Patent Description:
Passenger vehicles, such as aircraft, buses, trains, ships, and automobiles, often include one or more passenger seats in which passengers may be seated and otherwise use during travel. A passenger seat may include a spreader that may allow a seating cushion of the passenger seat to be attached to the passenger seat. Traditionally, installation of seating cushions using such spreaders has been labor-intensive and time-consuming. Additionally, other spreaders may not provide an acceptable amount of stability or rigidity for use in passenger seats for passenger vehicles.

Document <CIT> discloses passenger seats having a seat frame and a seat bottom slidingly and pivotally attached to the seat frame that, when the passenger seats are reclined, are configured to articulate forward from an upright configuration of the passenger seat to a second seat position corresponding to a reclined configuration of the passenger seat. The seat bottom can include an aft articulating mechanism that defines a declining first path in an aft-to-forward direction to cause the aft end of the seat bottom to drop when the seat bottom articulates forward; and a forward articulating mechanism connected with the seat bottom near a forward end of the seat bottom that defines a second path shaped to cause the forward end of the seat bottom to move upward when the seat bottom articulates forward, such that the seat bottom tilts aft in response to articulating forward when the passenger seat is reclined.

According to certain embodiments, a spreader for a passenger seat is defined according to claim <NUM>. In some cases, the second insertion opening is between the first insertion opening and the aft end.

In various embodiments, at least one characteristic of the second slot is different from the first slot. In certain cases, the at least one characteristic includes at least one of a height of the second insertion opening, a length of the second insertion opening, a length of the second slot, an angle of the second slot relative to a horizontal axis, or a shape of the second slot.

In some embodiments, the spreader further includes a second first slot on the second side. The second first slot may be elongated, and the top side may define a second first insertion opening providing access to the second first slot. In certain aspects, the first insertion opening is aligned with the second first insertion opening between the forward end and the aft end.

In various embodiments, the first insertion opening includes a forward edge and an aft edge, and the forward edge and the aft edge are coplanar. In some examples, the first insertion opening includes a forward edge and an aft edge, and the forward edge and the aft edge are non-coplanar. In certain embodiments, the aft edge is vertically above the forward edge and the insertion opening is angled upwards in a forward and aft direction. The insertion opening may optionally define a greatest width of the slot. In some cases, the slot is elongated towards the forward end from the insertion opening.

In certain embodiments, a passenger seat includes the spreader and a base assembly having a roller. The roller may be positioned in the first slot via the first insertion opening. In some embodiments, the passenger seat further includes a seatback, and the seatback is fixed relative to the base assembly. The passenger seat may include an anchor configured to engage the base assembly when the roller is positioned in the slot. various cases, the second insertion opening includes a forward edge and an aft edge, and the aft edge of the second insertion opening is vertically above the forward edge of the first insertion opening, the aft edge of the first insertion opening, and the forward edge of the second insertion opening.

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 spreaders with open slots for passenger seats. While the spreaders with open slots are discussed for use with aircraft seats, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the spreaders with open slots may be used in passenger seats or other seats of any type or otherwise as desired.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a passenger seat <NUM>, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, the passenger seat <NUM> includes a spreader <NUM>, a leg assembly <NUM>, baseframe tubes 106a-b, an armrest <NUM>, a seat back assembly <NUM>, and a seat base <NUM>. The passenger seat <NUM> may include other suitable number of components (e.g., fewer or greater than the illustrated number of components). The components and sub-components of the passenger seat <NUM> may be constructed from various suitable materials as desired, including but not limited to, stainless steel, aramid fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene, aluminum, aluminum alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, other metallic materials or non-metallic materials, composite materials, combinations thereof, or other suitable materials. Additionally, the components of the passenger seat <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be affixed or otherwise coupled to another component via suitable fasteners, which include but are not limited to screws, bolts, rivets or other mechanical or chemical fasteners. The particular passenger seat <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> should not be considered limiting on the current disclosure, and other types of passengers seats may be utilized as desired.

In certain embodiments, the leg assembly <NUM> supports or otherwise couples the passenger seat <NUM> to a floor of a passenger vehicle. The baseframe tubes 106a-b may be coupled to the spreader <NUM>, the leg assembly <NUM>, other suitable components of the passenger seat <NUM>, or a combination thereof, and may provide support to a passenger or other entity that may use the passenger seat <NUM>. The armrest <NUM> may be coupled to the baseframe tube 106b, the seat back assembly <NUM>, other suitable component of the passenger seat <NUM>, or a combination thereof. The seat back assembly <NUM> may be coupled to the baseframe tube 106b or other suitable component or combination of components of the passenger seat <NUM> and may provide support to an entity using the passenger seat <NUM> (e.g., may allow the entity to lean against the passenger seat <NUM> without displacing the passenger seat <NUM>). Additionally, the seat back assembly <NUM> may be fixed relative to one or more portions of the seat base <NUM> (e.g., a base assembly or rollers of the seat base <NUM>).

The spreader <NUM> may be positioned in the passenger seat <NUM> to allow the seat base <NUM> to be installed on, or otherwise coupled to, the passenger seat <NUM>. For example, the spreader <NUM> may be coupled to the baseframe tubes 106a-b, to the seat back assembly <NUM>, or other suitable components of the passenger seat <NUM>. Additionally, the seat base <NUM> may be coupled to the passenger seat <NUM> in one or more locations. For example, a first portion of the seat base <NUM> may be positioned in the spreader <NUM>, and the seat base <NUM> may be rotated rearward to allow a second portion of the seat base <NUM> to be coupled to an anchoring device <NUM>. Once the seat base <NUM> is coupled to the spreader <NUM> and to the anchoring device <NUM>, the passenger seat <NUM> may be used (e.g., by a passenger or other suitable entity with respect to the passenger vehicle).

<FIG> illustrate the spreader <NUM> in detail. The spreader <NUM> may provide similar or improved stability, rigidity, or other suitable performance indicators with respect to the passenger seat <NUM> compared to other spreaders. Additionally, using the spreader <NUM> to install the seat base <NUM>, or other suitable component of the passenger seat <NUM>, an amount of time to prepare the passenger seat <NUM> for use (e.g., installing the passenger seat <NUM>, repairing the passenger seat <NUM>, maintaining the passenger seat <NUM>, etc.) may be reduced compared to the other spreaders.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in various embodiments, the spreader <NUM> includes a forward end <NUM>, an aft end <NUM>, a top side <NUM>, a bottom side <NUM>, a first lateral side <NUM>, a second lateral side <NUM>. The aft end <NUM> is opposite from the forward end <NUM>, the bottom side <NUM> is opposite from the top side <NUM>, and the first lateral side <NUM> is opposite from the second lateral side <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first lateral side <NUM> and the second lateral side <NUM> may extend from the forward end <NUM> to the aft end <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the spreader <NUM> includes at least one open slot for receiving a portion of a seat base <NUM>, and in certain embodiments, the spreader <NUM> includes a plurality of open slots for receiving portions of the seat base <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated, the spreader <NUM> includes at least one first slot <NUM> and at least one second slot <NUM>. The at least one first slot <NUM> and the at least one second slot <NUM> are each open slots. In various embodiments, the open slots may improve an efficiency of installing the seat base <NUM>. Additionally, the spreader <NUM> with the open slots may provide similar or improved seating performance (e.g., stability, rigidity, etc.) for the passenger seat <NUM> during use. The spreader <NUM> may be constructed from various suitable materials as desired, including but not limited to, stainless steel, aramid fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene, aluminum, aluminum alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, other metallic materials or non-metallic materials, composite materials, combinations thereof, or other suitable materials.

The first slot <NUM> is on one of the first lateral side <NUM> or the second lateral side <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first slot <NUM> is monolithically or integrally formed in the spreader <NUM>, although in other embodiments the first slot <NUM> may be a separate component or feature that is attached to the spreader <NUM> using various techniques or mechanisms as desired. As illustrated, the first slot <NUM> is elongated (e.g., towards the forward end <NUM> of the spreader <NUM>). The first slot <NUM> includes a first insertion opening <NUM> at the top side <NUM> of the spreader <NUM> such that the first slot <NUM> is an open slot. The insertion opening <NUM> may provide access for positioning components seat base <NUM> within the first slot <NUM>. In some embodiments, the insertion opening <NUM> may define a greatest width of the first slot <NUM>. In some examples, and as discussed in detail below, a support assembly <NUM> of the seat base <NUM> may be positioned in the first slot <NUM> via the insertion opening <NUM>. The support assembly <NUM> may be coupled to, positioned on, or otherwise included in the seat base <NUM>.

As mentioned, the spreader <NUM> includes a second slot <NUM>. The second slot <NUM> may be similar to the first slot <NUM> and is elongated and includes a second insertion opening <NUM> at the top side <NUM> such that the second slot <NUM> is an open slot. In some embodiments, the insertion opening <NUM> may be between the insertion opening <NUM> and the aft end <NUM> of the spreader <NUM>, although it need not be in other embodiments. Similar to the insertion opening <NUM>, the insertion opening <NUM> of the second slot <NUM> may receive a support assembly <NUM> or other component of the seat base <NUM>.

The first slot <NUM> and the second slot <NUM> each include one or more slot characteristics. The slot characteristics may include, but are not limited to, a height of the insertion opening, a length of the insertion opening, a length of the slot, an angle of the slot relative to a horizontal axis, a shape of the slot, other suitable characteristics, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the first slot <NUM> may include at least one characteristic that is different from the corresponding characteristic of the second slot <NUM>. In one non-limiting example, the height of the second slot <NUM> may be greater than the height of the first slot <NUM>. In another non-limiting example, the angle of the second slot <NUM> relative to the horizontal axis may be larger than the corresponding angle of the first slot <NUM>. In some examples, each of the above-listed characteristics may be different with respect to the first slot <NUM> and the second slot <NUM>.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, the insertion opening <NUM> includes a forward edge <NUM> and an aft edge <NUM>. The forward edge <NUM> and the aft edge <NUM> of the insertion opening <NUM> may be coplanar, such as illustrated in <FIG>, although in other embodiments, the edges <NUM>, <NUM> need not be coplanar. Similarly, the insertion opening <NUM> may include a forward edge <NUM> and an aft edge <NUM>, which may be coplanar or non-coplanar as desired. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the forward edge <NUM> and the aft edge <NUM> are not coplanar, and the aft edge <NUM> is vertically above the forward edge <NUM>. In this example, the insertion opening <NUM> may be angled upwards in a forward direction and an aft direction. In some examples, the aft edge <NUM> of the insertion opening <NUM> may be or may extend vertically above the forward edge <NUM> of the insertion opening <NUM>, the aft edge <NUM> of the insertion opening <NUM>, the forward edge <NUM> of the insertion opening <NUM>, or a combination thereof.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, in certain embodiments, the spreader <NUM> includes a second first slot 201A and a second second slot 302A provided on the second lateral side <NUM> of the spreader <NUM>. The slots 201A, 302A may mirror the slots <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, although they need not in other embodiments. Additionally, while first and second slots are illustrated, in other embodiments, fewer, additional, and/or other combinations of slots may be utilized as desired, and the slot characteristics on a particular lateral side may be, but do not have to be, mirrored. As a non-limiting example, a spreader may have four slots, each of which has a slot characteristic (e.g., slot width) that is different from the other slots.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a support assembly <NUM> of the seat base <NUM> may be received within each open slot. The support assembly <NUM> may be various devices or components for positioning the seat base <NUM> relative to the spreader <NUM>. As one non-limiting example, one or more support assemblies <NUM> may include a roller <NUM> positionable within a slot.

The spreader <NUM>, or each of the components thereof, may be formed via various manufacturing processes as desired. Suitable manufacturing processes include, but are not limited to, machining, forging, casting, printing, molding, combinations thereof, or other processes as desired. In some embodiments, the manufacturing process used to form one component may be different from the manufacturing process used to form another component. As one non-limiting example, the first lateral side <NUM> and the second lateral side <NUM> may be formed via forging, and the first slot <NUM> may be formed via machining. In certain embodiments, the spreader <NUM>, or at least one of the components thereof, may optionally only be manufactured in two directions (e.g., an x-direction and a y-direction), although in other embodiments it need not be.

Claim 1:
A spreader (<NUM>) for a passenger seat comprising:
a forward end (<NUM>);
an aft end (<NUM>) opposite from the forward end (<NUM>);
a top side (<NUM>);
a bottom side (<NUM>) opposite from the top side (<NUM>);
a first side (<NUM>) extending from the forward end (<NUM>) to the aft end (<NUM>);
a second side (<NUM>) opposite from the first side (<NUM>) and extending from the forward end (<NUM>) to the aft end; (<NUM>) and
a first slot (<NUM>) on the first side (<NUM>) and configured to receive a portion of a base assembly (<NUM>) within the first slot (<NUM>), wherein the first slot (<NUM>) is elongated, and wherein the top side (<NUM>) defines a first insertion opening (<NUM>) providing access to the first slot (<NUM>),
characterized in that the spreader (<NUM>) further comprises a second slot (<NUM>) on the first side (<NUM>), wherein the second slot (<NUM>) is elongated, and wherein the top side (<NUM>) defines a second insertion opening (<NUM>) providing access to the second slot (<NUM>).