SEAT BACK

Abstract

Described herein is a seat back for an aircraft seat, the seat back comprising a body, wherein the body comprises a support wall for supporting a passenger leaning against the seat back, a first side wall, a second side wall and a cross brace, wherein the cross brace connects the first side wall and the second side wall at a position between a lower end and an upper end of each of the side walls, and wherein the support wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the cross brace are integrally formed. Also described is a seat comprising the seat back and a row of seats.

Claims

1. A seat back for an aircraft seat, the seat back comprising a body, wherein the body comprises a support wall for supporting a passenger leaning against the seat back, a first side wall, a second side wall and a cross brace, wherein the cross brace connects the first side wall and the second side wall at a position between a lower end and an upper end of each of the side walls, and wherein the support wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the cross brace are integrally formed.

2. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the cross brace is formed by a recess in the support wall of the body.

3. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the cross brace comprises a forward-facing opening in the body.

4. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the cross brace comprises a receiver for receiving a table latch.

5. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the cross brace comprises an internal cavity.

6. The seat back according to claim 5, wherein the cross brace comprises one or more apertures, preferably in a rear wall of the cross brace, for allowing access to the internal cavity.

7. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the cross brace forms the base of a literature pocket.

8. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the cross brace comprises a cover.

9. The seat back according to claim 8, wherein the cover comprises one or more apertures for allowing access to the internal cavity of the cross brace.

10. The seat back according to claim 9, wherein the cross brace comprises an aperture for receiving a table latch or a component thereof and the cover comprises an aperture for receiving a table latch or a component thereof, wherein said apertures of the cross brace and the cover are aligned when the cover is in position against the cross brace.

11. The seat back according to claim 8, wherein the cover comprises a lip.

12. The seat back according to claim 11, wherein the lip is on an upper surface of the cover.

13. The seat back according to claim 8, wherein the cross brace comprises a latch for holding a tray table against the seat back and the latch passes through an aperture in the cover and is secured to the cross brace.

14. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises a panel on a forward-facing surface of the support wall of the body.

15. The seat back according to claim 14, wherein the panel forms a front wall of the cross brace.

16. The seat back according to claim 14, wherein the panel comprises one or more apertures, which allow access to the/a cavity of the cross brace.

17. The seat back according to claim 1, wherein the seat back comprises one or more apertures, which allow access to the/a cavity of the cross brace, and one or more channels connected to said one or more apertures for allowing a cable to be held within said one or more channels and to enter the cavity of the cross brace through said one or more apertures.

18. The vehicle seat comprising a seat back according to claim 1.

19. The row of vehicle seats comprising a plurality of seats according to claim 18.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 18 which is an aircraft seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0096] Example embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying FIGS., in which:

[0097] FIG. 1A shows a rear perspective view of a body of a seat back of the present invention;

[0098] FIG. 1B shows a front perspective view of a body of a seat back of the present invention;

[0099] FIG. 1C shows a front perspective view of a panel of a seat back of the present invention in which the two halves are joined together;

[0100] FIG. 1D shows a front perspective view of a panel of a seat back of the present invention in which the two halves are shown as separate pieces;

[0101] FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of a seat back of the present invention which includes both the body and the panel;

[0102] FIG. 3A shows a rear perspective view of a seat back of the present invention which includes a cover, tray table and literature pocket;

[0103] FIG. 3B shows a rear perspective view of the seat back shown in FIG. 3A with the cover, tray table and cross panel of the literature pocket in an exploded view;

[0104] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the cover showing the internal components thereof;

[0105] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an aircraft seat comprising a seat back of the present invention; and

[0106] FIG. 6 shows a rear view of a row of aircraft seats each comprising a seat back of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0107] The present invention relates to a seat back for an aircraft seat.

[0108] With reference to FIGS., there is shown a seat back 1 for an aircraft seat. With particular reference to FIG. 1A, the seat back comprises a body 2 with a support wall 3 for supporting a passenger leaning against the seat back, a first side wall 4a, a second side wall 4b and a cross brace 5. The cross brace connects the first side wall 4a and the second side wall 4b of the body at a position between a lower end 6a and an upper end 6b of each of the side walls 4a, 4b. The support wall 3, the first side wall 4a, the second side wall 4b and the cross brace 5 are integrally formed. That is, they are formed as a single piece. The cross brace 5 includes a top wall 5a, a rear wall 5b and a bottom wall 5c which form a cavity 8 (as shown in FIG. 1B) with a forward-facing opening 5d. The body is formed from a carbon fibre composite.

[0109] As will be evident from the FIGS., the cross brace 5 has a U-shaped cross section and is formed by a deformation in the support wall 3 of the body 2.

[0110] The cross brace 5 includes a pair of apertures 9a, 9b which provide access to the cavity 8. In preferred examples, these apertures allow one or more USB charging sockets 27a, 27b to be mounted on the seat back and for the associated cables to pass through the apertures 9a, 9b and the cavity 8.

[0111] The body 2 includes a recess 10 defined by the first 4a and second 4b side walls and the top wall 5a of the cross brace 5, with the cross brace 5 forming the base of the recess 10. In the example shown, a panel 11 is positioned across the recess to form a literature pocket 21, shown in FIG. 3A.

[0112] With particular reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cover 12 is positioned around the cross brace 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the cover includes top 12a, rear 12b and bottom faces 12c for positioning against the top 5a, rear 5b and bottom walls 5c of the cross brace.

[0113] The cover 12 includes a lip 13 which prevents literature from sliding out of the literature pocket 21. The lip 13 forms a hollow space between the cover 12 and the cross brace 5 which is filled with a strip of polyurethane foam 14 material. This is particularly advantageous because it minimises injury to a passenger in the event of a head impact collision.

[0114] In addition to the strip of foam 14, the cover 12 provides additional cushioning around the top 5a, rear 5b and bottom 5c walls of the cross brace 5 because it is manufactured from vacuum formed plastic with moulded polyurethane foam.

[0115] The foam 14 is secured to the cover 12 by hook and loop material 15. The cover 12 is secured to the cross brace 5 by hook and loop material 15.

[0116] With reference to FIGS. 1C and 1D, in addition to the body 2, in the example shown, the seat back includes a panel 16 on the forward-facing surface of the support wall 3 of the body 2. The panel 16 covers the opening of the cross brace 2 and forms a front wall 5e thereof.

[0117] The panel is formed in two parts 16a, 16b which can be joined together. The panel includes a pair of apertures 17a, 17b which allow access to the cavity of the cross brace and which line up with the apertures 9a, 9b in the rear wall of the cross brace 2. The apertures 17a, 17b connect with channels 18 along which cables can be held, for example cables connected to USB charging sockets 27a, 27b held within the apertures 9a, 9b.

[0118] The panel also includes an aperture 30 for allowing access to a part 19a of the latch 19.

[0119] As shown with particular reference to FIG. 2, the panel 16 does not cover all of the forward-facing surface of the body 2, rather it covers side areas 2a, 2b and across upper central areas 2c, 2d corresponding to the position of the cross brace and a head rest area. This maximises the strength afforded by the addition of the panel 16, whilst at the same time minimising the weight of the seat back 1.

[0120] As with the body 2, the panel 16 is formed of a carbon fibre composite material. The body 2 and the panel 16 are secured together by an adhesive.

[0121] The seat back includes a pair of connectors 22a, 22b in the form of recesses for connecting the seat back 1 to protrusions on the frame 26 of an aircraft seat 24.

[0122] A latch 19 is provided for holding a tray table 20 against the seat back 1. The latch 19 passes through an aperture 23 in the cover 12 and is secured to the cross brace 2 via an aperture 7 in the cross brace within or behind which a part 19a of the latch 19 can be provided.

[0123] The tray table 20 is secured to the body 2 via holes 29.

[0124] The cover 12 also includes a pair of apertures 28a, 28b for allowing access to the internal cavity of the cross brace 5 and within which the USB charging sockets 27a, 27b are provided. The apertures 9a, 9b of the cross brace 5 and the apertures 28a, 28b of the cover 12 are aligned when the cover 12 is in position against the cross brace 5.

[0125] With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown an aircraft seat 24 comprising a seat back as described herein. The seat 24 includes a seat base 25, a seat frame 26 and a seat back 1 as described herein.

[0126] With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a row of aircraft seats comprising a seat back as described herein.

[0127] 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.