Abstract:
A module for aircraft passenger(s) is provided with two seats disposed beside one another and oriented in the same direction, each of these seats being a seat that can be converted to a berth. The module also includes a side wall surrounding the two seats, at least partly, an opening provided in the side wall to permit access to the module, and a partition intended to achieve separation between the two seats. The partition is displaceable from a first position, in which it achieves separation of the two seats, to a second stored position, in which it does not form a barrier between the two seats.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a double module for aircraft passenger(s). 
   2. Discussion of the Background 
   Most airline companies offer their passengers three levels of travel comfort. By increasing comfort level, therefore, there generally are in an aircraft (for medium or long flights) an economy class, a business class and a first class. These different classes have different names depending on the airline company with which a person is flying. 
   Most often, in an aircraft cabin, seats of a first type are used for first class, next to the aircraft cockpit, seats of a second type are used for business class, generally immediately aft of first class, and finally seats of a third type are used in economy class, near the rear of the aircraft. For a given aircraft, the configuration chosen is most often fixed. For airline companies, however, it is of interest to vary the distribution among the number of seats offered in the three classes. Thus it is known to modify the interior configuration of an aircraft by replacing the first-class seats by business-class seats or vice versa. This operation is very time-consuming, and it necessitates a very long ground time on the order of five days, because it is necessary to remove and reinstall seats and accessory units. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide means with which the ground time of an aircraft can be shortened while part of its business class is being converted to first class or vice versa. 
   To this end, the invention proposes a module for aircraft passenger(s) provided with:
         two seats disposed beside one another and oriented in the same direction, each of these seats being a seat that can be converted to a berth,   a side wall surrounding the two seats, at least partly,   an opening provided in the side wall to permit access to the module, and   a partition intended to achieve separation between the two seats, this partition being displaceable from a first position, in which it achieves separation of the two seats, to a second stored position, in which it does not form a barrier between the two seats.       

   Such a module can accommodate two passengers, who can then travel either in seated position or in recumbent position. This corresponds to the standard of most airline companies as regards business-class comfort. By virtue of the configuration of the module, it can be arranged in various ways. Firstly, the partition can be disposed in such a way that it no longer creates separation between the two seats. The module can then accommodate two business-class passengers who know one another and wish to be together. It is also conceivable to transform one seat to a berth and to leave the other seat in its upright position. The interior of the module then forms a private space for a passenger to stretch out or sit up. The berth can also be used as a banquette. 
   In order to achieve even more variability, it is proposed that the module according to the invention be additionally provided with elements such as foamed plastic elements, with which the interior space of the module can be shaped. Such elements make it possible to configure the space inside the side wall as desired. It is then possible to modify the module in such a way that an uninformed passenger does not become aware that the module reserved for a first-class passenger corresponds to two modules of a business-class passenger. In this embodiment, the elements used make it possible, for example, to transform a berth to a banquette with back. 
   Advantageously, a module according to the invention is provided with a storage space intended in particular to accommodate elements for organization of the interior space of the module. This storage space is disposed under the seats, for example. Depending on the configuration of the cabin, a hatch provided in the side wall may permit access to the storage space. 
   A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the side wall surrounding the two seats defines a substantially rectangular space, the two seats occupying substantially the entire width of that space and being disposed at one end thereof. Such a form and such a disposition make it possible to optimize the space in an aircraft cabin and, for a given cabin, make it possible a priori to accommodate the largest number of passengers without detracting from their comfort. 
   The side wall preferably has an opening disposed facing the seats and in middle position relative thereto. In this case, the same opening permits access to two seats in business class and permits access to the first-class module. This disposition is advantageous, because it avoids having two openings in the side wall, one of these openings then not being useful when the module is intended for a first-class passenger. 
   An alternative embodiment provides that the partition is, for example, a partition that slides between a first high position, in which it achieves separation between the two seats, and a second low position, in which it is entirely retracted between the two seats. 
   According to another alternative embodiment, the partition can be a removable partition. In this alternative embodiment, a reserve space is advantageously provided to accommodate the partition when it is removed. 
   A module for aircraft passenger(s) according to the invention is preferably provided with seats such that each seat has a fixed frame. This makes it possible to limit the space requirement of the seats in the module and therefore to leave more space for the passenger(s). With such a seat, it is possible to provide that a supplementary berth can cooperate with the seat to form a substantially plane surface capable of accommodating a passenger in recumbent position. Such seats and supplementary berths are described in French Patent FR 2860194, for example. 
   The present invention also relates to an aircraft cabin and to an aircraft, characterized in that they are provided with at least one module such as described in the foregoing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Details and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description hereinafter with reference to the attached schematic drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic horizontal projection of an aircraft cabin zone encompassing the first classes and the business classes, 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a module according to the invention when it is intended for a business-class space, and 
       FIG. 3  is a module according to the invention when it is intended for a first-class space. 
   

     FIG. 1  shows a first-class zone  2  as well as a business-class zone  4  in an aircraft cabin. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the cabin illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the structure of the seats and modules used in first-class zone  2  is identical to that of the seats and modules of business class  4 . Only the arrangement of the modules is different. 
   The basic element used here for arrangement of first-class zone  2  and business-class zone  4  is a double module  8 , which can be organized to accommodate either one single first-class passenger or two business-class passengers. An example of a module of this type is described hereinafter with reference to the attached schematic drawings. 
   In business-class zone  4  of  FIG. 1 , it is seen that each of the double modules  8  has two seats  10 . Facing each of these seats  10 , and spaced apart therefrom, there is disposed an accessory unit  12 , which may be, for example, a baggage compartment, a small table, a footrest or even a cabinet in which a television screen, for example, is integrated. Preferably this accessory unit  12  is provided with a support surface disposed substantially (for example, within twenty cm) at the same height as the bottom of corresponding seat  10 . This seat is a convertible seat. The support surface of accessory unit  12  then cooperates with the convertible seat and if necessary with a supplementary berth to form a sleeping surface providing a bed for the passenger, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   Each double module  8  intended to accommodate one first-class passenger or two business-class passengers is defined by a side wall  14 . By passing behind the seats, this wall surrounds the seats as well as accessory units  12 . This side wall  14  may have substantially constant height or, for example, may be higher next to seats  10  than next to accessory units  12 . As a non-limitative example, it may be considered, for example, that the side walls defining double modules  8  have a height between 0.60 m and 1.50 m. 
   On the whole, side wall  14  has substantially rectangular shape. Seats  10  are disposed at one end of module  8 , and occupy substantially the entire width of the module. As regards accessory units  12 , they have smaller width than the seats. These accessory units are disposed in the corners of module  8  at the side opposite seats  10 . 
   An opening is provided in each side wall  14  to permit access to seats  10 . This opening  16  is made between accessory units  12 . A door or a gate may be provided if necessary in order to close each opening  16 . 
   Each double module  8  illustrated here is substantially symmetric relative to an axis passing between the two seats  10  and via the middle of opening  16 . This symmetry plane is given physical form by a partition  18  disposed between the two seats  10 . This partition  18  achieves separation between the two seats in such a way that the two passengers traveling in the double module when it is organized for business class can be isolated from one another. In this way the private space of each of the passengers is preserved. 
   This partition  18  is a movable partition. In its first position described hereinabove it achieves separation between the two seats  10  and transforms double module  8  to two single modules. Nevertheless, when the two passengers (in business class) know one another and wish to be together, this partition  18  then assumes a second position in which it no longer achieves this separation. A mechanism can then be provided to lower partition  18  and make it disappear between the two seats  10 . Conceivably this partition also may be removed. The removed partition then may be placed, for example, in a reserve space (not illustrated) provided in the thickness of side wall  14 , for example behind the two seats  10 . 
   As indicated hereinabove, seats  10  are convertible seats. They are preferably seats such as those described in French Patent 2860194. Reference is made here to that document as regards the description of the seats used here as well as a possible supplementary berth cooperating with the seat to form a plane surface capable of accommodating a passenger in recumbent position. The seats described in that document have the advantage that their weight is lighter and that they do not necessitate installation of bulky motors to move them from the upright position to the position converted to a berth. By virtue of this fact, a large space is available underneath the bottom of seats  10 . Of course, the present invention can be implemented with seats different from those described in the aforesaid patent application, but the embodiment of these seats is the embodiment preferred here. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the same module as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when it is configured to accommodate one first-class passenger. In this configuration, separating partition  18  is made to disappear by retracting it between seats  10  or by removing it and placing it in a reserve space provided for this purpose. 
   In the configuration example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , one seat  10  of double module  8  is in upright position, while the other seat is in its position converted to a bed. The seat converted to a bed is transformed to a banquette by means of foamed-plastic elements  20 , which form in particular the back of the banquette and possible additions to the bottom. These foamed-plastic elements  20  can be fastened by means of hook and loop tapes (known by the registered trademark Velcro), by means of snap-in studs or by any other means. 
   In an advantageous embodiment, all of the foamed-plastic elements and possible cushions are kept in the space available under seats  10 . Access to this storage space can be achieved via a hatch provided for this purpose in side wall  14  or directly via the front of seat  10 . If this seat is equipped with a leg rest, this is raised to permit access to the storage space. It is also possible to provide for storage of foamed-plastic elements  20  in accessory units  12 . This storage space can be extremely roomy, and may extend without interruption under both seats  10  of the module. Thus it can accommodate foamed-plastic elements  20  of large size. 
   The arrangements shown for a first-class module are given as non-limitative examples. By adapting the form (and number) of foamed-plastic elements, it is possible to conceive of a quasi-infinity of different arrangements. 
   As follows from the foregoing description, the transformation of a double module  8  intended to accommodate two business-class passengers to a double module intended to accommodate one first-class passenger can be achieved quickly. No structural element has to be displaced. It is sufficient merely to incline the seats or to return them to upright position, to shift a partition and to organize foamed-plastic elements. These elements are preferably available in the module itself or may be stored at some other place in the aircraft (in the cabin or even in the hold). 
   With the concept presented in the foregoing, it becomes possible to transform a first-class space to a business-class space in only three hours, whereas such a transformation in prior art aircraft generally takes five days. It becomes conceivable to change the configuration of the aircraft during a scheduled stop. Thus it is possible to modify the interior of an aircraft cabin from one flight to another. This is naturally highly advantageous for the airline companies, which can therefore adapt the interior arrangements of the cabin for each flight as a function of the reservations received. In this way the profitability of the space dedicated to first class and to business class in the aircraft is increased. 
   It is noted in  FIG. 1  that not only double modules  8  such as described hereinabove but also single modules  22  are provided in business class. This makes it possible to optimize the space available in the aircraft cabin. The example shown therefore makes it possible to have seven passengers abreast in business class. That represents three double modules  8  and one single module  22 . Such a single module  22  corresponds to one half of a double module  8 . Such a module is also disclosed in French Patent 2843730, especially in  FIG. 14  of that document, and in the corresponding description. When part of business-class space  4  is transformed to first-class space, there then are, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , three double modules  8 , permitting three first-class passengers to travel abreast. In first class zone  2 , single modules  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , are then covered up and can be used, for example, as storage space for the baggage of the travelers in first-class zone  2 . 
   The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described hereinabove as a non-limitative example. It also relates to all alternative embodiments that can be understood by the person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims hereinafter.