SEAT ASSEMBLY FOR AIRCRAFT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly, particularly but not exclusively to an aircraft seat assembly, comprising a first and a second seat secured together. Each of the first and second seats has a seat portion and a backrest with each seat portion extending forwardly from a respective backrest, wherein the backrest of the first seat is positioned forwardly and to the side of the backrest of the second seat. The present invention seeks to address the limitations of accommodating passengers in adjacent seats in a row of seats comprising two or more seats.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising a first and a second seat secured together, each of the first and second seats having a seat portion and a backrest with each seat portion extending forwardly from a respective backrest, wherein the backrest of the first seat is positioned forwardly and to the side of the backrest of the second seat.

2. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle seat assembly is an aircraft seat assembly.

3. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein each seat portion is defined between a forward edge and a rearward edge, and wherein the forward edge of the first seat portion is positioned forwardly of the forward edge of the second seat portion.

4. A vehicle seat assembly according to any claim 1 wherein the backrest of the first seat is positioned forwardly of the backrest of the second seat portion by more than 8 cm, preferably between 8.5 cm and 11.5 cm, and more preferably approximately 9 cm.

5. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein a support structure is provided for supporting the first and second seat, the support structure being arranged to be secured to a vehicle.

6. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 5 wherein the support structure is arranged to support the seats above the floor, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of support legs comprising at least one forward support leg and at least one rearward support leg.

7. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first seat portion preferably comprises a forward seat portion and a rearward seat portion, the forward seat portion reconfigurable between a first configuration whereby the forward seat portion is in a side by side configuration with the rearward seat portion, and a second configuration wherein the forward seat portion is displaced to be at least partially above the rearward seat portion.

8. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 comprising a third seat having a seat portion and a backrest with the seat portion extending forwardly from the backrest, wherein the backrest of the third seat is secured relative to the first and second seat.

9. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 8 wherein the backrest of the third seat is positioned rearwardly of the backrest of the first seat.

10. A vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a bracket arrangement positioned intermediate the first and second seats having a first mounting formation for mounting the second seat to the bracket arrangement and a second mounting formation offset forwardly from the first mounting formation for mounting the first seat to the bracket arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings where:

[0014] FIG. 1a is a schematic perspective representation of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1b, c and d are plan, side and front views respectively.

[0015] FIG. 2a is a schematic perspective representation of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2bi and 2 bii are magnified representations of a bracket for securing a first and second seat together, and FIGS. 2ci and 2cii are schematic plan views of the seat assembly of FIG. 2a together with a magnified representation of the bracket for securing a first and second seat together.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment comprising three seats with the seat portions of two of the seats shown in a folded configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1 there is a schematic illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Shown is an illustrative embodiment in which there are three seats forming a row however the present invention is only limited to two or more adjoined seats.

[0018] Each seat 2, 4, 6 comprises a separate seating location for a vehicle passenger, and comprises a seat portion 8 and a backrest 10. The backrest 10 and seat portion 8 of the first seat 2 is offset forwardly from the respective backrests of the second and third seats 4, 6, meaning the seating positions are effectively staggered. The seat portions 8 comprise a leading edge 12 and a trailing edge 14 and the leading edge 12 of the seat portion 8 of the first seat 2 extends forwardly beyond the leading edge 12 of the adjacent seats 4, 6, and the trailing edge 14 of the first seat 2 extends beyond the trailing edge 14 of the trailing edge 14 of the second and third seats 4, 6. It will be appreciated that an alternative configuration whereby there are two adjacent seats 2, 4 is also envisaged whereby the first seat 2 is offset forwardly of the second seat 4. In addition, an alternative embodiment is envisaged whereby the first seat 2 is an end seat, and the first and third seats 2, 6 are offset forwardly from the second seat 4.

[0019] As best shown in FIG. 1b in plan view, the forwardly direction is indicated by arrow 16. With reference to FIG. 1c, the distance of offset between the backrest 10 (and seat portion 8) of the forwardly offset seat 2 is represented by distance shown by reference numeral 18. The distance 18 is more than 8 cm, preferably between 8.5 cm and 11.5 cm, and more preferably approximately 9 cm. The forward edge of the first seat portion is also preferably positioned forwardly of the forward edge of the second seat portion by the same preferred distance. The preferred distance of 9 cm is selected to ensure comfort for the seat occupants in addition to ensuring that occupants who are travelling together do not feel alienated from one another.

[0020] Armrests 20 are provided between adjacent seats and also at opposing ends of a row of seats. The armrests 20 are located between adjacent seats where one seat is offset relative to the adjacent seat. The armrests 20 are arranged to be elongated to accommodate the arms of occupants of both seats comfortably, where the occupant of the rearward seat will naturally position their arms towards the proximal end of the armrest, and the occupant of the forward seat will naturally position their arm towards the distal end of the armrest.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 2 a-c a seat assembly is presented showing a first and second seat 2, 4 only. The seat assembly also comprises a bracket arrangement 22 positioned intermediate the first and second seats 2,4 (and second and third seats 4,6 if present) having a first mounting formation in the form of first and second mounting pin apertures 24a, 24b for mounting the second seat to the bracket arrangement 22 and a second mounting formation offset from the first mounting formation in the form of first and second mounting pin apertures 26a, 26b for mounting the first seat to the bracket arrangement 22. The first and second mounting pin apertures 26a, 26b for mounting the first seat to the bracket arrangement 22 are offset forwardly from the first and second mounting pin apertures 24a, 24b for mounting the second seat to the bracket arrangement 22.

[0022] The bracket arrangement 22 is beneficially sandwiched between the first and the second seat 2, 4. Each of the bracket arrangements also act as a support for an armrest 20, where the armrest 20 is pivotally mounted to the bracket arrangement 22.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment comprising three seats with the seat portions of two of the seats shown in a folded configuration. The seats comprise a forward seat portion 8a and a rearward seat portion 8b wherein the forward seat portion 8a is reconfigurable between a first configuration whereby the forward seat portion 8a is in a side by side configuration with the rearward seat portion 8b, and a second configuration wherein the forward seat portion 8a is displaced to be at least partially above the rearward seat portion. This means that the seat defines a seat footprint in the first configuration, and the seat support structure is arranged such that in the second configuration a standing space for a person is defined within the seat footprint. This provides a significant benefit that the effect of the offset forwardly of the first seat 2 which would otherwise make access for a passenger to their allocated seat more difficult is mitigated and improved compared to a traditional single piece seat portion in a fixed orientation and position. The forward seat portion 8a is pivotally mounted relative to the rearward seat portion 8b allowing ease of reconfiguration for a passenger.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3 a support structure 28 is provided for supporting the first and second seat 2, 4, the support structure 28 being arranged to be secured to a vehicle at mounting positions 30. The support structure is arranged to support the seats above the floor, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of support legs 32 comprising at least one forward support leg 32a and at least one rearward support leg 32b. It is beneficial that the support structure is arranged such that the leading edge 12 of the forward seat portion 8a has no support structure directly beneath a portion of the leading edge, and wherein the forward seat portion 8a defines a footprint in the first configuration. There is no support structure beneath a majority of the forward seat portion footprint. The leading edge 12 of the forward seat portion 8a overhangs the support structure, thus giving ease of access to the passengers without significant impedance from the support structure. A luggage bar 34 may be provided adjacent to the floor which may be a regulatory requirement in certain applications such as in aircraft for retaining luggage in a position under a seat. The bracket arrangement(s) 22 is arranged to be secured to the support structure.

[0025] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated to the skilled addressee that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.