Patent Description:
Aircraft passenger seats must meet different regulatory certification criteria based, at least in part, on the TTOL installation angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. Certification criteria exist for forward facing seats defined as having a seat longitudinal axis from <NUM>-<NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, oblique seats defined as having a longitudinal axis from <NUM>-<NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, and side-facing seats defined as having a seat longitudinal axis from <NUM>-<NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. To maximize seat density and for privacy, it may be desirable in some cabin configurations to install seats at an angle that mandates unusual or even undefined criteria, for instance a seat longitudinal axis greater than <NUM>° and less than <NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis.

In some seating arrangements, the installation angle may be close to one of the above-mentioned ranges. In that case, the seat would require certification criteria different from the certification criteria of the closest range. For example, a seat having a TTOL installation angle of <NUM>° would be subject to different regulatory certification criteria as compared to a seat having a TTOL installation angle of <NUM>°. To enjoy the advantages of the closest installation angle range in terms of known criteria, weight, cost, safety, etc., it would be desirable to design a seat with adjustability to change the passenger orientation during TTOL versus other flight modes, or vice versa. Such adjustability would meet TTOL compliance while providing increased density and comfort advantages during flight. Seat adjustment mechanisms are disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

While solutions for adjusting a seat angle relative to the longitudinal aircraft axis are known, they include some form of device to swivel the entire seat including its supporting frame. Such devices tend to be complex, costly and add unwanted weight, and importantly require clearance around the seat to allow for rotational movement.

Therefore, what is desired are devices for providing a subtle and refined change in the passenger orientation without having to manipulate the entire seat.

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the inventive aspects disclosed herein are broadly directed to seat assemblies including devices configured to effect a change in a seat element to change passenger position or orientation relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis and according to at least one predetermined flight condition. For example, a seat assembly according to the present disclosure may be installed at a predetermined angle relative to an aircraft longitudinal axis, and seat elements of the seat assembly may be configured to change in shape and/or position to change the passenger position for compliance with a predefined regulatory certification. Benefits of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, compliance with TTOL certification criteria with the ability to change the passenger position during flight.

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an aircraft passenger seat as defined by claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, in a taxi, takeoff and landing (TTOL) aircraft flight condition, the backrest and the seat bottom are shaped to position the seated passenger at a first angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, and in a non-TTOL aircraft flight condition, the controller is configured to actuate each of the first and second devices to effect the change in the respective backrest and the seat bottom to position the seated passenger at a second angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

In some embodiments, the first device is a first air bladder incorporated within or positioned in relation to the backrest and configured to be inflated to change the shape of the backrest to position the seated passenger at the first angle and configured to be deflated to change the shape of the backrest to position the seated passenger at the second angle. The second device is a second air bladder incorporated within or positioned in relation to the seat bottom and configured to be inflated to change the shape of the seat bottom to position the seated passenger at the first angle and configured to be deflated to change the shape of the seat bottom to position the seated passenger at the second angle. The controller is configured to cause each of the first and second air bladders to be inflated in preparation for or responsive to the TTOL aircraft flight condition and each of the bladders to be deflated in preparation for or responsive to the non-TTOL flight condition.

In some embodiments, inflating the first air bladder causes forward movement of one side of the backrest and inflating the second air bladder causes forward movement of one side of the forward end of the seat bottom.

In some embodiments, each of the first and second air bladders are wedge-shaped such that inflation causes re-indexing of the seated passenger for TTOL and deflation causes re-indexing of the seated passenger for flight.

In some embodiments, the first device is a first actuator positioned in relation to the backrest and configured to move one side of the backrest forward to position the seated passenger at the first angle and configured to move the one side of the backrest rearward to position the seated passenger at the second angle. The second device is a second actuator positioned in relation to the seat bottom and configured to move one side of a forward end of the bottom forward to position the seated passenger at the first angle and configured to move the one side of the forward end rearward to position the seated passenger at the second angle.

In some embodiments, a first condition of the aircraft passenger seat corresponds to a TTOL-compliant seat angle in which the angle of the seated passenger, determined by the backrest and the seat bottom, is <NUM>° or less relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, and a second condition of the aircraft passenger seat corresponds to a TTOL-non-compliant seat angle in which the angle of the seated passenger, determined by the backrest and the seat bottom, is greater than <NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments, a first condition of each of the first and second devices corresponds to a taxi, takeoff, and landing (TTOL) condition of the aircraft passenger seat, and a second condition of each of the first and second devices corresponds to a flight condition of the aircraft passenger seat.

In some embodiments, the first device is coupled to the backrest and extends in a vertical direction of the backrest such that rotation of the first device effects rotational movement of the backrest to decrease the angle of the backrest relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, the second device is coupled to the seat bottom and is rotatable about a vertical axis such that rotation of the second device effects rotational movement of the seat bottom to decrease an angle of a forward end of the seat bottom relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, and rotation of the first and second devices is coordinated.

In some embodiments, the seat assembly further includes a passenger restraint including first and second attachment points asymmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the seat bottom.

In some embodiments, the seat assembly further includes a frame supporting each of the backrest and the seat bottom, wherein the frame is rotationally fixed about a vertical axis of the frame.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for effecting a temporary position change of a seated passenger relative to an aircraft longitudinal axis as defined by claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the at least one aircraft flight condition includes a taxi, takeoff and landing (TTOL) compliant condition in which the seat angle, determined by the backrest and the seat bottom, is <NUM>° or less relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, and a flight condition in which the seat angle, determined by the backrest and the seat bottom, is greater than <NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments, a default condition of the seat assembly corresponds to the TTOL compliant condition, and the controller is configured to actuate the first and second devices to re-index the seated passenger to a temporary condition of the seat assembly which corresponds to the flight condition.

In some embodiments, each of the first and second devices is an air bladder configured to deflate, via a command from the controller, to position the seat assembly in the flight condition.

Such description refers 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:.

The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways, within the scope of the claims.

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to passenger seat assemblies including devices configured to change the passenger position (i.e., angle) relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis and according to predetermined flight conditions.

Referring to <FIG>, a passenger aircraft <NUM> includes a passenger cabin <NUM> in which a plurality of passenger seats <NUM> are positioned. The aircraft <NUM> defines an aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM> corresponding to the direction of flight. In most passenger aircraft, at least one longitudinal aisle <NUM> is parallel to the aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM>. In narrowbody aircraft, a central aisle (as shown) typically divides the cabin into spaced left and right columns. In widebody aircraft, two longitudinal aisles separate the cabin into left, right and center columns. According to the present disclosure, at least one of the passenger seats <NUM> positioned in the cabin is provided at an angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM>. The at least one passenger seat <NUM> is alterable to change the angle of the seated passenger relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM> according to the aircraft flight condition. As shown, and discussed further below, angle "A" corresponds to a TTOL aircraft condition in which a TTOL certification criteria applies, and angle "B" corresponds to at least one flight condition in which the TTOL certification criteria does not apply, wherein angle "B" is greater than angle "A".

As discussed above in the background section, passenger seat angles from <NUM>-<NUM>° are classified as forward facing, seat angles from <NUM>-<NUM>° are classified as oblique facing, and seat angles from <NUM>-<NUM>° are classified as side facing. Each classification is subject to different regulatory criteria. The same applies to aft facing seats +<NUM>° of the angular ranges. Presently, no regulatory certification criteria exist for seat angles greater than <NUM>° and less than <NUM>°. As such, the present disclosure provides seat assemblies in which the seat angle can be changed temporarily during flight, or temporarily changed for TTOL, such that the seat meets certification criteria for its TTOL position.

For example, a seat assembly according to the present disclosure may have a first flight configuration for positioning a seated passenger outside of the predefined classifications, for example at an angle in the range from <NUM>-<NUM>° relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM>, and a second TTOL configuration for positioning a seated passenger within a predefined classification, for example at an angle of <NUM>° or less relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM>. In this example, the seat assembly would meet the certification criteria for the TTOL position while providing the ability to reposition the seated passenger during flight where no certification criteria apply. In other words, devices incorporated into the seat assembly are utilized to cause the seat angle to change, thereby changing the angle of the seated passenger, between TTOL and at least one flight condition of the aircraft, such that the seat TTOL angle meets the regulatory certification criteria for an oblique facing seat. In other applications, the devices according to the present disclosure can be utilized to change the passenger orientation for reasons other than meeting certification criteria.

Referring to <FIG>, a seat assembly <NUM> according to the present disclosure includes a backrest <NUM> and a seat bottom <NUM> supported on a frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> is rotationally fixed about its vertical axis such that the seat frame does not pivot or rotate to change the seat angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis <NUM>. The seat frame may be configured to recline to transition between upright sitting, reclined and lie-flat sleeping positions, among other intermediate positions. The devices for effecting a change in a seat element discussed herein are compatible for use with seat adjustment devices such as seat recline and armrest adjustment mechanisms, among others. Although not shown, the seat assembly may include a leg rest, armrests and other seat elements typically found on business class seats and the like.

Factors that influence the seated passenger angle relative to the seat frame <NUM> and the aircraft longitudinal axis include the back angle (measured in the z-axis) in relation to the lateral sides of the backrest cushion, and the angle of the leading or forward edge of the seat bottom cushion in relation to the lateral sides of the seat bottom cushion. As discussed below, other factors that influence the seat angle of a passenger relative to the seat itself include the offset/asymmetric location of the seat belt attachment points as well as visual cues (i.e., items positioned directly forward of the seated passenger intended to capture the passenger's focus and attention, such as a video monitor, causing the passenger to face an intended direction).

The backrest <NUM> is equipped with a first device <NUM>, incorporated within or positioned relative to the backrest <NUM>, configured to effect movement of the backrest to change the angle of the backrest (measured in the z-axis) relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. The seat bottom <NUM> includes a second device <NUM>, incorporated within or positioned relative to the seat bottom <NUM>, configured to effect movement of the seat bottom to change the angle of the seat bottom relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. A controller <NUM> communicatively coupled to each of the first and second devices <NUM>, <NUM>, such as through an air compressor having a bleed valve, is configured to activate, such as actuate, the first and second devices according to the aircraft flight condition.

In some embodiments, the change effected in each of the backrest <NUM> and the seat bottom <NUM> is a shape change of the seat element. For example, the backrest <NUM> may include an air bladder <NUM> incorporated within the backrest configured to inflate to change the backrest shape thereby changing the backrest angle and consequently the angle of the seated passenger relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. The air bladder <NUM> may be positioned within the backrest <NUM> along one lateral side and extending in the vertical direction. In use, the air bladder <NUM> inflates to expand one side of the backrest causing the one side to move farther forward as compared to the opposing side, thus decreasing the angle of the backrest relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis to change the backrest angle from, for example, greater than <NUM>° to <NUM>° or less. The air bladder <NUM> may be wedge-shaped such that inflation fills the bladder to drive one side of the backrest forward. In other embodiments, the air bladder may be in contact with the backside of the backrest such that inflation causes the backrest to rotate or pivot such that one side of the backrest is driven forward relative to the other. In the reverse, deflating one of the air bladder configurations returns the backrest to the original position.

The seat bottom <NUM> also includes an air bladder <NUM> that inflates to drive one side of the forward end forward relative to the opposing side to change the angle of the forward end supporting the legs of the passenger. The air bladder <NUM> may be wedge shaped such that inflating the air bladder <NUM> extends one side of the front of the seat bottom farther forward to decrease the angle of the seat bottom, measured at the forward end relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. In the reverse, deflating the air bladder <NUM> returns the shape to the original position, for example, from <NUM>° or less to greater than <NUM>°.

In some embodiments, the inflated conditions of the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> corresponds to the TTOL position of the seat assembly, and the deflated conditions of the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> corresponds to an aircraft flight condition, such as any flight condition other than TTOL in which certification criteria do not apply. In some embodiments, the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> may inflate or deflate to change the seat angle, and consequently the seated passenger angle, from one classification to another, such as from forward facing to oblique facing and vice versa.

The controller <NUM> may be located within or remote from the seat and functions to coordinate the inflation and deflation of the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, during flight, the controller <NUM> may cause the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> to deflate to effect the angular change in the seat elements to change the seat angle of the passenger, and when preparing for TTOL the controller <NUM> may cause the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> to inflate change the seat angle for TTOL compliance. The default configuration may be the TTOL condition in which the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> are inflated, whereas the temporary confirmation may be the flight condition in which the air bladders <NUM>, <NUM> are deflated, or vice versa. In other words, a default condition of the seat assembly meeting a certification criterion may be changed to a temporary condition of the seat assembly in which certification criteria does not apply, or vice versa.

Referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment of a seat assembly <NUM>, the first device <NUM> may be a mechanical actuator or linkage coupled to the backrest <NUM> and extending in a vertical direction of the backrest such that rotation of the actuator alters the backrest angle. In some embodiments, via the controller <NUM>, rotation of the actuator in a first direction rotates or pivots the backrest <NUM> to decrease the angle of the backrest relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis for TTOL, while rotation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction rotates or pivots the backrest <NUM> to increase the angle of the backrest relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis for the at least one flight condition. The second device <NUM> may be coupled to the seat bottom <NUM> such that rotation of the second device about a vertical axis causes rotational movement of the seat bottom to change the angle of the forward end of the seat bottom relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. Other devices and mechanisms are envisioned to move the seat elements and/or effect a shape change, and the first and second devices may be coordinated for simultaneous movement via the controller <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in each of the above-described seat assemblies, the seat assembly further includes a passenger restraint <NUM> including first and second attachment points <NUM>, <NUM> positioned on opposite sides of the seat bottom in an asymmetrical relationship. To further influence the seated passenger angle relative to the seat elements and to the aircraft longitudinal axis, the two attachment points are asymmetrically positioned such that one attachment point is positioned farther forward along the seat bottom as compared to the other. The attachment points are fixed in position such that a line <NUM> drawn connecting the points is parallel to the plane of the backrest and the plane of the forward end of the seat bottom when configured for TTOL. In other words, the passenger restraint is aligned according to the seat certification criteria for the TTOL altered seat, and not for other modes of flight, as impact loads are necessitated for TTOL positions. Passenger restraints can include, but are not limited to, conventional lap belts with or without over-shoulder straps. In addition, should other load cases dictate, attachment points may be infinitely positioned or indexed to either a TTOL and flight positions using a mechanical or electromechanical device.

Still reference to <FIG>, the passenger seat assembly according to the present disclosure may be positioned in relation to a visual cue <NUM> provided forward of the seat to further help position the seated passenger in relation to the seat and to the aircraft longitudinal axis. In other words, the visual cue functions to ensure that the seated passenger is correctly seated on the altered seat with his/her back against the backrest and legs against the forward end of the seat bottom for TTOL. The visual cue can take the form of a physical object that directs or instructs the passenger toward the "correct" orientation angle, for example, a video monitor, placarding, footrest locations and shapes, visual indicators, line features, etc. In some embodiments, the visual cue may be movable and the movement coordinated with the altering of the seat assembly to capture the focus of the seated passenger.

Referring to <FIG>, a method <NUM> for temporarily changing the seat angle to effect a temporary change in orientation of a seated passenger relative to an aircraft longitudinal axis includes, in a first Step <NUM>, providing a seat assembly according to one of the seat assembly embodiments described above. In a Step <NUM>, the seat assembly is positioned in an aircraft cabin at an angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. The seat elements, such as the backrest and the seat bottom, are positioned or shaped for TTOL such that the seat assembly certification criteria are met.

Continuing with the method, in a Step <NUM>, during flight (i.e., any flight condition other than TTOL) the controller functions to actuate the seat devices to alter the seat elements to achieve the second angle relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis. The second angle corresponds to the aircraft flight condition for which no seat certification criteria apply, or in which seat certification criteria other than TTOL apply. In a Step <NUM>, in preparation for or in response to the TTOL aircraft flight condition, the controller causes the seat devices to actuate to return the seat elements to their first angle for TTOL.

Altering between the first and second angles, or in an out of applicable certification criteria, may be manual or automatic, passenger and/or crew controlled, etc. In addition to the alterable elements discussed herein, similar devices may be applied to leg rests, position adjustable armrests, headrests, etc. when included on the seat assembly.

Claim 1:
An aircraft passenger seat installable in an aircraft cabin at an angle relative to an aircraft longitudinal axis, the aircraft passenger seat comprising:
a backrest (<NUM>) comprising a first device (<NUM>) configured to effect a change in the backrest to change an angle of a seated passenger relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis;
a seat bottom (<NUM>) including a second device (<NUM>) configured to effect a change in the seat bottom to change an angle of the seated passenger relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis; and
a controller (<NUM>) communicatively coupled to each of the first and second devices, characterized in that:
the controller is configured to actuate the first and second devices synchronously and according to at least one aircraft flight condition; and
wherein the change in the seat bottom is an angular change in the forward end of the seat bottom relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis.