Abstract
An aircraft comprising a space-optimized standing seat for cabin attendants in a passenger cabin is provided. The aircraft comprises a cabin attendant seat and a cabin with an aircraft exit. The cabin attendant seat comprises a seating area and a backrest and is arranged in the region of the aircraft exit. Therein, the cabin attendant seat is designed as a standing seat.
Claims
1. An aircraft, comprising: a cabin with an aircraft exit; and a cabin attendant seat including a seating area and a backrest, the cabin attendant seat arranged in a region of the aircraft exit wherein the cabin attendant seat is a non-folding standing seat; and wherein the standing seat is arranged relative to the aircraft exit in such a manner that the aircraft exit is accessible when the non-foldable standing seat is not occupied; and wherein the backrest comprises multiple stowage spaces, wherein the standing seat further comprises a frame and the frame is designed to interconnect the seating area and the backrest; wherein the frame is attached to a wall in the cabin near to the aircraft exit; wherein a space is formed between the wall, the frame and the backrest for the multiple stowage places; and wherein the multiple stowage places are accessible by pivoting the backrest through a joint that connects the backrest with the frame.
2. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of passenger seats; wherein the standing seat provides a higher seat position than the passenger seats.
3. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the seating area is height-adjustable relative to the backrest.
4. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the seating area encloses an angle with the backrest and the angle is variable by way of a further joint.
5. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the cabin comprises a cabin floor, and the seating area is inclined relative to the cabin floor.
6. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the cabin comprises a partition wall and the partition wall is arranged in the region of the aircraft exit.
7. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the standing seat comprises a first stowage space arranged between the backrest and the seating area.
8. An aircraft, comprising: a cabin with an aircraft exit; and a cabin attendant seat including a seating area and a backrest, the cabin attendant seat arranged in a region of the aircraft exit; wherein the cabin attendant seat is a non-foldable standing seat; and wherein the non-foldable standing seat is arranged relative to the aircraft exit in such a manner that the aircraft exit is accessible when the non-foldable standing seat is not occupied; wherein the backrest comprises multiple stowage places; wherein the frame is attached to a wall in the cabin near to the aircraft exit; wherein a space is formed between the wall, the frame and the backrest for the multiple stowage places; wherein the multiple stowage places are accessible by pivoting the backrest through a joint that connects the backrest with the frame.
9. The aircraft of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of passenger seats; wherein the standing seat provides a higher seat position than the passenger seats.
10. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the seating area is height-adjustable relative to the backrest.
11. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the seating area encloses an angle with the backrest and the angle is variable by way of a joint.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The various embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a lateral perspective view of a cabin-attendant standing seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure beside a folding seat;
(3) FIG. 2 shows cabin attendants seated on the seats shown in FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of the seats shown in FIG. 1;
(5) FIG. 4 shows cabin attendants seated on the seats shown in FIG. 3;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a male cabin attendant seated on a cabin-attendant standing seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a female cabin attendant seated on a cabin-attendant standing seat according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
(8) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of the cabin-attendant standing seat according to the present disclosure with the backrest shown so as to be transparent;
(9) FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment with a folded-forward backrest and a stowage space for emergency elements;
(10) FIG. 9 shows a lateral view of an aircraft according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure with a cabin-attendant standing seat;
(11) FIG. 10 shows a top view of an aircraft according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure with a cabin-attendant standing seat;
(12) FIG. 11 shows a lateral cross section of a cabin-attendant standing seat according to an exemplary embodiment the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(13) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the application and uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
(14) FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 each shows a comparison of different cabin attendant seats 13. Therein, in each case one cabin attendant seat is shown as a folding seat 41 and one as a standing seat 21 from different perspectives with and without a cabin attendant 25. The cabin attendant seats 13 are arranged in an entrance or exit region near an aircraft exit 7, for example a door or an emergency exit of an aircraft 1, in particular of an airplane.
(15) Up to now seats for cabin attendants in an aircraft cabin 3 have been designed as folding seats 41 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the rear region of the illustration. Usually, these seats are only used during the take-off and landing phases; most of the time they are in their folded-in state as shown in FIG. 1. Due to their folding function the folding seats 41 comprise quite a complex design. According to regulations, for example certification requirements, seats must not project into the region of door openings or emergency exit openings, because any jamming of the seating area of a folding seat 41 in the case of a crash or in the case of an emergency, where evacuation is required, prevents unimpeded access to the aircraft exit 7. Consequently the space requirement of a folding seat 41 is relatively large, although it is only rarely used. Furthermore, regulations may require the arrangement of cabin attendant seats 13 in the entrance or exit region so that cabin attendants may assist in any possible evacuation.
(16) In FIG. 1 the arrow s shows the additional space required by a folding seat 41 when compared to that of a cabin-attendant standing seat 21. The design of the cabin attendant seat 13 as a standing seat 21 makes it possible, for example, to save approximately 290 mm of space. In combination with other optimization measures this may make it possible to install additional passenger seats 23 or passenger seat rows in the aircraft 1.
(17) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the design of the cabin attendant seat 13 as a standing seat 21 requires less space. This means that the space-optimized standing seat 21 may save space both in the X-direction and in the Y-direction. In other words, in horizontal direction the standing seat 21 may be placed closer to the aircraft exit 7 by the distance s when compared with a folding seat 41. Furthermore, the standing seat 21 may also take up less space in vertical direction so that, for example, it becomes possible to place objects, for example emergency elements, underneath the seat. A further advantage of the space-optimized standing seat 21 comprises the possibility of providing a high seat position so that during take-off and landing phases a cabin attendant 25 may not only maintain a good overview of the cabin 3 and the passengers situated therein, but may also be quickly in position to assist during any evacuation.
(18) The standing seat 21 according to the present disclosure for cabin attendants makes it possible for a crew member in the take-off and landing phases to be seated and to buckle up, for example by means of a belt 45. Therein, the belt may, for example, be a four-point belt. The space requirement of the standing seat 21 is less than is the case with conventional folding seats 41. Furthermore, no complex folding mechanism is required.
(19) FIGS. 1 to 8 show in detail the design of the cabin attendant seat 13 as a standing seat 21. The cabin-attendant standing seat 21 is arranged in the cabin 3 of the aircraft 1 in close proximity to the aircraft exit 7. The standing seat 21 may be attached to the cabin floor 5 and/or to a partition wall 9. Attachment may, for example, take place by means of a frame 19. The standing seat 21 comprises a seating area 15 and a backrest 17. The backrest 17 and the seating area 15 may be interconnected by means of the frame 19.
(20) As shown for example in FIG. 11, furthermore, a rail 43 may be provided on the standing seat 21, which rail makes it possible to adjust the height of the standing seat 21. To this effect it may be possible, for example, to move the seating area 15 on the rail 43. As an alternative, embodiments are possible in which the backrest is moved along the rail 43. Furthermore, between the seating area 15 and the backrest 17 or the rail 43 a joint 27 may be provided that makes it possible to adjust an angle between the backrest 17 and the seating area 15. Therein, the angle may, for example, be between about 90 and about 180. In order to set a particular angle a locking element may be provided on the joint 27. Therein, the relation of the inclination of the seating area to the seat height may be adjusted in such a manner that the legs of the particular cabin assistant 25 are not stretched, nor do they form a 90 angle between the upper leg and the lower leg. As shown in FIG. 11, the seating area 15 is inclined relative to the cabin floor 5 by an angle of inclination .
(21) FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the cabin-attendant standing seat 21 may be adjusted to various statures of cabin attendants 25. To this effect it is possible, for example, to slide the seating area 15 along the frame 19 or along a rail 43. FIG. 5 shows a male cabin attendant of relatively tall stature. Therein, the seating area 15 is at a relatively large distance from the cabin floor 5 and adjoins the backrest 17. In contrast to this, FIG. 6 shows a female cabin attendant 25 who is of shorter stature. Therein, the seating area 15 is located somewhat closer to the cabin floor 5 than is the case in FIG. 6. Therein, the seating area 15 is arranged further away from the backrest 17 than is the case in FIG. 5. As a result of the seat-height adjustment it is, for example, possible for the cabin attendant 25 to attain a comfortable seated position or standing position irrespective of their stature. Furthermore, in this manner it is possible, for example, for the space requirement of different cabin attendants 25 on the standing seat 21 in horizontal direction to remain approximately the same, because the angle between the lower leg and the upper leg of the cabin attendant 25 may remain approximately the same irrespective of stature.
(22) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a first stowage space 21 and a third stowage space 25 at the cabin-attendant standing seat 2. Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows a second stowage space 23. In FIG. 7 the back cushion of the backrest 17 is shown so as to be transparent so that the first stowage space 21 in the backrest 17 is visible. FIG. 8 shows the backrest 17 in a folded-forward position. For this purpose it is possible, for example, to provide a further joint on which the backrest 17 may pivot. In the first stowage space 21, which may be arranged in the backrest 17 or between a cushion of the backrest 17 and of the partition wall 9, emergency elements, as for example an oxygen mask 27 and an oxygen tank 29, may be arranged. In a second stowage space 23 or in a third stowage space 25 further emergency elements may be provided, as for example a torch 31, a fire extinguisher 33, a first-aid box 35 or first-aid kit, and an emergency axe 37. Furthermore, in one of the stowage spaces 21, 23, 25 demonstration equipment 39 may be provided that is, for example, used in the take-off phase. In addition, cover panels may be provided in the stowage spaces 21, 23, 25. The cover panels may enhance the aesthetic appearance of the cabin-attendant standing seat 21 and may be removed quickly and simply in an emergency.
(23) FIGS. 9 and 10 show an aircraft 1, in particular an airplane, in which the cabin attendant seats 13 are designed as standing seats 21 in the region of aircraft exits 7, for example doors and emergency exits. Furthermore, passenger seats 23 in the cabin 3 of the aircraft 1 are diagrammatically shown.
(24) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
