PASSENGER SEATING ARRANGEMENT HAVING ACCESS FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS

Abstract

A passenger seating arrangement includes at least one seat unit configurable into a disabled-access configuration in which an access opening is temporarily widened to enable a disabled passenger to access the seat unit. The seat unit is arranged with other seat units in a column, and each seat unit is configurable between a seating configuration and a flat-bed configuration. The seat units are arranged in an inwardly facing herringbone. A method of providing access for a disabled passenger to a seat unit includes temporarily widening an access opening.

Claims

1-39. (canceled)

40. A passenger seating arrangement in an aircraft cabin, the passenger seating arrangement comprising a column of seat units located adjacent an aisle, the column of seat units and the aisle both extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin, and wherein the column comprises a plurality of seat units, arranged consecutively along the longitudinal direction, and wherein each seat unit comprises a plurality of moveable seating elements such that the seat unit is configurable between a seating configuration in which the seating elements are arranged to form a seat having a seat pan and seat back, and a flat-bed configuration in which the seating elements are arranged to form a surface for a flat-bed, and wherein in each seat unit, the seating elements are orientated at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction and face inwardly towards the aisle, and wherein each seat unit comprises a foot-receiving structure for receiving the feet of a passenger when the seat unit is in a flat-bed configuration, the spacing between the foot-receiving structure of a first seat unit of the plurality of seat units and the foot-receiving structure of a second seat unit adjacent to the first seat unit in the column defining an access opening to the first seat unit, wherein the access opening has a first width for access by an able-bodied passenger; and wherein the first seat unit is configurable into a disabled-access configuration in which the access opening is temporarily widened from the first width to a second width, greater than the first width, for enabling a disabled passenger to access the first seat unit.

41. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the second width is at least the width of the aisle.

42. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the foot-receiving structure of each seat unit comprises an end-wall arranged to shield the passenger's feet from the aisle, and wherein at least part of the end-wall is moveable, so as to temporarily widen the access opening from the first width to the second width.

43. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein substantially all of the one of the foot-receiving structures bordering the access opening is moveable, so as to temporarily widen the access opening from the first width to the second width when the unit is in the disabled-access configuration.

44. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 43, wherein the foot-receiving structure is rotatable to a rotated position, so as to temporarily widen the access opening from the first width to the second width when the unit is in the disabled-access configuration.

45. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 43, wherein the foot-receiving structure is translatable to a translated position, so as to temporarily widen the access opening from the first width to the second width when the unit is in the disabled-access configuration.

46. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the foot-receiving structure comprises an upper surface for forming a utility surface above the passenger's feet, the utility surface being for use by a passenger located in the adjacent seat unit, and wherein, the upper-surface is moveable, so as to temporarily widen the access opening from the first width to the second width when the unit is in the disabled-access configuration.

47. The passenger seating arrangement according claim 40, wherein each seat unit comprises an in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitor, the IFE monitor being configurable between a stowed position and an in-use position, and wherein the monitor is further configurable to an access position for facilitating access to the seat unit.

48. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 47, wherein in the access position the spacing above the opening, between adjacent monitors, is widened relative to when the monitor is in the stowed position.

49. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the acute angle at which the seating elements are orientated to the longitudinal direction is at least 45 degrees.

50. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the pitch between consecutive seat units in the column is between 27 and 29 inches.

51. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 40, wherein the column of seat units is adjacent the aisle on one side, and adjacent the aircraft sidewall on the other side.

52. The passenger seating arrangement according to claim 51, wherein the cabin comprises a second column of seat units on the opposite side of the aisle, the second column being arranged as described with reference to the first column.

53. A method of providing access, for a disabled passenger, to a seat unit in a passenger seating arrangement, the passenger seating arrangement comprising a plurality of seat units, each having a respective access opening between adjacent respective foot-receiving structures of the plurality of seat units, each respective access opening having a first width for access by an able-bodied passenger; and wherein the method comprises: temporarily configuring a seat unit into a disabled-access configuration in which an access opening is widened from the first width to a second width, greater than the first width, for enabling a disabled passenger to access the seat unit.

54. A passenger seating arrangement for use in an aircraft cabin, the passenger seating arrangement comprising a column of seat units arranged in an inwardly facing herringbone, wherein each seat unit is configurable between a seating configuration and a flat-bed configuration, wherein each seat unit has an access opening for accessing the respective seat unit, the access opening defined by spacing between a foot-receiving structure of the respective seat unit and a foot-receiving structure of an adjacent seat unit, and wherein at least one of the seat units is configurable into a disabled-access configuration in which an access opening is temporarily widened for enabling a disabled passenger to access the seat unit.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

[0050] FIGS. 1a to 1d show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a first embodiment, one of the seat units being shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration;

[0051] FIG. 1e shows a cabin in an aircraft in which the column of seat units of FIGS. 1a-1e is installed;

[0052] FIGS. 2a to 2c show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a second embodiment, one of the seat units being shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration;

[0053] FIGS. 3a to 3c show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a third embodiment, one of the seat units being shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration;

[0054] FIGS. 4a to 4c show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a fourth embodiment, one of the seat units being shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration;

[0055] FIGS. 5a to 5e show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a fifth embodiment, one of the seat units being shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration;

[0056] FIGS. 6a to 6d show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a sixth embodiment, one of the seat units being Shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration; and

[0057] FIGS. 7a to 7d show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a seventh embodiment, one of the seat units being shown as it changes into the disabled-access configuration;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] FIGS. 1a to 1d show part of a column of seat units in an arrangement according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1e shows a cabin in an aircraft in which the column of seat units of FIGS. 1a-1e is installed.

[0059] Referring first to FIG. 1e, the passenger seating arrangement 101 of the first embodiment is located in an aircraft cabin 103 of a narrow body aircraft 105 such as a Boeing 757-200, or 737-900. The passenger seating arrangement 101 comprises a column 107 of seat units 109 (described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1a-1d) located adjacent a single aisle 111 running along the centre of the aircraft cabin. The column 107 of seat units and the aisle 111 both extend in a longitudinal direction (L) parallel to the longitudinal axis 113 of the aircraft cabin.

[0060] The column 107 comprises a multiplicity of seat units 109, arranged consecutively along the longitudinal direction. A second column 107′ is located the other side of the aisle and is substantially symmetrical with the first column, across the axis 113. Features described herein tend to be described with reference to the first column 107, but it will be appreciated that corresponding features are also found in the other column 107′ of seat units.

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 1a, each seat unit 109 comprises a plurality of moveable seating elements in the form of a seat back 115a, seat pan 115b, and leg rest 115c. To one side of the seating elements is a curved screen 117 arranged to separate a passenger in an aft seat unit in the column from a passenger in a fore seat unit in front of it in the column. Armrest surfaces 119 extend along both internal edges of the unit for use by a passenger in the seat (only the passenger's right-hand armrest is visible in these figures).

[0062] FIG. 1a shows the seat units in a seating configuration in which the seating elements are arranged to form a seat in which the passenger may sit. Each seat unit is also configurable into a flat-bed configuration in which the seating elements are arranged to form a substantially co-planar surface for a flat-bed (the difference between the seat configuration and the bed configuration is illustrated herein with reference to the embodiment in FIGS. 5a and 5b; FIG. 5b showing the seats in the bed configuration). Seat units that are convertible to flat-beds are known per se, and the precise manner in which the seating elements are rearranged to form the bed (e.g. the recline/convert mechanism) need not be described further in the context of the present invention.

[0063] In each seat unit, the seating elements are orientated at an angle of 49 degrees to the longitudinal direction (L) and face inwardly towards the aisle (see FIG. 1e). The angle is measured between the central axis 121 of each seat (that central axis 121 extends through the centre of the seat pan and back rest and is shown schematically bisecting the seats in FIG. 1a-1e) Such an arrangement is typically referred to as an inwardly facing herringbone. In the first embodiment, the herringbone is at a relatively large (steep) angle and correspondingly the pitch between consecutive seat units is relatively small; as illustrated in FIG. 1a the pitch in the first embodiment is 28 inches).

[0064] Each seat unit 109 comprises a foot-receiving structure 123 for receiving the feet of a passenger when the unit is in a flat-bed configuration. The foot-receiving structure comprises an end-wall 125 and a side wall 127 for shielding the passenger's feet from the aisle 111 and the adjacent seat unit respectively. The end-wall and side walls 125, 127 partially enclose an ottoman 126 (only partially visible in the left-most seat unit 109 in FIGS. 1a-1d). The ottoman 126 has a foot-supporting surface 126′ which is coplanar with the seating elements when the unit 109 is in the bed configuration and the foot-supporting surface forms part of the bed surface.

[0065] Above the end and side walls 125, 127, and above the ottoman 126 is a flat table surface 129 which is for use by a passenger in the adjacent seat unit. Directly beneath the table surface 129 is a horizontal slot 130 (see FIG. 1d) for receiving a pull-out table (not shown).

[0066] An IFS monitor 131, when in a stowed position for TTOL, extends along one side of that table. The monitor 131 is attached by a hinge to the end of the curved screen 117, and can move from this stowed position, into an in-use position (not shown) in which it faces the passenger.

[0067] The spacing between the foot-receiving structure 123 of a seat unit 109 and the foot-receiving structure 123 of a seat unit 109 to one side of it in the column 107, defines an access opening 133 into the seat unit 109.

[0068] In a default configuration, the seat units are configured for able-bodied access, and this configuration is shown in FIG. 1a. In this configuration, the access opening has different widths at different heights: The minimum width of the opening is 12 inches, created between the end-wall 125 of the foot-receiving structure of one seat unit and the side wall 127 of the foot-receiving structure of an aft seat unit behind it in the column. This minimum width is at between 10 and 25 inches from the cabin floor. Below the level of the end and side walls is the base 137 of the foot-receiving structure, which is located within the footprint of the end and side walls. The width between adjacent bases is therefore wider than the 12 inch width above them. Above the level of the table surface, there is a gap of 25.5 inches (created between the adjacent monitors 131)—the gaps/widths being shown in the Figures by way of dotted-lines.

[0069] Whilst this access opening is perfectly useable for an able-bodied passenger, it tends to not be useable for disabled passenger access. For example, it is not thought to be possible for crew to assist a disabled passenger through this opening in a dignified manner. To address this problem, a first embodiment provides an arrangement in which a seat unit can be configured into a disabled-access configuration in which the access opening is temporarily widened to allow disabled passenger access. The switch into the disabled-access configuration is now described with reference to FIGS. 1b to 1e:

[0070] Referring first to FIG. 1b, the first step is to translate the seat (seat back, pan and leg rest) of the forwards and the leg rest 715c is extended (as per FIG. 6a of the preceding embodiment).

[0071] FIGS. 7c and 7d are the equivalent illustrations to Figured 7a/7b, but when the unit is in the disabled-access configuration. It can be readily seen from these Figures that the movement of the end-wall 725 to one side temporarily widens the access opening from 13 inches to inches.

[0072] To revert to the able-bodied configuration, the panel of the end-wall 725 is slid back and releasably locked in place with a latch (not shown) until it next needs to be moved (for example for passenger egress). It has been identified that an arrangement in which the end-wall (or other structure than is moved to widen the access opening) remains attached, is beneficial as it avoids loose objects in the cabin that might otherwise be misplaced or cause a trip hazard.

[0073] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described:

[0074] The part of the foot-receiving structure in the fifth and sixth embodiments need not necessarily be fully removeable, and could remain attached in some embodiments. The part of the structure in the seventh embodiment may be moveable in other ways that are not necessarily slideable and/or pure translations, to move it to its temporary position to widen the access opening. In other embodiments, not shown, different parts of the foot receiving structure may be moveable to temporarily widen the access opening.

[0075] Whilst embodiments of the present invention tend to be most applicable to high angle/low pitch arrangements, the exact pitch, angle and width values need not necessarily be as described with reference to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0076] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.