element  31  is attached to the rear side of an upper toggle lever  33  articulated on its upper end to the seat bottom  11  and on its lower end is connected at the toggle joint  35  to a lower toggle lever  37 , which is turn is articulated on its bottom end to the cabin deck. As  FIG. 4  shows, in particular, the upper toggle lever  33 , proceeding from the toggle joint  35 , has lever arms  39  which extend apart from one another to the top in a V-shape and which are connected by a cross arm  41 . On cross arm  41  is the articulated connection to the seat bottom  11 . The plate-like cover element  31  is connected via blind rivets  43  to the cross arm  41 , see  FIG. 4 . The cover element  31  interacts with the second cover element  45  which is likewise made plate-like, and as is shown schematically simplified in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is movably supported on the rear wall  9  of the shell body. This second cover element  45 , like the first cover element  31 , has a largely rectangular outline, aside from the slightly projecting strip  47  on the front end edge. Cover element  45  extends essentially over the entire width of the intermediate space between the side walls  7  of the shell body  5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the second cover element  45 , viewed in the flight direction, has a smaller dimension than the first cover element  31 , and is attached to the rear wall by a spring hinge  49 . The spring pretension of the hinge  49  keeps the cover element  45  in contact with the other cover element  31 . 
   Based on this arrangement, the cover elements  31  and  45  in combination form a closure of the gap  29 . When the seat part  1  moves from the position shown in  FIG. 2  into the position shown in  FIG. 3  and due to the associated movement of the toggle lever  33 , the cover element  31  in its lower region rises into the gap  29 . At the same time, the extent of overlapping is reduced by the other cover element  45  adjoining the cover element  31  under the spring pretensioning of the hinge  49 . 
   Preferably the cover elements  31  and  45  are produced from a fire-retardant plastic material, for example, KYDEX®. 
     FIGS. 5 to 8  illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which, instead of plate-like cover elements, a single flexible cover element  51  is used for the cover assembly. The cover element  51  shown in  FIG. 5  in the tensioned or stretched state has a rectangular outline, aside from one longitudinal edge which is not straight and which forms the end edge  53  designed to be attached to the rear wall  9  of the shell body  5 . This end edge  53 , proceeding from the side edges  55  and  57 , extends slightly obliquely to the inside to a recess  59  offset from the middle area and closer to the side edge  55 . On the side edge  57 , away from the recess  59 , a slot-like notch  61  is provided. Both the recess  59  and the notch  61  are used as an adaptation aid to promote the conformation of the flexible cover element  51  in the area of its end edge  53  for attachment to the rear wall  9 , if the rear wall  9 , for construction reasons possibly does not have a flat shape in the attachment area. 
   As in the rigid cover elements  31  and  45 , the flexible cover element  51  also extends essentially over the entire intermediate space between the side walls  7  of the shell body  5 . 
   In the illustrated second exemplary embodiment, push buttons  63  on the end edge  53  to attach to and interact with push buttons on the corresponding push button strip on the wall  9 . 
   On the edge  65  facing the seat bottom  11 , the cover element  51  likewise has push buttons  63 . They can be provided on or next to a stiffening element extending along the edge  65 , for example, of a tape  64  of KYDEX® ( FIG. 7 ). The push buttons  63  can interact for connecting the cover element  51  to the seat structure, for example, directly with a push button strip attached to a component located on the lower end area  27  of the seat back  3  or optionally on a cross arm  41  on which in the above described example the cover element  31  is attached by blind rivets  43  or can interact with a push button strip fixed, for example, via an adhesive closure. Alternatively, instead of the push buttons  63 , an adhesive closure link to the two edges  53  and  65  can be used. 
   The cover element  51  has three rubber bands  67  uniformly distributed over the width of the cover element  51 , extending in the longitudinal direction, and ending at a short distance from the rear end edge  53 . The front edge  65  of the strip  69  forms the main body of the cover element  51 . The rubber bands  67  are connected to the strip  69  formed of a fabric, braid, or knit of flame-retardant material, for example, of LANTAL®. The rubber bands  67  are bordered with a cut piece  71  of the same material of the cover element  51 . These cut pieces  71  are each sewn to the strip  69 . The rubber bands  67  likewise are sewn to strip  69  on the end side. 
   A reinforcing tape  73  of KYDEX® is likewise sewn to the material of the strip  69 , and forms transverse stiffening of the strip  69 . This tape  73  extends in the vicinity of the rear end edge  53  parallel to the front edge  65 , and is sewn to the strip  69 . Along the rear end edge  53 , a reinforcing tape  75  of KYDEX® is sewn to the strip  69 , and extends next to the push buttons  63 . 
   Due to the flexible cover element  51  in the form of a correspondingly cut strip  69  with rubber bands  67 , stiffening tapes  64 ,  73 ,  75 , recesses  59  and notches  61 , a cover element is formed which essentially completely covers the gap  29 . When the gap size varies, cutstrip  69  automatically adapts to the gap geometry. 
   While various embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.