Patent ID: 12220066

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. 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.

As used herein a letter following a reference numeral is intended to reference an embodiment of the feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g.,1,1a,1b). Such shorthand notations are used for purposes of convenience only, and should not be construed to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein in any way unless expressly stated to the contrary.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts, and “a” and “an” are intended to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The appearances of the phrase “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, and embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed may include one or more of the features expressly described or inherently present herein, or any combination of sub-combination of two or more such features, along with any other features which may not necessarily be expressly described or inherently present in the instant disclosure.

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 toFIGS.1A-1B, environmental views of a rotatable armrest102,104according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. A set of commercial aircraft seats100may include traditional armrests106designed for a single passenger; for example, at the ends of each row; and rotatable armrests102,104between passenger seats. The rotatable armrests102,104may define a cross sectional profile with some surfaces that match the profile of the traditional armrest106for the comfort of the passengers.

The rotatable armrest102,104may be placed in a first, vertical configuration102where the rotatable armrest102,104is narrow. The first, vertical configuration102offers a superior contact surface that corresponds to the superior contact surface of the traditional armrest106. When passengers desire more armrest space, the rotatable armrest102,104may be placed in a second, horizontal configuration104where extended surface are rotated to become the superior contact surfaces.

Referring toFIG.2, a perspective detail view of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The rotatable armrest defines a vertical superior surface200that is the primary armrest surface when the rotatable armrest is in a vertical configuration, and a horizontal superior surface202that is the primary armrest surface when the rotatable armrest is in a horizontal configuration. A stationary shaft206defines the axis of rotation for the rotatable armrest, and a spring biased button204disengages 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 button204, the non-rotating portion may be excluded.

Referring toFIG.3, 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 shaft306affixed to a structural component of the seat. In at least one embodiment, the stationary shaft306may engage internal structures of the arm pad via one or more bearings308that allow the arm pad to rotate about the stationary shaft306.

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 button304with one or more locking protrusions310. The locking protrusions310engage locking recesses312defined by internal structures of the arm pad. The locking recesses312are disposed periodically about the stationary shaft306to stop the rotation of the arm pad at predefined points; for example, locking recesses312may be disposed every 90° around the stationary shaft306so that the arm pad may be locked in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.

In at least one embodiment, a biasing element316such as a spring or other linear actuator biases the button304and corresponding locking protrusions310toward a locked configuration where the locking protrusions310engage the locking recesses312.

Referring toFIGS.4A-4B, front views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. The rotatable armrest defines a narrow vertical superior contact surface400and wide horizontal superior contact surface402. In a first, vertical orientation (as inFIG.4A), the narrow vertical superior contact surface400is 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 button404to disengage an internal locking mechanism and rotate the rotatable armrest to a second, horizontal orientation (as inFIG.4B) such that the wide horizontal superior contact surface402is on top. The wide horizontal superior contact surface402provides substantially double the area for passengers to rest their arms.

Referring toFIGS.5A-5B, front views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. The rotatable armrest defines a narrow vertical superior contact surface500while in a first, vertical orientation (as inFIG.5A), and a wide horizontal superior contact surface502while in a second, horizontal orientation (as inFIG.5B). The rotatable armrest is releasably locked into either the first, vertical orientation or second, horizontal orientation via an internal locking mechanism, releasable via a button504.

In at least one embodiment, the narrow vertical superior contact surface500is 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 surface502may define a slanted profile with a peak portion506. The slanted profile provides a larger contact surface for each passenger as compared to a strictly horizontal surface. Furthermore, the peak portion506defines a tactile divider; passengers are able to feel the feel the peak portion506and know that it demarks each passenger's portion of the armrest.

Referring toFIGS.6A-6B, front views of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment are shown. In at least one embodiment, the narrow vertical superior contact surface600is 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 surface602may 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 toFIG.7, a perspective detail view of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Where a rotatable armrest includes a stationary shaft706and button704to release an internal locking mechanism, the rotatable armrest may include one or more cams700configured to control the movement of one or more extendable dividers702. Wide, horizontal superior surfaces of the rotatable armrest may define openings to allow the extendable dividers702to protrude above the surface when in a horizontal orientation.

Referring toFIG.8, a front detail view of a rotatable armrest according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The rotatable armrest includes a stationary shaft806that defines an axis of rotation for the rotatable armrest. In at least one embodiment, one or more cams800are disposed in a fixed position relative to the stationary shaft806. The cams800define a profile to control the movement of extendable dividers802. The extendable dividers802may be biased to stay inside the rotatable armrest when in a vertical orientation to prevent the extendable dividers from being an encumbrance. While the rotatable armrest is being rotated into a horizontal configuration, the cams800push the extendable dividers802though openings in the wide horizontal superior surface. The extendable dividers802provide a delineation between passenger space.

Referring toFIGS.9A-9C, perspective views of a rotatable armrest900,902according 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 armrest900,902may include aircraft seat utility mechanisms904such as a seat recline button908in addition an armrest rotation button906. In some embodiments, the seat utility mechanisms904may be affixed to the armrest housing and therefore configured to rotate with the armrest900,902. 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 configuration900or a horizontal configuration902; for example, a cable.

Referring toFIGS.10A-10C, 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 armrest1000,1002may include aircraft seat utility mechanisms1004. A utility mechanism housing (including a seat recline button1008,1012and armrest rotation button1006,1010) may be affixed to a stationary element within the armrest housing and therefore configured to remain stationary with respect to the armrest1000,1002during rotation. It may be appreciated that in such embodiments, the mechanisms that effectuate seat utility, such as the recline function, may be substantially rigid.

It is believed that the inventive concepts disclosed herein and many of their attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description of embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the broad scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein or without sacrificing all of their material advantages; and individual features from various embodiments may be combined to arrive at other embodiments. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. Furthermore, any of the features disclosed in relation to any of the individual embodiments may be incorporated into any other embodiment.