Patent Abstract:
An aircraft passenger seat having a seat bottom, a seat back, and right and left armrests. The arm rests include structural arm rest assemblies for attachment to the seat bottom, and arm rests for being removably-positioned on the structural arm rest panels. Upholstery shrouds are adapted for being positioned on and covering the right and left arm rests. The shrouds are easily removed and installed as needed.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/893,451, filed Oct. 21, 2013, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a removable arm rest shroud for aircraft passenger seats. 
     Seating arm rest boxes are typically manufactured from either a Comex panel, aluminum honeycomb, or machined aluminum for aircraft applications. The invention of this application allows for a panel and support structure to be attached to the aircraft seat frame. A box-like structure, i.e., a “shroud”, is then inserted over the top, covering the structural arm rest, and having connection points that snap, click, or fit into place while attaching it permanently with a screw at some location below the seat cushion mark. This structure allows the upholstery of the arm rest shroud to be structurally separate from the seat upholstery of the seat bottom, seat back and head rest. This can reduce the amount of time and the complexity presently required to upholster a complete seat. 
     Designing, manufacturing, and assembling the seat in this manner allow the upholstery of the arm rest shroud to be a separate, removable component. In addition, the separately movable shroud allows for repairs to be made after the seat has been delivered and installed without removing the seat from the aircraft. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an aircraft seat manufactured such that an internal arm rest structure is attached to a seat frame which provides structural integrity of the arm rest. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an aircraft seat with an arm rest shroud that has an inside panel, outside panel, top panel, forward panel, and rear panel forming a box with an open bottom. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an aircraft seat with an arm rest shroud that has an open bottom that allows the shroud to be slipped over the structural panel and attached to the structural arm rest. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an aircraft seat with an arm rest shroud that is simple to remove, in that the shroud can lift up over the structural arm rest and be upholstered and then installed back onto the structural arm rest in the same manner. 
     According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a seat having a seat bottom, a seat back, a head rest and a leg rest is mounted on a seat frame, and includes a right hand arm rest panel and a left hand arm rest panel mounted to respective right and left hand sides of the seat frame, and a right hand arm rest assembly positioned over the right hand arm rest panel. A left hand arm rest assembly is positioned over the left hand arm rest panel. The right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly include an upholstered surface. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly each include an outer shroud and an inner arm rest support that are nested together to form a hollow structure that fits over respective right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the seat frame includes a pair of outwardly-extending right hand arm rest braces and a pair of outwardly extending left hand arm rest braces, and the right hand inner arm rest support and the left hand inner arm rest support each have attachment members adapted to cooperate with the respective arm rest braces to mount the right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the right hand and left hand arm rest braces are vertically-oriented, and the attachment members have cut-outs in the right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel that are adapted to fit over and be supported by the respective right hand and left hand arm rest braces. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the right hand arm rest panel and the left hand arm rest panel each include a support plate positioned on an upper extent to support the respective a right hand arm rest assembly and left hand arm rest assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, a seat is provided having a seat bottom, a seat back, a head rest and a leg rest mounted on a seat frame, and includes a right hand arm rest panel and a left hand arm rest panel mounted to respective right and left hand sides of the seat frame. A right hand arm rest assembly is positioned over the right hand arm rest panel, and a left hand arm rest assembly is positioned over the left hand arm rest panel. The right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly includes an upholstered surface. The right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly are each provided with an outer shroud and an inner arm rest support that are nested together to form a hollow structure that fits over respective right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel. The seat frame includes a pair of outwardly-extending right hand arm rest braces and a pair of outwardly extending left hand arm rest braces. The right hand inner arm rest support and the left hand inner arm rest support each have attachment members adapted to cooperate with the respective arm rest braces to mount the right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel. The right hand and left hand arm rest braces are vertically-oriented, and the attachment members include cut-outs in the right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel that are adapted to fit over and be supported by the respective right hand and left hand arm rest braces. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the right hand arm rest panel and the left hand arm rest panel each include a support plate positioned on an upper extent to support the respective a right hand arm rest assembly and left hand arm rest assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, a method of providing arm rests for passenger seats that are removable for repair or replacement is provided, and includes the steps of providing a seat that includes a seat bottom, a seat back, a head rest and a leg rest mounted on a seat frame, a right hand arm rest panel and a left hand arm rest panel mounted to respective right and left hand sides of the seat frame, a right hand arm rest assembly positioned over the right hand arm rest panel, and a left hand arm rest assembly positioned over the left hand arm rest panel. The right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly include an upholstered surface. The right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly each include an outer shroud and an inner arm rest support that are nested together to form a hollow structure. The method steps also include providing an upholstery cover for the outer shrouds, and installing the right hand arm rest assembly and the left hand arm rest assembly over the respective right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the seat frame includes a plurality of outwardly-extending right hand arm rest braces and a plurality of outwardly extending left hand arm rest braces, and the right hand inner arm rest support and the left hand inner arm rest support each have attachment members adapted to cooperate with the respective arm rest braces to mount the right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the right hand and left hand arm rest braces are vertically-oriented, and the attachment members have cut-outs in the right hand arm rest panel and left hand arm rest panel that are adapted to fit over and be supported by the respective right hand and left hand arm rest braces. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the right hand arm rest panel and the left hand arm rest panel each include a support plate positioned on an upper extent to support the respective a right hand arm rest assembly and left hand arm rest assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of invention, the method includes the step of removing the right hand arm rest assembly and left hand arm rest assembly from the respective right hand arm rest panel and the left hand arm rest panel by lifting the right hand arm rest assembly and left hand arm rest assembly vertically upwardly from the respective right hand arm rest panel and the left hand arm rest panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The present invention is best understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seat according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the seat shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the arm rest shell assembly attachment to the arm rest panel assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an arm rest panel according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the seat showing attachment of the arm rest panel to the seat structure; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the right hand side arm rest shell assembly and arm rest shroud before assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing installation of the left hand arm rest shell and shroud over the arm rest panel; and 
         FIG. 7  is a partial, exploded perspective view showing the back rest shell assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings, a seat  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and includes right hand and left hand arm rest assemblies  12  and  14 , a back rest assembly  16 , a head rest assembly  18 , and a back rest beam  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the head rest assembly  18  mounts to the top of the back rest assembly  16 , and the back rest assembly  16  is positioned over the back rest beam  20 . The right hand arm rest assembly  12  slides down over a right hand arm rest panel  22 . In the same manner, the left hand arm rest assembly  14  slides downwardly over a left hand arm rest panel  48 , as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Seat  10  also includes a seat pan  30  and a leg rest  32  mounted for selective movement between a retracted position, as shown, and an outward and upwardly-extended deployed use position. The seat  10  includes legs  34  adapted with feet for being attached to track fittings mounted into the deck of the aircraft. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the right hand arm rest panel  22  includes an arm rest support plate  40  that is located at the top end of the right hand arm rest panel  22  and extends laterally inwardly to provide weight-bearing support. The arm rest panel  22  is fabricated of a flame-resistant meta-aramid material, such as sold by DuPont under the registered trademark Comex. The arm rest panel  22  includes appropriate access holes  42  to receive fasteners, such as fasteners  44 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the left hand arm rest panel  48  is mounted to seat frame  50  by attachment with fasteners  54  to arm rest braces  56  carried by the seat frame  50 . The right hand arm rest panel  22  is mounted to the seat frame  50  in the same manner. See  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the arm rest assembly  12  is formed from a shroud  60  and an arm rest support  70 . The shroud  60  includes a pocket  62  for providing the seat occupant with a place to store a mobile phone or other electronics, magazines or small clothing or other personal items. The aim rest support  70  is attached to the arm rest panel  22 . A flange  72  on the top of the arm rest support  70  supports the top of the arm rest shroud  60 . Holes  74  are formed to provide weight reduction, and an opening  76  on the forward end of the arm rest support  70  permits installation of the seat controls. An opening  78  permits installation of push buttons to activate the seat pan  30 , leg rest  32  and back rest  16  recline mechanisms. Tapered cut-outs  80 ,  82  at the bottom of the arm rest support  70  are provided for ease of installation of the shroud  60  over the arm rest support  70 . 
     After the right and left hand arm rest panels  22  and  48  have been mounted on the frame  50 , and the right and left hand arm rest assemblies  12  and  14  have been assembled as illustrated, the right hand arm rest assembly  12 , which includes the shroud  60 , is mounted onto the right hand arm rest support  70 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The right hand arm rest assembly  12  is shown already in its use position, and the left arm rest panel assembly  14  is shown as it is being lowered onto the left hand arm rest panel  48 . 
     The back rest assembly  16  includes a back rest cover  90 , and head rest guide and bezel  92 , together with right hand and left hand back rest frames  94  and  96 . Holes  98  are used to assemble with the back rest beam  20 , which is part of the seat frame  50 . The back rest assembly  16  also includes rivet holes  100 , weight reduction holes  102 . The back rest frames  94  and  96  include flanges  94 A,  96 A on which upholstery is mounted. Weight reduction holes  94 B,  96 B, respectively, are also provided in the back rest frames  94  and  96 . In the same manner described above, a removable shroud, not shown, may be provided for being positioned over the seat back for removal, repair or replacement as required. 
     A removable arm rest shroud for aircraft seating according to the invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and 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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8