The disclosed embodiments relate to an aircraft having an in-flight leveling system for a seat onboard the aircraft that includes a swivel mechanism providing selective rotational movement of the a rear portion of the seat to compensate for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight. A locking mechanism is coupled to the swivel mechanism to retain the seat in a first position for use on the ground and a second position for use during flight. An actuator moves the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the seat to move between the first position to the second position enabling the seat to be substantially level when the aircraft is on the ground and during flight.

In a preferred embodiment, a tilt-recline force adjusting apparatus for an aircraft passenger seat configured for a tilt-recline positioning includes a first spring having a first axis to urge a seat back into an upright position, the first spring arranged to compress as the seat is manually reclined, a helper spring having a second axis parallel to the first axis, the helper spring arranged to assist or counteract the first spring, an adjustment mechanism coupled to the helper spring to increase or decrease a force exerted by the helper spring to assist or counteract the first spring, and a weight sensing mechanism coupled to the adjustment mechanism and operable to actuate the adjustment mechanism in direct proportion to a weight of a seated passenger, whereby the force exerted on the aircraft seat to urge the seat back into an upright position is greater for a heavier seated passenger.

A vehicle seat includes a lower frame and an upper frame, where the upper frame is pivotably arranged in relation to the lower frame. The upper frame is movably connected to the lower frame via an actuating assembly, where the actuating assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator configured to cooperate with each other for displacing the upper frame in relation to the lower frame. The actuating assembly further includes a beam structure connected to and extending between the first actuator and the second actuator, where the first actuator and the second actuator are floatingly connected to the lower frame via the beam structure.

An occupant knee support device provided in a vehicle includes a knee outer side surface support member and a knee lower surface support member. The knee outer side surface support member is disposed in a side part of the seat surface part in a stored state, protrudes forward and upward beyond the seat surface part in a support state to support an outer side surface of a knee of the occupant. The knee lower surface support member is, in the stored state, provided in a vicinity of a front end part of the seat surface part and separated from a lower surface of the knee of the occupant. The knee lower surface support member is configured to support the lower surface of the knee of the occupant in the supported state.

Provided is a tilt arm for a seat that is applied to a vehicle seat and that moves in a pivoting manner when changing an angle of inclination of a front end portion of a cushion pad. The tilt arm includes a coupling arm portion pivotably coupled to a side frame of a cushion frame, and a leading-end-side arm portion coupled and fixed to a leading end portion of the coupling arm portion. A sectional shape of a fixed portion, where the coupling arm portion and the leading-end-side arm portion are coupled and fixed to each other, is a closed sectional shape formed by a closed curve. A sectional shape of the coupling arm portion at the fixed portion and a sectional shape of the leading-end-side arm portion at the fixed portion are each an open sectional shape that is partially opened.

An occupant support includes a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom. The occupant support further includes a lift system coupled to the seat bottom and seat back.

A chair includes a seat and a back rest, both of which pivot about respective axes between first and second positions thereof about parallel axes of rotation. The seat's second position is inclined relative to a first seat plane defined by the seat's first position. The backrest's second position is essentially parallel to the first seat plane such that the chair switches between seating and support configurations. In the seating configuration, the seat and backrest are their respective first positions such that the chair accommodates a seated person. In the support configuration, the seat and backrest are in their respective second positions such that the chair accommodates a person's chest on the backrest's rear face.

A seat assembly forming a substantially horizontal plane for an exposed surface of each of a lower seat cushion and a seatback cushion of a seatback comprises a lifter mechanism for a rearward edge of the lower seat cushion. The lifter mechanism comprises a bracket pivotable about a transverse bar fixedly mounted to a frame assembly for a lower seat assembly, the bracket comprising a forward lever and a rearward lever; and a link pinned at a first end to the seatback and pinned at a second end to the rearward lever by a slot. The rearward edge of the lower seat cushion is initially raised by the forward lever upon the seatback pivoting to a predetermined reclined position and the rearward edge of the lower seat cushion is raised to the substantially horizontal plane upon the seatback pivoting to a fully reclined position.

A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly includes a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. The second gear includes an external flange with at least two guide holes. First and second support pins that are rigidly fixed in place relative to the axle shaft extend through the two guide holes in the external flange of the second gear. Forces acting at the interfaces between the first and second support pins and the two guide holes and between the eccentric and the second gear prevent the first gear from back-driving rotation of the second gear.

The disclosed embodiments relate to an aircraft having an in-flight leveling system for a seat onboard the aircraft that includes a swivel mechanism providing selective rotational movement of the a rear portion of the seat to compensate for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight. A locking mechanism is coupled to the swivel mechanism to retain the seat in a first position for use on the ground and a second position for use during flight. An actuator moves the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the seat to move between the first position to the second position enabling the seat to be substantially level when the aircraft is on the ground and during flight.