PASSENGER CABIN AREA AND AIRCRAFT HAVING A PASSENGER CABIN AREA

Abstract

A passenger cabin area includes at least one aisle extending along a longitudinal axis of the passenger cabin area, a seating area next to the aisle in the direction of a transverse axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of the passenger cabin area and in which at least one passenger seat is provided, and a plurality of sleeping berths arranged above the seating area in the direction of a vertical axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the passenger cabin area. Each sleeping berth is accessible from the aisle of the passenger cabin area via a stairway element assigned individually to the sleeping berth.

Claims

1. A passenger cabin area having: at least one aisle extending along a longitudinal axis of the passenger cabin area; a seating area arranged next to the aisle in a direction of a transverse axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of the passenger cabin area and comprising at least one passenger seat; and a plurality of sleeping berths arranged above the seating area in a direction of a vertical axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the passenger cabin area, wherein each sleeping berth is accessible from the aisle of the passenger cabin area via a stairway element assigned individually to the sleeping berth.

2. The passenger cabin area of claim 1, wherein at least one of the stairway elements comprises: a support element extending in the direction of the vertical axis of the passenger cabin area; and a plurality of steps fastened to the support element and extending, at least in a ready-for-use operating state of the stairway element, substantially perpendicularly from a support face of the support element.

3. The passenger cabin area of claim 2, wherein at least one portion of the support element is arranged next to a passenger seat, in the seating area, in the direction of the transverse axis of the passenger cabin area, and/or wherein at least one portion of the support face of the support element faces the aisle.

4. The passenger cabin area of claim 2, wherein at least one of the steps is fastened to the support element and movable between a resting operating state and a use operating state, wherein the at least one step extends, in its resting operating state, substantially parallel to the support face of the support element, and wherein the at least one step extends, in its use operating state, substantially perpendicularly from the support face of the support element.

5. The passenger cabin area of claim 2, wherein the stairway element has steps that have different depths in a direction perpendicular to the support face of the support element at least in a ready-for-use operating state of the stairway element.

6. The passenger cabin area of claim 2, wherein the support element is formed in a substantially panel-like manner and has a substantially flat support face.

7. The passenger cabin area of claim 2, wherein the support element comprises: a first support-element portion with a first support-face portion, wherein the first support-face portion forms an angle of less than 45° with the transverse axis of the passenger cabin area; and a second support-element portion with a second support-face portion, wherein the second support-face portion forms an angle of less than 45° with the longitudinal axis of the passenger cabin area.

8. The passenger cabin area of claim 7, wherein the first support-face portion of the first support-element portion forms an angle of 70° to 110° with the second support-face portion of the second support-element portion.

9. The passenger cabin area of claim 7, wherein the stairway element has a stairway platform, which is arranged, in the direction of the vertical axis of the passenger cabin area, between first steps fastened to the first support-element portion and second steps fastened to the second support-element portion.

10. The passenger cabin area of claim 9, wherein the second support-element portion extends in the direction of the vertical axis of the passenger cabin area from a peripheral portion, facing an interior of the seating area, of the stairway platform.

11. The passenger cabin area of claim 7, wherein the first support-element portion is formed by a rear wall of an ottoman in the seating area, and/or wherein the stairway platform is formed by a cover panel of an ottoman in the seating area.

12. The passenger cabin area of claim 7, wherein the stairway element comprises a first privacy screen element, which extends next to the aisle and or substantially parallel to the second support-element portion.

13. The passenger cabin area of claim 7, wherein the stairway element comprises a second privacy screen element, which forms an angle of 70° to 110° with the second support-element portion.

14. The passenger cabin area of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sleeping berths and/or at least one of the stairway elements is configured in a form of an aircraft monument certified for a load of 9 g.

15. An aircraft equipped with a passenger cabin area of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the disclosure herein will now be explained in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a passenger cabin area configured in the form of an Economy Class passenger cabin area, wherein a stairway element provided in the passenger cabin area is in a ready-for-use state, in which all the steps of the stairway element extend substantially perpendicularly from a support face of a support element;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 1 in a front view;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 1, wherein the stairway element provided in the passenger cabin area is in a resting operating state, in which the two top-most steps of the stairway element extend substantially parallel to the support face of the support element;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows an alternative passenger cabin area configured in the form of a Business Class/Premium Economy Class aircraft passenger cabin area;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 4 in a front view;

[0034] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the overall layout of the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 4;

[0035] FIG. 8 shows an alternative overall layout of the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 4;

[0036] FIGS. 9 through 11 show detail illustrations of the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 4, from which in particular the structure of stairway elements provided in the passenger cabin area is apparent;

[0037] FIGS. 12 through 14 show further detail illustrations of the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 4, from which in particular the structure and the use of ottomans provided in the passenger cabin area are apparent;

[0038] FIGS. 15 through 16 show further detail illustrations of the passenger cabin area according to FIG. 4, from which in particular the structure of sleeping berths provided in the passenger cabin area is apparent; and

[0039] FIG. 17 shows an aircraft equipped with a passenger cabin area according to FIGS. 1 through 3 and/or FIGS. 4 through 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] A passenger cabin area 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and configured in the form of an Economy Class aircraft passenger cabin area comprises at least one aisle 12 extending along a longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10. Furthermore, the passenger cabin area 10 comprises a seating area 14, which is arranged next to the aisle 12 in the direction of a transverse axis Q, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, of the passenger cabin area 10. In the passenger cabin area 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the seating area 14 is flanked on both sides by an aisle 12 that extends in each case along the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10, i.e. the seating area 14 is a portion of an aircraft passenger cabin that is arranged centrally in the aircraft passenger cabin.

[0041] At least one passenger seat 16 is provided in the seating area 14. In particular, a plurality of passenger seats 16 are arranged in a plurality of rows positioned one after another in the seating area 14. The passenger seats 16 are configured as conventional Economy Class seats in the variant of the passenger cabin area 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and each comprise a sitting element 18 and a backrest element 20 that is pivotable relative to the sitting element 18 between an upright position and a slightly reclined position.

[0042] Furthermore, a plurality of sleeping berths 22 are installed in the passenger cabin area 10. The sleeping berths 22 are arranged above the seating area 14 in the direction of a vertical axis H, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and the transverse axis Q, of the passenger cabin area 10. In particular, the sleeping berths 22 are installed above the seating area 14 in the place of overhead compartments in the ceiling area of the passenger cabin area 10. Longitudinal axes L.sub.S of the sleeping berths 22 extend at an angle of about 8° to the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10. In the direction of the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10, the sleeping berths 22 are arranged alongside one another in pairs; see in particular FIG. 3. Furthermore, a plurality of sleeping berths 22 are arranged one after another in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10.

[0043] Each sleeping berth 22 is accessible from one of the aisles 12 of the passenger cabin area 10 via a stairway element 24 assigned individually to the sleeping berth 22, i.e. the passenger cabin area 10 is equipped with an identical number of sleeping berths 22 and stairway elements 24, such that each sleeping berth 22 can be reached from one of the aisles 12 by way of its “own” stairway element 24 assigned to it. As a result, the sleeping berths 22 are accessible in an easy and convenient way for passengers traveling in the passenger cabin area 10. The sleeping berths 22 and the stairway elements 24 are each configured in the form of a “simple” aircraft monument certified for a load of 9 g. As a result, it is possible for the sleeping berths 22 and the stairway elements 24, just like other monuments, for example galleys or sanitary modules, to be fastened at existing structural fastening points in the ceiling area and/or in the floor area of the aircraft passenger cabin.

[0044] The number of sleeping berths 22 in the passenger cabin area 10 is lower than the number of passenger seats 16 provided in the seating area 14 of the passenger cabin area 10. Therefore, although not every passenger traveling in the passenger cabin area 10 will have their own sleeping berth 22 available to them, passengers who would like to use a sleeping berth 22 have the possibility of booking it in addition to their seat. Furthermore, the passengers traveling in the passenger cabin area 10 can be provided with the option of booking a sleeping berth 22 for only a part of the travel time, such that it is also possible for several passengers to share a sleeping berth 22.

[0045] Each of the stairway elements 24 comprises a support element 26 extending in the direction of the vertical axis H of the passenger cabin area 10. The support element 26 is formed in a substantially panel-like manner and has a substantially flat support face 28. The support face 28 of each support element 26 extends substantially perpendicularly to the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10. Furthermore, the stairway elements 24 each comprise a plurality of first and second steps 30, 32, which are fastened to the support element 26 and extend, at least in a ready-for-use operating state of the support element 26, substantially perpendicularly from the support face 28 of the support element 26.

[0046] Each support element 26 is positioned next to a passenger seat 16, arranged in the seating area 14, in the direction of the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10, such that the support element 26 extends along a “boundary” between the seating area 14 and the aisle 12, wherein the support face 28, bearing the steps 30, 32, of the support element 26 faces the aisle 12 and immediately adjoins the aisle 12. Furthermore, the support element 26 has, in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10, a dimension that is not substantially greater than a dimension of the passenger seat 16, arranged next to the support element 26 in the direction of the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10, in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10. This ensures that the support element 26 does not impede access to the passenger seat 16 positioned next to the support element 26.

[0047] In the passenger cabin area 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, every third middle seat row is flanked on both sides by a support element 26. In other words, considered in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10, a support element 26 of a stairway element 24 is arranged next to every third aisle passenger seat in order to allow access to a sleeping berth 22 arranged above the seating area 14.

[0048] In the passenger cabin area 10 configured as a portion of an aircraft passenger cabin, the aisle 12 has to be less wide in an area close to the floor than in an area located for example at shoulder height of a passenger standing in the aisle 12. The three bottom-most first steps 30 of the stairway element 24 are therefore embodied as plate-like steps connected rigidly to the support element 26. In contrast thereto, the two top-most second steps 32 are fastened to the support element 26 so as to be movable between a resting operating state and a use operating state. In particular, the two second steps 32 are pivotable between their resting operating state and their use operating state about a pivot axis S that extends, in a peripheral portion, facing the support face 28 of the support element 26, of the two second steps 32, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis LT of the steps 32.

[0049] In their use operating state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two second steps 32 fastened in a movable manner to the support element 26 extend parallel to the three first steps 30 substantially perpendicularly to the support face 28 of the support element 26. In their resting operating state shown in FIG. 3, the two second steps 32 fastened in a movable manner to the support element 26 extend, by contrast, substantially parallel to the support face 28 of the support element 26. When the sleeping berth 22 assigned to a stairway element 24 is not in use, for example during the start and/or landing of an aircraft equipped with the passenger cabin area 10, the two second steps 32 configured in a movable manner can be pivoted into their resting operating state and as a result the width of the aisle 12 adjoining the support element 26 can be increased in the region of the steps 32.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of a passenger cabin area 10, the stairway element 24 is furthermore equipped with first and second steps 30, 32, which, in a ready-for-use operating state of the stairway element 24, i.e. in a state in which the two pivotable steps 32 are also in their use operating state, have different depths in the direction perpendicular to the support face 28 of the support element 26. In particular, the two second steps 32 fastened to the support element 26 have a smaller depth than the three first steps 30 fastened to the support element 26 farther down in an area of the support element 26 close to the floor. This configuration of the stairway element 24 allows, in the region of the second steps 32, a greater width of the aisle 12 adjoining the support element 26 even when the second steps 32 are in their use operating state.

[0051] An alternative embodiment of the passenger cabin area 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 16. The passenger cabin area 10 shown in FIGS. 4 to 16 is also arranged centrally in an aircraft passenger cabin and is flanked on both sides by an aisle 12 extending in each case along the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10. The passenger seats 16 arranged in the seating area 14 of the passenger cabin area 10 are embodied as Business Class seats, however, which are adjustable between an upright position and a sleeping position, in particular a flat bed position. Furthermore, each passenger seat 16 is assigned an ottoman 34 that serves as a footrest for a passenger sitting or lying on the passenger seat 16 (see in particular FIGS. 12 to 14).

[0052] The passenger seats 16 provided in the seating area 14 are each arranged in rows of two in a manner offset relative to one another such that a row with two passenger seats 16 arranged on the “outside”, i.e. adjacent to the aisles 12, is followed in each case by a row with passenger seats 16 arranged on the “inside”, i.e. at a distance from the aisles 12. Arranged in each case between two passenger seats 16 arranged on the “outside” are two ottomans 34, which are assigned to the passenger seats 16, arranged on the “inside”, of the following row. Accordingly, on the “aisle side” of each passenger seat 16 arranged on the “inside”, an ottoman 34 is positioned, which is assigned to a passenger seat 16, arranged on the “outside”, of the following row (see in particular FIGS. 6 to 8).

[0053] Furthermore, in the passenger cabin area 10 according to FIGS. 4 to 16, as in the passenger cabin area 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of sleeping berths 22 are installed above the seating area 14 in the place of overhead compartments in the ceiling area of the passenger cabin area 10. Again, the sleeping berths 22 are arranged alongside one another in pairs in the direction of the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10. Furthermore, a plurality of sleeping berths 22 are arranged one after another in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10. Longitudinal axes LS of the sleeping berths 22 extend at an angle of about 8° to the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10 (see in particular FIGS. 4 to 7, 15 and 16).

[0054] The stairway elements 24 assigned individually to the sleeping berths 22 are, however, no longer provided with a panel-like support element 26 of simple construction with first and second steps 30, 32 attached thereto. Rather, the support element 26 of each stairway element 24 has a first support-element portion 26a with a first support-face portion 28a and a second support-element portion 26b with a second support-face portion 28b. Two first steps 30 are fastened rigidly to the first support-element portion 26a and extend substantially perpendicularly to the first support-face portion 28a. Two second steps 32, which extend substantially perpendicularly to the second support-face portion 28b, are fastened rigidly to the second support-element portion 26b.

[0055] As is apparent in particular in FIGS. 9 to 11, the first support-face portion 28a forms an angle of less than 15° and in particular an angle of about 10° with the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10, i.e. the first support-face portion 28a extends from one of the aisles 12 in the direction of an interior of the seating area 14. Accordingly, the longitudinal axes LT of the first steps 30 fastened to the first support-element portion 26a likewise extend at an angle of less than 15° and in particular at an angle of about 10° to the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10.

[0056] By contrast, the second support-face portion 28b extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L and consequently substantially perpendicularly to the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10. Furthermore, the second support-element portion 26b and consequently the second support-face portion 28b are arranged in the interior of the seating area 14 in a manner offset in the direction of the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10 with respect to the aisle 12. The longitudinal axes LT of the second steps 32 fastened to the second support-element portion 26b extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the passenger cabin area 10.

[0057] In the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 16 of a passenger cabin area 10, the first support-face portion 28a of the first support-element portion 26a forms an angle of about 100° with the second support-face portion 28b of the second support-element portion 26b. As a result, the stairway element 24 forms a kind of “spiral stairway”, which is both space-saving and also convenient to use.

[0058] In order to allow convenient use of the stairway element 24 configured in the form of a “spiral stairway” and in particular to make it easier for a passenger using the stairway element 24 to turn, this being necessary in order to climb from the upper second steps 32 onto the lower first steps 30, or vice versa, the stairway element 24 furthermore has a stairway platform 36, which is arranged, in the direction of the vertical axis H of the passenger cabin area 10, between the first steps 30 fastened to the first support-element portion 26a and the second steps 32 fastened to the second support-element portion 26b. The second support-element portion 26b of the support element 26 extends in the direction of the vertical axis H of the passenger cabin area 10 from a peripheral portion, facing the interior of the seating area 14, of the stairway platform 36.

[0059] As is most clearly apparent from FIGS. 9 to 14, the first support-element portion 26a of each stairway element 24 is formed by a rear wall of an ottoman 34 arranged in the seating area 14. Furthermore, the stairway platform 36 of each stairway element 24 is formed by a cover panel of the ottoman 34 arranged in the seating area 14. As a result, the ottomans 34 can fulfil the dual function of serving as a footrest for a passenger who is sitting on a passenger seat 16 assigned to the ottoman 34 and of forming an integral constituent of the stairway element 24. As a result, the stairway element 24 can be integrated into the seating area 14 of the passenger cabin area 10 in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0060] In the layouts shown in the figures of the passenger cabin area 10, only ottomans 34 that are arranged on the “outside”, i.e. adjacent to the aisle 12, and are assigned to passenger seats 16 arranged on the “outside”, i.e. adjacent to the aisle 12, are integrated into the stairway elements 24. By contrast, ottomans 34 that are positioned on the “inside” in the seating area 14 and are likewise assigned to passenger seats 16 positioned on the “inside” in the seating area 14 are provided only for use in a conventional manner as footrests.

[0061] Each stairway element 44 furthermore comprises a first privacy screen element 38, which extends next to the aisle 12. In particular, the first privacy screen element 38 extends substantially perpendicularly to the transverse axis Q of the passenger cabin area 10 at a distance from, and in this case also substantially parallel to, the second support-element portion 28a. The first privacy screen element 38 serves to screen a passenger who is climbing into the sleeping berth 22 or leaving the sleeping berth 22 via the second steps 32 from the aisle 12. Furthermore, the stairway element 24 comprises a second privacy screen element 40, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the second support-element portion 26b from a peripheral portion, facing away from the first support-element portion 26a, of the stairway platform 36 in the direction of the vertical axis H of the passenger cabin area 10. The second privacy screen element 40 serves to screen a passenger who is climbing into the sleeping berth 22 or leaving the sleeping berth 22 via the second steps 32, in particular from a further passenger who is using the ottoman 34 integrated into the stairway element 24 as a footrest.

[0062] The passenger cabin area 10 equipped with Business Class passenger seats 16 can, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and 9 to 16, be integrated into a Business Class/Premium Economy Class area of an aircraft passenger cabin, in which the external passenger seat rows are equipped only with Premium Economy Class passenger seats. In particular, the passengers sitting on these passenger seats then have the possibility of booking a sleeping berth 22 for the entire journey or only part thereof, in order to increase their travel comfort. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to integrate the passenger cabin area 10, as illustrated in FIG. 8, into a region of an aircraft passenger cabin that is equipped entirely with Business Class passenger seats 16.

[0063] An aircraft 100 equipped with a passenger cabin area according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and/or FIGS. 4 to 16 is shown in FIG. 17.

[0064] While at least one example embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.