Technologies are described for assemblies to recline a seat. The assemblies may comprise a shaft, a threaded end at a first end of the shaft, a Stroke limiter, a seat back mounting, a mounting fastener, an energy absorber, and at least one locknut. A first end of the Stroke limiter may be attached to a second end of the shaft. The seat back mounting may be attached to a second end of the Stroke limiter and the mounting fastener. The energy absorber may be a kinetic energy absorbing element and the shaft may pass through the energy absorber. The locknut may be configured to secure the shaft of the seat recline assembly to the seat frame mounting with the end of the shaft attached to the Stroke limiter on a first side of the seat frame mounting and the energy absorber on a second side of the seat frame mounting.

A frame beam member may include a tubular volume. The tubular volume may include at least one wall with one or more undulations in a radial direction along a length of the tubular volume. The one or more undulations may be configured to allow the tubular volume to absorb energy of a load applied during a flight scenario through local bending of the one or more undulations. The one or more undulations may be configured to have a first curvature when unloaded, and may be configured to have a second curvature when the load is applied. The second curvature may be different than the first curvature. The frame beam member may be one of a plurality of frame beam members of the aircraft seat frame. The plurality of frame beam members may be configured to couple to a plurality of joints of the aircraft seat frame.

Disclosed herein is an adjustable seat pan assembly for a seat. The seat pan assembly comprises a fixed frame comprising a frame front end and a frame read end. The seat pan assembly also comprises a seat pan positioned above the fixed frame and movably mounted to the fixed frame. The seat pan comprises a pan front end and a pan rear end. The seat pan assembly further comprises at least one actuator comprising a first end, attached to the seat pan, and a second end, attached to the fixed frame. The actuator is selectively operable to tilt the pan front end, relative to the pan rear end and the fixed frame, to adjust the angle of the seat pan relative to the fixed frame.

Disclosed herein is an adjustable seat pan assembly for a seat. The seat pan assembly comprises a fixed frame comprising a frame front end and a frame read end. The seat pan assembly also comprises a seat pan positioned above the fixed frame and movably mounted to the fixed frame. The seat pan comprises a pan front end and a pan rear end. The seat pan assembly further comprises at least one actuator comprising a first end, attached to the seat pan, and a second end, attached to the fixed frame. The actuator is selectively operable to tilt the pan front end, relative to the pan rear end and the fixed frame, to adjust the angle of the seat pan relative to the fixed frame.

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.

Seat assemblies (200) including structural components (212, 222, 232) made of foam are described. A seat sub-assembly (210, 220, 230) can include a frame (214, 224, 234) and a foam support (212, 222, 232). The foam support (212, 222, 232) can be coupled to the frame (214, 224, 234) for receiving a load on the seat sub-assembly (210, 220, 230), dissipating at least half of the load, and dispersing the load through the frame (214, 224, 234).

A variable section bench for a vehicle seat includes: an upper layer, a middle layer, and a lower layer. The variable section bench also includes at least one frame interface portion comprising a fore-aft section, at least one cantilevered portion comprising a fore-aft section, and a seating surface that extends along a full length of the vehicle seat in a lateral direction for a plurality of passengers. The at least one frame interface portion of the variable section bench includes increased thickness compared to the at least one cantilevered portion.

Controlled energy absorption of seats for impact is described herein. One disclosed example method includes determining a weight of an occupant of a seat of an aircraft, and calculating, using a processor, a stroke load of a seat energy absorber operatively coupled to the seat based on the weight of the occupant. The example method also includes setting the seat energy absorber to the calculated stroke load.

The invention mainly relates to a system for the inertial unlocking of a seat back, in particular of an aircraft seat, characterized in that it comprises: a structural element of the seat back, called a connecting rod, a support piece for the fixation to a structural element of said seat, the support piece comprising a flyweight movable in translation between: a locking position in which the flyweight faces a lip of the connecting rod so as to prevent the connecting rod from rotating relative to the support piece about the axis of rotation, and an unlocking position in which the flyweight is released from the lip of the connecting rod so as to allow the connecting rod to rotate relative to the support piece about the axis of rotation, the passage of the flyweight from the locking position to the unlocking position being able to be carried out under the action of a deceleration by the seat.

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.