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EP-4616766-B1 - CONVERTIBLE AERONAUTICAL SOFA WITH INSERTABLE BACK AT GIVEN HEIGHT

EP4616766B1EP 4616766 B1EP4616766 B1EP 4616766B1EP-4616766-B1

Inventors

  • CLOET, Frédéric
  • COLLINS, MARK
  • COLLINS, ALEXANDRA
  • BRUYÈRE, Jean-Baptiste

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250311

Claims (9)

  1. A sofa (10) for passenger transport vehicle such as an airplane, comprising a seat section (11), a backrest (12) having a backrest length (L12) and a structure (13) supporting them, said sofa being convertible into at least two positions each having a maximum surface area usable by the passenger: a sitting position in which the backrest is set upright with respect to the seat section and a reclining position in which the backrest is folded down in the same plane with respect to the seat section; said seat section having a seat section length (L11) sufficient to enable a passenger in a sitting position to fully extend their legs, in a sitting position, the backrest (12) being partially stored below the seat section (11) in a space (131) of the structure (13), so that the maximum usable surface area in the sitting position is smaller than the maximum usable surface in the reclining position, the structure (13) being mounted movable in translation along a longitudinal direction, driving the seat section (11) and the backrest (12) therewith, said backrest being mounted movable both in translation, along its own longitudinal direction when it is set upright in the sitting position, and in rotation about a transverse axis located at a junction (J) between the seat section (11) and the backrest (12).
  2. The sofa according to claim 1, wherein the movements of translation of the structure (13) for moving the sofa forward and back, of separate translation of the backrest (12) for raising and lowering it, and of rotation of said backrest for folding it down and setting it upright, are independent, said sofa comprising one actuator per movement.
  3. The sofa according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotational movement of the backrest (12) is carried out by means of a circular rack (15) connecting said backrest to the structure (13) and making it possible to offset the axis of rotation of the backrest at the junction (J) with the seat section (11).
  4. The sofa according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the backrest (12) is smaller than the length of the seat section (11), conferring a chaise longue shape on the sofa.
  5. The sofa according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat section (11) and the backrest (12) comprise respectively rear (111) and front (121) lateral faces intended to be adjoined in the reclining position of the sofa, said rear lateral face and said front lateral face being inclined respectively with respect to the top surface (112) of the seat section at an angle (A11) of less than 90° and with respect to the top surface (122) of the backrest at an angle (A12) greater than 90°, the sum of the two angles being equal to 180°.
  6. A compartment (100) for a passenger transport vehicle such as an airplane, comprising at least an amenity console (15) and a screen (30), and characterized in that it comprises a sofa (10) according to one of the preceding claims, said screen being positioned above the backrest (12).
  7. The compartment according to claim 6, wherein the screen (30) is positioned at a height (Hr) from the seat section (11) when the sofa (10) is in the sitting position, said height being less than the backrest length (L12), an excess length of said backrest being stored beneath the seat section.
  8. The compartment according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising an extra chair (20) placed across in front of and facing the sofa (10).
  9. An airliner (1000), characterized in that it comprises at least one compartment (100) according to one of claims 6 to 8.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention belongs to the field of cabin design for passenger transport vehicles, particularly aircraft, and relates more particularly to an aeronautical sofa convertible into a bed and having a backrest that can be inserted below a given imposed height. The invention finds a direct, but not exclusive, application in the design of airliner cabins in the upper class (business class or first class). STATE OF THE ART In air transport, the level of comfort required in the upper classes (business and first class) of airliners must be able to offer passengers the possibility of lying down in a comfortable position, including sleeping, especially when the flight duration is long, and to benefit from a certain degree of privacy from other passengers. To meet this need, airlines are incorporating seats that convert into beds. These seats have been around for a long time and come in many designs. However, the arrangement of convertible armchairs can sometimes involve constraints related to the environment of the armchair, the use of available space and the desired level of comfort. Indeed, convertible seats are sometimes placed in individual compartments, also called passenger suites, which include other amenities, or even additional seating, with which the main seat must be able to cooperate in its various positions while respecting dimensional constraints. More specifically, the seat must be able to offer maximum sleeping surface area in the bed position while allowing optimal access to the other amenities regardless of its position. For the most luxurious first-class cabins, airlines are enhancing their offerings by adjusting the passenger space to include a maximum of ancillary entertainment services, in the most ergonomic way possible, and/or by enlarging this space to mitigate the feeling of confinement and/or to accommodate additional furniture such as banquettes or consoles that can double as minibars. The aim is, of course, to improve the passenger experience during the flight with greater comfort and a more convivial atmosphere. For example, the patent FR3095190 On behalf of the applicant, the description shows a passenger suite comprising a convertible seat, a sofa, an extra seat, a console, and a sliding access door. The sofa has a first corner, a central section, and a second corner. The convertible seat and the extra seat are attached laterally to the first and second corners, respectively, so that they face each other, and the central section of the sofa converts into a table. This passenger suite includes a single screen positioned above the level of the sofa and jump seat backs. Since the jump seats do not convert into beds, their length does not need to be particularly long. However, the back of the convertible seat does require a certain length, extending beyond the level of the screen opposite it. Therefore, it is not possible to place a second screen above the convertible seat (the one occupied by the main passenger) for a person seated opposite the main passenger, while still ensuring an optimal viewing angle. Another issue concerns the comfort level of the seat. Aircraft passenger seats may be used for daytime flights, during which the passenger may want to work, eat, and/or relax, and for nighttime flights, during which the passenger may want to sleep. Ideally, such a seat should offer comfortable positions for all these activities, while also meeting the dimensional constraints of its environment. Another problem concerns the appearance of misalignments between the different parts of the chair during its conversion, resulting in non-functional spaces in which the passenger can drop their personal belongings: space behind the backrest, interstitial space between the seat and the backrest, etc. Finally, in previous solutions, when it is necessary to restrict the size of a part of the chair, it is common to use folding parts such as leg rests and headrests. However, folding a flexible part always results in the appearance of a thick, bulky, and unsightly-looking pile. The document US2016052633 , in reference to the figure 1 This document describes a passenger module for an aircraft cabin, comprising a seat F arranged opposite a bench seat B that converts into a bed (of the "click-clack" type). A screen is positioned above the backrest of the bench seat, facing seat F. Due to the limited space between the seat and the bench seat, the seat cannot be converted into a bed. Therefore, this solution proposes that the bench seat be convertible widthwise so that its seat and backrest can be individually narrow but have a combined width sufficient to form a sleeping surface. WO 96/37378 A1 Describes an extendable armchair with a mechanism for obtaining a horizontal resting surface; the armchair comprises a structure supporting a seat, this structure being movable in translation. The armchair includes a backrest mounted pivoting on the structure. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION Th