Abstract:
Seats and components thereof are addressed. The seats typically, although not necessarily, are intended for use in passenger vehicles and may include any or all of tray tables, beverage holders, arm rests, and hand rails. Beverage containers may include gimbals and supports for versatility and greater effectiveness, while tray tables may include hinged sections for supporting objects other than by providing solely a horizontal base. Lighting forming part of a tilt mechanism for the video monitor of in-flight entertainment equipment may illuminate the tray table. Arm rests may include multiple components and either pivot about multiple points or both translate and pivot, permitting them to move downward from nominal use positions. Hand rails, additionally, may be designed and placed to facilitate their being grasped by passengers traversing aisles of vehicles in which associated seats are located.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is based on and hereby refers to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/776,968, filed Feb. 27, 2006, having the same title as appears above, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to seats and components thereof, including but not limited to tray tables, beverage holders, arm rests, and hand rails, and more particularly (although not exclusively) to aircraft passenger seats with improved characteristics for, among other things, enhanced comfort and convenience.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,421 to Brennan, et al. are existing aircraft seats with various conventional components. Illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7 of the Brennan patent is a typical tray table adapted to deploy from the rear face of the seat in front of the user. Such table may assume either of two positions: (1) a horizontal position parallel to the deck on which the seats are mounted (when the table is in use) and (2) a vertical position substantially perpendicular to the deck for when the table is stowed. No beverage holder or hand rail appears as part of any seat depicted in the Brennan patent, and the arm rests either are fixed in position or pivot solely upward from their nominal positions of FIG. 1 of the patent.  
         [0004]     Described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,593 to Lambiaso is an alternative aircraft seat in which a tray table is stowed in a cavity within an arm rest. Again, however, the table is adapted for placement only horizontally (for use) or vertically (for stowage). Further, although a cover of the arm rest may pivot to allow access to the cavity, the position of the remainder of the arm is fixed relative to the seating deck. No beverage holder is detailed in the Lambiaso patent, nor does any reference to a hand rail appear.  
         [0005]     Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,994 to Bentley, et al., finally, also discloses improved seats useful by passengers of vehicles. Unlike conventional tray tables, those associated with these seats are designed to be adjusted upward and downward when in a horizontal position for use. Additionally, an upper section of these tables, which normally rests atop a horizontally-deployed base, may pivot between horizontal and vertical positions and thereby function “as a non-horizontal rest for books, magazines, computers, or other objects.” Like the Brennan and Lambiaso patents, the Bentley patent does not illustrate any beverage holder or hand rail, and the arm rests depicted in the patent preferably do not move independently of the seat frame (although their covers may pivot to allow access to tray tables stored within). Nevertheless, the contents of the Brennan, Lambiaso, and Bentley patents are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention, by contrast, incorporates a beverage container and a hand rail into a passenger seat. It additionally may include arm rests adapted to move downward from a nominal position, either to be essentially flush with a seat bottom or to be positioned between the seat bottom and the deck on which the seat is mounted. Portions of a tray table, further, may tilt as desired, as may the in-flight entertainment (IFE) equipment, with one or more reading lights installed as part of the tilt mechanism for the IFE equipment (or in an extendable portion of a seat back) designed to project downward onto the table. By so positioning the reading lights, adverse effects of their illumination on the picture provided by a seat-back video monitor may be reduced or eliminated.  
         [0007]     The beverage holder of the invention may support not only cups, cans, bottles, or other beverage containers, but also at least some other objects or containers. A preferred holder is designed to fit into a recess in the underside of the tray table so that it is accessible when the table is in its (generally vertical) stowed position. Included in the holder may be a collar to which both a gimbal and a support bar are attached, with the collar pivoting outward from the recess toward the passenger for use. Utilizing the gimbal permits the beverage or other object to be maintained substantially upright regardless of the position of the associated seat back, with the support bar supporting the object at its bottom.  
         [0008]     Hand rails of the present invention advantageously may be placed on some or all seats adjoining an aisle of the vehicle deck on which they are located. These rails typically will be located in upper portions of seat backs so that they may readily be grasped by passengers traversing the aisles of the vehicle. Preferred versions of the rails are offset in the seat back so as to be closer to the aisle, facilitating their being grasped by traversing passengers both regardless of the recline of the seat back and during periods of turbulence (if installed in aircraft or, perhaps, watercraft) when the seat and aisle are moving vertically relative to the ground.  
         [0009]     Whereas existing pivoting arm rests typically consist of single-piece arms pivoting about single points, those of the present invention may include multiple pieces with either multiple pivot points or able both to translate and pivot. Consequently, greater flexibility of movement exists in arm rests of the invention. In particular, in one version of the arm rests with multiple pivot points, the rests may be repositioned more or less horizontally—essentially flush with seat bottoms, while in a dual translating/pivoting and other versions, the rests may be repositioned more or less vertically, between forward portions of seat bottoms and the vehicle deck.  
         [0010]     Tray tables of the invention may include a hinged section so as to provide support for books or other objects positioned other than substantially horizontally to the deck. The hinged section preferably is the center portion of the table, although those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other portions may be hinged as well or instead. This arrangement avoids any need for the separate upper sections and bases disclosed in the Bentley patent. A pull-out handle or other device incorporating a reading light may be positioned in the IFE equipment or seat back above the table but below any video monitor of the IFE present in the seat back. By pulling the handle and activating the light, a passenger may cause light to be projected downward onto the table without disrupting the quality of the video presentation from the monitor.  
         [0011]     It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats, and components of seats, for vehicles (including, but not limited to, passenger aircraft).  
         [0012]     It also is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats into which holders for beverage containers (or other objects) are incorporated.  
         [0013]     It additionally is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats having hand rails, particularly (although not exclusively) when the seats are installed in vehicles subject to significant rapid vertical movement relative to the ground (or sea).  
         [0014]     It is, furthermore, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats in which arm rests are adapted to move down, rather than up, from a nominal use position.  
         [0015]     It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats in which arm rests include multiple pieces adapted either to pivot about multiple points or both to pivot and translate.  
         [0016]     It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats having tiltable sections of tray tables for supporting objects other than by simply providing a horizontal base.  
         [0017]     It is yet another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide seats having lighting assemblies adapted to project light onto the tray tables without adversely impacting quality of video pictures provided by video monitors installed in the seats.  
         [0018]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate aspects of a beverage holder consistent with the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a series of passenger seats consistent with the present invention, with a seat intended to be placed adjacent an aisle of a vehicle including a hand rail.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  depicts, schematically, a seat including an arm rest of the present invention designed to pivot about multiple points for stowage between the bottom of the seat and the deck to which the seat is mounted.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  depicts, again schematically, a seat including an alternate arm rest adapted to be stowed substantially flush with the seat bottom.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates in schematic form a seat with yet another alternate arm rest which both pivots and translates.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 8-9  depict arm rest assemblies similar to that of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 10-11  illustrate seats having tray tables consistent with the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  depicts exemplary IFE equipment, including a mechanism for tilting a video monitor, consistent with the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  illustrates the tilt mechanism of the IFE equipment of  FIG. 12  projecting light onto a tray table. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Detailed in  FIGS. 1-3  is underside  10  of tray table  14  which may form part of the present invention. Table  14 , which may also comprise face  18  (see  FIGS. 10-11 ), advantageously is adapted to extend rearward from rear  22  of the back  26  of a seat S for use by the occupant of a seat immediately to the rear of seat S. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  10 - 11 , table  14  may connect to seat S using arms  30 . It further may fit into recess R 1  in back  26  when stowed in a substantially vertical position and pivot about an axis along edge E and intersecting arms  30  to assume a substantially horizontal position for use.  
         [0029]     Present in underside  10  is recess R 2 . Fitted into recess R 2  is holder  34 , designed principally for holding cans, bottles, cups, or other containers for beverages. The function of holder  34  is not so limited, however, as the holder  34  may receive and support objects other than beverage containers.  
         [0030]     Included as part of holder  34  are collar  38 , gimbal  42 , and support bar  46 . Collar  38  is designed to move between a stowed position (in which, as detailed in  FIG. 1 , holder  34  is fitted into recess R 2 ) and a deployed position (as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ). Although any mechanism may be used to allow such movement, collar  38  preferably contains pins fitted into opening in walls  50  of recess R 2 , allowing collar  38  to pivot about an axis intersecting the pins and openings.  
         [0031]     Both gimbal  42  and support bar  46  are connected to collar  38  so as to permit their movement relative to collar  38 . For example, when holder  34  is deployed, gravity causes support bar  46  to travel below collar  38 , so that it may serve as a support for the lower surface of an object. Gimbal  42 , further, may rotate within collar  38 , allowing the received object to remain in an upright position regardless of whether seat back  26  is upright or reclined.  FIG. 3  illustrates an object in the form of can C placed into holder  34  and supported by support bar  46 ; as shown in the figure, gimbal  42  is oriented in a different plane than collar  38  so as to offset effects of seat back  26  having been reclined.  
         [0032]     In preferred embodiments of holder  34 , gimbal  42  has circular cross-section and protruding pins  48  positioned one hundred eighty degrees apart around its circumference. These pins  48  are received by openings in depending legs  52  and collar  38  so as to connect support bar  46  and gimbal  42  to the collar  38 . Alternatively, collar  38  may comprise pins received by openings in both legs  52  and gimbal  42 . Other manners of connecting components of holder  34  may be envisioned as well by those skilled in the relevant field.  
         [0033]     Depicted in  FIG. 4  is an exemplary hand rail  54  of the present invention. Hand rail  54  typically (although not necessarily) will extend upward from upper portion  58  of back  26  of a seat S adjacent an aisle of a vehicle. In this position, it may be grasped readily as needed by passengers traversing the aisle. Function of hand rail  54  is not so limited, however, as it also may be used by, for example, passengers intending to occupy seats in a row either in which seat S is positioned or immediately behind the row containing seat S to facilitate their ingress into and egress from their respective rows.  
         [0034]     Preferred versions of hand rail  54  are offset from a vertical centerline CL of seat back  26 , positioned toward the aisle of the corresponding vehicle. Hand rail  54  additionally may be asymmetrically shaped. As shown in  FIG. 4 , hand rail  54  may provide greater grasping clearance above upper portion  58  closer to the vehicle aisle, adding to its convenience to passengers traversing the aisle. Embodiments of hand rail  54  consistent with  FIG. 4  further may include two ends  62  and  66 , each of which may be connected to upper portion  58  to strengthen the attachment.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates one type of moveable arm rest  70  of the present invention. Arm rest  70  usually (but not necessarily) will be positioned between two seats S and intended to be used commonly by occupants (if present) of both such seats S. At times, however, use of arm rest  70  is not desired by the seat occupant or occupants, who instead prefer that it be moved to an unobtrusive location. Consequently, arm rest  70  is designed to drop forward and down below seat bottom  74  of seat S, ultimately resting between seat bottom  74  and the deck D to which seat S is mounted.  
         [0036]     The embodiment of arm rest  70  shown in  FIG. 5  comprises post  78  and arm support  82 . In use, arm support  82  is oriented generally horizontally so as to support some or all of a forearm or elbow of an occupant of a seat S. Arm support  82  is connected to or adjacent first end  86  of post  78 , which extends above seat bottom  74  to space arm support  82  therefrom. Second end  90  of post  78  typically connects to frame  94  of seat S.  
         [0037]     Connections at or adjacent both first and second ends  86  and  90 , respectively, permit movement of the connected components. Consequently, arm support  82  may pivot about a point at its connection with first end  86 , while second end  90  may pivot about a point at its connection to a forward portion of frame  94 . Preferably (albeit not necessarily), arm support  82  rotates clockwise as it pivots and post  78  rotates counterclockwise as it pivots. Regardless of movement directions, however, arm support  82  may move from a (more or less) perpendicular orientation relative to post  78  to a (more or less) parallel position relative thereto, and both arm support and post  78  may be moved from a position principally above seat bottom  74  to a position principally below the bottom  74 . In a preferred resting position, both arm support  83  and post  78  are oriented generally vertically and located in an area between seat bottom  74  and deck D.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 6 and 8 - 9  detail an alternative arm rest  98  useful for a seat S. Like rest  70 , arm rest  98  includes a post  102  and an arm support  106  connected thereto, with post  102  spacing arm support  106  above seat bottom  74  for use (see  FIGS. 6 and 8 ). However, unlike post  78 , post  102  beneficially connects to frame  94  near the joinder of seat back  26  and seat bottom  74 . Such beneficial connection near the joinder of back  26  and bottom  74  is not mandatory, though, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize other configurations as being permissible as well.  
         [0039]     As is true for rest  70 , arm support  106  is moveable relative to post  102  and post  102  is moveable relative to frame  94 . Although arm support  106  remains substantially horizontal throughout its movement, post  102  is designed to move from a more vertical orientation ( FIG. 6  and  8 ) to a more horizontally-oriented position ( FIG. 9 ). In this latter position, arm support  106  is generally flush with (or, perhaps, even below the level of) seat bottom  74 , reducing its obtrusiveness for any occupants of seats S not desiring its use. Additionally, at least some versions of arm support  106  may assume one or more positions intermediate those illustrated respectively in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . If means are utilized to lock arm support  106  in these intermediate positions, support  106  effectively may be lowered and raised to a height desired by an occupant of an associated seat S.  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  depicts yet another arm rest  110  consistent with the present invention. Similar to rests  70  and  98 , arm rest  110  comprises at least post  114  and arm support  118  connected to an end thereof. Like post  102  of rest  98 , furthermore, post  114  may be positioned adjacent the joinder of seat back  26  and seat bottom  74  when arm rest  110  is in use. Although it may do so if necessary, arm support  118  need not move relative to post  114 , however. Instead, post  114  may translate forward within and then pivot with respect to frame  94 , moving from a generally vertically-oriented position adjacent the intersection of seat back  26  and seat bottom  74  to a generally horizontal position toward the front portion of frame  94 . Because arm support  118  is fixed to post  114 , it too translates forward and then rotates to a generally vertical position between bottom  74  and deck D.  
         [0041]     Tray table  14  shown in  FIGS. 10-11  may comprise peripheral sections  122 A and  122 B and central section  126 . As shown particularly in  FIG. 11 , central section  126  may move relative to peripheral sections  122 A and  122 B; it may, for example, pivot along a rod connecting sections  122 A,  122 B, and  126  at or near edge R (which is opposite edge E), whereas the positions of sections  122 A and  122 B relative to the rod are fixed. Preferably, central section  126  is adapted to pivot solely at or above the level of sections  122 A and  122 B, although conceivably it could pivot below sections  122 A and  122  if desired.  
         [0042]     A ratchet or any other suitable mechanism may be used to latch central section  126  in a particular position; as shown in  FIG. 11 , central section  126  may be latched in an upwardly-oriented position so as to support, for example, a book or magazine. Alternatively, central section  126  may remain in (or be returned to) an unpivoted position so that its portion of face  18  is flush with the portions of face  18  provided by sections  122 A and  122 B (as appears in  FIG. 10 ). Section  126  need not necessarily be centrally located within tray table  14 , however, and more than one section of the table  14  may move if desired to achieve other objectives.  
         [0043]     Illustrated in  FIGS. 12-13  are portions of IFE equipment  150 . Equipment  150  may comprise video monitor  154  together with one or more controls  158  and a housing  160  therefor. Equipment  150  additionally may be mounted onto or otherwise connected to or in the back of a seat.  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , equipment  150  additionally may include generally L-shaped plate  162  to which handle  166  is attached or integrally formed. Plate  162  typically provides a mechanism for mounting housing  160  to or in a seat back. Housing  160  preferably connects to plate  162  in any manner allowing the housing  160  and plate  162  to pivot together relative to the seat back.  FIGS. 12-13  illustrate a mounting arrangement including one or more brackets  168  and pins  170 , although other pivot-permitting mounting mechanisms may be used instead.  
         [0045]     Positioned on or in underside  172  of base  176  of plate  162  is lighting assembly  180 . Assembly  180  advantageously comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) within transparent or translucent cover  184 . Those skilled in the relevant art will, however, recognize that light sources other than LEDs may be utilized instead. Controls for the light sources of assembly  180 , such as dimmer switch  188  and power switch  192 , may if desired be present in or on handle  166 .  
         [0046]     Assembly  180 , if energized, may illuminate tray table  196  regardless of the position of housing  160  relative to the seat back to or in which it is mounted. Preferably, though, a passenger manually may grasp or contact handle  166  and pull the handle  166  toward him or her, so that equipment  150  is positioned generally as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 13 . In this tilted position, assembly  180  illuminates a central area A of tray table  196  without impacting quality of presentation from video monitor  154 .  
         [0047]     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing exemplary embodiments and certain benefits of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to the illustrated and described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Additionally, although objects described herein are designed principally for use in, with, or as part of aircraft seats, any or all of them may be used in, with, or as part of other seats (vehicular or otherwise) or for other purposes as appropriate or desired.