Readily convertible aircraft passenger seats

Claim 2

An aircraft passenger seat assembly of side-by-side window, middle and aisle seats, convertible between a first seat spacing and a second wider seat spacing, comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion, and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the window, middle and aisle seats, and each including a back portion and a seat portion, each said seat cushion being supported on and by its frame portion; and said middle seat frame portion and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat can be moved against the window seat and the aisle seat can be moved against the middle seat, to provide the first spacing of the three seats, and the middle and aisle seats can be moved away from the window seat, and the aisle seat can be moved away from the middle seat, to provide the second wider spacing of the three seats.

Claim 3

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fixed window seat frame portion is secured to the support base.

Claim 4

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 2, wherein said seat cushion support frame includes a fixed portion below the middle seat which is secured to the support base, and the movable middle seat frame portion is mounted on and by said fixed portion.

Claim 5

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 3, wherein said fixed portion below the middle seat comprises at least one tubular member and wherein the movable aisle seat frame portion includes a member which makes telescopic engagement with said tubular member, for telescopic retraction when the aisle seat frame portion is being moved toward the middle seat frame portion, and telescopic extension when the aisle seat frame portion is being moved away from the middle seat frame portion.

Claim 6

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seat cushion support frame comprises a pair of parallel tubular members which are connected to the support base and which extend under both the window seat and the middle seat, with the portions of the tubular member, which extend under the window seat constituting a part of the fixed window seat frame portion, wherein the movable middle seat frame portion comprises a pair of tubular members which surround and are movable on the portions of said fixed tubular members which are below the middle seat, and wherein the movable aisle seat frame portion includes a pair of tubes having portions which are under the aisle seat and include projecting portions which telescopically enter into the portions of the fixed tubular members which are below the middle seat.

Claim 7

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 1, comprising an armrest support frame which is connected to the movable middle seat frame portion, and is movable with it towards and away from the window seat, and an armrest support frame connected to the aisle seat frame portion, and movable with it towards and away from the middle seat.

Claim 8

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of said armrest support frames includes means mounting an armrest on it for sideways translation between two positions.

Claim 9

An aircraft passenger seat assembly convertible between three side]by-side seats of a first seat spacing and two side-by-side seats of a second wider seat spacing, comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the seat frame portions, and each supported on and by its seat frame portion, each said seat cushion having a back portion and a seat portion; said middle seat frame portion and the aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat frame portion, and its seat cushion, can be moved away from the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its cushion can be moved away from the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to provide window, middle and aisle seats having the first seat spacing, and said middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to define on the three seat cushions two passenger seats having the second wider spacing.

Claim 10

An aircraft passenger seat assembly convertible between three side]by-side seats of a first seat spacing and two side-by-side seats of a second wider seat spacing, comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the seat frame portions, and each supported on and by its seat frame portion, each said seat cushion having a back portion and a seat portion; said middle seat frame portion and the aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat frame portion, and its seat cushion, can be moved away from the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its cushion can be moved away from the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to provide window, middle and aisle seats having the first seat spacing, and said middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to define on the three seat cushions two passenger seats having the second wider spacing.

Claim 11

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein said fixed window seat frame portion is secured to the support base.

Claim 12

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 9, wherein said seat cushion support frame includes a fixed portion below the middle seat which is secured to the support base, and the movable middle seat frame portion is mounted on and by said fixed portion.

Claim 13

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein said fixed portion below the middle seat comprises at least one tubular member and wherein the movable aisle seat frame portion includes a member which makes telescopic engagement with said tubular member, for telescopic retraction when the; aisle seat frame portion is being moved toward the middle seat frame portion, and telescopic extension when the aisle seat frame portion is being moved away from the middle seat frame portion.

Claim 14

An aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 8, wherein said seat cushion support frame comprises a pair of parallel tubular members which are connected to the support base and which extend under both the window seat and the middle seat, with the portions of the tubular member, which extend under the window seat constituting a part of the fixed window seat frame portion, wherein the movable middle seat frame portion comprises a pair of tubular members which surround and are movable on the portions of said fixed tubular members which are below the middle seat, and wherein the movable aisle seat frame portion includes a pair of tubes having portions which are under the aisle seat and include projecting portions which telescopically enter into the portions of the fixed tubular members which are below the middle seat.

Claim 15

An airccraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 8, comprising an armrest support frame which is connected to the fixed window seat frame portion, and an armrest support frame which is connected to the movable middle seat frame portion, and movable with it towards and away from the aisle seat.

Claim 16

An airccraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 13, wherein each of said arm-rest support frames includes means mounting an armrest on it for sideways translation between two positions.

Claim 17

A right side passenger seat assembly and a left side passenger seat assembly convertible between six seats in a row which includes an aisle and a first seat spacing and five seats in a row which includes an aisle and a wider second seat spacing, wherein: a first said passenger seat assembly comprises side-by-side window, middle and aisle seats, convertible between a first seat spacing and a second wider seat spacing, comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion, and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the window, middle and aisle seats, and each including a back portion and a seat portion, each said seat cushion being supported on and by its frame portion; and said middle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat can be moved against the window seat and the aisle seat can be moved against the middle seat, to provide the first spacing of the three seats, and the middle and aisle seats can be moved away from the window seat, and the aisle seat can be moved away from the middle seat, to provide the second wider spacing of the three seats; and said second passenger seat assembly is convertible between three side-by-side seats of said first seat spacing and two side-by-side seats of said second wider seat spacing, and comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the seat frame portions, and each supported on and by its seat frame portion, each said seat cushion having a back portion and a seat portion; said middle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat frame portion, and its seat cushion, can be moved away from the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its cushion can be moved away from the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to provide window, middle and isle seats having the first seat spacing, and said middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to define on the three seat cushions two passenger seats having the second wider spacing.

Claim 18

A right side passenger seat assembly and a left side passenger seat assembly convertible between six seats in a row which includes an aisle and a first seat spacing and five seats in a row which includes an aisle and a wider second seat spacing, wherein: a first said passenger seat assembly comprises side-by-side window, middle and aisle seats, convertible between a first seat spacing and a second wider seat spacing, comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion, and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the window, middle and aisle seats, and each including a back portion and a seat portion, each said seat cushion being supported on and by its frame portion; and said middle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat can be moved against the window seat and the aisle seat can be moved against the middle seat, to provide the first spacing of the three seats, and the middle and aisle seats can be moved away from the window seat, and the aisle seat can be moved away from the middle seat, to provide the second wider spacing of the three seats; and said second passenger seat assembly is convertible between three side-by-side seats of said first seat spacing and two side-by-side seats of said second wider seat spacing, and comprising: a support base; a seat cushion support frame on said support base, including a fixed window seat frame portion, a movable middle seat frame portion and a movable aisle seat frame portion; three side-by-side seat cushions, one for each of the seat frame portions, and each supported on and by its seat frame portion, each said seat cushion having a back portion and a seat portion; said middle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the window seat frame portion, and said aisle seat frame portion being movable towards and away from the middle seat frame portion, whereby, the middle seat frame portion, and its seat cushion, can be moved away from the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its cushion can be moved away from the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to provide window, middle and isle seats having the first seat spacing, and said middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the window seat frame portion and its seat cushion, and the aisle seat frame portion and its seat cushion can be moved towards the middle seat frame portion and its seat cushion, to define on the three seat cushions two passenger seats having the second wider spacing.

Claim 19

The combination of an airccraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein in each window seat assembly said fixed window seat frame portion is secured to the support base.

Claim 20

The combination of an aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 16, wherein in each passenger seat assembly said seat cushion support frame includes a fixed portion below the middle seat which is secured to the support base, and the movable middle seat frame portion is mounted on and by said fixed portion.

Claim 21

The combination of an airccraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 17, wherein in each passenger seat assembly the said fixed portion below the middle seat comprises at least one tubular member and wherein the movable aisle seat frame portion includes a member which makes telescopic engagement with said tubular member, for telescopic retraction when the aisle seat frame portion is being moved towards the middle seat frame portion, and telescopic extension when the aisle seat frame portion is being moved away from the middle seat frame portion.

Claim 22

The combination of an airccraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein in each passenger seat assembly said seat cushion support frame comprises a pair of parallel tubular members which are connected to the support base and which extend under both the window seat and the middle seat, with the portions of the tubular members which extend under the window seat constituting a part of the fixed window seat frame portion, wherein the movable middle seat frame portion comprises a pair of tubular members which surround and are movable on the portions of said fixed tubular members which are below the middle seat, and wherein the movable aisle seat frame portion includes a pair of tubes having portions which are under the aisle seat and projecting portions which telescopically enter into the portions of the fixed tubular members which are below the middle seat.

Claim 23

The combination of an airccraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 15, wherein in each passenger seat assembly there is an armrest support frame which is connected to the movable middle seat frame portion, and is movable with it.

Claim 24

The combination of an aircraft passenger seat assembly according to claim 20, wherein said armrest support frame includes means mounting an armrest on it for sideways translation between two positions.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 20, wherein said first passenger seat assembly comprises an armrest frame connected to the movable aisle seat frame, and said armrest support frame includes means mounting an armrest on it for sideways translation between two positions.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 20, wherein the second passenger seat assembly comprises an armrest support frame connected to the fixed window seat frame, adjacent the middle seat, and said armrest support frame includes means mounting an armrest on it for sideways translation between two positions.