Movable seating system for aircraft

Claim 2

An adjustable seating system adapted for use in a passenger vehicle, such as a passenger aircraft, said system comprising: a. a track assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising at least two tracks, each having a related lengthwise axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, with each track comprising: 1. a pair of laterally spaced flange members extending along the lengthwise axis and reaching laterally toward one another to form a related track passageway which extends along the lengthwise axis of the track; 2. the two flange members of each track being formed with lateral recesses which provide enlarged openings which are positioned at regularly spaced intervals along said lengthwise axis, with the enlarged openings being interconnected by narrower openings defined by related retaining flange portions positioned between related adjacent pairs of the enlarged openings; b. a plurality of seating units mounted to the track assembly along the longitudinal axis; c. each seating unit having a traction wheel assembly comprising at least two traction wheels, each of which engages a related one of said two tracks, each traction wheel having a peripheral portion with a plurality of protrusions positioned and spaced relative to one another so as to match positioning and spacing of the enlarged openings of its related track, the traction wheels of each traction wheel assembly being operatively interconnected in a manner that rotation of a first one of said traction wheels causes a corresponding rotation of a second one of the traction wheels so that with the two traction wheels engaging their related tracks, rates of travel of the two wheels over their related tracks are equal; d. each seating unit having at least two mounting and locking assemblies, each of which operatively engages a related one of the two tracks, each mounting and locking assembly comprising: 1. a retaining foot member connected to said seating unit and having at least one foot positioned within the track passageway of its related track, said foot being adapted to engage selected related retaining flange portions of its related track; 2. a locking member having a locking element and being pivotally mounted to said retaining foot member at a first pivot location for movement between a locking position where the locking element is positioned in one of said enlarged openings to prevent fore and aft movement of said mounting and locking assembly, and a release position where said locking element is removed from said one of said enlarged openings; 3. said locking member being arranged relative to said retaining foot member so that with the locking member in its locking position, the foot is positioned beneath at least one of said retaining flange portions; 4. said locking member being further arranged so that movement of the locking member to the locking position causes the locking member to have an operative lifting engagement between its related track and the related foot member to press said retaining foot member upwardly against the retaining flange portions to prevent rattling motion of said mounting and locking assembly; e. each seating unit having locking and unlocking actuating means operatively connected to the locking members of the seating unit to move the locking members between their locking and release positions; whereby the seating units can be moved to selected locations by moving the actuating means of the seating units which are to be moved to the unlocking position, and moving the seating units along said track assembly.

Claim 3

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of track cover assemblies, each track cover assembly comprising at least two telescoping cover members, with each track cover assembly being positioned over a related track section that extends between adjacent seating units.

Claim 4

The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the cover members of each track assembly have interengaging stop means which limits telescoping movement of the two track cover members toward and away from one another, one of said cover members being connected to one seating unit and a second of said cover members being connected to a second adjacent seating unit.

Claim 5

The system as recited in claim 3, wherein at least some of said track cover members have spaced marking means thereon, corresponding to spacing of the enlarged openings of the track, whereby with one seating unit being properly positioned relative to the track assembly for locking engagement thereto, an adjacent one of said seating units can be positioned in accordance with the marking means on the track cover assembly so as to be properly positioned for locking engagement to the track assembly.

Claim 6

The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said system is arranged to provide minimum and maximum spacing distances between adjacent seating units, said stop means of the cover assemblies being arranged to limit relative travel between adjacent seating units to said minimum and maximum distances.

Claim 7

The system as recited in claim 3, further comprising a power unit adapted to operatively engage and cause rotation of at least one traction wheel of one of said traction wheel assemblies of one of said seating units to cause movement of said one of said seating units.

Claim 8

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a power unit adapted to operatively engage and cause rotation of at least one traction wheel of one of said traction wheel assemblies of one of said seating units to cause movement of said one of said seating units.

Claim 9

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising roller means positioned adjacent each mounting and locking assembly, each of said roller means being positioned relative to its related mounting and locking assembly in a manner that movement of said locking member to its release position brings said roller means into bearing engagement with its related track to facilitate movement of its related seating unit.

Claim 10

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said actuating means comprises a manually operated lever means positioned adjacent its related seating unit.

Claim 11

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each locking member has a downwardly facing cam surface which engages an upwardly facing surface of said track member, said cam surface being arranged in a manner that rotational movement of said locking member to its locking position causes camming engagement of said cam surface to raise said retaining foot member.

Claim 12

The system as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said mounting and locking assemblies comprises actuating rod means pivotally connected to said locking member at a second pivot location spaced from said first pivot location, with said actuating rod means being operatively connected to said locking and unlocking actuating means.

Claim 13

The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said cam surface is positioned intermediate said first and second pivot locations on said locking member.

Claim 14

The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said locking and unlocking actuating means comprises manually operable handle means, and said actuating rod means is pivotally connected to said handle means whereby operation of the handle means acts through said rod means to cause movement of said locking member.

Claim 15

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a lever member operatively connected to said locking member at a location adjacent its related track, said lever member being configured and arranged so that in its locking position, the lever member fits over and covers a section of said track adjacent to its related mounting and locking assembly.

Claim 16

An adjustable seating system for use in a passenger aircraft, said system comprising: a. a track assembly mounted to a floor of said aircraft and extending along a longitudinal axis of said aircraft, said track assembly comprising at least two tracks, each having a related lengthwise axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, with each track comprising: 1. a pair of laterally spaced flange members extending along the lengthwise axis and reaching laterally toward one another to form a related track passageway which extends along the lengthwise axis of the track; 2. the two flanges of each track being formed with lateral recesses which provide enlarged openings which are positioned at regularly spaced intervals along said lengthwise axis, with the enlarged openings being interconnected by narrower openings defined by related retaining flange portions positioned between related adjacent pairs of the enlarged openings; b. a plurality of seating units mounted to the track assembly along the longitudinal axis, each seating unit comprising an undercarriage and a seating portion mounted to the undercarriage, said undercarriage having two forward legs, each to be supported from a related one of the two tracks, and two rear legs, each to be supported from a related one of the two tracks; c. each forward leg having a track engaging forward foot to secure the forward leg to its related track; d. each seating unit having a traction wheel assembly positioned forwardly of the rear legs and comprising at least two traction wheels, each of which engages a related one of said two tracks in bearing engagement, each traction wheel having a peripheral portion with a plurality of protrusions positioned and spaced relative to one another so as to match positioning and spacing of the enlarged openings of its related track, the traction wheels of each traction wheel assembly being operatively interconnected in a manner that rotation of a first one of said traction wheels causes a corresponding rotation of a second one of the traction wheels so that with the two traction wheels engaging their related tracks, rates of travel of the two wheels over their related tracks are equal; e. each seating unit having at least two mounting and locking assemblies, each of which is mounted at a lower end of a related one of the two rear legs to operatively engage a related one of the two tracks, each mounting and locking assembly comprising: 1. a retaining foot member connected to its said related rear leg and having at least one rear foot positioned within the track passageway of its related track, said rear foot being adapted to engage selected related retaining flange portions of its related track; 2. a locking member having a locking element and being mounted to said retaining foot member for movement between a locking position where the locking element is positioned in one of said enlarged openings to prevent fore and aft movement of said mounting and locking assembly, and a release position where said locking element is removed from said one of said enlarged openings; 3. said locking member being arranged relative to said retaining foot member so that with the locking member in its locking position, the foot is positioned beneath at least one of said retaining flange portions; f. said undercarriage comprising roller means positioned adjacent each mounting and locking assembly, each of said roller means being positioned relative to its related mounting and locking assembly in a manner that movement of said locking member to its release position brings said roller means into bearing engagement with its related track to facilitate movement of its related seating unit; g. each seating unit having locking and unlocking actuating means operatively connected to the locking members of the seating unit to move the locking members between their locking and release positions; whereby the seating units can be moved to selected locations by moving the actuating means of the seating units which are to be moved to the unlocking position, and moving the seating units along said track assembly.

Claim 17

An adjustable seating system for use in a passenger aircraft, said system comprising: a. a track assembly mounted to a floor of said aircraft and extending along a longitudinal axis of said aircraft, said track assembly comprising at least two tracks, each having a related lengthwise axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, with each track comprising: 1. a pair of laterally spaced flange members extending along the lengthwise axis and reaching laterally toward one another to form a related track passageway which extends along the lengthwise axis of the track; 2. the two flanges of each track being formed with lateral recesses which provide enlarged openings which are positioned at regularly spaced intervals along said lengthwise axis, with the enlarged openings being interconnected by narrower openings defined by related retaining flange portions positioned between related adjacent pairs of the enlarged openings; b. a plurality of seating units mounted to the track assembly along the longitudinal axis, each seating unit comprising an undercarriage and a seating portion mounted to the undercarriage, said undercarriage having two forward legs, each to be supported from a related one of the two tracks, and two rear legs, each to be supported from a related one of the two tracks; c. each forward leg having a track engaging forward foot to secure the forward leg to its related track; d. each seating unit having a traction wheel assembly positioned forwardly of the rear legs and comprising at least two traction wheels, each of which engages a related one of said two tracks in bearing engagement, each traction wheel having a peripheral portion with a plurality of protrusions positioned and spaced relative to one another so as to match positioning and spacing of the enlarged openings of its related track, the traction wheels of each traction wheel assembly being operatively interconnected in a manner that rotation of a first one of said traction wheels causes a corresponding rotation of a second one of the traction wheels so that with the two traction wheels engaging their related tracks, rates of travel of the two wheels over their related tracks are equal; e. each seating unit having at least two mounting and locking assemblies, each of which is mounted at a lower end of a related one of the two rear legs to operatively engage a related one of the two tracks, each mounting and locking assembly comprising: 1. a retaining foot member connected to its said related rear leg and having at least one rear foot positioned within the track passageway of its related track, said rear foot being adapted to engage selected related retaining flange portions of its related track; 2. a locking member having a locking element and being mounted to said retaining foot member for movement between a locking position where the locking element is positioned in one of said enlarged openings to prevent fore and aft movement of said mounting and locking assembly, and a release position where said locking element is removed from said one of said enlarged openings; 3. said locking member being arranged relative to said retaining foot member so that with the locking member in its locking position, the foot is positioned beneath at least one of said retaining flange portions; f. said undercarriage comprising roller means positioned adjacent each mounting and locking assembly, each of said roller means being positioned relative to its related mounting and locking assembly in a manner that movement of said locking member to its release position brings said roller means into bearing engagement with its related track to facilitate movement of its related seating unit; g. each seating unit having locking and unlocking actuating means operatively connected to the locking members of the seating unit to move the locking members between their locking and release positions; whereby the seating units can be moved to selected locations by moving the actuating means of the seating units which are to be moved to the unlocking position, and moving the seating units along said track assembly.

Claim 18

The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the two traction wheels of each seating unit are mounted at a forward portion of the undercarriage of their related seating unit, and said two traction wheels are interconnected by a laterally extending shaft extending across a forward portion of the undercarriage beneath the seating portion of the seating unit.