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EP-3929088-B1 - AIRCRAFT CABIN ATTENDANT SEAT FOR AIRCRAFT WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL RECLINE PANEL

EP3929088B1EP 3929088 B1EP3929088 B1EP 3929088B1EP-3929088-B1

Inventors

  • HOOVER, DOUGLAS E.
  • MAGLIA, Dominic J.
  • KOZHIPURAM, AKHIL RAJAGOPAL
  • ACHARYA, PRADEEP

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20191010

Claims (9)

  1. A stowable seat (100) having a seat back frame (114, 314, 414), a seat back (104) with a seat back angle (126) in a deployed position, and a seat back assembly (150, 250, 350, 450) configured to rapidly convert the stowable seat (100) to a stowable seat (100) having an increased seat back angle (126) in the deployed position, the seat back assembly (150, 250, 350, 450) comprising: a supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) that is configured for attachment to the seat back frame (114, 314, 414), the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) having an upper panel end (241), a lower panel end (242), a first panel side (243) and a second panel side (244); a first pivot tab (277, 377, 477) attached to the upper panel end (241) and configured to pivotally engage a first frame arm (382, 482) of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414); a second pivot tab attached to the upper panel end (241) and configured to pivotally engage a second frame arm of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414); a first lever (255, 355, 455) mounted to the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) and pivotally connected to the lower panel end (242) and configured to operably engage the first frame arm (382, 482) of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) between a retracted position and the deployed position; and a second lever pivotally connected to the lower panel end (242) and configured to operably engage the second frame arm of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) between the retracted position and the deployed position.
  2. The stowable seat (100) of claim 1, further comprising: a first bias element (260, 360, 460) disposed proximate the first lever (255, 355, 455) and between the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) and the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) and configured to urge the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) toward the seat back frame (114, 314, 414); and a second bias element disposed proximate the second lever and between the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) and the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) and configured to urge the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) toward the seat back frame (114, 314, 414).
  3. The stowable seat (100) of claim 2, wherein the first and second bias elements (260, 360, 460) include first and second springs (263, 363, 463) connected to the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) and to the seat back frame (114, 314, 414).
  4. The stowable seat (100) of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: the first lever (255, 355, 455) comprises a first distal end (258, 358, 458) configured for rolling engagement with a first lower cutout section (381, 481) of the first frame arm (382, 482) of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414); and the second lever comprises a second distal end configured for rolling engagement with a second lower cutout section of the second frame arm of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414).
  5. The stowable seat (100) of claim 4, wherein the first distal end (258, 358, 458) of the first lever (255, 355, 455) includes a first roller (257, 357, 457) configured for rolling engagement with a first surface of the first lower cutout section (381, 481) and the second distal end of the second lever includes a second roller configured for rolling engagement with a second surface of the second lower cutout section.
  6. The stowable seat (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the seat back angle of the stowable seat in the deployed position is no more than 40° and the increased seat back angle is 45° or greater.
  7. A method for rapidly converting an existing stowable seat (100) having a seat back frame (114, 314, 414) and a seat back with a seat back angle in a deployed position to a stowable seat having an increased seat back angle in the deployed position, comprising: providing a retrofit seat back assembly (150, 250, 350, 450), comprising: a supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) having an upper end (241) and a lower end (242), a pivot (275, 375, 475) disposed proximate the upper end (241) and configured to pivotally engage the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) of the stowable seat (100), a lever (255, 355, 455) disposed proximate the lower end (242) and configured to operably engage the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) and move the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) between a retracted position and the deployed position, and a spring (263, 363, 463) configured for disposition between the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) and the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) and configured to urge the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) toward the seat back frame (114, 314, 414); and assembling the retrofit seat back assembly (150, 250, 350, 450) onto the seat back frame (114, 314, 414).
  8. The method of claim 7, wherein the assembling the retrofit seat back assembly (150, 250, 350, 450) onto the seat back frame (114, 314, 414) includes: engaging the pivot (275, 375, 475) with an upper cutout section (383, 483) of a frame arm (115, 315, 382, 482) of the seat back frame (114, 314, 414); engaging a distal end (258, 358, 458) of the lever (255, 355, 455) with a lower cutout section (381, 481) of the frame arm (115, 315, 382, 482); and connecting the spring (263, 363, 463) between the supplemental recline panel (152, 252, 352, 452) and the seat back frame (114, 314, 414).
  9. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the seat back angle is no more than 40° and the increased seat back angle is 45° or greater.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to aircraft cabin attendant seats and, more particularly, to supplemental recline panels configured to retrofit aircraft cabin attendant seats. BACKGROUND Aircraft cabin seats (also referred to as stowable seats or jump seats) are used for flight attendant safety and comfort during taxi, takeoff, landing and inflight periods of rest. Aircraft cabin seats may be used for long periods of time depending on flight duration. Traditional cabin seats may cause pain or discomfort for the crew member occupying the seat due to the non-ergonomic geometry of the seat. Further, the space available for extending a cabin seat into a more comfortable position may be minimal, as useable volumetric space on an aircraft tends to be limited and the cabin seats should not hinder ingress and egress for passengers in the event of an emergency. Such seats may also be subject to various regulations and requirements. For example, under European Union regulations, a seat in Class II (i.e., a seat in an aircraft cabin or flight crew compartment) is required to recline at a back angle of at least forty-five degrees (45°) with respect to the vertical. Existing seats configured to recline at back angles less than that mandated by regulation will benefit from retrofit systems or apparatus or methods of retrofitting configured to bring the seats into compliance with such regulation. In addition, the ability to rapidly convert or retrofit existing seats to seats having an increased back angle - e.g., on the order of fifteen minutes or less - together with the resulting retrofit seat being intuitive and natural for an occupant to use may be of beneficial importance. US 3,594,037 discloses a cabin attendant seat comprising: side supports adapted to be mounted in upright position, swinging support links having upper ends pivotally mounted to said side supports, a seat backrest connected to said links, a seat bottom frame having rearwardly extending arms, said frame being pivotally mounted to lower ends of said links, lower vertically oriented guides on said side supports adapted to maintain the ends of said arms in vertical movement. US 4,460,215 discloses a folding seat assembly. FR 2,962,714 discloses a folding seat for use by flight crew in a cockpit of an aircraft. US 2018/170552 discloses a collapsible backrest. EP 2 403 761 B1 describes a flight passenger seating device comprising a backrest having a lumbar support movably mounted between at least two stable positions relative to the backrest unit, and a mechanical actuation unit. The actuation unit has two actuation members which are arranged on both sides of the lumbar support. SUMMARY In accordance with an aspect, the present invention provides a stowable seat and a seat back assembly in accordance with claim 1. In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method of rapidly converting a stowable seat in accordance with claim 7. Features of embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the following detailed description and claims in connection with the following drawings. While the drawings illustrate various embodiments employing the principles described herein, the drawings do not limit the scope of the claims. FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are perspective schematic views of a stowable seat, in accordance with various embodiments;FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded and partially assembled schematic views of a retrofit seat back assembly, in accordance with various embodiments;FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective schematic views of a retrofit seat back assembly attached to a seat back frame, in accordance with various embodiments; andFIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are various close-up schematic views of a retrofit seat back assembly attached to a seat back frame, in accordance with various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as long as it encompasses then scope of one of the independent claims. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include perman