Patent Publication Number: US-2022227493-A1

Title: Seat assembly, in particular for an aircraft

Description:
The present invention relates to an assembly of seats, in particular for an aircraft. The invention finds a particularly advantageous application with aircraft seats of the ‘business class’ type. The invention may also be implemented with seats for other means of transport, such as for example seats for buses, trains, or boats. 
     Aircraft seats of the ‘Business class’ type offer passengers different comfort positions from the ‘seating’ position to a ‘lying’ position in which the seat defines a substantially horizontal lying surface for the passenger. 
     Document WO2015/155687 describes an assembly of individual seats to be installed in an aircraft cabin and comprising a first seat and a second seat arranged facing each other. Each seat has a width which is greater than a width of a conventional seat, so that this allows the passenger to sit in different orientations. For example, a passenger may be seated so as to have his/her body oriented in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of the seat, or the passenger may be seated so as to have his/her body oriented with a non-zero angle up to 90 degrees to the axis of the seat. 
     A central console is arranged between the first seat and the second seat. The central console has a first foot zone and a second foot zone, which are open in two opposite directions. The first foot zone is associated with the first seat facing the opening of the first foot zone. The second foot zone is associated with the second seat facing the opening of the second foot zone. 
     Each foot zone is delimited by an upper wall forming a table for the seat which does not have access to the opening of the second foot zone. Such a configuration of the foot zones makes it possible to optimize the density of places inside the cabin but reduces the living space for the passenger due to the positioning of each foot zone close to the opposite seat. There is therefore a need for defining a configuration ensuring a compromise between the optimization of the number of seats and the space available for each passenger while complying with the safety conditions. 
     The objective of the invention is to effectively meet this need by providing an assembly of individual seats to be installed in an aircraft cabin, said assembly comprising:
         a first seat and a second seat arranged facing each other, each seat comprising a seating surface and a backrest,   a central console arranged between the first seat and the second seat, said central console comprising a first foot zone and a second foot zone extending in two opposite directions,   the first foot zone being associated with the first seat facing an opening of the first foot zone, said first foot zone being delimited by an upper wall forming a table for a passenger of the second seat with no access to the opening of the first foot zone.   the second foot zone being associated with the second seat facing an opening of the second foot zone, said second foot zone being delimited by an upper wall forming a table for a passenger of the first seat with no access to the opening of the second foot zone,
 
characterized in that a width of the seating surface of the first seat is smaller in a part of the seating surface facing the second foot zone with than a width of a part of the seating surface facing the first foot zone so as to increase a space between the seating surface of the first seat and the second foot zone.
       

     According to one embodiment, in the part of the seating surface of the first seat facing the second foot zone, at least a portion of a front edge of said seating surface has a curved shape. 
     According to one embodiment, a width of the seating surface of the second seat is smaller in a part facing the first foot zone than a width of a part of the seating surface facing the second foot zone so as to increase a space between the seating surface of the second seat and the first foot zone. 
     According to one embodiment, in the part of the seating surface of the second seat facing the first foot zone, at least a portion of a front edge of said seating surface has a curved shape. 
     According to one embodiment, each seat has side edges substantially aligned with side edges of the other seat. 
     According to one embodiment, said assembly of seats comprises a double-door module provided with two movable doors each between a stored position and an extended position in which a door is able to transversely close a corresponding space between a seat and the central console. 
     According to one embodiment, said assembly of seats comprises two retractable panels movable between a stored position and an extended position in which a panel closes a corresponding space above a side edge of a seat on the side of an aisle. 
     According to an embodiment, a ratio of a sum of a width of the central console and two thicknesses of fixed shells surrounding the backrests divided by a length of one pitch of said assembly of two seats is between 25% and 40%, and is preferably of the order of 33%. 
     According to one embodiment, as a seat is convertible between a seating position and a lying position, a space between the seat and the central console is intended to be filled with at least a portion of the seat when the latter is in the lying position. 
     According to one embodiment, when a seat is in the lying position, at least a portion of the seat is vertically superimposed with a closed foot zone on the side of the seat comprising the seating surface. 
     According to one embodiment, as a lying surface is formed by at least a portion of the seat and at least a portion of the backrest when the seat is in the lying position as well as an internal wall of the open foot zone associated with said seat, a ratio of an area of the lying surface to an area of a living space associated with a seat is between 90% and 100%. 
     According to one embodiment, the central console comprises a partition wall. 
     The invention also relates to an aircraft cabin characterized in that it comprises at least one column of assemblies of seats as defined above. 
    
    
     
       The present invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become apparent on reading the following detailed description including embodiments, given as illustrative examples, with reference to the accompanying figures, given as non-limiting examples, which could be used to completely understand the present invention and the description of its implementation and which could contribute, if need be, to its definition, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembly of two seats according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an assembly of two seats according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an aircraft cabin comprising assemblies of seats according to the invention showing layouts of the lying surfaces of the seats; 
         FIG. 4 a    is a side view of a assembly of two seats according to the invention provided with closure panels in the stored position; 
         FIG. 4 b    is a side view of an assembly of two seats according to the invention provided with closure panels in the extended position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a seating surface of a seat according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     It should be noted that, in the figures, the structural and/or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an assembly  10  of individual seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  with an axis X 0  to be installed in an aircraft cabin  12  (see  FIG. 3 ). This assembly  10  comprises a first seat  11 . 1  and a second seat  11 . 2  facing each other. Each seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  has an axis X 1  which is a horizontal axis passing through a median plane of the seating surface and the backrest of the seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . The axes X 1  of the seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  may coincide with the axis X 0  of the assembly  10 . Each seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  has side edges  13  substantially aligned with side edges  13  of the other seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . In a top view, the assembly  10  of two seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  has a rectangular shape. Alternatively, it could have the shape of a non-right-angled parallelogram. 
     Each seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) comprises a seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ) and a backrest  16 . 1  (respectively  16 . 2 ) which may, where appropriate, be made in two parts articulated with one another. Each seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  has a width L 1  which is greater than a width of a conventional seat, so that this allows a passenger to be seated in different orientations. For example, the passenger can be seated so as to have his/her body oriented in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis X 1  of the seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 , or so as to have his/her body oriented at a non-zero angle up to 90 degrees to the axis X 1  of the seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . 
     A central console  18  is arranged between the first seat  11 . 1  and the second seat  11 . 2 . The central console  18  advantageously comprises a partition wall  19  between the two seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . The partition wall  19  may include a location for mounting screens, and/or electronic devices, and/or storage compartments. 
     The central console  18  comprises a first foot zone  20 . 1  and a second foot zone  20 . 2  opened in two opposite directions. The first foot zone  20 . 1  and the second foot zone  20 . 2  project on either side of the partition wall  19  in two opposite directions. 
     The first foot zone  20 . 1  is associated with the first seat  11 . 1  facing the opening  21 . 1  of the first foot zone  20 . 1 . The second foot zone  20 . 2  is associated with the second seat  11 . 2  facing the opening  21 . 2  of the second foot zone  20 . 2 . Preferably, the first foot zone  20 . 1  and the second foot zone  20 . 2  are not superimposed along the axis X 0  of the assembly  10 . As a variant, the foot zones  20 . 1  and  20 . 2  may be partially superimposed along the axis X 0 . 
     The foot zones  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2  respectively comprise a horizontal internal wall  22 . 1 ,  22 . 2  on which the feet of a passenger can rest. The foot zones  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2  are each delimited by a corresponding background  24 . 1 ,  24 . 2 , the bottoms  24 . 1 ,  24 . 2  being connected to one another by a common wall  25 . 
     In addition, the foot zones  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2  each have respectively a corresponding upper wall  27 . 1 ,  27 . 2  on which the passenger of the opposite seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  may in particular place objects. The upper wall  27 . 1 ,  27 . 2  thus forms a table that can serve as a work surface, a dining table, a cocktail table or any other usable surface for a passenger seated in the opposite seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  (i.e. the seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  with no access to the opening  21 . 1 ,  21 . 2  of the foot zone  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ). In other words, at least part of a foot zone  20 . 1 ,  20 . 2  extends in the living space of a passenger seated in the opposite seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . The foot zone  20 . 1  thus comprises an upper wall  27 . 1  forming a table for the opposite seat  11 . 2 . The foot zone  20 . 2  comprises an upper wall  27 . 2  forming a table for the opposite seat  11 . 1 . 
     Thus, a given seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) is associated with an open foot zone  20 . 1  (respectively  20 . 2 ) for receiving the feet of a passenger and with a closed foot zone  20 . 2  (respectively  20 . 1 ) penetrating into the passenger living space and forming a table. 
     As it can be seen in particular in  FIG. 2 , a width of the seating surface  15 . 1  of the first seat  11 . 1  is smaller in a part of the seating surface  15 . 1  facing the second foot zone  20 . 2  than a width of a part of the seating surface  15 . 1  facing the first foot zone  20 . 1  so as to increase a space E between the seating surface  15 . 1  of the first seat  11 . 1  and the second foot zone  20 . 2 . In other words, the width of the seating surface  15 . 1  is smaller on the side of the closed foot zone  20 . 2  than on the side of the open foot zone  20 . 1  associated with the seating surface  15 . 1 . Given that in the example shown this space E opens out to an aisle  29 , the shape of the seating surface  15 . 1  with reduced width on the side of the second foot zone  20 . 2  facilitates passenger access to this aisle  29 , especially in an emergency. 
     In the part of the seating surface  15 . 1  of the first seat  11 . 1  facing the second foot zone  20 . 2 , at least a portion of a front edge  30 . 1  of said seating surface  15 . 1  has a curved shape. This curved portion of the front edge  30 . 1  of the seating surface  15 . 1  is located in the extension of a rectilinear portion of the front edge  30 . 1  facing the first foot zone  20 . 1 . As it can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the curved portion could be defined for example by a radius of curvature R of the order of 70 cm. As a variant, the curved portion of the front edge  30 . 1  could be replaced with a beveled shape. A maximum width lmax of the seating surface  15 . 1  is for example of the order of 45 cm and a minimum width lmin of the seating surface  15 . 1  is for example of the order of 30 cm. The expression “of the order of” means a variation of plus or minus 10% around the target value. 
     Furthermore, a width of the seating surface  15 . 2  of the second seat  11 . 2  is smaller in a part facing the first foot zone  20 . 1  than a width of a part of the seating surface  15 . 2  facing the second foot zone  20 . 2  so as to increase a space E between the seating surface  15 . 2  of the second seat  11 . 2  and the first foot zone  20 . 1 . In other words, the width of the seating surface  15 . 2  is smaller on the side of the closed foot zone  20 . 1  than on the side of the open foot zone  20 . 2  associated with the seating surface  15 . 2 . 
     In the part of the seating surface  15 . 2  of the second seat  11 . 2  facing the first foot zone  20 . 1 , at least a portion of a front edge  30 . 2  of said seating surface  15 . 2  has a curved shape. This curved portion of the front edge  30 . 2  of the seating surface  15 . 2  is in the extension of a rectilinear portion of the front edge  30 . 2  facing the first foot zone  20 . 1 . As it can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the curved portion could be defined for example by a radius of curvature R of the order of 70 cm. As a variant, the curved portion of the front edge  30 . 2  could be replaced with a bevelled shape. A maximum width lmax of the seating surface  15 . 2  is for example of the order of 45 cm and a minimum width lmin of the seating surface  15 . 2  is for example of the order of 30 cm. 
     Furthermore, a double-door module  32  is provided with two doors  33 . 1 ,  33 . 2  movable between a stored position shown in  FIG. 4 a    and an extended position shown in  FIG. 4 b    in which a door  33 . 1 ,  33 . 2  is able close transversely, on the side of the aisle  29 , a corresponding space  34 . 1 ,  34 . 2  between a seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  and the central console  18 . Thus, a first door  33 . 1  is able to close a first space  34 . 1  between the first seat  11 . 1  and the central console  18  when the first door  33 . 1  is in the extended position. The second door  33 . 2  is able to close a second space  34 . 2  between the second seat  11 . 2  and the central console  18 . When the doors  33 . 1 ,  33 . 2  are in the stored position, the doors  33 . 1 ,  33 . 2  at least partially overlap inside the double-door module  32 . A door  33 . 1 ,  33 . 2  is movable between the stored position and the extended position according to a lateral translational movement, as illustrated by the arrows F 1  and F 2 . 
     In addition, two retractable panels  36 . 1 ,  36 . 2  are movable between a stored position shown in  FIG. 4 a    and an extended position shown in  FIG. 4 b    in which a panel  36 . 1 ,  36 . 2  closes a corresponding space  37 . 1 ,  37 . 2  arranged above a side edge  13  of a seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  on the side of an aisle  29 . Thus, a first panel  36 . 1  is able to close a first space  37 . 1  above a side edge  13  of the first seat  11 . 1  when the panel  36 . 1  is in the extended position. A second panel  36 . 2  is able to close a second space  37 . 2  above a side edge  13  of the second seat  11 . 2  when the panel  36 . 2  is in the extended position. A retractable panel  36 . 1 ,  36 . 2  is movable between the stored position and the extended position according to a vertical movement, as illustrated by the arrows F 3  and F 4 . 
     A ratio of a sum of a width L 2  of the central console  18  and two thicknesses L 3  and L 4  of fixed shells surrounding the backrests  16 . 1 ,  16 . 2  divided by a length L 5  of a pitch of the assembly  10  of two seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  is between 25% and 40%, and preferably of the order of 33%. The expression “of the order of” means a variation of plus or minus 10% around the target value. It is reminded that a pitch of two seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  corresponds to the length of an assembly  10  of two seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  inside the aircraft cabin  12 . Such a ratio makes it possible to guarantee a sufficient space between these different elements of the assembly  10  for evacuating passengers in an emergency. 
     A seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  is convertible, via adapted kinematics, between a “seating” position, corresponding to the position used in particular during the stopping, take-off, and landing phases of the aircraft, and a “lying” position, in which the seating surface  15 . 1 ,  15 . 2  is moved in translation forwards (cf. displacement of the belt buckles  38  in  FIG. 3 ) while the backrest  16  tilts substantially horizontally, that is to say it forms an angle between plus 20 degrees and minus 20 degrees from the horizontal. 
     The space between the central console  18  and a seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) is filled with at least a portion of the corresponding seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ), in particular the seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ) and, if applicable, a portion of the backrest  16 . 1  (respectively  16 . 2 ) when the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) is in the lying position. 
     Advantageously, when the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) is in the lying position, at least a portion of the seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ) is superimposed vertically with the closed foot zone  20 . 2  (respectively  20 . 1 ) on the side of the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) comprising the seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ). In this case, a portion of the seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ) may be placed under the closed foot zone  20 . 2  (respectively  20 . 1 ) associated with said seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ). 
     A lying surface  40 . 1  (respectively  40 . 2 ) is then formed by at least a portion of the seating surface  15 . 1  (respectively  15 . 2 ) and at least a portion of the backrest  16 . 1  (respectively  16 . 2 ) when the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) is in the lying position as well as an internal wall of the open foot zone  20 . 1  (respectively  20 . 2 ) associated with said seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ). 
     Advantageously, according to an optimal configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , a ratio of an area A 1  of a lying surface  40 . 1 ,  40 . 2  to an area A 2  of a living space associated with a seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  is between 90% and 100%. The area A 2  of a living space is delimited, in a top view, by the backrest  16 . 1  (respectively  16 . 2 ) of a seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ), a median plane of the central console  18  parallel to the backrest  16 . 1  (respectively  16 . 2 ) of the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) and two segments each passing through a side edge  13  of a seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) and extending between the backrest of the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) and the median plane of the center console  18 . The median plane of the central console  18  may correspond to the partition wall  19 . 
     According to alternative embodiments, the seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  can also take intermediate positions, called “relaxing” positions, between the two extreme positions formed by the seating position and the lying position. 
     As a variant, as the seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  has a fixed configuration, the space between the seat  11 . 1  (respectively  11 . 2 ) and the central console  18  is to be filled with an added cushion defining part of the lying surface  40 . 1 ,  40 . 2 . The added cushion may be stored under a seating surface  15 . 1 ,  15 . 2  of a corresponding seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . In this case, the different parts of the seat (seating surface  15  and backrest  16 ) may be fixed. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the aircraft cabin  12  comprises several columns of assemblies  10  of seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . The aircraft cabin  12  may thus include one or two side groups G_lat respectively formed by a column of assemblies  10  of seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  positioned along a side wall of the fuselage of the aircraft cabin  12 . In addition, a central group G_cent preferably consists of two columns of assemblies  10  of seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . In such an arrangement, the columns of seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  of the central group G_cent are advantageously placed side by side with respect to one another. 
     The columns of seats may each be formed by several assemblies  10  of two seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  arranged behind one another. 
     The side group or groups G_lat are respectively separated from the central group G_cent by an aisle  29 . The passenger of each seat  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2  has direct access to the corresponding aisle  29 . As a variant, the side groups G_lat may each be formed by more than one column of assemblies  10  of seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . The central group G_cent may also include a single column, or more than two columns, of assemblies  10  of seats  11 . 1 ,  11 . 2 . 
     Of course the different features, variants and/or embodiments of the present invention can be associated with one another in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive with one another. 
     Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided by way of example only. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants a person skilled in the art may consider in the context of the present invention and in particular any combination of the various operating modes described above, which may be taken separately or in combination.