PASSENGER SEAT HAVING AN EXPANDABLE BACK REST

Abstract

A passenger seat comprises a seat element and a back rest. The back rest comprises a main body and at least one expansion portion which is adjustable between a first operating position and a second operating position. In its first operating position, the expansion portion is integrated in the main body of the back rest. By contrast, in its second operating position, the expansion portion defines a supporting element extending from a back rest surface of the main body.

Claims

1. A passenger seat, comprising: a seat element, and a back rest, wherein the back rest comprises a main body and at least one expansion portion adjustable between a first operating position and a second operating position, and wherein the expansion portion, in the first operating position, is integrated in the main body of the back rest and, in the second operating position, defines a supporting element extending from a back rest surface of the main body.

2. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the expansion portion is arranged in a region of a side edge of the back rest, said side edge extending in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the back rest.

3. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element, which is defined by the expansion portion in the second operating position, forms an angle of approximately 60 to 120 with the back rest surface of the main body.

4. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element, which is defined by the expansion portion in the second operating position, forms an angle of approximately 70 to 110 with the back rest surface of the main body.

5. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element, which is defined by the expansion portion in the second operating position, forms an angle of approximately 80 to 100 with the back rest surface of the main body.

6. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element, which is defined by the expansion portion in the second operating position, extends from a region of the back rest surface of the main body, said region being adjacent to the seat element.

7. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the expansion portion comprises a supporting structure adjustable between a collapsed position, in which the supporting structure permits the expansion portion to be integrated in the main body of the back rest, and an expanded position, in which the supporting structure is capable of holding the expansion portion in the second operating position.

8. The passenger seat according to claim 7, wherein the supporting structure comprises a locking mechanism for locking the supporting structure in the expanded position.

9. The passenger seat according to claim 7, wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of half shells which are connected to one another by means of a connecting element, wherein, in the collapsed position of the supporting structure, the half shells are oriented in the same direction and stacked in one another, and wherein, in the expanded position of the supporting structure, in each case, two half shells are oriented in opposite directions and form a full shell shape.

10. The passenger seat according to claim 9, wherein, in the expanded position of the supporting structure, the two half shells, which are oriented in opposite directions, each intermesh in a region of their mutually facing edges and thereby lock the supporting structure in its expanded position.

11. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element, which is defined by the expansion portion in the second operating position, is supported in the region of a rear side facing away from the back rest surface of the main body by means of an arm rest of the passenger seat.

12. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the expansion portion comprises at least one of a cover or a cushion, which cover or cushion takes up a folded configuration when the expansion portion is in the first operating position, and which cover or cushion takes up an unfolded configuration when the expansion portion is in the second operating position.

13. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the expansion portion is adjustable manually between the first operating position and the second operating position.

14. The passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the expansion portion comprises a handle configured to be grasped by a user in order to adjust the expansion portion between the first operating position and the second operating position.

15. The passenger seat according to claim 1, which comprises a first and a second expansion portion, each adjustable between the first operating position and the second operating position.

16. The passenger seat according to claim 15, wherein the first and the second expansion portion are arranged in a region of two opposite side edges of the back rest, said side edges extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the back rest.

17. An aircraft comprising at least one passenger seat according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the attached schematic drawings, of which

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a passenger seat suitable for use in a passenger cabin of an aircraft,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the passenger seat according to FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the passenger seat according to FIG. 1,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a supporting structure installed in the passenger seat according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in a collapsed or an expanded position, and

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft equipped with a passenger seat according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 3 show various views of a passenger seat 10 which is suitable, for example, for use in a passenger cabin of an aircraft 100 shown in FIG. 5. In the case of the aircraft 100 illustrated in FIG. 5, the Economy Class area and/or a Premium Economy Class area of the passenger cabin is/are equipped with a plurality of passenger seats 10 arranged one behind another in a plurality of rows.

[0035] A passenger seat 10 comprises a seat element 12 and a back rest 14. The back rest 14 is pivotable relative to the seat element 12 between an upright position, in which a back rest surface 16 of the back rest 14 extends substantially perpendicularly to a seat surface 18 of the seat element 12, and a reclined position, in which the back rest surface 16 of the back rest 14 forms an angle greater than 90 with the seat surface 18 of the seat element 12.

[0036] Furthermore, the passenger seat 10 is provided with two arm rests 20, 22 which are each connected to a substructure 24 of the passenger seat 10 and extend substantially parallel to the seat surface 18 of the seat element 12 in a manner offset laterally relative to the seat element 12 and the back rest 14. Finally, the passenger seat 10 comprises a head rest 26 which, in the case of the passenger seat 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is designed in the form of a separate component and is connected to an end of the back rest 14, which end faces away from the seat element 12. However, it is also conceivable to equip the passenger seat 10 with a head rest 26 which is formed in a manner integrated with the back rest 14.

[0037] The back rest 14 comprises a main body 28 which, in the case of the passenger seat 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, has a substantially cuboidal basic shape with rounded edges and corners. Furthermore, the back rest 14 is provided with at least one expansion portion. The exemplary embodiment of a passenger seat 10 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a first expansion portion 30 and a second expansion portion 32. Each of the expansion portions 30, 32 is arranged in the region of a side edge 34, 36 extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis L of the back rest 14. In particular, the first expansion portion 30 is arranged in the region of a first side edge 34 (on the left in the figures) of the back rest 14 while the second expansion portion 32 is arranged in the region of a second side edge 36 which is opposite the first side edge 34 and is on the right in the figures.

[0038] Each of the expansion portions 30, 32 is adjustable between a first operating position and a second operating position. In the first operating position, each of the expansion portions 30, 32 is integrated in the main body 28 of the back rest 16. FIG. 1 shows the passenger seat 10 in a state in which the two expansion portions 30, 32 are in their first operating position and consequently do not take up a separate volume, but rather are substantially completely integrated in the volume of the main body 28 of the back rest 14. The volume and the appearance of the passenger seat 10 then do not differ from the volume and the appearance of a conventional passenger seat, and therefore, despite the presence of the expansion portions 30, 32, the passenger seat 10 does not need a greater amount of space than a conventional passenger seat without expansion portions 30, 32.

[0039] In contrast thereto, each of the expansion portions 30, 32 in its second operating position defines a supporting element 38, 40 extending from the back rest surface 16 of the back rest 14 or of the back rest main body 28. In the top view of the passenger seat 10 according to FIG. 2, the two expansion portions 30, 32 are shown in their second operating position. The first expansion portion 30 consequently defines a first supporting element 38 which extends from the back rest surface 16 of the back rest main body 28 along the first side edge 34 (on the left in the figures) of the back rest 14. By contrast, the second expansion portion 32 defines a second supporting element 40 which extends from the back rest surface 16 of the back rest main body 28 along the second side edge 36 (on the right in the figures) of the back rest 14. Only the first expansion portion 30 is shown in its second operating position in FIG. 3.

[0040] During adjustment of the expansion portions 30, 32 from their first operating position into their second operating position, the back rest 14 of the passenger seat 10 therefore undergoes an increase in volume and provides an additional supporting or holding functionality for a user of the passenger seat 10 by means of the supporting elements 38, 40, which are defined by the expansion portions 30, 32. The possibilities for the user to change and comfortably maintain his/her sitting position on the passenger seat 10 are thereby extended. Each of the supporting elements 38, 40 defined by the expansion portions 30, 32 in their second operating position forms an angle of approx. 80 to 100 and, in particular, essentially 90 with the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28 of the back rest 14, with a transition region between the main body 28 and the supporting elements 38, 40, however, being of rounded design in each case in order to increase the comfort.

[0041] In the case of the exemplary embodiment of a passenger seat 10 that is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the supporting elements 38, 40 which are defined by the expansion portions 30, 32 in their second operating position extend over only part of the length of the back rest 14, as viewed along the longitudinal axis L of the back rest 14. In particular, the two expansion portions 30, 32 are arranged in the region of an end of the back rest 14 that is adjacent to the seat element 12, and therefore the supporting elements 38, 40 which are defined by the expansion portions 30, 32 extend from a region of the back rest surface 16 of the back rest main body 28, which region is adjacent to the seat element 12. The supporting elements 38, 40 are then particularly readily suitable for supporting the back region of a user resting or sleeping in a lateral position on the passenger seat 10.

[0042] As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the expansion portions 30, 32 comprises a supporting structure 42 which is adjustable between a collapsed position, shown at the top in FIG. 4, and an expanded position, shown at the bottom in FIG. 4. The supporting structure 42, in its collapsed position, permits the expansion portions 30, 32 to be integrated in the main body 28 of the back rest 14, whereas it is capable, in its expanded position, of holding the expansion portions 30, 32 in its second operating position and of thereby defining the supporting elements 38, 40 extending from the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28. The supporting structure 42 is provided with an automatic locking mechanism 44 which fixes the supporting structure 42 in its expanded position without a separate activation being required for this purpose.

[0043] The supporting structure 42 can have various design forms. However, the passenger seat 10 shown in the figures is equipped with a supporting structure 42 which comprises a plurality of substantially hemispherical half shells 46 manufactured from a plastic material. The half shells 46 are connected to one another in a series arrangement by means of a connecting element 48 designed in the form of a rubber element, in particular, a rubber hinge.

[0044] In the collapsed position (illustrated at the top in FIG. 4) of the supporting structure 42, all of the half shells 46 are oriented in the same direction and stacked in one another. In the arrangement shown at the top of FIG. 4, all of the open edges 50 of the half shells 46 point to the right. The supporting structure 42 then takes up a merely small volume, as a result of which easy integration of the expansion portions 30, 32 into the back rest main body 28 is made possible.

[0045] By contrast, in the expanded position (illustrated at the bottom in FIG. 4) of the supporting structure 42, in each case two half shells 46 are oriented in opposite directions and form a full shell shape. This permits the desired increase in volume of the expansion portions 30, 32 in a simple manner. In particular, the two half shells 46 which are oriented in opposite directions each intermesh in the region of their mutually facing edges 50 and thereby lock the supporting structure 42 automatically in its expanded position. In other words, in the case of the exemplary embodiment of a supporting structure 42 that is illustrated in the figures, the automatic locking mechanism is formed by the intermeshing edges of the half shells 46.

[0046] Each of the expansion portions 30, 32 comprises a cover 52, 54 and a cushion 56, 58. In the case of the exemplary embodiment of a passenger seat 10 that is shown in the figures, the covers 52, 54 of the expansion portions 30, 32 are in each case formed integrally with a cover 60 extending over the main body 28 of the back rest 14. In a similar manner, the cushions 56, 58 assigned to the expansion portions 30, 32 are also in each case formed integrally with a cushion 62 used for the upholstery of the main body 28. As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the covers 52, 54 and the cushions 56, 58 of the expansion portions 30, 32 each take up a folded configuration when the expansion portions 30, 32 are in their first operating position. By contrast thereto, the covers 52, 54 and the cushions 56, 58 of the expansion portions 30, 32 each take up an unfolded configuration when the expansion portions 30, 32 are in their second operating position, see FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0047] In principle, the passenger seat 10 can be provided with a, for example, electrically actuable driving device for adjusting the expansion portions 30, 32 between their first operating position and their second operating position. However, in the embodiment of a passenger seat 10 that is illustrated in the figures, the expansion portions 30, 32 are each adjustable manually between their first operating position and their second operating position. In order to facilitate the manual adjustment of the expansion portions 30, 32 by a user of the passenger seat 10, each of the expansion portions 30, 32 comprises a handle 64, 66 which is in each case configured to be grasped by a user in order to adjust the corresponding expansion portion 30, 32 between its first operating position and its second operating position. The handles 64, 66 which are composed here of a plastics material are each connected to the covers 52, 54 and the cushions 56, 58 of the expansion portions 30, 32 and are recessed into the back rest surface 16 of the back rest main body 28, and therefore no loss in comfort for a user of the passenger seat 10 arise because of the handles 64, 66.

[0048] Each of the expansion portions 30, 32 can be brought from its first operating position into its second operating position by a user grasping the corresponding handle 64, 66 and exerting a manual tensile force on the expansion portion 30, 32, said manual tensile force being directed away from the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28. As a result, the covers 52, 54 and the cushions 56, 58 of the expansion portions 30, 32 are unfolded and the supporting structure 42 transferred from its collapsed configuration into its expanded configuration. As soon as the half shells 46 of the supporting structure 42 have reached the arrangement which is illustrated at the bottom in FIG. 4 and in which in each case two half shells 46 are oriented in opposite directions and intermesh in the region of their mutually facing edges 50, the supporting structure 42 is automatically locked.

[0049] The supporting elements 38, 40 which are defined by the expansion portions 30, 32 in their respective second operating position are supported in the region of a rear side facing away from the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28 in each case by one of the arm rests 20, 22 of the passenger seat 10, i.e., the rear surface of each supporting element 38, 40, the rear surface facing away from the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28, lies against an arm rest 20, 22 of the passenger seat 10, and therefore the supporting element 38, 40 undergoes an additional support. The supporting elements 38, 40 which are defined by the expansion portions 30, 32 are thereby held securely in their position.

[0050] By contrast, in order to adjust the expansion portions 30, 32 from their second operating position into their first operating position, all that is needed is to exert a manual force, which is directed towards the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28, on an edge 68, 70, which faces away from the back rest surface 16 of the main body 28, of the supporting elements 38, 40 defined by the expansion portions 30, 32. The compressive force causes the supporting structure 42 to collapse and causes its collapsed configuration shown at the top in FIG. 4. At the same time, the covers 52, 54 and the cushions 56, 58 of the expansion portions 30, 32 are folded up, and therefore the expansion portions 30, 32, as desired, can be integrated again in the main body 28 of the back rest 14.

[0051] While at least one exemplary 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 exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a 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.