Cover for a seat in an aircraft or spacecraft

Abstract

The present invention provides a cover for a seat in an aircraft or spacecraft, including a receiver which is configured to receive in an exchangeable manner an electronic device which is fitted with a screen, at least one recess being provided in the region of the receiver such that the screen of the electronic device is exposed for viewing.

Claims

1. A cover for a seat in an aircraft or spacecraft, said cover being attachable to and removable from the seat, said cover comprising: closing tapes provided in a region of respective sides of a cover body, wherein said closing tapes are configured to form with the cover body a closed periphery around a peripheral region of a headrest, wherein lateral regions of the seat cover are open such that the seat cover is adapted to not cover the lateral regions of the headrest except for a region of the closing tapes arranged on the sides; and a receiver which is configured to receive in an exchangeable manner an electronic device which is fitted with a screen, wherein at least one recess is provided in a region of the receiver such that the screen of the electronic device is exposed for viewing through the recess, wherein the receiver is configured as a pocket, the pocket comprising a flexible portion of an upper end of a rear wall of the pocket folded back on itself and attached along a swivel line to the cover body such that a lower portion of the pocket is free to swivel towards and away from the seat, the cover further comprising a strap attached at a first end of the strap to the cover body at the swivel line, a second end of the strap extending outward from the cover body over an opening of the pocket for closing engagement of the second end of the strap with a front wall of the pocket above the recess to secure the electronic device when in the pocket.

2. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is arranged on an outside of the seat cover.

3. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured such that the electronic device is received in the receiver in an exchangeable manner.

4. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive an electronic device configured as a tablet PC or as a PDA.

5. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is configured as a pocket for holding the electronic device.

6. The seat cover according to claim 5, wherein the pocket comprises a closure associated with the strap configured to protect the electronic device accommodated in the pocket against theft.

7. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is arranged on a side remote from a contact region between the seat cover and a passenger.

8. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to provide an adapter, particularly in a manner of a casing, for receiving the electronic device.

9. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the seat cover has fastening elements for joining the cover to the seat, said fastening elements being configured and shaped such that they are used to attach the cover to seats of different dimensions.

10. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is joined to the seat cover such that the receiver is configured to be adjustable with respect to the seat cover.

11. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the seat cover can be connected to an electrical power supply of the seat, and the receiver is configured such that it has an electric interface to the electrical power supply of the electronic device.

12. A seat with a cover according to claim 1.

13. An aircraft or spacecraft having at least one seat according to claim 12.

14. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a protective element arranged in a region of an outside surface of the receiver to protect the screen of the electronic device.

15. The seat cover according to claim 1, wherein the seat cover further comprises a second receiver configured to receive in an exchangeable manner a further electronic device fitted with a further screen, and comprising at least one further recess in a region of the second receiver such that the further screen of the further electronic device is exposed for viewing.

16. The seat cover according to claim 15, wherein the pocket and the second receiver are configured as pockets for holding the respective electronic devices.

17. The seat cover according to claim 15, wherein the second receiver is configured to receive a smaller electronic device than the pocket is configured to receive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described in more detail on the basis of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a seat cover according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the seat cover according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a further seat cover;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a seat with a respective cover according to FIG. 3; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a receiver and interface connection; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a seat cover and electrical power supply connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a seat cover 10 according to the invention which can be joined to the region of a headrest (not shown) of an aircraft seat (not shown). The seat cover 10 is preferably joined to the aircraft seat by being placed over the headrest. The seat cover 10 has a body 20 as a thin flat body which is substantially rectangular in shape. The cover body 20 consists of a non-rigid material so that it can easily adapt to the shape of the headrest.

(9) Provided in the region of the sides of the cover body 20 are respective closing tapes 60 which are configured to form with the cover body 20 a closed periphery around the peripheral region of the headrest. When the seat cover 10 is joined to the headrest, the lateral regions of the headrest are not covered by the seat cover 10, except for the region of the closing tapes 60 arranged on the sides in each case. However, in an equivalent alternative, the lateral regions of the headrest can also be covered by the seat cover 10.

(10) In the region of one side, the cover body 20 has a recess 30 which is substantially rectangular in shape. The recess 30 extends in the longitudinal direction of the cover body 20 starting from the central region thereof towards the respective longitudinal edges of the seat cover 10 over a predetermined length. Arranged in the inner surface region of the cover body 20, in the region of the recess 30 is a receiver 40 which is provided for receiving an electronic video or entertainment device (not shown).

(11) When the seat cover 10 is joined as intended to the headrest, the recess 30 and the receiver 40 are located in the rearward region of the aircraft seat.

(12) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the seat cover according to FIG. 1 from the opposite side, part of an electronic device 50 having been received by the receiver 40. An arrow indicates the insertion direction of the electronic device 50 into the receiver 40.

(13) The electronic device 50 is preferably a so-called commercial-off-the-shelf device (COTS device), i.e. a commercially available device. The distance between the receiver 40 and the electronic device 50 in a vertical direction during the introduction of the electronic device 50 is selected such that the electronic device 50 can be inserted without difficulty. The receiver 40 also has an interface 110 for charging the electronic device 50 as soon as the electronic device 50 has been fully inserted into the receiver 40 (FIG. 5). Furthermore, a display (not shown) can be provided which indicates to the passenger the prevailing electrical charge of the electronic device 50. The seat cover 10 can be connected to an electrical power supply 120 of the seat (FIG. 6).

(14) The receiver 40 receives the front and back of the electronic device 50 in each case via a contact region, so that the electronic device 50 is received in a substantially clearance-free manner in the transverse direction when it is being received by the receiver 40.

(15) The receiver 40 has two window-shaped elements 70 which are arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from one another, the distance thereof substantially corresponding to the thickness of the electronic device 50. The receiver 40 is formed in the region of the upper side and lower side thereof in each case by parallel u-shaped elements (not shown), the distance of which substantially corresponds to the height of the electronic device 50.

(16) FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a further seat cover according to the present invention, which can be joined to the region of a headrest (not shown) of an aircraft seat (not shown). The seat cover 10 is preferably joined to the aircraft seat by being placed over the headrest. The seat cover 10 has a body 20 as a thin flat body which is substantially rectangular in shape. The cover body 20 consists of a non-rigid material so that it can easily adapt to the shape of the headrest.

(17) Provided in the region of the sides of the cover body 20 are respective closing tapes 60 which are configured to form with the cover body 20 a closed periphery around the peripheral region of the headrest. When the seat cover 10 is joined to the headrest, the lateral regions of the headrest are not covered by the seat cover 10, except for the region of the closing tapes 60 arranged on the sides in each case. However, in an equivalent alternative, the lateral regions of the headrest can also be covered by the seat cover 10.

(18) In the region of one side, the seat cover 20 has a receiver in the manner of a pocket 80 which has an interior for receiving an electronic device (not shown). The outside of the pocket 80 also has a recess 30 which is substantially rectangular in shape. The recess 30 extends in the longitudinal direction of the pocket 80 starting from the central region thereof towards the respective longitudinal ends of the pocket 80 over a predetermined length which substantially corresponds to the size of the screen of the electronic device.

(19) The pocket 80 and the seat cover body 20 are joined together by a swivel means 81 which is arranged in the region of the upper end of the pocket 80. The pocket 80 can thereby be swivelled with respect to the seat cover 10, as a result of which the passenger always has an optimum view of the recess 30. Arranged in the region of the upper side of the pocket 80, in the central region thereof, is a strap 82 which is used to secure the electronic device which can be received in the pocket 80.

(20) When the seat cover 10 is joined as intended to the headrest, the recess 30 and the pocket 80 are located in the rearward region of the aircraft seat.

(21) In the region below the first pocket 80, the seat cover body 20 has a receiver in the manner of a second pocket 90 which has an interior for receiving a further electronic device (not shown). The further electronic device is preferably a PED device, such as an iPhone or a device configured for the playback of multimedia content.

(22) The outside of the second pocket 90 also has a second recess 91 which is substantially rectangular in shape. The second recess 91 extends in the longitudinal direction of the second pocket 90 starting from the central region thereof towards the respective longitudinal edges of the second pocket 90 over a predetermined length which substantially corresponds to the size of the screen of the further electronic device.

(23) The second pocket 90 and the seat cover body 20 are joined together by a second swivel means 92 which is arranged in the region of the upper end of the second pocket 90. The second pocket 90 can thereby swivel with respect to the seat cover 10, so that the passenger has an optimum view of the second recess 91 at all times.

(24) The dimensions both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the second pocket 90 amount to only a fraction of the respective longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the first pocket 80.

(25) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a seat 100 which comprises three aircraft seats arranged next to and adjoining one another. Each aircraft seat has a respective cover 10 according to the present invention. The seat cover 10 has a receiver 40 which is joined to the body of the seat cover 10 such that the receiver 40 is configured to be adjustable with respect to the seat cover body. The receiver 40 thus has a hinge device (not shown), by which the electronic device 50 can be swivelled relative to the seat cover 10 towards or away from the passenger (not shown), as respectively indicated by the arrows.

(26) Although the present invention has been described above on the basis of preferred embodiments, it is not restricted thereto, but rather can be modified in many different ways.

(27) For example, the receiver 40 can have on the outside a protective element formed from a transparent material. Furthermore, the surface of the protective element can be configured such that it is substantially reflection-free.