Patent Description:
Amenities such as tray tables, video monitors and literature pockets are commonly positioned in front of a seated passenger for accessibility and ease of use. In aircraft and other conveyances including like seating rows forming columns, seatbacks serve as the mounting location for such amenities. For example, video monitors may be positioned on the backside of the upper portion of a seatback and tray tables may be attached about a middle portion of the seatback and deploy to a horizontal use position.

Regarding seatback pockets for storing literature and other items, conventional passenger seat implementations include a singular pocket located below the video monitor. A fixed retention bar typically extends across the width of the seatback and defines the entrance into the pocket. Regardless of the configuration of the retention bar, the fixed nature does not allow access to the bottom of the pocket. Therefore, conventional pockets present a cleaning challenge to the cabin crew.

Accordingly, what is needed is a seatback pocket configuration that facilitates cleaning, as well a dual pocket design for a passenger seat for storing additional items. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> relate to passenger seating.

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the inventive aspects disclosed herein are broadly directed to implementations of deployable pockets for passenger seats such as aircraft passenger seats.

According to a first aspect the present disclosure provides a passenger seat as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a passenger seating row as claimed in claim <NUM>.

Such description makes reference to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated, and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. Like reference numbers in the drawings may represent and refer to the same or similar element, feature, or function. In the drawings:.

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, insofar as they fall within the scope of the claims.

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to passenger seats including implementations of deployable seatback pockets.

Referring to <FIG>, a passenger seating row according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown generally at reference numeral <NUM>. The seating row <NUM> includes at least a first passenger seat <NUM> and a second passenger seat <NUM> positioned to one side of or laterally adjacent the first passenger seat <NUM>. In some implementations, the passenger seating row <NUM> may be positioned adjacent a longitudinal aisle such as an aircraft longitudinal aisle. In such implementations, an armrest <NUM> may be positioned to one side of the first passenger seat <NUM> opposite the second passenger seat <NUM>. A shared armrest <NUM> may be positioned between the first and second passenger seats <NUM>, <NUM> for use by both passengers. The outboard armrest for the second passenger seat <NUM> may be positioned on the side of the second passenger seat <NUM> opposite the first passenger seat <NUM> or may be positioned on the fuselage wall. In some embodiments, the passenger seating row <NUM> includes at least one additional passenger seat positioned laterally adjacent the second passenger seat <NUM>. Armrests may be adjustable, may house deployable tray tables, and may serve to locate seat controls.

Each passenger seat <NUM>, <NUM> generally includes a seatback <NUM> that functions as a mounting location for amenities for use by an aft-seated passenger positioned in a like seating row in a column of like seating rows. The seatback <NUM> of each seat extends from a headrest proximate a top of the seatback to a bottom of the seatback pivotally attached to a seat frame. A horizontal divider <NUM> divides the seatback <NUM> into an upper portion <NUM> positioned above the divider and a lower portion <NUM> positioned below the divider <NUM>. Each of the upper and lower portions <NUM>, <NUM> forms a recess for locating passenger amenities.

A first recess <NUM> positioned in the upper portion <NUM> tapers in a direction of the divider <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> is a singular recess defining upper and lower parts. A video monitor <NUM> is positioned in the upper part generally opposite the headrest portion of the seat. A shown, the video monitor <NUM> faces the aft-seated passenger and the face of the video monitor aligns flush with the recess surrounding portion of the seatback. In some embodiments, the video monitor <NUM> is tilt-adjustable to change the viewing angle responsive to seatback recline.

A first deployable seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned in the first recess <NUM> below and spaced apart from the video monitor <NUM>. The first deployable seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned in generally the middle portion of the seatback where a deployable tray table would typically be located. An entrance into the first deployable seatback pocket <NUM> is formed between the seatback, at the location of the first recess <NUM>, and a pivoting member of the first seatback pocket as discussed further below. The entrance into the pocket is spaced apart from the bottom of the video monitor <NUM> such that items can be accessed and inserted into the pocket with interference by the video monitor. In use, the first seatback pocket <NUM> deploys from a closed condition shown on seat <NUM> to an open condition shown on seat <NUM>. The first seatback pocket <NUM> can be opened to access items and/or for cleaning the pocket, and items are insertable into and retrievable from the pocket in either of the open and closed conditions.

With continued reference to <FIG>, a second recess <NUM> is formed in the lower portion <NUM> of the seatback <NUM>. A second deployable seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned in the second recess <NUM>. In some embodiments, the second deployable pocket <NUM> is implemented as a spring <NUM> configured to provide a pre-loaded spring force for holding a retention bar <NUM> in a closed condition. In some embodiments, the spring <NUM> includes a length of wire extending horizontally along the retention bar <NUM> and vertically from opposing ends of the retention bar to spaced positions on the seatback. In use, the retention bar <NUM> deploys from a closed condition proximate the seatback <NUM> as shown on seat <NUM> to an open condition apart from the seatback as shown on seat <NUM>.

In a particular implementation, the spring <NUM> may be mounted on either end to a respective movable or static element of the passenger seat. For example, the movable element may be the seatback. For example the static element may be a seat carriage assembly, such as a seat spreader, seat leg, or a lateral beam extending between passenger seats of a passenger seating row. In certain embodiments, the pocket spring provides a pre-loaded spring force for holding the seatback pocket in a closed condition against a rear surface of a seatback. The pocket spring may include a first length of a wire that extends vertically above and between inner surfaces of a pair of static elements on either side of the seat in a substantially horizontal direction and forming an upper edge of the seatback pocket. A pair of second lengths of wire may extend from respective ends of the first length of wire in a substantially vertical direction to the respective static elements to form side edges of the seatback pocket. A pair of coils may be formed at ends of the second lengths of wire, which are mounted to a respective receiving element on a respective inner surface of the pair of static elements such that an axis of the pair of coils is aligned horizontally and perpendicularly to the inner surfaces of the pair of static elements. A pair of extension members may extend from each of the coils that contact a complementary contact point on the inner surfaces the static elements to maintain the pre-loaded spring force on the coils. A pocket panel may cover and enclose the pocket spring to form a pocket portion of the seatback pocket that holds items within the pocket panel.

Referring to <FIG>, the second seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned below the first seatback pocket <NUM> on the seatback, and the two pockets are spaced apart such that neither one interferes with the use of the other. In a particular embodiment, the axis of rotation of the second seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned at a height h1 of about <NUM> (i.e., about <NUM> inches) above the floor, and the axis of rotation of the first seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned at a height h2 about <NUM> (i.e., about <NUM> inches) above the floor. In a particular embodiment, the axis of rotation of the first seatback pocket <NUM> is positioned at least <NUM> above the floor, and thus above a <NUM> (i.e., about <NUM> inches) maximum height of armrests, to provide better visibility into the pocket. In a particular embodiment, at least one of the first and second seatback pockets <NUM>, <NUM> deploys about <NUM> (i.e., about <NUM> inches) from the seatback to show the bottom surface of the pocket for cleaning.

Referring to <FIG>, implementations of the first seatback pocket <NUM> include a plastic cover as shown on seat <NUM> or plastic trim with netting as shown on seat <NUM>. <FIG> further shows the tapering of the first recess <NUM> toward the horizontal divider <NUM> which corresponds to the tapering shape of the seatback. The first recess <NUM> is framed by the closeout of the surrounding seatback <NUM>, and the video monitor <NUM> and the first seatback pocket <NUM>, when stowed or closed, reside flush with the seatback for aesthetics and safety. The second or lower recess <NUM> is also framed by the surrounding seatback portion. Each of the first and second recesses <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned laterally inward of the seatback <NUM>. The seatback <NUM> may be constructed from hard plastics and like materials.

Referring to <FIG>, according to the invention, the first seatback pocket <NUM> includes a frame member <NUM> pivotally attached to the seatback <NUM>. First and second pins <NUM> rotatably couple the frame member <NUM> to the seatback <NUM> and define the axis of rotation of the frame member. First and second torsion springs <NUM> associated with the first and second pins <NUM>, respectively, bias the frame member <NUM> in the direction of the seatback corresponding to a closed condition of the first seatback pocket <NUM>. A cover <NUM> attaches to the frame member <NUM> to close out the open face of the frame member. In use, pulling the top edge of the frame member <NUM> away from the seatback <NUM> loads the torsion springs. Release of the frame member <NUM> causes the loaded torsion springs <NUM> to return the frame member to the closed position. The seatback pocket is collectively formed by the bottom of the recess, internal side of the frame member <NUM> and/or cover <NUM>, and sides of the recess.

In alternative embodiments, the first and second seatback pocket types may be interchanged or both pockets implemented as a pivotable frame member type or a retention bar type as described herein above. The implementations of seatback pockets described herein are compatible with other passenger seat amenities including, but not limited to, tray tables, lighting, controls, etc..

Claim 1:
A passenger seat (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a seatback (<NUM>) for locating amenities for use by an aft-seated passenger, the seatback comprising:
a video monitor (<NUM>) positioned in an upper portion of the seatback;
a first seatback pocket (<NUM>) positioned below the video monitor; and
a second seatback pocket (<NUM>) positioned below the first seatback pocket;
wherein each of the first and second seatback pockets (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a component configured to move apart from the seatback to facilitate access to a bottom of the respective seatback pocket;
wherein the first seatback pocket (<NUM>) is positioned in a middle portion of the seatback, characterised in that the first seatback pocket (<NUM>) comprises:
a frame member (<NUM>);
first and second pins (<NUM>) pivotally attaching the frame member to the seatback
first and second spring members (<NUM>) associated with the respect first and second pins, the first and second spring members biasing the frame member toward the seatback; and
a cover (<NUM>) attached to the frame member;
wherein, in use, pivoting an upper end of the frame member apart from the seatback (<NUM>) loads the first and second springs.