Readily convertible aircraft passenger seats

Claim 2

Aircraft passenger seat frames having legs fixed in place, said seat frames being convertible to different fare class sizes, comprising: a plurality of juxtaposed seat frames having legs fixed thereto; each seat frame having generally horizontal supporting members having their opposite ends secured in seat frame end webs; and tubes associated with each of the seat end webs of the plurality of seat frames in a supporting relationship; said legs being connected to said tubes to support said seat frames; said tubes having a tube-in-tube slip joint at least at one outside end of one seat frame on which the one seat frame can be moved toward or away from an adjacent seat frame to change the fare class size of the seat frames.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 in which: each tube-in-tube slip joint has an inner small diameter tube and an outer large diameter tube; said inner and outer tubes being in slidable engagements; each inner tube being in connective support with a seat end web at said one outside end of the one seat; and each outer tube being in relative slidable supportive engagement in an inner web of said one seat frame opposite said outer web.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 in which: said inner web of said one seat frame has collars attached thereto and in which said outer tubes are in slidable supportive engagement.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 including: a locking and releasing mechanism at said one end of said one seat frame to lock and release said inner and outer tubes with respect to each other.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 4 including: a translatable armrest being fitted between and for two of said juxtaposed seat frames; said armrest being fitted on an upper end of a translatable plate and the lower end of said plate being fitted to sleeves slidably engaged in said supporting members of said two seat frames; said armrest and plate being translatable to be closely adjacent to said seat frames when a seat frame has been moved toward a juxtaposed seat frame so as to be proximate thereto and said sleeves have been moved in said supporting members toward said juxtaposed seat frame; said plate being translatable to be spaced between said two seat frames when a seat has been moved away from a juxtaposed seat frame and said sleeves have been moved in said supporting members away from said juxtaposed seat frame; and means in said supporting members to maintain said plate to be spaced between said seat frames.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 2 in which: each outer large diameter tube is in a fixed relationship with said legs.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 6 in which: said locking and releasing mechanism having an operating handle adjacent said one end of said one seat frame; one end of an operating rod being connected to said handle and the other end of the rod being connected to rotary means and locking pins; said rotary means being rotatable by linear movement of the rod when the handle is pulled outwardly of the one end of the seat frame to withdraw the locking pins from the tubes so as to release the inner and outer tubes from each other to permit the inner tubes to be slidable within the outer tubes; said locking pins being movable to a locking position with respect to the inner and outer tubes when the handle is moved inwardly to its position adjacent said one end of said one seat frame.

Claim 9

Aircraft passenger seat frames according to any of the claims 1-7, wherein said plurality of seat frames is a combination of three seat frames in a row, having two sets of legs fixed thereto.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 8 in which: said outer seat frames in the three seat combination are spaced from the inner seat frame in a smaller seat frame, lower fare arrangement; inner armrests being positioned in the spaces between inner and outer seat frames; inner armrest supports being fixed in the supporting members in the inner seat frame; said inner armrest supports extending from the inner seat frame into respective outer seat frame supporting members; said inner armrest supports being in relative slidable and supported engagement in said outer seat supporting members; said inner armrest supports between the seat frame having openings to receive pins attached to the inner armrests and to secure the inner armrests positioned between the seat frames.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 9 in which: said inner armrests and pins are removable from said inner armrest supports to permit the three seat frame combination to be changed to a two seat frame combination; said supporting members of said outside seats sliding on said inner armrest supports when said outer seat frames are moved inwardly to form the two seat frame combination; said outer seat frames being closely adjacent said inner seat frame in the two seat combination.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 10 in which: an inner seat armrest is formed as a part of a back of the inner seat frame; said inner seat frame armrest being centered in said back and hinged so as to be foldable downwardly to form a center armrest for the two seat frames in the two seat combination.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 9 in which: outer armrests are secured to supports on outer ends of the outer seat frames; said outer armrests having upper caps upon which passenger's arm may be positioned; said caps being removable; generally horizontal hinged plates on said supports on said outer ends forming flat supports for inner upper surfaces of said caps; said plates being hingedly movable from outer flat positions to inner flat positions relative to said seat frames; whereby when a three seat frame combination is changed to a two seat frame combination, the plates may be moved inwardly to receive the caps thereon to increase aisle space outwardly of the outer seat frames.