Abstract:
A seat bottom assembly for a passenger seat, includes a flexible component; and a structural support member underlying the flexible component. The support member is selectively moveable between a first, forward position in which the seat bottom has a nominal length in a longitudinal direction, and a second, rearward position in which a portion of the flexible component bends downward over the structural component such that at least a portion of the seat bottom assembly has an effective length less than the nominal length. The left and right sides of the seat bottom assembly may be independently varied in length.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/529,686 filed Dec. 15, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/589,297, filed Jul. 20, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to vehicle seating and more particularly to a tourist/coach class aircraft seating arrangement. 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. However, this space limitation can produce passenger discomfort or possibly even physical ailments, and also makes it difficult for a passenger to find a comfortable position in which to sleep on long flights.  
         [0003]     To alleviate discomfort, it is advantageous for a passenger to sit or lie in various non-conventional positions during a flight. Unfortunately, prior art coach class seats do not readily accommodate varied seating positions.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle passenger seat which allows a passenger to sit in various positions.  
         [0005]     It is another object of the invention to provide a seat bottom having a length which is selectively variable.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the invention to provide a seat bottom in which the length of different portions thereof is selectively variable.  
         [0007]     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a variable-length bottom assembly for a passenger seat, including a flexible component; and a structural support member underlying the flexible component The support member is selectively moveable between a first, forward position in which the seat bottom has a nominal length in a longitudinal direction, and a second, rearward position in which a portion of the flexible component bends downward over the structural component such that at least a portion of the seat bottom assembly has an effective length less than the nominal length.  
         [0008]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the variable-length bottom assembly further includes means for selectively locking the structural support member in a selected position.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the flexible component is a generally planar support panel having a plurality of laterally-extending pivotable segments.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the structural support member includes at least one longitudinally-extending support rail.  
         [0011]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the variable-length bottom assembly further includes a longitudinally-extending second support rail spaced apart from the at least one support rail.  
         [0012]     According to another embodiment of the invention, a front end of the support rail includes a rounded upper corner at a front end thereof.  
         [0013]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the effective length of a left portion and a right portion of the seat bottom assembly can be independently varied.  
         [0014]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the flexible component is a generally planar support panel having left and right portion, each of the left and right portions including a plurality of laterally-extending pivotable segments.  
         [0015]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the structural support member includes a pair of spaced-apart, separately moveable longitudinally-extending support rails.  
         [0016]     According to another embodiment of the invention, each of the support rails has a passenger-operable handle attached thereto.  
         [0017]     According to another embodiment of the invention, a passenger seat includes: a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; and a variable-length seat bottom disposed on the frame for supporting a passenger, the seat bottom including: a flexible component; and a structural support member underlying the flexible component. The support member is selectively moveable between a first, forward position in which the seat bottom has a nominal length in a longitudinal direction, and a second, rearward position in which a portion of the flexible component bends downward over the structural component such that at least a portion of the seat bottom has an effective length less than the nominal length.  
         [0018]     According to another embodiment of the invention, a passenger seat includes a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; and a variable-length seat bottom disposed on the frame for supporting a passenger, wherein the effective length of a left side and a right side of the seat bottom, measured in a longitudinal direction, is independently selectively variable. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     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:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger seat set including a variable length seat bottom;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the seat set shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the seat bottom in a lowered position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a seat set including a variable length seat bottom, showing an alternative arrangement of the internal components;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of the interior components of the seat bottom of  FIG. 1 , in a raised position;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of the interior components of the seat bottom of  FIG. 1 , in a partially lowered position;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of the interior components of the seat bottom of  FIG. 1 , in a lowered position;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a plurality of rows of seats including variable length seat bottoms in various positions;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a passenger seat including an alternative embodiment of a variable length seat bottom;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the seat of  FIG. 8 , showing the internal components thereof;  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the internal components of the seat of  FIG. 8  disposed in a first position;  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the internal components of the seat of  FIG. 8  disposed in a second position; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the internal components of the seat of  FIG. 8  disposed in a third position.  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a passenger seat including another alternative embodiment of a variable length seat bottom. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a passenger seat set  10  incorporating a variable length seat bottom. 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  which are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type. For illustrative purposes, the variable length seat bottom is only shown in detail with respect to the seat  14 , however it will be understood that the same type of seat bottom may also be implemented on the other seat  12 .  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the internal components of the seat bottom  24 ′ comprise a variable length support panel  32  and at least one support rail  34 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the support panel  34  is a generally planar member which is constructed to be substantially rigid except in a selected folding direction. In the illustrated example the support panel  32  is constructed from a sheet of plastic or similar material approximately 3.2 mm (0.125 in.) thick, the front portion of which is divided into relatively narrow transversely-extending lateral segments  36  by spaced-apart transversely-extending cuts or rabbets  38  which extend partway through the thickness of the support panel  32 . One or more longitudinally-extending support rails  34  are disposed underneath support panel  32  to transfer loads from the support panel  32  to the seat frame  26 . Each support rail  34  has a forward end  42  and an aft end  44 . The upper portion of the forward end  42  defines a radius or bullnose  46 .  
         [0035]     Suitable means are provided for supporting the loads on the support panel  32  and the support rails  34  while allowing longitudinal sliding motion of the support rails  34 . In the illustrated example, a rod  48  is fixed to side members  50  of the seat frame  26  and extends laterally through slots  52  formed in the support rails  34 . Suitable padding or a cushion (not shown) may be placed on top of the support panel  32 . The seat bottom  24 ′ is covered with a dress cover  54  (see  FIG. 1 ) which provides a unified appearance to the seat  14  and prevents debris from falling into the working parts of the seat  14 .  
         [0036]     In operation, the passenger&#39;s weight is supported by the support panel  32  and support rails  34 . In the raised position, the support rails  34  are translated to a fully forward position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  and in seat “A” in  FIG. 7 . When the passenger wishes to stretch out, the support rails  34  are translated rearward as shown in  FIG. 5 . This may be done manually or by using an actuator of a known type (not shown) to move the support rails  34  rearward under power. As the support rails  34  move rearward, they retract from underneath the lateral segments  36  of the support panel  32 . This allows the lateral segments  36  to fold downward over the bullnoses  46  of the support rails  34  in a manner similar to a waterfall (see  FIG. 6 ). This action shortens the seat bottom  24 ′ and effectively lowers the passenger&#39;s legs, as shown in  FIG. 2  and in seat “B” of  FIG. 7 . This increases the passenger&#39;s leg room and increases comfort without increasing the relatively longitudinal spacing or “pitch” between the seat rows. Suitable means are provided for locking the support rails  34  in a desired longitudinal position.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 8-12  illustrate a passenger seat  112  incorporating an alternative embodiment of a variable length seat bottom. The seat  112  is provided with two arm rests  116  and  118 , both shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seat  112  includes a seat back  122  and a seat bottom  124 . The seat  112  is 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.  
         [0038]     The internal components of the seat bottom  124  comprise a variable length support panel  132 , and left and right support rails  134  and  135 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the support panel  132  is a generally planar member which is constructed to be substantially rigid except in a selected folding direction. In the illustrated example the support panel  132  is constructed of a sheet of plastic or similar material approximately 3.2 mm (0.125 in.) thick. The forward part of the support panel  132  is split into separate left and right portions  137  and  139 , each of which is divided into relatively narrow transversely-extending lateral segments  136  and  136 ′ respectively by spaced-apart transversely-extending cuts or rabbets  138  and  138 ′ which extend partway through the thickness of the support panel.  132 . The longitudinally-extending support rails  134  and  135  are disposed underneath the left and right portions  137  and  139  respectively, to transfer loads from the support panel to the seatframe  126 . Laterally-extending bars  140  and  142 , optionally defining handles  144  and  146 , are attached to the front ends of the support rails  134  and  135 , respectively.  
         [0039]     Suitable means are provided for supporting the loads on the support panel  132  and the support rails  134  and  135  while allowing longitudinal sliding motion of the support rails  134  and  135 . In the illustrated example, the support rails  134  and  135  are slidably received in slots  148  and  150  in a support block  152  which is fixed to the seat frame  126  Suitable padding or a cushion (not shown) may be placed on top of the support panel  132 . The seat bottom  124  is covered with a dress cover  154  (see  FIG. 8 ) which provides a unified appearance to the seat  112  and prevents debris from falling into the working parts of the seat  112 .  
         [0040]     In operation, the passenger&#39;s weight is supported by the support panels  132  and support rails  134  and  135 . In the raised position, the support rails  134  and  135  are translated to a fully forward position as shown in  FIG. 10 . When the passenger wishes to stretch out, one or both of the support rails  134  or  135  may be translated rearward as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . This may be done manually using the handles  144  and  146 , or by using an actuator of a known type (not shown) to move the support rails  134  or  135  rearward under power. As the support rails  134  and  135  move rearward, they retract from underneath the lateral segments  136  and/or  136 ′ of the support panel  132 . This allows the lateral segments  136  and/or  136 ′ to fold downward over the support rails  134  and  135  in a manner similar to a waterfall. This action shortens one or both sides of the seat bottom  124  and effectively lowers one or both of the passenger&#39;s legs. This increases the passenger&#39;s leg room and increases comfort without increasing the relatively longitudinal spacing or “pitch” between the seat rows. Suitable means are provided for locking the support rails  134  and  135  in a desired longitudinal position.  
         [0041]     It is noted that the specific structure used to adjust the length of the seal bottom  124  may be varied to suit a particular application. For example,  FIG. 13  illustrates a passenger seat  212  incorporating an alternative internal construction. The seat  212  is provided with two arm rests  216  and  218 , both shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seat  212  includes a seat back  222  and a seat bottom  224 . The seat  212  is supported by a frame  226 . The frame  226  is mounted on legs  228  and  230  which are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.  
         [0042]     The internal components of the seat bottom  224  comprise an inner cushion structure  140  having a separate forward portion  242  which is partitioned into left and right flexible airtight compartments  244   a  and  244   b . (Means are provided for selectively inflating and deflating each of these compartments  244   a  and  244   b . For example, a small, passenger-controllable air compressor of a known type (not shown) may be selectively connectable to each of the compartments  244   a  and  244   b  using a suitable multi-directional valve and air tubing. A fabric dress cover  246  is placed over the inner cushion structure  240 .  
         [0043]     When the passenger wishes to change the effect length of the seat bottom the air pressure is increased or decreased in the appropriate compartments  244   a  and  244   b . For example, if the air pressure is decreased in compartment  244   a  while the air pressure is held constant in compartment  244   b , the effective length of the right side of the seat bottom  224  will be effectively reduced. This allows the passenger to more easily remain in a “side sleep” or rotated position by reducing the pressure point on the “down side” leg.  
         [0044]     The foregoing has described a seating arrangement having a variable length seat bottom. 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.