SEAT BACK AND INSERT

Abstract

Described is a seat back comprising a rear wall bordered by side walls projecting forward from the rear wall. The rear wall and side walls define a cavity in front of the rear wall and between opposing surfaces of the side walls. The seat back comprises an insert disposed at least partially within the cavity which is for supporting the back of a person leaning against the front of the seat back. The seat back and insert are shaped such that when the insert is positioned within the cavity, movement of the insert towards the base of the seat back is restricted.

Claims

1. A seat back, the seat back comprising a rear wall bordered by side walls projecting forward from the rear wall, said rear wall and side walls defining a cavity in front of the rear wall and between opposing surfaces of the side walls, wherein the seat back comprises an insert disposed at least partially within the cavity, said insert for supporting the back of a person leaning against the front of the seat back, wherein the seat back and insert are shaped such that when the insert is positioned within the cavity, movement of the insert towards the base of the seat back is restricted.

2. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the side walls are part of a perimeter wall projecting forward from the rear wall, said rear wall and perimeter wall defining the cavity in front of the rear wall and between opposing surfaces of the perimeter wall.

3. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the width of the cavity and the insert tapers from a first width to a second width, wherein the first width is positioned above the second width and wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

4. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises one or more shaped profiles for mutual engagement with one or more shaped profiles of the insert, wherein said shaped profiles are for restricting downward movement of the insert relative to the seat back when the insert is positioned within the cavity.

5. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises one or more recesses for engagement with one or more protrusions on the insert and for restricting downward movement of the insert relative to the seat back when the insert is positioned within the cavity.

6. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises a recess in a forward facing surface thereof for engagement with a protrusion on the insert.

7. A seat back according to claim 2, wherein the seat back comprises a recess in a forward facing surface of the perimeter wall for engagement with a protrusion on the insert.

8. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises a recess in a forward facing surface of its upper edge for engagement with a protrusion on the insert.

9. A seat back according to claim 8, wherein each side wall comprises an upper part which is sloped from the setback position of the forward facing surface of the upper edge to the forward facing surface of the remainder of each side wall.

10. A seat back according to claim 2, wherein the seat back comprises a recess in a forward facing surface of the upper wall of the perimeter wall for engagement with a protrusion of the insert.

11. A seat back according to claim 10, wherein the forward facing surface of the perimeter wall is sloped from the setback position of the forward facing surface of the upper wall to the forward facing surface of each side wall of the perimeter wall.

12. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the insert is shaped to fit within the cavity between the side walls and to overlap the forward facing surface of the or an upper edge of the seat back.

13. A seat back according to claim 9, wherein the insert comprises one or more lateral tabs for engagement with the sloped forward facing surface of the perimeter wall or sloped forward facing surface of the side walls.

14. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter wall of a lower part of the seat back is substantially semi-circular.

15. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the lower part of the seat back is substantially semi-circular.

16. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the cavity is greater at the base of the seat back than in an upper part of the seat back.

17. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the base of the cavity is not filled by the insert.

18. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a recess in its bottom edge such that, when inserted into the cavity, the insert does not extend to the base of the cavity.

19. A seat comprising a seat back according to claim 1.

20. A row of seats comprising a plurality of seats according to claim 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Example embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which

[0057] FIGS. 1A and 1B show front views of the seat back and insert;

[0058] FIG. 2A shows an exploded perspective view of the seat back and insert;

[0059] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the seat back and insert with the insert positioned within the seat back of the cavity; and

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a row of seats comprising seat backs of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The present invention relates to a seat back, particularly to a seat back for an aircraft seat.

[0062] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is shown a seat back 1 which comprises a rear wall 2 bordered by side walls 3a, 3b projecting forward from the rear wall 2. The rear walls 3a, 3b form part of a perimeter wall 3 positioned around the edge of the rear wall 2. In the example shown, the perimeter wall includes side walls, 3a, 3b, an upper wall 3c and a lower wall 3d. The rear wall 2 and side walls 3a, 3b define a cavity 4 in front of the rear wall 2 and between opposing surfaces of the side walls 3a, 3b. A resiliently deformable insert 5 is disposed within the cavity 4 and is provided for supporting the back of a person (not shown) leaning against the front of the seat back 1. Whilst it will be appreciated that various materials could be used, in the present example, the insert is made from a foam material.

[0063] The width of the cavity 4 and the insert 5 tapers from a first width w1 in an upper part of the cavity/insert, to a second width w2 in a lower part of the cavity/insert, with the first width w1 positioned above the second width w2 and the first width w1 being greater than the second width w2. As a result, it will be appreciated that the cavity 4 and insert 5 are shaped such that when the insert 5 is positioned within the cavity 4, movement of the insert 5 towards the base of the seat back 1 is prevented. In the example shown, the insert 5 fits snugly within the cavity 4.

[0064] Remarkably, the present invention provides a seat back 1 with an insert 5 disposed within the cavity 4 of the seat back 1 and secured therein by a “geometric lock”. That is, no mechanical fasteners or connectors are required; rather the insert 5 is simply inserted into the cavity 4 of the seat back 1 and engages with the side walls 3a, 3b of the seat back 1 in such a way that downward movement of the insert 5 within the cavity 4 is prevented.

[0065] With reference to FIG. 3, whilst the insert and associated geometry is no longer visible, once the insert 5 has been correctly positioned, an outer fabric layer 6 can be positioned over the insert 5 and secured to the seat back 1 to complete the forward facing surface of the seat back 1 and to hide the insert from the view.

[0066] The seat back 1 includes shaped profiles 7a, 7b for mutual engagement with shaped profiles 8a, 8b of the insert 5. The shaped profiles 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b are for preventing downward movement of the insert 5 relative to the seat back 1 when the insert 5 is positioned within the cavity. In the example shown, the shaped profiles 7a, 7b of the seat back take the form of sloped forward facing surfaces 7a, 7b of the perimeter wall 3 which slope forward from a setback position of the forward facing surface 9c of the upper wall 3c to the forward facing surface 9a, 9b of each side wall 3a, 3b.

[0067] The shaped profiles 8a, 8b of the insert 5 takes the form of tabs 8a, 8b for engagement with said forward facing surface 9c of the upper wall 3c and the slopes 7a, 7b.

[0068] With particular reference to FIGS. 1A and 2B, the insert 5 is shaped to fit within the cavity 4 between the side walls 3a, 3b and to overlap the forward facing surface 9c of the upper wall 3c of the perimeter wall 3.

[0069] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, the length of the insert 5 is less than the length of the cavity 4 and the insert 5 includes a curved recess 10. This means that the base of the cavity 4 is not filled by the insert 5 and so allows part of the cushioning of the seat base 11 of the seat 12 to be positioned within the seat back cavity 4. This provides structural advantages, for example by preventing removal or upward movement of the seat base cushioning 11 when the insert 5 is positioned within the cavity 4.

[0070] It is additionally advantageous for the base of the cavity 4 to not be filled because it allows the seat base 11 of the seat 12 to be accommodated within the cavity 4 when a user opts to recline the seat back 1. This is particularly the case in embodiments comprising a seat back 1 that pivots about side connectors during recline causing the base of the seat back to move forward during recline.

[0071] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications are covered by the appended claims.