Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/808,293 filed Apr. 4, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to a seating product, particularly a seat such as is provided in business and premium class cabins of passenger aircraft. In aircraft cabins, space is at a premium, and seats are positioned to achieve a balance between passenger comfort, space-saving and safety. Additional considerations include providing an accommodation for disabled, wheelchair-seated or elderly passengers who may find it difficult to maneuver past a conventional passenger seat endbay assembly. Endbays frequently serve as storage areas for deployable tables and thus are required to have a certain minimum amount of interior storage volume. Prior art endbays thus have an armcap at a fixed height that is generally 16-18 cm. above the seating surface of the seat bottom. The endbays include a base that accommodates the stowed table, and the armcap functions both as a lid for the housing and as an armrest. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a passenger seat that has an armcap that can be lowered to be at the approximate level of the seating surface of the seat bottom to facilitate passenger ingress and egress. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a passenger seat that has an endbay that moves between a raised armrest position and a lowered, seat access position. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a passenger seat that has an endbay that moves between an upper armrest position and a lower, seat access position, and that includes an endbay base that stows a deployable table. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by providing a seat that includes a seat base, a seat bottom and seat back operatively associated with the base. An endbay assembly is provided that defines an armrest housing positioned to one side of the seat bottom. An armrest assembly having an upper arm support surface is positioned in the armrest assembly of the endbay assembly and is selectively moveable between a raised position extended from the armrest housing and a lowered position within the armrest housing with the upper arm support surface aligned with a seating surface of the seat bottom for facilitating lateral ingress and egress of a seat occupant from a position to and from one side of the seat. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the seat includes a head rest mounted on a top end of the seat back and a leg rest and foot rest mounted forward of the seat bottom and adapted to move between a stowed position and a deployed, extended position to support the legs and feet of the seat occupant in an elevated condition. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the armrest assembly includes a tray table carried by the armrest assembly and moveable between a lowered, stowed position against a major vertical surface of the armrest assembly and a raised, deployed position perpendicular to the major vertical surface of the armrest assembly and extending at least partially laterally across and above the seat bottom. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the tray table includes a cantilevered support arm connecting the tray table to the armrest assembly and supporting the tray table in its deployed position. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the upper arm support surface is a padded armcap. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the padded armcap is mounted by one side to the armrest assembly and comprises a top-opening cover for covering and enclosing the endbay assembly. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the endbay assembly includes a structural plate on which is mounted a lock assembly that maintains the armrest in its lowered position in the endbay assembly when stowed. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the structural plate includes a tray table spring reel connected by cabling to the armrest to provide a spring assist in lifting the tray table into its upper, deployed position. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a vertically-extending stationary tray table rack cooperates with a tray table rack gear carried by the armrest to guide the tray table during movement. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, an armrest spring reel and an armrest rack cooperates with an armrest rack gear for providing a spring assist when being moved to its upper position extended from the armrest housing. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, an aircraft passenger seat is provided that includes a seat base and a seat bottom and seat back operatively associated with the base. A head rest is mounted on a top end of the seat back and a leg rest and foot rest is mounted forward of the seat bottom and adapted to move between a stowed position and a deployed, extended position to support the legs and feet of a seat occupant in an elevated condition. An endbay assembly defines an armrest housing positioned to one side of the seat bottom and includes a structural plate on which is mounted a lock assembly that maintains the armrest in its lowered position in the endbay assembly when stowed. An armrest assembly is provided that includes an upper arm support surface defined by an armcap positioned on the endbay assembly and selectively moveable between a raised position extended from the armrest housing, and a lowered position within the armrest housing with the upper arm support surface aligned with a seating surface of the seat bottom for facilitating lateral ingress and egress to the seat of a seat occupant from a position to one side of the seat. A tray table is carried by the armrest assembly and is moveable between a lowered, stowed position against a major vertical surface of the armrest assembly and a raised, deployed position perpendicular to the major vertical surface of the armrest assembly. The tray table extends at least partially laterally across and above the seat bottom, and a tray table spring reel is connected by cabling to the armrest to provide a spring assist in lifting the tray table into its upper, deployed position. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, an aircraft passenger seating unit is provided that includes a seat base and first and second seats positioned on the base, each seat including a bottom and seat back operatively associated with the base, a head rest mounted on a top end of the seat back and a leg rest and foot rest mounted forward of the seat bottom and adapted to move between a stowed position and a deployed, extended position to support the legs and feet of respective first and second seat occupants in an elevated condition. A first endbay assembly is positioned on an outboard side of the first seat and a second endbay assembly is positioned on an outboard side of the second seat. The first end bay assembly and the second endbay assembly each define an armrest housing positioned to one side of the seat bottom and including a structural plate on which is mounted a lock assembly that maintains the armrest in its lowered position in the endbay assembly when stowed. An armrest assembly is provided in each endbay assembly and includes an upper arm support surface defined by an armcap, positioned on the endbay assembly and selectively moveable between a raised position extended from the armrest housing, and a lowered position within the armrest housing with the upper arm support surface aligned with a seating surface of the seat bottom for facilitating lateral ingress and egress to the seat of a seat occupant from a position to one side of the seat. A tray table is carried by the armrest assembly and is moveable between a lowered, stowed position against a major vertical surface of the armrest assembly and a raised, deployed position perpendicular to the major vertical surface of the armrest assembly and extending at least partially laterally across and above the seat bottom, and a tray table spring reel connected by cabling to the armrest to provide a spring assist in lifting the tray table into its upper, deployed position. A center console is positioned between the first and second seats. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the center console includes a storage compartment for first and second video monitors. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a top surface of the console includes inboard armcaps that serve as armrests in a closed position, and open to allow deployment of first and second video monitors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The present invention is best understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pair of passenger seats in an upright position and with respective armrests in a lowered, seat access position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pair of passenger seats in an upright position and with respective armcaps in a raised, armrest position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pair of passenger seats in an upright position and with respective armcaps in a raised, armrest position, with a table normally stowed in the endbay deployed into a use position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a pair of passenger seats in respective recline and upright positions, and with respective armcaps in a lowered, seat access position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation showing the table in an intermediate position and the armcap in its upper, armrest position; 
         FIG. 6  is side elevation showing the table in an intermediate position and the armcap in its upper, armrest position, with parts removed to show the lock mechanism and spring reel assemblies; and 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary side elevation with the table moved to its stowed position and the armcap closed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings, seating unit  10  including a pair of passenger seats  30  and  90 . Seat  30  includes a seat back  32  that is preferably adapted to move between upright TTOL and variable recline positions. A headrest  34  is positioned on a top end of the seat back  32  to provide comfort and support to the seat occupant&#39;s head and neck. A seat bottom  36  and foot rest  38  provide a seating surface and an extendable leg and foot support, respectively. The seat bottom  36  has an upper seating surface  37  that accommodates the buttocks and upper legs of the seat occupant. 
     A center console  40  provides space between the seats  30  and  90 , storage for video monitors, seat, video, and audio controls, call button and other typical functions. The top of the console  40  includes inboard armcaps  42 ,  44  that serve as armrests in a closed position, and open to allow deployment of video monitors. 
     Seat  30  includes an endbay assembly  50  in which is mounted an outboard armrest  52 , shown in its lowered, seat access position in  FIG. 1 . In this position, the top of the armrest  52  is approximately level with the upper seating surface  37  of the seat bottom  36 . Seat  90  includes a seat back  92  that is preferably adapted to move between upright TTOL and variable recline positions. A headrest  94  is positioned on a top end of the seat back  92  to provide support to the seat occupant&#39;s head and neck. A seat bottom  96  and foot rest  98  provide a seating surface and an extendable leg and foot support, respectively. The seat bottom  96  has an upper seating surface  97  that accommodates the buttocks and upper legs of the seat occupant. Seat  90  shares the console  40  with seat  30 . 
     Seat  90  includes an endbay assembly  100  in which is mounted an outboard armrest  102 , shown in its lowered, seat access position in  FIG. 1 . In this position, the top of the outboard armrest  102  is approximately level with the upper seating surface  97  of the seat bottom  96 .  FIG. 2  shows the armrests  52 ,  102  of seats  30 ,  90 , respectively, in their upper, armrest positions approximately 16-19 cm. above the seating surfaces  37 ,  97 .  FIG. 3  shows the armrest  52 ,  102  of seats  30 ,  90 , respectively, in their upper, armrest positions, as in  FIG. 2 , with a table  54  shown deployed into a use position spanning the distance between the armrest  52  and the console  40 . As is shown in  FIG. 4 , a video monitor  42  is deployed into a viewing position for an occupant of seat  30 , and the seat back  34  and foot rest  38  are reclined and extended, respectively, to provide a recline position for a seat occupant. 
     The remainder of the description proceeds principally with respect to seat  30 . The seat  90  includes the same features as seat  30  and functions in the same manner, specifically with respect to the operation of the endbay assemblies  50  and  100 , respectively. The endbay assembly  50  is a right-hand endbay, and the endbay assembly  100  is a left-hand endbay, with identical functions. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , endbay assembly  50  serves as an enclosure for the armrest  52 . A padded armcap  58  is mounted to the top of the armrest  52  and serves as the arm support portion of the armrest  52  when in the position shown in, for example,  FIG. 1 , and when open as shown in  FIG. 3 , permits the table  54  to be raised out of its stowed position. Table  54  is mounted on a cantilevered support arm  56  that permits the table, when raised, to be pivoted 90 degrees into its use position. The cantilever configuration of the support arm  56  provides support to the bottom of the table  54 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . When the table  54  is deployed, the cantilever configuration of the support arm  56  also permits the armcap  58  to be returned to its closed position for use as the support surface of the armrest  52  by the seat occupant. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-7 , the armrest  52  is shown in its lowered position in the endbay assembly  50 . The endbay assembly  50  includes a lower structural plate  60  on which is mounted a lock assembly  62  that maintains the armrest  52  in its lowered position in the endbay assembly  50 . A spring reel  64  is connected by appropriate cabling to the armrest  52  and provides a spring assist in lifting the table  54  into its upper position, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The table  54  is guided by a rack  66  that interconnects with a rack gear  68 . See  FIG. 7 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 7 , the armrest  52  is provided a spring assist when being raised by a spring reel  70  and appropriate cabling. The armrest  52  is guided by a rack  72  that interconnects with a rack gear  74 . 
     A passenger seat with drop-down armrest assembly according to the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.

Technology Category: 7