Patent Description:
Many commercial aircraft seats utilize a shared armrest between two passengers. The shared armrest is a common source of complaints as existing designs offer insufficient space for both passengers. Immutable space constraints and safety considerations will not permit a larger armrest. It would be advantageous if a mechanism existed for afford passengers more room and better space delineation. <CIT> describes an armrest assembly.

A shared armrest is defined in claim <NUM>. The shared armrest includes a shaft to allow the arm pad to rotate and a locking mechanism defining a set of stopping positions.

In a further aspect, the profile of the arm pad is defined to clearly delineate portions of the expanded arm pad for each passenger.

A cam driven divider extends from the arm pad as the arm pad is rotated to further define delineate portions of the expanded arm pad for each passenger.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and should not restrict the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles.

The numerous advantages of the embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:.

Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a rotatable armrest. The rotatable armrest includes a shaft to allow the arm pad to rotate and a locking mechanism defining a set of stopping positions.

Referring to <FIG>, environmental views of a rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. A set of commercial aircraft seats <NUM> may include traditional armrests <NUM> designed for a single passenger; for example, at the ends of each row; and rotatable armrests <NUM>, <NUM> between passenger seats. The rotatable armrests <NUM>, <NUM> may define a cross sectional profile with some surfaces that match the profile of the traditional armrest <NUM> for the comfort of the passengers.

The rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> may be placed in a first, vertical configuration <NUM> where the rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> is narrow. The first, vertical configuration <NUM> offers a superior contact surface that corresponds to the superior contact surface of the traditional armrest <NUM>. When passengers desire more armrest space, the rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> may be placed in a second, horizontal configuration <NUM> where extended surface are rotated to become the superior contact surfaces.

Referring to <FIG>, a perspective detail view of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The rotatable armrest defines a vertical superior surface <NUM> that is the primary armrest surface when the rotatable armrest is in a vertical configuration, and a horizontal superior surface <NUM> that is the primary armrest surface when the rotatable armrest is in a horizontal configuration. A stationary shaft <NUM> defines the axis of rotation for the rotatable armrest, and a spring biased button <NUM> disengages a locking mechanism configured to maintain the rotatable armrest in one or a number of predefined orientations.

In at least one embodiment, the rotatable armrest includes a non-rotating portion for housing mechanisms such as a seat recline button, headphone jacks, etc. In some embodiments, the non-rotating portion may be unnecessary; for example, where the recline button is disposed in a non-rotating housing including the spring biased button <NUM>, the non-rotating portion may be excluded.

Referring to <FIG>, a detail cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism in a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The rotatable armrest includes a stationary shaft <NUM> affixed to a structural component of the seat. In at least one embodiment, the stationary shaft <NUM> may engage internal structures of the arm pad via one or more bearings <NUM> that allow the arm pad to rotate about the stationary shaft <NUM>.

A locking mechanism retains the arm pad in one of a number of possible orientations. In at least one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a release button <NUM> with one or more locking protrusions <NUM>. The locking protrusions <NUM> engage locking recesses <NUM> defined by internal structures of the arm pad. The locking recesses <NUM> are disposed periodically about the stationary shaft <NUM> to stop the rotation of the arm pad at predefined points; for example, locking recesses <NUM> may be disposed every <NUM>° around the stationary shaft <NUM> so that the arm pad may be locked in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.

In at least one embodiment, a biasing element <NUM> such as a spring or other linear actuator biases the button <NUM> and corresponding locking protrusions <NUM> toward a locked configuration where the locking protrusions <NUM> engage the locking recesses <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, front views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. The rotatable armrest defines a narrow vertical superior contact surface <NUM> and wide horizontal superior contact surface <NUM>. In a first, vertical orientation (as in <FIG>), the narrow vertical superior contact surface <NUM> is on top, where passengers routinely rest their arms. During some phases of flight where passengers are required to be minimally encumbered, the rotatable armrest would be in the first, vertical orientation.

When more armrest space is desired, a either passenger may push a button <NUM> to disengage an internal locking mechanism and rotate the rotatable armrest to a second, horizontal orientation (as in <FIG>) such that the wide horizontal superior contact surface <NUM> is on top. The wide horizontal superior contact surface <NUM> provides substantially double the area for passengers to rest their arms.

Referring to <FIG>, front views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. The rotatable armrest defines a narrow vertical superior contact surface <NUM> while in a first, vertical orientation (as in <FIG>), and a wide horizontal superior contact surface <NUM> while in a second, horizontal orientation (as in <FIG>). The rotatable armrest is releasably locked into either the first, vertical orientation or second, horizontal orientation via an internal locking mechanism, releasable via a button <NUM>.

In at least one embodiment, the narrow vertical superior contact surface <NUM> is configured to generally correspond in profile and relative height to a non-rotatable, standard armrest. When in the first, vertical orientation, a passenger would not feel any difference between the rotatable armrest and a non-rotatable armrest.

In at least one embodiment, the wide horizontal superior contact surface <NUM> may define a slanted profile with a peak portion <NUM>. The slanted profile provides a larger contact surface for each passenger as compared to a strictly horizontal surface. Furthermore, the peak portion <NUM> defines a tactile divider; passengers are able to feel the feel the peak portion <NUM> and know that it demarks each passenger's portion of the armrest.

Referring to <FIG>, front views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. In at least one embodiment, the narrow vertical superior contact surface <NUM> is configured to generally correspond in profile and relative height to a non-rotatable, standard armrest. When in the first, vertical orientation, a passenger would not feel any difference between the rotatable armrest and a non-rotatable armrest. In at least one embodiment, the wide horizontal superior contact surface <NUM> may define a curved profile. The curved profile provides a larger contact surface for each passenger as compared to a strictly horizontal surface and may provide a subtle tactile divider that passengers are able to feel.

Referring to <FIG>, a perspective detail view of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Where a rotatable armrest includes a stationary shaft <NUM> and button <NUM> to release an internal locking mechanism, the rotatable armrest includes one or more cams <NUM> configured to control the movement of one or more extendable dividers <NUM>. Wide, horizontal superior surfaces of the rotatable armrest may define openings to allow the extendable dividers <NUM> to protrude above the surface when in a horizontal orientation.

Referring to <FIG>, a front detail view of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The rotatable armrest includes a stationary shaft <NUM> that defines an axis of rotation for the rotatable armrest. One or more cams <NUM> are disposed in a fixed position relative to the stationary shaft <NUM>. The cams <NUM> define a profile to control the movement of extendable dividers <NUM>. The extendable dividers <NUM> may be biased to stay inside the rotatable armrest when in a vertical orientation to prevent the extendable dividers from being an incumbrance. While the rotatable armrest is being rotated into a horizontal configuration, the cams <NUM> push the extendable dividers <NUM> though openings in the wide horizontal superior surface. The extendable dividers <NUM> provide a delineation between passenger space.

Referring to <FIG>, perspective views of a rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. In at least one embodiment, it may desirable to obviate the need for a non-rotating portion housing mechanisms such as a seat recline button, headphone jacks, etc. In such embodiments, the rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> may include aircraft seat utility mechanisms <NUM> such as a seat recline button <NUM> in addition an armrest rotation button <NUM>. In some embodiments, the seat utility mechanisms <NUM> may be affixed to the armrest housing and therefore configured to rotate with the armrest <NUM>, <NUM>. It may be appreciated that in such embodiments, the mechanisms that effectuate seat utility, such as the recline function, must be flexible enough to operate in either a vertical configuration <NUM> or a horizontal configuration <NUM>; for example, a cable.

Referring to <FIG>, perspective views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. In at least one embodiment, where it is desirable to obviate the need for a non-rotating portion housing mechanisms such as a seat recline button, headphone jacks, etc., the rotatable armrest <NUM>, <NUM> may include aircraft seat utility mechanisms <NUM>. A utility mechanism housing (including a seat recline button <NUM>, <NUM> and armrest rotation button <NUM>, <NUM>) may be affixed to a stationary element within the armrest housing and therefore configured to remain stationary with respect to the armrest <NUM>, <NUM> during rotation. It may be appreciated that in such embodiments, the mechanisms that effectuate seat utility, such as the recline function, may be substantially rigid.

Claim 1:
A shared armrest comprising:
a stationary shaft (<NUM>);
a rotatable armrest pad; and
a locking mechanism,
wherein:
the rotatable armrest pad defines a first superior surface (<NUM>) and a second superior surface (<NUM>), the second superior surface being wider than the first superior surface;
the rotatable armrest pad configured to rotate about the stationary shaft (<NUM>) from a first configuration, where the first superior surface (<NUM>) is disposed at a top of the shared armrest, to a second configuration, where the second superior surface (<NUM>) is disposed at the top of the shared armrest; and
the locking mechanism is configured to releasable retain the rotatable armrest pad in either the first configuration or the second configuration, and characterized by further comprising:
at least one cam (<NUM>); and
at least one extendable divider (<NUM>),
wherein:
the at least one extendable divider (<NUM>) is configured to translate radially through an opening defined by the second superior surface; and
the at least one cam (<NUM>) is configured to direct the radial translation of the extendable divider as the rotatable armrest pad is rotated.