An energy absorbing assembly for a passenger seat that includes a crushable energy absorbing element for safely capturing kinetic energy during an impact event. The energy absorbing assembly comprises a linkage which is mechanically connected with moving parts of the seat back or seat pan by a first attachment element and a second attachment element, and the linkage includes an extended portion that extends beyond one of the attachment elements. A crushable energy absorbing element is mounted around the extended portion of the linkage and connected thereto, so that the crushable energy absorbing element receives and absorbs energy by deformation when the seat back is pushed forward with sufficiently high energy.

The invention provides a cover for an aircraft passenger using a bed surface of an aircraft passenger seat, comprising an attachment mechanism for attaching the cover to the seat, an inflatable bladder, and a trigger mechanism for triggering inflation of the bladder, the bladder being configured to cover a knee region of the bed surface. The invention also provides a harness for the aircraft passenger, comprising an attachment mechanism for attaching the harness to the seat, a number of straps for extending around the passenger, and a fastening mechanism for fastening one or more of the straps in place around the passenger, wherein the number of straps includes at least one of a crotch strap and a torso strap. The invention also provides an aircraft passenger seat unit comprising a seat convertible to a bed, the bed being provided with a cover or harness.

An implementation of a contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin includes a panel positioned between an aft seat and a forward seat, the panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of the forward seat and configured to enhance space utilization. The contoured class divider may include an articulation system to articulate at least a portion of the panel from a first position (normal operation) to a second position (emergency landing). The contoured class divider may provide up to an additional 12 inches of space which can be used to reduce seat pitch (and thereby enhance passenger comfort) or increase the number of rows of seats on a given aircraft.

Aircraft, vibration isolation assemblies, and methods of assembling vibration isolation assemblies are provided. An aircraft includes a vibration isolation assembly. The vibration isolation assembly includes a mounting track, a plate, a clamp block, a vibration isolator, and a support fitting. The mounting track defines a cavity and includes flanges that define an opening to the cavity. The plate is configured to be positioned on the flanges outside of the cavity. The clamp block is configured to be fastened to the plate under the flanges of the mounting track within the cavity. The vibration isolator is configured to be laterally constrained by the clamp block within the cavity. The support fitting is configured to be secured to the vibration isolator outside of the cavity.

An implementation of a contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin includes a panel positioned between an aft seat and a forward seat, the panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of the forward seat and configured to enhance space utilization. The contoured class divider may include an articulation system to articulate at least a portion of the panel from a first position (normal operation) to a second position (emergency landing). The contoured class divider may provide up to an additional 12 inches of space which can be used to reduce seat pitch (and thereby enhance passenger comfort) or increase the number of rows of seats on a given aircraft.

A passenger seat is described which satisfies a head-injury criterion (HIC). To satisfy the HIC, the passenger seat translates or pivots one or more components of the seatback towards a passenger sitting behind the passenger seat. By translating and/or pivoting the components of the seatback towards the passenger, a crush zone for the passenger seat may be increased, thereby increasing the impact time and correspondingly decreasing the forces felt by the passenger.

A head impact criteria (HIC) device for a controlling a breakover rate of a seatback of an aircraft seat, and a method of manufacturing the same, are disclosed. A first energy absorbing member is coupled to the seatback of the aircraft seat. A second energy absorbing member is coupled to a frame of the aircraft seat. A fuse link is encapsulated by the first energy absorbing member and the second energy absorbing member. In response to the HIC device being subjected to a threshold load associated with a dynamic event, the fuse link breaks and the first energy absorbing member and the second energy absorbing member rotate around the axis.

A passenger includes at least one seat component including a first material and at least one additive manufactured component including a second material, the at least one additive manufactured component including a plurality of zones. The at least one additive manufactured component is attached to the at least one seat component. The at least one additive manufactured component includes a lattice structure. Each of the plurality of zones have different physical properties.

Embodiments relate to dynamic stroking seats for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Seat ballast tanks are attached to aircraft seats. The seats are sprung by a fixed or variable load energy absorption system. The weight of a user is determined and assigned to a corresponding seat of the user. Based on the weight of the user, the fluid level in the ballast tank is monitored and adjusted to achieve a target weight range.

An active system and a computer-implemented method for reducing vibrations of seats in a vehicle is described. The system and method adjust a damping and/or a stiffness of a vibration damper based on system input signals from the vehicle or seat system. The signals include one or more of a signal associated with a user weight, a signal associated with time-dependent movement of a vehicle frame, and a signal associated with time-dependent movement of a seat back or a seat pan. The damping or the stiffness are adjusted by a closed loop control.