Patent Abstract:
A seating apparatus, in particular, an aircraft seating apparatus, includes a seating component ( 10 ) and at least one fastener ( 14 ). The fastener ( 14 ) has at least one latch ( 16, 18, 20, 22 ), which is adapted to fix the seating component ( 10 ) to a corresponding support component ( 50, 52 ).

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention is based on a seating apparatus, in particular, an aircraft seating apparatus, with at least one seat component and a fastening unit for fastening to the seat component. 
         [0002]    A seating apparatus with a seat component formed by a seat base and with a fastening unit for fastening the seat component to supporting tubes is already known. The fastening unit has fastening means which are formed by hose clamps and by means of which the seat component is fastened to the supporting tubes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention is based in particular on the problem of improving the fittability and removability. 
         [0004]    The invention is based on a seating apparatus, in particular an aircraft seating apparatus, with at least one seat component and a fastening unit for fastening the seat component. 
         [0005]    It is proposed that the fastening unit has at least one fastening means with at least one latching means which is provided for fastening the seat component, thus making it possible to achieve particularly simple fitting and removal which can be carried out rapidly and without tools. In this case, “provided” is to be understood in particular as meaning specially equipped and/or designed. A “latching means” is to be understood in particular as meaning a means which is provided in order to be deflected counter to an elastic tensioning force in order then subsequently, driven by the elastic tensioning force, to be moved into its latching position. In this case, the elastic tensioning force can be formed by an additional spring element, and/or can advantageously be implemented integrally with a latching arm and/or latching hook. Furthermore, a seat component is to be understood as meaning in particular a main component of a seat, such as a back rest, a leg rest and/or, particularly advantageously, a seat base. 
         [0006]    In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that, in the fitted state, the fastening means is fastened to the seat component by means of the latching means, thus enabling the fastening means and the seat component to each be particularly advantageously coordinated with respect to their material with different requirements. Furthermore, a flexible arrangement of the fastening means on the seat component can be achieved. However, it is also conceivable for the fastening means together with the latching means to be at least partially integrally formed on the seat component, in particular in a multi-component process as well, thus enabling additional components, outlay on fitting and costs to be saved. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, it is proposed that at least one latching means of the fastening means is provided in order to produce a latching connection between the fastening means and a corresponding component, as a result of which, in turn, the corresponding component and the fastening component can be configured, largely independently, in particular with regard to the choice of material, to different requirements. However, it would also be conceivable here for the fastening means to be at least partially integrally formed, such as in particular by a multi-component process, on a corresponding component which is formed in particular by a support component for absorbing supporting forces of the seat component. 
         [0008]    The fastening means may be produced from various materials appearing expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as, in particular, from metal, a carbon fiber and/or, particularly advantageously, from a plastic, as a result of which said fastening means can be particularly light, cost-effective and also realized with a desired tensioning force in a structurally simple manner. 
         [0009]    In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that the seating apparatus comprises a fastening unit for fastening an upholstery unit, the fastening unit of the seat component requiring a removal force in at least one main removal direction of the seat component which is at least 20%, preferably at least 40% and particularly preferably at least 50% greater than a required removal force in at least one main removal direction of the fastening unit of the upholstery unit, thus making it possible to reliably prevent the fastening unit for fastening the seat component to be undesirably detached during removal of the upholstery unit. In particular, the latching means is correspondingly designed for this purpose, to be precise in particular with regard to its shape, material thickness and/or type of material. In this case, a “main removal direction” is to be understood in particular to mean a predetermined removal direction, for example a removal direction predetermined by operating instructions, and/or a removal direction used primarily by an operator, with the main removal direction of the seat component in particular having a fixed orientation relative to the seat component. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, an undesirable detachment can be advantageously avoided by the fastening unit having at least two fastening means which, in the fitted state, have differing main removal directions, i.e. in particular main removal directions which enclose an angle not equal to zero such that, in particular, a composite removal movement results, such as, in particular, a removal movement with a plurality of translatory movements in different directions and/or with at least one translatory movement and a pivoting movement and/or at least two pivoting movements about differing pivot axes. 
         [0011]    If the fastening unit has at least two structurally identical fastening means, the multiplicity of parts and costs can be reduced, and erroneous fittings due to confusing differing fastening means can be prevented. 
         [0012]    If the fastening means has at least two latching arms forming a C-shaped receiving region, an advantageous support, in particular on supporting tubes, can be achieved. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the fastening means has at least one barb-shaped latching arm, as a result of which a secure support can be achieved in a structurally simple manner. 
         [0014]    If the seat component has at least one latching recess, the seat component can be realized in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner, in particular without latching arms. However, it is conceivable also to integrally form latching arms on the seat component and/or to fasten them thereto. 
         [0015]    In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that the seating arrangement has at least one means which, at least in the fitted state, is arranged on the fastening means and has a higher coefficient of friction, in particular coefficient of static friction, than a basic body of the fastening means, as a result of which undesirable slipping and vibration noises can be avoided. In this case, the means with the higher coefficient of friction can be formed by a component which is to be additionally fitted, or it can be integrally formed on the fastening means, for example in a multi-component injection molding process. In addition, it is conceivable to provide a corresponding component, in particular a supporting tube, with a corresponding means. 
         [0016]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the seating apparatus has at least one securing means which is provided in order to retain at least one latching means in its latching position. The securing means is preferably formed by a component which is separate from the latching means, but may also in turn be integrally formed on the latching means and/or on the seat component, and is connected to said latching means and/or said seat component, for example, via a film hinge, as a result of which said securing means could be retained captively on the fastening means or on the seat component. By means of a corresponding securing means, an undesirable detachment of a latching connection can be reliably avoided, to be precise in particular if the securing means itself has at least one latching means via which the securing means in turn can be secured in its securing position. 
         [0017]    The solution according to the invention is suitable for all seats appearing expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as for seats for coaches, ferries, halls, convention halls, but advantageously for vehicle seats and particularly advantageously for aircraft seats. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Further advantages emerge from the description below of the drawing. The drawing illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and put them together to form meaningful further combinations. 
           [0019]    In the drawing: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an aircraft seating apparatus according to the invention in a view obliquely from below, 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section through the aircraft seating apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in a state fitted on two supporting tubes, 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a seat component of the aircraft seating apparatus obliquely from above, 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a fastening means of a fastening unit of the aircraft seating apparatus from  FIG. 1  obliquely from the side, 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the fastening means from  FIG. 4  with a securing means in a side view, and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows an enlarged detail from  FIG. 5  after the securing means is fitted. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  shows an aircraft seating apparatus according to the invention in a view obliquely from below with a seat component  10  formed by a seat base and a fastening unit  12  for fastening the seat component  10 . The fastening unit  12  comprises four structurally identical fastening means  14  which each have four latching means  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  which are provided in order to fasten the seat component  10 . 
         [0027]    In the fitted state, the fastening means  14  is fastened in latching recesses  36  and  38  of the seat component  10  by means of the latching means  16 ,  18 , which are formed by barb-shaped latching arms, while the fastening means  14 , in the fitted state, is fastened by means of the latching means  20 ,  22  to corresponding components  50  and  52  formed by a supporting tube ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  to  6 ). The latching means  20 ,  22  are formed by latching arms which form a C-shaped receiving region for the supporting tube. 
         [0028]    The fastening means  14  is produced in a two-component injection molding process, to be precise the fastening means  14  has a basic body  42  composed of a first plastic and a means  40 , or friction device, which is integrally formed by the two-component injection molding process on an inner side of the latching arms forming the latching means  20 ,  22  and is composed of a second, rubber-like plastic which has a higher coefficient of friction with respect to the supporting tubes than the basic body  42  of the fastening means  14  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 ). By means of the means  40 , a particularly secure support, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the supporting tubes, is advantageously achieved. 
         [0029]    In principle, two fastening means  14  in the front region of the seat component  10  are latched into the front latching recesses  36  and two fastening means  14  in the rear region of the seat component  10  are latched into the rear latching recesses  38 . However, the seat component  10  has more than four latching recesses  36 ,  38 , and therefore also more fastening means  14  can be provided and/or in particular the fastening means  14  can also be arranged at different positions depending on spatial boundary conditions. 
         [0030]    In addition to the fastening unit  12  for fastening the seat component  10  to the supporting tubes, the seating apparatus has a further fastening unit  26  which is provided for fastening an upholstery unit  28  on the seat component  10  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The fastening unit  26  comprises touch-and-close means  24  which are fastened on an upper side of the seat component  10  and interact in the fitted state with touch-and-close means (not illustrated specifically) fastened to the upholstery unit  28 . In the fitted state, the fastening unit  12  of the seat component  10  requires a removal force in the main removal directions  30 ,  32  of the seat component  10  that is approx. 50% greater than a removal force required in a main removal direction  34  of the fastening unit  26  of the upholstery unit  28 , in which direction, as experience has shown, the upholstery unit  28  is generally removed from the seat component  10 . As a result, the main removal directions  30 ,  32  of the seat component  10  arise in the direction in which the latching means  20 ,  22  are substantially uniformly deflected during removal and therefore in the direction in which the fastening means  14  can be decoupled from the supporting tubes with as small a force as possible. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, the invention is based on the finding that the upholstery unit  28  is basically pulled off in the front region of the seat component  10 . On the basis thereof, the seat component  10  is configured in the front region in such a manner that, in the fitted state, the front fastening means  14  have a main removal direction  32  which encloses an angle not equal to zero, preferably greater than 5° and particularly preferably greater than 10°, to the main removal direction  34  of the upholstery unit  28  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0032]    In the fitted state, the front and the rear fastening means  14  have differing main removal directions  30 ,  32  or main removal directions  30 ,  32  which enclose an angle not equal to zero, thereby resulting in fitting and, in particular, in removal which are composed of a plurality of differing fitting and removal movements. 
         [0033]    For the fitting, first of all the fastening means  14  are introduced with their latching means  16 ,  18  into the latching recesses  36 ,  38 , the latching means  16 ,  18  being elastically deflected toward each other and subsequently latching behind edges of the latching recesses  36  and  38 . Between the latching means  16 ,  18 , the fastening means  14  has an extension  58  which, in the fitted state, reaches between wall parts of the seat component  10  and serves to support bearing forces. 
         [0034]    Subsequently, the latching means  16 ,  18  are secured in their latching positions by means of a securing means  44 , or retainer, formed by a U-shaped clamp, as indicated in the rear region in  FIG. 2 . For this purpose, the securing means  44  are introduced by their limbs from a side which faces away from the latching means  20 ,  22  or from a top side of the seat component  10  between the latching means  16 ,  18  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). In order to secure the securing means  44  captively between the latching means  16 ,  18 , said securing means has, on outer sides of its limbs, latching means  46 ,  48  which are formed by extensions and, when the securing means  44  is introduced between the latching means  16 ,  18 , interact with latching means  54 ,  56 , which are integrally formed on inner sides of the latching means  16 ,  18  and are formed by extensions, and latch behind said latching means  54 ,  56 . 
         [0035]    Subsequently, the seat component  10 , substantially oriented horizontally such that the main removal direction  32  which has a fixed orientation relative to the seat component  10  is already substantially aligned vertically, is pressed by the front fastening means  14  substantially in the vertical direction onto the front supporting tube, with the latching means  20 ,  22  being deflected elastically radially outward and subsequently latching by means of a respective subsection, starting from the seat component  10  in the direction of the front supporting tube, behind the same. 
         [0036]    The seat component  10  is subsequently pivoted about the front supporting tube by the rear fastening means  14  in the direction of the rear supporting tube. The rear fastening means  14  are pressed onto the rear supporting tube, with the latching means  20 ,  22  being deflected elastically radially outward and subsequently being latched, by means of a respective subsection, starting from the seat component  10  in the direction of the rear supporting tube, behind the same. Removal takes place in a reverse sequence. When the fastening means  14  are removed from the seat component  10 , the latching means  16 ,  18  are deflected elastically toward each other by hand. 
       REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  Seat component 
               12  Fastening unit 
               14  Fastening means 
               16  Latching means 
               18  Latching means 
               20  Latching means 
               22  Latching means 
               24  Touch-and-close means 
               26  Fastening unit 
               28  Upholstery unit 
               30  Main removal direction 
               32  Main removal direction 
               34  Main removal direction 
               36  Latching recess 
               38  Latching recess 
               40  Means 
               42  Basic body 
               44  Securing means 
               46  Latching means 
               48  Latching means 
               50  Corresponding component 
               52  Corresponding component 
               54  Latching means 
               56  Latching means 
               58  Extension

Technology Classification (CPC): 1