Patent Description:
Passenger vehicles are incorporating an increasing number of adjustable features into the passenger seats of each passenger vehicle. For example, a passenger seat of an airplane may have sub-assemblies, such as a headrest or an in-flight entertainment system, adjustably attached to the passenger seat so that a passenger may move the headrest and/or the in-flight entertainment system to different suitable heights. Conventional linear sliding systems have been used to enable the movement of these sub-assemblies. However, many sub-assemblies have vastly different sizes and weights so that different individual linear sliding systems are needed to support the different sub-assemblies when they are in a static position. The need for different individual linear sliding systems adds additional costs in the design for manufacturing of precise "interference/friction fit" linear sliding systems that rely critically on tolerance stack-up to maintain performance with minimal maintenance over the lifetime of the linear sliding system.

Document <CIT> describes an adjustable headrest that can be used in connection with various types of passenger vehicles. The headrest includes slide mechanisms for permitting easy height adjustment of the headrest and also includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the headrest forwardly and rearwardly. Document <CIT> describes an adjustable headrest including slide assemblies that permit multiple height adjustments of the headrest. More particularly, the headrest can be moved from a first lower position to a second intermediate position and finally to an uppermost position. Document <CIT> describes an adjustable headrest mounting plate for a seat, including a base for being attached to a seat back of the seat, and first and second pairs of side head supports mounted on the base and extending laterally away from the base. Each of the pairs of side head supports includes an upper side head support and a lower side head support. The upper side head support and lower side head support of each of the first and second pairs of side head supports are mounted on the base for independent fore and aft movement as desired by the passenger. Document <CIT> describes an adjustable headrest including a guide configured to be coupled to a seat, a head support coupled to the guide and configured to be movable along an adjustment path relative to the seat, and a slider having a surface defining a recess receiving the guide such that the surface of the slider contacts a surface of the guide. The adjustment headrest further includes a retainer positioned to urge the surface of the slider against the surface of the guide, thereby maintaining friction between the surface of the slider and the surface of the guide and resisting unintended movement of the slider with respect to the guide along the adjustment path. Description section below.

This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an adjustable friction slider assembly comprises: a rail member; and a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the rail member, the carriage assembly comprising: a bracket member; and a plurality of roller elements moveably coupled to the rail member and coupled to the bracket member using a plurality of attachment members, the plurality of roller elements comprising at least one adjustable roller element coupled to the bracket member using a moveable attachment member, wherein moving the moveable attachment member adjusts a friction between the plurality of roller elements and the rail member.

In some embodiments, the adjustable friction slider assembly further comprises a moveable sub-assembly coupled to the bracket member, wherein the friction is adjusted based on the moveable sub-assembly.

In certain embodiments, the moveable sub-assembly comprises a headrest, a video monitor, a tray table, or a portable electronic device holder.

The friction may comprise a static friction that causes the carriage assembly to maintain a position along the rail member.

In some embodiments, a moving force that overcomes the static friction is applied to the carriage assembly to move the carriage assembly along the rail member.

The rail member, in certain embodiments, comprises a longitudinal axis, and the at least one adjustable roller element is moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The carriage assembly, in some embodiments, further comprises a friction adjustment member coupled to the moveable attachment member and moving the friction adjustment member adjusts the friction between the plurality of roller elements and the rail member.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passenger seat comprises an adjustable friction slider assembly comprising: a rail member coupled to the passenger seat; and a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the rail member, the carriage assembly comprising: a bracket member; and a plurality of roller elements moveably coupled to the rail member and coupled to the bracket member using a plurality of attachment members, the plurality of roller elements comprising at least one adjustable roller element coupled to the bracket member using a moveable attachment member, wherein moving the moveable attachment member adjusts a friction between the plurality of roller elements and the rail member.

The passenger seat may further comprise a moveable sub-assembly coupled to the bracket member, wherein the friction is adjusted based on the moveable sub-assembly.

In some embodiments, the friction comprises a static friction that causes the carriage assembly to maintain a position along the rail member.

A moving force that overcomes the static friction may be applied to the carriage assembly to move the carriage assembly along the rail member.

The rail member, in some embodiments, comprises a longitudinal axis, and the at least one adjustable roller element is moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The carriage assembly, in certain embodiments, further comprises a friction adjustment member coupled to the moveable attachment member and moving the friction adjustment member adjusts the friction between the plurality of roller elements and the rail member.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method for adjusting a friction of an adjustable friction slider assembly comprises: coupling a carriage assembly to a rail member, the carriage assembly comprising a plurality of roller elements, the plurality of roller elements comprising at least one adjustable roller element; and moving the at least one adjustable roller element relative to the rail member to adjust the friction between the plurality of roller elements and the rail member.

The friction may be adjusted based on a moveable sub-assembly coupled to the carriage assembly.

In certain embodiments, moving the at least one adjustable roller element comprises moving a moveable attachment member, and wherein the moveable attachment member couples the at least one adjustable roller element to the carriage assembly.

In some embodiments, moving the at least one adjustable roller element relative to the rail member comprises moving the at least one adjustable roller element in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rail member.

The method may further comprise applying a moving force to the carriage assembly that overcomes a static friction between the carriage assembly and the rail member to move the carriage assembly along the rail member.

The method, in some embodiments, further comprises: removing the moving force from the carriage assembly; and maintaining the carriage assembly at a location along the rail member where the moving force is removed due to the static friction between the carriage assembly and the rail member.

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

The described embodiments of the invention provide an adjustable friction slider assembly for passenger seats. While the adjustable friction slider assembly is discussed for use with aircraft seats, it is by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the adjustable friction slider assembly may be used in passenger seats or other seats of any type or otherwise as desired.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as best shown in <FIG>, an adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> comprises a rail member <NUM> and a carriage assembly <NUM>. The carriage assembly <NUM> comprises a bracket member <NUM> and at least one roller element <NUM>. In some embodiments, the carriage assembly <NUM> may comprise at least one attachment member <NUM> and/or a friction adjustment member <NUM>.

The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> and any component of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> (e.g., the rail member <NUM>, the carriage assembly <NUM>, the bracket member <NUM>, the at least one roller element <NUM>, the at least one attachment member <NUM>, or the friction adjustment member <NUM>) may be formed of materials including but not limited to aluminum, stainless steel, aramid fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene, other metallic materials, composite materials, or other similar materials. Due to the nature of the repetitive use of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>, the material(s) used to form the various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be selected based on the wear resistance of the material(s). Additionally, each of the components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be formed of the same material, different materials, or any combination of the same or different materials.

The various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may each be any suitable shape. For example, the bracket member <NUM> may be circular, triangular, rectangular, square-shaped, oval-shaped, etc. The rail member <NUM> may be any suitable length and depth and may have any suitable cross-section, such as a rectangular cross-section, a square cross-section, a circular cross-section, an oval cross-section, a curved cross-section, a parabolic cross-section, etc..

In some embodiments, the carriage assembly <NUM> is moveably coupled to the rail member <NUM> so that the carriage assembly <NUM> may move along the length or longitudinal axis of the rail member <NUM>. The at least one roller element <NUM> may be coupled to the bracket member <NUM> so that the at least one roller element <NUM> moveably couples the carriage assembly <NUM> to the rail member <NUM>. The at least one roller element <NUM> may be a bearing, e.g., a roller bearing, circulating bearing wheel, etc., or any other suitable device having a low dynamic friction and a high static friction. Additionally, the at least one roller element <NUM> may include at least one flanged edge <NUM> that may assist with keeping the carriage assembly <NUM> coupled to the rail member <NUM>. The at least one flanged edge <NUM> of the at least one roller element <NUM> may form a groove that enables the at least one roller element <NUM> to capture the rail member <NUM>. In fact, the at least one roller element <NUM> may have any suitable cross-section that enables the at least one roller element <NUM> to be coupled with and securely capture the rail member <NUM>.

The at least one roller element <NUM> may be coupled to the bracket member <NUM> of the carriage assembly <NUM>. For example, at least one attachment member <NUM> may extend through at least one opening in the bracket member <NUM> and through at least one opening in each of the at least one roller elements <NUM> to attach each of the at least one roller elements <NUM> to the carriage assembly <NUM>. The at least one attachment member <NUM> may be any suitable device for securing the at least one roller element <NUM> to the bracket member <NUM>, e.g., a pin, a screw, a bolt, a nail, etc. Additionally, the at least one roller element <NUM> may include a spacer member <NUM> extending through the at least one roller element <NUM>. The at least one attachment member <NUM> may extend through the spacer member <NUM>. The spacer member <NUM> may then assist with securing the at least one roller element <NUM> to the at least one attachment member <NUM> while permitting the at least one roller element <NUM> to freely rotate relative to the at least one attachment member <NUM>.

The carriage assembly <NUM> may include any suitable number of roller elements <NUM>, e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, etc. In some embodiments, the number of attachment members <NUM> and spacer members <NUM> corresponds to the number of roller elements <NUM>. Having at least three roller elements <NUM> as part of the carriage assembly <NUM> may restrict the number of degrees of freedom of the carriage assembly <NUM> to a single degree of freedom and thus fully constrain the carriage assembly <NUM>. The single degree of freedom of the carriage assembly <NUM> may permit movement of the carriage assembly <NUM> along the longitudinal axis of the rail member <NUM>.

In some embodiments, at least one of the roller elements <NUM> is an adjustable roller element <NUM>. The adjustable roller element <NUM> may be coupled with the bracket member <NUM> using a moveable attachment member <NUM> so that the adjustable roller element <NUM> is moveable relative to the carriage assembly <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>. For example, the adjustable roller element <NUM> may move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail member <NUM>.

Moving the adjustable roller element <NUM> may adjust the amount of friction between the roller elements <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>. Moving the adjustable roller element <NUM> towards or away from the rail member <NUM> changes the amount of force applied to the rail member <NUM> by the adjustable roller element <NUM> and, as a result, any of the non-adjustable roller elements <NUM> that are part of the carriage assembly <NUM> as well. For example, moving the adjustable roller element <NUM> towards the rail member <NUM> increases the amount of force applied to the rail member <NUM> by the adjustable roller element <NUM> and the non-adjustable roller elements <NUM>. Thus the friction, and more specifically the static friction, between the rail member <NUM> and the carriage assembly <NUM> increases.

In some embodiments, as best illustrated in <FIG>, the adjustable roller element <NUM> may be moved using the friction adjustment member <NUM>. In some embodiments, the friction adjustment member <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM> extending through the adjustable roller element <NUM> may be a singular element or separate elements. For example, the friction adjustment member <NUM> may be a threaded pin, screw, compounding springs, a spring force actuator, any combination of these devices, or any other similar device that is coupled with the attachment member <NUM>. Thus the amount of friction between the adjustable roller element <NUM>, the roller elements <NUM>, and the rail member <NUM> may be controlled by moving the friction adjustment member <NUM>. For example, the friction adjustment member <NUM> may be rotated, as represented by arrow <NUM>, which causes the adjustable roller element <NUM> to move towards or away from the rail member <NUM> and to adjust the friction between the carriage assembly <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>. Arrow <NUM> represents movement of the attachment member <NUM> and the adjustable roller element <NUM> away from the rail member <NUM> due to the rotation of the friction adjustment member <NUM>.

It should be understood that any number of the roller elements <NUM> may be an adjustable roller element <NUM>. In fact, all of the roller elements <NUM> of the carriage assembly <NUM> may be adjustable roller elements <NUM>. Increasing the number of adjustable roller elements <NUM> incorporated into the carriage assembly <NUM> may enable more fine-tuned and uniform adjustments of the friction between the carriage assembly <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as best shown in <FIG>, an adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be used to couple a sub-assembly <NUM> to a passenger seat. The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG>. For example, the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may comprise a rail member <NUM> and a carriage assembly <NUM> where the carriage assembly <NUM> may comprise a bracket member <NUM>, at least one roller element <NUM>, at least one attachment member <NUM>, and/or a friction adjustment member <NUM>. The various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may include any of the features described above in relation to <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the sub-assembly <NUM> may be a headrest, an in-flight entertainment or video monitor, a tray table, a portable electronic device holder, etc. The sub-assembly <NUM> is a headrest. The sub-assembly <NUM> may be coupled to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>. For example the sub-assembly <NUM> may be coupled to the bracket member <NUM> using any suitable form of chemical or mechanical attachment including, but not limited to, nuts and bolts, screws, pins and rivets, a snap-fit connection, a friction fit connection, adhesive, welding, other mechanical fasteners, and/or other chemical fasteners.

The sub-assembly <NUM> may be coupled directly or indirectly to the bracket member <NUM>. In some embodiments, the sub-assembly <NUM> may be coupled to an intermediate member that is then attached to the bracket member <NUM>. The intermediate member may assist with restricting any movement of the sub-assembly <NUM> relative to the bracket member <NUM> or the intermediate member may permit pivoting of the sub-assembly <NUM> relative to the bracket member <NUM>. Permitting pivoting of the sub-assembly <NUM> relative to the bracket member <NUM> may enable a passenger to adjust the angle of the sub-assembly <NUM>.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as best shown in <FIG>, an adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be used to couple a sub-assembly <NUM> to a passenger seat. The sub-assembly <NUM> shown is an in-flight entertainment monitor. The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>, <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG>. For example, the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may comprise a rail member <NUM> and a carriage assembly <NUM> where the carriage assembly <NUM> may comprise a bracket member <NUM>, at least one roller element <NUM>, at least one attachment member <NUM>, and/or a friction adjustment member <NUM>. The various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may include any of the features described above in relation to <FIG>.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as best shown in <FIG>, an adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be used to couple a sub-assembly <NUM> to a passenger seat <NUM>. The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG> and the sub-assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the sub-assembly <NUM>, <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG>. For example, the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may comprise a rail member <NUM> and a carriage assembly where the carriage assembly may comprise a bracket member, at least one roller element, at least one attachment member, and/or a friction adjustment member. The various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may include any of the features described above in relation to <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be housed in an outer casing <NUM> that at least partially or wholly encloses the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>. The outer casing <NUM> may protect the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> from damage and prevent tampering with the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>. The outer casing <NUM> may also provide a more seamless and finished aesthetic to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>. Additionally, the rail member <NUM> may be part of or integrally formed with a seat back shroud <NUM> or the rail member <NUM> may be a discrete element that extends at least partially into a seat back or other portion of a passenger seat <NUM>.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as best shown in <FIG>, an adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be used to couple a sub-assembly <NUM> to a passenger seat <NUM>. The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG> and the sub-assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the sub-assembly <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG>. For example, the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may comprise a rail member and a carriage assembly where the carriage assembly may comprise a bracket member, at least one roller element, at least one attachment member, and/or a friction adjustment member. The various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may include any of the features described above in relation to <FIG>.

The same adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be used regardless of the type of sub-assembly <NUM> being used. For example, the same adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be used to attach both the in-flight entertainment monitor <NUM> and the personal electronic device holder <NUM> to the passenger seat <NUM> because of the adjustability of the friction of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>.

As described above in reference to <FIG>, the carriage assembly of each adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> is coupled to the rail member and the adjustable roller element is moved towards or away from the rail member to adjust the amount of force the carriage assembly applies against the rail member. The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> used to attach the in-flight entertainment monitor <NUM> and the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> used to attach the personal electronic device holder <NUM> may each be adjusted to create different amounts of friction in the respective adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>.

The adjustment of the adjustable roller element may be based on the amount of force necessary to create sufficient static friction to hold the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> in a stationary position supporting the sub-assembly <NUM> while having a relatively low dynamic friction that permits a smooth movement of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> along the rail member. The amount of friction necessary for an in-flight entertainment monitor versus a personal electronic device holder or any other sub-assembly will be different and will largely depend on the size and weight of the sub-assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, the manufacturer or installer of the passenger seat <NUM> may move the adjustable roller element of each adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> to create the necessary amount of friction for the respective sub-assembly <NUM> that each adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> supports.

In some embodiments, the carriage assembly may be permitted to slide along the rail member after the friction is set by the adjustable roller element. For example, a downward force, represented by arrows <NUM>, may be applied to each sub-assembly <NUM>. When the downward force is enough to overcome the static friction of the respective adjustable friction slider assemblies <NUM>, the dynamic friction between the carriage assembly and the rail member permits a smooth movement of the carriage assembly along the rail member. It should be understood that an upward force may also be applied to each sub-assembly <NUM> to cause the sub-assemblies <NUM> to move.

After the downward force is removed, the static friction between the carriage assembly and the rail member once again causes the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> to maintain a stationary position. So a user may adjust a position of the sub-assembly <NUM> relative to the rail member by applying a force to the sub-assembly <NUM> or in some cases by applying a force directly to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>. Once the sub-assembly <NUM> is at the new location, the user may stop applying the force. The sub-assembly <NUM> will then remain at the new location due to the static friction created by the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>.

Using the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may reduce the cost of manufacturing the passenger seat <NUM> and increase the interchangeability of the various types of sub-assemblies due to the need for only a single design of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> regardless of the type of sub-assembly used. This may lead to easier customization of the passenger seats <NUM> because the sub-assemblies may be removed and replaced without the need to replace the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as best shown in <FIG>, an adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may incorporate at least one elastic band <NUM>. The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may be the same or similar to the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> described above in reference to <FIG>. For example, the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may comprise a rail member <NUM> and a carriage assembly <NUM> where the carriage assembly <NUM> may comprise a bracket member <NUM>, at least one roller element <NUM>, at least one attachment member <NUM>, and/or a friction adjustment member <NUM>. The various components of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may include any of the features described above in relation to <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the at least one elastic band <NUM> may be positioned around the at least one roller element <NUM>. Positioning the at least one elastic band <NUM> around the at least one roller element <NUM> may increase the static friction as well as the dynamic friction of the adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM>. The at least one elastic band <NUM> may be positioned around the at least one roller element <NUM> so that at least one portion of the at least one elastic band <NUM> is positioned at least partially between the at least one roller element <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>. As the carriage assembly <NUM> moves along the rail member <NUM>, the at least one elastic band <NUM> moves with the at least one roller element <NUM>.

The adjustable friction slider assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of roller elements <NUM> positioned on multiple sides of the rail member <NUM>. An elastic band <NUM> may be positioned around each set of roller elements <NUM> arranged linearly in the longitudinal direction of the rail member <NUM>. For example, two roller elements <NUM> may be linearly aligned on a left side of the rail member <NUM> and two separate roller elements <NUM> may be linearly aligned on a right side of the rail member <NUM>. One elastic band <NUM> may be positioned around each set of roller elements <NUM> so that at least a portion of each elastic band <NUM> is positioned between each respective roller element <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>.

Positioning the at least one portion of the at least one elastic band <NUM> between the at least one roller element <NUM> and the rail member <NUM> may help to dampen any sound created as the at least one roller element <NUM> moves along the rail member <NUM>, may assist in maintaining constant friction, and thus minimizing slippage, between the carriage assembly <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>, and may minimize wear on the at least one roller element <NUM> and the rail member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An adjustable friction slider assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a rail member (<NUM>); and
a carriage assembly (<NUM>) moveably coupled to the rail member (<NUM>), the carriage assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a bracket member (<NUM>); and
a plurality of roller elements (<NUM>) moveably coupled to the rail member (<NUM>) and coupled to the bracket member (<NUM>) using a plurality of attachment members (<NUM>),
characterized in that the plurality of roller elements (<NUM>) comprises at least one adjustable roller element (<NUM>) coupled to the bracket member (<NUM>) using a moveable attachment member (<NUM>),
wherein moving the moveable attachment member (<NUM>) adjusts a friction between the plurality of roller elements (<NUM>) and the rail member (<NUM>).