Abstract:
A seating arrangement in a vehicle compartment and particularly in an airplane cabin, includes a cabin floor with a carrier structure underneath, with at least two passenger seats, which are separated from each other by a gap. The seats include a table device in front of each seat, including a table top that can be folded down, wherein each seat includes a seat frame, which is connected to the carrier structure beneath the cabin floor of the airplane cabin, a seat cushion that is connected to the seat frame, and a backrest that is connected to the seat frame. In order to allow for a flexible and generous distribution of the seats in the cabin for the travel time and a pleasant ambiance for eating a meal together, the table device includes a table base, which is connected to the carrier structure beneath the cabin floor and is arranged such that it is generally located at the same distance from the seats of a group of seats and the table top of the table device is in front of both seats when folded down.

Description:
This application is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2007/061919 filed 6 Nov. 2007, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to Germany Application No. 10 2006 052 536.1 filed 6 Nov. 2006, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The disclosed embodiment relates to seating for a vehicle cabin and more particularly an aircraft cabin according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     BACKGROUND 
     Since people are travelling increasingly greater distances on airlines and the flights are lasting longer and longer without using an intermediate stop the provision of comfort on these journeys is becoming more and more important. More particularly the demand is thereby rising for seating of a high-quality standard which also makes it possible to offer passengers excellent catering at their seat. These demands are not met by the seating in cabins which is known up until now. Thus in present day aircraft layouts passengers are restricted in their freedom of movement and particularly in the freedom of their arms since for capacity reasons the seats are arranged relatively close together both side by side and one behind the other 
     From EP 0 850 834 a fully adjustable reclining seat is known which can be moved and/or turned from a day position into a night time position. In the night time position the seat can be fully extended into the unused gangway. In the fully extended position the backrest can be brought into a horizontal position and the leg rest can be completely extended in order to allow the passengers a more peaceful sleep in the horizontal position. 
     In US 2005/087650 a cabin seat arrangement is described which has front and back seats and is intended for aircraft. The backrests and seat cushions can thereby be folded and moved inside a frame so that together with the opposing cushions they form a flat sleeping place for passengers. 
     In EP 0 825 108 a seat system is described for aircraft passengers wherein a seating group has a frame for anchoring in the floor as well as armrest elements and backrest and seat cushions which are movable relative to the frame so that four sitting positions and a folded position with three sitting positions can be set. 
     From EP 1 211 176 a passenger cabin is known in which the passenger seats are formed as individual seats on the outside wall whereby during takeoff and landing they are aligned forwards in a substantially longitudinal direction of the aircraft whilst during the flight phase they can be arranged in a position turned inwards in the direction of the centre axis of the cabin. 
     Particularly in the catering area of an aircraft the hitherto serving and attending to the passengers has up until now proceeded within very narrow limits, namely during the flight the alignment of the seats for the passengers remains fixedly preset in one direction. 
     Conversation with seat neighbours is possible only very restrictedly, and thus there is also no ambience allowed in which passengers have a sense of well being. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is the object of the disclosed embodiment to provide seating for high-class aircraft cabins which overcomes the said drawbacks of the prior art and which permits a flexible and generously-sized division of the seats in the cabin for the actual journey time and an acceptable ambience for shared dining. 
     This is achieved through the seating according to claim  1 . Preferred aspects of the disclosed embodiment form the subject of the dependent claims 
     The idea on which the disclosed embodiment is based consists in arranging the individual seats at a certain distance from one another wherein this distance corresponds roughly in particular to a seat width. Furthermore a folding table unit is mounted in front of each two adjacent seats which in the unfolded state offers table space for at least two seats. In particular aspects of the disclosed embodiment the seats and the table units are each able to rotate about a vertical axis, and seating groups can be formed having two or four individual seats and one common table. 
     The seating according to the disclosed embodiment for a vehicle cabin and more particularly an aircraft cabin which has a cabin floor with a support structure underneath, with:
         at least two seats for passengers which are separated from one another by an intermediate space, and   each one table unit in front of each of the seats which comprises an unfolding table top,   wherein each seat comprises:
           a seat frame which is fixed on the support structure underneath the cabin floor of the aircraft cabin,   a seat cushion which is fixed on the seat frame,   a backrest which is fixed on the seat frame, wherein   
           the table unit comprises a table pedestal socket which is fixed on the support structure underneath the cabin floor and is arranged so that it has substantially the same distance from each two seats of one seating group.       

     In a preferred embodiment the seating according to the disclosed embodiment has as a single feature—or insofar as technically possible and expedient—as combined features, that:
         the seat frame of each seat is capable of rotation about an in particular central vertical axis so that the seat can be turned in particular about 90.degree. or 180.degree.;   the seat or the at least two seats of one seating group is or are displaceable sideways and/or forwards and backwards;   the table pedestal socket is capable of rotation about an in particular central vertical axis;   the table pedestal socket is capable of displacement sideways and/or forwards and backwards;   the table pedestal socket is off-set forwards relative to the at least two seats of one seating group so that the lateral spacing of the two seats from one another is substantially one and a half times as big as the distance of the table pedestal socket from one of the seats;   one seating group comprises four seats which are separated from one another by a first intermediate spacing sideways and a second intermediate spacing in the viewing direction, and the table pedestal socket is arranged symmetrically between the four seats so that its distance from each of the seats is substantially the same size;   the table pedestal socket comprises a table top on each of the two opposite sides;   the table top comprises several plate segments which are each connected to one another for articulated movement;   the distance between two seats corresponds substantially to one seat width.       

     One of several advantages of the seating according to the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that travel groups of up to four persons can travel together and dine together. However two or three persons can also be combined into one group, and the composition of one travel group can change during the course of the journey, for which only one or more seats have to be turned round towards the corresponding tables. 
     Further advantages and features of the disclosed embodiment are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows in a side view a seat arrangement according to the prior art; 
         FIGS. 2A to 2D  show in side and perspective views a table unit according to the disclosed embodiment in the folded-away and unfolded positions with one and two table tops respectively; 
         FIG. 3  shows a swivel seat according to the disclosed embodiment in perspective view; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4D  show the seating according to the disclosed embodiment of the vehicle cabin in different configurations. 
     
    
    
     The drawings are not true to scale. The same or similar acting elements are provided with the same reference numerals. By seating is meant in this application the entire internal fittings of a vehicle cabin for passengers, i.e. the seats and the tables as well as the relevant associated components and fittings. The essential aspect of the following description is thereby the arrangement of the individual seats in the cabin. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows in side view a typical arrangement of seats for passengers in an aircraft, of which two seats  1  are illustrated. The seats  1  are anchored on the floor  2  of the cabin so that they cannot slip, more particularly cannot slip during the high accelerations arising during take-off and landing of the aircraft. The seats  1  each comprise a seat frame  3  which is fixed on the floor  2 , as well as a seat cushion  4  with backrest  5  and armrests  6  wherein the two rests are fixed either directly or indirectly on the frame  3 . The seats are thereby as a rule not fixed on the floor  2  itself but on a support structure lying underneath the cabin floor  2 . 
     Several seats  1  are brought together into rows (not shown) and several rows are arranged one behind the other. Whilst the seats of the same row can be arranged directly next to one another the rows have a distance from one another which enables the passengers to get into and out of their seat places from the aisle (not shown). Furthermore through the adequate distance between the rows it is possible to provide a small foldaway table  7  on which meals can be served or which serves as a shelf or tray for personal items of the passenger, such as indicated in  FIG. 1  by a drinking vessel by way of example. This foldaway table  7  is in the case of present-day aircraft passenger seats a table top which is fixed by a frame on the seat in front of the respective passenger. When necessary the foldaway table  7  is unfolded and when it is no longer required it can be stowed away again in the back part of the seat in front. 
     In the next generation “premium class” for airline passengers the seats have more space so that a certain distance found to be more acceptable between the individual seat neighbours can also be provided. However the distance from the relevant seat in front is also to be increased so that getting in and out of the seat can be undertaken without effort and is possible without disturbing the seat neighbour. The increased distance from the seat in front makes it impractical however to integrate a foldaway table of the known type into the seat in front since this would have to be provided with over-proportionally extending arms and would thus be difficult to handle. 
     According to the disclosed embodiment therefore an autonomous table is proposed which can be arranged independently of a seat freely in the passenger cell, more particularly in the flight passenger cabin provided this is compatible with the support structure which is located underneath the cabin floor  2 . A first embodiment of such a table module  8  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2A  this first embodiment of the table module  8  is shown perspectively in the folded-away position. The table unit  8  comprises a table pedestal socket  9  and a fold-out table top  10 . In the illustrated folded-away position the table top  10  is completely housed in the pedestal socket  9  so that it has no more protruding elements and thus represents no danger to persons passing by. Furthermore when folded away the table unit  8  is scarcely visible and thus fits well into the overall fittings of the cabin. 
       FIG. 2B  shows the table unit  8  when it has been unfolded. Here the table top  10  is brought into the horizontal position so that it can serve as a tray surface for meals, drinks or even articles of any kind. In the illustrated embodiment the table top  10  consists of two segments, namely a first table top segment  11  and a second table top segment  12  wherein the first table top segment  11  fits directly on the pedestal socket  9  of the table unit  8 . The second table top segment  12  is connected to the first table top segment  11  for articulated movement by means of an intermediate joint  13 . Thus on the one hand this produces a satisfactory length for the table top  10  and on the other hand it is ensured that when folded away the table top can be completely taken in by the pedestal socket  9 . For this the pedestal socket  9  has a correspondingly deep storage compartment  9   a  in which the table top  10  can be stowed. Determining the depth of the compartment  9   a , the manner of locking the table top against accidental opening and the design of the intermediate joint  13  are well known to the person skilled in this field and will therefore not be explained in further detail. 
     It is self-evident that where necessary only one segment  11  is unfolded whilst the other segment  12  is folded in, i.e. remains underneath the first segment  11 . 
     Whereas the embodiment of the table unit  8  according to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  only has a table top on one side, in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  an embodiment of the table is shown wherein the table pedestal socket is divided into two and has a first table pedestal socket  14  and a second table pedestal socket  15  which each only house one table top each. As can be seen from the side view in  FIG. 2C , with this embodiment the table unit  8  comprises one table top  16  and  17  on each of its two opposite sides. The first table top  16  is attached to the first table pedestal socket  14  and similar to the embodiment according to  FIG. 1A  comprises a first table top segment  11  directly adjoining the pedestal socket  14  and a second table top segment  12  adjoining the first table top segment  11  wherein the connection is undertaken through an intermediate joint  13 . In the same way the second table top  17  is attached to the second table pedestal socket  15  and likewise comprises a first table top segment  11  directly adjoining the pedestal socket  15  and a second table top segment  12  adjoining the first table top segment  11  wherein the connection is undertaken through an intermediate joint  13 . For better illustration this embodiment is shown again in perspective in  FIG. 2D , likewise in the unfolded position. In  FIG. 2D  it is furthermore indicated by a vertical axis  29  that the table is capable of rotating about this vertical axis  29 . The advantages of this possibility will become clear further on in connection with  FIG. 4 . The axis  29  preferably runs down the middle, i.e. centrally through the table unit  8  so that during rotation around this axis it does not automatically also lead to (undesired) translation and thus the distance of the table from the surrounding seats changes during a rotation. 
       FIG. 3  shows a swivel seat  18  for the seating according to the disclosed embodiment in a passenger cabin. The swivel seat  18  has a seat anchor  19  with which the swivel seat  18  is screwed in rails  20  underneath the floor  2  of the cabin. The swivel seat  18  can thereby be moved forwards and backwards in the rails  20 , as is indicated by the double arrow. It is furthermore possible to slide the seat  18  in a lateral direction if the seat anchor  19  per se has a corresponding adjustment feature (not shown). The swivel seat  18  comprises moreover components which are analogous to those of the seat according to the prior art in  FIG. 1 . These components are a seat surface  21 , a seat back  22 , which is connected indirectly or directly to the seat surface  21 , as well as a neck rest  23  at the upper end of the seat back  22 . Furthermore side rests  24  are provided in which in particular control elements (not shown) for seat adjustment and also entertainment program controls can be integrated. 
     The actual seat components  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  are mounted on a turntable  25  which is fixed rotatable on the seat anchor  19 . The seat  18  illustrated in  FIG. 3  thus differs from the seat  1  in  FIG. 1  in that it is capable of rotation—analogous with the table unit  8 —so that it can be turned round in particular 90.degree. or 180.degree. The passenger can thus face his seat neighbour or even the passenger seated behind him. With the “sliding carousel understructure”  19 ,  25  described above it is moreover possible to change the distance between the seats, and thus in the case of the seat  18  maximum flexibility is reached with the displacement possibilities. This is particularly of advantage in the case of seat configurations which will be explained below with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4D . The vertical axis about which the seat  18  can be turned is marked  26  in  FIG. 3 . This axis is preferably located in the centre of the seat so that during rotation about the axis  26  one does not experience at the same time any translation where during rotation the distance of the seated passenger from his seat neighbour or from the table in front of him would change. 
     With the table  8  according to  FIG. 2  and a seat  18  according to  FIG. 3  the seat and table configurations explained below with reference to  FIG. 4  can be implemented in a “premium class” for passengers or in passenger operations for first class or “business class”.  FIG. 4A  shows a first configuration in which all seats  18  in the cabin are orientated in one and the same direction. This is particularly the case during the take-off or landing phase of an aircraft. The table units are then located in their folded-away position and in an orientation in which they cause no obstruction, whether in the case of a crash or during evacuation of the cabin. In the illustrated configuration each two seats  18  for the passengers and one table unit  8  are grouped as one seating group  27 . The seating group  27  is indicated by a dotted outline. The actual assignment of seats and tables into one seating group  27  can in practice be made in dependence on the actual relationship of the passengers to one another. The assignment assumed below is thus purely random. The seats  18  are separated from one another by a lateral interspace  28  whereby the table unit  8  is located in front of the seats so that it has roughly the same distance from each of the two seats. In the viewing direction, thus facing the front, they are separated from one another by a distance  30  which is clearly more generously sized than the distance between two seats  1  arranged one behind the other in the case of the prior art according to  FIG. 1 . The two said distances  28 ,  30  are indicated by double arrows, and they preferably each correspond to the width and length respectively of one seat. 
     The table pedestal socket  9  is set forwards in relation to the seats  18  so that the lateral distance  28  of the two seats  18  from one another is preferably substantially one and a half times as large as the distance of the table pedestal socket from one of the seats. Thus four surrounding seats can be served from one table wherein the distance of the table from all of the seats is the same. 
     When unfolded out each one table top  10  is thereby then located in front of one of the seats  18 . This is shown in a first constellation in  FIG. 4B . In  FIG. 4B  in the case of the table unit  8  on the left at the top, i.e. the front most table unit  8  one side of the table  8  is unfolded. The passenger in the second seat on the left thus has the possibility of placing articles or meals in front of him. The other table tops are in this configuration folded in and away as before so that the passengers on the other seats shown have maximum leg space and freedom of movement. 
     In the configuration according to  FIG. 4C  the two seats at the front are turned around 180.degree. so that they look “backwards”. Between them and the seats behind the table unit  8  is unfolded out completely so that the two front turned seats and the two rear seats are each located in front of a table top  10 . Thus four persons can be served with one table module  8  according to the idisclosed embodiment. They can furthermore form their own one seating group which remains in the same constellation throughout the entire duration of the journey.—The two seats  18  in the seating group  27  behind are each turned round 90.degree. relative to one another so that their occupants now sit facing one another. One table is likewise to be set up between them. For this the corresponding table module  8  is first turned 90.degree. about its vertical axis  29  from its original position shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  into a new crosswise position, and then one of the two table tops  10  is unfolded out. The other table top  10  is not required and therefore remains folded away. The seating group  27  with two persons has thus also been converted into a dining constellation. 
     Finally in  FIG. 4D  a constellation is shown which represents an alternative to those in  FIG. 4C . Here the seats  18  of the two first seat pairs at the front in the cabin are all turned round 90.degree. so that former seat neighbours now each sit facing one another. In this way a “board table” can also be produced, and the example shows the great flexibility in the constellation of the seating according to the disclosed embodiment. 
     Turning the table or seat is preferably carried out electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically. In order to be able to adjust the seats and tables nevertheless in the event of failure of the system a crank handle (not shown) is provided. 
     More particularly the tables close to the side walls are preferably designed asymmetric, i.e. have a fold-out table top only on one side. As a rule however the other tables have a table top on each of their two sides. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Seat 
               2  Cabin floor 
               3  Seat frame 
               4  Seat cushion 
               5  Backrest 
               6  Armrest 
               7  Foldaway table 
               8  Table unit 
               9  Table pedestal socket,  9   a  storage compartment for folded-away table top 
               10  Unfolding table top 
               11  First table top segment 
               12  Second table top segment 
               13  Intermediate joint 
               14  First table pedestal socket 
               15  Second table pedestal socket 
               16  First unfolding table top 
               17  Second unfolding table top 
               18  Swivel seat 
               19  Seat anchor 
               20  Fixing rail 
               21  Seat surface 
               22  Seat back 
               23  Neck support 
               24  Side rest 
               25  Rotatable seat plate 
               26  Central vertical axis of seat 
               27  Seating group 
               28  Side interspace between adjoining seats 
               29  Central vertical axis of table pedestal socket 
               30  Frontal interspace between successive seats