US6742840B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable seats
Assignee: Safran Seats USA LLC
•
Filing: 2001-05-25
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Granted: 2004-06-01
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Expires: 2021-05-25
Abstract
Abstract Adjustable seats and components thereof are detailed. The seats, particularly (although not exclusively) useful in commercial aircraft, permit substantial angular recline without the corresponding rearward linear movement necessarily occurring in conventional seats. The seats additionally may have discontinuous, or non-integral, seat bottoms, with the heights of the forward portions of the bottoms being adjustable mechanically. Tray tables optionally associated with the seats further omit any central slot and may define one or more pivot axes in locations different than exist in conventional seats.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Bentley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:53
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D11/00; B64D11/06; B64D11/0638; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/90; B60N2/995; B60N3/00; B60N3/001; B60N3/002; B60N3/004; B60N3/06; B60N3/063; B61; B61D; B61D33/00; B61D33/0007; B64D11/0639; B64D11/064; B64D11/0643
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest; b. a seat bottom comprising: i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; c. at least one track and follower assembly, at least a portion of the assembly being connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom; and d. a hydrolock connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest; b. a seat bottom comprising: i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; c. at least one track and follower assembly, at least a portion of the assembly being connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom; and d. a hydrolock connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A seat according to claim 1 in which the assembly comprises at least one roller as a follower, further comprising a bell crank connected to both the hydrolock and the roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A seat according to claim 1 further comprising: a. a member (i) connected to or integrally formed with the backrest and (ii) having a slot defined therein, and b. a tray table comprising at least one pin adapted to be received by the slot when the tray table is stowed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A seat according to claim 3 in which the pin is retractable, away from the slot, to permit the tray table to be released for use.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest; b. a seat bottom defining an interface with the backrest, having first and second sides, and comprising: i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; and c. a plurality of track and follower assemblies on the first side forward of the interface, for permitting the seat bottom to translate forward.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest; b. a seat bottom defining an interface with the backrest, having first and second sides, and comprising: i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; and c. a plurality of track and follower assemblies on the first side forward of the interface, for permitting the seat bottom to translate forward.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest connected to or integrally formed with the seat bottom and adapted to rotate through an angle from an upright position to a reclined position while moving rearward a linear distance, the amount of the rearward linear distance being related to the amount of angular rotation such that, if the angle is approximately 16°, the rearward linear distance is substantially less than approximately 7.40 inches; and b. a seat bottom (i) that moves forward as the backrest rotates rearward from the upright position and (ii) comprises: A. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and B. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest connected to or integrally formed with the seat bottom and adapted to rotate through an angle from an upright position to a reclined position while moving rearward a linear distance, the amount of the rearward linear distance being related to the amount of angular rotation such that, if the angle is approximately 16°, the rearward linear distance is substantially less than approximately 7.40 inches; and b. a seat bottom (i) that moves forward as the backrest rotates rearward from the upright position and (ii) comprises: A. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and B. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A seat according to claim 6 in which, if the angle is approximately 16°, the rearward linear distance is less than approximately 4.50 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
A seat comprising: a. a generally vertically-oriented backrest adapted to rotate from an upright position to a reclined position; b. a generally horizontally-oriented seat bottom defining first and second opposed sides, the seat bottom (i) translating forward as the backrest rotates from the upright position to the reclined position and (ii) comprising: A. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and B. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; and c. a plurality of track and follower assemblies protruding from each of the first and second opposed sides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A seat comprising: a. a generally vertically-oriented backrest adapted to rotate from an upright position to a reclined position; b. a generally horizontally-oriented seat bottom defining first and second opposed sides, the seat bottom (i) translating forward as the backrest rotates from the upright position to the reclined position and (ii) comprising: A. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and B. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; and c. a plurality of track and follower assemblies protruding from each of the first and second opposed sides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A seat according to claim 8 in which each track and follower assembly comprises a track and a roller received by and capable of travelling in the track.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A seat according to claim 8 further comprising a base frame to which at least the seat bottom is connected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest selectively moveable by a passenger and having at least one member protruding rearward therefrom and defining a slot; and b. a tray table comprising at least one pin adapted to be received by the slot for stowage so that, when the tray table is stowed and the backrest moves as selected by the passenger, the pin changes position within the slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest selectively moveable by a passenger and having at least one member protruding rearward therefrom and defining a slot; and b. a tray table comprising at least one pin adapted to be received by the slot for stowage so that, when the tray table is stowed and the backrest moves as selected by the passenger, the pin changes position within the slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seat according to claim 11 in which the pin is retractable so as to disengage from the slot for use.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A seat according to claim 12 further comprising a manually-operable knob, rotation of which either retracts or extends the pin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest; b. a seat bottom comprising: i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; c. at least one track and follower assembly, at least a portion of the assembly being connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom; and d. an actuator connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
A seat comprising: a. a backrest; b. a seat bottom comprising: i. a rear portion connected to or integrally formed with the backrest; and ii. a forward portion connected to and able to pivot with respect to the rear portion; c. at least one track and follower assembly, at least a portion of the assembly being connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom; and d. an actuator connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A seat according to claim 14 in which (i) the assembly comprises at least one roller as a follower and (ii) the actuator is adapted to cause the roller to change position within the track.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-01 | 2007-12-01 | 2008-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-01 | 2011-12-01 | 2012-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-01 | 2015-12-01 | 2016-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |