Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to passenger aircraft seats. Some examples provide systems for providing side support to seated passengers. Some examples include a passenger seat backrest having an extendable side support. An extendable side support may be integrated with a seat backrest and may be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. When in a deployed position, the expandable side support may then provide additional side support to a seated passenger&#39;s body.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/721,153 filed on Nov. 1, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to aircraft passenger seats. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing side support on an aircraft passenger seat for a various range of seated aircraft passengers. 
     Passenger airplane seats typically only provide backrest to support a seated passenger&#39;s body, and thus all of the weight of the upper body will be transferred to neck and lower back muscles. During longer flights, a seated passenger may experience neck or lower back pain after being seated for long periods of time. Further, videotape studies have shown that sleeping adults change their body position an average of 11 to 13 times per night with the majority of sleep time spent lying on a side of the body. Similarly, airline passengers may tend to turn in their seats to rest on their sides in order to comfortably rest or sleep during long flights. However, the designs of current tourist and business class aircraft seats do not support a seated passenger&#39;s side with full surface contact when they want to turn and rest or sleep on their sides. Poor neck posture and support during resting or sleeping may be responsible for subsequent neck pain and stiffness, shoulder blade or arm pain, or even headaches. Turning to the side can often leave the passenger feeling even more uncomfortable and disgruntled about the flying experience. 
     In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide improved systems, methods and apparatuses for supporting a passenger&#39;s side while the passenger is seated in a seat. In particular, improvements can be made to provide for a more supportive passenger aircraft seat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. 
     In some aspects of the invention, a passenger seat is provided. The passenger seat may include a seat backrest cushion supported by a seat backrest assembly. The seat backrest cushion may include a side support coupled with the seat backrest assembly. The side support may be moveable between a fully deployed position and a stowed position. The side support may provide a side bearing surface for supporting a seated passenger adjacent to the seat backrest cushion that increases a bearing surface area on an upper half of the seat backrest cushion when the side support is in the fully deployed position. In some embodiments of the passenger seat, the side support may form part of a seat backrest bearing surface when in the stowed position. Optionally the side support may be rotatably coupled with the seat backrest assembly. Some embodiments have a side support rotatably coupled with the seat backrest using one or more one-way torque hinges. In some embodiments, the side support may be sideably coupled with the seat backrest assembly. The side support may be configured to translate along the seat backrest assembly so that the side support may change in height relative to the seat backrest cushion. Optionally, the side support may be selectively locked in a plurality of discrete positions between the stowed position and the fully deployed position. 
     In some embodiments, the side support has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface of the side support may form part of the seat backrest bearing surface when the side support is in the stowed position and the second surface may form the side bearing surface when the side support is in the fully deployed position. 
     In some embodiments, the seat backrest cushion may include a second side support coupled with the seat backrest assembly. The second side support may be moveable between a fully deployed position and a stowed position and may provide a second side bearing surface adjacent to the seat backrest cushion that increases the bearing surface area on the upper half of the seat backrest cushion when the second side support is in the fully deployed position. Optionally, the second side support may be coupled with the seat backrest assembly on a side opposite from the other side support. In some embodiments, the second side support may deploy from the stowed position towards the fully deployed position in a direction different than a direction of deployment of the other side support. Optionally, the second side support may deploy from the stowed position towards the fully deployed position in the direction opposite from the direction of deployment of the other side support. In some embodiments, the second side support deploys from the stowed position towards the fully deployed position in a direction similar to a direction of deployment of the other side support. 
     In some embodiments, the passenger seat may include at least one armrest coupled with the seat backrest cushion. The at least one armrest may have a bearing surface defined by an inner edge and an outer edge separated by an armrest width. In some embodiments, the side bearing surface does not cross a vertical plane defined by the outer edge of the armrest when the side support is in the fully deployed position. In some embodiments, the side bearing surface does not cross a vertical plane defined by half the armrest width when the side support is in the fully deployed position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a passenger airplane seat is provided that includes a seat backrest cushion supported by a seat backrest assembly. The seat backrest assembly may have a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The passenger seat may also include a first and second armrest coupled with the seatback rest assembly on opposite sides. A first side support may couple with the seat backrest assembly on the first side and may be moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position. A second side support may be coupled with the seat backrest assembly on the second side and may be moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The first side support may provide a first side bearing surface adjacent to the seat backrest cushion that increases a bearing surface area of the seat backrest cushion when the first side support is in the deployed position. The second side support may provide a second side bearing surface adjacent to the seat backrest cushion that increases the bearing surface area of the seat backrest cushion when the second side support is in the deployed position. Optionally, the first side bearing surface and the second side bearing surface may be at an angle with a bearing surface of the seat backrest cushion when in the fully deployed positions, with the angle being between 90-130°. In some embodiments, the first side bearing surface and the second side bearing surface may increase a bearing surface area of the upper half of the airplane passenger seat. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a passenger seat system is provided. The passenger seat system may include a first passenger seat and a second passenger seat. Each seat may include a seat backrest cushion supported by a seat backrest assembly. The seat backrest cushions may each include a side support coupled with their respective seat backrest assemblies. The side supports may be moveable between fully deployed positions and stowed positions and may provide side bearing surfaces adjacent to their respective seat backrest cushion that increases a bearing surface area of their respective seat backrest cushion when the side supports are in the fully deployed positions. The system may also include an armrest coupled between the first passenger seat and the second passenger seat. The first passenger seat and the second passenger seat may be separated by a gap having a gap width. In some embodiments, the first side support and the second side support may deploy into the gap between the first passenger seat and the second passenger seat. Preferably, the first side support and second side support deploy into the gap equally. 
     The invention will be better understood on reading the following description and examining the figures that accompany it. These figures are provided by way of illustration only and are in no way limiting on the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the deployment of a side support according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate further details of the exemplary side support shown in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a passenger seat where the side support mechanism can also be used as a headrest according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a passenger seat where the side support mechanism can be divided into a plurality of separate portions according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of side supports which may be rotatably coupled and sideably coupled relative to a seat backrest according to some embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate a passenger seat system including a plurality of the passenger seat backrests depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1B  according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     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. 
       FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate exemplary embodiments of a passenger seat backrest  10  and the deployment of a side support  12  according to some embodiments of the invention. As illustrated, the passenger backrest  10  includes a bearing surface  14  for supporting a seated passenger. Passenger seat backrest  10  may include one or more side supports  12 . Further, seat backrest  10  may be structurally supported by a backrest assembly or frame  16 . The side supports  12  may be coupled with the backrest assembly  16 . The side supports  12  may be moveable between a stowed position, illustrated in  FIG. 1A , and a fully deployed position, illustrated in  FIG. 1B . When in the deployed position, the side supports  12  may provide a side bearing surface area  18  for supporting a seated passenger&#39;s side. When in the stowed position, the side supports  12  may form a portion of the bearing surface  14  of the passenger seat backrest  10 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, side supports  12  may deploy to increase the total bearing surface of a passenger seat using the exemplary seat backrest  10 . In most embodiments, the side support increases a total bearing surface on an upper portion of seat backrest  10  when deployed. 
       FIGS. 1C-1D  illustrate simplified cross-sectional diagrams illustrating components of exemplary seat backrest  10  while the side support  12  is in a stowed position and a deployed position. As discussed above, seat backrest  10  may be supported on both sides by backrest assembly  16 . Backrest assembly  16  may couple with hinges  22  for rotatably coupling side supports  12  to the backrest assembly  16 . Side supports  12  may include frame  24  which may couple with hinge  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1C , frame  24  may be substantially flush with the seat backrest  10  while in the stowed position.  FIG. 1D  illustrates the position of frame  24  after being deployed from the stowed position to a deployed position. In the exemplary embodiment, frame  24  (and side support  12 ) may deploy at an angel α relative to seat backrest  10 . In some embodiments, α may range from 90-180°, when the side supports  12 /frame  24  are in a fully deployed position. Preferably, side supports  12 /frame  24  are at an angle between 120-140° relative to the seat backrest  10  when fully deployed. In some embodiments, the sides supports  12  do not deploy at an angle greater than 130°. 
     While passenger seat backrest  10  was designed for used in passenger airplanes, it should be understood that passenger seat backrest  10  may be used in any vehicle where the advantages of such a design are desired. For example, the advantages of passenger seat backrest  10  may be desired in automobile seats or train seats. In particular, vans, buses or passenger trains may benefit from embodiments described herein. Further while, passenger seat backrest  10  has been described and illustrated with two side supports  12 , other embodiments may include one, three, four, or more stowable and deployable side supports  12  for providing a side bearing surface area  18  for increasing the support of a side of a seated passenger. 
     In some embodiments, the side support  12  may be added to a conventional backrest cushion  10 . The bearing surface  14  of backrest  10  may include raised contours  32  for helping keep passengers centered in the seat. Side support  12  may be similarly configured so as to be flush with backrest  10  when in the stowed position. In some embodiments backrest  10  may include a recess  34  for stowing side support  12  such that an outer surface  30  of side support  12  may be flush with a surface of backrest  10  when the side support  12  is in the stowed position. Accordingly, while in the stowed position, the outer surface  30  of side support  12  may form part of the bearing surface  14  of seat  10 . In some embodiments surface  30  is opposite or adjacent to side bearing surface  18 . 
     Further, while the exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrates side supports  12  being rotatably coupled with the backrest assembly  16 , other contemplated embodiments may include side supports  12  that are slideably or translatably coupled with the backrest assembly  16 . In such embodiments, the side supports  12  may, for example, sideably move between the stowed position and the fully deployed position. In some embodiments, the side supports  12  may slide along a rail or track. Moreover, while embodiments may be configured for manual deployment, other embodiments may utilize electric actuators for moving or controlling the movement of side supports  12  between the stowed and deployed positions. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate further details of the exemplary side support  12  shown in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the invention. Side support  12  may include a plurality of hinges  22  coupled with a frame  24 . Frame  24  may help provide support to cushion  26  and cushion  26  may be covered by a dress cover  28 . 
     While side support  12  is illustrated with two hinges  22 , it should be understood that one, three, four, or more hinges  22  could be used. The hinges  22  may allow side support  12  to be adjusted infinitely between the stowed position and the fully deployed position. Accordingly, the side support  12  may accommodate a large variation in passengers so that each passenger may be able to find a comfortable resting or sleeping position for the body during travel. Some embodiments may use lockable hinges which may be selectively locked in a plurality of positions. In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to use one-way torque hinges for coupling side support  12  with backrest  10 . Torque hinges may be used to resist deployment of side support  12  from the stowed position to the deployed position. Such a feature may help prevent unintentional deployment of the side support  12  during turbulence or in emergency situations. 
     Frame  24  may be manufactured from sheet metal, plastic, ceramic material, etc. In some embodiments, frame  24  may be manufactured from an injection molding process. Further, frame  24  may be manufactured with one or more apertures  36  for reducing material expenses during manufacturing. Optionally, cushion  26  may comprise a polyurethane foam. In some embodiments, the polyurethane foam may be pressure-sensitive. Dress cover  28  may comprise a stain resistant material, an antimicrobial, and/or a water-resistant material. 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate certain exemplary embodiments of a passenger seat  100  where the side support mechanism can also be used as a headrest.  FIG. 3A  illustrates the passenger seat  100  when side supports  114  are in a stowed position, and  FIG. 3B  illustrates the passenger seat  100  when side supports  114  are in a deployed position. The passenger seat  100  may include a seat backrest  110  coupled with a seat base  112 . Side supports  114  may be configured to rotate from the stowed position to the deployed position via hinges  116 . Once deployed, the side supports  114  may provide a side bearing surface  118  along the entire height of seat backrest  110 . In such embodiments, side bearing surface  118  may provide support for a seated passenger&#39;s side and head. Advantageously, side supports  114  provide additional area for head support since the side supports  114  deploy by rotating away from the center of backrest  110 . Backrest  110  may include recesses  120  to receive side supports  114  in the stowed position such that stowed side supports  114  are flush with a surface  122  of backrest  110 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate other exemplary embodiments of a passenger seat  200 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates the passenger seat  200  when side supports  214  are in a stowed position and  FIG. 4B  illustrates the passenger seat  200  when side supports  214  are in a deployed position. The passenger seat  200  may include a seat backrest  210  coupled with a seat base  212 . Side supports  214  may be configured to rotate from the stowed position to the deployed position via hinges  216 . Further, side supports  214  may be segmented into a plurality of portions. For example, side supports  214  may include a headrest portion  217  and a side rest portion  218 , wherein each portion  217 ,  218  may move between the stowed and deployed positions independent of the other portion  217 ,  218 . Once deployed, the side supports  214  may provide a lower side bearing surface  220  and/or an upper side bearing surface  222  adjacent to seat backrest  210 . In such embodiments, lower side bearing surface  220  may provide support for a seated passenger&#39;s side, and upper side bearing surface  222  may provide support for a seated passenger&#39;s head. Backrest  210  may include recesses  224  to receive side supports  214  in the stowed position such that stowed side supports  214  are flush with a surface  226  of backrest  110 . 
     The embodiments in  FIGS. 3A-4B  may be incorporated into seats that lack a headrest. Side supports  114 ,  214  may provide additional area for head support since the side supports  114 ,  214  deploy by rotating away from the center of backrest  110 ,  210 . Moreover, while embodiments may be configured for manual deployment, other embodiments may utilize electronic actuators for moving or controlling the movement of side supports  114 ,  214  between the stowed and deployed positions. Similar to embodiments discussed above, side supports  114 ,  214  may be slideably or translatably coupled with backrest  110 ,  210 , rather than rotatably coupled. In some embodiments, side supports may be rotatably coupled and slideably coupled relative to a seat backrest as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5C . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a passenger seat  300  with a deployed side support  314 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. Passenger seat  300  includes a backrest  310  coupled with a seat base  312 . Seat backrest  310  includes side supports  314  which may deploy from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the exemplary embodiment, side supports  314  couple with backrest  310  via hinges  316 . Once deployed, side supports  314  may provide a side bearing surface  318 . Side supports  314  may also be slideably coupled with backrest  310 . In the illustrated embodiments, side supports  314  may translate along rails  320  so that a height of side supports  314  may be adjusted. In some embodiments, side supports  314  may be coupled such that side supports  314  may be translated together. In alternative embodiments, side supports  314  may translate separately from one another. The side support  314  may support different passengers having different heights. 
       FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate a passenger seat system  400  including a plurality of the passenger seat backrests  10  shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B . Passenger seat system  400  includes a plurality of passenger seats  410 . Passenger seats  410  each include a passenger seat base  412  and a seat backrest  414 . Passenger seat system  400  further includes passenger seat armrests  416  positioned on the sides of passenger seats  410 . Further a gap  418  is formed between adjacent passenger seats  410 . In some embodiments, a width of the gap  418  is defined by a width of the armrest  416 . The seat backrests  414  include side supports  420  which may rotatably deploy from the stowed position, shown in  FIG. 6A  to a deployed position to provide additional side support  422 , shown in  FIG. 6B . In some embodiments, the side supports  420  may deploy into the gaps between seat backrests  414  or above an adjacent armrest  416 . In most embodiments, it would be preferable if the side supports  420  do not deploy horizontally past an adjacent armrest so as to limit interference with an adjacent seat  410  and/or to avoid obstruction of an aisle or walkway adjacent to the passenger seat system  400 . In some embodiments, the side supports  414  of adjacent seats may deploy into the gap equally so as to provide both seats  410  with an equal amount of side support  422 . 
     While passenger seat system  400  is illustrated with three passenger seats, it should be understood that other exemplary embodiments may provide for a passenger seat system that includes one, two, four, five or more seats. Further while each seat  410  in passenger seat system  400  is illustrated with side supports  420 , it should be understood that it is not essential for all passenger seats  410  of a passenger seat system  400  to include side supports  420 . In some embodiments, a passenger seat system may be provided where not all passenger seats of a system include deployable side supports  420 . Further while passenger seat system  400  is illustrated with the exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , it should be understood that the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3A-5C , may similarly be used in such passenger seat systems. 
     Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.