Abstract:
This invention relates to a passenger seat for economy class transportation. The seat has an inclinable back rest, a moveable seat pan, an adjustable leg rest, and a foot rest. When stowed, the leg rest lays flat on the floor partially under the passengers feet and partially under the forward seat, using minimal passenger space. The leg rest pivots up from the floor and aligns with the front of the seat pan to form a continuous support surface along the entire length of a passengers body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application 61/063,560 filed Feb. 5, 2008, Inclining Transportation Passenger Seat, by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    None. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to providing comfortable high-density passenger seating for long duration travel. 
         [0006]    2. Prior Art 
         [0007]    This invention provides passengers comfortable seating on aircraft or other high passenger density vehicles where minimum passenger space exists and passenger comfort is desirable. When travel durations exceed 3 hours, passenger comfort becomes important. Thus, airline passengers seek seats with more leg-room (by the emergency exit doors) or more shoulder room (on the aisles). For long duration travel, passengers appreciate seating that allows them to change sitting and resting positions. This invention gives a passenger a choice of sitting, reclining, or inclining—all with leg support, providing comfortable positions within a small personal volume. At the same time, this invention provides transportation companies with the high-density seating required for lower fares or higher profits. 
         [0008]    Comfortable seating in a short pitch (32 inches spacing between seats or less) environment is difficult. Comfort is increased by maximizing seating positions and the overlap of passenger space. By providing a leg rest, the passenger is supported along his whole body. A foot rest provides a passenger further support. 
         [0009]    None of the prior art provides a passenger an inclined position with full body support within the pitch constraint of economy class seating, In reviewing the prior art, one finds that:
       U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,316 B2 to Shimasaki (2007) shows a multi-positional seat with a two-piece sliding seat pan. However, there is no foot rest.   U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,904 B2 to Dowty (2006) depicts a vehicle seat with a perch position which allows multiple seating postures. In addition, his seat is designed for tourist/coach class. In this invention, the seat pan slides forward and the seat back slides down. There is no leg rest. The seat back does not impinge on the space of the rear passenger.   U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,855 B2 to Wagner (2006) describes a vehicle seat with adjustable components within a spatial restraint. This seat allows passengers to recline almost horizontally. However, the seat pitch is greater than 32 inches, and the leg rest is not stowed on the floor.   U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,004 B2 to Skelly (2006) reveals a seat adapted for sleeping. In this design the seat bottom may be rotated so that a passenger&#39;s hips are not at the same height, providing one to change sleeping positions. The design is similar to Dowty (2006). There is no leg rest.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,916,069 B2 to Bauer (2005) reveals a reclining seat with a leg rest. The seat inclines and allows a passenger to assume numerous positions. However, the seat has no leg support and requires a pitch greater than 32 inches. The seat is designed for first class passengers.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,238 B1 to Abt (2005) depicts an adjustable aircraft seat with a foot and leg rest. However, the leg rest is not stowed on the floor, and the seat does not allow one to incline.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,341 B2 to Behnert (2005) shows a vehicle seat which slightly reclines and provides elevation for the knees. It has a combined leg rest and foot rest. The leg rest is not stowed on the floor, and the seat does not incline.   U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,739 B2 to Salzer (2004) reveals a vehicle seat that allows a passenger to fully incline. The leg rest is attached to the seat pan. Salzer&#39;s design pertains to business class or higher. His seat does not meet the 32 inch pitch requirement for economy seating. In the inclined position, his seat does not impinge on the space of the rear passenger.       
 
         [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,309 B1 to Beroth (2002) describes a passenger seat designed for sleeping. The seat inclines and has an ottoman for leg support. The leg rest is not stowed on the floor, and the pitch is greater than 32 inches. In its inclined position, Beroth&#39;s seat does not impinge on the space of the rear passenger. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0019]    In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a passenger seat provides a fully upright, a reclining, and an inclining position. A foot rest and a leg rest are available to complete support of all parts of a passenger&#39;s body. The leg rest is stowed on the floor; the foot rest is mounted under the forward seat. Although seating space is constricted, passenger space (and, therefore, comfort) is maximized. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         [0020]    The reader may best appreciate this invention by reviewing  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Note, in all cases the figures depict a simplified cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the seat in various positions. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is the preferred embodiment of this invention. It shows a passenger seat which incorporates a foot rest, a leg rest a sliding seat pan, and an inclining back rest. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a second embodiment of the present invention with a fixed seat pan and a reclining back rest. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts a third embodiment of this invention using a standard transportation seat frame with a sliding seat pan and inclining back rest. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       [0024]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 - frame 
               
               
                 12 
                 - upper frame track 
               
               
                 14 
                 - lower frame track 
               
               
                 20 
                 - back rest 
               
               
                 22 
                 - back rest slide/pivot 
               
               
                 30 
                 - seat pan 
               
               
                 32 
                 - seat pan/back rest pivot 
               
               
                 34 
                 - seat pan slide/pivot 
               
               
                 36 
                 - front seat pan support 
               
               
                 37 
                 - front seat pan support upper pivot point 
               
               
                 38 
                 - front seat pan support lower pivot point 
               
               
                 39 
                 - seat pan actuator attachment point 
               
               
                 40 
                 - leg rest 
               
               
                 42 
                 - leg rest actuator attachment point 
               
               
                 44 
                 - leg rest pivot 
               
               
                 50 
                 - foot rest 
               
               
                 100 
                 - multi-positional seat 
               
               
                 200 
                 - multi-positional seat 
               
               
                 240 
                 - leg/foot rest 
               
               
                 242 
                 - leg rest actuator attachment point 
               
               
                 244 
                 - leg rest pivot 
               
               
                 300 
                 - multi-positional seat 
               
               
                 335 
                 - forward seat pan slide/pivot 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  depicts a simplified cross-sectional schematic diagram of a fully inclined transportation seat  100 , shown as a primary seat, and a fully upright seat  100 , shown as a forward seat. The seat  100  comprises a frame  10 , a back rest  20 , a seat pan  30 , a leg rest  40  and a foot rest  50 . A seat pan slide/pivot  34  moves along a lower frame track  14  and secures seat pan  30  to the frame  10 . Similarly, a back rest slide/pivot  22  moves along an upper frame track  12  to secure back rest  20  to frame  10 . In addition, a seat pan/back rest pivot  32 , not secured to frame  10 , allows the angle between seat pan  30  and back rest  20  to range between approximately 90° to approximately 140°, allowing the seat to recline and incline, thus, providing a passenger innumerable seating and resting positions. 
         [0026]    A passenger may shift the position of the seat to any of the plurality of different positions between the fully upright and fully inclined selections. For example, the user can shift the seat pan  30  and the lower part of the back rest  20  horizontally to move into a reclining position. By moving the seat pan  30  further horizontally, the user moves the seat to the fully inclined position. As seen in  FIG. 1 , back rest  20  rotates around the back rest slide/pivot  22  while guided along an upper frame track  12 , and seat pan  30  rotates around a seat-pan slide/pivot  34  while guided along a lower frame track  14 . Frame  10  moveably secures the back rest  20  at back rest slide/pivot  22 . Frame  10  also moveably secures the seat pan  30  at seat-pan slide/pivot  34  as seat pan  30  travels along lower frame track  14 . The seat pan/back rest pivot  32  allows the angle between back rest  20  and seat pan  30  to change as the seat pan  30  moves horizontally. When the seat-pan slide/pivot  34  reaches the forward end of lower frame track  14 , the seat is fully inclined. 
         [0027]    Seat  100  further comprises a front seat pan support  36 , a front seat pan support upper pivot point  37 , a front seat pan support lower pivot point  38 , and a seat pan actuator attachment point  39 . 
         [0028]    Seat pan  30  is rotateably attached to the front seat pan support  36  at the front seat pan support upper pivot point  37 . As the seat pan  30  moves forward, the front seat pan support  36  rotates around the front seat pan support lower pivot point  38 , which is attached to frame  10 . The seat pan actuator attachment point  39  is attached to an actuator (not shown) which allows adjustment of the positions of seat pan  30  and back rest  20 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  further shows a foot rest  50  and leg rest  40 . While the foot rest  50  keeps a person from sliding down the seat, the leg rest  40  supports the legs, completing the support for a passenger&#39;s entire body. With the entire body supported, a passenger finds it easier to relax and/or sleep. 
         [0030]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the user of the primary seat finds a foot rest  50  under the forward seat. The foot rest  50  is secured close to the front of frame  10  of the forward seat. Foot rest  50  has a foot support surface that faces the primary seat. Leg rests  40  are depicted in  FIG. 1  in the stowed position under the primary seat and in the raised position under the forward seat. Foot rest  50  and leg rest  40  work independently; thus, one may use foot rest  50  without placing leg rest  40  in its raised position. In cases where there is no forward seat frame, the foot rest  50  and the leg rest  40  could be secured to a similar forward frame or to the floor. 
         [0031]    The passenger in the primary seat finds leg rest  40  mounted under the forward seat, stowed on the floor beneath his feet when not in use. Frame  10  rotatably connects leg rest  40  at a leg rest pivot  44 . Leg rest  40  incorporates a leg rest actuator attachment point  42 . The leg rest actuator attachment point  42  catches an actuator (not shown) in the form of, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic working cylinder or an electro-mechanical actuating drive which, when activated, can be used to adjust the tilt of the leg rest  40 . The actuator allows the leg rest  40  to move between its stowed and raised positions. When in its raised position, leg rest  40  and the foot support surface form an approximate right angle. 
         [0032]    To move from a stowed to a raised position, leg rest  40  rotates about leg rest pivot  44 . With primary seat  100  in the inclined position and leg rest  40  under the forward seat in its raised position, the rear edge of leg rest  40  aligns with the front of seat pan  30 . Together, the inclined seat  100  and the raised leg rest  40  form an approximately continuous and relatively flat surface for a passenger to rest. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  depicts a simplified cross-sectional schematic diagram of a reclineable transportation seat  200 , which closely resembles seats currently in use. The seat  200  comprises a frame  10 , a back rest  20 , a seat pan  30 , and a leg/foot rest  240 . Seat pan  30  is secured to frame  10 . A seat pan/back rest pivot  32  allows the angle between seat pan  30  and back rest  20  to vary, allowing the seat to recline in a manner similar to current passenger seats. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a primary seat in a reclined position and a forward seat in an upright position and reveals the leg/foot rest  240 . The leg/foot rest  240  supports both legs and feet, completing the support of the passenger&#39;s entire body. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows the leg/foot rest  240  under the primary seat in its stowed position and under the forward seat in its raised position. Frame  10  rotateably connects leg/foot rest  240  at the leg rest pivot  244 . The leg/foot rest  240  incorporates a leg rest actuator attachment point  242 . The leg rest actuator attachment point  242  catches an actuator (not shown) which, when activated, can be used to allow adjustment of the tilt of leg/foot rest  240 . The actuator allows the leg/foot rest  240  to move between its stowed and raised positions. 
         [0036]    To move from the stowed to a raised position, leg/foot rest  240  rotates about the leg rest pivot  244 . In its raised position the rear edge of the leg/foot rest  240  under the forward seat aligns with the front of the primary seat pan  30 , forming an approximately continuous and relatively flat surface to support a passenger&#39;s legs. The back rest  20  moves between the fully upright and reclined positions using actuators or similar devices found in current economy passenger seats. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  depicts another embodiment of the transportation seat. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  but consists of components that are similar to those used in conventional transportation seats. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows a simplified cross-sectional schematic diagram of a fully inclined transportation seat  300 , shown as a primary seat, and a fully upright seat, shown as a forward seat. The seat  300  comprises a frame  10 , a back rest  20 , a seat pan  30 , a leg rest  40  and a foot rest  50 . Seat pan slide/pivot  34  and forward seat pan slide/pivot  335  move along a lower frame track  14  and secure seat pan  30  to the frame  10 . Similarly, a back rest slide/pivot  22  moves along an upper frame track  12  to secure back rest  20  to frame  10 . In addition, a seat pan/back rest pivot  32 , not secured to frame  10 , allows the angle between seat pan  30  and back rest  20  to range between approximately 90° to approximately 140°, allowing the seat to recline and incline, thus, providing a passenger innumerable seating and resting positions. 
         [0039]    A passenger may shift the position of the primary seat to any of the plurality of different positions between the fully upright and fully inclined selections. For example, the user can shift the seat pan  30  and the lower part of the back rest  20  horizontally to move into a reclining position. By moving the seat pan  30  further horizontally, the user moves the seat to the fully inclined position. As seen in  FIG. 3 , back rest  20  rotates around the back rest slide/pivot  22  while guided along an upper frame track  12 , and seat pan  30  rotates around a seat-pan slide/pivot  34  and forward seat pan slide/pivot  335  while guided along a lower frame track  14 . Frame  10  moveably secures the back rest  20  at back rest slide/pivot  22 . Frame  10  also moveably secures the seat pan  30  at seat-pan slide/pivot  34  and forward seat pan slide/pivot  335  as seat pan  30  travels along lower frame track  14 . The seat pan/back rest pivot  32  allows the angle between back rest  20  and seat pan  30  to change as the seat pan  30  moves horizontally. When the forward seat-pan slide/pivot  335  contacts the forward end of lower frame track  14 , the seat is fully inclined. When the seat-pan slide/pivot  34  contacts the back end of lower frame track  14 , the end nearest the back rest, the seat is fully upright. The position of the seat pan  30  may be controlled using an actuator (not shown) attached to the seat pan  30  (or back rest  20 ) and frame  10  in a manner similar to that used in current economy class seats. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  further shows a foot rest  50  and leg rest  40 . While the foot rest  50  keeps a person from sliding down the seat when the seat is in the fully inclined position, the leg rest  40  supports the legs, completing the support for a passenger&#39;s entire body. With the entire body supported, a passenger finds it easier to relax and/or sleep. 
         [0041]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the user of the primary seat finds foot rest  50  under the forward seat.  FIG. 3  shows leg rest  40  in its two positions—under the primary seat (in its stowed position) and under the forward seat (in its raised position). Foot rest  50  and leg rest  40  work independently; thus, one may use foot rest  50  without placing leg rest  40  in its raised position. 
         [0042]    When not in use, leg rest  40  for the primary seat passenger is stowed on the floor between the primary seat and the forward seat and under the forward seat. Frame  10  rotatably connects leg rest  40  at the leg rest pivot  44 . To move from the stowed to a raised position, leg rest  40  rotates about leg rest pivot  44 . With primary seat  300  in the inclined position and the leg rest  40  under the forward seat in its raised position, the rear edge of leg rest  40  aligns with the front portion of seat pan  30 . Together, the inclined seat  300  and the raised leg rest  40  form an approximately continuous and relatively flat surface for a passenger to rest. 
         [0043]    Although not shown, an actuator can be used to allow adjustment of the tilt of the leg rest  40 . The actuator allows leg rest  40  to move between its stowed and raised positions. For simplicity, instead of an actuator, a latch could catch the leg rest as it is raised manually, holding it in its raised position until the latch is released. 
       Advantages: 
       [0044]    This passenger seat provides:
       1. High density comfortable seating with a pitch of approximately 32 inches.   2. An inclining position in addition to fully upright and reclining positions.   3. An extended leg rest to provide full body support.   4. A foot rest to provide support, especially in an inclining position.   5. A leg rest, which when stowed, does not impinge on a passenger&#39;s personal space.   6. A leg rest which, in its raised position, allows a passenger to utilize much of the space under the forward seat and has a larger support surface than those described in the prior art.   7. An inclined position where seats maximize overlap between passengers, allowing a greater horizontal slope for resting.       
 
       Variations: 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             Many different combinations of tracks, slide/pivot points, and support points can be used to guide the motion of the back rest and seat pan as it moves between the fully upright, reclined, and inclined positions. 
             The leg rest can have a multiplicity of positions to enhance a passenger&#39;s comfort. For example, a passenger may choose to raise his knees by using the rear edge of the leg rest.